CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC – A new political party is to be launched here with the intention of providing St Lucians with a “decent and credible alternative” to vote for at the next general election.

The Lucian People’s Movement (LPM) is being co-chaired by Therold Prudent and Franklyn McDonald – two New York-based former members of the ruling United Workers Party (UWP), along with university professor Dr Julian Best.

A statement released by the party on Friday stated that there are other co-chairpersons, including of a number of women, who have asked to remain anonymous for the time being.

Although not confirmed by Chief Elections Officer Carson Raggie, the organisers have gone ahead and announced the party’s choice of the bell as its symbol and green as its colour.

“The party chooses the bell as its symbol because the time has come for the leaders of the country to summon the youth to action to work for a better and more peaceful St Lucia,” McDonald said.

“The LPM will ring the bell for change, for freedom, for respect, good governance and democracy all over St Lucia,” he added.

Prudent explained the choice of colour.

“The party chose the colour green because green is one colour that does not run. The LPM does not intend to run away from any issue, discussion, debate or challenge.”

The LPM has already called for a referendum on the Taiwan/China issue at the next election constitutionally due next year. It said that the issue should not be left to the political parties to decide which country St Lucia has diplomatic relations with and that the power should rest with the people.

“The LPM believes that it is the people of St Lucia who stand to gain or lose the most and they should be the ones to decide whether St Lucia maintains diplomatic ties with Taiwan or reinstate diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China should the Decent Alternative of the LPM, the present government of the UWP or the past administration of the SLP (St Lucia Labour Party) formed the next government,” it said in a statement.

“We believe that this question ought to and rightfully so, be decided by the voters in St. Lucia in the form of a referendum to be held during the next general election,” it added.

One of the LPM’s main grouses with the existing parties is the lack of inclusiveness.

Prudent has gone on record as criticising the main opposition SLP for being too closed within its ranks and not welcoming enough new people with new ideas.

He said he has the same problem with the ruling party, although his main problem with the UWP has more to do with the performance and ability of the government in office.

Prudent said he hopes that the LPM will win hearts, minds, and votes with a campaign centred on simple civic virtues.

So far, the only reaction to the announcement of the new group has come from the ruling party executive, which stated that it hardly knew the two dissenters as they at no stage played any significant role in the administration of the party.