More than 67,200 persons are eligible to vote in the general election called by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit just over a month ago. *Photo credit: www.sitesatlas.com
ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Despite early morning showers, thousands of Dominicans rose before dawn and made their way to the polls to vote for a new government on Friday.
Some residents donned rain coats and jackets, while others used umbrellas to protect themselves from the elements – others did nothing to cover themselves from the rain – as voting started at 7 am, with most voters seeking to cast their ballots before going about their normal daily duties.
The 249 polling stations across this Eastern Caribbean island are expected to remain open for 10 hours.
More than 67,200 persons are eligible to vote in the general election called by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit just over a month ago.
A record 62 candidates are contesting the poll.
Skerrit’s Dominica Labour Party (DLP), which is seeking its third consecutive term in office, is the only party contesting all 21 seats at stake; while the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) is fielding 17 candidates; with the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) putting forward representatives in 11 constituencies.
The other candidates are contesting under the banner of fledgling groups or as independents.
Chief Elections Officer Merina Williams told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that “everything is ready” for Friday’s vote that is being monitored by observer missions from the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
Head of the OAS team, Steven Griner, told CMC that based on his discussions with a wide variety of people, including representatives of the political parties and electoral staff, he did not expect anything to prevent Dominicans from exercising their franchise in a free and fair manner.
At the last general election in May 2005, the DLP won 12 seats compared to eight for the UWP. The other seat was won by an independent candidate. Since then the government has increased its majority to 14-7. For the first time in its history, the DFP was shut out of parliament.
