Five political parties have together registered 51 candidates for the December 3rd general election, with the ruling St Lucia Labour Party fielding a full slate of 17 candidates and the opposition United Workers Party featuring 16 candidates. The National Alliance candidates total nine, the Freedom Party four and the STAFF Party five. Two men run as independent candidates: Wilfred Daniels for Laborie and Dennis Dabreo for Dennery South. An unprecedented number of women are fighting for parliamentary seats in this election.
The SLP has three new faces in its line-up: Ignatius Jean (Castries North), Nicholas Jean Baptiste (Micoud North) and Felix Finisterre (Babonneau). After the collapse of the National Alliance for Unity, the UWP has come up with several new candidates for the December 3rd elections, including sportsman Lenard 'Spider' Montoute for Gros Islet, former magistrate Nigel Toussaint for Castries North, sociologist and lecturer Monica Casely for Castries East, meteorologist Mary Polius for Castries South-East and former school principal Arsene James for Micoud South. More familiar UWP candidates include former prime minister Dr Vaughan Lewis, deputy political leader Zephyrin Francis, and lawyer Marius Wilson.
Total newcomers are the five candidates for the STAFF Party - an initiative of Christopher Hunte, aimed at highlighting (and thereby criticising) the ridiculous elements of St Lucian politics.
Predictions for the general elections generally see a return to power of the St Lucia Labour Party, but opinions differ on the distribution of seats. Party hacks predict another 16-1 victory (or even 17-0) for the SLP, but based on the expectation of low voter turn-out (something which tends to disadvantage the ruling party), other observers foresee as many as seven seats for the UWP. An unknown factor in the upcoming elections is the effect which the smaller parties (Freedom Party, STAFF Party and Alliance) will have in terms of diffusing the force of the main opposition UWP.
The following is a list of the candidates for the December 3rd general elections:
1. Gros Islet: Mario Michel (SLP) / Lenard 'Spider' Montoute (UWP) / Gary Devaux (STAFF Party).
2. Babonneau: Felix Finisterre (SLP) / Dr Morella Joseph (UWP) /. John Smith (Alliance) / Richard Spooner (STAFF Party).
3. Castries North: Ignatius Jean (SLP) / Nigel Toussaint (UWP) / Jacintha Annius-Lee (Alliance) / Tribonus Adjodha (STAFF Party) / Martinus Francois (Freedom Party).
4. Castries Central: Sarah Flood-Beaubrun (SLP) / Dr Vaughan Lewis (UWP) / Esther Lee (Alliance) / Christopher Hunte (STAFF Party) / Lennox Laurencin (Freedom Party).
5. Castries East: Philip J Pierre (SLP) / Monica Casely (UWP) / Peter Josie (Alliance) / Roger Harris (STAFF Party) / Sheldon Elcock (Freedom Party).
6. Castries South: Jon Odlum (SLP) / Zephyrinus Francis (UWP) / Francis Pappin (Alliance).
7. Castries South-East: Menissa Rambally (SLP) / Mary Polius (UWP) / George Odlum (Alliance).
8. Dennery North: Anthony Torrence (SLP) / Marcus Nicholas (UWP).
9. Dennery South: Damien Greaves (SLP) / Barry Gustave (UWP) / Dr Jovita St Marthe (Alliance) / Dennis Dabreo (Independent).
10. Micoud North: Nicholas Jn Baptiste (SLP) / Marius Wilson (UWP).
11. Micoud South: Cassius Elias (SLP) / Arsene James (UWP) / Liliah Harracksingh (Alliance).
12. Vieux Fort North: Cecil Lay (SLP) / Bonny Poyotte (UWP).
13. Vieux Fort South: Dr Kenny Anthony (SLP) / Hilary Saltibus (UWP).
14. Laborie: Velon John (SLP) / Wilfred Daniel (Independent Labour).
15. Choiseul: Ferguson John (SLP) / Rufus Bousquet (UWP).
16. Soufriere: Dr Walter Francois (SLP) / Rhikki Alexander (UWP).
17. Anse la Raye/Canaries: Cyprian Lansiquot (SLP) / Petra Desir (UWP) / Dr Keith Mondesir (Alliance).