Stephenson King
Encyclopedia
Stephenson Toby King was the sixth Prime Minister of Saint Lucia. He represents the constituency of Castries North for the United Workers Party
(UWP) in the House of Assembly of Saint Lucia
. King won the elections in 2006, unseating the incumbent Minister of Agriculture Ignatius Jean
. Although himslef reelected in his constituency, his UWP party suffered defeat in the 28 November, 2011 general elections.
in 1987 after leading the youth arm of the United Workers Party, and then as President of the Caribbean Federation of Youth, a U.S.
-funded organisation set up following the invasion of Grenada
, to counterweight Marxist influences in the region.
King served in government, under Prime Ministers John Compton
and then Vaughan Lewis
, between 1987 and 1997, first as Minister of Community Development and Sport and then as Minister of Health and Local Government.
During the UWP's 2005 leadership contest, held between its now two former leaders Vaughan Lewis and Sir John Compton, party Chairman King was seen as one of Lewis' strongest supporters. However, he did not follow Lewis crossing to the Saint Lucia Labour Party
, following the latter's leadership defeat. King was quipped stating: "I don't follow foolishness".
The UWP won a majority of seats in the 2006 election
, and a new government under Compton was sworn in on December 19th, 2006. King was named Minister for Health and Labour Relations.
Compton illness in May 2007 prompted King to be named Acting Prime Minister. In a cabinet reshuffle in early June 2007, he became Minister of Finance (inclusive of International Financial Services), External Affairs, Home Affairs, National
Security, Labor, Information and Broadcasting. In an ironic twist, King assumed the mantle while a few months earlier he had been seen as a Lewis loyalist in the party's leadership race.
Compton died on September 7, 2007, and King announced his death on September 8.
King was subsequently sworn in as Prime Minister by Governor-General Pearlette Louisy
on September 9. The ten UWP members of the House of Assembly
agreed on King's designation as Prime Minister.
King reshuffled the cabinet on September 12. In addition to Prime Ministership, he assumed the roles of External Affairs, Home Affairs and National Security. King also held the modified portfolio of Minister of Finance (including International Financial Services), Economic Affairs, Economic Planning and National Development.
Earlier in 2008 Prime Minister King came under pressure, first from opposition leader Dr. Kenny Anthony
and then from his own parliamentary wing, to dismiss Economic Planning Minister Ausbert D'Auvergne. He eventualy acquiesced and returned Choiseul
representative Rufus Bousquet
to his cabinet, defusing the impasse. King also had to dismiss representative Richard Frederick
from cabinet, following a Wikileaks
-related scandal, in 2011.
The King administration suffered defeat in the 2011 general elections
, obtaining only 7 out of 17 seats in Parliament.
United Workers Party (Saint Lucia)
The United Workers Party is a conservative political party in Saint Lucia, led by Prime Minister Stephenson King and previously by John Compton.-History:...
(UWP) in the House of Assembly of Saint Lucia
House of Assembly of Saint Lucia
The Parliament of Saint Lucia has two chambers. The House of Assembly is the popular elected chamber of the Legislature. It has 17 members, elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies.-Current Composition:...
. King won the elections in 2006, unseating the incumbent Minister of Agriculture Ignatius Jean
Ignatius Jean
Ignatius Jean is a Saint Lucian politician who represented the Castries North constituency for the Saint Lucia Labour Party until he was defeated in the general election of 11 December 2006....
. Although himslef reelected in his constituency, his UWP party suffered defeat in the 28 November, 2011 general elections.
Political Career
King entered active politicsPolitics of Saint Lucia
Politics of Saint Lucia takes place in the framework of an independent parliamentary democratic Commonwealth Realm with Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state, represented by a Governor General, who acts on the advice of the prime minister and the cabinet. The prime minister is the leader of the...
in 1987 after leading the youth arm of the United Workers Party, and then as President of the Caribbean Federation of Youth, a U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-funded organisation set up following the invasion of Grenada
Invasion of Grenada
The Invasion of Grenada, codenamed Operation Urgent Fury, was a 1983 United States-led invasion of Grenada, a Caribbean island nation with a population of about 100,000 located north of Venezuela. Triggered by a military coup which had ousted a four-year revolutionary government, the invasion...
, to counterweight Marxist influences in the region.
