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Volume No. 1 Issue No. 32 - Wednesday, November 27, 2002 |
Freedom MP Baron to Become Independent Member
by: Thomson Fontaine
Freedom Party Member of Parliament for the Soufriere constituency Frederick Baron is reported by MARPIN news to have written to the president of Dominica Vernon Shaw of his intention to become an Independent Member of Parliament.
MP Baron is reported to be frustrated with the current coalition administration. The government recently embarked on an austerity economic program with the International Monetary Fund amidst a worsening economic problem in the country.
Following the last general elections, the two winning Freedom Party members, Mr. Baron and party leader Charles Severin joined the Labour Party to form Dominica's first coalition government. At the time, the Labour party won 9 of the 21 seats, with the ruling United Workers Party winning 10 seats.
A few months after the election, United Workers Party member Lorraine Bannis joined the Coalition government to give them a two-seat majority in Parliament. The defection of Mr. Baron will once more leave the coalition with a single seat majority.
Early next month, the opposition United Workers Party is expected to tailor a vote of no confidence in the ruling coalition government. For the vote to be successful, both MP Baron and at least one member from the coalition would have to vote along with all the opposition MPs.
The defection of Mr. Baron is viewed by many as spelling the end of the Dominica Freedom Party, which dominated local politics from 1980 to 1995 under the leadership of Dame Mary Eugenia Charles.
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