United Workers' Party (Dominica)
Encyclopedia
The United Workers' Party is a centrist political party
in Dominica
. As of the 2009 general election, it is the only opposition party represented in the House of Assembly of Dominica
, holding three of the twenty-one seats. Its current Leader of the Opposition
in the Assembly is Hector John
.
The United Workers' Party was the majority party in Dominica from 1995 until 2000, led by party co-founder Edison James
as Prime Minister of Dominica
. James currently serves as the UWP's president.
, Julius Timothy
, Norris Prevost, Dennis Labassier and others. In the 1990 elections, the UWP won 6 of the 21 seats and became the official opposition. In 1995, the UWP won 11 seats at the general elections forming the first UWP government headed by Edison James as prime minister.
At the 31 January 2000 elections
, the party won 43.3% of the popular vote and 9 out of 21 elected members of parliament. Though it captured the most popular votes, it got fewer seats than the Dominica Labour Party
. The party was therefore once again in opposition. James continued to lead the party, which set up a tough campaign for the 5 May 2005 elections, but lost 1 seat. After the election, this time receiving less votes than the Dominica Labour Party
, the party held 8 seats in Parliament and remained in opposition.
In December 2005, James stood down as political leader and was replaced by Attorney Earl Williams
, Minister of Communications and Works in the last UWP administration. Williams defeated founding member and then Deputy Leader Julius Timothy who also sought the leadership of the party. As a result Timothy, the Minister of Finance under the UWP government, left the party and crossed the floor
to join the Dominica Labour Party
government. This resulted in the UWP being reduced to seven seats in Parliament.
held in December 2009, the UWP lost four of its seven seats, including the seat of party leader Ronald Green. The UWP subsequently filed litigation in the Roseau High Court challenging the results of five constituencies, including that of Prime Minister
Roosevelt Skerrit
, and demanding a new general election; pending the results, the three UWP members boycotted parliament. After two UWP members did not attend three consecutive sessions, Speaker of the House Alix Boyd Knights
declared their seats vacant in April, and a by-election
was scheduled for 9 July 2010. Both UWP members ran and won their seats again in the by-election, against the same candidates they faced in the 2009 general election.
UWP member Hector John
was sworn in as Leader of the Opposition
on 19 July 2010. Four of the six UWP legal petitions were dismissed in August 2010. The UWP members are expected to end their boycott, citing as a reason the President's announcement that funds would be made available for election reform.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Dominica
Dominica
Dominica , officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. Its size is and the highest point in the country is Morne Diablotins, which has an elevation of . The Commonwealth...
. As of the 2009 general election, it is the only opposition party represented in the House of Assembly of Dominica
House of Assembly of Dominica
The House of Assembly is the legislature of Dominica. It is established by Chapter III of the Constitution of Dominica, and together with the President of Dominica constitutes Dominica's Parliament. The House is unicameral, and consists of twenty-one Representatives, nine Senators, and an...
, holding three of the twenty-one seats. Its current Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (Dominica)
The Leader of the Opposition of the Commonwealth of Dominica is the Member of Parliament who leads the Official Opposition in the House of Assembly of Dominica...
in the Assembly is Hector John
Hector John
Hector John is a Dominican politician in the United Workers' Party. He is the current Leader of the Opposition, the youngest ever to hold that position. He was first elected as a Representative to the House of Assembly in 2009....
.
The United Workers' Party was the majority party in Dominica from 1995 until 2000, led by party co-founder Edison James
Edison James
Edison Chenfil James was the prime minister of Dominica from June 14, 1995 to February 3, 2000 as well as the Member of Parliament for the Marigot constituency from 1990. He graduated from the Dominica Grammar School...
as Prime Minister of Dominica
Prime Minister of Dominica
The Prime Minister of Dominica is the head of government in the Commonwealth of Dominica. Nominally, the position was created on November 3, 1978 when Dominica gained independence from the United Kingdom...
. James currently serves as the UWP's president.
History
The party was founded in 1988 by Edison JamesEdison James
Edison Chenfil James was the prime minister of Dominica from June 14, 1995 to February 3, 2000 as well as the Member of Parliament for the Marigot constituency from 1990. He graduated from the Dominica Grammar School...
, Julius Timothy
Julius Timothy
Julius Timothy is a politician from Dominica. He holds a MBA from the University of the West Indies and was President of the Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce. From June 1995 he has served as MP for the Roseau North Constituency and he currently serves as Health Minister. He first...
, Norris Prevost, Dennis Labassier and others. In the 1990 elections, the UWP won 6 of the 21 seats and became the official opposition. In 1995, the UWP won 11 seats at the general elections forming the first UWP government headed by Edison James as prime minister.
