标签： Dominica

The final results of the 2026 Roseau North constituency by-election are now official, after the Electoral Office completed full ballot counting on Tuesday, September 8 — one day after polling closed across the district. The contest, triggered by a mid-term parliamentary vacancy, delivered a clear win to the Dominica Labour Party’s candidate Ashma McDougall, who secured a comfortable majority of valid votes to fill the empty seat in Dominica’s House of Assembly.

The vacancy that prompted the by-election was created when former representative Honourable Miriam Blanchard stepped down from her post on June 12, 2026. Under the Commonwealth of Dominica’s constitution, any parliamentary opening that occurs outside of a full general election dissolution requires a by-election to fill the seat within a three-month window, unless Parliament is dissolved before the deadline. Following constitutional protocols, Dominica’s President officially issued the election writ per Section 12 of the House of Assembly (Elections) Act, setting polling day for Monday, September 7, 2026. Voting ran from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM across 28 purpose-built polling stations distributed across the constituency’s 10 polling districts.

Full final vote tabulation confirmed McDougall captured 1,473 valid votes, accounting for 58.45% of all valid ballots cast in the contest. Her closest challenger, Daniel Andrew Lugay of the United Workers Party, finished with 998 votes, equal to 39.60% of the valid vote share. Independent candidate Sherman Boston rounded out the field with 49 votes, making up 1.95% of total valid ballots. In total, 2,520 valid votes were recorded across the constituency.

Electoral data also shows broader turnout metrics for the contest: out of 7,892 registered eligible voters in Roseau North, only 2,566 ballots were cast, putting overall voter turnout at 32.51%. Just under two-thirds of registered voters — 67.49% or 5,327 people — opted not to participate in the by-election. Of all ballots cast, 98.21% were deemed valid, while 46 ballots were rejected, accounting for 1.79% of total polled ballots.

This by-election gives Roseau North constituents a new representative to serve out the remaining term of the current parliamentary cycle, fulfilling the constitutional requirement to fill mid-term vacancies in the national legislature.

A seasoned Caribbean media and academic leader is stepping into a pivotal new diplomatic role that will shape regional cooperation across the Caribbean bloc. Dr Janet Caroo has been formally appointed as St Lucia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to both the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), with her tenure officially commencing on September 1, 2026. Alongside this ambassadorial posting, Caroo will also lead St Lucia’s Governmental Regional Integration Unit, marking a significant expansion of her decades-long work advancing Caribbean unity.

The appointment has already drawn widespread praise from The University of the West Indies (The UWI), Caroo’s long-time professional home, where institution leaders highlighted her unique qualifications for the high-profile role. Over her career centered on regional public service, Caroo has built a proven track record of leadership, deep institutional knowledge of Caribbean geopolitics and community needs, and an unwavering commitment to driving cross-border development, cooperation and integration across the region.

Before moving into diplomacy, Caroo served as Managing Director of UWItv, the University of the West Indies’ regional media platform. In that position, she leveraged strategic communication and targeted public engagement strategies to advance The UWI’s mission of connecting academic resources to Caribbean communities. During her tenure, she spearheaded initiatives that bridged the gap between the University’s cutting-edge research and technical expertise and grassroots communities across every corner of the Caribbean, while emphasizing media’s critical role in fostering open, informed public debate on pressing regional issues.

Caroo will bring this extensive experience in regional outreach and collaboration to her new diplomatic portfolio, as the government of St Lucia works to deepen its institutional ties with both CARICOM and the OECS. Her core responsibilities will center on advancing key regional priorities, including enhanced cross-border cooperation, streamlined labor and professional mobility, expanded intra-regional trade and investment, accelerated innovation across Caribbean economies, and stronger people-to-people connections across Caribbean island nations.

Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of The UWI, joined the entire University community in offering formal congratulations to Caroo, commending her transformative contributions during her time leading UWItv. In a statement shared by the institution, Beckles emphasized that Caroo’s appointment is a testament to the strength and value of homegrown Caribbean leadership, rooted in deep institutional experience and an intimate understanding of the region’s unique opportunities and challenges.

