For too long, the Kalinago people, the original inhabitants of Dominica have been treated as an afterthought by successive governments. They are spoken about in times of disaster or ceremony, but rarely spoken with, and never given a seat in Parliament where the real decisions are made.
The NEW Dominica Reform Party (DRP) believes that this must change. We do not believe in symbolic gestures or empty promises. We believe in structural change. That is why the NEW Dominica Reform Party (DRP) is committed to working toward the creation of a permanent, constitutionally recognized seat in Parliament for the Kalinago people. This seat cannot be taken away or ignored by whichever party happens to be in power.
Why This Matters.
The Kalinago people are not just another constituency. They are a nation within a nation with their land, culture, language, and governance through the Kalinago Council. Yet they are still subject to national policies decided without them, and often denied the resources, opportunities, and representation they deserve.
Every governmen, red, blue, or otherwise has overlooked them as equals. They are lumped into constituencies that dilute their voice. They are told to be grateful for aid instead of being offered a true partnership in progress. This is not inclusion. This is tokenism.
What The NEW Dominica Reform Party (DRP) Will Do.
When elected, the NEW Dominica Reform Party (DRP) will take clear, actionable steps:
- Introduce legislation to establish a dedicated Kalinago seat in Parliament, modelled after successful systems in New Zealand, Bolivia, and Colombia.
- Please consult directly with the Kalinago Council and community members to ensure any legislative reform reflects their needs, identity, and aspirations.
- Launch a national awareness campaign to build consensus and public support for this constitutional recognition.
- Work with legal scholars and constitutional experts to ensure this representation is enshrined in law, not just policy.
A Seat In Parliament Means Power, Not Pity.
This is not about charity or optics, this is about justice, equality, and respect. It is time to stop romanticizing Kalinago culture while marginalizing their people. It is time to stop pretending that inclusion means a few roads and roofs. It is time to give the Kalinago people the political power they are also due, permanently.
The NEW Dominica Reform Party (DRP) is not afraid to say it out loud: The Kalinago people deserve a voice that cannot be silenced, erased, or ignored.
The NEW Dominica Reform Party (DRP) Stand With The Kalinago.
This is our commitment, it is not just a promise, it is a Path Forward! When NEW Dominica Reform Party (DRP) says “We the People,” we mean all the people, including the ones who were here first.
- Let Parliament hear them.
- Let the Constitution reflect them.
- Let Dominica finally show what true equality looks like.
A Seat That Cannot Be Bought.
What the NEW Dominica Reform Party (DRP) proposes is more than a gesture; it is a structural change to ensure the Kalinago people are never again used, bought, or silenced by whichever party is in power.
The Kalinago must have a seat in Parliament that is not tied to any political party. A seat that exists independent of the ruling government, no matter who forms it. A seat that answers only to the Kalinago people, and not to the Dominica Labour Party, the United Workers Party, or anyone else.
Because as it stands now, when the ruling party wins the Salybia seat, as the Dominica Labour Party has done, they claim to represent the Kalinago, but in truth, they use that seat in Parliament to serve the party, not the people. This has led to a situation where we have seen time and time again:
- Government loyalty is rewarded, not honesty.
- Development aid is politicized.
- And the Kalinago are expected to stay quiet in exchange for crumbs.
This is not representation, it is manipulation.
A Voice Of True Opposition.
By creating a permanent, independent Kalinago seat in Parliament, the NEW Dominica Reform Party (DRP) envisions a built-in voice of opposition:
- One that is not dependent on party funding.
- One that can not be bought or threatened.
- One that stands for truth, heritage, and justice, regardless of who is in power.
This would be the only truly independent seat in Parliament, guaranteed to speak truth to power. Its loyalty would lie solely with our people, not the Prime Minister, not any political party.
In a country where too many Members of Parliament vote not with their conscience, but according to party instructions, this Kalinago seat would stand as a permanent safeguard of democratic integrity.
The NEW Dominica Reform Party (DRP) is ready to make this a reality. We are not afraid to ask the question:
- Why has every government refused to give the Kalinago people a proper, uncontested seat at the table?
And more importantly, we are not afraid to do what should have been done decades ago.
Why Has Every Government Refused?
Adding a dedicated seat in Parliament for the Kalinago people does not threaten the way our government works.
So why has every government, red, blue, or independent refused to do it? The answer is simple: they do not see the Kalinago as political equals.
- They will gladly take pictures during Heritage Day.
- They will happily smile and clap during Kalinago Week.
- But when it comes to real power, they close the door.
Creating a permanent Kalinago seat in Parliament would take political will, not millions of dollars. It would take respect, not handouts. It would take moral courage, not just photo ops. So the question must be asked again: If it costs so little to do what is right, why has it never been done?
A Seat They Fear, Because They Can Not Control It.
The NEW Dominica Reform Party (DRP) is not afraid to ask the hard questions. And more importantly, we are not afraid to do what should have been done decades ago.
This is not about logistics, cost or process. The reason every government in our country’s history has refused to give the Kalinago people their permanent seat in Parliament is simple, they can not control it. A Kalinago seat is truly independent, not tied to Labour, not tied to UWP, not tied to any party, it is a permanent voice of our people, not the politicians.
It would serve as a true opposition to the status quo, not by creating chaos, but by standing on principle. That is why people like Roosevelt Skerrit, Edison James, Eugenia Charles, and their predecessors have refused to create it. Because to them, real representation for the Kalinago people is a threat. It can challenge their unchecked power. It can not be bought, traded, or promised away.
But the NEW Dominica Reform Party (DRP) believes this truly independant seat must exist, precisely because it can not be bought. And we will not rest until the Kalinago people have their rightful, protected, and permanent seat at the table.
Team DRP