Police have confirmed that United Workers Party candidate for Castries South, Tommy Descartes, was detained on Election Day, December 1, after officers acted on reports of alleged vote buying.
According to law enforcement, when officers approached Descartes, $30 000 was recovered on his person. He was taken into custody and later released the same day as investigations continued.
Since the incident, Descartes has publicly responded. In a video posted to his Facebook page on December 3, he dismissed the allegations outright, framing them as politically motivated.
“I just want to let you know this is fake news. This is the Labour Party’s standard operating procedure to try to discredit any credible candidate and try to cast doubt on the Party [UWP],” he said. “If it’s any indication of what we are about to face over the next five years, brace ourselves for widespread political victimisation and intimidation.”
Police did not disclose whether charges are being considered.
United Workers Party (UWP) Deputy Leader and candidate for Castries South East, Guy Joseph, has confirmed reports that police seized a large sum of cash found on his person on December 1, following allegations that he was paying individuals to vote for him.
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