By Staff Writer
ROSEAU, Dominica, Sept 7, CMC -The ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) maintained its significant majority in the 21-member parliament when newcomer Ashma McDougall easily won the Roseau North constituency by election here on Monday night.
Preliminary results showed that McDougall, a business executive, had easily trumped Daniel “Danny” Luggay of the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP), who had been a parliamentary representative for the constituency on two previous occasions. She polled 1,506 votes as compared with 983 for Lugay.
A third candidate, Sherman Boston, who contested the seat as an independent, failed to make any meaningful impact, polling just 50 votes.
The Dominica Electoral Office said that 7,489 persons had been registered to vote, with 2,595 voters exercising their rights to cast ballots.
In a statement posted on the Facebook page of the ruling party, McDougall thanked voters for opening their homes and hearts “and for sharing your vision.
“Walking through the communities and hearing your hopes and aspirations has been a deeply humbling experience,” she said.
The by-election arose after former Labour, Public Service Reform, Social Partnership, Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Minister, Miriam Blanchard, resigned on June 12 due to ill health.
Last August, Blanchard, who had been a member of the cabinet since 2016, had sought medical treatment overseas for an undisclosed illness.
In the last general election held on December 6, 2022, the DLP won 19 out of 21 constituency seats, with independent candidates holding the remaining seats after both the UWP and the other opposition party, the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), boycotted the polls over calls for electoral reform.
(more to follow)
CMC/cj/ir/2026
