St Lucians vote in general election today

CASTRIES (CMC):

St Lucians head to the polls today to elect a new government with the leaders of the two main political parties seeking both divine intervention and the goodwill of the voters in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.

Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre, who is leading the St Lucia Labour Party (SLP) into a general election for the second consecutive occasion, called the poll almost one year of the constitutional deadline and remains confident that the party will maintain or even improve on the 13 seats it won in the July 2021 election.

“St Lucia, tomorrow we make our voices heard. Make a plan to vote. Ensure that you know the location of your polling station. The only way to ensure continued progress for all, is to put the X next to the STAR,” the 71-year-old Pierre wrote on his Facebook page on Sunday.

“ ... It is an honour to serve you. We have come this far because we moved forward together. And tomorrow, you decide if we continue this journey we started. Let us hold the line. Let us stand together. Let us move forward together. May God bless you, and may God bless our beloved St Lucia,” Pierre added.

YELLOW WAVE

Not to be outdone, Allen Chastanet, who is leading the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) into the general election, also appealed for support.

“As our nation prepares to vote tomorrow, we ask for Your peace, wisdom and protection. Calm every anxious heart, keep every community safe and guide us to choose leaders who will uplift our people,” he, too, wrote on his Facebook page.

“Bless our election workers, our officers, and every citizen who will cast a vote. Let unity triumph over division, hope over fear and truth over confusion. Lord, watch over St Lucia. May tomorrow bring clarity, calm and a better future for all,” he wrote.

Addressing the last major rally of the party in Choiseul on the southwest of the island on Saturday night, Chastanet, 65, said that he has the right team “that is going to develop St Lucia and bring you hope once again”.

He said the UWP is hoping to replicate the victories of political parties in the Caribbean where “yellow is the code”.

“Yellow is taking over the Caribbean … . We had our sister party in Trinidad and Tobago bring hope to the Trinidadians, and, two nights ago, our bothers and sisters in St Vincent and the Grenadines took down the Comrade [Ralph Gonsalves] himself … and brought victory and they say yellow is the colour,” Chastanet said.