COMMENTARY: Record turnout during the LaPlaine Village Council elections in January

Politics is not something to joke with because bad leadership is costly and sometimes deadly.Today many Dominicans at home and abroad are shaking their heads and nursing their hearts’ wounds at the disbelief at what has become of our island home’s politics. And more than that, it is destroying our tried and true way of life. Whichever side of the political divide you find yourself on, we can agree that this new normal political reality has been very destructive to Dominica and Dominicans’well-being, harmony and mutual respect for one another.

The People of Dominica- progeny of slaves and of indigenous Indians- have for centuries lived together in harmony and complimented each other in their way of life exchanging goods and services like food, goods,medicine, goodwill  and community. But this is under threat today,thanks to the new and deadly brand of destructive politics. So why should anyone try to divide this small mountainous island in order to gain political capital? Such a person or persons should be avoided, detested and exposed. Such persons practice the politics of divide and conquer. According to history books, that system was also used during slavery and during the Apartheid system in South Africa when President Nelson “Madiba” Mandela was deep inside prison walls.

But this fragmentation politics poses an even bigger danger to the future of Dominica and that of generations to come. In as much as today’s politics continue to be a failure, it is incumbent on parents to guide their children though this wilderness and the collateral damage of this political jungle.Therefore, it is imperative that parents play their part and advise their children to lead a healthy and disciplined way. They need to be honest with their children about their way of life because they are their number one councilors.Certainly not the parading politicians who think and act like they are God’s gift to the world.

It is important that parents’ impress upon their children to view today’s Dominican politicians not as demi-Gods or as God-sent messengers of transformation and development.These politicians act not as Honorable leaders that should be respected and held in high esteem. Rather they behave as individual actors, pursuing their own political interests and ideological missions willy nilly, like excited gas molecules in an overheated balloon. This behaviour and posture are partly responsible for the noisy breakdown of values which has been echoed loudly on civil society in a very fundamental and disorderly way.

And this disorder has resulted in chaos, other causes and causalities as well.Negative developments such as ideological and real polarization and the radicalization and hardening of political bases have left visible tribal size marks on society. But most of all, the chaos and confusion syndrome compounds and solidifies this new normal divide and conquer political paradigm.

The Chaos syndrome has resulted in a chronic decline in the political system’s capacity for self-organization and regulation. It began with the weakening of the institutions and brokers—political parties and career politicians which have historically held politicians accountable and prevented everyone in the system from pursuing naked self-interests all the time.

 As the influence of these institutions fails and fades, politicians, activists, and voters (on all sides) become more individualistic and unaccountable. Then the system atomizes and chaos becomes the new normal—both in campaigns, governance and government. This becomes a perfect storm for the continuous erosion of democratic values,norms and mores.Like many disorders,the chaos syndrome is self-reinforcing. It causes governmental dysfunction which fuels public anger, which incites political disruption, which causes yet more governmental dysfunction.

Reversing this downward free fall spiral will require real leadership to diagnose, understand and deal with the chaos effectively.This will require a great deal of work and sacrifice by all and at all levels. And some are doing just that.The results of the recently held La Plaine Village Council election are a prime example and provide an evidence base template of how this reversal is done.

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22 Comments

  1. Dante Jones
    March 22, 2017

    “The results of the recently held La Plaine Village Council election are a prime example and provide an evidence base template of how this reversal is done.”

    Out of an 8 paragraph long article the above was the only line remotely relevant to the headline. This is some next level Fake News

  2. Possie Vibrations
    March 22, 2017

    The following is the title to the commentary under reference. “Record turnout during the LaPlaine Village Council elections in January”. So I read on. The only reference to La Plaine is the following. “The results of the recently held La Plaine Village Council election are a prime example and provide an evidence base template of how this reversal is done.” what a piece of crap writing.

  3. Voice of The South
    March 21, 2017

    Things have gotten a lot worst ever since Lennox Linton emerged on the political platform. Politics in Dominica has become a comedy in the region. Let us do the right thing and remove the word “Honorable” before the name of Lennox Linton

    • Faceup
      March 22, 2017

      Before Lennox Linton there was no effective opposition .

  4. J.John-Charles
    March 21, 2017

    I always tell my brother who spent about 40 years in North America,and is a supporter of Labour.That Labour is not better than Workers.They are birds of the same feather, and it is like hand in glove.No difference. It is a pity we don’t have yet a strong alternative.

  5. ras
    March 21, 2017

    I find it rather odd that the individual who submitted the commentary chose not to have his/her identity disclosed!

  6. KaliBud
    March 21, 2017

    Excuse me but who wrote this, DNO? Once again, I fail to see the connection between the headline and the story.

    We all see that somehow the politics is certainly more divisive and there are now calls to abandon our democratic process – “by any means necessary”, while some like DNO do it while portraying some form of balanced reporting.

    In all of this, I still await answers to pertinent allegations made by the opposition.
    1. Can anyone confirm whether or not any of the wanted/arrested “Dominican Diplomats” were in possession of a VALID passport at the time they ran afoul with the law?

    2. Is there any evidence to allege that Mr Skerrit sold diplomatic passports?

    3. Can any reputable organization or individual confirm whether or not Mr Skerrit has been to the US (And back) recently, that is after some claimed his visa was revoked, while others allude that if he goes there he’d be arrested?

    4. Can DNO do the honorable thing, some investigative journalism?

    • Din-din
      March 21, 2017

      This is one of Skerrit’s lawyers who wrote this under Kali bud–does not make anys ense.

