ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – The Dominica government says it will not allow a repeat of the disturbances in 2017 as the opposition United Workers Party (UWP) announced plans for a mass rally on Wednesday to support electoral reform in the country.
Speaking on the state-owned DBS radio, National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore said the authorities would not tolerate violence in the capital city, as the UWP and other organizations plan to force the Roosevelt Skerrit government to implement electoral reform.
“It is …very concerning to me that the United Workers Party and its associates seek to impact the peace we seek negatively. They are calling for a massive meeting under the disguise and pretext of a stand for electoral reform carded for Wednesday, May 31.
“Sadly though, listening to the promotion….it is a classic dress rehearsal of February 7, 2017. This certainly is creating some level of trepidation among law-abiding citizens. As Minister for National Security and Legal Affairs, let me give you, the general public, the assurance that there shall be no repeat of February 7, 2017, in the streets of Roseau again,” Blackmoore said.
Prime Minister Skerrit had said then that the leadership of two opposition parties here had planned to storm his office and “seize the seat of power” during February 7, 2017, disturbances that led to demonstrators setting fire to buildings and looting several businesses.
In a radio and television address, Skerrit said that the demonstrators calling for his resignation and his government were being pushed by the “militant, irresponsible behavior of the leadership” of the UPP and the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP).
The protesters had earlier during the day staged a demonstration on the street of the Financial Center where Skerrit’s office is housed, with then Opposition Leader Lennox Linton and others defying a police command that their activities be held during the period 11:00 am to 3:00 pm (local time).
Skerrit said that during the disturbances on Tuesday night, live bullets were fired on the police by the protesters, who had marked out the businesses to be looted and destroyed.
Linton, former prime minister Edison James, the new UWP leader, Dr. Thomson Fontaine, attorney Joshua Francis, Nicholas George, and the Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Isaac, were all charged with obstruction of justice.
But while the matter against James, Francis, George, and Isaac has been adjourned since die, Linton and Fontaine have been appearing before the courts here, with Linton doing so on April 27 this year.
Speaking on a radio program here last week, Linton urged the Dominican public to turn out in massive numbers on Wednesday for the “peaceful” rally.
“We are ready to take back control of our country, we are ready to reset this economy, we are ready to rescue our country from the stranglehold of people who have for 23 years been looking out for themselves and not paying attention to us,” he told radio listeners.
For his part, Fontaine has urged Dominicans to support the rally, noting that the attainment of electoral reform will have far-reaching benefits for everyone nationwide.
The UWP and the DFP boycotted last December’s general election over the electoral reform issue, with the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) securing 19 of the 21 seats, with the remainder going to independent candidates. The opposition parties had been calling for electoral reform, including a clean voters list and identification cards.
Former president of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Sir Dennis Byron, has been appointed as the sole commissioner advancing the efforts towards electoral reform and is due to submit his report soon.
In his broadcast, Blackmoore said that the authorities would not allow for a repeat of 2017, adding, “In this regard, the Police Force will be provided with all the resources needed.
“Further, reinforcement will be provided to the Police Force to ensure that any display of violence or incitement to violence will be dealt with rapidly, swiftly, and decisively.
“Your government believes that people should be allowed to speak, but the rule of law and the preservation of public order must always be maintained. I, therefore, call on all Dominicans to continue to embrace peace and development to reject this culture of protest and incitement to violence of the United Workers Party,” Blackmoore added.
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