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ROSEAU, Dominica, Jun 07 2016 – Voters in the southern constituency of Soufriere are casting ballots Tuesday to elect a new parliamentary representative following the resignation of the ports and works minister Ian Pinard, who is now before the courts linked to allegations made against him of “serious inappropriate behaviour” involving a minor.
In April, Pinard said that the allegations were made “against me in the media and elsewhere in relation to matters which the public rightly is and has been most concerned about.
“I believe I have a moral and fiduciary responsibility to you to address you on this matter,” Pinard said in his brief statement.
There have been widespread allegations here of inappropriate behaviour involving some high—ranking members of society and a minor, and the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) issued a statement condemning sexual assault and abuse of children here.
Pinard won the Soufriere seat on behalf of the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) in the 2014 general election defeating the UWP’s Higgs Adams by a comfortable 1,226 to 822 votes.
Higgs is contesting the by-election hoping to defeat accountant Denise Charles.
Electoral officials said that 3,431 people are eligible to vote in the by election and that polling stations will close at 5:00 pm local time.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has urged voters to return the seat to the DLP, which had commanded a 15-6 majority following the last general election, but UWP leader Lennox Linton said he is confident that Adams will be victorious this time round.
