Update (with Audio): CCM writes open letter to House Speaker on parliamentary proceedings

House Speaker Alix Boyd-Knights

The Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) has written an open letter to House Speaker, Alix Boyd-Knights, over what it said are concerns over “the partial manner in which you have presided over our country’s House of Assembly.”

It said that Boyd-Knights has been House Speaker for 18 years, the longest in Dominica’s history.

“Our observation of your stewardship over those years is that it has been characterized by a fundamental lack of appreciation for the principle of impartiality, one of the most important principles essential for the effectiveness of the Speaker,” the letter reads. “Further, we have noted your consistent failure to grasp the fundamental concept that the Speaker is the Servant of the House of Assembly, not the servant of the Government. ”

The letter referred to a recent incident in the House when Opposition Senator Isaac Baptiste, was making his contribution on Housing Assistance during which the Speaker said “the Member has gone beyond the scope of the debate” and “unfortunately, I have the honour to preside in this House and the rules say my interpretation carries”.

According to the CCM, “Baptiste was not imputing improper motive and we feel strongly that you should have allowed him to complete his contribution to that debate.”

Audio of Isaac Baptiste and speaker of the house

 

 

The entire letter is below.

Download (DOCX, 38KB)

 

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40 Comments

  1. out of south city
    July 13, 2018

    As far as I see, politics has become an institution just as the Europeans concocted slavery. Do we really see that Democracy is exercised in this country? We are made to understand that we live in a Democratic country but it is so untrue. When men become powerful over the less fortunate I see this as slavery all over again. As citizens, we are not even free to voice our opinions against the unjust. We have become an autocratic and dictatorial country. That is why I have always maintained that politics divides a country. Before the Europeans came on the scene, Africans did not belong to any political party. With politics also came religion, two institutions which fight to captivate the human’s mind. Once one belongs to a particular political or religious group, the division begins. We tend to think that one is better than the other. We see each other as a UWP, DLP, christian, muslim, catholic, etc., affiliate, and not a human being first.

  2. July 13, 2018

    We are now in 2018, it safe to say that elections are just around the corner, perhaps just 18 months away. From the utterances of the opposition they are going to win in a big way so why worry about the conduct of the speaker for the past 18 years.

    • Shakinghead
      July 13, 2018

      Are you that ignorant?

      • Francis Joseph
        July 14, 2018

        Yes, Shaking head, you appear to be ignorant. Wat is your stress, are you enjoying the poverty, th bobo nd corruption of this Skerrit Led failed government.?

      • July 14, 2018

        Surely not as ignorant as you, you sound brainless and you lack the ability give an intelligent response to comments you don’t agree with. Name calling won’t elevate you from the gutters of stupidity.

    • Preacger
      July 14, 2018

      You mean UWP will win in 2080

      • Nac Vibes
        July 15, 2018

        And it it takes that long, we will still bring you thieving ********* to justice.

      • viewsexpressed
        July 16, 2018

        Ohhhhhh yes….UWP will win and we wiLl have decent government, not the bobolist like the DLP and their Blind and peeping Tom and others.

  3. HIFIVE
    July 12, 2018

    CCM….you all just wasting your time…that letter will end up in the garbage and that will be the end of the matter

    • Of Dominican Parentage - Accademic Professional
      July 15, 2018

      Narrow mindedness breeds ignorance and an ignorant people is doomed to failure. The mere fact that I can sit in the rural provinces of South Africa on an OECD civil engineering programme, and to see/read the CCM’s open letter to the SoH in itself speaks columns. Wheather she acknowledges or not is irrelevant – what’s important is that traction this letter has created traction internationally.

    • July 16, 2018

      I hope a copy of the letter was sent to the President because he pretend he’s not part of the process but he is.

  4. Ibo France
    July 12, 2018

    It’s quite obvious that as long as parliament is helmed by this acolyte of the DLP, parliament will eventually become a useless instrument. This lady is much too biased and intolerant to do justice to this critical position. She suffers from incurable arrogance and a chronically immoral soul. With politically tainted and inept people at the apex of parliament, the Police Force, the electoral office and the presidency, what do you expect? Biased policies of the autocratic regime have: 1) dampened patriotism 2) created misery 3) destroyed the entrepreneurial spirit 4) encouraged dependency 5) brought about pauperdom and 6) reduced the country to fierce political tribalism. Astute leadership is wanting and the current PM has proven himself incapable of providing such.

    • KID ON THE BLOCK
      July 14, 2018

      Ibo France, You mentioned about astute leadership is wanting; Hope you don’t have in mind of that BLUE ARROGANT BULLY NOVICE who is the one that brought fierce political tribalism in this country can do that. The one that knows only destruction, to criticize, to hate. jealousy, greed, and power hungry; and that is the current opposition leader,

      • Francis Joseph
        July 14, 2018

        When children and Kids get involved in big people business that is the BS they write. Still in short pants, this Kid on the block has not yet elevated himself to higher grounds of political intellectual and education. Those whom he listens to have noting to offer him but only best to cripple a country to poverty and how best to manage and plan bobol activities. Skerrit must Go, he has kept our people low like this Kid down and out and ignorant to the realities of a failed Domininca.

      • Ibo France
        July 14, 2018

        KID, I have no horse in the race. I detest strongly politics and religion, both stir up enmity, animosity and fragmentation of society. Politics turns eternal friends into everlasting enemies. It divides people from the cradle to the grave. Having said that, I wish to see the demise of Skerrit POLITICALLY. He has no vision, no scruples, lacks discernment,, authoritarian, narcissistic and bad for the country. His misleadership has brought astronomical poverty, rapidly growing vagrancy, mushrooming criminality, ballooning unemployment, humiliating underdevelopment and cult-like political splintering of the country. The man throws juvenile tantrums when he is upbraided for his frequent missteps and misdeeds. You called the leader of the parliamentary opposition a novice. Mr. Skerrit has experience in victimization, underperforming, indebtedness , self-enrichment, creating poverty and misery, etcetera. The man should be shown the exit door next general elections.

