Who will win 2021 St Lucia elections?

Castries, St Lucia: All United Workers Party (UWP) and St Lucia Labour Party (SLP) candidates filed their nominations on Friday as the country goes into general elections on July 26, 2021.

Even though the elections were delayed for a few months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, people are happy to vote for favourite candidates and parties.

While St Lucia Labour Party (SLP) is contesting elections with a new Prime Minister face Philip J. Pierre, the United Workers Party (UWP) is all set to have Allen Chastanet for the position again. Even though Pierre is a new face for the office, he had been in politics since 1997. He had been a parliamentary representative for the Castries East constituency for more than two decades.

Both parties are on their head and toes to campaign for the big day. While UWP is indulging more in public meetings, SLP is keeping it more virtual because of the ongoing coronavirus.

After the COVID-19 pandemic devastated a significant portion of the St Lucian economy, many people are now unemployed, striving for survival. The lack of jobs also resulted in several people ending their lives because of depression.

Social Activists on the island country believe that nobody is discussing the loss of lives due to mental depression during the economic fall caused by the pandemic. WIC News spoke to Tiffany Jones, a social worker operating an NGO named "Youth at Risk", who said that the country relies on tourism which was impacted by a coronavirus. She said there had been major joblessness, and people are out of money while some had to move out of the rented apartments.

Ms Jones said that while St Lucia lost 87 precious lives to the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus is also responsible for the deaths of numerous other people who were indirectly affected by the virus. From the initial expressions and exit votes, the situation seems to lean in SLP's way.

Lambert Popo, a St Lucian voter, said, "My vote will be counted I bringing Chastanet Guy and Gail UWP down flat down,"

Diaspora from different countries is also ready to come before the elections so that they can vote after quarantining. Bernie Gaetan Leo- a St Lucia residing in the United States, said, "I am booking my ticket today. I am fully vaccinated. Coming from the US."

While on the other hand, UWP and Prime Minister Allen Chastanet are running a campaign under the banner "They promised it, but we delivered it".

A social media user Ty Joseph questioned him, stating, "Dear Allen Chastanet, We keep hearing/ seeing posts claiming you have delivered, yet it’s still not clear as to “what” it is you have delivered. Please make it abundantly clear in your following posts if not willing to convey for previous.

The Prime Minister replying to the question said that " We delivered on all of our 5 to Stay Alive Promises within the first year."

Furthermore, Ty Joseph said as she belongs to the farming sector, and nothing was done by the UWP to assist the farmers.

The election day is only nine days away; it is to see which party gets to be in the office and rule for the coming five years.