CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC):

Former Barbados gov-ernment minister and pro-minent jurist, Sir Richard Cheltenham, was holding talks with members of the ruling United Workers Party (UWP) as efforts continue to prevent the collapse of the Stephenson King government in St Lucia.

Individual meetings

UWP officials confirmed that Sir Richard, a former chairman of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), would be meeting individually with disgruntled members of the government who have been calling for the resignation of the prime minister as well as the dismissal of Economic Affairs and Planning Minister Ausbert D'Auvergne.

The officials said the former Barbados government minister would also meet collectively with members of the Cabinet in what is being described as a last-ditch effort to save the King administration.

Prepare report

They said that Sir Richard is expected to prepare a report on his meetings and offer an independent view on the way forward for the embattled prime minister, who took over the government last September following the death of Sir John Compton.

Sir John had led the UWP to victory in the December 2006 general elections ending a 10-year rule of the St Lucia Labour Party.

UWP officials said the meeting with Sir Richard is aimed at uniting the two factions of the government with one faction, including dismissed foreign affairs minister, Rufus Bousquet, and Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Marcus Nicholas, supporting the Sports and Public Services Minister Leonard Montoute for prime minister.

No solution offered

Bousquet told reporters the address to the nation by Prime Minister King late on Tuesday night did not contain any solution to the crisis.

In his 15-minute radio and television broadcast, King gave no indication that he would adhere to the demand of the disgruntled members of his government nor did he mention D'Auvergne, who was brought into the government by Sir John.