Parliament name |
Houses of Parliament |
Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
Chamber name |
House of Assembly |
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Senate
|
BACKGROUND |
Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
6 June 2016 |
Purpose of elections |
The United Workers Party (UWP), now led by former tourism minister Allen Chastanet, regained power after four years in opposition, taking 11 of the 17 seats. Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony of the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP), who was seeking a fourth term in office, conceded defeat and announced that he would not be the Leader of the opposition in the new House of Assembly. Mr. Chastanet was sworn in as Prime Minister on 7 June.
Elections were not constitutionally required until April 2017 but the Prime Minister called early elections in May, stating that they were needed to ensure "peace, stability and certainty" in the country. During the election campaign, the major parties focused on measures to stimulate the economy, reducing unemployment and tax reforms, including the reduction of the VAT. |
Date of previous elections: 28 November 2011
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 19 May 2016
Timing of election: Early elections
Expected date of next elections: June - October 2021*
*The term of the house is five years from the first session. General Elections are constitutionally due for the latest, three months after the first sitting of Parliament.
Number of seats at stake: 17 (full renewal)
Number of candidates: 39 (33 men, 6 women)
Percentage of women candidates: 15.4%
Number of parties contesting the election: 3
Number of parties winning seats: 2
Alternation of power: Yes
Number of parties in government: 1
Names of parties in government: United Workers Party (UWP)
Date of the first session of the new parliament: 12 July 2016
Name of the new Speaker: Ms. Leonne Theodore-John (United Workers Party, UWP) |
STATISTICS |
Voter turnout |
Round no 1 | 6 June 2016 |
Number of registered electors Voters Blank or invalid ballot papers Valid votes |
160'465
|
Notes
|
|
Distribution of votes |
Round no 1
|
Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% |
|
|
United Workers Party (UWP) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distribution of seats |
Round no 1
|
Political Group |
Total
|
|
|
|
|
United Workers Party (UWP) |
11
|
|
|
|
|
Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) |
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men Women Percent of women |
15 3 16.67%
|
Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
Comments |
Note:
The 'Distribution of seats' above refers to the 17 directly elected members. The 'Distribution of seats according to sex' refers to all 18 members of the House of Assembly (17 directly elected members and the Speaker). Ms. Leonne Theodore-John, who was not one of the directly elected members, became a member of the House by virtue of her election as Speaker.
Sources:
House of Assembly (13.06.2016)
http://elections.gov.lc/
http://elections.gov.lc/map-seat.php
http://www.govt.lc/
http://www.stlucianewsonline.com/
http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com |