Election 2000 in Dominica

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Sunday December 06:
Prime Minister Edison James told his Vieille Case convention rally, the last for this Millennium, on Sunday December 5 that if the other two political parties can announced their 21 candidates by next Sunday; he will call early general elections. The United Workers Party declared 21 candidates at Vieille Case Sunday.

Leader of the opposition Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), Charles Savarin, is challenging Prime Minister Edison James to call general elections well ahead of the mid-2000 constitutional deadline.

Savarin threw out the challenge as he responded to recent statements by the Prime Minister, who had criticised the level of preparedness of opposition political parties for coming general elections.

Speaking at a political meeting in a northern constituency last weekend, to launch one of his United Workers' Party (UWP) candidates, James charged that the opposition parties did not have candidates for all of the 21 constituencies.

Savarin called on James to put his claims to the test by calling general elections as soon as possible.

"If the Prime Minister, as the leader of the country, feels that the parties are not ready, that they don't have candidates and so on, then catch them by surprise. Go to an election and win all seats," Savarin remarked.

"I want to call on the Prime Minister to pay attention to the issues of the economy affecting the lives and livelihood of the people of the country, and go to an election ... as soon as possible.

"And if he feels that the opposition is not prepared and cannot find candidates, then let him call an election now and face the consequences."

Prime Minister James has already declared that general elections will be before June 12, 2000, and in his November 3 Independence Day address urged Dominicans to prepare themselves for the opportunity to exercise the right to choose another government for the ensuing five years.

James said he could not be more precise about an election date, but promised he will let the electorate know "soon".

Many Dominicans have been predicting early election, and the country's three political parties have noticeably stepped up their campaigning.

The ruling United Workers Party, the main opposition Dominica Labour Party (DLP) and the minority opposition Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) have all been involved in the selection of candidates to contest the 2000 poll.

Savarin said his DFP has been declaring its candidates in batches of four.

"We have declared about eight candidates and we are in the process of declaring another four. So to say we cannot find candidates for fourteen seats is a complete misrepresentation," he said.
CANA cbw/ty/99

Dominica's Chief Elections Officer Rita Seraphine told the local press that young persons on the Island who have attained the age of 18 or will attain that age before the next general elections are the main targets, as the Electoral Office steps up its campaign for voting registration. She said that the island-wide campaign is achieving its objective of ensuring that every levelheaded Dominican who has reached the age of 18 casts his and her vote for the 2000 elections. Seraphine said that flyers, posters and television ads will be out around the island in an effort to raise awareness. The Chief Election Officer also pointed out that it is the responsibility of each individual to demonstrate his/her patriotism by casting a vote on ballot day. She added that 52 of the 109 polling districts on the island have seen an increase in registration as a result of the campaign.

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Created: Saturday, July 07, 1999, 12:45:45 AM

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