CASTRIES, St. Lucia (CMC):

The opposition St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP) says the passage of Hurricane Dean has not blown away its concerns about alleged political improprieties of the United Workers Party (UWP) government.

"Hurricane Dean will not be allowed to sweep away our concerns and calls for the resignation of Member of Parliament Rufus Bousquet, the former minister of foreign affairs, and Ausbert d'Auvergne, the economic planning minister," Alva Baptiste, second deputy leader of the SLP told reporters on Friday. "We intend to continue to press and agitate for those resignations."

Baptiste was reacting to a statement by acting Prime Minister Stephenson King last week when he declared that the government "will not be deterred or detracted" by criticism from the SLP camp, adding that government will not submit either to pressure to dissolve parliament and call fresh elections.