Castries, St. Lucia – December 2, 2025 – The electoral race in Castries South East was rocked earlier today after police reportedly seized a substantial sum of cash from United Workers Party (UWP) Deputy Leader and candidate, Guy Joseph. The seizure follows allegations of illegal vote-buying activity near a local polling station on Election Day.
Mr. Joseph, a former government minister, confirmed the incident on the afternoon current affairs program Newspin, though he vehemently denied any illicit intent regarding the funds.
Police Act on Anonymous Tip
According to senior police officials who provided details to St. Lucia Times, law enforcement was dispatched after receiving a report alleging that the UWP candidate was distributing money to voters in an attempt to influence the election outcome.
Officers located and approached Mr. Joseph at a private residence in the vicinity of the designated polling station. Police confirmed that during the interaction, they found $12,000 in cash on his person, which was subsequently confiscated as evidence.
Candidate Decries Political Motivation
Speaking publicly shortly after the event, Guy Joseph acknowledged the police intervention but strongly disputed the context.
“I was in the yard, not on the road, not anywhere in proximity… well, it’s close to the polling station, but I was not on the road,” Joseph stated, emphasizing that he was not in a public space when the officers arrived.
He described the encounter, recounting that four police officers arrived in a vehicle and directly accused him of paying individuals to vote.
“I said, ‘But how could I be paying people to vote? I’ve never paid persons to vote before’,” Joseph countered, suggesting that the public is aware of other long-standing vote-buying practices, though he did not name any parties.
The candidate claimed police offered him a choice: surrender the cash, to be held until after 6 p.m. due to the suspicion raised by the report, or face immediate arrest.
“Now, I didn’t know it was illegal for people to have money in their pocket,” Joseph remarked, maintaining that the entire episode was a politically motivated attempt to disrupt his campaign and tarnish his reputation.
Investigation Underway
Police have confirmed that the matter is now under active investigation as part of a broader effort to monitor and ensure the integrity of the election process. As of this evening, no formal charges have been laid against Mr. Joseph.
The unprecedented seizure of cash from a high-profile candidate on Election Day injects fresh controversy into an already tight contest, raising significant questions about electoral ethics and the limits of campaign activity near polling sites.
Would you like me to research the current electoral laws in Saint Lucia regarding cash possession near polling stations, or summarize other election-day incidents?