With every one of his new candidates launched and ready to go, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre may have only one major event before letting the nation know which Monday general elections will be held.
Last weekend the St. Lucia Labour Party {SLP} launched Keithson “Kiffo” Charles at the La Fague Playing Field in what was another massive showing by Labour Party supporters, a crowd that mirrored or surpassed recent SLP launchings. The SLP recently launched Lisa Jawahir for Castries Southeast, Danny Butcher for Vieux Fort South, Shanda Harracksingh for Micoud South and John Paul Estephane for Babonneau.
Charles will come up against Bradley Felix in the battle for the Choiseul / Saltibus seat, one of two seats retained by the United Workers Party {UWP} after the last general election held on July 26th, 2021.
General elections are constitutionally due in mid-2026, however it is widely suspected that the Prime Minister will make an announcement before the year is up.
Last weekend’s event brought together all 17 SLP candidates equipped with huge crowds of constituency support for good measure, seemingly ready for election day.
Before Keithson Charles could take the stage for the official presentation, a number of speakers stood at the podium with words of encouragement and endorsement, and all secured in their thinking that the SLP will win the impending general election. A brave Laborie Parliamentary Representative Alva Baptiste went a step further and predicted a clean sweep for the ruling SLP. “Both the mood and the code are red. Because there have been real economic development in St. Lucia. Keithson is coming in at a time when we are going to experience the most interesting results ever in the history of politics in this country, a 17-nought.” After taking aim at Bradley Felix for his part in the DSH deal and other issues during the Allen Chastanet administration it was time for the Choiseul hopeful to make his entrance.
Charles for his part, preceded by cultural music and traditional dance in attire to suit, was quick to define his position saying that he was “not a stranger asking for your vote” but rather “a neighbour asking for your trust.” His presentation was centered mainly around the Choiseul/Saltibus constituency, describing himself as a son of the constituency and a product of the SLP. He proclaimed, “A new beginning where representation is not a title that you hold but a service that you give. A new beginning where our community’s voice is the loudest voice in the room. A new beginning where a promise made in Saltibus is a promise kept in cabinet and the parliament in Castries.”
The SLP is expected to present the full slate of endorsed candidates again before the general elections are announced.