Allen Chastanet has tendered his resignation as leader of the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP), less than a week after he led the party to a second consecutive defeat in general elections here on Monday.
Chastanet, 65, a former prime minister was the only candidate from the UWP to have won a seat in the elections, which was won by the ruling St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP) headed by Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre, who is expected to be sworn into office later on Friday.
The SLP won 14 of the 17 seats in the Parliament, while the two “independents”, Stephenson King, a former prime minister and Richard Frederick, both of whom served in the last Pierre administration regained their seats.
In the 2021 general election, the UWP under Chastanet won two seats.
In a statement, the UWP said it had convened a “critical meeting….it’s first since the party’s defeat” in the elections “to engage in a thorough and candid assessment of the party’s current standing and future direction.
“During the course of the meeting, the chairman of the United Workers Party, Therold Prudent, formally advised the gathering that he is in receipt of a letter from the political leader, Allen Chastanet, in which MR. Chastanet tenders his resignation as political leader of the United Workers Party.
“It is to be formally tabled for consideration by the national executive at its next scheduled meeting during the second week of December 2025. The UWP remains committed to transparency, democracy or democratic processes and the continued advancement of its mission of service to the people of St. Lucia,” the statement noted.
Chastanet, who served as prime minister from 2016-2021,was elected leader of the UWP in 2013. He has so far made no public statement regarding his decision to resign. (CMC)
