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.
House of Assembly of Dominica | |
|---|---|
| 11th Parliament | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Leadership | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 32 members |
 | |
Political groups | Governing party
Opposition party
Independent
Other members
|
| Elections | |
Last election | 6 December 2022 |
| Meeting place | |
| Roseau | |
| Website | |
| www houseofassembly | |
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
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House of Assembly was established in 1968, and it was preceded by a colonial Legislative council.[2]
Representatives
editSince 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 | Octavia Alfred | DLP | |
| Colihaut | Daren Pinard | DLP | |
| Cottage | Roland Royer | DLP | |
| Grand Bay | Vince Henderson | DLP | |
| La Plaine | Cassandra Williams | DLP | |
| Mahaut | Cassanni Laville | DLP | |
| Marigot | Anthony S. Charles | IND | |
| Morne Jaune/Riviere Cyrique | Gretta 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 | DLP | |
| St. Joseph | Darron T. Lloyd | DLP | |
| Soufrière | Denise Charles | DLP | Succeeded Ian Pinard in 2016 by-election.[4] |
| Vieille Case | Roosevelt Skerrit | DLP | Assumed position of Prime Minister 8 January 2004. |
| Wesley | Fidel Grant | DLP |
Senators
editThe Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition each get to appoint additional Senators, to join the elected Representatives. The following Senators are currently in office:[5][6][7]
| Senator | Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Austelle Lockhart | DLP | Appointed with the advice of the Prime Minister. |
| Oscar George | DLP | Appointed with the advice of the Prime Minister. |
| Gregory Riviere | DLP | Appointed with the advice of the Prime Minister. |
| Phillip Rolle | DLP | Appointed with the advice of the Prime Minister. |
| Nicholas Esprit | DLP | Appointed with the advice of the Prime Minister. |
| Lori Victor | UWP | Appointed with the advice of the Leader of the Opposition. |
| Sean Douglas | UWP | Appointed with the advice of the Leader of the Opposition. |
| Delbert Paris | UWP | Appointed with the advice of the Leader of the Opposition. |
| Lorraine Henderson-Reid | UWP | Appointed with the advice of the Leader of the Opposition. |
International affiliation(s)
edit- ACP–EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
- Canada-CARICOM Parliamentary Friendship Group
- Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
- ParlAmericas[8]
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ "Dominica". 5 July 2018. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
- ^ "Brief History - Electoral Office". electoraloffice.gov.dm.
- ^ "2022 General Election Results". electoraloffice.gov.dm. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
- ^ DLP sweeps Soufriere by-election, Dominica News Online, 7 June 2016, retrieved 30 January 2017
- ^ "Speaker Joseph Isaac makes grand entrance". The Sun. 2020-03-04. Retrieved 2021-09-01.
- ^ "Dominica: Opposition leader picks Senate delegation | Loop Caribbean News". Loop News. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
- ^ Baptiste, Carlisle Jn (2022-12-12). "Skerrit names 22 member Cabinet • Nature Isle News". Nature Isle News. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
- ^ Caribbean Group, ParlAmericas
References
edit- Electoral Office (21 December 2009), House of Assembly General Election 2009 - Final Count (PDF), Commonwealth of Dominica, archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2011, retrieved 22 April 2010.
- House of Assembly - dominica.gov, Commonwealth of Dominica, archived from the original on 23 August 2020, retrieved 22 April 2010.
- Lawrence, Alick C. (2007), The Constitution, The Government & You, Pont Casse Press, pp. 40–41, ISBN 978-0-9737347-5-1.
External links
edit- Official website House of Assembly
About
edit- Profile of the Parliament of Dominica - Secretariat of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA)
- Dominica, Dominic Electoral system
- Profile of Dominca - Inter-Parlmiamentary Union
Other
edit- Laws of the Commonwealth of Dominca - Government portal
- Official Gazette
- Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica - official website