Dominica re-elects prime minister

Prime Minister, Roosevelt
Skerrit

Monday, May 9, 2005

ROSEAU, Dominica: Dominica's Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit won re-election in a race focusing on international loans and choosing between trade ties with Taiwan or China.

Skerrit -- whose Labor Party reportedly won 12 of 21 parliamentary seats -- campaigned on the results of an International Monetary fund program that brought growth to the small Caribbean nation of 71,000 people.  The party earned a clear mandate despite the loss of its coalition partner, the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP).

His opponent, Edison James of the United Workers Party, criticized the IMF initiative, which increased joblessness and taxes. He also condemned the 32-year-old Skerrit for cutting ties with Taiwan in favor of China.

China donated more than $100 million to Dominica for infrastructure improvements on the condition Skerrit sever ties with Taiwan.

The re-elected prime minister has declared Friday a national holiday, Dominica radio reported Friday.

Both DLP leader and Prime Minister-elect Roosevelt Skerrit and the opposition UWP's leader Edison James comfortably retained their seats in the northern communities of Vieille Case and Marigot respectively.

According to election observers, it was the first time in 35 years that the DFP, once headed by former Prime Minister Dame Eugenia Charles had not won a seat in the 21-seat single chamber.

In his first address to the nation on Thursday night, the Prime Minister-elect called for national unity.

"We need all hands on deck to build and develop the economy of this country. The past six weeks have understandably divided us. I want us to close ranks as soon as possible.

"General elections were but a constitutional necessity. Each voter in Dominica had the right to support the candidate and party of his or her choosing," Skerrit said.

James, the leader of the opposition from 2000 to 2005, conceded defeat, adding that his party would review its performance in the coming days.

"Losing two elections there is a need for review, there is a need to look at changes and there is a need to retool,"

He told reporters that it would be likely that his position as head of the party could be challenged by UWP members.

The DFP, the junior partner in the former coalition administration lost both of his seats, including its leader and Tourism Minister Charles Savarin who lost the Roseau Central seat.

According to election observers it was the first time in 35 years that the DFP, once headed by former Prime Minister Dame Eugenia Charles had not won a seat.

Ronald Toulon, an independent candidate with close ties to the DLP wrested the MP rank from Health Minister Herbert Sabaroche of the DFP in capturing the constituency of Colihaut, about 20 miles north of here.

Skerrit declared Friday a national holiday while election officials prepare the final vote count. No assessment has yet been made on voter turnout which was expected to peak at 75 percent.

A new Cabinet is expected to be sworn-in this week.

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