BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – NEWS reaching SKNVibes states that the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) was returned to Office following yesterday’s (Dec. 8) general election.
Led by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, the DLP, according to the preliminary results released last night, had won 12 of 16 seats with five more yet to be announced.
So far, the United Workers Party (UWP) has captured four seats with its new Leader, Lennox Linton, gaining 935 votes against his DLP opponent Dr. Martin Christmas’ 299.
This would be Skerrit fourth term in Office as Dominica's Prime Minister. He was first sworn into office on January 8, 2004 after the untimely passing of his predecessor. Aged 31 at his swearing in, he became the world’s youngest Prime Minister, leading a two-party coalition government. In the following month he was elected Political Leader of the DLP.
According to the Caribbean Media Corporation, “Prime Minister Skerrit is on schedule to sweep his Vielle Case seat by a wide margin, leading Alex Birmingham by 1,087 to 110 votes with just a few polling stations yet to report.”
The media corporation also stated that the DLP lost the Wesley constituency after Ezekiel Bazil failed to win the seat for the incumbent party on his first attempt.
That seat was held by Community Development Minister Gloria Shillingford, who had bowed out of active politics.
The DLP also won the La Plaine seat, which Education Minister Petter St. Jean had won by a mere two votes in the previous general election when he defeated the then UWP Leader, Ron Green.
The issue however went to the Courts after Green challenged the results as well as St Jean’s citizenship.
The preliminary results show that St. Jean tallied 691 votes as against Green’s 346.
Other reports stated that Prime Minister Skerrit had congratulated Linton on winning his seat and noted that the Opposition would now be stronger in Parliament.
In the 2009 general election, the UWP had won only three of the 21 seats.
According to the Electoral Commission, approximately 72 486 voters were eligible to cast their ballots at 250 polling stations across the island.
An observer mission from the Organisation of American States is currently on the island to monitor the election.
More on the election results as information becomes available.
