From St Lucia News Online

The United Workers Party (UWP) has been declared the winner of the 2016 general election, after claiming 11 of the 17 constituency seats.

The ‘Flambeau’ will now form Saint Lucia’s new government, after the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) only managed to win six constituency seats.

Chastanet secured 2,495 votes to his opponent’s 1,446 to become the next Member of Parliament (MP) of Micoud South.

But the biggest win for the night was in Gros-Islet, where former minister, Lenard ‘Spider’ Montoute crushed SLP’s Emma Hippolyte, by winning 6,344 votes to her 4,552.

Former Prime Minister, Stephenson King also won his Castries North seat by a massive margin, obtaining 3,774 votes to the 1,482 of the SLP’s John Charlery.

Newcomers, Dominic Fedee and Bradley Felix also surprised the nation by wining their seats in Anse La Raye/Canaries and Choiseul/ Saltibus respectively.

Former minister Sarah Flood-Beaubrun, Herod Stanislaus, Edmund Estaphane, Guy Joseph and Ezechiel Joseph also won their respective constituencies.

SLP’s Political leader, Kenny Anthony regained his Vieux Fort South seat, gaining 2,439 votes, and SLP Deputy Political leader Philip J. Pierre gained 2,901 votes to secure another win.

Alva Baptiste also won the Laborie seat by 2,094 to 1468 votes, while Ernest Hilaire, Moses Jn Baptiste and Shawn Edward also won their respective constituencies.

This year’s election saw a small voter turnout, the same as the 2011 general election.

IMAGE: Allen Chastanet.

For more on this story go to: http://www.stlucianewsonline.com/uwp-wins-general-election/