SAINT LUCIA Labour Party (SLP) leader Philip J. Pierre won an overwhelming vote of confidence as Party Leader Sunday.
The vote took place at the closed session of the SLP convention at Fond St Jacques, Soufriere.
During a secret ballot, 273 votes were cast in Pierre’s favour and 3 against.
“I am very pleased with the results,” the SLP Leader said following the vote.
Pierre explained that the vote of confidence in the party leader is taken at every convention, as stipulated by the SLP constitution.
He expressed the hope that the vote on Sunday would be the beginning of the SLP returning to office for the benefit of the people of Saint Lucia.
Pierre has served in various government ministries and has been an MP since 1997.
He also served as Deputy Prime Minister and has held various posts in the SLP including Chairman, Treasurer, 2nd Deputy and 1st Deputy Leader.
Asked to respond to his critics who have questioned his leadership ability, he told St Lucia Times that he comes to the job “with experience and competence.”
The Soufriere meeting marked the end of the annual conference, the first leg of which was held a week earlier in Laborie.
This is the second time Pierre had won an overwhelming vote of confidence from the SLP’s rank and file since he took over as Leader following the surprise resignation of former Prime Minister Dr Kenny D. Anthony minutes after the results of the June 16, 2016 general elections results were announced.
In recent months Pierre has led the SLP in two major public demonstrations and he has given notice that the Opposition in Parliament intends to introduce a motion for a Vote of No Confidence in the Government of Prime Minister Allen Chastanet.