Mahaut Member of Parliament Kassani Laville has launched a scathing critique against independent candidate Gregor Nassief’s newly announced bid for the constituency, characterizing his opponent as an elitist outsider with no genuine history of community service.
Speaking during a recent radio interview, Laville drew a sharp contrast between what he described as the lifelong dedication of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and the sudden political emergence of Nassief, a prominent local businessman.
Laville argued that political representation must be earned through grassroots involvement rather than personal ambition or sudden financial intervention. He emphasized that leadership is not a professional upgrade or a tool to satisfy a power vacuum.
“Service doesn’t start with being an elected official; service starts from where you are,” Laville remarked, pointing to his own history as a youth group president and an early member of the Soca Strikers football team as proof of his deep-rooted ties to Mahaut.
“Roosevelt Skerrit’s career did not start caring for people when he became the leader. It started long before,”
Taking direct aim at Nassief’s corporate background, Laville suggested that the independent candidate’s campaign is fueled by personal grievances regarding the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program. He warned voters against supporting candidates who allegedly attempted to block opportunities for everyday Dominicans through formal complaints and legal letters.
“We have to make a choice. It’s either we choose the private sector or the public sector,” Laville asserted. “We cannot want to own the private sector and own the government at the same time. The people of Dominica must watch very carefully because we have gotten used to excellence and the sacrifices of the Dominica Labour Party.”
The incumbent MP went on to mock Nassief’s ongoing campaign trail, claiming that the businessman is so unfamiliar with the constituency that he requires guides to navigate basic neighborhoods like Jimmit and Campbell. According to Laville, residents and high-ranking public officers have approached him to express confusion over Nassief introducing himself to people he should already know. He dismissed Nassief’s campaign walks as a “parade” and a “tour,” alleging that the candidate was nowhere to be found during past national crises like Hurricane Maria or during difficult economic periods when citizens lost their jobs.
“The absolute disconnect is glaring,” Laville claimed, noting that he had to personally ask supporters to stop heckling Nassief in areas like Campbell Road. “People deep down innately know that the Dominica Labour Party is the party of the people—not a party for ‘how do I advance my company and my interests.”
