Having been decimated at the 2021 polls 15-2, the parliamentary opposition United Workers Party (UWP) appeared reorganised and re-energised during what was described as a National Public Meeting on September 7.

The event was held on the playing field in Micoud North, a constituency once represented by the late Sir John Compton and a seat the UWP had never lost until 2021. The event’s date, September 7, was memorable as it marked 18 years since Compton’s death, with several speakers paying tribute to the man who ushered Saint Lucia into Independence in 1979 and was the longest serving leader of the UWP.   

Last September, the UWP introduced two new candidates and confirmed five others who had served before. That event, held at William Peter Boulevard in Castries, paled in comparison to the September 7 rally, in terms of numbers, fervour and overall presentation. 

The rally drew thousands of supporters, representing various constituencies. Many arrived in vehicular convoys accompanied by music trucks, creating some traffic congestion along the way. The atmosphere appeared very festive, with the blaring of “party” songs and chants of “ring the bell,” a cry for the general elections to be called.   

The rally served to formally present the seventeen candidates contesting the upcoming general elections under the leadership of political leader  Allen Chastanet.

Chastanet told the party faithful, “Brothers and sisters, I see you all came ready for business tonight. So, I’m gonna get straight down to business. 

“Because there’s one decision that has been made tonight, that the United Workers Party and the people of Saint Lucia are ready for the Labour government to ring the bell,” he said to screams and applause from supporters.

Chastanet went on to share what he described as the beginnings of a plan to save Saint Lucia. He outlined a seven-point policy plan of what his party would begin to do from day one, if reelected.

“The first thing that we’re going to do after the election is that we will immediately terminate the punishing two-and-a-half per cent levy. That money belongs to you.

“The second thing that we will do within the first twenty days is that we will reduce the gas prices so that the people of Saint Lucia can breathe once again.”

The third point focused on healthcare, with Chastanet promising to introduce a health insurance plan with a value of EC$75,000 per citizen. 

“The fourth thing – I want the parents and particularly the young people of this country to listen to this one very carefully. The fourth thing that we’re going to be doing under our SOS program is to give free tuition to all of the students going to Sir Arthur Lewis Community College.” 

Reminding that the event was being held in Micoud, which was once a major farming belt and part of the “green gold” era, the focus then shifted to farmers. 

“All of those banana farmers that did not make a contribution to the NIC, that these men and women (pointing to the 17 candidates on stage), are gonna make sure that they get a pension. And for all those families in the last five years that have lost a person who was a farmer and did not get any pension, we will make a one-time payment to those families.” Chastanet indicated.

For the sixth point, he promised the elimination of the dredging tax on water bills for persons who live in the south. He reasoned that these people do not benefit from a water supply out of the Sir John Compton Dam for which the dredging fee was implemented ten years ago. 

“The seventh – sadly, we have witnessed a country that has gone out of control, a country that has experienced homicides that’s unprecedented. This is a government that is not serious on crime, this is a government that is allowing people to be in the police force that are undermining the integrity of the police force, and this cannot go on anymore. So I want to say to all the police officers in Saint Lucia, a United Workers Party will very soon be in government again, and we will restore the confidence in you.

“So, the United Workers Party, in getting into office will immediately reintroduce the border control and we will have K9 dogs at the airport… ports… and then we will make sure that our borders are safe and we stop the guns and ammunition coming into Saint Lucia.”

The UWP political leader ended with this: “I want all of us to leave with a mission tonight. That mission is that you took the first step in regaining our country, and that is by showing up tonight. But we must keep this energy alive because the job and the work is not done…we must remain focused. We must make sure that we mobilise everyone. You come out on the day of the election, which will be very soon. And make sure we put our “ti croix” next to the flambeau. It’s time for a change.”