Two-way race for UWP leadership after Dr. Benjamin withdraws

When the United Workers Party holds its delegates conference on Sunday to elect a new leader, Dr. Griffin Benjamin will not be in the race. That’s because the psychiatrist has decided to drop out of the leadership contest. He announced his decision on Thursday, asking the party to rescind his position.

On Thursday night, Dr. Benjamin made the revelation while speaking as a guest on the UWP radio show ‘Workers Voice’ in Dominica.

He said his decision to bow out of the race will perhaps give the party a better chance in dealing with the political climate in Dominica. that his withdrawal will give the party the best chance in dealing with the present

The leadership position became vacant when Lennox Linton resigned in October this year and Benjamin said he was approached by several people across the country to consider the role.

“After further discussion with them and my family, I decided that I could be of service to the party and to the country at the highest level. Unfortunately, politics has many unpleasant faces and political campaigns can lead to massive political divisions. Therefore, I decided that it is in the best interest of my family and of our party, the United Workers Party, that I withdraw my candidacy for political leader at the upcoming delegates’ conference.”

He said the time has come for a new leader to emerge, for someone special to deliver a fresh message of hope to the nation, and he felt he was the most qualified candidate for the position.

“Now, after witnessing firsthand the psychological and emotional abuse, the deprivation, and the indignity that people suffer under this Dominica Labour Party government, all issues that I have dealt with in my professional career, I became convinced, and I believe that my candidacy for leadership is best suited for this moment in time and it presents a bright perspective on the way forward for this country,” he contends.

Dr. Benjamin insists that the candidate who wins at the party’s delegates’ conference on Sunday will need the delegates’ resounding backing, and he has extended his hand to the eventual winner.

He further vowed to remain committed to the work started in the Wesley constituency.

Now this leaves two people vying for leadership now in the names of Clement Marcellin and Dr. Thomson Fontaine

The UWP’s delegates conference is carded for November 27, 2022, at the Goodwill Parish Hall from 1:30 p.m.