DOMINICA ANNOUNCES SNAP GENERAL ELECTIONS AS RUSSIAN AND IRANIAN TEAM SUSPECTED OF UNKNOWN INTENT FLY IN BY PRIVATE JET

Dominica's unstable political climate, already thrown into chaos by the announcement, by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, of a Snap General Election on December 6, with Nomination Day scheduled for November 18, and public statements by the Opposition that reform of the election process, and independent observers, must precede any election, just got worse. The United Workers Party, the only significant opposition in the Commonwealth, has stated that it will not participate in what it refers to as a "fraudulent election." 

News of the unexpected arrival by private jet from Russia, via Turkey, of a team suspected of being in the employ of Skerrit, to exert undue influence upon voters, was the subject of an unofficial advisory that reportedly threw many in Dominica into panic mode, for they feared possible assassination of Opposition leaders, who have been previously suspected of being targeted by foreign visitors. Two of the individuals  arriving are Russian nationals, while the other four are Iranians.

The calling of the Snap Election, which is being referred to by the UWP as an "Abuse of Power,"  due to the failure of the country to implements needed electoral reform called for after there 2019 elections, and a supporting opinion of the Caribbean Court of Justice, could result in a boycott by a substantial portion of the eligible voters, violent public protests, and civil disorder on a level not seen in Dominica for decades.