1979 - St. Lucia Elects Its First Black Prime Minister, John Compton

On June 4, 1979, Saint Lucia held its first general election after gaining independence from Britain earlier that year. The Saint Lucia Labour Party, led by Allan Louisy, won a majority, but it was Sir John Compton—leader of the opposition and founding father of Saint Lucian independence—who would eventually return to lead the nation and shape its modern political landscape. While Louisy took office first, it was Compton’s pivotal role in both the pre-independence and post-independence phases that marked him as Saint Lucia’s first dominant Black political architect. Born into poverty in 1925, Compton rose through the legal and political ranks during colonial rule. His efforts ensured constitutional advancements for Saint Lucians in the Caribbean and abroad. Though overlooked internationally, Compton’s June 4 electoral resilience symbolized the broader rise of Black political leadership in post-colonial Caribbean states. His legacy laid the groundwork for Saint Lucia’s political and economic development.