ROSEAU – Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit welcomed the election of 24-year-old Phillip Rolle as the deputy Speaker of the Dominica Parliament, saying that he was confident it augured well for the development of young people throughout the region.
Skerrit was speaking at the first session of the Dominica Parliament since the December 6 general elections last year.
Rolle is the grandson of the former speaker, Alix Boyd Knights and said he was confident that young people, given an opportunity to serve “can do well”, Skerrit noted.
“But young people must be prepared and willing to serve and not be mere bystanders or to simply criticise that which is being done or that which is not being done, but to put our hands to the plough.”
He said he has “absolutely no doubt that the election of Phillips, a university graduate, who is also a government senator, “will serve as an impetus, a motivation to the young people, not only in Dominica, but the region of the need to come forward and serve”.
Skerrit, who has led the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) since 2004, said that Phillips’ elevation was a result of the education policies being promoted by the party that every household should have at least one university graduate.
“For me this is a major achievement …that there are people who have seen the benefit of that vision and have placed themselves in a position to take advantage of the opportunities created by the DLP government,” he added.
Former government minister, Issac Joseph, who unsuccessfully contested the last general election, was elected to the position of Speaker, replacing Boyd-Knights, the longest serving presiding officer in Dominica’s history.
Legislators from the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP), did not nominate anyone or vote during the election.
The UWP, under the leadership of Opposition Leader Lennox Linton, has gone to court challenging the results of the elections. (CMC)
