Former Prime Minister and elected representative for Vieux Fort South Dr. Kenny D. Anthony has decided not to seek re-election at the next general election.
The veteran politician who has never lost his constituency seat in 28 years, reflected on his political career at a meeting in Vieux Fort South on Wednesday May 21st, 2025.
Now 74, Dr. Anthony sought to lay certain issues to rest while putting others into perspective.
In his 90-minute-long presentation, introduced with the song “By the rivers of Babylon”, Dr Anthony had high praise for his constituents and was extremely thankful for the opportunity to serve. He says he leaves politics with no malice or hatred and called for “civility and respect” in local politics, hallmarks of his time of his political life.
He served as Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister from 1997 to 2006 and again from 2011 to 2016.
The former Prime Minister highlighted a few initiatives installed during his tenure including The Poverty Reduction Fund, Proud, Universal Secondary Education and the Laptop Program. He reminded that his administration was responsible for the design and commencement of the Owen King European Union (OKEU) Hospital and the much-discussed STEP Program, a programme he said was targeted by St. Lucia’s previous administration. In defending the STEP programme he said, “we needed to make sure that everyone, despite their status in life, had an opportunity to benefit from the policies of the government of the day, so that we can have social peace, participation and our people would be able to join and participate in this economy.”
Dr. Anthony looked forward to the completion of the long-awaited St. Jude’s Hospital, however it was Universal Health Care that weighed heavy on his mind. He lamented, “never a day passes, when I hope and pray that this Labour Government will move far more quickly in introducing Universal Health Care, so that once and for all we will not allow St. Lucians to be embarrassed and beg other countries to provide them with health care.”
The former Prime Minister also dispelled rumors that he was involved in the process to select his replacement. He assured all that there was more to be said but reserved the right to speak further at the opportune time.
Dr. Anthony served as a member of CARICOM’s Eminent Persons Group (EPG), alongside former prime ministers Bruce Golding of Jamaica and Perry Christie of The Bahamas, working on regional efforts concerning the crisis in Haiti.
Prior to his 28-year stint in politics, the former Prime Minister was General Counsel at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat and a law lecturer at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus,
Wednesday’s meeting was not attended by other elected members of the ruling St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP). That was due to a request from the outgoing Vieux Fort parliamentary representative.