Dr. Thomson Fontaine, Political Leader of the United Workers’ Party (UWP), has confirmed the resignation of Lennox Linton as President of the party, revealing that Linton gave no explanation for his sudden departure.
“We received the letter, but no reason was stated,” Dr. Fontaine said, acknowledging the surprising nature of the resignation submitted on Monday, June 30, to the party’s General Secretary.
Although the motivation behind Linton’s exit remains undisclosed, Dominica News Online (DNO) has been told that his resignation as President does not equate to a departure from the UWP.
“He remains committed to supporting the party’s continued growth and development,” a source within the party’s executive told DNO.
Linton has been a defining figure in Dominica’s political landscape for more than a decade. First elected Political Leader of the UWP in September 2013, he won the Marigot Constituency seat in December 2014 and subsequently served as Leader of the Opposition until 2022. His tenure saw him championing causes such as democratic accountability and transparency in governance.
Though he stepped down as political leader in October 2022, Linton stayed engaged in party operations and was viewed as a guiding force for his successor, economist Dr. Fontaine.
“He [Fontaine] 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,” Linton stated following Fontaine’s election as UWP political leader in November, 2022.
It remains unclear who will assume the role of President moving forward. According to UWP public Relations Officer, Glenroy Cuffy, the party’s Management Executive Committee will meet soon to discuss the developments and chart a forward course. A formal statement from the political leader is expected following that session.
Linton’s resignation adds to a series of leadership changes within the UWP in recent months. Former Deputy Leader, Senator Delbert Paris, also stepped down after controversy surrounding his parliamentary vote on electoral reform. Furthermore, the party’s Public Relations Officer resigned shortly after being elected at the delegates conference in Castle Bruce in December 2024. Glenroy Cuffy has since filled that post.
Ugly Lenny just want his old job back as party leader. The role of President not as powerful as party leader and since the Dr won’t relinquish the post, then Ugly Lenny decided to spit his dummy out and threw it out of the pram. Anyone with mansize nappies to send to him? Boo-hoo-hoo!!! Man child. Ugly Lenny has failed as a journalist, failed as a politician and failed as a leader. May his political career R.I.P. Amen. UWP need fresh young educated faces to become relevant again.
Who will assume the role of president? This is the simplest problem to solve in the world. It’s like 2×0 = 0.000000000000000.
Thank you honourable Linton for service to country, especially your steadfast stance in exposing the Skerrit led DLP corruption and corrupt activities:
a) BIN BOBOL
b) Skerrits alleged ownership interest in the villas up north,which led to Skerrit’s disbanding of Dominica’s real IPO.
c) Fertilizer BOBOL
d) CBI monies which Skerrit has yet to account for
e) myriad of people with shady characters with our passports
f) endless houses owned by one man, etc,etc,, and $64 000.00 a month to live in whose house? ha, ha, ha,…
g) alleged huge kickbacks on projects?
Well Dominica still have men of integrity.
You served very well honourable Linton.Kudos to you, but the work of the party has to move on.
MEME
You know he NEVER proved that there was any “bobol”, theft in the bin, or fertiliser issues, right? Never! It can be argued, though, that he did show that there was overspending in either case. Overspending does not equate to theft. This much is clear. So, quit attempting to rewrite historical facts.
When you have the time, post a list of ways in which Lntn has worked for and on behalf of Dominica as a politician. Take my advice, though; do not burst your head trying to find proof of this because there is none. As a politician, Linton has little value to the success of his party. In fact, you (i am sure) can easily point to ways in which the dude actually destroyed his party, even in his sudden resignation. Lol! So, you will not succeed in rewriting history.
The UWP faithful and the Dominica citizens are owed at least a brief, high level explanation for Mr. Linton’s departure with an exclusion of any private and sensitive details. Is that an unreasonable expectation in light of the high profile former Opposition Leader’s seemingly sudden and unexpected resignation???
Here is the unvarnished truth about Dr. Fontaine’s leadership of the United Workers Party from my humble perspective. No one has to agree with me.
Dr. Fontaine has not shown the resoluteness, decisivenes, the oratorical skills to be a persuasive leader. He procrastinates, much too passive, seems too aloof, not aggressive and passionate enough on the burning issues impacting the progress of the country.
The Opposition needs a leader in these ties who ill fire up the people. Also, to organise his caretakers and be all over the landscape disseminating the policies of the party.
The biggest thing Dr. Fontaine was fired up about since becoming leader was his expensive economic summit. How many people remembered what was discussed? Total waste of time and money. Leadership matters!
I dont know what sort of work is being done in the east or south east. Many of those constituencies helped propell UWP into office in 1995. For UWP to win those constituencies must return home. Skerrit needs someone like a Lennox Linton or Earl Williams type of person to fight him, the same way he fights Dominicans who oppose his cortupt leadership.. Dr Fontaine is totally different. I wait to see what he delivers.
His antipathy for honourable Linton is predicated upon ONE thing; Linton is way brighter than he (Skerrit) is, and could therefore HUMILIATE him on ALL issues pertaining to Dominica and its governance. Of course he also exposed Skerrit’s corruption as a leader.
MEME
little boy you doh get it yet??? you all are not deserving of an explanation or reasons, who you think you all are. It’s our thing that, we do what we want when we want.
The UWP is imploding. Sad but true. The party is literally disintegrating to the dismay of not only its loyal supporters but patriotic citizens who want a genuine change from the destructive governance of the DLP.
Despite staying put with the UWP, the rejection as leader of the party’s hierarchy, was too bitter a pill for Mr. Linton to swallow. His ego was irreparably bruised despite his best efforts to conceal it. Who would not, after sacrificing so much of his personal and family life as Opposition leader for so many years.
I still think of Mr. Linton not only as a political juggernaut in Dominica, but as an illustrious, esteemed and one of the most fiercely patriotic Dominicans. However, I think he erred badly when he supported Delbert Paris vote in parliament for e deeply flawed electoral bill. To err is human.
@IboFrance
I firmly believe that his closeness to Delbert Paris influenced his resignation.
But the party has to move on.
@Ibo France, it may be difficult for some to fathom that there may not be any capable, charismatic or galvanizing leader currently on the Dominican landscape or horizon that can guide the UWP to the ascendency in local government.
This stark reality has more to do with scale and scope relative to the stark reality of our country’s small population, high migratory activity and the growing reluctance of potential political aspirants who have become disenchanted and turned off by the caustic and toxic political atmosphere on our little “rock”.
To quote my Trini friend, “I lie?”
“Linton has been a defining figure in Dominica’s political landscape for more than a decade.” Here is the problem with journalism in Dominica…statements that diverge from fact.
How, pray tell, and in what way, has Linton been a “defining figure…?” An easier question for you and your readers is: What has he “defined”? His strength was in oration, aggression, and mind-bending. Yet, even in these spheres, he was not “defining.” Think! You show us in what way Linton has been “defining,” unless, of course, you do not quite grasp the meaning of the use of this term. Could be?!
Come on now!
@Idiot Putin
Thats pure garbage. Spend your time more objectively. This crap does not merit anyones attention to read.
@Counterfeit Putin
There is nothing substantive to be had from your vacuous postings. Your fanatical support for the most corrupt political entity in the western hemisphere, and your maniacal disdain for anything from opposition parties has made you a pathetic ignoramus.