only power company, the move was met with vociferous condemnation by the opposition. The opposition was also aroused to indignation by the government's decision to offer asylum to the Saudi dissident Mohammad al-Massari, a decision which James later admitted was based on a hope of increased British aid. The government was also pilloried for the economic citizenship program which it had re-engineered and enlarged when it came into office; some thought that the island could become a haven for criminal elements. This criticism was fuelled by the revelation that the Australian fugitive Christopher Skase had used the programme to become a citizen of the island. Trying to increase the number of stay-over visitors to the island, the UWP government sought to build an international airport, but this was again met with a cacophony of criticism as some thought that the country would not be able to pay back the debt which would have had to be contracted. The government purchased the requisite lands for the airport but did not have time to physically begin the project. The James-led government was dogged by charges of corruption and these allegations only increased as its term progressed. James' government did produce some significant achievements. There was a proliferation in the number of scholarships available for secondary and college education. There was some success in diversifying the island's monocrop agricultural sector away from bananas and towards other crops. It also increased public spending on capital projects including roads, schools and sea walls. These projects had a visible impact on the economy and the economy grew every year under his leadership. This sort of economic program was branded "tou-pas-touism", a Creole word meaning "everywhere". However, the opposition argued that the growing economy was only being financed by debt. Feeling confident with his government's achievements, James called a snap election six months before it were due in order to quell the allegations of corruption. 2000-present In the January 2000 elections, the party suffered a surprise defeat. Though it won the most votes as a block, the party lost three seats and its majority in parliament. No party won enough seats to form a government on its own. Dominica's other two major parties, the Dominica Freedom Party and the Dominica Labour Party, had agreed to a co-operation agreement to win the election and it was no surprise when they made a coalition against the Workers' Party. James