CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre said he remains “confident” that his St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP) will be returned to office in Monday’s general election.
“I am confident, my party is running on its record. It is clear. We were the first party to put out a book that speaks about its record, and I think the people of St. Lucia have seen what we have done,” Pierre told reporters after casting his ballot.
“We have impacted positively on the lives of almost every citizen,” he said, adding, “our destiny is in the hands of the people, and I trust the people of St. Lucia. I trust them to make the right choice, and inevitably, the option will be the St. Lucia Labour Party.
Pierre said he is pleased that voters were expressing themselves, “and what you see here is people expressing themselves, and I am happy with what I see, and I just hope that it manifests itself in the polling stations.
The leader of the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP), Allen Chastanet, said he was also pleased with the turnout, especially among the young people.
“Thank you to all the young people powering this movement for change. Your hope, your voice, and your vote matter. When you vote for the UWP, you’re voting for opportunity, fairness, and a country that invests in its youth.
“So talk to your friends, encourage them to vote, and let’s show the nation what’s possible when the youth lead with courage and purpose,” he wrote on his Facebook page after casting his ballot.
The Electoral Department said 180,000 voters are eligible to cast ballots and that it expects a free and fair general election in which the 44 candidates are seeking entry into the 17-member Parliament.
The contest is a straight fight between the SLP and the UWP.
In the last general election, the UWP won 13 seats, with two going to the UWP and two to “independent” candidates, Stephenson King and Richard Frederick, who later joined the government.
Both men are again contesting the election as independent candidates.
The 285 polling stations, which opened at 6.30 am (local time), will close at 6.00 pm, unlike previous occasions when voters had a 12-hour window to elect their representatives.
The polls are being monitored by observer teams from the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
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