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ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 192105Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5514
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1797
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0279
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 0138
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J5 MIAMI FL
RUEHCV/USDAO CARACAS VE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRIDGETOWN 001225 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR ST XL
SUBJECT: ST. LUCIA'S NEW CABINET SPORTS FAMILIAR NAMES, 
MISSING INFAMOUS ONES 
 
REF: A. 07 BRIDGETOWN 01168 
 
     ¶B. 07 BRIDGETOWN 000749 
     ¶C. 07 BRIDGETOWN 01021 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY: On September 9, 2007, Prime Minister 
Stephenson King was sworn in as Prime Minister of St. Lucia, 
following Sir John Compton's death on September 7th. King 
appointed his new cabinet on September 12th but made few 
changes to his predecessor's cabinet.  The new cabinet is 
most notable for the absence of the two former ministers who 
were on the losing end of a power struggle with the late 
Prime Minister earlier this summer.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) On September 12th, newly appointed Prime Minister of 
St. Lucia Stephenson King announced his new cabinet.  King's 
cabinet closely mirrors the late Sir John Compton's previous 
cabinet, at least as it looked following a power struggle 
within the United Worker's Party (UWP) earlier this summer 
(Ref B). The new cabinet appointments are as follows (noting 
key changes in parentheses): 
 
Stephenson King: Prime Minister, Minister for Finance, 
External Affairs, Home Affairs, and National Security 
 
Lenard Montoute: Minister for Social Transformation, Public 
Service, Human Resource Development, and Youth and Sports 
(added Public Service, relieved of Family Affairs) 
 
Dr. Keith Mondesir: Minister for Health Wellness, Family 
Affairs, National Mobilization, Human Services, and Gender 
Relations (added Heath Wellness and Family Affairs) 
 
Richard Fredrick: Minister for Physical Planning, Housing, 
Urban Renewal, and Local Government. 
 
Arsene Vigil James: Minister for Education and Culture. 
 
Ezechiel Joseph: Minister for Agriculture, Land, Fisheries 
and Forestry. 
 
Senator George Guy Mayers: Minister of Trade, Industry, 
Commerce and Consumer Affairs. 
 
Guy Eardly Joseph: Minister for Communications, Works, 
Transport and Public Utilities. 
 
Senator Allen Chastanet: Minister for Tourism and Civil 
Aviation. 
 
Senator Ausbert d'Auvergne: Minister for Economic Affairs, 
Economic Planning, Investment and National Development 
(relieved of Public Service) 
 
Senator Gaspard Charlemagne: Minister in the Ministry of 
Education and Culture. 
 
Edmund Estephane: Minister for Labour, Information and 
Broadcasting (formerly Minister of Health) 
 
Senator Dr. Nicholas Frederick: Attorney General and Minister 
for Justice. 
 
Senator Charlotte Elizabeth Theresa Tessa Mangal: Minister in 
the Office of the Prime Minister (formerly Minister in the 
Ministry of Social Transformation, Human Services, Family 
Affairs, Youth & Sports- Responsible for Human Services and 
Family Affairs. 
 
Cosmos Richardson Cabinet Secretary 
 
Anthony Bryan Severin: Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of 
External Affairs 
 
¶3. (U) Among the most interesting aspects of the minor 
changes to the Cabinet is the continued service of Ausbert 
d'Auvergne over such important ministries.  Many of the UWP 
hate him and resent his power, but he obviously carries 
weight in the party (ref A).  Perhaps the most notable aspect 
of the new cabinet, mentioned in most of the local press, is 
the continued exclusion of former Foreign Minister Rufus 
Bousquet and Marcus Nicholas from the party.  Rumors abounded 
that Frederick, Bousquet, and Nicholas held considerable sway 
in the party, particularly given Frederick's financial 
 
BRIDGETOWN 00001225  002 OF 002 
 
 
support of the other ministers.  As such, many expected to 
see Bousquet return and d'Auvergne relieved of his 
responsibilities.  The fact that this did not occur suggests 
that the King/d'Auvergne faction of Cabinet still holds more 
power. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Although a smooth transition was made, the UWP 
administration is not out of the woods yet.  A source close 
to Bousquet shared with PolOff that Bousquet may skip town 
and "lay around on the beach in Miami" because he is upset 
that he did not get a position.  Marcus Nicholas also appears 
to be upset over not being returned to the cabinet, but has 
yet to clean his laundry publicly regarding his traffic 
arrest in April and the circumstances surrounding the 
subsequent dropping of all charges (Ref C).  He stated 
publicly that he would explain everything soon.  Potential 
mischief by these two MPs who were left out of cabinet could 
considerably weaken the strength of the new government. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Although PM King has not yet made many changes, more 
are surely to come.  The UWP will still have its party 
convention in October, which has the potential of shaking up 
the party leadership.  Within 90 days of Sir John's death 
(September 7th, the government must hold a by-election for 
Sir John's seat (Micoud North).  This could also introduce 
someone new into the cabinet.  Also, King still has too many 
portfolios -- Finance, Ex Affairs, Home Affairs, National 
Security-- all of which are among the largest and most 
important portfolios, so it is likely he will have to 
relinquish some of these duties. When he does so, the 
internal power struggle among UWP leaders figures to 
influence the final composition of the cabinet.  End Comment. 
FISHER