Staff Writer
CASTRIES, St. Lucia, Nov 11, CMC – The leader of the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP), Allen Chastanet, is urging voters to elect the party into government on December 1, insisting that “everything I have ever done in public service has been driven by a desire to make life better for St. Lucians”.
In a nationwide radio and television broadcast on Monday night, Chastanet, who served as prime minister from 2016-2021, said, “I’m not the same man I was in 2021.
“I am firm, fearless, and focused, asking the hard questions and finding real solutions to make your lives better. And with the unusually early election, I had to ask: are we really better off today?” Chastanet said, questioning the move by Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre to call the general elections 11 months ahead of the constitutional deadline.
“As a St. Lucian, despite all that has been said, I understand your struggles. But just like many of you, I did not choose my circumstances. What I have chosen is how I use them. I have chosen to use every blessing, every resource, and every ounce of experience I have to serve the people of St. Lucia,” he added.
In a radio and television broadcast on Sunday night, Prime Minister Pierre said that the elections will be held on December 1 and that Governor General, Errol Charles dissolved the Parliament on Monday. Nomination Day will be November 21.
Pierre, who leads the ruling St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP), said that the last election was on July 26, 2021, and the parliament met in August of that year. He said under the St. Lucia Constitution, the election is constitutionally due “for the latest three months after the first sitting of Parliament, which was held on 12th August 2021.
Chastanet said when the UWP had been in office, there were a number of policies and projects undertaken by his administration as part of the overall strategy of caring for the population and the socio-economic development of the country.
“We did these things because we love this country. I love our people. And everything I have ever done in public service has been driven by a desire to make life better for St. Lucians. If you doubt my words, I ask you to look at our list of achievements.
“In contrast, over the last four years under the Labour administration, life has only gotten harder for ordinary St. Lucians. More people feel betrayed by the Philip J. Pierre administration today than ever before. And now, with an election called months ahead of time, you have to ask: what are they running from?
“After years of betrayal, corruption, and neglect, is this early election just their final attempt to pull wool over your eyes before the truth finally catches up to them? Is this early election their attempt to get ahead of the outrage before you can ask the real questions?”
Chastanet said that whilst his administration may not have been perfect, “we can all admit that things were better.
“Life was better. St. Lucia was actually moving forward. And since 2021, we’ve been on a journey of transformation, starting with me and extending to our entire party, our candidates, and the movement we represent.
“We’ve changed. We’ve improved. Because you deserve better from us — and you will get better from us. Our candidates embody that renewal. We are presenting the strongest, most capable team St. Lucia has ever seen: men and women ready to serve, ready to deliver, ready to lead. And our plans? They aren’t just better; we are the only party with a plan.”
He said immediately on coming to office, a UWP administration will eliminate the 2.5 per cent tax that has been driving up the cost of living and making everyday life harder for St. Lucians.
“We will make St. Lucia safe again, no more excuses, no more ‘escalated crime zones. Our comprehensive national crime plan will leave no stone unturned from securing our borders to providing our police with the tools and support they need to protect you and your family.”
He is also promising health insurance for every St. Lucian, completing the St. Jude Hospital in the south of the island, and launching a Digital Learning Academy, “the first of its kind in St. Lucia offering certification in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, programming, and robotics”.
He said a EC$25,000 (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) Youth Start-Up Grant will empower young entrepreneurs to turn ideas into businesses, especially in the creative industries, technology, agriculture, and hospitality.
“And through our Mortgage Guarantee Programme, we will open the doors to ownership by helping young first-time buyers finally achieve the dream of owning affordable starter homes,” Chastanet said, promising also to honour any commitment to make public servants’ positions permanent, and to provide Christmas bonuses.
“In fact, under a UWP government, we will explore ways through dialogue to ensure civil servants receive an annual bonus they can count on every single year,” Chastanet said, appealing to those voters who did not exercise their franchise in the last general election to rethink their position this time around.
CMC/hg/ir/2025