Chairman of the United Workers Party’s post-election review committee, Ezechiel Joseph, is urging the party to confront its challenges head-on, saying meaningful reform is necessary if the opposition is to regain public confidence following its second consecutive general election defeat.
Joseph made the remarks during this week’s edition of NewsMaker Live, where he outlined the committee’s next steps as it reviews an independent assessment of the party’s performance.
He said the review should serve as a catalyst for renewal rather than something to be ignored.
“I believe in moving forward and making changes and trying to restructure the party.”
According to Joseph, party members must be willing to acknowledge the issues identified in the report and take practical steps to address them.
“People have to understand and appreciate what the challenges are, which of course the review spoke to, and for us not to bury our heads in the sand, Tim, to really start the process of restructuring the party.”
Joseph also pointed to recent comments by Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, saying the opposition must remain prepared for the possibility of an early general election.
“You listen to the Prime Minister, and I take the Prime Minister very seriously.”
“You listen to the Prime Minister on the platform, on the market step, and say, ‘if you get me vexed, I’ll call the elections.’ I take that very seriously.”
He said the party’s focus should be on rebuilding its credibility and positioning itself once again as a viable alternative government.
“We have to look at the reality and accept the reality and make the changes that would allow us to be the preferred political party as our mission alluded to.”
Joseph disclosed that the review committee is expected to meet to examine the report in detail before engaging the party’s leadership.
“So where we at right now as far as the committee, we’re going to meet sometime over the weekend to review the report.”
He confirmed that a copy of the report has already been submitted to United Workers Party Political Leader Allen Chastanet.
“I have sent a copy to the Honourable leader of the party, Honourable Allen Chastanet.”
Joseph said the committee’s immediate priority is to meet with Chastanet upon his return to Saint Lucia to discuss the findings and determine the way forward.
“And the first order of business is when he comes down, one thing, to meet with him, that is the committee and discuss the report.”
The review forms part of the United Workers Party’s efforts to assess the factors that contributed to its second successive electoral loss and identify reforms aimed at rebuilding the organization ahead of future elections.