Compton

CASTRIES, St. Lucia (CMC):

At least three govern-ment parliamentarians are expected to contest the leadership position in the ruling United Workers Party (UWP), an official has revealed.

Acting Prime Minister Stephenson King, who has already indicated his interest in the position to be contested at the party's upcoming convention in October, identified deputy political leader, Leonard Montoute, and dismissed minister, Rufus Bousquet, as the other two contenders.

In a statement to journalists, King said he planned to contest the position of party leader and given the current situation in the organisation, he was confident that he would emerge as the replacement for ailing Prime Minister Sir John Compton, who led the UWP to victory in last December's general election.

"I am the type of individual who has always been prepared to respond to the wishes of the general member-ship of the UWP, and on every occasion I have done so. I will be in the leadership running and I believe based on the feeling that widely exists in the party, I am confident about my standing.

"We in the party are guided by a constitution and will use those laws to address all leadership issues," he added.

King said from all indications he expected the position to be contested by Montoute, who holds the Sports and Social Transformation portfolio in the eight month-old administration and Bousquet, the former Foreign Affairs Minister, who Sir John dismissed in June.

"Both of these individuals have indicated their intentions to vie for the position of party leader and Prime Minister," King said.

King said the constitutional requirement that only elected members of Parliament could serve as Prime Minister made the chances of Economic Affairs Minister Ausbert d'Aurvergne becoming head of the government quite remote.

While d'Auvergne has not announced his intention to contest the leadership of the party or government, speculation is rife that he might be chosen by Sir John to contest his Micoud North seat, which will give him a chance to head the Government if he is successful