Saint Lucia Labour Party
Encyclopedia
The Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) is a social democratic political party
in Saint Lucia
. It currently holds ten of the 17 seats in the House of Assembly
.
held under universal suffrage in 1951, and led by party founder George F.L. Charles, the party won five of the eight seats. It retained all five seats in the 1954 elections
, and increased their majority to seven of the eight seats in 1957
and nine of the ten seats in 1961
.
In 1964
the party lost an election for the first time, with the United Workers' Party, born out of a schism from within the Labour Party led by John Compton
and eventual merger of the breakaway faction with the People's Progressive Party
, winning six of the ten seats, whit the Labour Party reduced to two. It gained a seat in the 1969 elections
, and increased their representation to seven seats in 1974
, although the UWP remained in power as the total number of seats rose to 17.
The Labour Party returned to power after winning the Saint Lucian general election, 1979
(12/17), lead by Allan Louisy, replaced as Prime Minister during the term by Winston Cenac
, himself replaced by Michael Pilgrim
. The 1979 elections were the first elections held following independence from the United Kingdom
, declared on 22 February 1979.
It lost the 1982 elections
to Compton's UWP when they were reduced to just two seats, challenged on their left by a breakaway faction, George Odlum
's Progressive Labour Party
taking 1 seat. It remained in opposition following the two elections of April 1987, increasing its presence to 8 seats in both contests, and in 1992
(6/17).
Lead by Dr. Kenny Anthony
, former cabinet minister in the 1979-1982 government, it won the 1997 elections
, taking 14 of the 17 seats. It remained in power after the 2001 elections
(14/17).
It lost the 2006 elections
to the UWP, who had called back John Compton as leader a year before - he had retired in 1996. Kenny Anthony remained leader of the party throughout its time as loyal opposition. The Labour Party won the Saint Lucian general election, 2011
(28 November, 2011), winning in 10 out of a 17-seats contest and defeating UWP leader Stephenson King
who had succeeded John Compton as Prime Minister (D. 2007, in office).
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia is an island country in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique. It covers a land area of 620 km2 and has an...
. It currently holds ten of the 17 seats in the House of Assembly
House of Assembly of Saint Lucia
The Parliament of Saint Lucia has two chambers. The House of Assembly is the popular elected chamber of the Legislature. It has 17 members, elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies.-Current Composition:...
.
History
The party was established in 1949, backed by the Saint Lucia Workers Cooperative Union. In the first electionsSaint Lucian general election, 1951
General elections were held in Saint Lucia on 12 October 1951. The result was a victory for the Saint Lucia Labour Party, which won five of the eight seats. Voter turnout was 59.1%.-Results:...
held under universal suffrage in 1951, and led by party founder George F.L. Charles, the party won five of the eight seats. It retained all five seats in the 1954 elections
Saint Lucian general election, 1954
General elections were held in Saint Lucia on 23 September 1954. The result was a victory for the Saint Lucia Labour Party, which won five of the eight seats. Voter turnout was 49.4%.-Results:...
, and increased their majority to seven of the eight seats in 1957
Saint Lucian general election, 1957
General elections were held in Saint Lucia on 18 September 1957. The result was a victory for the Saint Lucia Labour Party, which won seven of the eight seats. Voter turnout was 56.8%.-Results:...
and nine of the ten seats in 1961
Saint Lucian general election, 1961
General elections were held in Saint Lucia on 14 April 1961. The result was a victory for the Saint Lucia Labour Party, which won nine of the ten seats.-Results:...
.
In 1964
Saint Lucian general election, 1964
General elections were held in Saint Lucia on 25 June 1964. The result was a victory for the United Workers Party, which won six of the ten seats. Voter turnout was 51.9%.-Results:...
the party lost an election for the first time, with the United Workers' Party, born out of a schism from within the Labour Party led by John Compton
John Compton
Sir John George Melvin Compton, KBE, PC was the first, fifth and eighth Prime Minister of Saint Lucia in 1979, from 1982 to 1996, and from 2006 until his death. Compton, who previously led Saint Lucia under British rule from 1964 to 1979, was the country's first leader when it became independent...
and eventual merger of the breakaway faction with the People's Progressive Party
People's Progressive Party
There are several parties named People's Progressive Party:*People's Progressive Party *People's Progressive Party *People's Progressive Party *People's Progressive Party *People's Progress Party...
, winning six of the ten seats, whit the Labour Party reduced to two. It gained a seat in the 1969 elections
Saint Lucian general election, 1969
General elections were held in Saint Lucia on 25 April 1969. The result was a victory for the United Workers Party, which won six of the ten seats. Voter turnout was 53.2%.-Results:...
