General elections were held in Saint Lucia on 26 July 2021,BREAKING: Saint Lucia’s general election set for July 26 Caribbean News Global, 6 July 2021 having been constitutionally required by 12 October 2021. Voters elected all 17 members of the House of Assembly. The result was a victory for the opposition Saint Lucia Labour Party, which won 13 of the 17 seats in the House, while the ruling United Workers Party lost nine of its eleven seats, its worst result since 1997. It was the fourth consecutive election in which the incumbent government was defeated.
Electoral system The 17 elected members of the House of Assembly were elected by first-past-the-post in single member constituencies.
According to the constitution, elections for a new Parliament session can be held at the latest 5 years and 90 days after the opening of the previous session. The first session after the 2016 election was held on 12 July 2016, leaving the deadline in October 2021. Incumbent Prime Minister Allen Chastanet favoured a later date, stating in April 2021 his intent to avoid another outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Saint Lucia. On 5 July 2021, he announced that the election would be held on 26 July.
Campaign Political parties began announcing prospective candidates in December 2020.
On Nomination Day, 16 July, the governing United Workers Party (UWP) nominated candidates for all 17 constituencies. The opposition Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) nominated candidates for 15 constituencies, not fielding candidates in two constituencies where former UWP members campaigned as independents. The National Green Party (NGP) nominated candidates for eight constituencies.
Although the parties held campaign rallies, they mutually agreed not to allow motorcades after warnings from health authorities.
In June 2021 the UWP announced a five-point pledge of top priority items it would deliver if re-elected: the pledge included additional support for needy persons, a reduction in VAT, electronic textbooks for students and a health insurance programme covering all citizens.
The NGP was founded on 23 May 2021. For the upcoming election, the party announced food security to be its key issue, along with constitutional reforms that the UWP and SLP had not passed. The NGP also proposed increased spending on social services and tourism infrastructure; these projects would be funded by establishing a legal cannabis industry.
Conduct The Caribbean Community sent a team of ten election observers for the main election as well as the advance polls on 23 July, and gave a favourable initial assessment. Chaired by Alvin Smith, the five-member team from the Commonwealth also praised the conduct of the elections, but criticised the slow updating of the voter registry. The Organization of American States sent a team of twelve election observers.
Results The opposition SLP won a supermajority of 13 of the 17 seats, a gain of seven. This was the highest number of seats won by a single party since 1997. The UWP retained only two seats, those of PM Chastanet and Commerce Minister Bradley Felix, with the party facing its second worst performance in history, only behind the 1997 elections. Among its many loses, the UWP lost the Micoud North seat for the first time since independence. Two former UWP members running as independents, Stephenson King and Richard Frederick, won their seats, both by large margins.
By constituency Constituency Electorate Turnout %Political party Candidate Votes %Anse la Raye/Canaries8,6144,97857.79 Saint Lucia Labour Party (gain) Wayne Girard2,46851.6 United Workers Party Dominic Fedee2,30348.1 National Green Party Avalan Joseph160.3Babonneau12,9426,52450.41 Saint Lucia Labour Party (gain) Virginia Albert-Poyotte3,24550.9 United Workers Party Ezechiel Joseph3,13549.1Castries Central9,1023,68740.51 Independent (gain) Richard Frederick 2,09957.5 United Workers Party Sarah Flood-Beaubrun1,49441.0 National Green Party Aaron Alexander551.5Castries East12,7395,65844.41 Saint Lucia Labour Party Philip J. Pierre 3,70066.5 United Workers Party Fortuna C. Belrose1,82332.8 National Green Party Ubaidullah Muhammad400.7Castries North12,2825,32743.37 Independent (gain) Stephenson King 3,64369.5 United Workers Party Jeannine Giraudy-McIntyre1,53029.2 National Green Party Daisy Anna St. Rose370.7 Independent Nathalbert Earl George310.6Castries South9,5544,81050.35 Saint Lucia Labour Party Ernest Hilaire3,06464.8 United Workers Party Bertrand Birch Johannes1,63534.6 National Green Party Raffaele Cantoni330.7Castries South East15,0007,64250.95 Saint Lucia Labour Party (gain) Joachim Andre Henry 3,97852.9 United Workers Party Guy Joseph3,54147.1Choiseul9,5465,49857.59 United Workers Party John Bradley Felix2,84653.5 Saint