KING

CASTRIES, St. Lucia (CMC):

Economist George Daniel has accused Prime Minister Stephenson King and two of his government ministers of offering him big state jobs in exchange for his withdrawal as a candidate from the by-election to elect a new MP for the Micoud North seat.

However, the Prime Minister has rejected the allegations, describing them as an attempt to discredit his administration on the heels of the by-election.

Daniel made the comment in a television interview here Friday as campaigning continues for the November 26 by-election to fill the seat left vacant following the death, in September, of former Prime Minister Sir John Compton.

Daniel, who is a member of the governing United Workers Party (UWP), decided to run as an independent, even after agreeing to support Janine Compton, the candidate chosen by the party's National Council in the October run-off.

Anxiety in administraion

This has caused disquiet in the administration. Compton, the daughter of the late Prime Minister, defeated Daniel by a close margin of two votes in the internal election last month.

The UWP, which has been able to hold on to the Micoud seat throughout the more than 50 years of its existence, now stands a chance of losing the seat as a result of a split vote - Daniel, Compton and former UWP MP Marius Wilson. They will do battle for the seat against the St. Lucia Labour Party's Silas Wilson, who was defeated by Sir John in the December general election by over 1,000 votes.

Daniel said there have been two offers made to him by Minister of Communication and Works Guy Joseph and Minister of Housing Richard Frederick, in exchange for his withdrawal from the by-election race.

He said one of the offers was made with the knowledge of Prime Minister King.