The people of the Kalinago Territory, Atkinson, Antrizzle and Touna will finally be told on Friday 12th, April at a town hall meeting scheduled for the St. Cyr Resource Centre at 7 p.m that son of the soil and proud Kalinago Medical Doctor Worrel Sanford will be their candidate for the United Workers Party in the upcoming general elections allaying speculations and rumors that the United Workers Party had difficulties in finding a candidate for the Salybia constituency.
The apparent delay which seemed to have generated much tension among the residents was primarily due to the democratic process which the constituency association was undertaking to ensure that the communities would be well represented at the central government level and beyond for the next five years.
Dr. Sanford who is no stranger to the political arena, contested the general elections in 1990 on a Labour Party ticket and won.
Dr. Sanford is passionate about people empowerment and the preservation of the unique cultural patrimony of the Kalinago people. Among some of his contributions to the further advancement of his birthplace, the Cuban trained doctor was instrumental in the formation of the Karifuna Cultural Group, The Carib Liberation Movement and Carib Day which has since grown to Kalinago Week. Dr. Sanford was also instrumental in the establishment of the Salybia Health Centre which is today one of the best primary health care facilities in the country. He is also the owner of Sanford’s Minimart which has sought to address some of the plight of residents in finding basic household needs in the community.
Given the myriad of socioeconomic challenges which continue to wreck the advancement of the people of these communities, the consensus on the ground is that Dr. Sanford given his experience, professionalism and calm demeanor is the ideal candidate at this time and that the United Workers Party is head and shoulders above the ruling Labour Party in strategizing a real growth trajectory which is sustainable and realistic in getting out of the economic doldrums in which Dominica has found itself. To this effect, the dependence syndrome which the ruling Labour Party administration has been carefully nurturing during the past nineteen years remains an irking issue for the MP in waiting.
Dr. Sanford’s re-entering the political arena is not without its share of challenges. The Kalinago Territory is plagued with a plethora of socio-economic challenges which previous administrations have only tried to address cosmetically while the real wounds continue to fester below the surface. Unemployment, poverty, drug use and abuse and housing are just some of the issues which Dr. Sanford knows will necessitate his immediate attention in other to instill hope among his fellow indigenous people and the communities of Atkinson and Antrizzle.
