The court case to decide whether Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and Education Minister Petter St. Jean validly contested the 2009 general election will be heard in the Roseau High Court today.
The United Workers Party (UWP) filed five petitions in the High Court on January 8, 2011, challenging the legality of the December 2009 general elections outcomes in five constituencies including Veille Casse and Laplaine where Prime Minister and Education Minister prevailed.
However, Chief Justice Errol Thomas threw out all of the petitions, except that of the dual citizenship of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education.
The UWP is seeking to get the court to overturn the nomination and election of Skerrit and St. Jean, since according to them, they both held dual citizenship, which in essence demonstrated allegiance to a foreign power by virtue of their own acts.
The petition further contends that since their nominations and subsequent election were “void and of no legal effect”, only those who were qualified and validly nominated as candidates of the election was and is entitled to be the duly elected members of Veille Casse and La Plaine.
Meantime, when the matter resumes this morning, Skerrit and St. Jean will not be required to disclose their passports.
The application brought by UWP Leader Ron Green and UWP candidate Maynard Joseph seeking to compel Skerrit and St. Jean of the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) to produce these documents, was also dismissed.
The court however granted a request to have the chief elections officer disclose the nomination forms (Form 13) filled by Skerrit and St. Jean ahead of the 2009 general elections.
The UWP had argued that in order to have a fair trial the passports had to be disclosed.
Good luck to Mr. St. Jean my Parl Rep and to our beloved PM! May God continue to shine his light on the both of you. Everything’s gonna be alright!
A couple of quick points:
1. My cousin from Woodfordhill, Peter Carbon had dual citizenship when he represented Woodfordhill for more than 10 years. So too did Ron Green, Earl Williams and PROBABLY ex- prime mimnister Edison James among other possible UWP parliamentarians.
2. These distinguishe gentlemen ALSO violated the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Dominica.
3. The Dominica Labour |Party was foolish , too confident or probably just decided not to challenge the matter in court.
4. The behaviour of the DLP, however, does not, in any way, take away from the legetimacy of the case now before the court even though to any reasonable person thie UWP would seem to exercise double standards, and
5. I think that this conditionality (no dual citizenship) should be REMOVED from our Constitution as it limits the calibre of individuals wishing to contribute POLITICALLY to Dominica’s development.
6. The Prime Minister along with the Education Minister should be found guilty and their seats revoked; this is the current law and should be respected UNTIL CHANGED,but as stated above this law does not help in Dominica’ development. I too have accumulated citizenship and would NEVER give them up to serve Dominica in a political capacity.
And we can expect more shenanigans from Mr. A
Even if Skerrit and Peter were to loose in court the judge will never allow Joseph and Ron to simple take up the vacated seats in parliament!!!!
Why?
The electorate did not vote for them!!!!
So back to the pools we go and the result is already well known even if fifteen people go up in each of the two constituencies to try and split d votes.
Treasury can do with some foolish people money all now so.
TONY ASTAPHAN MUST BE RENAMED TONY TECNICALLY ASTAPHAN.CANT TONY WIN A COURT CASE WITHOUT THROWING IN A TECNICALLY.
Litigation in court is about arguments about the law. Political arguments cannot stand in court. If we wish to have political, moral or ethical arguments as part of our legal system, then let us argue to change the law to reflect just that. we cannot expect the present case to be fought on political arguments. Ouir court is not a court for politcal arguments even if some may think so
PM AND ST JEAN. AM PRAYING FOR YOU GUYS. MAY GOD BLESS AND PROTECT YOU ALL. I LOVE YOU ALL.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY GREAT TINGS HE HATH DONE.
PM YOU ARE THE BEST.
LOVE ALWAYS
The red clinic been good to you?
Pastor St Jean i will pray for you, and my school mate Marie Claude St Jean, Francis and the rest in Guadeloupe
God fearing and innocent citizens of the Caricom territorial waters prostituted by two black men with allegiance to a nation that has fought many wars to gain control over the resources of Dominica, Haiti and the region.
Soo many of our ancestors(kalinago and african) have died at the hands of the barbarians from europe.
Shame on them.
It is amazing that the UWP is taking this matter to court, when Mr Ron Green was the parl rep in La plaine for 15 years with dual citizenship. SMH. Earl William also ran and won with dual citizenship. These guys are just soar losers.
