Why the UWP Lost on December 1 — And What the Way Forward Must Look Like

Choiseul on the Move analysis | General Elections: December 1, 2025

Let’s start with the obvious: the United Workers Party (UWP) did not just “lose an election” on December 1, 2025 — it lost momentum, lost ground-game power in key constituencies, and lost the national argument about who looked more ready to govern.

And while UWP supporters will understandably feel disappointed, this moment should not be treated as a funeral. It should be treated as a reset button — a painful one, yes — but also a necessary one.

The Results Didn’t Happen by Accident

Official results show the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) winning a dominant majority of seats after the December 1 vote. 

But here’s the part that matters for every party, not just the UWP: turnout was low. The overall turnout has been reported at just under 50%. 5That means a huge portion of the electorate stayed home — and that reality should haunt both sides.

Low turnout is not a victory for democracy. It’s a warning light.

The Choiseul/Saltibus Lens: A Loss, But Not a Collapse

In Choiseul, the contest was close enough to prove something important: UWP support here is real, but it wasn’t strong enough to cross the finish line this time.

• Votes cast: 5,705 of 9,539 electors (59.81% turnout)
• SLP: 2,941 (53.9%)
• UWP: 2,517 (46.1%)
• Margin: 424 votes

Those are official constituency figures. 2

So no, Choiseul/Saltibus did not “reject” the UWP in some humiliating way. This was a tight fight — and tight fights are won by organization, clarity, and turnout discipline. That’s where the UWP must be honest with itself.

So Why Did the UWP Lose Nationally?

This isn’t about insulting anyone. It’s about learning. From a practical, on-the-ground perspective, the UWP struggled in five major areas:

1. Message clarity: Too many people could not explain — in one sentence — what the UWP stood for this election cycle, beyond “we can do better.”
2. Unity optics: Elections punish parties that look internally unsettled. Voters don’t invest their vote in uncertainty.
3. Ground game gaps: In several areas, the machinery didn’t feel sharp — not enough visible constituency presence, not enough consistent community touchpoints, not enough “small problem solving” before the big speeches.
4. Candidate strategy: In modern politics, a party can’t only “run names.” It has to run a disciplined team with clear roles, training, and real constituency work.
5. Voter trust after 2021–2025: Whether fair or not, elections are emotional audits. Many voters were still weighing the UWP’s last term and the way it communicated during crisis moments.

The Way Forward: Rebuild Like You Intend to Win

If the UWP wants to return as a serious governing option (not just a loud opposition), it needs a rebuild that is strategic, not cosmetic:

• Do a real post-election audit (constituency by constituency): turnout trends, volunteer strength, message penetration, and weak polling divisions.
• Modernize grassroots structure: constituency councils that are active all year — not activated only during election season.
• Train and empower local teams: youth wings, community liaisons, policy communicators, and social support units that can respond when residents have real issues.
• Fix the brand: people must know what the UWP stands for in 2026 and beyond — jobs, cost of living, crime, health access, education, small business growth — with simple, repeated explanations.
• Earn trust through service: not every political win starts in Parliament — many start by quietly solving community problems and showing up consistently.

And For Choiseul/Saltibus, Here’s the Bottom Line

Whether you voted UWP, SLP, or stayed home — Choiseul/Saltibus must demand results, not vibes.

Roads, drainage, jobs, youth programs, community facilities, support for farmers, better access to services — these are not “campaign topics.” These are daily life.

The UWP’s way forward matters, yes. But equally important is what the people do now: hold the winners accountable, and demand that the opposition rebuild into something worthy of governing.

Democracy doesn’t end after Election Day. It starts again the morning after.

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Sources: Official constituency results from the Saint Lucia Electoral results portal; international reporting confirming overall outcome and seat count.