This past weekend, I spent some time talking with you, the young people in a small community on the West Coast. I didn’t bring any speeches or promises. I just came to stand silently and listen. I wanted to hear what worries you, understand how you feel, and know what you hope for.
You told me that you don’t feel like these parties really listen to you and that your voices don’t seem to matter, even though they keep saying that they do. I can feel and hear how frustrated you are with the way things are run, how nothing changes, and how you’re looking for a real way to get involved.
You also shared that you’ve grown up hearing a lot of promises, but you haven’t seen any change in your parents lives. You’ve watched them struggle your whole life and wondered why your own dreams feel so far away. And when you try to find answers, it just leads to more confusion and what you rightly call the absurdity of politics in Dominica.
I want you to know that I really hear you. I can feel your frustration, and I understand why you’re upset and worried about the future. I see the struggles you face every day, and I know personally it isn’t easy. Your life matters to me. Your dreams matter to me. The choices you make and the path you take matter to me. I want you to know that your future is important, and I will do my best to make sure you have the chance to reach it.
Being a mom has really shown me what it means to care. I have always wanted the best for my children and for our family. I feel great joy and pride when they succeed, and I worry continuously when they struggle.
That same devotion extends to every young person and their families here in Dominica. I don’t only care about my own children and family – I care about all of you, every young man and woman dreaming of a better life and a brighter future for their families here in our country.
I have watched an entire generation of young people grow up and become limited by a system that does not help them. We have all grown up watching our parents work hard and still struggle. The life you’ve grown up knowing under this government is not the only life possible for you. A new Path Forward is possible – a life where your skills are recognized, your dreams can happen, and the hard work of your parents and grandparents is respected and honoured.
I remember when Dominica had moments of real hope. During Eugenia Charles time as our first female Prime Minister, her leadership had a woman’s touch. She was firm when she needed to be, but she also cared deeply. She listened, paid attention, and guided our country with patience and persistence. She had a vision for the future but never forgot the people whose lives her decisions affected.
That is the leadership I will bring, but it will also be shaped by a mother’s instincts – something our current government and candidates lack. I acknowledge that fathers play an important role in a child’s life, guiding and supporting in ways that matter deeply. Families take many forms, and the care, strength, and dedication of a mother is often what holds everything together. A mother’s perspective brings balance and insight, which is missing in leadership today. It ensures that every child and family is seen, heard, and supported – no matter their circumstances. This is the perspective our country needs right now.
It truly hurts me to watch you struggle to find work. It hurts me to see that owning a home seems impossible to you. It hurts me to know that some of you are planning to leave Dominica because it feels like the only option. Your family is here, staying behind, and this way of thinking should not be normal. You deserve better. We will do more because you are worth more.
I will change our country. I will make Dominica a place where progress is real again – where you can have good-paying jobs you can depend on, homes and land you can call your own, and futures you can plan with hope. I will not waste time with empty promises or political games. I will lead with honesty, care, and common sense because that is what you, your families, and our nation deserve.
You are smarter than any generation before you. You are more tech-savvy. You start movements with a single text or comment. Your ability to bring awareness and change in this new world is unprecedented, and you are watching what goes on here in Dominica very closely. You know when leaders lie and when your voice is ignored. I love and respect your awareness. I admire your courage to speak your mind, and I am here for you. I believe in you and your generation.
This is not about a party. It is about shared responsibility – my responsibility to guide and nurture, your responsibility to rise and demand better, and all of our responsibility to care for each other. Your voice matters. Your future matters.
And while some of the older generations may say you lack certain qualities, I assure them that what you lack in one area you have made up for in many others, and people should never underestimate what you bring to the table.
So in closing, I just want to say Thank You for sharing your thoughts with me this past weekend. I promise to keep listening, to keep caring, and to work tirelessly every single day for real change. Because that is what you and your families deserve, and because a mother’s touch never lets go.
