Prominent regional pollster Peter Wickham, speaking with DNO, indicated that Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit’s decision to call snap elections in Dominica could be paving the way for an election boycott by the opposition United Workers Party.
In an announcement that rocked the nation, Skerrit said on Sunday that Dominicans will go to the polls on December 6, giving little preparation time to any party, especially the UWP which is seemingly still struggling to put itself together after the impromptu resignation of its former leader Lennox Linton.
“That’s one of the things that the opposition can raise as a concern regarding whether or not they thought an election should be called at this stage, now one could argue that is the basis of a potential boycott”
“And there is a suggestion that the UWP may very well call the DLP’s bluff and boycott the election altogether, which essentially puts them on a good footing to say that there is a moral challenge where the election is concerned, and an attempt to de-delegitimize the election,” Wickham said.
He recalled on previous occasions the UWP claimed that the machinery was flawed, yet they fought.
“And I think that does raise questions of logic. So, this may very well be paving the way for an election boycott if indeed, they do feel that this is what they ought to do,” he added.
Meanwhile, Wickham believes calling a snap election at this time may have been a strategic move by the DLP.
“So, I think that this is a strategic attempt…to take the opportunity at this stage to have an election when they know that the UWP is not likely to be ready by the beginning of December, because frankly if they gave them probably the eight months that the NDC had in Grenada, it can make a huge difference. So, I think strategically it’s a call that makes a lot of sense. But it will be controversial for several reasons,” he added.
One of the controversial negatives associated with calling an election at this time, according to Wickham, is the issue of electoral reform.
“Let’s take, for example, the fact that there is no electoral reform completed, and it was a commitment made at the last time that we had an election…there would be electoral reform. Maybe that’s one of the things the Opposition can raise as a concern regarding whether or not they thought an election could be called at this stage,” he added.
The DLP will reveal its new-look slate of candidates at Windsor Park Stadium forecourt tonight and Nomination Day in Dominica will be Friday, November 18.
Dominicans you all clame the country is a godly country and you have a he she giving you all advice what ashame eh . Skerrit said he won’t pass no buggry bill in dominica and he have a bugs man giving him advice . I want the rain to fall in dominica for six days and stop on the seventh we need some serious cleansing in dominica. Show me your company i will tell you who you a.
The problem with UWP is that they say things no evidence,not direct and not circumstantial.They keep on saying election was stolen,but the never say the lost more than 1,000 votes in the 2019 election.It is pure foolishness and stupidity to lose so much support and talk about rigged election.UWP need foot soldiers,not people on q95 and in the diaspora talking BS everyday.
No amount of foot soldiers can stop a rigged election by the cabal. I for one know the machinery used by the cabal very well. Remember when Leonard Newton (now deceased) lost the Castle Bruce Constituency? There was an officer (now deceased) and a young lady who is still an avid Cabal supporter who made the inevitable happen.
No name no warrant but the time will come when she will pay for that because the CABAL (no party name mentioned) MUST leave office one day and as long as the statute of limitation applies she will pay for her crime. She will not be allowed to run to Antigua to hide for a while as was done right there after. So keep your advice, UWP or opposing forces don’t need your dumb or should i say ignorant advice. Now consider yourself apprised!
“So, I think that this is a strategic attempt…to take the opportunity at this stage to have an election when they know that the UWP is not likely to be ready by the beginning of December” News Article
I have a lot of trouble understanding the thought process of these people who claim to be wise, with understanding and knowledge of the World’s policies or fundamental matters, whatever they are.
I mean how long has the United Workers Party been involved with Politics in Dominica, for this man to suggest that they are not ready to face an election be it a “snap” or a regular General Election”?
What will it take for them to be ready? After all this time around, why does it have to take what they are calling “electoral reform” to have the United Workers Party ready to go out and contest an election with hopes of winning?
The next General Election would be held in late 2024. If they are not ready to win now, will they be ready then?
@elizabethlxavier, once again you expose your naivete on political matters. The UWP is a principled organization and the rule of law is important to it. Since the current leader of the party resigned and a convention has not yet been held to elect a new party leader, means there isn’t a duly elected legitimate party leader at this point. No military goes to battle without a solidified leader or who will the rank and file take directions from? That’s a recipe for chaos. Once you have a phone or a computer you feel you can just post utter rubbish that’s childish and makes no sense. Try and sound like you are educated in the topics you post on. Shameful.
She does not have to sound educated she is very educated. Go challenge your other dunce people…….Stop acting like you know it all. Everyone can post what makes sense to them. At lease she is not posting destruction!!!!!HARVARD GRAD!!!!!!!
