‘He is a leader who divides’: Estephane lambastes Chastanet

In a dramatic political shift, former United Workers Party (UWP) MP Edmund Estephane publicly declared his support for the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) during a rally in La Caye, Dennery on November 12. Estephane, who previously represented Dennery South from 2006 to 2021, delivered a blistering critique of the UWP’s leadership, particularly targeting party leader Allen Chastanet and deputy leader Guy Joseph. He accused them of squandering their opportunity to govern and vowed they would never lead the country again. Estephane’s decision to switch allegiance follows a period of intense backlash, including death threats, after he appeared at an SLP event earlier in the campaign season. At the rally, he urged constituents to re-elect incumbent Alfred Prospere and endorsed his brother, John Paul Estephane, for the Babonneau seat. In a symbolic gesture, Estephane removed his white shirt to reveal a red one, signaling his new political alignment with the SLP. “The mood is red,” he concluded, marking a definitive break from his former party.