ROSEAU (CMC) – Dominicans were awaiting the results of today’s vote for a new government with both the incumbent Dominica Labour Party (DLP) and the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) expressing confidence of winning.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, who cast his ballot in his hometown of Vielle Case, northeast of here, is seeking to extend his ten-year reign as head of the DLP government, while Lennox Linton, a former journalist and broadcaster, had urged voters to oust the government.
The chief elections officer, Steven La Rocque reported no major incidents in the election that is being observed by teams from the Guyana-based Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Commonwealth Secretariat.
There were an estimated 72 484 persons eligible to cast ballots in the election with 44 candidates vying for control of the 21-seat Parliament.
Among the interesting seats is the Portsmouth constituency, where the incumbent Ian Douglas, the son of a former finance minister, Michael Douglas faces a challenge from his cousin, Cabral Douglas, the son of the late prime minister Rosie Douglas, who is contesting the seat as an independent.
Electoral officials say the outcome of the polls could be known at least five hours after the 250 polling stations would have closed (5 p.m.).
In the 2009 general election, the DLP won 18 of the 21 seats with the remaining three going to the UWP.
