Prime Minister Philip J Pierre used his victory speech on Monday night to thank the people of Saint Lucia for what he described as a renewed vote of confidence in his leadership and in the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP). Speaking from the verandah of his Castries East constituency office in Marchand shortly before 10 p.m., he said he remained “humbled” by the trust placed in him and pledged to “move forward together” as the country enters its new term.
Pierre said the mandate delivered at the polls reflected a deep and longstanding bond with the people of Castries East, who returned him to Parliament for a record seventh consecutive term.
The SLP secured a decisive 14–1 victory over the United Workers Party (UWP), with the independent MPs for Castries Central and Castries North, Richard Frederick and Stephenson King, respectively, retaining their seats.
“I want to thank the people who worked with me and the people who made that victory possible,” he said. “It is because of them; they are the ones who made that victory possible. I really want to thank them.”
He highlighted the special relationship he shares with Castries East, noting that some supporters have been with him since his first campaign in 1997.
“There are some people who have worked with me in my campaign from 1997 and they’re still there with me. I want to thank all of them, I want to thank my family, I want to thank the men and women of the Saint Lucia Labour Party,” he added.
Thanking his daughter, Pierre lamented the attacks she endured during the campaign. “I feel very sad that Saint Lucian politics reached the depth it reached in the last four and a half years. I hope that no opposition party ever stoops to those limits,” he said.
Pierre also congratulated Allen Chastanet, the lone UWP candidate to win a seat.
“There is a place in Parliament for the opposition, and we will move forward and work moving forward together,” he added.
He said he humbly accepted the mandate given to him and was grateful for the confidence placed in him over the years, not only as a parliamentary representative, but also as a minister and Prime Minister. He credited former Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony for first bringing him into his Cabinet.
“So right now, we have work to do. We have to move forward together because this country is on the right trajectory, and we have to move forward,” Pierre said.
The Castries East MP thanked public servants and paid special tribute to doctors, nurses, medical workers, police officers, law enforcement personnel, the fire service, and staff at the Bordelais Correctional Facility, acknowledging their efforts in supporting the nation.
Pierre expects to be sworn in as Prime Minister by the end of this week and to appoint his new Cabinet next week.
“We have a few things to do. We have to get the VAT-free day going, and I want to tell public servants that they will get their back pay as promised. Next year, we’re moving forward to get this country going,” he said as his supporters cheered him on.