At the 31 January 2000 elections
Dominican general election, 2000
General elections were held in Dominica on 31 January 2000 and saw the Dominica Labour Party led by Rosie Douglas take power defeating the previous government of the United Workers' Party led by Edison James, despite the UWP receiving more votes. The DLP won 10 seats, the UWP 9 seats and the...
, the party won 43.3% of the popular vote and 9 out of 21 elected members of parliament. Though it captured the most popular votes, it got fewer seats than the Dominica Labour Party
Dominica Labour Party
The Dominica Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Dominica.-History:Founded in 1955 by Phyllis Shand Allfrey and Emmanuel Christopher Loblack, it is the oldest political party in Dominica. It first contested general elections in 1961, winning seven of the eleven seats. In the next...
. The party was therefore once again in opposition. James continued to lead the party, which set up a tough campaign for the 5 May 2005 elections, but lost 1 seat. After the election, this time receiving less votes than the Dominica Labour Party
Dominica Labour Party
The Dominica Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Dominica.-History:Founded in 1955 by Phyllis Shand Allfrey and Emmanuel Christopher Loblack, it is the oldest political party in Dominica. It first contested general elections in 1961, winning seven of the eleven seats. In the next...
, the party held 8 seats in Parliament and remained in opposition.
In December 2005, James stood down as political leader and was replaced by Attorney Earl Williams
Earl Williams (politician)
Earl Michael Williams is the former Leader of the Opposition in Dominica and former Political Leader of the United Workers' Party.-Early life and career:...
, Minister of Communications and Works in the last UWP administration. Williams defeated founding member and then Deputy Leader Julius Timothy who also sought the leadership of the party. As a result Timothy, the Minister of Finance under the UWP government, left the party and crossed the floor
Crossing the floor
In politics, crossing the floor has two meanings referring to a change of allegiance in a Westminster system parliament.The term originates from the British House of Commons, which is configured with the Government and Opposition facing each other on rows of benches...
to join the Dominica Labour Party
Dominica Labour Party
The Dominica Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Dominica.-History:Founded in 1955 by Phyllis Shand Allfrey and Emmanuel Christopher Loblack, it is the oldest political party in Dominica. It first contested general elections in 1961, winning seven of the eleven seats. In the next...
government. This resulted in the UWP being reduced to seven seats in Parliament.
2009-2010: general election, boycott, and by-election
In the general electionDominican general election, 2009
A parliamentary election was held in Dominica on 18 December 2009, to elect the 21 Representatives of the House of Assembly. The incumbent Dominica Labour Party increased its majority to 18 of 21 seats, winning a third term.-Key:...
held in December 2009, the UWP lost four of its seven seats, including the seat of party leader Ronald Green. The UWP subsequently filed litigation in the Roseau High Court challenging the results of five constituencies, including that of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Dominica
The Prime Minister of Dominica is the head of government in the Commonwealth of Dominica. Nominally, the position was created on November 3, 1978 when Dominica gained independence from the United Kingdom...
Roosevelt Skerrit
Roosevelt Skerrit
Roosevelt Skerrit is a Dominican politician who has been Prime Minister of Dominica since 2004; he has also been the Member of Parliament for the Vieille Case constituency since 2000...
, and demanding a new general election; pending the results, the three UWP members boycotted parliament. After two UWP members did not attend three consecutive sessions, Speaker of the House Alix Boyd Knights
Alix Boyd Knights
Alix Boyd Knights is a Dominican politician and attorney who is the current Speaker of the House of Assembly.Boyd Knights was first elected Speaker on 17 April 2000 and was re-elected on 27 July 2005. Upon her election to a third term on 4 February 2010, she became the longest serving Speaker in...
declared their seats vacant in April, and a by-election
Dominican by-election, 2010
A by-election was held on 9 July 2010 in Dominica, to fill two seats in the House of Assembly that were declared vacant. The contested seats were both won by significant margins by the incumbent candidates, who were members of the opposition United Workers' Party.Following the results of the 2009...
was scheduled for 9 July 2010. Both UWP members ran and won their seats again in the by-election, against the same candidates they faced in the 2009 general election.
UWP member Hector John
Hector John
Hector John is a Dominican politician in the United Workers' Party. He is the current Leader of the Opposition, the youngest ever to hold that position. He was first elected as a Representative to the House of Assembly in 2009....
was sworn in as Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (Dominica)
The Leader of the Opposition of the Commonwealth of Dominica is the Member of Parliament who leads the Official Opposition in the House of Assembly of Dominica...
on 19 July 2010. Four of the six UWP legal petitions were dismissed in August 2010. The UWP members are expected to end their boycott, citing as a reason the President's announcement that funds would be made available for election reform.