Prime Minister Skerrit has on numerous occasions hinted at the possibility of calling the polls before the constitutional deadline and political observers say he is likely to announce the date within the next 48 hours.

ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC - Speculation is rife that Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit will soon name the date for the general election in Dominica that is constitutionally due in 2010.

The ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) won 12 seats in the last general election held on May 5, 2005, while the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) won eight seats. The other seat was won by an independent candidate.

Prime Minister Skerrit, who is due to address a DLP political meeting in Mahaut, north of here, on Thursday night, has on numerous occasions hinted at the possibility of calling the polls before the constitutional deadline and political observers say he is likely to announce the date soon.

The DLP, which won 51 per cent of the votes cast in the 2005 poll, will face strong opposition in the upcoming general election.

Apart from the UWP, the governing party is expected to face a revitalised Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) which controlled the government of this mountainous Caribbean island from 1980 until 1995, but failed to win a single seat in the last election.

The DLP and the DFP had formed a coalition government after the 2000 general election.

Hotelier Judith Pestina, a former career local and international public servant is heading the party that was once led by the late Dame Eugenia Charles.

The DLP says it will campaign on its record in office, while the opposition parties have been telling voters that there is need to change the Skerrit administration amid allegations of corruption.

Earlier this month, the DLP said it would soon announce the candidates to contest all 21 seats at stake.

“The Dominica Labour Party is poised to make a declaration as to its slate of candidates for the next general elections,” said DLP deputy leader Ambrose George.

CMC