As a resident of Roseau, I first heard about MP Joseph Isaac’s move to the centre aisle while passing by the Jackson shop in the heart of the Capital. Folks were saying he went to Guadeloupe and on his return he crossed the floor. This made no sense to me.
I sat in chemistry class with MP Isaac at the Dominica State College for some time. There he was brilliant. I was part of the athletics team throwing the javelin. Isaac was a runner in the 100, 200, 400 meters and other races. And he kept running non-stop on the soccer field at the various levels. He was also active with student groups and organizations.
So when he joined the race and decided to “run” as a candidate for MP, Roseau Central in the general elections of 2014, it was no surprise to me. His move across the floor however, was a little surprising. I had to analyze it deeper.
For the entertainment value of it, I thought, what if we had a “Quadrille Parliament” and every time the “speaker” went “Boom-Boom” somebody had to bow smartly and move to cross the floor in order to change position on something on the “order paper”. Of course we know who the “chief dancer” in the House is – And it is not Isaac!
But in this latest move, I am beginning to see why MP Isaac became the “Change Agent of Choice” for the ‘Chief Dancer’ and ‘key holder’ of the Cabinet of the Commonwealth of Dominica. I suggest six (6) reasons why the PM of the country and the MP for Roseau Central decided to do a flirtation down the middle of the parliamentary floor;
1. MP Isaac was elected – so he can make decisions on the behalf of his people. If they do not like his style, they will let him know when they vote again soon.
2. MP Isaac’s move signals an end to the longest period of campaigning in Dominica ever! We have been in campaign mode since 2000. It is about time we stopped and joined ranks to move the country forward.
3. Crossing the floor ideologically, physically or politically is nothing new. None of us have a monopoly on political maneuvering, so we can debate forever on the virtues of how and why MP Isaac made his move.
4. Yes, he can be “independent” in Parliament, in politics, in public posturing and in private. Yes it is difficult to be “independent in Dominica generally. And yes, politics is the only game in town with no bananas, no coconuts and a still developing tourism product. But MP Isaac has done it in the same way that Republicans join Democratic Party governments – whether it is in Washington, London or Tel Aviv.
5. MP Isaac is a Game Changer. Moving down the ‘centre’ with the ability to fake left and shoot right, he is unstoppable. Compounding this is the fact that he seems to be in the number three (#3) position in the new team. It means Roseau can begin to move again.
Let me explain.
The Capital, Roseau has been a political embarrassment for the Labour Government for decades – a block of three key seats in the hands of the opposition. The pace of development of the city has suffered as a result. This Easter MP Isaac resurrected some hope. But the truth is, the Labour Party has been salivating over the “Roseau Cherry” for a long time – too long – grabbing whatever votes they could from the North, South and Central seats. Now they can taste it. Thanks to MP Isaac.
6. And finally, yes, there is now an official Deputy PM in the Labour Administration. One of his main functions will be Party Whip. He will be keeping the team members in check on party issues but more especially in check when the PM is out of state.
However, MP Isaac is in a unique position to rock the boat and determine the weather over the government in the future. He is now an insider.
Now here is the real deal. The citizen of ‘the Commonwealth of Roseau Central’ can begin to hold MP Isaac’s feet to the fire on any and all issues concerning them. And if he does not deliver, he could stew in his own political oil. So the next seating of Parliament is expected to be colourful and lively.
Please get copies of the Standing Orders.
Raymond Henderson is General Editor in the Ministry of Education and a part-time lecturer at the Dominica State College. Interact with him as Ray Net on FaceBook.
This is the problem in Dominica today! Issues affecting the development, democracy and sovereignty of the Commonwealth of Dominica is treated and discussed as a joke by those who should know better! Raymond Henderson as a past Press & Media personnel do you agree with the Government’s politicisation of the National Press; radio, television and newspaper? Do you remember a day when DBS Radio, Marpin TV and the New Chronicle were all impartial and independent media? Does the current state of play please you? What is your view on the impartiality displayed by the current Speaker of the House? Does here behaviour please you?
I have written what I have written for all to see.
I respectfully note what everyone has written.
I can take the pros and cons.
If you don’t respect me or my work, at least respect yourselves.
This is a democracy and all ideas must contend.
Why should passion about a topic prevent you from making your own case?
“The first one to scream has lost the arguement”.
I live in Roseau Central and I understand.
You do not respond to the questions but make non-comittal statements instead just like humpty-dumpty and we all know what happen to him.
Mr General Editor are you kidding me? the only boat JI will rock is his own boat till it sinks; you have been closer to the Punjab PhD than me tell the world and me when last did anyone rock the supremo boat and leave to talk about it.
We need more like you Mr. Henderson
As long as it is Felix I don’t mind. At least he makes us laugh.
We should have more writings like this on DNO
Actually, there’s a medium where you can get entertainment like this 24/7 – It’s called the Cartoon Channel. Please head over there and knock yourself out!
Raymond this is a very good read. Let’s do it for country and at the next election, the voters will decide. Linton is not the choice for moving Dominica forward.
Another Henderson looking for attention. what a waste of brain cells.
Raymond are you serious? Next time you ‘passing by Jackson Shop’ come inside and take part in the debate like a man. Did you vote for Issac at the last elections? Issac sold out his constituents pure and simple. He made up a story about his issues with his party for pure personal gain. You clearly deserve the post of Government Press Secretary. Ask Issac to campaign for you from inside. All the best bro. Former CDCC student.
