Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit. *Photo credit: www.dominicanewsonline.com

ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – The ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) stayed on course for a third consecutive victory after it won the Castle Bruce constituency, according to preliminary figures released here.

Chairman of the Castle Bruce Village Council, Johnson Drigo, 42, beat back a challenge from environmentalist Bernard Wiltshire of the United Workers Party (UWP) to win the seat by a 849 to 689 margin, and give the DLP a 3-1 lead in the seats so far declared.

Independent candidate Jacqueline Theodore received just seven votes.

The DLP has won the Morne Jaune/Riviere, Salybia and Castle Bruce constituencies, while the UWP has won the Salisbury seat.

A total of 62 candidates are vying to take control of the 21 seat Parliament, and the preliminary figures show that the DLP is leading in Vielle Case, Colihaut, Mahaut, Roseau Central and Portsmouth.

The Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), which is the other major party contesting the elections, is not fearing well, with its leader, Judith Pestaina, a former international public servant facing a huge defeat in the Roseau Central constituency.