St Lucians vote in general elections on Dec 11

by Ernie Seon

CASTRIES, St Lucia, Nov 16, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony Thursday night announced that general elections will be held in St. Lucia on December 11. Speaking to supporters at the Castries Market steps in the heart of the capital, Anthony, whose St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP) is seeking an unprecedented third term in office, said that Nomination Day will be on November 30. With a school bell in hand, the Prime Minister said that Parliament will be dissolved on Friday. The elections will be a straight fight between the ruling SLP and the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) led by veteran politician and former prime minister Sir John Compton. The SLP controls 13 seats in the Parliament and the UWP controlling three seats, with support from one independent member, a former UWP candidate. The Electoral Commission last week announced that it was ready for the polls and that 135,958 persons had been registered, an increase of 14,599 electors over the 2001 figure.