By Staff Writer
ROSEAU, Dominica, Jun 9, CMC – The leader of the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP), Dr. Thomson Fontaine, says while he welcomes “differing views,” he will not tolerate “distraction, division or misrepresentation to derail the serious national conversation we must now have.
“Our mission is not rooted in division, but in the urgent need to restore balance, accountability, and purpose in the governance of Dominica,” Fontaine said in a statement.
“To those who have publicly expressed concern, I say this: your voices are part of our democracy, but the tone and direction of our national dialogue must uplift, not undermine. If we are serious about rescuing and rebuilding Dominica, then we must move beyond rhetoric and commit ourselves to constructive engagement and shared responsibility. We will never all agree on strategy, style, or substance, but we cannot let down Dominica and pander to our egos.”
Fontaine’s statement comes more than a week after senior UWP officials, including former prime minister Edison James and former opposition leader Lennox Linton, condemned what they describe as “a sustained campaign of ‘misinformation, character assassination and political persecution” against them.
In their May 31, 2026, letter addressed to “Fellow Members and Supporters” and signed also by former legislators, Danny Lugay, Ezekiel Bazil, and Hector John, they said that the campaign has been ongoing for the past two years.
They claimed that anonymous social media accounts, fake profiles, and self-appointed defenders of the current leadership have sought to portray us as enemies of the party we helped build, strengthen, and sustain over decades of sacrifice and service.
They said they have been labelled “troublemakers, hindrances, washed-up candidates…and even accused of plotting the defeat” of the party.
The group said that they wanted to make their position very clear and that they have never worked against the party, supported any other, and that “the allegations being circulated against us are entirely false.
“We are not preventing the selection of winning candidates; we are not undermining the National Executive Committee(and) we are not interfering in the day-to-day running of the Party,” they wrote.
In his statement, Fontaine, a former International Monetary Fund (IMF) economist, who was first elected to the position on November 27, 2022, succeeding Linton, said that he wanted to “clear the air” on the prevailing situation.
“Too many of our people are struggling. Too many opportunities have been missed. And too often, the national interest has taken a back seat to political survival. The United Workers Party stands as a responsible, prepared, and determined opposition, ready not merely to criticize, but to lead, not merely to point out problems, but to implement solutions.”
Fontaine said that the UWP, which held office here from 1995-2000, has since proposed the “Ten Pillars to Shared Economic Prosperity for all Dominicans,” rooted in the resuscitating of the agriculture sector, developing a robust manufacturing sector, commercializing a water industry, fixing our tax system, and providing relief to the high cost of living, among other initiatives.
“To our supporters, I urge calm, discipline, and focus. We must remain grounded in our purpose and not be sidetracked by provocation. The strength of our movement lies not in noise, but in vision, credibility, and unity
“This is not a moment for political gamesmanship. This is a moment for national renewal. The task before us is to restore confidence in leadership, create real economic opportunity, empower our young people, and ensure that every Dominican feels seen, heard, and supported.”
Fontaine said he is calling on “all right-thinking Dominicans to join us in focusing on the greater good.
“If we genuinely love our country, then we should be prepared to sacrifice for her. Over the past few months, the leadership of the Party has worked relentlessly to bridge any semblance of division and to get everyone working together,” he added.
CMC/cj/ir/2026