SLP sweep
Publication: Sun on Saturday
Date: Sat, May 24, 1997
Page: 1
from Terry Ally in St. Lucia
St. LUCIANS voted for change with a vengeance, yesterday.
The ruling United Workers' Party (UWP) was unceremoniously kicked out of office after the St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP) captured 16 of the 17 seats in an historic general election.
SLP supporters last night erupted in an explosion of frenzied celebrations all over the island, following their party's landslide victory; UWP supporters hung their heads in shock and dismay, their party badly humiliated at the polls.
New Prime Minister-designate Kenny Anthony, who easily won his seat in Vieux Fort South over Peter Josie, told St. Lucians last night that the magnitude of the victory was a surprise to him.
"I am very overwhelmed, I did not expect that the voice of the people of St. Lucia would have been so decisive," he said, and declared today a public holiday.
He thanked all those who voted for his party and assured them of a home in the SLP. He promised a Cabinet by Monday and said his first priority would be to transform the banana industry.
"Democracy is safe in the hands of the SLP ... I will work hard not to disappoint St. Lucians."
Former Prime Minister Vaughan Lewis, whom St. Lucians regarded as having entered the Government through the back door, was among the first to lose his seat in the UWP camp. He conceded defeat at 10:19 p.m.
In a brief two-minute statement he appealed to the SLP not to harm in any way supporters of the UWP, who have felt intimdated over the last few weeks.
He wished Kenny Anthony and his new government well and said he hoped that in the coming period there would be peace and tranquility.
Lewis lost to a first-timer, 21-year-old Farah Lucy-Slood. That seat was previously held up to last year by the long-serving George Mallet.
Deputy Prime Minister Louis George was the lone winner on the UWP side. He won his seat over the SLP's Abel Wilson in Micoud North.
The SLP recaptured the Gros Islet seat which was held by previous SLP leader Julian Hunte, who quit the party last year to go Independent.
First-timer Michael Michel, deputy leader of the SLP, won in every ballot box.
St. Lucians turned out in tens of thousands in yesterday's election, the largest turn-out since Independence in 1979.
Early in the day, the large turn-out raised the hopes of the St. Lucian Labour Party, which had languished in opposition for the last 15 years.
Up to late last night, final figures were not available, but Chief Electoral Officer McClair Daniel estimated voter turn-out at more than 70 per cent.
Voter turn-out in 1979 stood at 68 per cent when the SLP won the polls. Since then it fluctuated between 60 and 65 per cent when the UWP was successful.