Now that the elections dust is settled, many will seek big bites of the red cherry – from pecuniary awards to peculiar rewards, to bouquets of red roses.
All that’s to be expected, but there’s also evidence politics here is changing for the better, as seen in the very-welcome fact that neither Big Money, nor Social Media Propaganda changed voters’ minds during the 21-day elections campaign.
While United Workers Party (UWP) candidates were arrested and questioned over loads of cash on Election Day, ruling party supporters and campaigners were merely going through the merry motions with certainty — like prematurely celebrating a sure victory.
For Labourites, there was never a moment of doubt, instead just anxious hope their party would win ‘All 17’ seats.
Indeed, the election was won by Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre long before he set and called the election date on November 9, with a 21-day window.
At no time during the campaign was there the slightest indication the UWP would or could defeat the SLP, as so-loudly-claimed by mega-blabbermouths dreaming awake they’d return to office.
Besides, in or out of office, the SLP has developed the superior organizational skills to mount and better-manage election campaigns — and that was again quite evident between November 10 and December 1.
The party’s Secretariat and constituency offices operated efficiently, and candidates’ teams combed the election battlefields to ensure every available voter cast their ballots, if only to drive the final nails into the major opposition party’s electoral coffin.
But it was all possible only because of the leadership offered by Philip J. Pierre, who was roundly doubted by critics when he said – early in his day — he was more-ready for the job than any of his eight predecessors.
A former Deputy Prime Minister, Pierre had led every major ministry before taking office in 2021, including Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Cooperatives, Consumer Affairs, International Financial Services, Ports, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
He’d also been Deputy Leader of the SLP for three terms until becoming Leader in his fourth, after winning his seat six consecutive times – and before becoming Prime Minister.
After four years as Prime Minister, Chairman of Cabinet and Minister for Finance, Economic Development, National Security and The Youth Economy, having steered the economy from crisis to recovery with growth and leading a government that consistently delivered on its promises, voters generally decided this was the type of leader they wanted to keep.
As a result, Castries East gave him a seventh consecutive win — and Saint Lucia gave his SLP-led government an extra seat, dealing the opposition its second worst defeat in four years.
Thing is, ministers, candidates and elections teams rallied around their leader and worked to deliver their 2021 campaign promises — and to conduct the respectful, positive campaign that he (again) led by example.
The SLP delivered and all who worked hard during the campaign did so by dint of duty and responsibility to the party, but they didn’t do it alone.
Completion of the St. Jude Hospital — as promised by the SLP and delivered by Rayneau Gadjadhar – was a major factor confirming the Prime Minister’s determination to simply continue delivering on promises.
And long before that – during the Carnival season back in June and July — the island’s calypsonians had made it clear the country was set to keep the SLP in office, because (as per one rendered testimony): ‘My Government Working!’
Simply put, everyone who supported Labour in 2025 played their part to ensure the party and government sang from Philip J. Pierre’s proverbial hymn sheet, a choir in constant chord and chorus with conductor, to ensure harmony in and of consonance and delivery.
Unlike in the UWP where those opposed to the leader’s modus operandi have never summoned the courage to stand-up to him without fear of expected punitive reaction, SLP’s leadership in party and government always remained at-one with Pierre, who’s never been challenged — even by competing deputies.
Saint Lucians saw in Pierre’s first term another new SLP leader bringing and delivering the hopes Dr Kenny D. Anthony brought in 1997; and like in 2001, they’ve given the party and its leader a second term in 2025 as deserving pass-marks earned by the party’s published 35-page report card on deliveries.
But it’s all got to do with the man and his mission – the way Pierre has persevered from being looked-down-upon by lighter-skinned high-up locals as ‘The Little Black Boy from Marchand’, who would become the man to defeat their party with its two worst successive election drubbings ever in 2021 and 2025.
The electorate saw and welcomed how he paid homage and tribute to the UWP’s once-impregnable Romanus Lansiquot, who he defeated to start his own never-ending win streak in Castries East.
They saw and heard how he settled a 50+ years-old land dispute in Gros Islet that had been ignored by governments since the mid-1970s.
And they saw Lady Janice Compton (wife of the late UWP Founding Leader) join her brother-in-law (former Opposition Leader Julian R. Hunte) at Prime Minister Pierre’s second swearing-in ceremony.
That was enough to remind all who did that the leader they voted to retain is both propeller and rudder, while also the helmsman keeping the SLP’s good ship thrusting steadily ahead as it’s been since he took-over in 2016, through to 2021.
And the electorate was convinced – way ahead of Election Day — that his ‘Putting People First’ campaign in his first four years, had made him the prime of prime ministers he’s turned-out to be.
Now comes that hard part that too many seem to forget: winning office is only the start of five years of expectations for delivery at all levels.
Re-elected governments and leaders must always be as clear in focus and purpose as possible – leadership qualities Philip J. Pierre has demonstrated as Political Leader and Prime Minister in his first term.