Former United Workers Party (UWP) leader, Lennon Linton, has pledged to not just serve as a mentor but also a source of support for his successor Dr. Thomson Fontaine.
Linton’s comments came on Sunday evening when Dr. Fontaine was elected by the party’s delegates as the new opposition leader, following Linton’s resignation on September 30, 2022.
While welcoming the new leader, Linton, who had been in charge of the 34-year-old party since 2013, said that he had discussed leadership succession with Dr. Fontaine long before he decided to contest for the position.
Before the party supporters, Linton declared, “Dr. Fontaine comes to the position with vast experience and he is going to have the support of a president who will lift him up….and work with him for the betterment of our beautiful nation.”
He continued by expressing his congratulations to the other elected officials, among them Clement Marcellin Jr., the deputy political leader, who he referred to as a prodigy.
“So when it comes to the handling of the political affairs of the party we have two gentlemen with whom we can work well and we can push the party forward,” he said with assurance.
The former member of parliament for the Marigot constituency continued by thanking the delegates for their choices and emphasizing the new team’s commitment “to make it work for good.”
“Based on what had been happening for all the past few years, really you couldn’t think of a better team to lead the party. You all made some great decisions this afternoon,” he declared. “We have a wonderful mix of old and new members.”
Linton continued by praising the women who were chosen for leadership positions and expressed the hope that his vice president Francesca Joseph, who took over as party leader after his departure, would “one day coming soon…put herself up for the real race…because the ladies are really the engine of the UWP.””
For his part, Dr. Fontaine recognized, in a conversation with Dominica News Online (DNO), that he has some “big shoes to fill” after Linton’s stint as party leader but vowed to act in the best interest of all Dominicans.
“Honorable Lennox Linton did some great work for the party. He elevated the party and I believe it’s my role now to continue in that same vein, to continue that progression,” the economist said. “Ultimately what we need to do is restore good government in Dominica and I believe that the people are ready and it’s our job now to ensure that it is done.”
The full slate of elected members of the UWP executive includes Dr. Thomson Fontaine, Political Leader; Clement Marcellin Jr, Deputy Political Leader; Lennox Linton, President; Francesca Joseph, Vice President; Nicholas George, General Secretary; Diane Victor Assistant Secretary; Ezekiel Bazil and Kent Joseph, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer respectively; Tehillah Bannis, Public Relations Officer (PRO); Dr. McDonald Thomas, International Secretary, and Trustees, Eddison James, Norris Prevost, and Ernie Jno Finn.
Dear Thompson, the road is well paved for you to be the leader of Dominica soon enough. We fully support you n your endeavors to bring political decorum to Dominica.
During the Radio show, none of the people who matters called to denounce your situation. Al the members of the UWP executive have given their unshakeable support to you. lead the way Fountaine lead the way.
Dominica is in peril and has to be saved.
The thing is so many Dominicans are working overseas and come down to vote illegally , but those same persons do not want you to go eat a bread overseas. Shameful and double faced.
Thanks for your service to country and serving as Political leader of the main opposition UWP; you caught the Dr Dr with his pants down “toutouni thought he was just going to disappear eh; oh no brother skerro he will continue to be a “pain in you butt”; put that in your political pipe and smoke it.
While his brother, the biggest bully of Marigot, tells the world that this same Fontaine is one of those backstabbers who pushed out his brother. Heheheh! Let me grab my popcorn.
I have noticed several of my post on this forum are not being delivered to my labour families, the questions I am now asking when did Ibo, became the exclusive editor of DNO and why am I being block?
Ugly Lenny, is what I would call a baboon baby, this guy couldn’t fight his way out of a wet paper bag when he was leader of his blue monkeys club, and now he is talking about
Promises to lift another baboon out of the septic tank, BOY what joke these jokers not easy!!
My concern is that Clement Marcellin is an upstart in the mold of Skerritt, don’t both of them come from the same constituency? Being young is no pre-qualification for leadership. Folks who are hungry for power and don’t want to wait their turn and make the necessary sacrifices are dangerous. He’s already setting himself up to contest for the leadership of the party. What exactly does Clement have to make him feel so entitled? I’m not suggesting that no one should contest for the leadership of the party against Dr. Fountain, but give it a minute to see which way things are going to go instead of issuing threats of a challenge. I can see a guy who plans to act in a way to enhance his ambitions rather than that of the party. Take a chill pill Clement.
I believe Eagle- Eyed was,or is a police officer.Take a good look at the first picture.Thompson Fontaine is hugging Linton.Look at Linton right hand,look at his right leg how far it is from Fontaine left leg,then look at his head.Crooked to the bone.
“Ultimately what we need to do is restore good government in Dominica and I believe that the people are ready and it’s our job now to ensure that it is done.”
What can you and your party do to “restore good government in Dominica”, when you will have no one in Parliament to represent the people whom you claim are ready?
An election is coming up 6 days from today, and you are not contesting, so your so-called people cannot vote you in.
You guys have been failing for the past 20 something years; your biggest failure is right now, preventing your supports to choose you, because of your childish obsession with the Prime Minister.
You guys need a political rebirth, to grow into men & women of wisdom & knowledge, as per the economic and social growth of Dominica. Not the empty talks about restoring–a job that you did not do when you were chosen to do so first of all.
That was why the people dismissed you and they will not give it back to you.
:@elizabethlxavier, for someone who likes to try to wear religion on their proverbial sleeves your reaction makes no sense. Do you realize how long the Israelites we’re in bondage but kept fixated on the good God because in his time things will happen. You, Elizabeth, are the biggest fraudster.
Thomas Fontaine is no better than Lennox Linton is either. As far as I am concerned the UWP party is now officially dead. And then what happen to their boy Hector John of Salisbury, another wimp who came to New York one time running around with the Dominica flag in his hands like an ass hole trying to shore up support from Dominicans in New York.
This looks more like Thomson consoling Lennox after replacing him as party leader rather than Lennox congratulating him on winning the contest. Either way the look on ugly Lenny’s face in this photo is priceless.
@Eagle-Eyed, yes, Is the truth and it look like Lennox is SAD.
CONGRATULATIONS my brothers .
NO REFORM NO ELECTION
Look pappy show no,no,no. Pure HYPO I’ve eyes to see and ears to hear, the best is yet to come.