EDITOR’S NOTE: In the run up to the general election, Dominica News Online will be publishing a brief profile or biography of each candidate from the two political political parties contesting the poll. The publications will be done in a random order. DNO would like to thank both the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) and the United Workers Party (UWP) for their assistance in providing the material.
Jefferson James (UWP)
I was born in Glanvillia, a small but very active village of Portsmouth. I attended the St. John’s Primary School, the Portsmouth Secondary School, and the University of Santiago de Cuba. On Completion of my studies I worked as a teacher at the Portsmouth Secondary School for over a year before being employed in my field of study.
In addition to being employed with a private engineering company for the past seven years, I have been involved in a number of community groups and activities such as the PTA of the St. John’s primary school where I am the vice chair; a member of the Glanvillia improvement Committee; the Portsmouth Catholic Church Building committee, where I served as vice chair and was directly responsible for the building of the Borne chapel; and I am also directly involved in the design of a number of projects for the development of the town like the Benjamin park, the Borough Square area and the Guess Park.
I am presently a member of the executive board of the Dominica Association of Professional Engineers. On a national level I was involved in the direct construction of the Petro Caribe Filling station at Jimmit; the expansion and lighting of the Melville Hall airport; the construction of the Pointe Mitchell Sea defense wall and the Intake, treatment plant and supply line of the west coast water supply project at Picard.
My candidacy for the Portsmouth constituency embodies my desire to apply my talent and skills in order to develop my constituency and my country in general.
Top four priorities are:
Art culture and tourism development
Affordable housing and physical infrastructure development
Sustainable development and the revitalization of agriculture and shipping
New and improved education, healthcare and sporting facilities
Cabral Douglas (Independent)
Cabral Douglas, is the second son of the late Prime Minister of Dominica Rosie Douglas. He graduated from Concordia University in Montreal with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science.
He subsequently obtained his bachelors of law (LLB) from City University (Inns of Court School of Law) in London. After working as a solicitor in London for three years, he moved to Sydney Australian where he worked as an in house lawyer in the mining/exploration sector.
Douglas has returned to Dominica in 2013 and has since been involved in the rehabilitation of the town of Portsmouth, and intendeds to resume is legal career in Dominica in due course.
Since returning he has:
1) Rehabilitated the historic Arbeedee Cinema as the centre for cultural expression in the North.
2) Brought investors to Portsmouth to evaluate various investment opportunities.
3) Sponsored various cultural activities including Portsmouth carnival 2014.
4) Sponsored various youth activities including: Creole Day Activities, Femme Cultural, and youth basketball.
5) Sponsored several local and international stage shows in Portsmouth.
7) Employed several persons in the rehabilitations of the Arbeedee cinema and as permanent staff.
8)Brought the first American R&B superstar to Dominica to preform at the Arbeedee Cinema (Mario).
9) Has contributed several media articles on national development.
10) Has been a strong advocate to place Portsmouth at the forefront of national development in Dominica.
“My campaign aims to appeal to disenfranchised labourites, those who have joined forces with the UWP out of frustration, and those who have given up on the political process. In full recognition of the fact that Portsmouth is the heart and soul of labour, I present myself as a unifying force within the labour movement, seeking to build on the principles of the late Rosie Douglas,” Cabral Douglas said. “A vote for Cabral is a vote for development.”
Ian Douglas (DLP)
Ian Douglas has been MP for Portsmouth since May 2005. He is presently the Minister of Tourism and Legal Affairs. He is the son of Mike Douglas. He has also served as Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Labor and Immigration.
Douglas said, “It has been a joy to represent you during the last five years. Together, we have made great progress and as we look to the future I am confident that the constituency of Portsmouth will be in the forefront of growth and development in Dominica.
You have already seen the impact of the restoration of Fort Shirley and the construction of the Moroccan Hotel at Cabrits. We are also in advanced discussions with a private developer to build another hotel at Douglas Bay, which will bring more sustainable jobs in and around this new resort.
Now that we have removed the wrecks from the sea-shore we are going to build a boardwalk from Indian River along the shoreline to the new fishing complex. This boardwalk will provide several opportunities for new types of businesses and create more employment. It will also improve the appearance of the town and provide areas for relaxation and entertainment for residents and visitors alike. We already have a vibrant yachting sector here in Portsmouth and we are going to encourage the development of a worldclass marina to cater to high-end yachts and to provide more jobs in servicing this sector.
It is important that the amenities of the town keep pace with the development around it and I have already obtained agreement for the establishment of a Government Administration Office to serve the north where people can pay their taxes, vehicle licenses, obtain documents etc. so that they do not have to journey into Roseau.