“Dr Caroo’s appointment reflects the value of Caribbean leadership, institutional experience and a deep understanding of the region. The UWI is proud of the impact she has made through UWItv, particularly in amplifying Caribbean perspectives and strengthening the University’s connection with the people it serves. We are equally pleased to see her carry that experience into this important diplomatic assignment on behalf of St Lucia and the wider Caribbean,” Beckles said.

The UWI wrapped up its announcement by noting that it has full confidence Caroo’s transition from regional media leadership to diplomatic representation will open new pathways for impactful service to both St Lucia and the broader Caribbean community. The institution extended its warm wishes for Caroo’s success in her new role, highlighting the mutual benefits her experience will bring to both the region’s diplomatic bodies and the Caribbean people it serves.

A decisive by-election outcome in Dominica’s Roseau North constituency has cemented the ruling party’s hold on national politics, with Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit framing the win as a nationwide endorsement of his administration’s policy direction. The victory rally held Monday night following the vote drew an enthusiastic crowd of supporters, where Skerrit shared his interpretation of the results that saw the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) candidate Ashma McDougall claim the open seat.

McDougall outperformed two rival candidates to secure the win: United Workers Party contender Daniel “Danny” Lugay and independent candidate Sherman Boston. Preliminary vote counts confirm McDougall received 1,506 votes, compared to Lugay’s 983 and Boston’s 50. Skerrit emphasized that the win was an unchallenged landslide, noting that McDougall carried every single polling station across the constituency, an unprecedented showing that leaves no room for dispute over the outcome.

In remarks to cheering attendees, Skerrit argued that the constituency’s vote carries weight far beyond Roseau North’s borders. “I believe that Roseau North has spoken for the whole country. Roseau North has spoken for every part of the country, and I believe that the rest of the country has heard you and seen you,” he told the crowd. The prime minister went on to say that the by-election result resolves long-running public debate over whether Dominica is heading in the right policy direction. “And so I believe that the debate in Dominica is over on whether the country is on the right track or the wrong track. And I think Dominica is on the right track based on what you have said in Roseau North,” he added.

Skerrit praised McDougall personally for her tireless campaign effort, highlighting the personal qualities that he says made her successful. “She wanted to win, she did what she had to do to win, and it has paid off,” Skerrit said. He described McDougall as a dedicated public servant with strong capability, unwavering commitment, and a rigorous work ethic that will serve constituents well. He offered his full congratulations, confirming that the new lawmaker will soon be appointed to Dominica’s Cabinet of Ministers, and pledged that his full administration will offer ongoing guidance and support to help McDougall succeed in her new role.

The prime minister also noted that the high-stakes by-election had drawn international attention, with observers monitoring the race from outside Dominica’s borders. He thanked residents of Roseau North for their overwhelming support, calling the electorate “wise and smart people” who correctly identified the candidate and platform that would best serve their own interests, their families, and their local community. Skerrit also reiterated a core principle of his administration: that elected representatives must remain present, accessible, and accountable to the constituents who put them in office.

To honor the community’s support, Skerrit announced plans for a nationwide thank-you gathering and social event to be held in the Roseau North area, though specific dates and additional logistics are still being finalized. The by-election win allows the DLP to retain the seat it first claimed in the December 2022 general election, when the party secured a historic supermajority, winning 19 of the 21 total constituency seats in Dominica’s national legislature.

The closely watched Roseau North by-election in Dominica has moved one step closer to finalizing its outcome, with preliminary vote counts placing ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) candidate Ashma McDougall on track to claim the vacant parliamentary seat, overcoming challenges from opposition and independent contenders.

According to preliminary figures released after voting closed on September 7, McDougall secured 1,506 votes, outpacing United Workers Party (UWP) nominee Daniel “Danny” Lugay who earned 983 ballots. Independent candidate Sherman Boston finished third with 50 votes. An official statutory recount of all ballots got underway at 9 a.m. local time on September 8 to confirm the preliminary results.

McDougall’s projected win means the DLP will retain control of a constituency it first won in the 2022 December general election, where the party secured a landslide 19 out of Dominica’s 21 national parliamentary seats. The 2022 national vote was boycotted by both the UWP and the Dominica Freedom Party, which raised widespread concerns over the integrity of the island’s electoral system and refused to participate in national elections until comprehensive reform measures were implemented. Those reform efforts, including ongoing voter list verification and the rollout of new official voter ID cards, have proceeded alongside preparations for the Roseau North by-election triggered by the resignation of former DLP representative Miriam Blanchard.