A Snap election is not illegal. They should be ready always if they are to represent Dominica. if in case something happens. Who should the p[eople follow. Be ready at all times like the Bible says…….I am glad for the SNAP election. They challenged MIA in Barbados and she won by a landslide..{even if she talks like a man} this have nothing to do with it..
The local and regional press, journalists and civil organisations shoud roundly condemn Roosevelt for his blatant, dirty, political skulduggery.
This gentleman(?), Peter, is not credible. His recent polls have been replete with flaws. I give no credence to his rubbish. He was awfully wrong about the election predictions in St. Lucia, Grenada and elsewhere in the region. He goes around the OECS doing work for the unscrupulous heads of the Labour Parties.
Dominica hasn’t had a fair election since the dishonest, asinine dunce took power. No reforms, no election!
And they will not condemn him because he it is not illegal. It might be a bit unethical but he has the right to do so. Linton retired awhile now and have not placed another. There should be a second person to represnt him. Not even a qualified name. What are they doing? IBO why don’t you step up and represent Dominica?
For your benefit, it his highly unethical to do something like that in particular since he had promised electoral reform. He proclaims he is a caring leader on each and every occasion. Are these the actions of a caring leader? I tell you what and listen good, this are the actions on a vindictive, corrupt and mentally sick despot. In the end he will get what he deserves. You mark my words!
Leave Dominicans with their skeritt. Love my country but we get the leader we deserve. Force election on them, ruin the nation, relocate them. Give them housing then while all thst going on give the country and its resources away in exchange for riches. Then run Dubai like hushpuppy. What you can’t run from is yourself deep down the insecurity and guilt you feel you can’t hide from it. Every narcissist has that moment when they realize they can’t even at themselves in the mirror. My brother history will remember you like it remembers the notorious ones: papa-doc, Sadam, putin, Hitler, trump . For generations we will remember this incompetent man who got addicted to power and the idiots who enabled him. Cowards
Whickam you like boycott or manslaughter and can you tell us if you get paid by skerrit in cash, LPO, or kind. They say birds of a feather flock together and sure looks like skerrit have you under his wings as his permanent poll taker. How many closets is in his mansion and can he walk in the closet. The last pic i saw with the cover girl mell he looked like he forgot to take out his make-up properly.
Please note that the obvious failure of the UWP to have a succession plan in place prior to Mr. Linton’s departure in no way invalidates the ruling Labor Party’s parliamentary right to hold a snap election.
Mr. Skerrit did the calculus of the numbers and margin (18 to 3) which favors his Labor party and decided to hedge his bet for a return to power on Dec 6th.
Remember all is fair and sometimes dirty in love, war and politics!!!
@Kalinago Justice, you don’t seem to be able to read the tea leaves in front of you. When last was there a massive support for any kind of protest in Dominca. This is a nonstarter and so other strategies need to be found for civil disobedience and getting the attention of the government to change their plans for the snap election.
Peter has never been on the side of UWP and his advice I’m afraid is to further hurt the standing of the party going forward. Alex Bruno and APP must be cheering because the see a backdoor opportunity to be the opposition and therefore stake their claim for legitimacy whilst peeling away support from the UWP. This will make it more difficult for UWP to remain as potent a political force as it was into the future. Therefore Peter’s advice to me should be a nonstarter. Simply to state “no elections without electoral reforms” is hollow because after Skerritt and the cabal win the uncontested election he plans to step aside in two to three years time so whatever court challenges and decisions will be too late to deny his continuation as prime minister. We all know that Charlo isn’t going to do a damn thing so writing to him is like throwing mud against a brick wall. The opposition brain trust is weak and subordinate to Skerritt. Alas Dominca.
The jellicle cats come out to play with jellicle games and jellice polls with jellicle words for jellicle misses. (Adaptation from Cats, the Musical)
Miss pretty boy, go and run pipes in skerrit backyard and stay away from this election commesss……
I do not agree with such prediction. The three elected members of the UWP would never give up their seats voluntary, not knowing where their next pay check will be coming from if not elected members of Parliament. UWP has never been serious about electoral reform always a dishonest ploy, a strategic political tool to frustrate The Government, it worked well for them in their agenda. Politician’s main aim is to be elected to office and form a Government, by boycotting an election such goal cannot be attained and so boycotting the election is not an option and would not benefit them.
The PM sudden call for election can be seen as a move to destroy
the UWP, as they face a leadership crisis, is it also that there are internal disagreements within the DLP which The PM thinks would not be sustainable to accomplish his plans for the future of The Country and so calling an election hoping to get a fresh mandate
with new elected Ministers who see his vision for the Country,
Gary, you have never failed to surprise me. Every time you post it can be equated to raw, untreated, malodorous sewage. You should be charged for polluting this news site with toxic and septic material.