Lucia Labour Party Pauline Antoine-Prospere2,46146.3 National Green Party Mary Gilberta St. Rose100.2Dennery North8,7054,62853.16 Saint Lucia Labour Party Shawn A. Edward2,41453.0 United Workers Party Angelina Phera Polius2,13346.8 National Green Party Wendel George100.2Dennery South5,3913,02856.17 Saint Lucia Labour Party (gain) Alfred Prospere1,54853.2 United Workers Party Edmund Estephane1,36446.8Gros Islet24,41812,29250.34 Saint Lucia Labour Party (gain) Kenson Joel Casimir7,07758.1 United Workers Party Lenard Montoute5,02441.3 National Green Party Andre De Caires700.6Laborie6,8703,42649.87 Saint Lucia Labour Party (gain) Alva Baptiste 2,17064.0 United Workers Party Francisco Jean Pierre1,21836.0Micoud North8,3144,12149.57 Saint Lucia Labour Party (gain) Jeremiah Norbert2,28356.5 United Workers Party Gale Rigobert1,73142.8 Independent Michael Philip St. Catherine260.6Micoud South7,5574,03053.33 United Workers Party Allen Chastanet2,30358.1 Saint Lucia Labour Party Guibion Ferdinand1,65641.8 Independent Melanie Fraites60.2Soufriere8,9035,04056.61 Saint Lucia Labour Party (gain) Emma Hippolyte 2,49950.7 United Workers Party Herod Adrien Stanislas2,43449.3Vieux Fort North6,9953,60151.48 Saint Lucia Labour Party Moses Jean Baptiste 2,08759.0 United Workers Party Vincent London1,45341.0Vieux Fort South9,6114,57047.55 Saint Lucia Labour Party Kenny Anthony 3,02067.5 United Workers Party Hermangild Francis1,45732.5Source: Electoral Department
Reactions Domestic SLP leader Pierre thanked the people of Saint Lucia for his party's win, promising to focus on healthcare and youth employment. PM Chastanet called Pierre to offer his congratulations. In a Facebook post, Chastanet thanked the UWP supporters and announced that the party will regroup. The NGP Deputy Leader Aaron Alexander congratulated the SLP and affirmed his party's willingness to work with them to improve the country.
International Grenada: Prime Minister Keith Mitchell and the opposition National Democratic Congress party both issued statements congratulating the SLP. Dominica: Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, leader of the Dominica Labour Party, congratulated Pierre and SLP in a radio interview: "Anytime there is a difficulty in a country, people feel more comfortable with the Labour Party in office." Antigua and Barbuda: Prime Minister Gaston Browne sent a letter of congratulations to Pierre.
Aftermath SLP leader Philip J. Pierre was sworn in as the new Prime Minister on 28 July. The new Cabinet was sworn in on 5 August in a ceremony attended by Antiguan PM Gaston Browne. It consisted of 13 ministers, including the two independent MPs, and two parliamentary secretaries.
Cabinet of Ministers ConstituencyPolitical PartyOffice HolderMinisterial OfficeCastries EastSaint Lucia Labour PartyPhillip J. PierrePrime Minister, Minister of Finance, Economic Development and the Youth Economy.Castries SouthSaint Lucia Labour PartyErnest HilaireMinister for Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information.Vieux Fort NorthSaint Lucia Labour PartyMoses Jn. BaptistMinister for Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs.Dennery NorthSaint Lucia Labour PartyShawn A. EdwardMinister for Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training.LaborieSaint Lucia Labour PartyAlva Romanus BaptisteMinister for External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs.SoufriereSaint Lucia Labour PartyEmma HippolyteMinister for Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs.Castries South EastSaint Lucia Labour PartyJoachim Andre HenryMinister for Equity, Social Justice and People's Empowerment.BabonneauSaint Lucia Labour PartyVirginia Albert-PoyotteMinister for the Public Service, Home Affairs, Labour and Gender Affairs.Gros IsletSaint Lucia Labour PartyKenson Joel CasimirMinister for Youth Development and Sports.Dennery SouthSaint Lucia Labour PartyAlfred ProspereMinister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development.Anse la Raye/CanariesSaint Lucia Labour PartyWayne D. GirardMinister in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Youth Economy.Castries NorthIndependentStephenson KingSenior Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Ports, Transport, Physical Development and Urban Renewal.Castries CentralIndependentRichard FrederickMinister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Housing and Local Government.Source: Caribbean National Weekly
Parliamentary Secretaries +Parliamentary SecretariesOffice HolderOfficeDr. Pauline Antoine-ProspereParliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training.Guibion Ferdinand Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information.Source: Caribbean National Weekly
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