ST. LUCIA CURRENTLY IN AN ELECTION MODE
February 11, 2006
ST. LUCIA CURRENTLY IN AN ELECTION MODE
BUT IT IS BUSINESS AS USUAL!!!
St. Lucia is currently in an election mode, however somewhat low keyed since it would be firstly a Bye Election before the General Elections become due sometime before the end of March, 2007.
The St. Lucia Labour Party (S.L.P.) is heading for a Run Off on Sunday12th February, 2006 among the following persons, Messrs Peter Lansiquot, Senator Victor Phillip La Corbiniere and Mrs. Petra Nelson. seeking to represent Central Castries in the Capital. There were five persons originally who showed interest to battle for the nomination but two have dropped out, namely, Peterson Francis and Claude Paul, former Comptroller of Customs. The United Workers Party (U.W.P.) is yet to name a candidate to contest the Bye Election and the National Development Movement (N.D.M.) is silent while Mrs. Sarah Flood-Beaubrun of Organisation for National Empowerment (O.N.E.) is ahead of the pack being confident of if nothing else but that she will contest.
It is not smooth sailing at all for the major parties, the SLP is looking for two candidates for the General Elections in the constituencies of Micoud North where former SLP Senator Patrick Joseph is seeking to represent the constituency and Soufriere is vacant as Hon. Walter Francois has stated his intention not to contest the upcoming elections. The United Workers Party (U.W.P.) has been having to deal with Mrs Sarah Flood-Beaubrun of O.N.E. and Mr. Ausbert D’Auvergne of N.D.M. in attempting to merge into one party without success to date. Had it not been promised by the incumbent party to go to the polls with a new voters’ list, a snap elections would have found most if not all of the parties in disarray. Fortunately there are a few months to go before general elections could be called.
Unlike the pattern at election time in the More Developed Countries of Caricom, where investments are put on hold, St. Lucia is moving ahead at great pace. It is very likely that given the state of political development in the country that the incumbent party will be returned. It is business as usual on island, the planned projects are coming on stream and even Air Jamaica (the Love Bird) returns to St. Lucia on February 23, 2006. Airlifts are improving, hotel rooms are increasing daily and Bed and Breakfast accommodation is moving apace.
A new and interesting development will emerge beyond Cricket World Cup 2007 with B & B accommodation when this new mode of accommodate will help to make St. Lucia a more affordable destination. There is a vital role for B&B in the accommodation sector and it creates a price balance in the offering.
In the meantime, the Government of St. Lucia has signaled its intention to move forward with the Caricom Single Market (C.S.M.). Things are moving apace, there is no immediate evidence that the flood gates are opened and it is understandably so as the regulations to facilitate such movement is not quite in place. Although while the Government is moving ahead with the Caricom Single Market (C.S.M.), many of the citizens are still skeptical about the prospects for real development. The effects will take sometime to be felt but I am still convinced they can only be positive. My only concern is that it has come too late and I lament the fact that most of our trained people have exited to North America and Europe.
While there is still sometime before the Caricom Single Market (C.S.M.) comes into effect within the O.E.C.S., no effort should be spared to inform and educate the citizens about the challenges that face all citizens. The Development Fund is still struggling along and hopeful the support for the Fund will gain momentum. I am willing to predict that all those individuals and organizations that oppose or doubt the efficacy of this initiative will come to realize its benefits in due course.
Keep the Faith, God is in Charge!!!
Email: eaharrisdestiny@gmail.com