    • %
      March 21, 2017

      While we are on the issue!!
      Was Monfared giving free money to Dominica?
      Was Monfared really living at Morne Daniel?
      Were those in government helping him to dodge the Iranians?
      Will Skerrit apologise to the nation,for the coup he stated that the stalled truck with speakers attempted on his government?
      Why is Skerrit pictured in so many photos with Monfared?
      What sort of business is MY DOMINICA TRADE HOUSE?
      DNO do the honourable thing.Some investigative journalism.

  7. 1979 is forever....
    March 21, 2017

    Parliament is the place where accountability and transparency ought to have presided…instead we have the circus that is being run by that old principal. had she allowed the peoples parliament to function and the reigns of power to be put in check occasionally, we would not be here..SHE is the CHIEF enabler… Can anyone guess who she is??? she has biased the balance of power in the house and as long as her HUGE derriere sits in the house it will always be pachtey on one side…

  8. non ya business
    March 21, 2017

    You have so much to say and you cannot sign your name ! coward, show your face !. You say Dominicans are feed up with how things are being done and the Laplaine show of force or support is the way to go, then Sir or Madame I think you had better feast on this :”si zandoli te bon viande, e pate’ke’ en le bicad”.If people believe that turning out to vote for a man whose rapsheet is as long as an elephant’s trunk will make one iota of difference or solve their problems then I must say that you all have drunk the kool aid!

    • Possie Vibrations
      March 22, 2017

      The man just used his God-given skills to once again, as he has done so well before, to scheme the people of La Plaine of their decency. You would imagine that right thinking people would have sat back and take a good look at what was before them. No! A convicted criminal spoke his way to the hearts and minds of the people and they relented on their decency and allow a convict to use a properly legal activity to spin his way once again into the hearts of a deeply divided partisan people.

  9. viewsexpressed
    March 21, 2017

    The critical Question:
    “So why should anyone (Skerrit and his corrupt Labour government) try to divide this small mountainous island in order to gain political capital? Such a person (Inept Skerrit) or persons (dirty acolytes and immature Labour ministers, prayerful pastors and priests, deceitful lawyers, and loyalists boom-boom flies) should be avoided, detested and exposed. Such persons practice the politics of divide and conquer…”….and they should go, Skerrit MUST resign. Now, et us examine where loyalty and decency in government is!
    The credible answer:
    “Reversing this downward free fall spiral will require real leadership to diagnose, understand and deal with the chaos effectively” Real leadership in the person of Hon Lennox Linton and his honourable UWP members of Parliament. They have proven themselves to be trusted, experience, knowledgeable in national, regional and international politics and governance, secured, honest and promote good governance etc.
    Skerrit…

    • March 21, 2017

      Isn’t the UWP, also trying to divide this small island? Why do you beleive that the UWP is always right with their holier than thou attitude. What will they do if they win? Are they going to shut down the CBI program? You talk as if Skeritt is the problem and once he gets out of office everything in Dominica will be just fine. Unemployment will be zero, the economy will be booming, absolutely no debt, sickness will be a thing of the past, it will be a Utopian age. We had 20 years of Eugenia and and Edison and between them they could not build the Layou River Hotel after wasting over 130 million dollars on this project.

    • %
      March 21, 2017

      WELL SAID!!

  10. Real recognize Real
    March 21, 2017

    Both parties are to be blamed.

  11. NUWPl
    March 21, 2017

    DNO u are guilty as well. Because of the propeganda you keep promoting. You constant partisans and partial reporting. You many times edit factual comments which is against the opposition when u allow threats and disrespect to our leaders. For eg wen mon Ferz was arrested u reported a diplomat of Dominica and never took the time out to varify if he was a diplomat or a FORMER DIPLOMAT. SC Astaphan had to come to clear the air toinform us the passport was cancelled over a year ago. Y didn’t u do the basic requirement of professional reporting and find the information and give a unbiascomprehensive report? But u wanted to create sensationalism. So u are promoting the divisive nasty dirty partisan politicking. Many of u all coming in all forms pretending to be balance and is opposition work u all doing. But the people of Dominica can read through you all and we do just wat we need to do when we have to. So u are a major contributor of the divisiveness u speak of. Let me see if u will…

    ADMIN: No one knew the status of Monfared when he was arrested. The Dominican public was never made aware that his diplomatic status was withdrawn until after he was arrested. If Monfared was not arrested, to this day, we would probably never know of his status.

    • Anon
      March 21, 2017

      Great response DNO.

      This idiot doesn’t realize that when the government operates in secrecy, there are consequences.

      When the opposition asked the government to reveal the names of all Dominican diplomats and those whose status had been withdrawn, the foreign minister refused, saying it is state secret.

      If the government had revealed Monfared’s status then, we would all know and DNO wouldn’t describe him as a diplomat but no one knows.

      Now this idiot has the gall to come here and talk about bias and partisan reporting. Does he or she listen to Kairi FM or read DA Vibes? Man, go somewhere else with your foolishness.

    • viewsexpressed
      March 21, 2017

      You So Called NUWPI Fake…….You are in denial and even when the truth scares you and other blind Skerritites loyalists in the face you still are in denial. Are you telling us among other questionable acts of thievery in government that the Bin Bobol and the Fertilizer Bobol did not exit? With some kind of insider trading. There are many cover ups to be explored inside government and outside government by so called legal nefarious fellows. You can cry all you want for your master, but the there is a weak end at the end of the rope. Continue being in denial, his day and their days will come.

    • March 21, 2017

      DNO, the Government new the status of Monfared. As a news organization did you inquire of the Government what the status of Monfared was before you published the story?

  12. Faceup
    March 21, 2017

    Yep the illiterates coming out to see if they could get a red clinic little tiny baguy house.?

  13. will
    March 21, 2017

    what is not good for the goose shouldn’t be good for tge gander period. Both parties are equally to be blamed.

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