Succession is not just a TV show. Although the daily drama around the UWP and its party executive continue to treat it as such. After the first shellacking in 2021 and then followed by a more decisive stomping in 2025, the fact that the party still has no plan in place to move beyond Allen Chastanet is a cause for concern.
The cult-like faith displayed in the leader after the first election fiasco led to unfortunate selections as deputy party leaders whose decisive rejection at the polls for the second time twice( as some would say) have effectively, or should, damaged their chances at being party leader. The question of whether they would have been seen as electable if they had returned as MP’s is another question altogether.
Yes, we understand that throwing in an interim leader adrift without a plan or any feasible or viable way forward to the media, party supporters or the wider region is an issue, but why has it gone to this extreme ? The fact remains that unless they were not too damaged by the loss that the party’s choices lie in perhaps a Titus Preville or Stephen Fevrierre or if rehabilitated Tommy Descartes. The affable Herod Stanislaus or Bradley Felix losses at the polls may have doomed their leadership chances and perhaps they may seek to be the chairman of the party to replace Therold Prudent.
One thing is for sure there is no Sir John Compton in the wings ready to save them as they well know. Nor do any of the ex-UWPs who defected to the red code seem itching to jump across to resuscitate the drowning conservative party. Perhaps the answer lies in doing a John Compton by bringing in an outsider with pedigree who can help steer the ship and raise the party’s value in the eyes of Saint Lucian’s.
But who would leave a cushy job to hobnob with the locals with the current state that exists?
Maybe Aunty Gale may want to provide the party with a warmer softer side compared to the bombastic nature of her former colleague. Especially after they spoke so disparagingly of women and issues related to them such as period poverty and similarly related concerns.
Who knows, maybe someone from the more progressive SLP may decide to jump ship and hijack the party and provide it with a few lifejackets to stay afloat.
But what does the party need in order to be revitalized? The first thing is to determine whether they need a fighter, a healer or builder. And to be honest they (the executive) and fellow flambos need all three versions wrapped up in one.
The party needs to move forward from beyond their base which apparently fails to show up for elections as seen by the continued decline in many of their powerbases. Therefore, new voting blocs need to be derived in order to continue breathing life into the party. A leader who seeks to reform the party and provides a clean break from Chastanetnomics and Chastanet-acquired political philosophy may be in their best interest. Additionally, technocrats with experience and competence, real experience that deal with reality rather than obfuscation and telling lies that became its hallmarks are needed to provide the party with real pedigree.
The process needs to be one that is transparent and fair without the usual secrecy and subterfuge that was associated with the Chastanet period. No secret delegates or use of underhanded tactics that has often been the hallmark of the party. Moreover, a bench needs to be built for the party, rather than identifying a sole autocratic leader who is domineering and dictating the moves of everyone but rather an egalitarian and equitable bench in the manner that the SLP has Shawn, Alva ,Musa and their ilk.
Where would such a bench come from in such a depleted party? From their Youth Arm, which a former Prime Minister Stephenson King came from, deputy leaders who have leadership potential and a political base beyond the party as well as a proper shadow cabinet in the vein of Jimmy Fletcher. They need brilliant minds who many respect and view as a positive rather than a detriment.