HEY ANONYMOUS DOES IT MEAN THAT IF YOU ARE A THIEF AND CAUGHT SOMEONE STEALING AT YOUR HOME THEN SHOULD YOU CALL THE POLICE? WELL THEN NO!!
WE NEED TO SAY NO WHEN IT IS NO AND YES WHEN IT IS YES.IF ONE OF THE PRE-QUALIFICATIONS FOR CONTESTING AN ELECTION IS YOU NOT HAVING DUAL CITIZENSHIP THEN YOU SHOULD NOT CONTEST.THERE SHOULD BE NO SWAYING FROM THE TRUTH OR TRY TO MAKE IT SUIT SOME AND NOT ALL.
No I think that person is asking why was it OK when the shoe was on the other foot, but it is not OK now?
Despite the negative comments agains the DLP, they are the BEST for Dominica right now.
but DOMINICANS need adult-ed man EARL WILLIAMS WAS BORN IN ENGLAND , RON GREEN DID NOT TAKE HIS HAND AND DO IT HE WAS A CHILD, SKERRIT ON THE OTHER HAND APPLIED FOR IT. BIG DIFFERENCE
WHY DIDNT THE LABOR PARTY TAKE THEM TO COURT.TWO WRONGS CANNOT A RIGHT.
BEST WISHES PM.
LEARN FROM THERE ON AND MAKE YOURSELF A BETTER MAN. LEARN TO TELL PEOPLE YES AND MEAN YES. ALSO LEARN TO TELL PEOPLE NO AND MEAN NO
Mr. PM learn to tell the people the truth. You are not God!! The truth will set you free. We put you in the position you are in today and we are take you out.
Wicked them guys wicked,the election was free and fear,what happen to these sick guys ,our ministers not going anywhere.
WIKILEAKS BABY!!!! YOU’RE STILL IN DOUBT?
WIKILEAKS IS NOT AUTHENTIC.
WIKILEAK should change his name after the cable release but poor guy is such an idiot that somebody else is thinking fir him.
America does not comment on issues such as this, their statement is clearly tactical so as to not get drawn into this internal squabble. Dominicans should be able to decipher the truth for themselves. our intelligence agency on the 6th floor should be able to tell us the truth….if it is in fact neutral and non politicized that is…
PROBABLY YOU NEED TO RE-EXAMINE YOUR NAME “D/CA AT HEART.” HOW CAN AN ELECTION BE FREE AND FEAR AT YOUR RIGHTLY SPELL “FEAR.”DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS MEANT BY DUAL CITIZENSHIP? WELL IF YOU DO YOU CANNOT CONTEST AN ELECTION WITH DUAL CITIZENSHIP.WAKE UP DOMINICAN!!!!!!!!THERE IS NO NEED TO “FEAR.”
TRUE DAT! Dominica at heart It was free and FEAR. Fear Fear Fear the dictator you so adore.
We know the outcome of this one already…the courts and minds of the people are bought!!!
the judges in their big SUV’s , lawywers….,clerks ALL BOUGHT!!
What a shame that those two guys would lie to the people believing that they can get away with this. What a shame. What sort of example are they claiming to be?
Walk with God inside the court Mr Skerro, he will lead you out of there a free man. The vultures are just waiting to see the court results so they can start messing up the country.
anyway all you good to we. the court is for one set only?
I don’t know which God you pray to but it cannot be the God of Abraham.
You forgot that all that mr skerrit brought to Dominica was gotton from the ungodly, people that deny God.
Mr skerrit may indeed win they day, but it will have nothing to do with the almghty, his day will come.
WHICH ONE? WELL THE devil DEFEATED TODAY,WE PLEAD THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST IN THAT COURT, AND WE CALL HOLY FIRE TO DESTROY THEIR LIES N EVIL.NO LIE SHALL LIVE FOR EVER NONE.WIKILEAKS ON THEM STRAIGHT FROM ABOVE.
Please dont us GOD in your mess because if these men was living a godly life we wouldnt be in this position so check yourself and believe in DOMINICA instead in a man it doesnt matter who he is And I will tell yopu God deals with us accordingly and what everever come out of all of this will tell us that it alway DOMINICA always.