By Deandrea Hamilton and Dana Malcolm
Editorial Staff
#Dominica, December 7, 2022 – The big story of the night was not that Roosevelt Skerrit and his Dominican Labour Party were able to hold onto electoral power in Dominica, but that independents caused an upset, denying the DLP a sweep of all 21 seats.
The snap election victory proved not to be a snap for Skerrit, who on a social media aired radio show congratulated the two independent candidates now holding seats in parliament.
Skerrit’s DLP was still unable to sway the constituents of Marigot and Salisbury; they continue to prefer other political options and this time, Anthony S. Charles won the Marigot constituency with 491 votes, securing – unofficially – a popular vote of 59.44 per cent.
Jesma Paul won with 617 votes with a voting turnout of 57.13 per cent and Lynsia Frank of DLP lost, receiving 463 votes 42.87 per cent from the Salisbury Constituency.
In a sixth consecutive political victory, the Dominical Labour Party gained one seat over their 2019 finish. With a notable boundary change, the DLP took Rousea Central which had last time gone to the now, decimated UWP.
Elections are due every five years in Dominica; this election should have technically been held in 2024, however, Skerrit last month called the General Election early.
As prime minister he has the prerogative to call for an election anytime within the constitutionally mandated timeframe. Still, the early call and boycott of the process by unprepared political parties drew in two election observer teams.
One from CARICOM, the other from the OAS.
Organization of American States dispatches team led by former Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie after concerns were voiced by residents and opposition members on the snap election called by Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit to be held on December 6th the country’s leaders invited the Organisation of American States to witness the elections.
The OAS spoke to local media after ballots closed around 5pm explaining that for the most part they had not observed any questionable practices.
Perry Christie, former Bahamian Prime Minister who was part of the 16-person team told reporters
“We are aware of the extent to which there was concern about the electoral process. And or job simply is to make a report and recommendations all with the intention of advancing the democracy of this region— we are generally finding that the facilities are adequate, [though] there are one or two recommendations we will make.”
There were 15 seats up for contention since the ruling Dominica Labour Party was elected unopposed in five seats across the country as the main opposition party the United Workers’ Party boycotted the elections.