United Workers Party deputy leader, attorney at law, Joshua Francis, who lost his Roseau South seat to newcomer Cherika Lockhart Hypolite in the 2019 general election, has had a change of heart over comments he made about the possibility of retiring from politics.
Francis lost to Lockhart by 299 votes.
He took to Facebook over the weekend announcing a possible resignation but has since removed the post because, according to him, many of his supporters have called and asked him to reconsider his decision.
Francis has since written a new post stating that he is rethinking his decision and also thanked his voters and many supporters for their encouragement and for allowing him and his team into their homes, yards, shops, churches and spaces over the course of the election cycle which he said did not turn out the way they hoped.
“There are many of you to thank: to my political colleagues, Team Dominica UWP, Roseau South Constituency Association, Roseau South Youth Arm, Roseau South Polling Day Agents, Roseau South Diaspora Team, Private Sector Support Team, sponsors and financiers, landlords who allowed me to put signs on their property, those who helped me with the various events and especially those who worked so hard every day. You have my heartfelt thanks,” he stated.
He said his consolation is that he gave up his life to improve that of the people whom he genuinely love and care about.
“I gave up my life to improve yours and that is my consolation. I said that I am stepping out of the political arena but your many calls and inbox messages have me thinking. I am dedicated to you, and my sincere love for you will help order my steps,” he explained.
Francis said his message of a government of integrity, higher wages, salaries, increased employment opportunities, lower taxes, improved sports facilities “while doing more for the most vulnerable in our society, to name a few,” was well-received in many places.
He said he feels confident the majority of voters on the ground supports him but the illegal registrations, imported voters, double voting, undue influence, irregularities, and bribery & treating which he described as massive fraud on polling day, robbed the people of the choice of their free conscience.
Young bull, am hoping that you give Lennox the TTO and also take some for yourself and Alex. I did said that you would use the TTO on yourself.
Dominica needs a new and serious party of hope and common sense.
UWP is done, it is finish.
Francis, Linton and Sparks can stay in UWP to do the funeral service.
The only way labour will be defeated in 10 years is with a new party with new and serious people.
When that is formed, all UWP mad people and candidates should not have and role or party in it. They are are disgrace.
Dominica should have about 21 serious men and women who came be an alternative to Labour
Joshua, my friend ever though I always giving you maypee we would still say hello to each other, my advice to you that so-called Workers clowns party is not for you that party is going no where it will be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for so-called Workers party to win another general election with or without Linton the loon.
He, Linton and company have another 25 more years in opposition. He is right to rethink. Enjoy being in opposition. UWP is done. They have no chance and path to be in government in Dominica.
Bro enjoy the opposition seat for the next 25 years.
When the 25 years is over, you might be in your grave. Good luck in politics.
Man do the honourable thing and resigned. You don’t t have any chance of winning. But before you go ensure Lynton step out because he is the biggest let down for the party.
The level of ignorance which has permeatted our country under the DLP reign in office baffles me. When a fool can wish for the UWP to be in opposition for the next 25 years and that a great man like Joshua should resign, it is indeed sad and fearful for our democracy.
Great man my foot! are you forgetting that he still have that charge of unlawful behavior with an underage girl hanging over him? I don’t know how Skerrit sacked the other guy from the labor party that was involved but Lennox, instead of sacking Joshua, promoted him to deputy leader. What does that say about UWP policy on protecting children from abuse? And you wonder why they were so heavily defeated?
What did you believe was going to happen. Melissa was talking about her hitmen and you telling us to pray?
You just cannot run, believe me, Dominica has entered a new era and you have to be on the forefront of that new era?
Winners don’t quit and quitters don’t win!!! If you bow out, how are you going to be invited to Barbados to campaign against the corrupt save a plate for someone else Motley the puffy one.
Your plans on the plane just didn’t materialize Kalinago Jumbee. Tell your audience how many breakfast and fundraisers you had where you are presently living outside of Dominica? Shut your back door because you and gouvelma asked me to by your fundraising tickets. Be a graceful looser, why were you selling breakfast tickets or doing the fundraising to bring LL? Do you want dates, places and time!
