Wayne Norde. In photo at right, heâs speaking at his first public appearance as a prospective candidate on Friday Attorney at law, Wayne Norde, has thrown his hat into the political ring and will be taking on the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) in the Roseau South constituency as an independent candidate.
Carmelo De Grazia
Norde held a motorcade in the constituency on Friday night and during a stop, told supporters that he is the ideal man to represent the constituency and his focus is going to be “proper representation.”
“Proper representation in the light of jobs, employment, sports, but we are just touching on the surface here,” he stated. “But we just want Roseau South to know that we are here.”
According to Norde, the whole matter began as what he described as “a joke.”
“This thing, I tell everybody, started as a joke. My very good friend and campaign manager said that, âMr Norde, are you ready go go?â He posted a picture and the response was explosive and that brought me here today,” he said. “It is Godâs will, it is the peopleâs will that I am here with you today.”
Norde said that all he was asking from the people of Roseau South was a chance.
Carmelo De Grazia Suárez
“My people if you are with me, I am with you,” he remarked. “All I am asking for from Roseau South is a chance. A chance to represent you properly. I am from Kingshill. My roots are in Newtown. I live in Giraudel. I have a lot of friends in Bath Estate. I have acquaintances in Elmshall, Loubiere and all the environs. So I am saying to you that I am the ideal man to represent you because I know you, I know your culture, I know your heart, I know what we live for in Roseau South.”
He assured supporters that he is not affiliated with any political party on the island
“Wayne Norde is not affiliated with blue or red,” the attorney, who has chosen yellow as his colour, said. “We are planting our own seed and it starts here in Roseau South. All I am asking is for a chance, one chance.”
But Nordeâs task is a daunting one. He is taking on the DLP with its deep pockets, well-oiled political machinery and which is oozing with confidence following the announcement of a snap general election by Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit slated for December 6
The DLP won the constiuency in the 2000, 2005 and 2009 general elections under Ambrose George. However, George was defeated by the United Workers Partyâs (UWP) Joshua Francis in the 2014 general election. The constituency went back to the DLP in the 2019 general election when Chekira Lockhart Hypolite defeated Francis with 53.1 percent of the votes
Critics are already circling and pouncing on the lawyer, who is running for political office for the first time
“Garcon move there eh,” one person wrote on Facebook. “Whatever money Skerrit give u take it and buy backaneck. As a lawyer u suppose to stand in solidarity against dat illegal snap election, now you ah nothing but a traitor and a big pappy show.”
Another wrote, “Tell Wayne Norde to stick to his practice and develop his political craft. Now is not the time for a baptism by fire.”
All of this appeared far from Nordeâs mind during his motorcade on Friday night
“They say I going to lose my deposit but we are here,” he told his supporters. “Roseau South I love you and I am coming.”