Your words only resonate with people of your ilk – buffoons, nincompoops, and the cognitively damaged. Go back in your place of abode, a crab hole.You sound more intelligent when you are silent.
You that IBO France, lol, is this your reply to me. Why can’t you reply with a rational argument instead of insults, insults are not facts, just worthless perceptions it does nothing to bolster your agenda and only makes you a lousy political operative.
You do have raw, untreated, malodorous sewage in you as well. Don’t you visit the restroom everyday? You just cannot fight Skerrit and, that is what that is killing you softly. You gonna lose again come December 6th, 2022. You were born to lose with all your big OXFORD DICTIONARY WORDS. Not impressed.
@Kalinago Justice, you don’t seem to be able to read the tea leaves in front of you. When last was there a massive support for any kind of protest in Dominca. This is a nonstarter and so other strategies need to be found for civil disobedience and getting the attention of the government to change their plans for the snap election.
You are not even in DOMINICA and you are advising from far Are you calling for civil disobedience in our little country. We are not Haiti. Shame on you. You will be watching your TV and laying on your Sealy Mattress while we are lookingn for cover. Act wisely.
Do not listen to this idiot. This is the game that they play. They set up the election in a way that gets people all emotional and makes them think that they can achieve something by boycotting the election.
All that is going to happen is there will be less votes for the alternatives and the diehard sheep that vote for the government will win them the election in a landslide. Then it won’t matter what amount of protest or noise people make they will still call the outcome legitimate.
That’s the same trap that venezuelans fell into. Same strategy is used in the US all the time. Democrats put up RINO republican candidates to cause republicans to boycott the election and then they win. It’s a political strategy.
Don’t fall for the trap. Everybody has ONE VOTE. The prime minister can call the election when he want. It’s up to dominicans to teach him a lesson and VOTE THEM OUT.
How can we “vote them out” when they keep rigging the elections because of the bloated lists…Byron told them to clean out….and they refuse…
Sousey sel, all you ALL have to do is go for some dead people to vote for you ALL.
After they win the election you will sit down and cry about bloated list, after UWP “boycott” the election and basically hand the country over to the DLP on a silver platter. Then after you all will protest and burn stuff until they lock up a few and then more traitors in the party will cross over to escape jail.
No wonder DLP can have a stranglehold over the country for so long. The PM might be corrupt but he is a brilliant strategist with a cool head. Meanwhile opposition people just a bunch of short tempered emotional idiots who all they know how to do is make noise and riot
The CM might be corrupt BUT… the CM might be utterly incompetent BUT… can you believe BS like that? Who in their right mind could even think like that? They are still looking for excuses for this imposter.
Exactly. Nobody should vote again in Dominica without election reform. Instead Dominicans should take to the streets and force this corrupt Dictator to resign. No more talk, action is required now!
Well said “It’s up to Dominicans to teach him a lesson and VOTE THEM OUT”. I agree and have been saying it from Day 1 since his announcement.
There is no better strategy than going to the poll and voting him out. Until he is voted out, then there will be nothing better to offer him. Offer him a dose of intelligence and prideful armor against manipulative dictators such as him. Vote for another party to run the country. Allow others to share their expertise and commitment. Open up your eyes and see the benefits that each of these ministers and goonies gained from having power for so long.
DA is the nature island, ravaged by water, yet I see people telling me how great the country is because of Skero. People should work with nature and Water should be protected and channeled to lessen destruction. How can we claim to be a resilient island, when 2 days of rain continue to cut off many areas of the island. Wake up people, wake up and vote them out!!!!!
That VOTE THEM OUT nonsense doh good! You cannot vote them out when they have become professionals in rigging elections. That’s asking for the impossible. We ALL need to KICK THEM OUT by any means necessary ala Malcolm X.
@VOTE THEM OUT, I am not saying that I am on your side pertaining to your blog name, but I have to say that your thought is very smart.
To me, it would seem like cowardice on the part of the Opposing Party or Parties, to not contest this Election and senselessness of the people’s part to not go out and vote.
Mr. Roosevelt Skerrit, as the Leader of the Labor Party, is already the Government in Power anyway; so what would be his loss, if the Opposing Parties and their supporters ignore this coming election?
Wickham is of course right. The UWP and the other opposition parties should call Skerrits bluff right now and boycott this snap election. Once again, the CM has proofed that he is not interested in the country or its citizens but rather serves his own agenda. If one now considers the issue of electoral reform which he refuses to implement, I think the opposition parties have a very good case to argue against this vindictive little man that calls himself the PM of this country. He has to be disposed of now, enough is enough.