2016 Soufrière by-election

By-election in Dominica The 2016 Soufrière by-election was held on 7 June. It was triggered by the resignation of Ian Pinard. The election was won by ruling party candidate Denise Charles. Background Ian Pinard was first elected to the House of Assembly in the 2005 election, to represent the Soufrière constituency. He gave up the seat in 2009 due to health reasons, but was again elected to it in 2014.https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/politics/update-ian-pinard-resigns-as-soufriere-mp/ UPDATE: Ian Pinard resigns as Soufriere MP Dominica News Online 26 April 2016 6 September 2025 On 2 March 2016, Pinard resigned as ports and public works minister due to, as Caribbean360 explained, "allegations that he had inappropriate conduct with an under-aged girl."https://www.caribbean360.com/news/mp-steps-aside-amid-ongoing-allegations-inappropriate-conduct-minor https://web.archive.org/web/20160507185948/https://www.caribbean360.com/news/mp-steps-aside-amid-ongoing-allegations-inappropriate-conduct-minor MP steps aside amid allegations of inappropriate conduct with minor Caribbean360 27 April 2016 7 May 2016 6 September 2025https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/human-interest/breaking-news-ian-pinard-resigns-as-cabinet-minister/ Ian Pinard resigns as cabinet minister Dominica News Online 2 March 2016 6 September 2025 The Sun Dominica described the incident as a "sex scandal".https://sundominica.com/articles/ian-goes-as-parl-rep-too-3302/ Ian goes as Parl Rep too The Sun Dominica 26 April 2016 7 September 2025 On 26 April, Pinard also resigned as MP due to the same allegations. Pinard had been arrested in relation to the allegations and subsequently went on bail.https://sundominica.com/articles/eve-of-sacrificing-adams-3432/ Eve of sacrificing Adams The Sun Dominica 3 June 2016 6 September 2025 On 9 May, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced that the resultant by-election would be held on 7 June.https://sundominica.com/articles/b-e-day-in-soufriere-day-is-7-june-3351/ By-e Day in Soufriere is 7 June The Sun Dominica 9 May 2016 6 September 2025 By 28 April, news had reported that Denise Charles had been tipped to run on the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) ticket.https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/politics/denise-charles-tipped-to-replace-pinard-in-soufriere-constituency/ Denise Charles tipped to replace Pinard in Soufriere constituency Dominica News Online 28 April 2016 6 September 2025 She was elected to be the DLP nominee on 9 May. Charles was an accountant from Pointe Michel.https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/dlp-confirms-denise-charles-as-its-candidate-in-soufriere-by-election/ DLP confirms Denise Charles as its candidate in Soufriere by-election Dominica News Online 10 May 2016 6 September 2025 She had worked on Pinard's campaign before 2014. The DLP launched Charles's candidacy on 14 May in Pointe Michel.http://sundominica.com/articles/labour-launches-charles-3368/ Labour launches Charles The Sun Dominica 16 May 2016 6 September 2025 She was endorsed by Pinard on 15 May. By 10 May, Hidges "Higgs" Adams was selected as the candidate for the opposition United Workers' Party (UWP). He had unsuccessfully contested the seat in the 2014 election.https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/we-are-going-to-win-this-constituency-higgs-adams/ We are going to win this constituency – Higgs Adams Dominica News Online 10 May 2016 6 September 2025 Candidate nomination day was 20 May.http://sundominica.com/articles/soufriere-by-election-2016-de-heat-is-on-3384/ Soufriere by-election 2016: De heat is on The Sun Dominica 20 May 2016 6 September 2025 The UWP held a major campaign rally in Pointe Michel on 21 May.https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/uwp-leader-calls-for-dlp-to-forego-soufriere-by-election/ UWP leader calls for DLP to forego Soufriere by-election Dominica News Online 22 May 2016 6 September 2025 The UWP asked supporters ahead of the event to wear purple as a symbol against child abuse.https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/politics/political-parties-hold-major-rallies-this-weekend/ Political parties hold major rallies this weekend Dominica News Online 20 May 2016 6 September 2025 At the rally, UWP Leader Lennox Linton called for the DLP to drop out of the race after Pinard had "disgraced" the constituency. The UWP's campaign for the by-election centered on the issue of child abuse, due to the allegations against Pinard. It was reported that the DLP expended more resources than the UWP on the by-election campaign. Dominica News Online said the DLP had "poured resources into the constituency in the run-up to the polls."https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/politics/breaking-news-dlp-sweeps-soufriere-by-election/ DLP sweeps Soufriere by-election Dominica News Online 7 June 2016 6 September 2025 Linton described the DLP tactic as using taxpayer money for "blatant vote buying." The Sun Dominica reported that Charles was expected to win over Adams. Chief Elections Officer Steven LaRocque said there had been 50 new voter registrations ahead of the by-election.https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/general/electoral-office-reports-increase-in-voters-for-soufriere-by-election/ Electoral Office reports increase in voters for Soufriere by-election Dominica News Online 6 June 2016 6 September 2025 Aftermath The election was held on 7 June.https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/politics/soufriere-consituency-goes-to-the-polls-today/ Soufriere Consituency goes to the polls today Dominica News Online 7 June 2016 6 September 2025 Preliminary results showed Charles had won with 1,342 votes to Adams's 560.http://sundominica.com/articles/labour-wins-soufriere-bye-election-3448/ Labour wins Soufriere bye-election The Sun Dominica 7 June 2016 6 September 2025 Charles was sworn in on 27 June.https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/politics/denise-charles-sworn-in/ Denise Charles sworn in Dominica News Online 30 June 2016 6 September 2025 Results The following are the results for the 2016 by-election from the Electoral Office.https://www.electoraloffice.gov.dm/past-general-elections/2016-soufriere-by-election-results 2016 Soufriere By-Election Results Electoral Office 2016 6 September 2025 2016 Soufrière by-election Denise Charles Dominica Labour Party 1345 Hidges Adams United Workers' Party 562 28 3431 DLP hold References Category:By-elections in Dominica Category:2016 in Dominica Soufrière Category:June 2016 in North America