SLP-organised protest demonstration in William Peter Boulevard.
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]t last Sunday’s SLP-organised protest march, former UWP government minister, now talk-show host Richard Frederick, was perhaps the day’s only surprise. And for several reasons, especially his implied closeness to Kenny Anthony, and for some of his declarations. For instance: “I want you to tell Chastanet I say I will be coming up for the next elections.”
Although the next elections are constitutionally due in 2021, Mr. Frederick predicted there would be a change of prime minister way before that.
“I’m seeing down the line,” he said, “and I see for Christmas, I see for Christmas there’ll be the installation of a new prime minister in this country and Richard Frederick will lead the charge. I will lead the charge. I will!”
He seemed to say who would replace Mr. Allen Chastanet before 2016 is out: “I call on you, Phillip J Pierre. I shall support you to become prime minister. I say this without hesitation.”
Meanwhile, at his party’s press conference on Wednesday, this was how Mr. Pierre responded to questions about the new relationship between the former UWP parliamentarian and the Labour Party:
“Richard Frederick spoke as an independent citizen on Sunday. Independent! Very independent.”
He added: “I am leader of the SLP. As we speak, we have six election candidates. I cannot read Mr. Richard Frederick’s mind. I’m not in a position to read Richard Frederick’s mind.”
Asked whether Mr. Frederick would be welcome among the SLP fold, Pierre was non-committal: “The SLP has a process by which it chooses its election candidates. Anybody who wants to run for the St. Lucia Labour party has to go through the process.”
