Sean Douglas (politician)

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Sean Douglas is a Dominican politician and businessman. He served as the press secretary for the ruling Dominica Labour Party for nine years, ending in 2010. He then became a critic of the party in 2011. He was appointed as an opposition senator in 2023, before his appoint was revoked the same year.

Biography

Sean Douglas is a nephew of former Prime Minister Rosie Douglas and a cousin of MP Ian Douglas. [1] [2]

After the death of Rosie Douglas, Sean Douglas first began serving as the press secretary for the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) under Prime Minister Pierre Charles. [3] [4] He served 9 years as party press secretary. In 2010, Douglas refused to sign an outdated contract. On 12 July 2010, he had received a letter from Cabinet Secretary Felix Gregoire informing him of his dismissal. Douglas described it as being "fired". [5] Gregoire argued that by refusing to sign the contract, Douglas was effectively firing himself. [3] His dismissal was made effective 13 August. [6]

By July 2010, it had been reported that Douglas had come into conflict with the administration of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit. [3] A year after his dismissal, in August 2011, Douglas criticized the Skerrit administration, claiming that it was corrupt, nepositic, and that Skerrit was forming a cult of personality around himself. He claimed the reason behind his firing as press secretary was political. [7] After his criticism of the government, he gained traction with the opposition United Workers' Party (UWP). In May 2019, ahead of that year's general election, Douglas endorsed the candidates of the UWP. [2]

On 13 January 2023, following the 2022 general election, Douglas was appointed as senator, selected by independent Opposition Leader Jesma Paul-Victor. [8] [9] On 6 November 2023, Paul-Victor sent a letter to President Sylvanie Burton calling for the immediate revocation of Douglas's appointment as senator. [8] In April 2024, Chalika Vidal was sworn in as his successor. [10]

References

  1. "UPDATE: Sean Douglas fired". Dominica News Online. 19 July 2010. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Sean Douglas appeals to electors to vote UWP". Dominica News Online. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 ""Douglas fired the job"". Dominica News Online. 20 July 2010. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  4. "Douglas bids farewell as government press secretary". The Dominican. 15 August 2010. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  5. "Sean Douglas becomes another high profile DLP member to be fired". The Dominican. 18 July 2010. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  6. "Sean Douglas says goodbye". Dominica News Online. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  7. Douglas, Sean (12 August 2011). "Dominica: A country sliding towards dictatorship – Former Government Press Secretary breaks silence". Dominica News Online. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  8. 1 2 "Opposition Leader states reasons for requesting revocation of Sean Douglas' appointment as senator". Dominica News Online. 17 November 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  9. "Sean Douglas and Lori Victor selected as opposition senators by Salisbury MP (with photos of all members of the opposition)". Dominica News Online. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  10. "Salisbury's Chalika Vidal is new opposition senator". Dominica News Online. 29 April 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2025.