As the Caribbean island nation of Dominica counts down to the highly anticipated Roseau North by-election, two key opposition figures have outlined bold visions for national renewal, targeting perceived failures of the current administration and calling on voters to seize this pivotal moment for change.
Prominent local businessman Gregor Nassief, owner of the high-end Secret Bay resort, used a recent gathering of the United Workers Party (UWP) at Goodwill Parish Hall to deliver a fiery address calling for cross-community unity to redirect Dominica toward a future rooted in accountable governance, fiscal transparency, and broad-based economic recovery. Nassief, who has recently emerged as a leading public critic of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) over their handling of electoral reform and the country’s signature Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program, emphasized that the by-election carries stakes far beyond the single constituency.
“This isn’t just about one seat in Parliament — it’s about the entire future direction of our country,” Nassief told attendees. “We need to put Dominica first, ahead of party loyalties, ahead of personal ambitions for leaders. It’s the people of this country who must come first.”
Nassief’s core message centered on the urgent need for legislators who will uphold democratic principles, including free and fair elections, freedom of speech and peaceful assembly, and expanded economic opportunity for all Dominican citizens. He argued that Parliament has lacked robust oversight of the DLP administration, calling for representatives unafraid to demand accountability from the executive branch. “We need people in Parliament who aren’t afraid to ask ‘why’,” he said. “We need people who will stand up and demand answers on behalf of every single citizen. That’s why Danny Lugay is the right choice for Roseau North.” He closed his remarks by urging all supporters to mobilize: “We all need to put our gloves back on, step into the ring, and fight for our future. We have to take responsibility for the direction of our country.”
In his own address to the meeting, UWP by-election candidate Danny Lugay echoed Nassief’s call for change, laying out concrete policy priorities focused on the most pressing concerns of Roseau North constituents, from public health to local economic development.
Lugay reaffirmed his flagship proposal to develop a new commercial hub spanning from the public works property to the Dominica Banana Marketing Corporation (DBMC) building, a project that would integrate the Dominica Export Import Agency (DEXIA) warehouse and existing home industry sites. If elected, he says the development will unlock new opportunities for local small and medium businesses and drive sustained regional economic growth.
A central plank of Lugay’s campaign is addressing the decades-long public health crisis stemming from the aging Fond Cole landfill. For more than 20 years, residents across Roseau North communities including Simon Boulevard, Stock Farm, and Yampiece have been exposed to toxic fumes and smoke from frequent uncontrolled fires at the site, which release carcinogenic pollutants into the air residents breathe daily. Lugay described the landfill as a “major health hazard” that has outlived any usefulness, and pledged to relocate the facility to a safer, more suitable location if elected. He also committed to addressing widespread frustration with poor municipal waste collection services, noting that uncollected garbage often piles up for weeks, damaging the local environment and lowering residents’ quality of life.
Beyond environmental and public health issues, Lugay identified healthcare access and quality as a top priority, calling for upgraded services at local hospitals, improved working conditions for frontline medical workers, and consistent access to essential medical supplies and equipment.
Like Nassief, Lugay closed his remarks by urging voters to set aside narrow partisan interests and vote for a leadership focused on tangible progress and accountable governance. The Roseau North by-election, he emphasized, represents a once-in-a-cycle opportunity for Dominican voters to shift the country toward a healthier, more prosperous, and more democratic future — and called on every eligible voter to turn out and make their voices count.