Ashma McDougall has formally taken her seat in Dominica’s House of Assembly after being sworn in as the new Parliamentary Representative for the Roseau North Constituency on Tuesday.
McDougall took the Oath of Allegiance during Tuesday’s sitting of Parliament, formally beginning her service following her election in the September 7 Roseau North by-election. The Electoral Office’s final results show that she secured 1,473 votes, ahead of United Workers Party candidate Daniel “Danny” Lugay with 998 votes and independent candidate Sherman Boston with 49.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and other parliamentarians congratulated McDougall and welcomed her into the House of Assembly.
In her first remarks after taking her seat, McDougall said she has already started engaging with residents and community groups in the constituency.
She said meetings have been held with community groups, improvement committees and other residents as she begins work on the mandate given to her by voters.
“I am really looking forward to delivering to the people of Roseau North within the constituency,” she said. “Work has already begun; actually, we have been meeting with community groups, improvement committees and other persons within the constituency, because we recognize that with this heavy mandate that has been delivered, it will take not only the parliamentary representative or the Dominica Labour Party but multiple individuals across the entire constituency, from different backgrounds [and] different political colours.”
McDougall thanked residents of Roseau North, campaign workers and her campaign manager, Ambassador Ian Douglas, for their support during the election.
She said she looks forward to representing the constituency in Parliament and working with people from across the community.
The by-election was held to fill the seat left vacant after the resignation of former Roseau North Parliamentary Representative Miriam Blanchard on June 12.
