Dear Editor,
Our Caricom sister state, Dominica, goes to the polls today to choose a government for another five years. Opinion surveys give the incumbent DLP led by Roosevelt Skerritt the advantage to win a third consecutive term.
However, there is a debate over the influence of foreign funds financing the campaign of the two major parties. If the opposition UWP spends big and wins over voters, it can edge out the DLP in a close fight
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The DLP has 12 seats as against 8 for the opposition UWP and one for an independent candidate. A CADRES poll conducted in August had the DLP retaining its 12 seats and its follow-up poll earlier this month, according to sources, shows the DLP down by a seat but holding on to the government. Skerritt is still liked by voters and it will not be surprising if he retains office.
A party needs 11 seats to win office. Of the 21 seats up for grabs, there are six marginal seats that could swing either way.
Both parties have about six safe seats. So the six marginal seats will decide the outcome of the elections. Opposition Leader Ron Green, said that he “remains optimistic based on his party’s assessments in some of the marginal constituencies.”
A controversy that has erupted in the campaign is the big money from the East that is financing the two major parties. China is backing the incumbent while Taiwan is backing the opposition. There are also complaints that the incumbent is flying in voters from the diaspora, including Canada, US and England, as well as bringing in voters from neighbouring islands to vote in targeted constituencies to ensure a victory.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram