Sir John Compton sworn in as St Lucia’s PM
CASTRIES, St Lucia (AP) – Sir John Compton, a founding father of St Lucia who came out of retirement to lead his party to an upset election victory, took the oath as prime minister yesterday – the eighth time he has been sworn in as head of the island’s government.
Compton, 81, pledged to govern in a spirit of cooperation following elections Monday that ended the Labour Party’s 10-year hold on parliament.
His government would be one “of all the people of St Lucia”, he said in an address.
He said his priorities include lowering crime and unemployment, as well as devising programmes to distribute wealth among the island’s 165,000 people.
The United Workers Party, founded by Compton 40 years ago, won 11 of 17 seats in the House of Assembly.
Compton led the small island to independence in 1979. He governed St Lucia for 29 years, first from 1964 to 1979 and then from 1982 to 1996.
He promised to have his Cabinet in place by early next week.
