Allen Chastanet has stepped down as leader of St. Lucia’s main opposition United Workers Party (UWP), less than a week after leading the party to its second consecutive general election loss.
Chastanet, 65, a former prime minister, was the sole UWP candidate to retain a seat in Monday’s vote, which delivered a decisive victory to the ruling St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP). Prime Minister Phillip J. Pierre’s SLP won 14 of 17 parliamentary seats, while former prime minister Stephenson King and Richard Frederick — both independents who served in Pierre’s last administration — also secured their seats.
The results marked a further setback for the UWP, which won only two seats in the 2021 general election under Chastanet’s leadership.
In a statement on Friday, the UWP said it held a “critical meeting” — its first since the defeat — to assess the party’s future. During the meeting, chairman Therold Prudent informed members that he had received a resignation letter from Chastanet, formally tendering his departure as political leader.
The letter will be presented to the party’s national executive in mid-December for official consideration.
“The UWP remains committed to transparency, democracy, and democratic processes and the continued advancement of its mission of service to the people of St. Lucia,” the party said.
Chastanet, who led the country from 2016 to 2021 and has headed the UWP since 2013, has not yet issued any public comment on his decision to step down.
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