Good evening to everyone who calls our Mother of Valleys and Volcanoes home, and to those living abroad who still carry Dominica in their heart.
They told me I wasn’t the person for this. They said I wasn’t ready, that I wasn’t strong enough, and that I didn’t have what it takes. They counted me out before I even had the chance to show up.
I hear it from the critics all the time. I feel it in the silence of those who chose not to stand with me. I feel it in the weight of carrying something that many are too afraid to touch.
I reached out to others, strong women who I felt were capable leaders, and asked them to step forward and lead this party. They chose not to. And in that moment, I was left with two choices: walk away or try standing alone.
At that point, politics chose me; I did not choose politics. And when this responsibility showed up, and others stepped back, I felt I needed to step forward. Not because it was going to be easy. Not because I was guaranteed to win. But if leadership only belongs to those who feel comfortable, then real change will never come to Domincia.
To every voice that told me I couldn’t do this, every person who said I wasn’t enough, every moment of doubt, every insult I’ve heard along the way. None of it broke me. It built me.
Public pressure doesn’t destroy purpose. It reveals it. And this week reminded me why I bother in the first place. I’m bothered because Dominica deserves leaders who don’t quit when it gets hard. I bother because our people deserve honesty, courage, and someone willing to carry the weight when others step back in fear.
Every negative comment, every moment people tried to tell me “no,” is shaping me into someone unstoppable. I didn’t wait for anyone to believe in me. I believed in myself. And that’s why I’m still standing, still fighting, still leading.
So to every single one of you who doubted me: Thank you. Because you didn’t stop me, you sharpened me.
You didn’t break me, you built me. And when this is done, it won’t just be a victory. It will be proof that I was the right person for this all along.
I’m standing here when others have quit. I’m proving that what they said I couldn’t do, I am doing. Because I’m not breaking – I’m becoming.
Enjoy your Carnival celebrations, have fun, laugh, and make beautiful memories – but please be safe and responsible. Don’t drink and drive. If you’re going out, make sure you have a designated driver or a safe way to get home.
Remember, there are people who love you deeply, people waiting for you, praying for you, and wanting to see you tomorrow. Take care of yourselves and each other. Have a joyful and safe Carnival.
