House of Assembly of Dominica

House of Assembly of Dominica
Type
Type
Unicameral
Structure
Seats 32 members
Political groups

Governing party

Opposition party

Other members

  •      Attorney General (ex-officio) (1)
Meeting place
Roseau
Website
www.dominica.gov.dm
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The House of Assembly is the legislature of Dominica. It is established by Chapter III of the Constitution of Dominica, and together with the President of Dominica constitutes Dominica's Parliament. The House is unicameral, and consists of twenty-one Representatives, nine Senators, and the Attorney General is an ex officio member. The Speaker of the House becomes the thirty-second member if chosen from outside the membership of the House.

Representatives are directly elected in single member constituencies using the simple-majority (or First-past-the-post) system for a term of five years. The Representatives in turn decide whether the Senators are to be elected by their vote, or appointed. If appointed, five are chosen by the president with the advice of the prime minister and four with the advice of the opposition leader. The current Senators are appointed.

Alix Boyd Knights is the current Speaker of the House of Assembly, and was elected from outside the membership of the House. First elected on April 17, 2000, Knights is the longest to serve in that position.[1]

The Cabinet of Dominica is appointed from members of the House of Assembly. However, no more than three Senators may be members of the Cabinet.

Representatives

As of the election held on 18 December 2009, the Dominica Labour Party holds 18 of the 21 directly elected seats, and the opposition United Workers' Party holds three seats. The next election is scheduled for 2014.[2]

Constituency Representative Party Notes
Castle Bruce Johnson Drigo DLP
Colihaut Ronald Toulon DLP
Cottage Reginald Victor Austrie DLP
Grand Bay Justina Charles DLP
La Plaine Petter Saint-Jean DLP
Mahaut Rayburn John Blackmoore DLP
Marigot Edison James UWP Seat declared vacant in April 2010.[3] Won seat back in 9 July 2010 by-election.[4]
Morne Jaune/Riviere Cyrique Ivor Stephenson DLP
Paix Bouche Matthew Joseph Walter DLP
Petite Savanne Kenneth Melchoir Darroux DLP
Portsmouth Ian Douglas DLP
Roseau Central Norris Prevost UWP
Roseau North Julius C. Timothy DLP
Roseau South Ambrose George DLP
Roseau Valley John Collin McIntyre DLP
Salisbury Hector John UWP Seat declared vacant in April 2010.[3] Won seat back in 9 July 2010 by-election.[4] Sworn in as Leader of the Opposition on 19 July 2010.[5]
Salybia Ashton Graneau DLP
St. Joseph Kelver Dwight Darroux DLP
Soufrière Sam Edward Martin DLP
Vieille Case Roosevelt Skerrit DLP Assumed position of Prime Minister 8 January 2004.
Wesley Gloria Marilyn Shillingford DLP

Senators

Due to the opposition boycott of the House of Assembly, only five senators were initially appointed.[6]

Senator Party Notes
Dayton Baptiste DLP Appointed by the Prime Minister, sworn in on 4 January 2010.[6] Resigned to run as a candidate in the 2010 by-election.[7]
Ezekiel Bazil UWP Appointed by the Opposition Leader on 5 August 2010.[8]
Alvin Bernard DLP Appointed by the Prime Minister, sworn in on 4 January 2010.[6]
Ron Green UWP Appointed by the Opposition Leader on 5 August 2010.[8]
Ronnie Isidore UWP Appointed by the Opposition Leader on 5 August 2010.[8]
Tammy Jean-Jacques DLP Appointed by the Prime Minister, sworn in on 4 January 2010.[6]
Daniel Lugay UWP Appointed by the Opposition Leader, sworn in on 25 October 2011, to replace the resigning Claudius Sanford.[9]
Bentley Royer DLP Appointed by the Prime Minister, sworn in on 4 January 2010.[6] Resigned to run as a candidate in the 2010 by-election.[10]
Charles Savarin DLP Appointed by the Prime Minister, sworn in on 4 January 2010.[6]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Boyd Knights celebrates stint as longest serving House Speaker, 21 April 2010, retrieved 22 April 2010.
  2. ↑ PM announces date for general elections, Dominica News Online, 14 February 2011, retrieved 21 February 2011.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 BBC Caribbean News in Brief: Opposition wins Dominica by-election, BBC Caribbean, 12 July 2010, retrieved 14 July 2010
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Electoral Office, 2010 By-Election Results (Final Count), Commonwealth of Dominica, retrieved 25 September 2010.
  5. ↑ Hector John Sworn in as Leader of the Opposition, Dominica Central, 20 July 2010, retrieved 2010-09-25.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 DLP announces new senators, Dominica News Online, 4 February 2010, retrieved 25 September 2010.
  7. ↑ DLP's Dayton Baptiste Concedes Defeat in Marigot By-election, Dominica Central, 10 July 2010, retrieved 25 September 2010.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Ron Green named opposition senator, Caribbean Daily News, 5 August 2010, retrieved 25 September 2010.
  9. ↑ UWP appoints new senator, Dominica News Online, 25 October 2011, retrieved 26 October 2011.
  10. ↑ Bentley Royer Begrudgingly Concedes Defeat in Salisbury, Dominica Central, 10 July 2010, retrieved 14 July 2010.

References