PM says elections will not be called during the SOE

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet has assured Saint Lucians that general elections will not be called during the ongoing state of emergency (SOE), which is set to end on September 30. During an interview on “The Morning Heat” program today, the prime minister was asked whether he has decided on the date when the public will go to the polls. Chastanet noted that this was his prerogative as prime minister and that his administration continues to review the situation. However, he urged Saint Lucians to take a “deep breath.”

“My party would never consider and never have elections during a SOE and I want to say to you why,” said the prime minister. “Saint Lucians, whether they’re members of my party or members of the Labour Party, have a sense of fairness. I remember when they put the nomination day on Saturday. There are a lot of people who supported the Labour Party, on that simple issue, didn’t support them on that because it’s not fair.”

Chastanet reminded the public that elections are not constitutionally due until mid next year and reiterated it will not be called in the SOE. He said that he does not expect the SOE to go past September. “People can just pause, take a deep breath,” he implored. “At the end of the day that’s the prerogative of the government and we will continuously review the situation and make a determination when we think the best time to have elections are going to be, obviously for the people of Saint Lucia and also for my party.

“But right now elections are not what’s on my mind. Right now what’s on my mind is the decision that we have to make this week with regards to opening the borders. What’s on my mind is trying to help some of the more vulnerable groups in our society, trying to spread the money that we have as much as we can and to affect them,” said Chastanet.

In an address to the nation last month, Opposition Leader Philip J. Pierre declared June 14 “the commencement of the Saint Lucia Labour Party’s election campaign to offload the burden of the UWP government from the backs of the people of Saint Lucia.” In addition to their 6 parliamentarians, the SLP has named five other candidates for the next elections:

Senator Joachim Henry– Castries South East
Emma Hippolyte- Soufriere
Wayne Girard- Anse La Raye/Canaries
Alfred Prospere– Dennery South
Senator Guibion Ferdinand– Micoud South

Last week the incumbent United Workers Party announced three candidates to contest Laborie, Dennery North and Castries East.