标签： Saint Lucia

In a national address on Tuesday evening, Dr. Ernest Hilaire, Saint Lucia’s Minister for Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information, as well as Deputy Prime Minister, outlined the government’s achievements and future plans ahead of the upcoming general elections. Representing Castries South in Parliament, Hilaire emphasized the nation’s progress since July 2021, particularly in attracting private investment and fostering economic resilience.

As the general election in Saint Lucia approaches, Housing Minister Richard Frederick is vigorously campaigning to retain his seat in Castries Central. Frederick, who has branded himself as an Independent Labour Candidate, has reaffirmed his alignment with the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP). During his tenure, he has served as the Minister for Housing and Local Government under Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre’s administration. Frederick is now facing competition from Rosh Clarke of the United Workers Party and independent candidate Stanley Felix. At a recent gathering of SLP supporters, Frederick emphasized his contributions to the city’s infrastructure, including the construction of vending booths, the redevelopment of Bideau Park, the renovation of Darling Road Plaza, and the creation of an amphitheater in Serenity Park. He attributed the city’s transformation to the SLP government’s efforts, stating that Castries had been neglected between 2016 and 2021. Frederick urged constituents to reelect him, promising further development and even comparing the future of Castries to Dubai. He also took a swipe at his opponent Stanley Felix, highlighting Felix’s previous electoral losses in the constituency. Frederick expressed confidence in his reelection, predicting that he would set a record by winning the seat five times, while Felix would suffer a third defeat.

As Saint Lucia gears up for its December 1 general election, the Electoral Department has reported a significant increase in the number of independent candidates vying for parliamentary seats. Chief Elections Officer Herman St. Helen highlighted this trend in an interview with St. Lucia Times, noting that Micoud North has emerged as the constituency with the highest interest, attracting approximately five independent candidates. Other constituencies, including Vieux Fort South, Castries North, and Anse La Raye/Canaries, have also seen notable activity, with at least two independent candidates each. However, the official list of candidates will only be confirmed on Nomination Day, November 21. St. Helen emphasized that the Electoral Department is nearly fully prepared for the upcoming polls. Key preparations include training returning officers to manage the election process across all 17 electoral districts. In a move to enhance accessibility, all polling stations will be situated on ground floors to accommodate voters with disabilities, and voting instructions will be displayed in both English and Creole. Additionally, the department is finalizing the electoral list and prioritizing voter identification card verification, urging citizens to verify their ID cards to ensure a smooth voting process.

Stanley Felix, former President of the Senate and independent candidate, officially kicked off his campaign season with a public meeting in New Village on Tuesday night. Under the banner ‘Serving People, Stirring Change,’ Felix unveiled his comprehensive plans to address key social issues in Castries Central, including improved housing access, support for single mothers, and government-sponsored bus passes for schoolchildren. Felix, who announced his independent candidacy on October 13 via DBS Television, is making a political comeback after narrowly losing the Castries Central seat in 2011. This time, he will face Richard Frederick, now representing the Labour Party, and Rosh Clarke of the United Workers Party (UWP), both running as independents. Felix emphasized that his decision to re-enter politics stems from a commitment to directly serve the people and tackle long-standing challenges in the constituency. He pledged to make land more accessible for young families, enabling them to build stable lives. Additionally, Felix proposed a government-funded bus pass program for schoolchildren, addressing the financial burden on parents. He also highlighted the struggles of single mothers, promising to introduce social programs and after-school workshops to empower them. Reflecting on Castries Central’s past as a thriving hub of sports, culture, and talent, Felix vowed to restore its vitality and urged residents to join his ‘Orange Movement’ for transformative change.

The United Kingdom has ceased sharing intelligence with the United States regarding suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean, citing concerns over the legality of US military strikes. According to sources familiar with the matter, the UK believes these strikes violate international law and does not wish to be complicit in what it considers illegal actions. This decision marks a significant departure from the UK’s traditionally close intelligence-sharing relationship with the US and reflects growing skepticism about the US military’s campaign in Latin America. For years, the UK, which controls several Caribbean territories housing intelligence assets, has assisted the US in locating suspected drug vessels for interdiction by the US Coast Guard. However, after the US began launching lethal strikes against these vessels in September, the UK grew concerned that its intelligence might be used to select targets for these attacks. The intelligence pause began over a month ago, coinciding with the UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk’s condemnation of the strikes as “extrajudicial killings.” The UK aligns with this assessment, sources told CNN. The British Embassy in Washington and the White House declined to comment, while a Pentagon official stated that the department does not discuss intelligence matters. The Trump administration has defended the strikes, arguing that suspected traffickers pose an imminent threat to Americans and are “enemy combatants” in an “armed conflict” with the US. However, legal experts and senior US defense officials have questioned the legality of the campaign, with some expressing concerns that the strikes violate international law. Canada, another key US ally, has also distanced itself from the military strikes while continuing its partnership with the US Coast Guard under Operation Caribbean.