As Dominica prepares for its upcoming general election, the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) has officially kicked off a formal fundraising initiative, a core component of its updated electoral strategy, party leader Dr. Thomson Fontaine has announced.
In an interview with local broadcaster Q-95 Radio this week, Dr. Fontaine outlined that the party has already begun its outreach to individual potential donors and local institutional supporters, laying early groundwork to secure the financial resources that any competitive political campaign requires. “As part of our strategy we have started to approach persons, we have started to approach institutions, we have started to do the necessary work to ensure that these monies will come our way when the time comes,” he explained. “We absolutely need resources to run an election.”
Dr. Fontaine highlighted that the shift to proactive fundraising addresses a longstanding challenge for the UWP: previous electoral campaigns were consistently hampered by insufficient financial backing, a gap the party is determined to close this cycle. “In the past we have run election, not with enough resources but we need to change that,” he said.
Bolstering his call for support, Dr. Fontaine expressed strong optimism about the UWP’s electoral prospects, arguing that the party’s solid standing with voters will naturally translate into increased financial backing from supporters. Even so, he stressed that the party is not leaving funding outcomes to chance, and is prioritizing active, intentional outreach to meet its goals. “But I believe that given our very good chances of winning the next elections we will see a lot more support. But we are not leaving anything to chance, we are actively working, because we need those resources,” he stated.
The UWP leader went on to confirm that he is fully confident the party will raise all the capital required to run a robust, competitive campaign, and ultimately secure victory at the polls. Beyond securing funding, Dr. Fontaine placed significant emphasis on the ethical framework guiding the party’s fundraising efforts, noting that the UWP has adopted a formal zero-tolerance stance on corruption, and is committed to full transparency and accountability in all financial dealings related to the campaign.
“We have adopted a position of complete transparency with the Dominican public and accountability and we want to maintain that even as we go after resources to fund our campaign,” he asserted. “We want to start with the right footing because we want to carry that same desire into government where we are credible, where we are accountable, where we are transparent in every action and activity that we undertake.”
Dr. Fontaine gave a public assurance that the UWP will never compromise its core political principles in order to secure campaign funding. “We aren’t going to ‘shake the devil tail’ to get to where it wants to get to,” he said. “We will do so in a manner that is dignified, in a manner that is above board.”
Once secured, the funds will be allocated to core campaign operations, including public rally organizing, branded promotional merchandise such as t-shirts and hats, and paid advertising across local media platforms, Dr. Fontaine confirmed. “Ultimately we will get the resources that we need to do what is required, to put on the rallies…to get the t-shirts, the hats, the different things that people need for a good, strong campaign, to pay for their advertising…” he concluded.