So how you know if the planes were not chartered by UWP, hoping that they would get all these votes based on all the lies they spewed on social media but once the people came down and saw for themselves that they were being made a mug of, decided to change their minds and vote Labor instead?
This country is only depending on the CBI program as a form of its ecomony but the end of this program is at hand
The banks are not going to be able to accept deposits from the CBI program. So what next?
Joshua is a Margee… but he cannot help it because he is legally mad. He is not normal and everyone knows that. It’s not the first time he has resigned from the uwp and politics. He’s just playing ping pong but even that gets boring. Bow out for good brother. The people have spoken. If they really wanted you, you’d have been up there with Salisbury, marigot and Roseau North. They dont want you. Go!
I am waiting to see the “big improvements” Chekira will bring to Roseau South.
Roseau South you guys are idiots to vote for mamselle. We in Roseau North are staying BLUE. We BLUE! They say we won’t get part of the pie. Which pie? 
the pie Grand Bay have been enjoying? Or wait. Maybe the pie Portsmouth is enjoying. Stupes. There is no pie. It doesn’t exist. All of you that voting Labour more miserable than us. 
But but but what is wrong with you sir? Did you check Val for your medication today? Man leave Lennox party for him and form your own or concentrate on your private practice. It will serve you better. Smh
Joshua, you sound just like your leader lennox mem bete mem pewele. That’s the fourth time you said that you are resigning and you are still there. Sir why did you congratulated Chekira if the election was stolen? Sir, accept your loss the people has spoke. By the way no one should contest election with case pending against them.
When I read Joshua’s concession I said to myself that his supporters must feel proud that their former Pal Rep has been gracious in defeat. But, since then, it appears that the Linton mosquito bit him and he catch fever. Now he is delirious and is mumbling nonsense again about stolen elections. Garçon, stop following Linton. He is not the leader that you deserve.
He said he feels confident the majority of voters on the ground supports him but the illegal registrations, imported voters, double voting, undue influence, irregularities, and bribery & treating which he described as massive fraud on polling day, robbed the people of the choice of their free conscience.
So why the congratulatory message. What pressure did the gentleman come under? Has he set his eyes on the leadership? What about this gentleman that can be believed?
Joshua, get a life and leave politics alone. You are a waste of time and have no respect for those younger than you. Go and mend your ways. No more of your dirty laundry will I hear at press conferences. AND TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR GWO PWELL.
mr doe worry with people all of all u is d same
mam bet mem pwell!
One wonders if you had won your seat if you would be singing that same song.
Sir, in 1995-2000 your party was in office. Are you now telling us that ALL that you described above as massive fraud was the reason your party had won the 1995-2000 election? The election rules have not changed since then. So are YOU now admitting that when your party got in office the people were robbed of the choice of their FREE conscience?
Sir, there is an old saying… What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.
Joshua francis
I guess you got scolded for your decent public demeanour after the elections so you have gone back to the fold? Good luck there my friend!
Hey! Hey! Hey! Think again! I would have supported wholeheartedly you intentions to bow out of active politics had you been beaten fairly. Had the process not been tainted against the UWP I would encourage you to step aside. However whenever what rightly belongs to you has been stolen you have to show some courage and fight to reclaim it. The ballot process was tainted and the victory was stolen from the UWP. The team has ran a marvellous campaign. You and the others have nothing to be ashamed of. You fought fairly and cleanly. You are an attorney. We need you in every way now more than ever. The first other of business is to challenge the tainted polls. Surely with all thay has happened I do not see any fair and impartial elections court not overturning the results and calling for FREE and FAIR elections. So do not run away. You will be back on the campaign trail very soon. That which was stolen from you you will have an opportunity to reclaim. Stand tall, chin up, chest out!!!
These kinds of comments does not help the gentleman. He needs help. Hardly 72 hours has passed since he conceded defeat and congratulated the winner. He has not said that since that message he has discovered certain realities that were illegal in the conduct of the polls. All of a sudden he is back.
