Richard Frederick

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Richard Frederick is a Saint Lucian lawyer and politician who is currently Minister for Physical Planning, Housing, Urban Renewal and Local Government. Born on August 6, 1965, he is the tenth of twelve children and the last of five boys. He was elected to the Castries Central constituency as an Independent Member of Parliament having won the by-election held on 13 March 2006 which had been triggered by the resignation of Sarah Flood-Beaubrun. Flood-Beaubrun who ran for the political party she headed, Organization for National Empowerment finished third, with Victor Lacorbiniere the Saint Lucia Labour Party candidate in second place.

Richard Frederick was subsequently endorsed by the United Workers Party (UWP) and was re-elected for the UWP in the general election of 11 December 2006. He was sworn in as Minister for Housing, Urban Renewal and Local Government in the government of Prime Minister John Compton on 19 December 2006.^[1]

Frederick has claimed that he aims to clear up the Castries Central area, and that he will give half of his MP's salary to this cause.^{[citation needed]}

The charismatic politician was raised in Micoud on the south east coast of the island by Farming parents who by all accounts worked extremely hard with much sacrifice to feed and educate Richard and his siblings.

Richard attended St Mary's college from 1977 to 1982 at which time he moved to the Capital Castries to be closer to the school. In those days the east coast road was long and winding and the cost of transportation was prohibitive and this may have contributed to Frederick being forced to live alone in a one room shack in one of the most challenging slums in Castries.

Following Compton's death, Frederick's portfolio was expanded as he became Minister of Physical Planning, Housing, Urban Renewal and Local Government in a cabinet reshuffle on September 12, 2007 under Prime Minister Stephenson King.^[2]