ROSEAU – Lennox Linton was re-elected unopposed as the leader of the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) and called on supporters to ensure a change is made when Dominicans next go to the polls to elect a new government.
“Give change a try to rev up the engine of agriculture, tourism, construction, manufacturing, services, renewable energy and cultural industries to drive strong sustainable economic growth,” Linton told supporters gathered in the north-east village of Grand Fond on Sunday.
Linton, who became leader prior to the 2014 general election when the party won six of the 21 seats at stake, urged supporters to “give change a try for the thousands of young people yearning for real jobs to anchor the advancement of their lives in freedom and human dignity”.
He said there was a need to change the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit so as to ensure that “do Dominican employed in Dominica will have to work for less than a thousand dollars a month.
“Let us give change a try so that our senior citizens can enjoy their twilight years in comfort, peace and safety. Let us give change a try for the thousands of professionals, nurses, doctors, teachers, lawyers, police officers and others who simply want to do their jobs for reasonable pay in a life supporting environment free from political interference, harassment and intimidation,” Linton said in a speech in which he was highlight critical of the socio-economic policies of the present administration.
He urged supporters to give “change a try for a lower cost of living and a higher quality of life”.
The delegates’ conference was overshadowed by the recent decision of Joseph Isaac to resign from the party and join the government of Prime Minister Skerrit.
Isaac, who was sworn in as the new Minister for the Environment, Climate Resilience, Disaster Management and Urban Renewal, had earlier this month told his constituents in Roseau Central and the country in general that he would be an “independent” legislator in the Dominica Parliament.
Isaac had indicated then then that he did not support “politics of division” or of “hate to the point where there can’t be a meeting of the minds,” for his decision to leave the party and that he had tried unsuccessful for a long time “to persuade my party that there is a wisdom in changing from the traditional opposition approach to politics and to adopt a more nationalistic approach one in which the country comes first.
The party said that Glenory Cuffie will be its candidate for the constituency in the next general election, constitutionally due no later than March 2020.
Meanwhile, Roseau South legislator, Joseph Francis, who was removed as deputy political leader of the UWP in 2016, was voted back into the position after defeating opposition legislator Danny Lugay by 83-48 margin. (CMC)