I am also going to ensure that the conditions for residents of the town are improved. Urban renewal will be go hand in hand with tourism development. We are going to continue to refurbish the roads, improve drainage, the facilities at Benjamin Park and generally beautify the entire town.
I pledge to continue to work hard for all of my constituents and I look forward to your continued support during the upcoming General Election.”
Some of his plans for Portsmouth include, but not limited to:
Continuation of the Benjamin’s Park upgrade to include lights, and the addition of netball courts and volleyball courts;
The dredging of the Indian River and the reconstruction of the groin and construction of break water;
The Bay Front expansion and development from the Borough Square to the Fisheries Complex;
The further development of the Cabrits(further restoration) to include craft market and tourism vending areas;
The development of a yacht marina at the Cabritswith the completion of the Morroccan Hotel and the completion of the Range Hotel at Bell Hall;
The completion of the administrative building in Portsmouth and transfer of all essential Government services to Portsmouth.
All I know is that Portsmouth was a dead or at least dying town until Cabral Douglas arrived!
Portsmouth people might actually be the most stupid people in the entire island. Nassief was right when he described that place as a ghetto. The real sign of stupidity is the continued voting for one party under the reasoning that its the party they have always voted. When you add in the fact that the genetic pool isnt changing much then you realise how much in trouble that place and dominica is.
If ross university wasnt there possie would be drugs and prostitution only. Seriously speaking, if you were labour why would you improve these people when the more stupid they remain the better thwe chances for labour to remain in government.
its a vicious cycle and its not ending.
Ian Cabral and JJ eh. Three potential representatives for the Portsmouth constituency. I hope they at least going to be able to at least bring some of those ideas to reality. Though people must understand a government cannot and will never be able to do everything for a country. Point blank.
Cabral seems to have experience and considering he has a bachelors in political science as said in the article I think he has knowledge about politics. He is trying to revive the Portsmouth I guess he knew but Mario is not the results that we want to see. We want development in the Portsmouth constituency. All in all he might be a good representative for Portsmouth. Might.
Mr JJ speaks about so many things about him being on the Glanvillia development committee but what have you done though? Being on a committee and being involved in spurring results are two different things Mr James. Also your bio seems a little too personal. Though ur background is important I think there should have been some focus on what you have tried doing to improve the Portsmouth constituency. Not just Glanvillia.
And yes Mr Ian. What can I say that hasn’t been said. I think you could be a good representative for Portsmouth but your records refutes it. You seem depressed or stressed or just not in it for some reason. You have good people interacting skills. You don’t seem to think you better than anyone. You talk to people as if you are not even a minister which is a good thing. Use that to find out what people want. But pushing for work to be done just before election is getting old. I think if you want our vote you have to work for it and you have to start working from since the time u started representing the people of “Possie”. Buck up.
All in all these three are good for candidates for Portsmouth, but remember one thing we voting for a government of Dominica. We are not voting for Ian, JJ or Cabral only, we are voting for a government we think could represent the betterment of country.
And to conclude neither Skerrit or Linton should be prime minister of our country. Skerrit bringing some kind is results but withholding away to much details about his political alliances and dealings and loans. After all people of Dominica that have to repay them loan there. I do not trust Skerrit because he doesn’t say much.
Linton self self self. I doe trust you for nothing. Why are you leader, you don’t have leadership qualities. And charisma is important. You have no previous experience in politics. Linton could have just been a minister and let someone else have the leader role. UWP is not organised and they have bad management and they are very disorganised.
I will not be putting an x by neither shoe nor saw. I see no one to vote for, they seem like vemins to me. Talk about what you can do for our country rather than what the other party is not capable of doing or what they have not done. Time for change; true but the way they going there it will not be for our betterment.
i have only one thing to say……. Portsmouth is under developed
Come on people. Stop playing favorite party games. Look out for yourself and your children. Forget about my party for once and the fact that you have always been with a party and you will vote them no matter what rubbish they present to you. Reread Ian’s bio and after all these years as the representative for Portsmouth do you really feel that is the best he could have done. All he is talking about is what he intends to do. He had way enough time to do these minor things which he is now planning to do to bring Portsmouth to where it should be today. People it’s not about party anymore it’s about development. We are 2014, it’s time to wake up and take Dominica to modernity, and stop playing party favourite .
It would be nice if we had the educational background of Mr. Ian Douglas too.
By now the people of Portsmouth should realize that their future does not lie with the Douglases and the Labour Party. Just look around Portsmouth and you will realize that it is the ordinary poor people that have led thE development of the town so far.
