House of Assembly of Dominica
11th Parliament
Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth of Dominica.svg
Type
Type
History
Founded1978
Leadership
Joseph Isaac[1]
since 10 February 2020
Structure
Seats32 members
Political groups
Governing party
  •   Dominica Labour Party (19)
  •   Government Senators (5)

Opposition party

  •   Opposition Senators (4)

Independent

  •   Independent (2)

Other members

Elections
Last election
6 December 2022
Meeting place
Roseau
Website
www.dominica.gov.dm
houseofassembly.gov.dm

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 as 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 Leader of the Opposition. The current Senators are appointed.

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.

History

The Parliament building in Roseau
The Parliament building in Roseau

House of Assembly was established in 1968, and it was preceded by a colonial Legislative council.[2]

Representatives

Since the election held on 6 December 2022, the Dominica Labour Party holds 19 of the 21 directly elected seats, and independent candidates hold two elected seats. The new House of Assembly included a record ten women.[3]

Constituency Representative Party Notes
Castle Bruce DrigoOctavia Alfred DLP
Colihaut Toulon DLP
Cottage Austrie DLP
Grand Bay Vince Hendserson DLP
La Plaine Cassandra WilliamsSaint-Jean DLP
Mahaut Blackmoore DLP
Marigot Anthony S. Charles IND
Morne Jaune/Riviere Cyrique StephensonGretta Bernadette Roberts DLP
Paix Bouche Lakeyia Joseph DLP
Petite Savanne Jullan Defoe DLP
Portsmouth Fenella Wenham DLP
Roseau Central Melissa Ponponne Skerrit DLP
Roseau North Miriam A. Blanchard DLP
Roseau South Chekirah N. Lockhart DLP
Roseau Valley Irving Francis McIntyre DLP
Salisbury Jesma Paul IND
Salybia Cozier Frederick, Cassius DLP
St. Joseph Darron T. Lloyd, Kelver DLP
Soufrière Charles, DeniseDenise Charles DLP Succeeded Ian Pinard in 2016 by-election.[4]
Vieille Case SkerritRoosevelt Skerrit DLP Assumed position of Prime Minister 8 January 2004.
Wesley Fidel GrantFidel Grant DLP

Senators

The following Senators were appointed for the parliamentary term beginning 10 February 2020:[5]

Senator Party Notes
Ernie Lawrence Jno Finn UWP Appointed with the advice of the Leader of the Opposition.
Cassani Laville DLP Appointed with the advice of the Prime Minister.
Oscar George DLP Appointed with the advice of the Prime Minister.
Francisca Joseph UWP Appointed with the advice of the Leader of the Opposition.
Anette Sanford UWP Appointed with the advice of the Leader of the Opposition.
Gregory Riviere DLP Appointed with the advice of the Prime Minister.
Clement Marcellin Jr. UWP Appointed with the advice of the Leader of the Opposition.
Phillip Role DLP Appointed with the advice of the Prime Minister.
Nicholas Esprit DLP Appointed with the advice of the Prime Minister.

International affiliation(s)

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Dominica". 5 July 2018.
  2. ^ "Brief History - Electoral Office". electoraloffice.gov.dm.
  3. ^ "2022 General Election Results". electoraloffice.gov.dm. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  4. ^ DLP sweeps Soufriere by-election, Dominica News Online, 7 June 2016, retrieved 30 January 2017
  5. ^ "Speaker Joseph Isaac makes grand entrance". The Sun. 2020-03-04. Retrieved 2021-09-01.
  6. ^ Caribbean Group, ParlAmericas

References

About

Other

Coordinates: 15°17′42″N 61°23′07″W / 15.2951°N 61.3852°W / 15.2951; -61.3852