CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC):

Acting Prime Minister Stephenson King says the ruling United Workers Party (UWP) will be seeking a complete renewal of its leadership and national executive when it holds its convention next month.

The last convention was held in 2005 when Sir John Compton was re-elected leader of the party over his hand-picked successor Dr. Vaughan Lewis, who has since joined the main opposition St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP).

But Sir John, 82, is not expected to seek leadership of the party following a series of health related problems. On Saturday, the ailing Prime Minister was flown to the neighbouring French island of Martinique for medical treatment for an undisclosed chest infection.