Dominica PM optimistic about 2005 election

by Paul Charles

Tuesday, March 9, 2004

ROSEAU, Dominica: Political Leader of the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) Roosevelt Skerrit told supporters at the launch of his party's re-election campaign here on Sunday that he is optimistic of a landslide victory in the 2005 general election. 

The DLP, which won ten seats, teamed up with the Dominica Freedom Party who won two seats to form a coalition government in the 21-seat parliament following the 2000 election. 

Skerrit, who is also Dominica's Prime Minister, said the DLP had rescued the island from the ''voodoo'' economics of the United Workers party (UWP) that it ousted in the 2000 general election.

''Fellow Labourites say we're going to win 12 or 14 seats, but I believe we going to have a landslide victory…. Mr (Edison) James and his UWP will never come back in power with their voodoo economics,'' he told a large gathering of supporters in Bath Estate, a low income housing project. 

The UWP, headed by opposition leader Edison James, has been under constant pressure from the ruling administration because of the feeble state of the local economy they controlled from 1995 to 2000. 

The 31- year-old leader also issued a stern warning to a prospective UWP candidate for a west coast constituency. 

He warned the un-named medical doctor that he would pay for owing over EC$700,000 (US$259,259) in taxes.

''This week I am going to sign the document to collect over 700,000 dollars tell the doctor I coming for him,'' he said. 

The DLP also introduced former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health John Fabien, as its candidate for the by-election in the southern town of Grand Bay, made vacant by the death of Prime Minister Pierre Charles in January. 

Meanwhile, the parliamentary opposition converged on Grand Bay on Sunday to launch radio station owner Frankie Bellot for the April 5 polls.

At that meeting James urged the residents to break the tradition of having elected a Labour candidate for the past 18 and half years.

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