标签： Dominica

As campaign activity accelerates across Dominica ahead of the upcoming Roseau North by-election, veteran community figure Sherman Boston has made his official entry into the race, marking his comeback to electoral politics as an independent candidate anchored in principles of integrity, constituent-focused service and deliverable policy solutions.

Boston, who previously served 10 years as a member of the Roseau City Council and contested the 2022 snap general election as an independent, publicly confirmed his candidacy in a statement posted to his official Facebook page, calling on voters of the Roseau North constituency to lend him their support once again.

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Miriam Blanchard, a former member of parliament for the district and sitting cabinet minister from the ruling Dominica Labour Party. Per Dominica’s electoral regulations, a by-election must be held within 90 days of a parliamentary vacancy.

Following Blanchard’s exit, ruling party representatives reached out to Boston to invite him to rejoin the Dominica Labour Party, a request the long-time public servant said he flatly turned down. “I was asked to return to the ruling Labour Party as the prodigal son. I refused,” Boston said in his statement.

He explained that 26 years of unmet expectations left him unwilling to rejoin the party, arguing that Roseau North residents have been forced to endure too many empty promises over the years and deserve far better representation.

A lifelong resident of Roseau and graduate of the Clifton Dupigny Community College, Boston noted that his core political philosophy has never shifted: he prioritizes principle over partisan loyalty, he said, and will remain an independent to serve his community without party interference.

Drawing on his decade of experience representing Ward 4 — the largest geographic and demographic section of the Roseau North constituency — Boston emphasized that integrity must be the foundation of all public office. He pledged that if elected, he will always put the needs of local constituents above personal ambition, political gain or financial benefit.

Boston also pointed to his on-the-ground leadership during two of Dominica’s most devastating modern crises: the aftermath of Hurricane Maria and the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike other elected officials who stepped back during these emergencies, he said, he worked side-by-side with Ward 4 residents to secure resources and drive recovery, noting “I did not just hold a title… Ward 4 was not left to fend for itself.”

If voters send him to parliament, Boston has outlined three core policy priorities to deliver for Roseau North. First on his agenda is expanding local employment: he has proposed rolling out targeted skills and trade training programs across the constituency, increasing financial and regulatory support for local small businesses and entrepreneurs, and mandating that local Roseau North residents get priority hiring for all government and private sector infrastructure and development projects within the district.

Second, Boston pledged to address the longstanding environmental and public health risks posed by the expired Stockfarm landfill. He committed to pushing for urgent remediation of the current site, followed by a full relocation of the facility to a properly regulated, modern location that will protect the air and drinking water of nearby residential communities.

Finally, Boston framed his candidacy as a continuation of the public service legacy of the late former parliamentarian Julius Timothy, his early political mentor. Boston said Timothy’s decades of service taught him that effective public office must always center people above party politics — a principle he will carry with him to parliament if elected.

The eastern Caribbean nation of Dominica has kicked off its local political candidate cycle for the Roseau North Constituency, with Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit headlining the launch event for Dominica Labour Party (DLP) nominee Ashma McDougall. Held at Lindo Park on Sunday, the ceremony drew political supporters and local community members, where Skerrit opened his remarks by highlighting the unique significance of the constituency at the center of the country’s capital.

“Roseau North is no ordinary constituency. It sits at the heart of our capital. It is home to entrepreneurs, professionals, public officers, teachers, students, vendors, retirees, tradesmen, and young people filled with ambition,” Skerrit told the gathered crowd. “It is here that the hopes and aspirations of modern Dominica are on display every single day.”

Addressing the shifting political and socioeconomic landscape facing the island nation, Skerrit argued that evolving public demands call for a refreshed cohort of political leadership — one that balances innovative new perspectives with an intimate awareness of the daily challenges faced by average Dominicans. He stressed that the 21st-century political landscape requires candidates who can adapt to global changes while staying rooted in the needs of local communities, a standard he says McDougall meets perfectly.

“The future demands fresh thinking; the future demands new energy; the future demands someone who could appreciate the changing nature of the world while remaining deeply connected to the everyday concerns of ordinary people,” Skerrit said. “That is where Ashma entered the conversation.”

Skerrit went on to outline McDougall’s ability to connect with the broad cross-section of residents that make up Roseau North. He noted that she is well-equipped to discuss opportunity and innovation with young professional groups, and can empathize with small business owners navigating the hurdles of expanding their operations. Beyond professional groups, Skerrit added, McDougall can collaborate with educators on strategies to prepare Dominican youth for long-term success, and connect with ordinary families across all neighborhoods of the constituency — including Goodwill, Pottersville, Louisville, Stock Farm, Fond Cole, Yampiece and Tarish Pit — to understand their daily realities.

In closing, Skerrit emphasized that effective political representation is not about catering to a single narrow demographic, but uniting diverse groups around shared community goals. “That ability matters because representation is not about speaking to one group. It is about bringing people together around a common purpose,” he said. “And Ashma can deliver those things to Roseau North.”

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.

ROSEAU, DOMINICA – June 28, 2026 – As the Commonwealth of Dominica prepares for a high-stakes by-election in the Roseau North constituency, the non-partisan Dominica Business Forum Inc. (DBF) has publicly called out the country’s Electoral Commission for its prolonged silence on key electoral process questions, demanding immediate transparency to uphold public trust in the upcoming vote.

The by-election was triggered by the official resignation of sitting Member of Parliament Miriam Blanchard on June 12. Under Dominica’s constitution, a by-election must be held within 90 days of a parliamentary vacancy, putting the vote on the calendar long before ongoing electoral reforms are scheduled to be fully implemented.