, and increased their representation to seven seats in 1974
Saint Lucian general election, 1974
General elections were held in Saint Lucia on 7 May 1974. The result was a victory for the United Workers Party, which won ten of the seventeen seats. Voter turnout was 84.1%.-Results:...
, although the UWP remained in power as the total number of seats rose to 17.
The Labour Party returned to power after winning the Saint Lucian general election, 1979
Saint Lucian general election, 1979
General elections were held in Saint Lucia on 2 July 1979. The result was a victory for the Saint Lucia Labour Party, which won twelve of the seventeen seats. Voter turnout was 68.0%.-Results:...
(12/17), lead by Allan Louisy, replaced as Prime Minister during the term by Winston Cenac
Winston Cenac
Winston Francis Cenac, Q.C. was a civil servant and politician from Saint Lucia. He was the third elected Prime Minister of independent Saint Lucia....
, himself replaced by Michael Pilgrim
Michael Pilgrim
Bryan Michael Pilgrim is a Saint Lucian politician. He served as Acting Prime Minister after the resignation of Winston Cenac on January 17, 1982. As agreed he served for four months and on his party's loss in the elections he was succeeded in May 1982 by John Compton, leader of the United...
. The 1979 elections were the first elections held following independence from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, declared on 22 February 1979.
It lost the 1982 elections
Saint Lucian general election, 1982
General elections were held in Saint Lucia on 3 May 1982. The result was a victory for the United Workers Party, which won fourteen of the seventeen seats. Voter turnout was 66.9%.-Results:...
to Compton's UWP when they were reduced to just two seats, challenged on their left by a breakaway faction, George Odlum
George Odlum
George William Odlum was a Saint Lucian left-wing politician who served as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. Born in Castries, Odlum studied at Bristol University and Oxford University in the United Kingdom before returning to Saint Lucia as Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Trade...
's Progressive Labour Party
Progressive Labour Party
The Progressive Labour Party is a minor political party in Australia. The party is a broad left-wing party started by, among others, dissident former members of the Australian Labor Party in 1996. The party alleges that Labor has abandoned its traditional working-class supporters as it has moved...
taking 1 seat. It remained in opposition following the two elections of April 1987, increasing its presence to 8 seats in both contests, and in 1992
Saint Lucian general election, 1992
General elections were held in Saint Lucia on 27 April 1992. The result was a victory for the United Workers Party, which won eleven of the seventeen seats. Voter turnout was 62.8%.-Results:...
(6/17).
Lead by Dr. Kenny Anthony
Kenny Anthony
Kenny Davis Anthony is a Saint Lucian politician who was the fifth Prime Minister of Saint Lucia from 1997 to 2006. As leader of the Saint Lucia Labour Party, he was Leader of the Opposition from 2006 to 2011 and returned to office as Prime Minister on 30 November 2011 following the 2011...
, former cabinet minister in the 1979-1982 government, it won the 1997 elections
Saint Lucian general election, 1997
General elections were held in Saint Lucia on 23 May 1997. The result was a victory for the Saint Lucia Labour Party, which won fourteen of the seventeen seats. Voter turnout was 66.1%.-Results:...
, taking 14 of the 17 seats. It remained in power after the 2001 elections
Saint Lucian general election, 2001
General elections were held in Saint Lucia on 3 December 2001. The result was a victory for the Saint Lucia Labour Party, which won fourteen of the seventeen seats. Voter turnout was 52.3%.-Results:...
(14/17).
It lost the 2006 elections
Saint Lucian general election, 2006
The 2006 Saint Lucia general election took place in Saint Lucia on 11 December 2006. The election was fought between the Saint Lucia Labour Party and the United Workers Party which between them dominated politics in Saint Lucia...
to the UWP, who had called back John Compton as leader a year before - he had retired in 1996. Kenny Anthony remained leader of the party throughout its time as loyal opposition. The Labour Party won the Saint Lucian general election, 2011
Saint Lucian general election, 2011
A general election was held in Saint Lucia on 28 November 2011.On 30 November, 2011 the Saint Lucia Labour Party chief was sworn in as prime minister and his party has won nine of the fifteen declared seats available so far....
(28 November, 2011), winning in 10 out of a 17-seats contest and defeating UWP leader Stephenson King
Stephenson King
Stephenson Toby King was the sixth Prime Minister of Saint Lucia. He represents the constituency of Castries North for the United Workers Party in the House of Assembly of Saint Lucia. King won the elections in 2006, unseating the incumbent Minister of Agriculture Ignatius Jean...
who had succeeded John Compton as Prime Minister (D. 2007, in office).