Jerome Peter Lavashire

Jerome Peter Lavashire is a former law enforcement officer and a minor political figure in the Commonwealth of Dominica, most notably recognised for his participation as an independent candidate in the 2014 General Election.

Throughout his career, Lavashire has been characterised by his desire to offer an alternative middle ground in a political landscape heavily dominated by the two major parties, the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) and the United Workers Party (UWP).

Political History: The 2014 Independent Run

Lavashire’s most significant public appearance occurred during the 2014 election cycle. While most attention was focused on the battle between veteran politicians, Lavashire stepped forward to contest the Cottage constituency, the same district where fellow retired police officer Stewart Burton was running for the UWP and Reginald Austrie for the DLP.

• The Cottage Constituency Contest: Lavashire ran as an Independent candidate, a move that is relatively rare in Dominican politics. In a three-way race, he sought to win over constituents who felt disenfranchised by traditional party structures.
• The Outcome: The election results highlighted the immense difficulty third-party and independent candidates face in Dominica. Lavashire received 3 votes (0.32%), and the seat was ultimately retained by Reginald Austrie. Despite the low vote count, his candidacy was noted as a symbolic stand for political pluralism.

Background and Professional Life

Before his foray into politics, Jerome served in the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (CDPF). Like many of his contemporaries who eventually entered public service, his police background provided him with a disciplined foundation and a thorough knowledge of the rural communities in the north of the island.

He is often associated with the Capuchin and Cottage communities, where he is known for his views on social order and the importance of self-reliance. His transition to an independent candidate was fueled by a public platform centred on returning power to the people and reducing the hyper-partisan nature of local village councils.