Leader of the United Workers Party ( UWP ) Lennox Linton will be sworn in today as Opposition Leader in the Commonwealth of Dominica.
Linton, who took over from Edison James in 2013 as Political Leader of the UWP, contested and won the seat for the Marigot Constituency in the December 8 General Election, and led his Party to double the number of seats in Parliament from three to six, capturing all three seats in the capital city of Roseau.
Linton succeeds Hector John of the Salisbury Constituency and who served as the Opposition Leader from 2009 to 2014.
It is expected that soon after being sworn in, the Opposition Leader will name the four persons whom he and the Party have selected to serve as senators.
The four Senators will join the six elected candidates as the Opposition Members of the Parliament.
Candidates elected for the UWP were Hon. Lennox Linton, Marigot; Ezekeil Bazil, Wesley, Hector John, Salisbury; Danny Lugay, Roseau North; Joseph Isaac, Roseau Central and Joshua Francis, Roseau South.
Even before being sworn in, Linton has indicated his and his members readiness to do the ‘peoples business’ by making it clear that he would like to see Parliament meet monthly, in order to do the people’s business effectively and on a timely basis.. In this regard, the UWP representatives have already started to serve their communities by activating several projects for the Christmas season in various Constituencies.
The next session of Parliament will be the first to be convened in over two decades, without the presence of prominent UWP members Hon. Edison James and Hon. Norris Prevost, the former representatives of Marigot and Roseau Central respectively.
The two elder statesmen of the UWP have retired voluntarily to usher in a new era for the party. However, they remain actively engaged as Party Trustees and resource persons.
Congratulations Mr. Linton a strong opposition creates a better government, and hold the government responsible to the people. Remember you have the right to table motions, and can table a motion for a vote of no-confidence also. Learn learn and learn, the rules of the game, do not let them continue to lead Dominica democracy into a path to nowhere. Opposition is not about opposing but about questioning to bring about resolution. It is not a fight, but a debate. Yours is the higher calling and do not forget the work for the next election has begun.
Lennox you in d house. ..I guess you’re in the kitchen shinning the pots. .
Congratulations to you Hon.Lennox Linton,on being sworn in as leader of the opposition. I know you will do a great job with your team to keep the development needs of Dominica on the front burner of everything you do in parliament. Keep this corrupt government honest for Dominica’s sake.
We labourite did not want you in the house,but god have other plans as much as I don’t like you I think you would be a great asset to the house good luck
I think this will be the most effective and influential opposition we will ever have. They have already started, for in skeritt speech he wanted to make Dominica best place to live, work, and enjoy life.
Lenno, boy, they tried to bury you not realizing you are a seed!!! Congratulations as we move to return civility and fairness to our beloved country and Parliament.
HOTEP!
Mr Linton keep up the fight god is with you,Skerrit and Alix Boyd Knight the witch ar not powerful as god,keep being truthful to the patriotic people and god will guide you through,the power is slipping away from Skerrit.Congratulations.
Congratulation Mr. Linton on your official appointment to the house on behalf of the Dominican people , you are rooted legally on solid ground to be an outstanding delegate for all the people, your sincerity bind with good leadership will carry you through, cause God has already made plans for you. God’s Blessings!!
I am one of those who believe that politics in Dominica can be clean. The UWP team Dominica has proved that. For us to be a better country that is the way forward and for all you and your team have articulated, I am sure you will lead the way in making Dominica the best place to live, work and enjoy life. I and many people like me will continue to give your team the support it deserves. I just hope that the results can be achieved in my life time.
My suggestion, which might mean nothing to the party is – do not name Ron Green as a senator. He needs to make way for a younger person. Maybe the party should find a a young lady or teacher/nurse.
Congratulations Lennox. Trust in God and all will be well. You can do a good job as the leader of the opposition. I am proud of you.
I have not previously commented on the just concluded elections and this is because it is sometimes best to wait to let the dust settle in order to catch a better glimpse of the new political landscape.
The dust has not completely settled but the contours of the political playing field has come into sharper focus.
First, what does the 100 per cent increase in the numbers of the parliamentary opposition mean? And more particularly, what does the elevation of Lennox Linton to Leader of the Opposition mean for his life’s passion; his fight against official corruption and for good governance and transparency in the commonwealth?
