King, who once served as UWP political leader and Prime Minister, revisited the circumstances that pushed him to resign from the party ahead of the 2021 general election.
He reminded supporters that he spent decades building the UWP from the ground up; serving as general secretary for nine unpaid years in opposition, holding multiple cabinet portfolios including minister for health and infrastructure, and representing Castries North with what he described as “dignity, conviction, and a love for people.”
But King said the UWP he helped build has lost its moral center under its current leadership.

The former Saint Lucian leader said he stepped away because the party had become “intolerable,” undisciplined, and disconnected from the people it claimed to serve. His criticism was sharp and personal.
“Today, they call me the snake. They call me the lazy roller. But their names will not determine my destiny.”
He took direct aim at UWP leader Allen Chastanet, accusing him of presiding over a party in decay. King described a culture of deception, victimization, and opportunism, one that he insists drove principled members to walk away.

Reinforcing his claims, King pointed to a growing list of former UWP figures who have since abandoned the party. He noted that former Dennery South MP Edmund Estephane has walked away, and Andy Daniel, the former Speaker of the House, has also stepped out. He reminded supporters that Richard Frederick left even earlier and joined King’s independent movement. King also highlighted the presence of Dr. Mondesir, who appeared with him at the event as another sign of shifting loyalties within the UWP.

And, according to him, “others who are disappointed and dissatisfied” will eventually step out as well.
He framed these departures as proof that the UWP was no longer viable.
“Others are moving out. Others are moving out. The ship is sinking.”
Throughout his hour-long address, King traced his political journey from his early days under Sir John Compton, whom he called his mentor, to his work transforming communities like Carielle, La Clery, Agard, and Cabotelle. He reminded supporters of decades of service, from securing land for families to developing community infrastructure to personally helping children get textbooks long before government assistance existed.
King, now aligned with the SLP’s broader patriotic movement while running as an Independent, praised the Philip J. Pierre administration for expanding educational support, investing in communities, and reversing what he claimed were the UWP’s failed priorities.
He credited the current government for paying CXC exam fees, strengthening Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, and providing deeper social assistance to families, while renewing his pledge to the people of Castries North.
“I am recommitting myself to service. I am recommitting myself to you. Poverty must not hold you back. Aspire to the top.”
He urged supporters to mobilize, unify, and prepare for what he called one of the most consequential elections in Saint Lucia’s recent history.