Dujon vows to keep fighting for St James North after by-election defeat

Despite a decisive defeat in Wednesday’s St James North by-election, Democratic Labour Party (DLP) candidate Felicia Dujon assured constituents that she is “not going anywhere.”

“We’re preparing for a general election. It means that I will continue to work on behalf of the people of St James North,” Dujon declared to a small group of supporters at her Rock Dundo office, moments after Barbados Labour Party (BLP) candidate Chad Blackman was officially declared the new Member of Parliament, having secured 2 723 votes to her 468.

Though pointing to what she said was the disadvantage of having only three weeks to canvass, Dujon said progress was made and insisted the by-election loss would not stall the DLP’s momentum.

Flanked by DLP leader Ralph Thorne and party president Andre Worrell, Dujon promised, “I will continue to fight for [the constituents]. My loss here today is not their loss. I don’t see it as a loss. I think what it does is it propels me to work a little extra harder, and to be in the constituency as often as possible. 

“Remember, I had three weeks, and this is three weeks of work, where we got the attention of the government to fix the roads, ensure that there are lights so that people won’t be violated, and ensure that the community centres are fixed. So I will be here. I’m not going anywhere.”

Offering her congratulations to Blackman, Dujon put him on notice that she would continue to champion the residents’ rights. She said her focus would be on ensuring that work continued to be done to develop the constituency.

“There are a number of concerns in this constituency, and these concerns will not go away because someone got elected within this period of time,” she told reporters. 

“These problems have been outstanding for more than, I would say, 35 years. The roads, the neglect of children and the elderly, these concerns will continue to exist if we do not step in and do what is necessary. So my advocacy does not stop here tonight, we will continue to advocate and to champion the rights of the members of this constituency.”

Dujon added: “This is not the first politician that has ever lost a seat, including our prime minister, but it doesn’t stop us from moving forward, because the fight is not about Felicia Dujon. The fight is about the disadvantaged persons in this constituency.” 

The unsuccessful DLP candidate thanked those who supported her. (JB)