DFP still to decide on by-elections

ROSEAU, Dominica – The minority opposition Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) says it is still to decide whether or not it will contest the two by-elections after the Speaker of the island’s parliament, Alix Boyd-Knights, declared the seats of two opposition legislators vacant earlier this month.The polls are due to be held in July, but the DFP, which suffered a humiliating defeat in last December 18 general elections, said it was still weighing its options.“We have just come from a general election, and any decision to contest  the by-elections or any elections in the future will have to be seen within the context of Freedom Party’s present position,” said DFP leader  Judith Pestaina. “ . . . . We are reviewing the party’s structure . . . looking at the way forward for the party, and we are supposed to be reviewing the recommendations from that retreat,” Pestaina said of the party that ruled from 1980 to 1995.Earlier this week, Attorney General Francine Baron-Royer said that the Speaker had acted within the law when she declared the seats of the two opposition legislators vacant. (CMC)