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St Lucia - Politics

Key Facts

  • Last Elections: December 2006
  • Next Elections: 2011
  • Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by governor-general, Dame Pearlette Louisy (1997–)
  • Head of Government: Prime Minister Stephenson King
  • Ruling Party: United Workers Party
  • Independence: 22 February 1979

In March 1996, at a United Workers Party (UWP) convention, John Compton lost the leadership, after 30 years, and was replaced as prime minister by Dr Vaughan Lewis.

An early general election in May 1997 resulted in a landslide victory for the St Lucia Labour Party (SLP), winning 16 of the 17 seats, with 61% of the votes, and SLP leader Dr Kenny Anthony became prime minister. Lewis resigned as leader of the UWP, having lost his seat.

In September 1997 the country’s first woman governor-general, Dr Pearlette Louisy, was appointed, following the resignation of Sir George Mallet.

Despite a deteriorating economic climate, Anthony’s administration received a vote of confidence in the December 2001 general election, when his SLP won 14 Assembly seats and the UWP 3.

Anthony stood for a third term in the December 2006 general election which was won by the opposition UWP with 11 seats while the SLP took six. UWP leader Sir John Compton, who had since 1964 served as head of government for a total of 29 years, became prime minister.

Following the death of Sir John Compton at the age of 82 in September 2007, Stephenson King, who had been acting for Compton during his illness, was sworn in as prime minister.

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