St. Lucians headed to the polls on Monday to choose a new legislature and determine whether Prime Minister Philip Pierre will retain leadership of the island nation. The election has been dominated by debates over economic management, rising violent crime and the future of the country’s citizenship-by-investment (CBI) program.
Pierre’s ruling Labour Party, which currently enjoys a strong majority, faces a significant challenge from conservative opposition leader Allen Chastanet, who previously served as prime minister. Chastanet and his United Workers Party have accused the government of allowing security to deteriorate, citing reduced U.S. support for local police under Leahy Law restrictions. He has also pushed for more transparency in auditing the CBI program, a major revenue source for Eastern Caribbean nations but one that has drawn scrutiny from the U.S. over potential misuse by foreign actors.
The vote follows a major political shift in neighboring St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where the opposition recently swept nearly all contested seats. It also comes at a time when the U.S. is expanding its military presence in the Caribbean to address drug trafficking, with regional governments such as Trinidad and Tobago and the Dominican Republic allowing American vessels to dock.
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