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Volume No. 1 Issue No. 43 - Wednesday May 28, 2003
The Making of a Political Campaign
by Thomson Fontaine

With general elections constitutionally scheduled for May 2005, political campaigning is beginning to take center stage as the three major political parties, the newly formed Dominica Reform Party (DRP), and several independent candidates begin to compete for the attention of the voting populace.

Following the last general elections of January 2000, the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) under the leadership of the late Rosie Douglas forged a coalition with the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) to narrowly oust the ruling United Workers Party (UWP) of former Prime Minister Edison James. The DLP won ten seats of the twenty-one seat Parliament while the UWP won nine seats and the DFP two seats.

It proved to be the most closely contested elections in the country�s history, and the merging of the two parties was the first time a coalition government ran the affairs of state since self government was introduced in the late sixties. Another historic first was realized when the United Workers Party became the first party to serve only one term in office.

The UWP rose to prominence in 1995 soundly defeating the ruling DFP government after fifteen years in office. The DFP had previously seized the reins of power from the DLP in the 1980 election following that party�s domination of local politics in the decades of the seventies.

The next general elections will prove to be very different from those of previous years. Already, several candidates have announced their intention to run as independent candidates. These include former government ministers Athie Martin, David Bruney, and Bernard Wiltshire, president of the Public Service Union Sonia Williams, and former president of the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association Frankie Fredericks. Some observers predict that as many as twelve persons will contest the elections as independent candidates.

Several different scenarios could emerge as a result of this changing dynamic. Very few people expect the DFP to put up a serious fight. As such, the majority of seats could be won by either the DLP or the UWP. Alternatively neither party could gain the majority forcing the DFP to once more join as a coalition partner.

More intriguing is the possibility of one or two successful independent candidates been in a position to dictate terms to a party failing to reach the simple majority on their own. In an increasingly fractious political climate, this possibility cannot be ruled out. All indications are that the voting population remains fairly evenly split and no party yet commands the overriding majority of popular votes that would guarantee victory at the polls.

Ultimately, the make-up of the next government will be determined by the success or failure of the coalition government to steer this country away from economic collapse. A coherent economic policy that puts the country back on a path to economic growth is expected to get the DLP reelected. Failing that, the UWP could well fancy their chances for regaining control of the seat of power.

Comments about this article? Email:
editor@
thedominican.net
Telephone:
1-571-236-9502
Fax:
1-202-589-7937

Volume No. 1 Issue No. 43
Difficult Economic Times Ahead?
History Revisited:Community Life Among the Estates
PSU Calls for New Elections
WI Halts Aussies Winning Streak
The Making of a Political Campaign




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