Denise Charles retains Soufriere seat for DLP
The Dominica Labour Party has retained its seat in the Soufriere Constituency.
Voters of Soufriere, Scott’s Head, Galleon and Pointe Michel went to the polls on Tuesday, June 7th and chose the DLP’s Denise Charles; newcomer to the scene, over returning United Workers Party candidate, Hidges Adams.
Before the official results were in, celebrations had already begun in Pointe Michel and Soufriere. By the time all polling stations had reported, mini motorcades and street jams were in full swing.
DLP supporters of all ages including sitting Constituency Representatives crowded the streets late into the evening.
At each of the 11 polling stations of the district, Charles won by more than twice the number cast for Adams.
In the end, Charles won 70% of the votes with 1,342 leaving 560 Xs for Adams, 30 spoiled ballots and 2 rejected ballots.
“I feel great,” Charles told GIS News, “today is an important day for the Soufriere Constituency; we have made history. We have rejected the politics of hate and destruction and awe have said loudly and clearly that we are ready to come together to build our constituency.”
The new Parliamentary Representative outlined her plans to focus on the people.
“I look forward to continuing on the platform which we have built in this constituency. As I mentioned throughout the campaign, I’m going to focus on the people- developing their skills.”
She went on to list small business, fishing, sports and farming development.
Charles emphasised that she intends to work on creating a skilled human resource equipped to take advantage of the upcoming opportunities.
Political Leader of the DLP and Hon Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit congratulated Denise Charles saying that the landslide win sends an unfiltered message.
“Clearly, the results are a total and absolute rejection of the politics of Lennox Linton and the United Workers Party- the politics of division, hate and negativity. The people here are sending clear message that they do not want this in Dominica,” he said. “They want to be encouraged, motivated, they want to be given hope and they want a leader, a Government and a party that will elevate them and make life better for them. People are fed up with this negative talk that Lennox Linton is preaching in Dominica. Dominican politics have never known this before. People are ending a clear message that they do not want this kind of politics in Dominica.”
He adds that the DLP Government is grateful to the people of this constituency and pledges to never forget them.
Hon Dr. Skerrit says it is now time to turn all eyes towards the upcoming economic boom in the south.
“She has a number of very exciting projects coming on stream in this constituency. There is the Jungle Bay Resort with 60 villas or 120 rooms; Bois Cotlette with 35 villas creating construction jobs, permanent and sustainable jobs for literally hundreds of people. Plus there is Petit Coulibri which will be open very soon. So this constituency is where the action is going to be for the next few years.”
He added that work will continue in the meantime to solve issues of education, youth employment and fisheries.
“I believe that in the next couple of weeks or so, we will sign the agreement with Sam Raphael of Jungle Bay and, as he has indicated, work will commence before the end of 2016.
“These are not pie-in-the-sky promises, these are real practical, genuine commitments which we are making to the people of this constituency.”
Asked about Government’s intentions for Denise Charles, the Head of Government said her task now is to represent the people well and continue the excellent work of her predecessors, Sam Martin and Ian Pinard.