It’s clear that Linton intends to use his new office as a platform to continue what can only be described as a holy mission, even for those who may not support him directly but support the idea of preserving and protecting our democratic freedoms. For democracy’s sake, Mr. Linton must soldier on and elevate his fight, no, our fight, to the nations’s highest deliberative body. The question of free and fair election has not been resolved. The prime minister’s errant behavior which prompted action by the IPO commission has not concluded. The list is endless.
The wild card, of course, is whether the prime minister passes up on one more critical opportunity to demonstrate that there is an ounce of moderation left in his political body. He can demonstrate this by replacing Alix Boyd Knight with a speaker of a more temperate and conciliatory nature. After all, the nation’s parliament was not designed to be a battleground where opposition voices are silenced. The constitution provides protection against the abuse of the minority by the majority. Ms Knight, after fifteen years as speaker has not conducted herself in a manner that the constitution intended. On this we can all agree.
The prime minister should seize the moment and use the appointment of a new speaker to replace Ms. Knight as the much talked about olive branch to calm the political waters. He would demonstrate political wisdom if he follows this recommended course.
The last thing a political leader should do is to demonstrate hubris in “victory”. The gods of democracy, going back to the ancient Greeks warned about hubris because invisible banana skins are lurking near the path of those who pay no heed to this warning.
So is this a secret swearing in ? Why isn’t the public invited? I guess the blogger Lawrence Ettiene and Mr. Skerrit have the president, the ipo, the electoral commission, the police, the courts under lock down, the same way they had the church under lock down and hence allegations of financial fraud and abuse of a former queen. You see is when persons like lawrenec Ettiene say nothing even when there is clear and present abuse and corruption that people like the former queen get hurt. Now look a security guard from Marigot is being abused because bloggers like Lawrence Ettiene say nothing
Whose gonna swear him in? Thought the President was illegal!
The person occupying the seat of president may be illegal, but his office is not. The office is greater than the occupier.
Finally LL is officially opposition Leader of the once solid team turned into Vapor then returned to a semblance of semi-solid/sublimation anew.
LL please apologize to Con ED on ur failure to make him President in the UWP;s MOU of Dec- 2013 .
Sad to see a loss opportunity-JJ Dec-19-2014.
Yes the Neo-DFP like the once Chinese Gang of Four( much larger in our case) stole the elections in addition to support from the politically installed individuals, The imports( an originally UWP application of 1995expanded by the DLP in 2000 then the Neo DFP/DLP who magnified it out of proportion laced with added spending money)
So to the two elder statesmen of the UWP who have retired voluntarily or forcefully , they do the following Prevost will remain actively engaged in his business while ConEd will sit at Krane and throw stones into the sea and get his supply of fresh fish and make Ahfouahwee versions of Broth Meditate image how it would have been in Savarin now occupied position, until his time comes.
The process will continue where new blood will emerge to oust this never before seen characters occupying the structure known previously as Government(now occupied by hoodlums)
The next session of Parliament will be the first to be convened in over two decades, without the presence of prominent UWP members Hon. Edison James and Hon. Norris Prevost, the former residents of Marigot now anchored in Goodwill and/St. Aroma neighbour to Toni and Castle Comfort.
President Charles Savarin at 10:30AM today, Tuesday 23 December 2014 will officially sworn in Lennox Linton, Leader of the United Workers Party (UWP) as the new Leader of the Opposition of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Dominica.
I guess President Charles Savarin in now recognized as the President of “all” in Dominica.
Congrats to you
Go on Lennox, Blaze up the fire pan dem in de house.
Congratulation sir and please let us stay focused by going to parliament. Do not repeat the mistakes of the past by boycotting parliament for nonsense. We have to fight the cabal in parliament and every nook and cranny on behalf of the people. First order of the day is the International Airport because the negotiations had already been completed and money was in the “pipeline” for it (ala Skerrit, 2014). Secondly, push for the rehabilitation of Roseau and the New State Of The Art hospital because the money was also in the “pipeline” before election (ala Skerrit, 2014). We are with you shoulder to shoulder as you fight on every Dominican’s behalf. God’s guidance to you sir…
Assertive, NOT Aggressive!