Despite the decision of two main opposition parties to boycott the 2022 General Election in Dominica, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit is still urging Dominicans to come out and exercise their democratic right on December 6.
The trend began earlier this month with news that the Dominica’s United Workers Party has decided not to contest the snap election stating that it is convinced that electoral reform needs to take place before any election is held “as demanded by the Dominican Population is needed to facilitate free and fair elections”.
The UWP has been Dominica’s most successful opposition party in recent years, and currently holds 3 seats in the House of Assembly. The remaining 18 were won by the Dominica Labour Party.
The UWP had been demanding electoral reform even before the previous General Election, but remained dissatisfied with progress in that regard.
While some would anticipate that the removal of the UWP from the ballot would be welcomed news by other political parties who could possibly benefit from the votes of their supporters, the Dominica Freedom Party has announced that it refuses to contest the upcoming election as a political opportunist.
DFP leader Bernard Hurtault was recently quoted as stating, “The Dominica Freedom Party was founded on principles, human rights and integrity of action. While the decision of other political parties to not participate in the elections may seem to present a right opportunity for the DFP to be political poachers, it is simply not in the DNA of the party to ignore principles”.
The DFP too has announced that it will boycott the December 6 election.
In recent years, the DFP has not had much political success. Despite holding office between 1980 and 1995, under the leadership of Dame Eugenia Charles, the party quickly disappeared from the House of Assembly over the next decade, and has not held any seats since 2005.
Despite the decisions of the other political leaders at this time, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of the Dominica Labour Party is urging Dominicans to come out and participate in the election.
Skerrit spoke at a recent public meeting where he addressed news that the boycotting parties and other opposition parties are urging people to refrain from voting.
“We want to ensure that we get a resounding victory on December 6. As I have said on many occasions, not voting cannot be an option in this election. Voting is a choice each of us must make but we always have to make the right choice”, he said.
“We cannot sit back and say Labour has won and I am not voting. It is absolutely important that every vote is counted in this constituency”, he added.
Skerrit, who has been Prime Minister of Dominica since 2004, is one of 6 DLP candidates who has been nominated uncontested for the upcoming elections.