Election Day, December 1, was marked by renewed calls for vigilance and accountability after authorities confirmed multiple reported breaches of the Elections Act, including arrests and cash seizures in two key constituencies.
Chief Elections Officer Herman St. Helen confirmed that election officials received complaints of potential wrongdoing in both Castries South East and Castries South, noting that the matters were taken seriously by law enforcement.
“There were several reports of infractions to the Elections Act.
There were reports in Castries South East and in Castries South. I can tell you for sure that one arrest was made in Castries South. And that is all I can say at the moment,” St. Helen stated.
Police have since identified the arrested individual as UWP candidate for Castries South, Tommy Descartes, who was detained following reports that he and others were allegedly involved in efforts to influence voters allegedly by offering cash in the vicinity of polling areas.
According to police sources, officers located Descartes later that day and conducted a search that resulted in the discovery of nearly EC$30,000 in cash. He was taken into custody along with another individual and transported to the recently reconstructed Custody Suites.
Descartes was reportedly released just before midnight. By that time, however, the electoral outcome in Castries South had already been determined, with Dr. Ernest Hilaire of the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) securing his third consecutive victory.
Descartes has since publicly conceded defeat but has offered no explanation regarding the circumstances surrounding his arrest.
In a separate but related incident, police confirmed that UWP Deputy Leader and Castries East candidate Guy Joseph was also stopped near a polling station after officers discovered he was in possession of more than EC$12,000 in cash.
However the former Castries South East candidate Guy Joseph was not detained.
Sources indicate that officers presented Joseph with two options: surrender the cash or remain in custody for the remainder of the day. He opted to relinquish the funds and was allowed to leave.
Later that afternoon, during a call to the radio programme “Newsspin,” Joseph acknowledged the encounter with police and confirmed that he chose to hand over the money rather than be held. While he denied any illegal activity, he did not disclose the purpose for carrying such a substantial sum on Election Day.
Both incidents have since prompted public discussion and heightened scrutiny, particularly given the sensitivity of electoral integrity and the longstanding concerns surrounding inducement at the polls.
To date, the United Workers Party (UWP) has not issued an official statement addressing either matter. Law enforcement officials have confirmed that investigations remain ongoing, and authorities have not yet indicated whether formal charges will be laid against any of the individuals involved.
