{"id":336695,"date":"2025-02-11T12:56:22","date_gmt":"2025-02-11T16:56:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/?p=336695"},"modified":"2025-02-11T12:56:22","modified_gmt":"2025-02-11T16:56:22","slug":"upps-joshua-francis-declares-hes-back-for-the-long-haul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/homepage\/homepage-carousel\/upps-joshua-francis-declares-hes-back-for-the-long-haul\/","title":{"rendered":"UPP’s Joshua Francis declares he’s back for the long haul"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Joshua Francis addressing the crowd<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI am back and I will stand for Dominica until the end.\u201d Those were the words of Member of the United Progressive Party (UPP) Attorney Joshua Francis while addressing the first political meeting held by the party at Mahaut River in the Kalinago Territory on the weekend.<\/p>\n

Francis, who is no stranger to the political arena, said the UPP was birthed in May 2024\u00a0in response to a dire need for a viable change relating to the governance of\u00a0Dominica.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Joshua Francis, you will find a man who will stand with you, for you, and by you,\u201d he said. “So those who sought to destroy me made an error. They could not destroy Joshua Francis, so I am back\u2026and I will stand for Dominica until the end.\u201d<\/p>\n

He continued, \u201cI am back and I am here for the long haul.\u201d<\/p>\n

Between 2014 and 2025, Francis took breaks from politics noting that there were times when he was undecided and asked himself, \u201cWhy am I involved in politics?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were times I was tempted to shut the doors on Dominica and go to the United States of America, but I was unsettled with that consideration, because I felt that God had anointed me to do a job which was incomplete,\u201d Francis explained. \u201cI am committed to Dominica, I am committed to you brothers and sisters, the Kalinago people, I am committed to you, the members of the United Progressive Party.\u201d<\/p>\n

Francis said that it is time to get serious in Dominica.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis United Progressive Party has looked at what is happening in Dominica, we have looked at what is good in Dominica, we have also looked at what is bad in Dominica,\u201d he said. \u00a0\u201cWhen you have a government that lacks foresight, a government that doesn\u2019t understand how to create jobs and sustain jobs, then we will continue to struggle until such time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Francis stressed that over the last \u00a025 years, the Dominican people have struggled, \u201cbut you have endured and you have survived.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have a chance the next time around to change things. At the next general elections whenever that is you will get an opportunity to make a change for yourself,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n

He added, \u201cBut we are not going to wait for the next general election, we are going to keep working now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Francis argued that there is no reason why Dominica should not be exporting water.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the UPP we already have a vision. We understand that we already have a comparative advantage as far as soil and water [are] concerned. So, we are going to bring ideas to develop Dominica based on our soil and our water,\u201d he indicated.\u201cThere is no reason why we cannot declare certain parts of Dominica including the Kalinago Territory for organic farming.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said there is a market for organic produce throughout the world, \u201cbut this government is not interested.\u201d<\/p>\n

Furthermore, he stated that the UPP believes that the government must place more emphasis on keeping and preserving a clean environment in Dominica.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the UPP we will take cleanliness seriously,\u201d he noted. \u201cNot only cleanliness in terms of keeping rubbish away from our waters and our land, but cleanliness in what we produce. Clean energy, clean food, better health for the nation whilst we are making money.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other speakers at the meeting included:<\/p>\n

Parliamentary Representative of the Marigot Constituency Anthony Charles, former Kalinago Chief Charles Williams, Joanne Green, Loftus Durand, Kent Auguiste, Teddy Thomas, and Theresa Rolle.<\/p>\n