Back for leadership in the UWP? He must be dreaming in broad daylight. Sucking salt for toffee. If he thinks the owner of the party will bless him with leadership, he might as well think otherwise and announce another retirement. He must be living in “Club Kookoo Land’.
Observant Reader
I’m not sure what it will take for the UWP and supporters to sit down as a party, review their situation and seek to correct it, starting from their choice of leadership down to their hostile and destructive strategies which alienate people more than attract.
They probably need to send some thank you cards for their demise to Trevor Johnson, (chief gutter filth digger) Ken Riijock (political mercenary); Matt Peltier and the Q95 hostility gang; Gabriel Christian (Chief diplomat in waiting), Crispin Gregoire (strangely missing in action); the Marigot and Salisbury riot ring leaders; Miss Cara Shillingford; Arthie Martin; Pastor Rodney (the spiritual crusader), the list goes on.
Why thank them? For egging them on to focus all their efforts on digging Mr. Skerrit into the pit of destruction while ignoring the warning signs of slipping into their own. Even now that they are almost there, they just can’t take their eyes off Mr. Skerrit. What a life!
Gouvelma
I’m getting a little tired of this mantra about stolen elections. Let’s rationalise this.
The Labour party came to the Polls with the following a foregone win:
Grandbay, Colihaut, Portsmouth, Paix Bouche, Vieille Case, Petite Savanne, Cottage, Soufriere, St. Joseph and Wesley (Wesley, because the PM listened to the Wesley people this time and gave them Grant).
That is 10 strongholds, so all they needed to get was one more to form the government. They had some formidable candidates in Roseau South;; Grand Fond; Castle Bruce; LaPlaine; Roseau Central which they all won. That is 15.
Let’s look at UWP’s path to victory — 5 seats, as Roseau Central was already gone. Marigot(with Edison’s help and riot intimidation) and Salisbury sure wins; Roseau North, very likely. That’s 3. None of the other Roseau’s were sure. That’s it! Then came the road blocks and the Bishop abuse. That was the icing. Voters travelled in for both sides. Where is the stealing?
Josh, you are the one who should be the leader of the UWP. You need to stay have a meeting to elect a new leader. Kick Lennox out. If Lennox refuses to step aside then join another party.
No doubt Lennox needs to go but Joshua Francis? He is not a suitable alternative for leader given his history of mental instability and criminal allegations.
The same stupidness that cost the idiot his seat,is the same stupidness he talking.These guys just do not change They are talking about REAL CHANGE,yet the are continuing with the same BS.
I am so happy I voted for Chekira. Joshua is such a confused soul. May the good Lord have mercy on Joshua!
But Joshua behave yourself! do not let lennox lead you astray. You said that u will wait on the Lord to direct your path. Do that papa and leave Lennox and his papishowness. You can cntinue to make a meaningful contribution to Dominica without being in that violent party. There are many things u can do partner. Do not let him bully you. God gives us a free will. Jehovah does not bully so do not allow anyone to bully you on this world. Pappy is a better pappyshow man.
Political(?) immaturity at its best. Unless you are sure of your intention, you would have been better off to hold your fire, sleep on it and then make a reasoned decision.
At about 8:30 last night, my boss sent me an email which annoyed me. My initial instinct was to respond in a not too nice way. However, I decided, rather than firing off an email, to let it slide and discuss the matter with him when I got into the office, . This morning he called me and we had a good laugh about it. He did not mean it in the way I read it. Had I acted on my first instinct, that could have escalated in a manner neither of us would have liked.
When you are an adult, take your time to think through making major decisions and utterances.
@Zandolli you are at 24-1 right now. Thumbs # 24 is mine to you. Continue in your way to educate the people. I love your counseling most of the time.
My home village of Giraudel was part of Joshua’s constituency; I know that my family likes him, and I loved his mentality at first.
What he did wrong was to allow men like Lennox Linton to pressure him to be like he is or else. He is steal allowing that mistake to take up his mindset.
Joshua needs the strength of faith in God to keep him in the Light -for-where there is darkness, there can be no production. As is the fact in the political party of which he belongs.