St Lucia opposition rallies citizens to prepare for street protests

The leader of the main opposition St Lucia Labour Party (SLP), Dr Kenny Anthony, has put government on notice that he will lead citizens in street demonstrations to protest against what he said is a hopeless and ineffective government.

"I am putting you on standby; I am saying to you, prepare your boots, shine your boots because we have to take to the streets and take them out," he told scores of cheering supporters at a public meeting in the capital.

His comments came even as Prime Minister Stephenson King sought to assure St Lucians that his United Workers Party (UWP) had healed its rift and was ready to continue governing.

Anthony further compared the UWP's efforts to patch up internal differences, which led to the resignation of Economic and Planning Minister Ausbert d'Auvergne and a change in ministerial portfolios which King is yet to announce, to putting a plaster on a sore that would never heal.

He said that in the coming weeks a number of scandals involving the ruling party would be revealed.

The former prime minister insisted that there remains a crisis of governance, a lack of confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister King and a decelerating economy that his government seemed not to be able to control.

He also warned that tourism in St Lucia was on the verge of a major decline as a result of problems in the United States economy.

Anthony put a case for his SLP to be given the opportunity to take over leadership of the country again and said that once it was returned to government all St Lucians, regardless of political affiliation, would need to unite.

"We have got to find a formula to bring our people together because this crisis is a serious one. We cannot build a new society or rescue this society if you harbour a thirst for revenge. You must find a way of putting the thought of revenge aside because your country will require a different kind of solution," the SLP leader said.

Source: Caribbean Media Corporation news agency website, Bridgetown, in English 1330 gmt 29 May 08

BBC Mon LA1 LatPol rm