The upcoming contest carries outsize importance: it marks the first major electoral test of the sweeping electoral reform legislation passed by Dominica’s parliament in March 2025. DBF analysts note that the vote is unfolding under highly unusual and complex conditions that have created uncertainty for voters and candidates alike. Most notably, the new national voters’ register, a core component of the 2025 reforms, will not be finalized in time for the by-election. The ongoing voter confirmation process is set to run until October 15, 2026, with a possible three-month extension. Even with this limitation, the DBF emphasizes that other key provisions of the new law – including rules guaranteeing all candidates equal access to state-owned media – can and should be fully implemented for the Roseau North vote.

At the heart of the DBF’s criticism is the Electoral Commission’s refusal to address outstanding questions about how the vote will be administered under the current incomplete reform framework. The five-member commission, led by chairman Duncan Stowe, has ignored repeated public requests from prominent Dominican businessman Gregor Nassief for clarification on the nearly year-long suspension of new voter registration, a gap that has already eroded public confidence for many citizens.

The DBF laid out the core unanswered questions hanging over the by-election: Will voters who have already completed the new confirmation process be removed from the existing old voters list? If they are removed, will their names be added to a temporary updated roll to allow them to cast a ballot in the by-election? The organization stresses that answering these questions is not just a public service – it is a constitutional duty for the Electoral Commission. If the commission continues to refuse to provide clarity, the DBF says, it will validate existing calls from Nassief for all commission members to resign or have their appointments revoked.

The DBF has issued an urgent appeal to Stowe to address the Dominican public immediately, to outline the commission’s current readiness to administer the by-election and clear up confusion around voter eligibility. Under the current timeline, the DBF acknowledges that holding the by-election using the existing old voters register is an unavoidable outcome.

Beyond the Roseau North contest, the organization issued a sharp warning against any potential early general election called before the voter confirmation process is completed. While Dominica’s constitution grants the prime minister the authority to call a general election at any time, the DBF argues that holding a national vote before the new register is finalized would be “immoral, unethical, and grossly disrespectful” to all Dominican citizens. If Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit moves forward with an early general election under these conditions, the DBF says the international community – including the Organization of American States, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and the Commonwealth Secretariat – must intervene and scrutinize the outcome.

In a separate push to strengthen democratic engagement ahead of the by-election, the DBF has extended an invitation to all three confirmed candidates to participate in a public debate to lay out their policy agendas for the Roseau North constituency and the country as a whole. The candidates include Daniel Lugay of the United Workers Party (UWP), Ashma McDougall of the incumbent Dominica Labour Party (DLP), and Joann Green of the United Workers Party (UPP). The organization highlighted a concerning gap in Dominican democratic discourse: it has been 26 years since political parties participated in a public, open debate, with the last such event held in January 2000 between then-Prime Minister Eddison James and opposition leaders Roosevelt Douglas and Charles Savarin. The DBF says full details of the proposed debate will be released in a follow-up statement in the coming weeks.

As the only private sector organization actively engaged in cross-stakeholder electoral reform discussions in Dominica, the non-partisan DBF closed by urging all eligible voters – both existing electors and eligible new voters – to complete the confirmation or registration process as soon as possible. In a country with what the organization describes as a fragile democracy, active participation remains the most important tool for citizens to uphold democratic accountability, the DBF added.

A longstanding democratic norm of parliamentary neutrality in Dominica has been thrown into question after the Speaker of the House of Assembly participated in a ruling party campaign event, drawing a public call for accountability from a prominent former civic leader.

Alvin A. Thomas, a concerned citizen and former general secretary of the island nation’s Civil Service Association, laid out his critique in a widely circulated open letter published June 28, 2026. The controversy stems from Speaker Joseph Isaac’s appearance that same day at a campaign rally for the Dominica Labour Party, where he formally introduced Ashma McDougall, the party’s candidate in the upcoming Roseau North constituency by-election.

In his letter, Thomas acknowledges that Isaac holds the same constitutional rights to freedom of expression and association as any other Dominican citizen. But he argues that the non-partisan expectation attached to the Speaker’s office creates a higher standard of conduct that the Speaker failed to meet in this instance. As the presiding officer of Dominica’s national parliament, the Speaker is entrusted with upholding the integrity of legislative proceedings, guaranteeing fair treatment for all lawmakers regardless of party affiliation, and safeguarding public trust in one of the country’s core democratic institutions.

This expectation of political neutrality is not a unique rule for Dominica, Thomas notes. It is a longstanding convention across all Westminster-style parliamentary democracies, where the perception of impartiality is considered just as critical as actual neutrality to maintaining public confidence in democratic governance. Thomas emphasizes that the issue at hand is not whether Isaac’s actions were illegal, but whether they were appropriate for a person holding a constitutional office that requires detachment from partisan campaigning.

Labeling Isaac’s decision to participate in the rally as a “lapse in judgement,” Thomas calls on the Speaker to issue a formal explanation and a public apology to the Dominican people and parliament. He stresses that protecting the institutional integrity of parliament and preserving public trust in democratic governance must always take priority over engaging in partisan political activity. Even though the Speaker holds legal rights to political participation, Thomas argues those rights must be balanced against the overriding responsibility of the office to remain above party politics to avoid even the perception of bias.

Thomas concludes by noting that the stability and legitimacy of Dominica’s democratic system depend on all holders of high constitutional office adhering to strict standards of conduct. The parliament, he insists, is an institution that transcends individual political parties, individual officeholders and individual electoral contests, and its integrity must be protected as a matter of priority for all who serve within it.