King served in government, under Prime Ministers John Compton
John Compton
Sir John George Melvin Compton, KBE, PC was the first, fifth and eighth Prime Minister of Saint Lucia in 1979, from 1982 to 1996, and from 2006 until his death. Compton, who previously led Saint Lucia under British rule from 1964 to 1979, was the country's first leader when it became independent...
and then Vaughan Lewis
Vaughan Lewis
Vaughan Lewis is a Saint Lucian politician and a former member of the ruling United Workers' Party . He served for a brief period as the fourth Prime Ministers of Saint Lucia following the resignation of John Compton. Lewis, a former director of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States,...
, between 1987 and 1997, first as Minister of Community Development and Sport and then as Minister of Health and Local Government.
During the UWP's 2005 leadership contest, held between its now two former leaders Vaughan Lewis and Sir John Compton, party Chairman King was seen as one of Lewis' strongest supporters. However, he did not follow Lewis crossing to the Saint Lucia Labour Party
Saint Lucia Labour Party
The Saint Lucia Labour Party is a social democratic political party in Saint Lucia. It currently holds ten of the 17 seats in the House of Assembly.-History:...
, following the latter's leadership defeat. King was quipped stating: "I don't follow foolishness".
The UWP won a majority of seats in the 2006 election
Saint Lucian general election, 2006
The 2006 Saint Lucia general election took place in Saint Lucia on 11 December 2006. The election was fought between the Saint Lucia Labour Party and the United Workers Party which between them dominated politics in Saint Lucia...
, and a new government under Compton was sworn in on December 19th, 2006. King was named Minister for Health and Labour Relations.
Compton illness in May 2007 prompted King to be named Acting Prime Minister. In a cabinet reshuffle in early June 2007, he became Minister of Finance (inclusive of International Financial Services), External Affairs, Home Affairs, National
Security, Labor, Information and Broadcasting. In an ironic twist, King assumed the mantle while a few months earlier he had been seen as a Lewis loyalist in the party's leadership race.
Compton died on September 7, 2007, and King announced his death on September 8.
King was subsequently sworn in as Prime Minister by Governor-General Pearlette Louisy
Pearlette Louisy
Dame Pearlette Louisy, GCMG is the Governor-General of Saint Lucia. She is the first woman to hold this office, which she was sworn into on 19 September 1997....
on September 9. The ten UWP members of the House of Assembly
House of Assembly of Saint Lucia
The Parliament of Saint Lucia has two chambers. The House of Assembly is the popular elected chamber of the Legislature. It has 17 members, elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies.-Current Composition:...
agreed on King's designation as Prime Minister.
King reshuffled the cabinet on September 12. In addition to Prime Ministership, he assumed the roles of External Affairs, Home Affairs and National Security. King also held the modified portfolio of Minister of Finance (including International Financial Services), Economic Affairs, Economic Planning and National Development.
Earlier in 2008 Prime Minister King came under pressure, first from opposition leader Dr. Kenny Anthony
Kenny Anthony
Kenny Davis Anthony is a Saint Lucian politician who was the fifth Prime Minister of Saint Lucia from 1997 to 2006. As leader of the Saint Lucia Labour Party, he was Leader of the Opposition from 2006 to 2011 and returned to office as Prime Minister on 30 November 2011 following the 2011...
and then from his own parliamentary wing, to dismiss Economic Planning Minister Ausbert D'Auvergne. He eventualy acquiesced and returned Choiseul
Choiseul
-People:*Choiseul . Holders include:-** Caesar, duc de Choiseul , French marshal and diplomat, generally known for the best part of his life as marshal du Plessis-Praslin** Claude de Choiseul , marshal of France in 1693...
representative Rufus Bousquet
Rufus Bousquet
Rufus George Bousquet is a Saint Lucian politician who formerly represented the constituency of Choiseul for the United Workers Party. Bousquet won the seat at the general election held on 11 December 2006.However lost to Lorne Theophilus in the November 2011 General Elections.Bousquet served in...
to his cabinet, defusing the impasse. King also had to dismiss representative Richard Frederick
Richard Frederick
Richard Frederick is a Saint Lucian lawyer and politician who was Minister for Physical Planning, Housing, Urban Renewal and Local Government. Born on August 6, 1965, he is the tenth of twelve children and the last of five boys...
from cabinet, following a Wikileaks
Wikileaks
WikiLeaks is an international self-described not-for-profit organisation that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers. Its website, launched in 2006 under The Sunshine Press organisation, claimed a database of more...
-related scandal, in 2011.
The King administration suffered defeat in the 2011 general elections
Saint Lucian general election, 2011
A general election was held in Saint Lucia on 28 November 2011.On 30 November, 2011 the Saint Lucia Labour Party chief was sworn in as prime minister and his party has won nine of the fifteen declared seats available so far....
, obtaining only 7 out of 17 seats in Parliament.