While the preliminary result has given the DLP a projected victory, the polling process has already drawn multiple allegations of irregularities from voters and opposition-aligned observers. A Dominica News Online reporter on the ground at multiple polling locations, including the Goodwill St. Alphonsus Parish Hall, spoke with voters who raised red flags about polling day conduct. One elector claimed that Cecil Joseph, a prominent local media personality and manager of DBS Radio, was present inside the restricted polling station yard taking notes and collecting personal information from voters. The same voter also alleged that DLP supporters were allowed inside the restricted yard to gather voter data, while UWP supporters were confined to a tent outside the legally mandated 100-yard exclusion zone. She further reported a verbal confrontation with a man she identified as a DLP supporter at the site.

Contacted for comment at the Goodwill Primary School polling location, Joseph addressed the concerns over electoral conduct and voter verification processes directly. “That’s rather unfortunate if people do have concerns of the electoral process,” Joseph stated. He noted that calls for electoral modernization and voter list cleanup had been a central topic ahead of the by-election, leading parliament to approve an adjustment to verification rules that allows birth certificates paired with a passport-sized photograph to serve as an additional valid form of voter identification. In his view, there should be no confusion or contention over the multiple approved identity document options, arguing that voters should face no unnecessary barriers to casting their ballots.

Joseph also confirmed that election officials strictly enforce identity checks, sharing an example of a voter who was turned away from polling because the surname listed on his birth certificate did not match the name he commonly used.

Despite the official rule that new voter ID cards — currently being produced as part of the ongoing electoral reform process — would not be distributed on polling day, multiple reliable eyewitness accounts allege that at least one DLP supporter was privately issued a new ID card at the polling location. Another allegation claims that a DLP supporter told a voter who arrived without approved identification to go through the voting process anyway, promising the voter would receive $300 in compensation after casting a ballot.

In her first public statement following the release of preliminary results, McDougall posted to the official DLP Facebook page on the evening of September 7 to thank Roseau North constituents for their support. She pledged to “stay accessible, work hard, and be ready to serve whenever you need me” during her tenure as representative.

A businesswoman by profession, McDougall centered her campaign platform on targeted community improvements across Roseau North, particularly in the Gutter neighborhood. Her key promises included upgrading footpaths and access routes, overhauling outdated drainage systems, improving public sanitation and waste collection services. She also committed to expanding community recreational and training facilities for children, young people and adult learners, addressing unmet local housing needs, and maintaining transparent, consistent communication with all constituents.

A closely watched local by-election in Dominica’s Roseau North constituency has drawn a preliminary projection that Ashma McDougall, the candidate of the incumbent Dominica Labour Party (DLP), will claim the vacant parliamentary seat following Monday’s popular vote. The three-way competitive race saw McDougall go up against two challengers: Daniel “Danny” Lugay, representing the opposition United Workers Party (UWP), and Sherman Boston, an independent candidate running without major party affiliation. The preliminary projection was released on the basis of early vote counting figures published by Anthea Joseph, the island nation’s Chief Election Officer. As of the latest update, the final official result of the contest has not been formally certified and announced by election authorities.

The by-election was called to fill a sudden vacancy left by the departure of former Roseau North parliamentary representative Miriam Blanchard, pushing voters across the constituency to head to the polls on September 7 to select their new legislative representative. In the weeks leading up to polling day, all three candidates ran intensive grassroots campaign tours across Roseau North, connecting with constituents and laying out their policy priorities for the district.

McDougall centered her DLP campaign around local community development priorities, pressing for tangible upgrades to critical neighborhood infrastructure including public footpaths, stormwater drainage systems, public sanitation services, shared community facilities and affordable local housing. Her main competitor, the UWP’s Lugay, built his campaign platform around three core issues: expanding access to quality healthcare, driving inclusive local economic development, and improving municipal waste management services for Roseau North residents. Independent candidate Boston, meanwhile, positioned his candidacy around a message of cross-community unity, also prioritizing grassroots neighborhood development as his key campaign focus. The race garnered significant public and political attention across Dominica, as local parties and voters viewed the by-election as an important bellwether of current political sentiment in the country ahead of future general elections.