Interesting writing. I enjoyed the play with wors. Quite humorous
” MP Isaac’s move signals an end to the longest period of campaigning in Dominica ever! We have been in campaign mode since 2000. It is about time we stopped and joined ranks to move the country forward.”
“Raymond Henderson is General Editor in the Ministry of Education ”
Well, whereas you are part of the cabal, in all the garbage you wrote we we discover why you are suggesting that:
“It is about time we stopped and joined ranks to move the country forward.”
Are you stupid or simply delusional that you do not even have enough commonsense to realize you are calling for a one party system in Dominica? Who are the we you hope to join ranks with you and Roosevelt to move country forward?
The ruling government is the one to find ways to move the country forward, by getting foreign and local people to invest into industries from which people can obtain employment: What is this nonsense about Isaac went to Guadeloupe; did he go to heaven?
That where he drank…
Francisco! You are a ferocious batsman. You hit the ball with fearsome power. When I try to analyze this guy’s article, it amounts to asininity. Our education system is surly failing us. The System is mostly about recall and hardly anything about analysis. Mr. Henderson’s article is an exercise in futility nothing mentally stimulating.
Ibo, it is not difficult for one to recognize why Dominicans are so easily fooled. I am going to drop a few fictitious names here, and read their comments and decide if the named have any commonsense. These people read, and do not actually understand anything they read.
To most Dominicans as long as the author writes something long, is all that matter to them; nevertheless, if you ask what did you learn from what you read, they can’t answer!
Read the stupid comments from the following fictitious:
Greatarticle
Attackyourmentality
Mine
Agustas:
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
Even Winston Warrington which I personally expect to know better agreed to the pile of rubbish that guy wrote, so, with that sort of mentality in our country, any wonder why Dominica still remains a poor and backward place?
“he; that is Isaac went to Guadeloupe and when he came back he did some crap!” What does Guadeloupe have to do with a politician changing side, except if that is…
but Mister writing like he doesn’t have a horse in the race
if he don’t say nice things he will lose his job
Why can’t you all give this man a break, is who in the kitchen feeling the heat with linton. He is another trump.
Well we have allot of Tramps about the place and I am reading “Mine”,
You see, when Tramps point one finger at some people, they forget that four fingers are at them,
I read the first 3 paragraphs, and I sat back in my seat expecting a delightful and insightful analysis. By the end of the final sentence, I realized that I had been scammed out of 5 precious minutes of my life. Mr. Henderson, you owe me big time!!!
I am not a fan of Skerro, but Issac made a brillant move for the city of Roseau. And i will tell you that the residents will harvest pretty soon Rather than waiting under the leader ship of Linton for ten more years. That would have been a waste of time knowing definately that the UWP have to cultivate them selves for many years if they have to get Skerro out of office. I SAY FIRE LINTON..
So you just confirmed that Skerrit only dispenses “help” from the treasury if and only when he feels the people supports him. Aren’t you people ashamed of yourselves.
If Dominica were only made up of people like you, I would say you all deserve the hardship bestowed by the most incompetent leader Dominica has ever seen.
Isnt that a problem in itself…that a connstituency can only benefit when it is aligned to a political party? Why Skerrit would be so willing to assist the Roseau central constituency only now that Isaac has joined his camp; when Isaac himself said his offer to assist in the rebuilding of the country was ignored twice by the PM.
Good stuff…Like the Easter part. We are in the Easter Season and subtly or boldly we must talk about God.
In everything give thanks.
Mr. Henderson tries to be too clever by half. His arguments are designed to impress
and make the reader believe there is scientific rational behind them in order to justificy Joseph Isaacs actions.. The matter is ver simple. Joseph Isaac betrayed the people that empowered him to represent them and can never be trusted again. He forfeited that by his own doing.
I am a Labour voter.. I have been all my voting life because as a democratic socialist I believe in the ideals upon which the party is founded and to which its constitution is committed. And I have no hesitation recommending your comment. The electors of Roseau were sold one thing and got something else (a cat in a bag .. in our vernacular). It is only fair that given the many thousands of dollars that the UWP spent on successfully campaigning to win that seat, that the least that should happen is that they are given a fair shake of holding on to the seat if the parl rep finds himself disenchanted with that party. It was wrong for Lorrainne Bannis, wrong for Julius Timothy and so it is wrong for Isaac.. regardless of our laws governing their actions. The sooner we as a country move to end this despicable electoral treachery from our statues , the better
Thanks for your clearly thought out response to my commentary. It is because of concerns like yours that MP Isaac may have moved to the centre before joining the government. Take it for what it is in politics.
Bannis in New York living the high life tho
Hendo, did you study in the USA? You are so sensational made for TV and maybe you watch too much TV also.
Just like the former Gov’t adviser Dr.A you are for show. I beg to differ from Warrington. You guys are living in the world of TV.
I like the tone of this article! Keep writing.
That is from your labor perspective but what about my vote I sacrificed in the last election to make sure Skerrit and his corrupt team were voted out? I did not vote for Joseph be Isaac but for UWP. If Joseph Isaac went up as an independent candidate or dlp candidate there is NO way I would have voted him. I voted for uwp and Isaac took my vote and went to meet Skerrit. So Henderson you can talk all your foolishness and your labor propaganda, unless Joseph Isaac gives me my vote back, I will treat him as someone that stole my belongings and ran away by and that will no go so
You are not from Roseau l
Nor is Charlie Jong.
Everything makes sense except bullet point number 6.
All that to say what??, Joseph Isaac just commit political suicide, he lied, decieved and betrayed the people and no excuse can justify what he did