Rigobert put forward as Leader of St Lucian Opposition

Dr Gale Rigobert seems set to be named as Opposition Leader in St Lucia, after a majority of opposition parliamentarians voted earlier this week that she replace Stephenson King as Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition.{{more}}

According to media reports, four of the six opposition members voted in favour of Rigobert, who is a former University of the West Indies (UWI) lecturer. She represents the Micoud North constituency in the House of Assembly, having won her seat in the 2011 general elections.

Formal notification of the vote has been sent to Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy, signed by Rigobert and three other members of parliament: Arsene James, Guy Joseph and Edmund Estephane, Caribbean News Now reported.

Section 67 of the St Lucia constitution provides that the governor-general shall appoint as Leader of the Opposition, the member of the House who appears most likely to command the support of a majority of the members of the House who do not support the government.

Under the St Lucia constitution, the governor general shall exercise her power under this section, in her own deliberate judgment.

On Monday, King issued a statement refuting comments made by “party insiders” that he had agreed to resign as Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition.

Rigobert however told reporters earlier this week that she intends to work closely with her colleagues and party to ensure “that we can serve as an effective political surveillance on the actions and policies of the current Labour Party administration”.