The United Workers Party will keep fighting despite its defeat in the Roseau North by-election, party leader Dr. Thomson Fontaine has said, declaring that the loss of a single contest does not end the wider political struggle.
«We may have lost this battle, but certainly not the fight,» Fontaine said following the by-election in the Roseau North constituency, where UWP candidate Daniel Lugay was defeated.
The result hands the governing Dominica Labour Party another hold on the Roseau North seat and leaves the opposition UWP to regroup after a contest it had hoped would shift the political balance in the capital.
Fontaine's remarks signal that the party intends to remain active in national politics and to contest future elections, framing the by-election loss as one engagement in a longer campaign rather than a final verdict on the party's standing.
The by-election was held to fill the Roseau North seat in the House of Assembly, one of the constituencies in the capital, Roseau. Roseau North is among the urban seats that both major parties have targeted in recent electoral cycles, and the outcome is being read as a measure of current voter sentiment in the city.
For the UWP, the defeat means the party continues to hold no additional ground in the capital following the vote. Fontaine, who leads the party, has positioned himself as a persistent voice in the opposition, and his statement suggests the UWP will continue to press its case on national issues from outside the government benches.
The governing Dominica Labour Party retains its majority in the House of Assembly, and the by-election result does not alter the overall balance of power in the chamber. Attention will now turn to how both parties interpret the result ahead of any future national contest.
By-elections in Dominica are watched closely as indicators of public mood, particularly in Roseau, where voter turnout and local concerns often shape outcomes. The Roseau North contest drew interest beyond the constituency because of its timing and the national profiles of the parties involved.
Fontaine's language of a continuing fight is consistent with the UWP's role as the main opposition force. The party has used past electoral setbacks to argue that its message still resonates with voters and that it will keep advocating for its platform.
No date has been set for any future national election, and the UWP has not announced any immediate changes to its leadership or strategy following the by-election. The party is expected to continue its public engagement in the weeks ahead.
For residents of Roseau North, the result means the constituency will be represented in the House of Assembly by the winning candidate, while the UWP turns its attention to rebuilding support in the capital and beyond.
