Roseau – Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit on Sunday night announced December 6 as the date for a snap general election in Dominica, three years after he led the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) to a convincing 18-3 victory in the general election of 2019.
In a radio and television broadcast, Skerrit said Nomination Day will be November 18.
The DLP is expected to face a challenge from the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP), which held three seats in the last Parliament, and whose leader, Lennox Linton, resigned from the position of party leader last month.
“We need a refreshed Dominica Labour Party team, for these very unpredictable, unprecedented and very challenging times. Following the changes we made in 2019, there shall next time around be other changes, to ensure the continued renewal of our Labour Party frontline, and maintain our continued relevance and the achievement of the visionary goals that we have set ourselves and our country.
“The Dominica Labour Party must continue to be the beacon of hope. It must be the option for those who wish to see our country progress. The challenges that we face are now…they are already upon us. We cannot take chances with the future of this country,” Skerrit said, adding that “we have set ourselves on a progressive path of development and growth that will see prosperity for our people and our country”.
“I shall be honored to use the benefits of my 22 years’ experience in politics, to lead the Dominica Labour Party and this country, through this period of global social, political and economic uncertainty. We shall be the change that the country requires as we continually reshape, adjust, and correct course, as we move steadfastly towards that Dynamic Dominica, a resilient Dominica.”
Skerrit said with that in mind, “I shall lead a new-look Dominica Labour Party into fresh general elections that will be held at the soonest possible time. I want for the year 2023 to begin with a fresh mandate, given to a fresh Labour team, to commence the work of building post-COVID Dominica.”
He said he had asked President Charles Savarin to dissolve the current Parliament with immediate effect and that a fresh writ be issued on Monday, November 7 for the holding of general elections in Dominica.
Skerrit said that while the DLP will unveil its candidates for the polls at a public meeting on Tuesday, “Nomination Day in Dominica shall be Friday the 18th of November. General elections day in Dominica, the day on which the Dominica Labour Party will be seeking a fresh mandate, with a fresh team, is Tuesday 6th December, 2022.”. (CMC)