TALK of the election of city councilors to serve on the board of the Castries Constituency Council (CCC) came up again at yesterday’s ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of the elevation of Castries to a city.
Yesterday’s ceremony was also to officially open the re-modeled Castries City Hall building on Peynier Street which houses the office of the city’s eleventh mayor, Peterson Francis.
Over the years, several people of diverse political views within the ranks of the main political parties have expressed the need to revert to the time when councilors were elected by the people and not appointed by the political party in power.
Prime Minister Allen Chastanet has added his voice to the matter. He is of the view that if all members on the board of the Castries Constituency Council cannot be elected, then some should, particularly for certain positions.
The Constitutional Reform Commission also supported the call for holding local government elections, recommending that St. Lucia returns to the process of holding those elections which were held more than 32 years ago.
Local government elections were first held on February 27, 1851 by a proclamation dated February 18, 1851.