Politics of Saint Lucia
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Administrative divisions (Quarters) |
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Politics of
History
Politics in St. Lucia was once dominated by the United Workers' Party (UWP), which, until 1997 had governed the country for all but three years since independence. John Compton was premier of St. Lucia from 1964 until independence in February 1979.
The Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) won the first post-independence elections in July 1979, taking 12 of 17 seats in parliament. A period squabbling within the party ensued, which led to several changes of prime minister. Pressure from the private sector and the unions forced the government to resign in 1982. New elections were then called and were won resoundingly by Compton's UWP, which took 14 of 17 seats.
The UWP was elected for a second time on 16 April 1987, but with only nine of 17 seats. Seeking to increase his slim margin, Prime Minister Compton suspended parliament and called new elections on 30 April. This unprecedented snap election, however, gave the same results as before—the UWP retained nine seats and the SLP eight. In April 1992, Prime Minister Compton's government again defeated the SLP, but this time increased its majority in parliament to 11 of 17 seats.
In 1996, Compton announced his resignation as prime minister in favor of his chosen successor Dr. Vaughan Lewis, former director-general of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Dr. Lewis became prime minister and minister of finance, planning and development on 2 April 1996. The SLP also had a change of leadership with former CARICOM official Dr. Kenny Anthony succeeding businessman Julian Hunte.
In elections held 23 May 1997, the St. Lucia Labour Party won all but one of the 17 seats in Parliament, and Dr. Kenny Anthony became Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Planning and Development on 24 May 1997.
In elections of 3 December 2001 the St. Lucia Labour Party won 14 of the 17 available seats. The leader of the UWP, Dr. Morella Joseph failed to win a seat. Arsene James was appointed the Leader of the Opposition.
In the general elections held on 11 December 2006 the UWP, once again led by Sir John Compton, defeated the SLP, winning 11 of the 17 seats. The next elections in St Lucia are constitutionally due in December 2011. The governing United Workers Party, and the opposition St Lucia Labour Party, along with the newly formed Lucian People's Movement, are expected to contest the next elections.
In June 2016, the United Workers Party (UWP), led by Allen Michael Chastanet, won 11 of the 17 seats in the general election, ousting the St Lucia Labour Party (SLP) of the incumbent Prime Minister Kenny Anthony.[1]
On 29 July 2021,
Executive branch
As head of state, King
Legislative branch
The
Political parties and elections
Judicial branch
St. Lucia has an independent judiciary composed of district courts and a high court. Cases may be appealed to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and, ultimately, to the Caribbean Court of Justice in Port of Spain. The island is divided into 10 administrative divisions, including the capital, Castries. Popularly elected local governments in most towns and villages perform such tasks as regulation of sanitation and markets and maintenance of cemeteries and secondary roads. St. Lucia has no army but maintains a paramilitary Special Service Unit within its police force and a coast guard.
Electoral boundaries
Saint Lucia's electoral boundaries are based, generally, on the 10
District | Constituencies |
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Gros Islet
|
Gros Islet |
Castries
|
Babonneau, Castries East, Castries South, Castries South East, Castries North, Castries Central |
Canaries
|
Anse la Raye and Canaries |
Soufrière
|
Soufrière |
Laborie
|
Laborie |
Vieux Fort
|
Vieux Fort North, Vieux Fort South |
Micoud
|
Micoud North, Micoud South |
Dennery
|
Dennery South, Dennery North |
Choiseul
|
Choiseul |
See also
References
- ^ "Allen Chastanet sworn in as new Saint Lucia Prime Minister". CARICOM. 7 June 2016.
- ^ "New Prime Minister to be sworn in today". Americas News Network. 28 July 2021.
- ^ "House of Assembly". Government of Saint Lucia. Retrieved 10 August 2021.