St Lucia marks 75 years of the vote as PM urges citizens to use it wisely

Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has urged Saint Lucians to treat the right to vote as a privilege that should never be taken for granted, speaking outside Parliament before a special joint sitting held to mark the 75th anniversary of adult suffrage on the island.

As reported by St. Lucia Times, Pierre spoke to the media on Monday shortly before the commemorative sitting, reflecting on how far the country has come since the days when most people were barred from the ballot box because they owned no property.

"We do not really understand the privilege of voting," the Prime Minister said. He pointed out that today everyone aged 18 and over can vote, something that was unthinkable when universal adult suffrage was first introduced three quarters of a century ago.

Pierre also thanked voters for the way they had exercised that right at the last two general elections, saying he wanted to ensure that the people of Saint Lucia get the governance they deserve. He has led the Saint Lucia Labour Party since 2021 and was returned to office at the general election held on 1 December 2025, when his party won 14 of the 17 seats in the House.

The special guest speaker at the sitting was Dr Ralph Gonsalves, Leader of the Opposition in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, who described the anniversary as an important signpost in what he called the unfolding social democratic revolution. He said he considered it a high honour to have been invited, thanking the President, the Speaker, the Prime Minister and the people of Saint Lucia for the invitation.

The anniversary is a moment for Saint Lucians to reflect on their democratic history, but it also lands at a time when the island is presenting itself to the world as a visitor destination. The institutions celebrated on Monday, from Parliament to the courts, underpin the stability that makes holidays to St Lucia possible for hundreds of thousands of people each year.

Tourism is central to the economy of Saint Lucia, and the same Parliament marking the suffrage anniversary sets the rules on airport projects, cruise berths and tourism marketing that shape how visitors experience the island. Direct flights to St Lucia from the UK carry travellers to Hewanorra International Airport in the south, from where the resorts of the northwest coast are a scenic drive away.

The island's appeal rests on much more than its politics. Beaches in St Lucia range from the golden sands of Reduit to quiet coves on the windier Atlantic side, while the Pitons, the twin volcanic spires near Soufrière, are the island's most recognisable sight and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visitors who tire of the shore find that hiking in St Lucia offers rainforest trails, waterfalls and the steaming sulphur springs of the southwest.

Where visitors stay has grown just as varied. There are large hotels in St Lucia alongside all-inclusive resorts in St Lucia that dominate the north-west coast, while luxury hotels in St Lucia and private villas in St Lucia cater to couples and returning guests. Smaller properties matter too, and boutique hotels in St Lucia in converted plantations and hillside settings suit travellers looking for something more personal.

Couples often choose the island for romance, and a wedding or honeymoon in St Lucia is a mainstay of the trade, with the dramatic scenery doing much of the work. Families are well served as well, and family holidays in St Lucia typically combine beach time with excursions such as catamaran trips, rainforest zip lines and the drive-in volcano.

Beyond the resorts, the culture and traditions of Saint Lucia run deep. The island's Kwéyòl language, a French-based creole, is heard in markets, music and village life, and celebrations such as the October Jounen Kwéyòl and the summer carnival keep those roots visible. Food and rum in St Lucia draw on the same heritage, from green fig and saltfish to cocoa grown on old estates in the interior.

For now, the political calendar takes centre stage. The joint sitting was a ceremonial occasion rather than a legislative one, but both Pierre and Gonsalves used the moment to stress how recent and how hard-won the right to vote remains. With the December 2025 election behind them, Saint Lucians heard a simple message: the franchise won 75 years ago is only as strong as the use made of it.