United Workers Party (UWP)

The United Workers Party (UWP) is the main opposition party in Dominica for several years running. The political party was established in 1988 by Edison James, Julius Timothy, Norris Prevost, Dennis La Bassiere, and many others. The party won its first general elections in 1995 and pioneer founder Edison James became the country’s Prime Minister.

The UWP lost the 2000 and 2005 general elections but Edison James remained the leader of the party. But in December 2005, James stepped down as party leader and Attorney Earl Williams assumed party leadership after beating Deputy Leader Julius Timothy. Timothy then cross-carpeted to the DLP even though he was the Minister of Finance under the UWP’s former government.

The UWP lost the December 2009 elections, prompting the three elected party members of parliament to boycott parliamentary sessions. Alix Boyd Knights, Speaker of the House, declared the seats of the absentee parliamentarians vacant and following a by-election, the parliamentarians won their seats again after contesting against their former rivals.

In 2010, Hector John emerged as the UWP’s opposition leader in the parliament. In 2012, Edison James became the party leader again, and Ezekiel Bazil became the president of the party. The current party and opposition leader is Lennox Linton – since 2014.

“Your UWP Team Dominica is committed to securing a global leadership position for our Nature Island as the best place to live, the best place to work, and the best place to enjoy life,” wrote Lennox Linton on the party’s website. “We will unite our Nature Island people to live in harmony with the natural environment and to thrive on self-governance, freedom, equality, and justice according to the laws of Nature.”

Edison James was the leader of the party in the House of Parliament from 1990 to 2005; Earl Williams became the leader in the House in 2009; and Lennox Linton became party leader in the parliament from 2014 till date.

The party’s office address is: 37, Cork Street, Roseau, Dominica. The party’s logo is the saw.