St Rose Heading For a Defeat Without the Backing of the Party's Machinery?

Top: Dr. P. Prosper(SLP) Bottom: Dr. A. St Rose(IND) Right: Hon. B. Felix(UWP)

Going it alone is rarely as easy as we think.  Winning without a party machinery behind you isn’t easy!!!

It’s  something that needs to be borne in mind by Alphonsus St Rose who was rejected over Pauline Prosper  during the candidate selection process of the St Lucia Labour Party a couple of months ago.

That’s especially true if he intends to stand as independent at the next general election.

Independent candidates face many obstacles in the St Lucia. In all constituencies, the United Workers Party and St Lucia Labour Party candidates automatically are the most frequently acceptable symbols on the ballot, whereas the independent candidates usually have to convince themselves that they stand a chance just to be confident that he will want to be on the ballot. The electorate, over the years has been composed of mostly UWP’s and SLP’s, who have a strong incentive to protect the existing duopoly. Also, Independent candidates often face financial difficulties because they have to rely on their personal saving and/or very few hefty donors.

The two political parties are a lot like the two giants of the cola world, Coke and Pepsi. Although each wants to win, they both recognize that it is in their mutual interest to keep a third cola from gaining significant market share. Coke and Pepsi, many people have argued, conspire to keep any competitor from gaining ground. The Flambeaus and the Etoiles function in much the same way.

Many voters don’t want to waste their ballot, and thus gravitate toward a parliamentary candidate they think has a chance to win. Independent candidates have a hard time building enough of a following to actually win a constituency seat. And without a grass-roots base of officials, independent candidates who aren’t already well-known have a very difficult time building momentum.

Are there implications here for St Rose in the next General Elections? Well, In spite of his confidence, it’s possible that as the 2021 election approaches, his vote share of the stock in Choiseul/Saltibus will dwindle. Some of his backers will decide that a protest vote isn’t as important as actually influencing the outcome. Many are undecided or may not even vote per se, but SLP’s and UWP’s will rather be committed to Prosper or Felix.

 Challenges for St Rose.

St Rose faces challenges that party candidates like Prosper and Felix do not. Simply put, political parties matter in St Lucia. The importance of local campaigns and candidates pales in comparison with that of the national campaign and party leaders when it comes to voter decisions.  Parties and their leaders provide important information shortcuts or cues to voters about ideology and policy positions. Moreover, they command media and public attention.

The biggest challenge for St Rose can be trying to convince voters that he would be able to represent them effectively. Parties dominate the legislative process. The ability to participate effectively in the HOUSE is related to being a member of a parliamentary party. An independent campaign needs to communicate consistently that voters would be well served, even without party backing.

The infrastructure of independent candidate greatly differs from those of the two major parties. The St Lucia Labour Party and United Workers Party have their national, constituency organizations, as well as a lot of other SLP and UWP groups.

Independent candidates, on the other hand, do not have such a sprawling, cohesive network. 

St Rose, I am sure is fully cognizant of the ramifications of his action. It would serve him best to go along with Pauline Prosper just to bring this seat home. Splitting  Labour votes will be a disaster for the SLP.

Just like Neville Cenac St Rose will never be forgiven if SLP loses the Choiseul/Saltibus seat in 2021.