Senator Delbert Paris has resigned from his post as Deputy Political Leader of the United Workers Party (UWP), just four months after securing the position during the party’s December 2024 Delegates Convention.
Paris, a civil engineer by profession, had been seen as a rising voice within the opposition party. Although he lost his bid for the UWP leadership to Dr. Thomson Fontaine—earning 65 votes to Fontaine’s 125—he subsequently defeated Ronald Charles to capture the deputy leadership, winning 97 votes to 82.
However, tensions within the party escalated following Paris’ controversial support for electoral reform legislation passed by Parliament on March 19, 2025. While members of the UWP and the Electoral Reform Coalition (ERC) were protesting outside Parliament building against the reforms, Paris, seated inside as a senator, voted in favor of the bills. His actions drew criticism from both UWP leadership and grassroots supporters, prompting questions about his future role within the organization.
Paris was nominated to the Senate following the 2022 general election by Anthony Charles, the independent MP for Marigot, who successfully defeated the Dominica Labour Party candidate Gregory Riviere. Paris’ Senate appointment had initially been seen as a strategic alliance to bolster opposition forces in Parliament.
Since the controversial electoral reform vote, internal pressures mounted against Paris, with many within the party calling for greater discipline and unity. Although no formal reasons have been made public, party insiders widely attribute his resignation to the growing dissatisfaction and loss of confidence triggered by his stance on the electoral legislation.
The United Workers Party has yet to issue an official statement on the resignation, but political observers note that Paris’ departure marks a critical juncture for the party as it navigates its internal dynamics and prepares for upcoming national challenges.
The resignation of Paris deepens the uncertainty surrounding Dominica’s political arena, sparking critical conversations on leadership, allegiance, and party stability.
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