All positions will be up for grabs come November 27, 2022, when the opposition United Workers Party (UWP) will hold its delegates conference.
That disclosure was made by the General Secretary of the party Nicholas George.
In December 2021, at the party’s annual delegates conference, Lennox Linton the then-party leader was re-elected unopposed as the political leader of the UWP. The new deputy leader was Francesca Joseph who contested the La Plaine constituency for the UWP in the last general election and is now a senator in the parliamentary opposition.
However, in a surprise move just one month ago, Linton announced his resignation as leader of the party. Since then, deputy leader Francesca Joseph has assumed the role of leader of the party in an “acting” capacity.
And, as the delegates prepare for the conference, Nature Isle News (NIN) can confirm that the lobbying has started as names swirl around as to who will win the hearts of the delegates to lead the party in the next general elections.
Political analysis Peter Wickham in having his say on the matter, says that Linton has “done a disservice to the party by abandoning ship at this time. “
“The party is not in a good place. If he (Linton) had demitted office after the last general elections that would have been wise. He is seen as someone who has not delivered. The party is vulnerable. The support for him is not good. Elections in Dominica are due in the next two to three years and that is not good,” he said.
But one Political Observer speaking to NIN agrees in part with some of the views expressed by Wickham and believes the “change in leadership will do well for the party.”
“They need new blood, new ideas, and visions, whoever becomes the leader can take the party to governance…that change in the leadership is a welcome move,” he said. He also agrees with Wickham that the party is “vulnerable” but remarked that the timing for the change in the leadership of the party is “perfect” at this time.
Asked to comment on the various choices for leadership the “Political Observer” abstained saying only, “dark horses for the leadership could be nominated from the floor at the Delegates Conference.”
Among the names making the round for party leader is Dr. Thomson Fontaine, Dr. Griffin Benjamin, Dr. Irvin “Eipigh” Pascal, Senator Anette Sanford, Senator Clement Marcelin, and Senator Francesca Joseph who is now the acting leader of the party.
Glenroy “Soso” Cuffy is the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the party and when contacted by NIN he says he welcomes all those who want to be the leader of the party.
“The party is not without leaders, in fact, we pride ourselves as a party with leaders and it’s a democratic organization and people have every right to seek to lead,” Cuffy stated.
“For those who think that varying or alternative views within the party are infighting, that is far from the truth. It’s a party of inclusion its all well and good to have an opinion and we are asking people to join the party and have a say and direct vote in deciding who is the leader and where the party goes from there.”
The machinery of the party he stated is “well oiled, set and ready to go for the November 27, Delegates Conference.”
Linton led the UWP into two failed elections 2014 and 2019.
Failed elections you say. The CCJ REFERS TO THEM AS TAINTED. PLEASE KEEP THE RECORD STRAIGHT. DON’T BE DECEPTIVE AS PETER WICKHAM. TRUTH CANNOT DIE.