Allen Michael Chastanet (born 20 November 1960) is a

Saint Lucia Saint Lucia is an island country of the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean. Part of the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), Saint Vincent ...

n businessman and politician who served as

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

from 2016 to 2021. He is currently the

Leader of the Opposition The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the Opposition (parliamentary), largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the ...

and the political leader of the United Workers Party as well as the parliamentary representative for Micoud South constituency.

Education

In 1979, Chastanet graduated from high school at Stanstead College in

Stanstead, Quebec Stanstead is a city (Quebec), town in the Memphrémagog Regional County Municipality in the Estrie region of Quebec, located on the Canada–United States border across from Derby Line, Vermont, Derby Line, Vermont. The Town of Stanstead was c ...

. He holds a B.A. degree from

Bishop's University Bishop's University () is a small English-language Liberal arts college, liberal arts university in Lennoxville, a borough of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. The founder of the institution was the Anglican Diocese of Quebec, Anglican Bishop of Quebec ...

and an MSc degree from

American University The American University (AU or American) is a Private university, private University charter#Federal, federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C., United States. Its main campus spans 90-acres (36 ha) on Ward Circle, in the Spri ...

Business career

Chastanet worked as vice president of marketing and sales for Air Jamaica. He is the managing director of the Coco Palm Hotel in Rodney Bay.

Political career

Chastanet was Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation and a member of the Saint Lucian Senate from 2006 to 2011. Chastanet unsuccessfully ran for a parliament seat for Soufriere Constituency in the 2011 general election. In 2013, he was elected leader of the opposition United Workers Party. Chastanet won the parliament seat for Micoud South constituency in the 2016 general election. He was sworn in as Prime Minister on 7 June 2016. He held the additional portfolios of Minister of Finance, Economic Growth, Job Creation, External Affairs and the Public Service. On 26 July 2021, Chastanet and his political party United Workers Party were not successful in the 2021 Saint Lucian general election after they were defeated by the Saint Lucia Labour Party by a landslide.

Political positions

In April 2022, Chastanet stated his support for Saint Lucia to become a republic.

Personal life

Chastanet is the son of businessman Michael Chastanet. Allen Chastanet is married to attorney-at-law Raquel DuBoulay-Chastanet. They have two children.

References