Unofficial reports indicate Roseau South MP Joshua Francis resigned from the United Workers Party

​Unofficial reports indicate that Parliamentary Representative for the Roseau South Constituency Joshua Francis, has tendered his resignation to the United Workers Party (UWP). Francis is said to have written to the executive of the party, and allegedly informed them that he will not be contesting the next general election as a UWP candidate.
 
Sources indicate Francis did not resign with immediate effect, and that he intends to serve the remaining two years of his term as the MP for the Roseau South Constituency. He won a very impressive victory in the 2014 general election. He beat veteran politician Ambrose George by a surprisingly decent margin. He however described his political journey as “very turbulent”, and says he encountered unexpected issues which need his attention.
 
Francis letter is alleged to have said, “I release profound gratitude to the United Workers Party -Team Dominica- for accepting me within its family, and I am grateful for the experience which I gathered in the political community. As you are fully aware, my political journey has been very turbulent and in the process I encountered unexpected issues which are deep and require my full attention”.
 
His letter is also alleged to have stated that he decided to withdraw from the “political space to cure some issues, and that it would be in the best interest of the United Workers Party -Team Dominica- to identify and work with a potential candidate for the next general election. I will complete the full term as a Parliamentarian as I vowed to serve the Roseau South Constituency for a full term, and I will not disregard the social and moral contract with my constituents”.
 
Francis first appeared on the political landscape in August 2013, when he signaled his intent to replace Dominica Labour Party (DLP) heavy weight Ambrose George. On November 27, 2013, Francis officially declared his candidacy for the UWP in Roseau South, describing himself as “a man of the people.” In the 2014 general election, Francis beat Ambrose George in one of the biggest upsets at the polls. He received 2,185 votes, while George received 1,948.
 
 
In February 2015, Francis signaled his intention to run for the position of Deputy Leader of the UWP after Claudius Sanford, who held the post at that time, did not make himself available to contest at the party’s delegate’s conference, held on March 1, 2015. Francis was elected Deputy Leader, and Lennox Linton was elected leader.
 
By July 2015, there were talks of disunity in the UWP, when members walked out of parliament during the 2015-2016 budget debate, and Francis stayed. He subsequently dismissed talks of disunity.
 
Rumors later began circulating that Francis was interested in becoming the political leader of the UWP, but he dismissed that rumor, and said he was not interested in challenging Linton for leadership. However, he did state that was the will of the people in the future, he would accept it. That notwithstanding, the rumors persisted, and it was being said that a leadership struggle was emerging between Francis and Linton.
 
However, at a UWP delegate’s conference on January 10, 2016, Linton stated that there was no leadership struggle, since the party had a duly elected leader.
 
Q95 will bring you more information as it becomes available from Mr Francis himself, or from officials of the United Workers Party