My name is Eexii Read, and I am 17 years old. I understand that my age will be the first thing people notice. That is fair, and I am not asking anyone to ignore it. I am still in school (online), and I intend to continue my education and earn my degree while I continue learning about our people and our nation.
Over the past year, I have spent a great deal of time studying the ideas, discussions, and proposals connected to the Dominica Reform Party and The Path Forward. The more I learned, the more I began to understand the importance of discussing the future of our country in a serious and responsible way.
Even at 17, I can already see the potential these ideas will have for our nation. The more I learn, the more I understand, and the more I want to help build Dominica’s future.
I continued reading, thinking about, and examining these ideas closely, while also trying to connect them to the real challenges people are facing here in Dominica. That is where my interest began to grow more seriously, as I started to recognize the importance of discussing solutions that focus on long-term stability, fairness, and opportunity for our people.
One policy that stands out to me is access to land and housing through what is described as the “Roots and Roof Program.” The idea that our people should have a real path to free land, affordable housing, fixed interest rates for home ownership, and stable living conditions is something I strongly agree with, because housing and security are foundations for independence and family stability.
Another proposal that interests me is the discussion around more direct involvement of citizens in decision-making. The principle of Direct Democracy, where the people have the final say in major government decisions that affect their lives, is something I believe deserves serious discussion and study.
I also recognize the importance of developing Dominica’s tourism sector in a way that is sustainable and benefits local communities more directly. Tourism should create jobs and opportunities across the island, not only for a small number of people, but for communities throughout the country.
At the same time, I believe it is important to have open discussions about concerns surrounding the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program, including questions of transparency, fairness, and whether the financial benefits are truly reaching the wider population.
These are serious topics, and I am not claiming to have mastered or fully understood every aspect of them. I will be honest, I am still learning, I am still studying these issues, researching them, and trying to understand them properly before speaking on them in depth. Over the coming weeks and months, I will continue taking the time to educate myself responsibly so I can engage with these discussions in a meaningful and informed way.
I fully respect that in Dominica, the minimum age for serving in the House of Assembly is 21. I agree with that. Leadership should come with experience, maturity, and time. Because of that, I do not see my role as rushing into leadership. I see my role as learning first. That means listening to people, speaking with different communities, and understanding how these ideas connect to real life in Dominica, not just in theory, but in practice.
Politics should never be about fear. And to anyone who may disagree with me or criticize my efforts, I ask only one thing: remember that I am 17 years old.
I am still learning. I am still growing. But what I am not is afraid. I am not afraid to stand up, to speak honestly, or to support what I believe could help our people and our country move forward.
I would hope that anyone who disagrees with me can do so respectfully and with dignity. Disagreement is part of democracy. But there is a difference between challenging ideas and attacking a young person who is trying to learn and contribute positively.
Respect is what makes our nation strong. Respect is what allows ideas to grow. Disrespect is easy — it costs nothing — but it takes away from the people who choose to use it.
So before judging me or insulting me, remember this: I am 17 years old. I am learning. I am observing. I am listening. And over the next four years, I am committed to standing up for the people of Dominica with courage, hope, and pride.
Do not waste words trying to tear others down. Use them to uplift. Use them to challenge ideas thoughtfully and respectfully.
I also understand that development does not happen in isolation. I will continue seeking guidance from experienced individuals in leadership, community work, governance, and public service, as well as from those around me who help me stay grounded and think clearly.
I will not be acting in the role of Leader of the Dominica Reform Party. That position will remain vacant until someone can formally fill it, or until I come of age in four years. In the meantime, I will serve under the title The Next Generation of Reform, where I will focus on learning, listening, contributing, and helping to build the future direction of the Dominica Reform Party movement.
I am proud to be Canadian, and I am also proud of my Dominican heritage. Both identities are part of who I am and shape how I think about the future of the nation I call home. I believe anyone who speaks about the future of Dominica carries a responsibility to understand it properly before trying to shape it.
Thank you for taking the time to read this message. I look forward to meeting people across our beautiful island of valleys and volcanoes, and to listening and learning from communities throughout our nation.
Eexii Read
The Next Generation of Reform
The Dominica Reform Party – The Future is Ours To Build!
Dominica is ready for change. Our people are ready to move forward, together. For too long, politics has been about division, empty promises, and the same old faces playing the same old games. It is time to rewrite that story. It is time to put people over politics, solutions over slogans, and hope over fear.
The Dominica Reform Party was born from the belief that every Dominican deserves a voice, a seat at the table, and a real chance to thrive. We stand for progress, not just for the privileged few, but for every village, every community, and every family. We believe:
- Opportunity should not depend on who you know, but on what you can do.
- Our young people deserve a future right here at home with good jobs, modern schools, and real hope.
- Our elders deserve dignity, respect, and the security they worked their whole lives for.
- Our island deserves leadership that puts Dominica first, always!
We are a party for the workers, the dreamers, the entrepreneurs, the farmers, the teachers, the youth, and the forgotten voices. We do not care where you come from, how much money you have, or what your last name is; if you care about Dominica, this party is your home.
The door is open, a new beginning is waiting, and together, we can reform the system, rebuild trust, and create a new government where fairness, opportunity, and progress are not just words, but a way of life.
This is more than a party.. This is a movement. Join us, and let us shape Dominica’s future together. Dominica First, Our People First!
