The political battle for Castries North is taking shape as Marcellas ‘Backs’ Stiede, a long-time supporter of the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP), has officially declared his candidacy as an independent. His entry into the race comes even as the SLP has opted not to field a candidate, instead endorsing incumbent MP and former Prime Minister Stephenson King.
Stephenson King, however, remains confident that his long-standing relationship with the constituency and his record of service will secure him yet another victory.
“Well, I can tell you one thing. There’s only one candidate: that’s Stephenson King,” the veteran parliamentarian said. “And in the next election, I will do exactly what I did before and the many decades that I’ve served with the people of Castries North.”
King reaffirmed that he will again contest the seat as an independent but highlighted his alignment with the Saint Lucia Labour Party under what he described as the successful “Blue Wave” collaboration.
“Yes indeed, I am running as an independent. I believe the collaboration between the St. Lucia Labour Party and what is commonly called the Blue Wave has worked,” King explained. “I align with their philosophy in terms of the basic principles of the party, serving the people and serving country, and on one hand, putting people first.”
Stiede has positioned himself as the alternative voice for the constituency, arguing that Castries North has suffered from stagnation under King’s leadership. He has pledged to introduce a systems-based approach to governance, one that reduces dependence on patronage politics and invests in education, training, and infrastructure.
Castries North has become one of the island’s most politically unusual constituencies, with the ruling SLP openly supporting an independent candidate rather than fielding its own.
Stiede’s entry complicates this arrangement, potentially splitting the vote and testing King’s dominance in the constituency he has represented for decades.