If labour was serious…they would have transformed the north because 4 OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MINISTERS CAME FORM THE NORTH…..BUT EHLAS IS EITHER YOU HAVE IT OR YOU DOH HAVE IT…
Portsmouth needs serious visionaries led by a grassroots leader like JJ to move THE NORTH forward. PORTSMOUTH HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT BUT IT NEEDS A SERIOUS DEVELOPMENT PLAN WHICH EVERYONE MUST BUY INTO AND A STRONG LEADER LIKE JJ TO PUSH IT…TIME TO STOP THIS VI-KI-VI APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT OF SKERRIT……..YOU GET UP TODAY AND HEAR OF A SECURITY BASE AND TOMORROW YOU HER OF A HOTEL ON THE SAME SITE…THAT IS NONESENSE….NO PRIME MINISTER SHOULD HAVE SUCH A HIGH HANDED APPROACH TO THE DEVELOP OF OUR LAND..
Portsmouth is very susceptible to sea level rise and there is sooo much money available to fund climate change projects……IF LABOUR WAS SERIOUS AND HAD VISION THEY WOULD TRANSFORM PORTSMOUTH JUST WITH CLIMATE CHANGE FUNDS ALONE…
I SEE NO FUTURE FOR PORTSMOUTH UNDER LABOUR….YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOOSE TO VOTE UWP. THAT IS THE ONLY TIME YOU WILL START TO SEE PROGRESS FOR SURE..
but what is that?all th projects jj say he was involved in national are projects in which the government employed his company…and he promoting them and going up against the labour party….. hahahaha lol …….ian is the best choice dre wi……….. by far
What about a bus terminal,
What about a proper market equip with state of the art amenities
What about a new wharf
All this should be included in the game
in strict reality there are several candidates of the labour party who should not be re-elected because of their dismal performance and taking their constituence for granted.
Skerrit is the one who taught us how to bite the hand that feed you. Back stabbed Rosie with people like Reggie.
For your information JJ was not sent to Cuba by labour. The young man finished his studies in 2005, it took 6 long years and labour party became the government in 2000. So you all go ahead and do the math and draw your conclusion. If some of you who are making ridiculous statements and still having problems getting the answer well my advice to you all is check Jefferson James affectionately known as JJ. He will be most willing to help you all resolve the problem. I say that because a lot of people posting here are mathematically challenged, but always seem to know when who went to Cuba and who sent them. I rest my case
As an employee in the tourism industry there are boats going to boats it isn’t the big cruise ships but the yachts and charters… while you on the block smoking and talking crap take a walk down prince Rupert’s bay and see with your eyes and not hear from JJ mouth. JJ stop using Catholic church in your business. Since you when up for uwp you start passing church a few times to even say you on committee. Ian hasn’t put much effort be he will be parli rep he do help but don’t boast about it.
To the person who said that Cabral’s father is fuming in his grave is pure nonsense. Being someone who was very close to his dad, I know Rosie did not like a back stabber and that’s just what this so-called new labour-freedom party has done to his dad. Each and everyone of us know what went down the evening when my beloved PM returned home from speaking at the UN. Ask Emmanuel Nanthan if his partner was to return who would he view him? And if he was to answer the question sincerely he would tell every Dominican that our beloved PM would distance himself from his likes. But on the other hand he would congratulate his son for doing the right thing.
Cabral you have your father and others fuming in the grave. I think your action is selfish.
I’m pretty sure that if Rosie Douglas is fuming over anything it would be the lack of representation of the Portsmouth people over the last 15 years…
JJ God don’t like un grateful people, he likes people who does’nt forgot that the good things others did for them.
What nonsense are you talking? JJ was sent to study by the UWP. Get that into your thick skulls. And even if he had been sent by the DLP doesn’t he have a mind of his own to think for himself? So because someone does something nice for you at one time, would you condone the evil they do to others afterwards? Sacway sort. No wonder Portsmouth will stay so. Labourites voting Skerrit because he at one time gave them a handout at the Red Clinic, or paid their electricity bill. They don’t realize that with development they would be able to pay their own bills without going and beg at the Red Clinic.
Hmmm 4 true? Ian is tourism minister and YET still while roseau av all like 3 ships stups portsmouth av none Portsmouth needs to be promoted. Jj have some great ideas i backing him all the way *make way for duh blue*
Admin:
DNO should set up a “special page” called “Know Your Candidate”. As they keep coming it will make it easier to find them.
I like the idea of seeing the candidates side by side. Good initiative DNO.
It would be good if all the information of all candidates were supplied and some were not embellished more than others but god is good and performance speaks; not words on a page.
JJ said that he is a member of the rebuilding church committe. I have never seen him at a church meeting. Ian all the way. Portsmouth all the way with Labour for 5 more years.
It was Rosie who secured the scholarship for him to go to Cuba. Keep on biting the hand that gave you an education/profession.
