The governing Dominica Labour Party (DLP) has maintained its commanding majority in the country’s 21-member parliament after newcomer Ashma McDougall comfortably won the Roseau North constituency by-election.
Preliminary results showed McDougall, a business executive, securing 1,506 votes, defeating Daniel “Danny” Lugay of the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP), who received 983 votes.
Lugay previously represented the constituency on two occasions.
Independent candidate Sherman Boston finished a distant third with 50 votes.
According to the Dominica Electoral Office, 7,489 people were registered to vote in the constituency, with 2,595 casting ballots.
In a statement posted to the DLP’s Facebook page following the result, McDougall thanked residents for welcoming her during the campaign and sharing their concerns and aspirations.
“Walking through the communities and hearing your hopes and aspirations has been a deeply humbling experience,” she said.
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of former Labour, Public Service Reform, Social Partnership, Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Minister Miriam Blanchard on June 12 due to ill health.
Blanchard, who had served in Cabinet since 2016, traveled overseas for medical treatment for an undisclosed illness in August 2025.
The victory allows the DLP to retain a seat it won during the December 2022 general election, when the party secured 19 of the country’s 21 constituency seats.
The 2022 election was boycotted by the UWP and the Dominica Freedom Party, which raised concerns over the electoral process and called for reforms before participating in another national vote.
McDougall’s victory marks her first election to parliament and keeps Roseau North in the DLP column following Blanchard’s departure.
caribbeannationalweekly.com
