Gov't, opposition square off over election date

Castries (CMC):

Prime Minister Stephenson King yesterday brushed aside warnings from the opposition St Lucia Labour Party (SLP) that it would not accept the calling of general election beyond December 11, the anniversary date of the last poll.

Opposition Leader Kenny Anthony earlier this week warned that he would not sit idly by and allow a general election to be held beyond that date but Prime Minister King has hinted that it could.

"The constitution of the country provides that option, and we are the ones who will decide whether we use it," King said.

"I can't give any assurances, what I have indicated is that the experience of Hurricane Tomas has certainly extended the agenda of the government and has added more weight on to our workload.

"It has given the government the additional task of engaging in its reconstruction programme and that can extend the call of election," King added.

Seeking excuse

But the SLP leader has accused the prime minister of using the passage of Hurricane Tomas as an excuse to seek to delay the election.

He told a SLP rally Sunday that the country could not wait, adding that there has never been a time in St Lucia when the election was held beyond the fifth anniversary date of the previous poll.