ST. JOHN’S, Antigua -- For those of us who have seen and enjoyed the magnificent beauty of the Pitons volcanic peaks, we will attest to the many other natural attractions which this eastern Caribbean member nation of the Caribbean Community has to offer.
On December the 11th, the voting population of just over 135,958 persons, (according to the Electoral Commission), are eligible to make a choice as to the composition of seventeen parliamentary hopefuls who will determine their future government. It is predominantly a choice between the St. Lucia Labor Party of Dr. Kenny Anthony and the United Workers Party of Sir John Compton.
According to the St Lucian constitution section 33: "(1) Each of the constituencies established in accordance with the provision of section 58 of [the] Constitution shall return one member to the House who shall be directly elected in such manner as may, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, be prescribed by or under any law.
“(2) a) Every Commonwealth citizen of the prescribed age who possesses such qualifications relating to residence or domicile in Saint Lucia as Parliament may prescribe shall, unless he is disqualified by Parliament from registration as a voter for the purpose of electing members of the House, be entitled to be registered as such a voter in accordance with the provisions of any law in that behalf, and no other person may be so registered, b) Every person who is registered as aforesaid in any constituency shall, unless he is disqualified by Parliament from voting in that constituency in any election of member so the House, be entitled so to vote, in accordance with the provisions of any law in that behalf, and no other person may so vote. c) For the purpose of this subsection the prescribed age shall be the age of twenty-one years or such lower age, not being less than eighteen years, as Parliament may prescribe.
“(3) In any election of members of the House the votes shall be given be ballot in such manner as not to disclose how any particular person votes.”
Kenny Anthony led the St Lucia Labor Party to victory and won a second term as prime minister in December 2001, gaining 14 of the 17 contested seats. The remaining seats belong to the United Workers Party.
In what is clearly a pre-election message a confident Dr Anthony indicated that St. Lucia's GDP in the nine years since 1997 had grown steadily, from 3.3 percent in 1998 to a record 5.4 percent in 2005; and he revealed there was a current forecast of 6.0 percent growth for 2006.
He also said that his government had invested over $140 million in the banana industry and further indicated that the efforts of his government "have created wealth and employment for our people" and "resulted in unemployment reaching a fifteen-year low of 15.3 percent."
These positive words have not stopped major defections of persons from his party to the UWP. These include former Minister for Women's Affairs in the SLP Administration Sarah Flood-Beaubrun and more recently Attorney at Law and former Chairperson of the SLP's Castries Central Constituency Group, Petra Nelson. For his part, Sir John Compton is singing the song, "Captain the Ship Is Sinking," in apparent reference to SLP's problems and what he perceives as his party's bright prospects of being victorious.
It appears that rising levels of crime and unemployment and also allegations of corruption are among the issues being debated in this election.
Among the latest acts involving murder is the death of Sherry Anne Mayers, who was found lying in a pool of blood, in her home. It is reported that she received multiple stab wounds in her home, allegedly as a result of domestic violence. With a record level of homicides for this year (around 20), there clearly is a need for attention to be given to the social ills, which contribute to anti-social and even deadly behavior. This problem appear to exist in a number of sectors within the Caribbean Community.
What is clear is that St. Lucians must choose look carefully at the options presented before them and do a checklist. In speaking with a number of persons this checklist will include the following top 10 items: which party will tackle corruption; which party will reduce unemployment; which party's leader inspires the most confidence in their leadership?; which party has a long-term development plan; which party has the most convincing "election slate?;” which party has a plan for the banana industry?; which party has the best plan to fight crime?; which party has a tourism plan?; which party demonstrates the strongest commitment to CARICOM/ECCU and which party is perceived as being more honest in desiring to address voters and their concerns?
Whichever party is able to answer most of these questions to the satisfaction of the electorate, will be the party that wins the 2006 election.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Clarence E Pilgrim is as an advocate for social justice and human rights and works as an educator and a senior officer in the Antigua & Barbuda Civil service.
