The race for the vacant Roseau North Constituency parliamentary seat in Dominica has officially taken shape, with candidate Ashma McDougall publicly standing behind her choice to run under the banner of the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP). The position opened up after former sitting MP Miriam Blanchard stepped down, triggering a by-election that has drawn two formal nominees from the island’s major political blocs.
A multi-disciplinary professional with a background in economics, entrepreneurship, and education, McDougall was officially ratified as the DLP’s candidate ahead of the vote. At her official campaign launch held Saturday at Lindo Park, she addressed a crowd of supporters with a fiery, unapologetic speech reaffirming both her loyalty to the party and her conviction that her decision to run with the DLP was the only correct path forward.
“I made my choice, unapologetically,” McDougall emphasized to attendees. She explained that her decision came after months of deliberate reflection on where she could deliver the greatest tangible benefit to Roseau North residents and Dominicans as a whole. For McDougall, running as a DLP candidate represented the clearest and most effective avenue to continue the public service work she has built her career around.
“I choose the Labour Party because I know that this is where I can best serve the people of Roseau North and Dominica by extension,” she said. “This is where I can translate a lifetime of service to the people of Roseau North. This is where I can make the greatest difference for the people I seek to serve. And this is where I can create opportunities. I can solve problems and I can improve the lives of people of the Roseau North constituency.”
McDougall rooted her affiliation in the DLP’s proven track record of centering public investment and inclusive national development over her tenure. She highlighted the ruling administration’s key policy achievements across housing, education, and core infrastructure projects, noting that these investments have already lifted the quality of life for working families across the island.
“Which party has consistently demonstrated that it believes in investing in people? And which party has built homes that has given families security? And which party has invested in education, opening doors of opportunities so that today homes can celebrate having a university graduate among them? And which party has invested in roads, in bridges, and infrastructure which connect our communities and strengthen our economy?” she asked rhetorically.
In McDougall’s assessment, these accomplishments prove the DLP’s longstanding commitment to putting people first, expanding access to opportunity, and driving sustained national progress. After reviewing that record, she said, she had no doubt that the DLP was the only party aligned with her values of public service.
“And when I examined that record, I knew that if I truly wanted to serve, there was no other place I could be,” she added.
Looking ahead to the by-election and her potential tenure as MP, McDougall laid out a clear policy vision focused on advancing opportunity for all residents of Roseau North. Her priorities include expanding economic and educational pathways for young people, boosting targeted support for local small businesses, and strengthening household financial security across the constituency.
She described her vision for Roseau North as: “A future that is built on opportunities for our young people, a future that is built on safer and cleaner communities we are proud to call home, a future that will be built on prosperity where small businesses thrive, jobs are created and local talent is given opportunity to succeed. A future that is built on stronger families, where every family has the security of a home and the dignity of land ownership. And a future built on dignity, comfort and opportunity.”
McDougall stressed that this ambitious agenda is fully achievable for the constituency, and called on local residents to play an active role in shaping Roseau North’s next chapter. “And my friends, that future is not beyond our reach,” she emphasized. “Roseau North, as we ready ourselves to write the next chapter, I will be calling on your experience, on your skills and community knowledge, and I hope that you answer that call.”
On the opposition side, the United Workers Party has already named its nominee for the seat: Daniel “Danny” Lugay, a former representative for Roseau North who will contest the by-election against McDougall. With both major parties now having formalized their candidates, campaigning across the constituency is expected to ramp up in the coming weeks ahead of the vote.