A man who says he can save Dominica's banana-based economy has been elected to replace Prime Minister Eugenia Charles, the "Iron Lady of the Caribbean" who has ruled the volcanic island nation for 15 years.
The 76-year-old Dame Eugenia is retiring.Preliminary results from Monday's voting showed that the new prime minister would be Edison James, 51, who formed the United Workers Party after Charles spurned his suggestions for salvaging Dominica's threatened banana sector.
Many had feared none of the three major parties would garner the 11 of 21 House of Assembly seats needed to win, forcing the rivals to create a coalition government at a time when the country needs strong leadership to tackle its economic woes.
Preliminary results, however, showed the United Workers Party won 11 seats, and the ruling Dominica Freedom Party and the underdog Dominica Labour Party gar-ner-ed five apiece.
The official count was expected Tuesday, and James will probably take power soon after.
On an island where unemployment runs close to 12 percent, James - general manager of the Dominican Banana Marketing Corp. - pledged to create jobs.