PM Skerrit declared victor in heated Dominican polls
Dominicans on Friday, December 6, 2019, cast ballots for a new Parliament and even before then, early returns indicated that the DLP would walk away undefeated.
Landslide Victory
Held under heightened security, residents cast their ballots amidst protests and street unrest in addition to legal challenges seeking electoral reform from the main opposition party.
The protesters have been demanding electoral reforms ahead of the polls, including a clean-up of the voters' list, the issuing of voter ID cards and blocking Dominicans living abroad from voting.
Earlier this week, efforts by the UWP to have the elections delayed until February 5, 2020 were thrown out by the court and local media further reported that armed forces where brought in from neighbouring islands to maintain the peace in the country of about 75,000 people.
Day of Peace Designated
As part of the Landslide victory for the DLP, the opposition United Workers’ Party lost three of its previous six seats, one of those was won by Melissa Skerrit, the Prime Minister’s wife.
In an address to the nation on Friday night, PM Skerrit said the country needs to heal following the heated election campaign which saw protests across the country.
Calling for a more responsible Opposition he said, "The elections are over. The UWP failed to delay or stop elections through legal means. They failed to provoke our security services, they failed in getting the country to take up the call for widespread violence and unrest and they have failed at the ballot box."
PM Skerette has since declared Sunday, December 8, 2019, as a Day of Peace for the nation.
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24 Responses to “PM Skerrit declared victor in heated Dominican polls”
Dominica attained its independence from the UK on 01 Nov 1981 but a friend of mine’s quipped once that if Columbus, the privateer, returns today, one of the only islands he would recognize is Dominica. The reality is that Dominica's growth and development has stagnated in all areas relative to other regional countries. A handful of people are doing well but for the average Dominican every day is a hustle for survival. What is the Dominican economy.
It really does not have any strong economic pillars. There are no strong manufacturing, tourism, agricultural....etc. Agriculture should be it's strong suit but it is severely undeveloped. Government is the major employer but role of government is not being a major employer. Remittances are also a major contributor to the economy. Further, selling economic passports is short-term and problematic in the future. Here is a news flash. You can only tax the masses so much; you can not get blood out of stone.
Elections have consequences. There must be more to elections than winning. The lives of people must be improved, positive legacies built.......etc. PM Skerrit is entering his 4th 5 year term. And his mandate is to improve health, education, economy, infrastructure (roads, water, electricity, water, sewage), transportation, social services, sports and recreation, agriculture, tourism....etc. He must improve Dominicans quality of life, standard of living and per capita income.
And on your statement about Christopher Columbus, what exactly is it about your country that makes you think he would have a hard recognizing it?
Plz when you get a chance look up the word bloviating.
The Caribbean region spend hundred of millions importing citrus and products every year; Dominica can tap into that market, putting its people to work. Keeping money local/regional has a multiplier effect on the economy. Though it does not have the craved white sand beaches, nature tourism is in its wheelhouse for the taking. Further, it has hydroelectric power that can be used to developed light manufacturing. Other areas that can be developed include poultry, call centers and other back office services. Dominica must effectively used/allocate its scarce resources with alternative uses for the good nation, lifting its standard of living and quality of life.
“And on your statement about Christopher Columbus, what exactly is it about your country that makes you think he would have a hard recognizing it?“ lol. Know what assume means?(Ass-U-Me). Let’s ditch the cult mentality and demand more from and hold leaders accountable. And as @@doiminican says, ‘ if you cannot see the big picture you are your own misery.‘ The 0.5% doing well while the 95.5% living in misery and not too far from being poverty stricken. What does bloviating mean? I went to school under the breadfruit tree so I didn’t learn any big works. Let’s do the KISS thing, garçon. After 41 years independence, Dominica is still struggling to emerge from 3rd World status. That is two generations already. Garçon, it is way pass time for progress and not being viewed as the pit of the Caribbean and the butt of jokes. Way pass time for health, education, environmental, social services, economic diversification, road, water, sewage, drainage, gas, transportation (air, land, sea).......etc improvements. Every election Dominica get a whole lot of flowery language in a manifesto that always ends up making good book ends on a shelf. Leaders have historically over promised and under deliver. Let’s enlighten ourself; let life our heads from the feeding through and take a deep breath of fresh air. What will be the cry in 1924?
The people must lead and the government will follow. In practical terms there are genuine leaders in each community who can drive positive changes - without being elected. The people need to identify these grass roots leaders and support them.
I did not get these thoughts from no d@mn European poet.
There is no economic activity taking place in Dominica- no jobs for the young people but thousand have been paid to come to Dominica for concert during the campaign. Is this really progress when you have persons in long lines going to the prime Minister to ask for assistance and in the end they feel obligated to him? This is what the Ministry of Social Services, Family and Gender Affairs employees are paid for to look at the affairs of persons who are in need - that should not be the job of the Prime Minister, but he uses it to intimidate and control you, and if he knows you are not supporting him' crapaud smoke your pipe'
One of the biggest economic generator Ross University was taken from under us. Picard is now like a ghost town. At least when bananas was been sold, the money was small but the farmers got $100.00 every week to pay their phone and water bill. We have so much wasted land- so much rich fertile soil. It really annoys me when I see people say how good the country is doing under the Labour Party.
I remember going to study and got financial assistance not by going to see a Minister. There was a system in place where you apply for assistance and a committee would sit and review your situation. All students studying at the time once they met the criteria got financial assistance - why should it be different now as to who you know .
We can do better and I think a change was needed. Let us try someone else, if they are not better remove them. Things very difficult in Dominica for the average Dominican. Skerrit and his friends are doing good but the man on the street the average civil servant struggling.