{"id":73724,"date":"2012-09-17T12:02:46","date_gmt":"2012-09-17T16:02:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/?p=73724"},"modified":"2012-09-17T16:49:26","modified_gmt":"2012-09-17T20:49:26","slug":"eluid-williams-elected-president-of-dominica","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/homepage\/news\/politics\/eluid-williams-elected-president-of-dominica\/","title":{"rendered":"Eliud Williams elected president of Dominica"},"content":{"rendered":"

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President-elect Eliud Williams<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Former public servant Eliud Williams has been elected president of Dominica to replace Dr. Nicholas Liverpool.<\/p>\n

He was elected on Monday morning at a sitting of parliament.<\/p>\n

During the sitting, Speaker of the House Alix Boyd Knights said she had received a letter of resignation from Liverpool indicating the condition of his health and the reason why he was resigning.<\/p>\n

She also pointed out that the sitting was the continuation of a special sitting of parliament which was called on August 24 when parliamentarians were informed of Dr. Nicholas’ impending resignation and fourteen days were given to submit \u00a0nominees for the post.<\/p>\n

A final count revealed that Williams received 21 votes.<\/p>\n

Absent from the house were Health Minister Julius Timothy and member of parliament for St. Joseph Kelver Darroux because they are out of state.<\/p>\n

The Opposition United Workers Party (UWP), did not attend the sitting and refused to participate in the voting process, contending that the process leading to nomination of candidates for the post of president was unconstitutional. The party \u00a0is presently holding a protest near parliament to register its disapproval of the process.<\/p>\n

President-elect Williams is to be sworn in this afternoon.<\/p>\n

Presidents who have served Dominica since the island attained independence on November 3, 1978 are Fred Degazon, Aurelius Marie, Sir Clarence Seignoret, Crispin Sorhaindo, Vernon Shaw and Nicholas Liverpool.<\/p>\n

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Men who have served as president of Dominica (from left) Fred Degazon, Aurelius Marie, Sir Clarence Seignoret, Crispin Sorhaindo, Vernon Shaw and Nicholas Liverpool.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Audio below of Speaker of the House Alix Boyd Knight announcing the final vote count.<\/p>\n