The Dominica Labour Party (DLP) has regained control of the House of Assembly, after winning the December 6 general elections by locking 19 of the 21 seats.
Six (6) of those seats including that of prime minister Roosevelt Skerrit were already secured after nomination day since there were no contenders in those constituencies.
The main opposition, the United Workers Party (UPP) left without a leader at the time, chose not to contest the elections, ultimately declaring it “fraudulent”. Mr. Skerrit had called a snap election to be carried out within a month of his announcement.
The UWP’s withdrawal however did not affect the voting outcome of two opposition strongholds.
Voters in the Marigot and Salisbury constituencies remained defiant amidst what seemed like a sure win for the DLP. But majority of the electorates voted in favour of independent candidates.
Anthony Charles beat DLP returnee Gregory ‘Karessah” Riviere to win the Marigot seat while independent Jesma Paul secured victory over DLP newcomer Lynsia Frank.
This is the DLP’s 6th consecutive election victory, seemingly increasing in party support each term.
In 2019, the DLP won 18 seats, an increase of three seats from the 2015 elections and in 2022 they have gained one additional seat in the Roseau North constituency.
On Tuesday night that seat was won by Miriam Blanchard who served as planning and economic development minister in the previous DLP administration.
Mr. Skerrit who has led the party since 2004 will remain as prime minister until 2025 as he indicated on the day, he announced the election dates.
Meanwhile, reports coming from Dominica indicated low voter turnout.
Recently elected UWP leader, Thompson Fontaine, an economist who had previously worked for the International Monetary Fund (IMF congratulated those who did not participate in the voting process which he referred to as a “sham”.
In a post on Facebook, Mr. Fontaine said: “Congratulations to the great supporters of the UWP where over 98% listened to their leaders and boycotted the sham elections. Complete and total success!”
He later indicated that compared to the 2019 elections, voter turnout declined by 30.2%.
2022 2019
Total Votes Cast 18 320. 40 067
DLP votes 15 064. 23 643
Voter turnout. 24.4%. 54.6%
In addition, four (4) days before the elections, on Friday, December 2, the Dominica Electoral Office announced the withdrawal of independent candidates Vincia Casey and Dr. Irvin Pascal as candidates for general elections in the Salybia and St Joseph constituencies, respectively.
They were two of 45 candidates who contested the 2022 elections.
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