Hon. Stephenson King
St. Lucia
Senior Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Ports, Transport, Physical Development, and Urban Renewal
Hon. Stephenson King, Parliamentary Representative for Castries North and Minister for Infrastructure, Ports, Transport, Physical Development and Urban Renewal, is currently one of the longest serving Parliamentarians in Saint Lucia’s House of Assembly.
He entered elective politics in 1987 when he contested the Constituency of Castries North-East on behalf of the United Workers’ Party. He was successful at the polls and was appointed to serve as Minister responsible for Community Development, Social Affairs, Youth, Sports and Local Government.
In the elections of 1992, he was re-elected to Parliament, once again as the representative for Castries North-East and was entrusted with the Ministry of Health, Local Government, Information and Broadcasting.
During the elections of 1997, the United Workers Party suffered heavily at the Polls losing 16-1 to the Saint Lucia Labour Party. Hon. Stephenson King was defeated by the late George Odlum.
That defeat did not damper the spirit of Mr. King as he took up the challenge of keeping the Party afloat at a time when many had deserted it. He consequently served as the General Secretary of the Party for the period 1997 to 2005, and subsequently as Chairman. During this period, he did not contest the elections of 2001, opting to allow him more time to his mission of rebuilding the United Workers Party (UWP).
He answered the call of his people in 2006 when he re-entered the political fray. Once again, he was successful at the polls and so to was the United Workers Party which formed the Government. Hon. Stephenson King was assigned the portfolio of Health and Labour Relations.
As fate had it Sir John Compton, then Prime Minister of Saint Lucia fell ill in May 2007 and Hon. Stephenson King was appointed to act as Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, National Security, External Affairs and Broadcasting. On the death of Sir John in September 2007, his Parliamentary colleagues advised the Governor General that he should be appointed as the Prime Minister. Thus, from September 9, 2007 to November 28, 2011, Hon. Stephenson King held the office of Prime Minister.
In the elections of 2011, the United Workers Party was defeated at the Polls. He however retained his seat in the House of Assembly and for a time was appointed the Leader of the Opposition. Following a change in the leadership of the Party in 2013, his term as the Leader of the Opposition was short-lived.
In the elections of 2016, the United Workers Party returned to Office with Hon. Stephenson retaining his seat as the Parliamentary Representative for Castries North and the assignment as Minister for Infrastructure, Ports, Energy and Labour.
In the recent general elections which was held on July 26, 2021, Hon. Stephenson King; in an accommodation with the St. Lucia Labour Party, was appointed Senior Minister with responsibility for Infrastructure, Ports, Transport, Physical Development and Urban Renewal on Thursday, August 5, 2021. He is well liked within his Constituency and is seen by many including supporters of the opposition parties as a man who works tirelessly for all. In his own words,
“I have only just begun for there is still so much to be done”.
A man for all seasons Hon. Stephenson King, Parliamentary Representative for Castries North.