Veteran parliamentarian Alva Baptiste has firmly dismissed any suggestion that he may be considering retirement from active politics, making it clear that his focus remains on continuing to serve the people of Laborie.
When asked whether his long tenure as Member of Parliament had prompted thoughts of stepping aside, Baptiste responded unequivocally. “I’m a young man. I have work to do. And as long as there is work to be done in the constituency, I will continue. As long as the people of Laborie make me the instrument of their wishes,” he said.
Baptiste’s political career in Laborie spans nearly two decades. He first captured the seat at the general election held on December 11, 2006, and went on to secure convincing victories in the 2011, 2016 and 2021 general elections, cementing his position as one of the constituency’s most enduring political figures.
That record was extended once again at the December 1, 2025 general election, where Baptiste defeated challenger Laura Jn Pierre by a margin of 2,006 votes, securing his fourth consecutive term as the parliamentary representative for Laborie.
Following his re-election, Baptiste was sworn in last Friday and reappointed to the Cabinet, where he retained the portfolio of Minister for External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs. The assignment allows him to continue overseeing Saint Lucia’s diplomatic engagement, trade relations, aviation development and connections with the diaspora.
With another decisive electoral victory behind him and a key ministerial role reaffirmed, Baptiste has signaled that retirement is not on his immediate horizon, insisting that his mandate is tied directly to the confidence and will of the people of Laborie.