JJ all the way-Portsmouth revolution
Skerro all the way for dictator, vote Skerro for a scary tomorrow!!!! LABOURRRRRRR
So because someone help you to go to school you just continue to support them even whe they doing wrong
@really : you don’t seeing nonsense them people doing
Are you kidding me? Well Rosie is no longer here, and regardless whether Rosie was there or not if these people are doing BS why should he stand there and support it? Are you taking everyone for the bunch of fools that is bowing to the dictator and not saying anything?
No doubt Ian will win. Portsmouth people does not vote for progress or nothing else. They voting just like that
Voting for Ian is voting for progress.
I want a government that working for the people. Not a big bag of talk, on the 8th we will see who’s the last man standing.
jay jay all the way…. change is a must
JJ your bio is empty. All what you have achieved is personal, nothing on a community level. You are yet to prove that you are interested in the development of the town. Alas Possie none of them deserve your vote so I suspect you will just vote skerrit as usual
No No!!!! Point of correction, Skerro for dictator!!!!!!! Fifty more years, new taxes, new levies, more stress, we voting for labourRRRRRRRRRRR. WE LIKE IT SO, WE TOO FREEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!! Saqua …………………
jay jay all the way
ay lass J.J of UWP, is beating Ian Douglas by miles… as far the profile speaks lol
From my standpoint as an Independent, if we are to objectively look at this and for a minute put politics or party alliance aside, based on an analysis of the candidates’ profiles published thus far, it is clear that if we are seeking “credential” then this would be the more logical conclusions:
1. Mr. Isaac Baptiste would be the pick over Mr. Drigo (thumbs up)
2. Mr. James and both Douglas’ it would be a competition to be fair and that to me, would depends on other external factors (such as their messages and plans for the constituency first and then the country). Please take into consideration that I am reviewing this on a constituency basis (case by case), not on a national level. At the end of the day, it is what is best for the constituency and who can best deliver that to the community. Right now, based on the published profiles both Douglas’ are speaking of their community whereas, one can make a case that James may have focused on both the community and national level. I am not ready to make my pick here yet as the Jury still out on this one in deliberation. I may have to call them back for second interviews.
The reality is this is not how we cast our votes in Dominica. Sadly, we do not consider political candidates as our employee and by that, they work for us, so we are in essence hiring them for the job on December 8th. We should all view all the candidates from that viewpoint, as we consider who we are going to vote for on December 8th to manage our country.
What is best or the constituency is Ian Douglas. Under a labour administration Portsmouth will be the town we all hoped it should be. Great changes are coming to Portsmouth. They have already begun. Stay tuned for the rest.
Carson I totally agree with you; however, I would cast out Iran immediately. My reasoning is that Ian has been there far too long for Portsmouth to be in the state that it is in especially since his party was the ruling party. Can someone tell me how many things Ian requested for his community during his term? Most of the things Ian mention should have been done in the last five years seeing that this administration has had so much money to play with.
I wish we would vote based on issues rather than this stupid party alliance.
Isn’t it ironic with all the things or 80% of what James say he did was under the labor party, and you sit there saying nothing was done in Dominica.
Real idiot Dominica is worse off now, you think somebody can continue giving all you free stuff for the rest of your pathetic life!! Even water wells and oil wells running dry! Sacqua……………………………….
well the majority of Dominicans say that everything is better. Oil wells? I did not know we had these in Dominica. I know an enormous amount of money was spent by this administration to bring running water to all Dominicans.
you fooled me once Ian, Shame on you. you fooled me twice, shame on me Not me again
Stupes…..Who Cares!
You fooled yourself.
After the government. Send them to study They coming back and lash the gorverment in there face ungreatful keep biting the hands that feed allu,we go see at the polls! On December8!
Glad you said government. Its the people’s money so they have a right to support whom ever they choose. You probably need to educate yourself on the difference between party and government. Do you do all what your parents ask you to do? After all l, they gave you life.
When posting get your fact correct before doing so which of these men did the Government ( Labor) send away to study you got to say so.
It was not the Labour party who sent Jay Jay to study get your facts stright before u type
It was the UWP who sent JJ to study. Please get your facts correct.
Idiot the government did pay one red cent, they still had to find money for their upkeep!!!
JJ, I’m so proud of you. You will be an excellent rep for the town of Portsmouth. All the best in the upcoming general elections.
Ian so going to wip! Them at the polls
He will drink more alcohol and eat more sand on the beach when he win that Ian there
Even if Ian does win, that would be one hollow victory!
Ian has no vision for Portsmouth, if there was any, it would have been done within fifteen year in power. To late Ian, you had your chance, its time to bow out gracefully. There is no fight left in you. Too late bro!!!!!!