Booted Out

Former University of the West Indies (UWI) lecturer, Dr. Gale Rigobert, has been recommended to take over the position of Opposition Leader in the St. Lucia parliament as the 50-year-old United Workers Party (UWP) moves to restructure itself ahead of the next general election constitutionally due in 2016.

Rigobert will take over the position held by former prime minister Stephenson King, who had earlier indicated that he had no intention of resigning in the wake of reports of infighting within the leadership of the party.

Rigobert told reporters that she intends to work closely with her colleagues and party to ensure “that we can serve as an effective political surveillance on the actions and policies of the current Labour Party administration”.

UWP chairman Ezekiel Joseph told reporters Tuesday that while the party’s National Council had voted by a 50-4 margin to replace King, the final decision had been left in the hands of the parliamentary caucus that called for his removal on Monday.

He said a majority of the six opposition legislators had recommended that the Governor General Dame Pearl Louisy be informed of King’s removal and his replacement by Rigobert, a deputy political leader and the Member of Parliament for Micoud North.

Once confirmed, Rigobert, who taught International Relations at the St. Augustine campus of the UWI, would become the youngest and the island’s first female Opposition Leader.

UWP leader, Allen Chastanet, who defeated King for the leadership opposition of the party last year, has welcomed Rigobert’s recommendation, calling it a significant step forward for youth and women.
“I expect her to be constantly a champion for those two groups,” he said, adding that the island needed an Opposition Leader who would “act as a cohesive voice in Parliament to challenge, represent and guard the interest of the citizens of this country”.