As the December 1 general election in Saint Lucia approaches, both major political parties, the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) and the United Workers Party (UWP), have yet to unveil their manifestos. These documents, which serve as public declarations of a party’s policies, aims, and ideology, are crucial for voters to understand the parties’ plans for governance.
The SLP, which campaigned in 2021 on the promise to ‘put people first,’ emphasized three core values: equity, respect for the rule of law, and inclusiveness. The party highlighted the severe economic contraction Saint Lucia faced in 2020, with a 23.8% decline, and a public debt nearing $4 billion. The SLP’s manifesto outlined measures to address economic decline, including focusing on housing, expanding the digital economy, and exploring health tourism. Additionally, the party pledged to revamp the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP), broaden financial services, and establish a youth economy. Other commitments included support for manufacturers and agro-processors, reestablishing banana marketing, and developing a medicinal and recreational cannabis industry. The SLP also promised to strengthen COVID-19 response, advance Universal Health Care, and enhance education by paying facility fees for all students and introducing TVET skills at the primary level.
On the other hand, the UWP, which won the 2016 election with its ‘five to stay alive’ campaign, titled its 2021 manifesto ‘5 for Five.’ The UWP countered the SLP’s narrative of economic decline, stating that Saint Lucia’s economy was poised for robust growth before the pandemic. The party’s five-point plan included introducing unemployment benefits, expanding monthly assistance for the needy, reducing VAT to 10%, and providing medical care for all. In its first 100 days, the UWP promised a $3 million Back to School Programme, unemployment insurance consultation, and national health insurance legislation. The party also pledged to support infrastructure projects like the Millennium Highway and West Coast project, as well as agricultural initiatives such as the seven-crop project and Banana Productivity Improvement Programme. The UWP’s plans for tourism included expanding hotel room stock to 8,000 and promoting village tourism. In health and education, the party proposed transforming St. Jude Hospital into a university hospital and aligning education more closely with global offerings.
Both parties have outlined comprehensive plans to address the economic, social, and political challenges facing Saint Lucia, but with the election just two weeks away, the delay in releasing their manifestos has left voters eagerly awaiting the details of their proposed policies.