CASTRIES, St. Lucia - The leaders of the two main political parties have expressed confidence of victory in the December 1 general elections as 38 candidates were nominated on Friday to contest the polls.
Leader of the ruling St. Lucia Labour Party, Phillip J Pierre (Right) and the leader of the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) Allen Chastanet (left) on the campaign trail (File Photo)The main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) is contesting all 17 seats at stake in the election, with the ruling St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP) as it had done in the July 2021 poll, when it contested 15 seats, and allowing for two independent candidates -Stephenson King and Richard Frederick, both government ministers to contest the Castries North-East and the Castries Central seats respectively.
There are six independent candidates, including the two government ministers.
Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre, who called the election nearly a year ahead of the constitutional deadline, told reporters after he was nominated to contest the Castries East seat, that he remains confident of being re-elected to the seat he has held since 1997.
“What’s important is not really how I feel, it’s how they feel. There’s a lady who signed my nomination papers in 1992, when I had just left school and ran for elections, and she’s there. It’s about how they feel. I’m doing it for them. I feel privileged. I feel humbled that these people can show faith in me for such a long time,” Pierre told reporters after he was nominated.
“They get insulted. They are asked all the time, ‘Why are you voting for him? What has he done?’ People insult them. They ridicule them from generations, mothers, grandmothers, they have stuck with me and I really, really want to thank them, so it’s all about them and becoming Prime Minister, it’s only because of them and the members of the St. Lucia Labour Party and the people of St. Lucia,” he added.
“For over 28 years, the people of Castries East have walked with me, believed in me, and lifted me higher than I ever dreamed; right to the Office of the Prime Minister. Thank you for your trust, your loyalty, and your love. I will continue to serve you with humility and purpose.
Castries East, this journey is ours,” Pierre said.
Leader of the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) surrounded by supporters after being nominated to contest the Micoud South seat (CMC Photo)
For his part, UWP leader, Allen Chastanet, who is seeking to overcome the 15-2 drubbing the party got when as prime minister he led them into the 2021 poll, said this time around, he is much more confident of victory.
“The people are ready for change.” Chastanet said after he was nominated to contest the Micoud South seat he won in the last general election.
“Look, we’ve been ready for a while, and I think the Labour Party understood that. That’s why they’ve called the election so early,” he said, adding “I feel very positive. I think the campaign is coming through. The silent persons we’ve been relying on have been coming out”.
Chastanet, who was one of only two UWP candidates to win in 2021, says he feels the momentum is shifting. He believes his party is in a strong position to earn back the confidence of voters and chart a new course for the country.
After signing his documents, he told St. Lucia Times that the UWP is ready and suggested that the government moved early because they sensed the public mood changing.
“Look, we’ve been ready for a while, and I think the Labour Party understood that. That’s why they’ve called the election so early,” he said.
“I feel very positive. I think the campaign is coming through. The silent persons we’ve been relying on have been coming out,” he said.
“I think the people of St. Lucia have another thing coming for the Labour Party. Enough is enough. They are ready for some change,” Chastanet said
Both parties will unveil their manifestos next week.
