St. Lucia - Political parties

After sweeping the 1997 parliamentary elections by gaining 16 out of 17 seats, the left-of-center St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP), led by Kenny Anthony, became the majority party, ending 15 years of dominance by the United Workers' Party (UWP). The SLP regained control of the Assembly in the 2001 election, with more than 54% of the vote. Following the UWP's electoral defeat in 1997, its leader, Vaughan Lewis, resigned, and former leader

LOCATION: 13°53′ N; 60°58′ W. TOTAL COASTLINE: 158 kilometers (98 miles). TERRITORIAL SEA LIMIT: 12 miles.

and prime minister John Compton, resumed leadership of the party in its new role of opposition party. The UWP was the party in power at the time of independence, lost power in 1979, and regained it in 1982. It is by reputation the more conservative party.

The Progressive Labour Party (PLP), under the leadership of Jon Odlum, has no representation. It is an offshoot of the SLP.