By Marvlin Anthony
Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet has made it clear that individuals can contest his leadership “at any point” if they are not pleased with his performance.
After the United Workers Party (UWP) lost the 2021 election to the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP), some of the UWP’s supporters argued it was time for the Opposition Leader to resign.
Nonetheless, Chastanet remained unchallenged during the UWP’s convention on March 2 of this year.
As to whether he thinks he’s the right leader for the party, Chastanet told THE VOICE, “That’s a decision for United Workers Party to make. We have a process, I have regular conventions [and] people are free to contest my leadership at any point but I will say to you even more importantly, I’ve surrounded myself with… people that can take over the leadership of this… party at any time and that’s what I’m here for.”
“I will not be here forever,” Chastanet emphasised, adding, “I have my frailties and time will catch up with me, but I want to make sure that there’s a succession plan and that we have men and women… who are capable of taking over the leadership of this party.”
Some of his critics who believe it is time for Chastanet to step down have also said that the UWP is no longer what it once was.
But the Opposition Leader has rubbished those claims.
“The United Workers Party is modernised. We have young people coming into this party that are exceptional; all these people are not at the end of their careers, they’re at the peak of their careers and [we’re] bringing this talent now to the forefront with the same ideology and the same vision of where United Workers Party started and literally it’s all relative,” he said.
“Where Sir John started in the 60s… lack of infrastructural development [for example] we’re saying the same thing; this country cannot grow because we don’t have enough infrastructure, both human and physical and we have a clear ambition with young people who have experience in taking this country to the next level. Those persons who are saying that it’s not Flambeau are saying that out of convenience,” Chastanet declared.