    • Me
      July 14, 2018

      Does she have a soul Ibo, I wonder.

    • July 16, 2018

      PM is adopting the bad habits of Donald Trump and that’s damaging for Dominica , when leaders believe they can control the masses they take advantage of them, the Parliament House in Dominica is running like the Congress and White House under Trump and Putin and that’s destructive for the people , those are the leaders that our PM is attractive too, but it’s up to us Dominicans to decide how much longer do we want to be govern under those methods , we have to take control of our Island and that we all have to put the politic and hatred aside and put the Island first and mean it.
      The PM knows how and what to say and the people will believe him no question ask , well I say enough is enough and then show him at the poll we need a change and remember change is not all bad my people.

  5. marie-claire R Skerrit
    July 12, 2018

    The reason why this woman is so evil mannered with her powered is the mere fact she is not happen so misery like company. Nuff Said

    • Neville
      July 13, 2018

      What are you saying, you don’t make any sense.

      • marie-claire R Skerrit
        July 17, 2018

        Mash Dog.. go find a bone somewhere else..

    • Man bites dogs
      July 13, 2018

      Marie-claire, Have been drinking again? Keep off the gin, A glass of wine and water would do fine!!

      • Ibo France
        July 13, 2018

        Man bites dog, you made me laugh. You can surely become a good entertainer once you bury the hatchet and refrain yourself from the vulgarity and the obscenities

  6. Jonathan Y St Jean
    July 12, 2018

    This speaker and her conduct in the House of Assembly is nothing short of a disgrace. She refuses to take advice and learn from the observations of others to include Mr. Vonley, who served in the T & T parliament. She wears her ignorance like a badge of honor. Boyd Knight and Skerritt act like they were cut from the same cloth. Don’t worry because nothing lasts forever. Soon we will be able to say good riddance

  7. Aa
    July 12, 2018

    Tus my friend mind she dont send police for you.

  8. Peeping Tom
    July 12, 2018

    For 18 years, the UWPwee and its surrogates have not accepted that debate in the House is unlike that which occurs at the microphones of Q95 or the comments section of DNO. There are rules and the Constitution has granted the Speaker much authority to enforce these rules. Respect that, CCM, and stop politicking on behalf of the UWPwee. You make a mockery of the term “civil society!”

    What a crock of you-know-what!!

    • viewsexpressed
      July 16, 2018

      I think that you are peeping too much, go open your both eyes and have a good look at the state of Domininca, …all created by your corrupt Labour government and incompetent Prime Minister. Odd eh. You are a blind follower, I ill advice you to check an eye specialists and one with both eyes, not ne within y9ur corrupt group. You all have eye and eyes open and yet you all failed to see the corruption and lack of development taking place in our Dominica. Shame on you ….you are peeping too much.

  9. Peeping Tom
    July 12, 2018

    Concerned Citizen Movement, the UWP satellite, would do best to write an open letter to the Leader of the Opposition appealing to him to: Have himself and his team acquaint themselves with the rules of the House and the authority of the Speaker AND to actually respect those rules and that authority. I listened with much distaste to Sen. Baptiste’s abject display of bad manners and disrespect for the authority of the Speaker. Yet, I do not see CCM denouncing his unparliamentary behavior or that of the other members of the Opposition; notably, the Leader of the Opposition, the Member for Salisbury, and the bad boy from Roseau North who had publicly expressed the desire to “take out” certain of his opponents! Contrast Baptiste’s conduct to that of Hon Blackmoore who, at one point when chastised by the Speaker, respectfully disagreed with her but still dutifully and politely complied with her ruling. This is the stark difference between the conduct of of the Government and Opposition.

    • viewsexpressed
      July 12, 2018

      You are a peeping Tom, without any base other than peeping with one eye on the states matters and its Protocal you fail to comprehend. If you open both eyes you will read and see clearly the nonsense going in the House, our House of civility and democracy. This ole Speaker is a big joke and a waste of time and is not representing us Dominicans but her corrupt Labour government who has also failed us Dominicans big time. She must Go, Skerrit Must Go. Peeping Tom must Go and the entire corrupt labour group must go. They have failed us and Domininca,

    • Preacger
      July 14, 2018

      Will said
      Amen to that

    • viewsexpressed
      July 16, 2018

      Peeping Tom, no wonder you appear to be illiterate to the process of the law in parliament. The rules of the House is well versed with Hon Linton and his Team. The UWP team is looking out for us Dominicans,, with the rampant bobol and corruption taking place in this country of ours. Your Corrupt Labour government has failed us.

  10. Neville
    July 12, 2018

    This is gonna be water of a ducks back. Unless we remove the Dictator this woman will keep on doing her mischief. Dominica has been degraded to a Banana republic by the current regime. What a shame!

  11. Plato
    July 12, 2018

    This letter is an enormous waste of time and resources as it will acheive nothing but boost the already inflated egos of the president and some of its members. The concerned citizens movement is sham and have presented themselves as an arm of the opposition, United Workers Party. Only one without the honesty and decency would not find the speaker impartial, but this is not the task of the hypocrytical CCM. These men are phonies who spend time gobbling stuff on the internet so the could come back to call the radio shows and try to sound intelligent.

    • johnnie Boy
      July 13, 2018

      Plato it does not mater who says the speaker is impartial the fact remains she is. Forget about the messenger and stick to the message.

      • Plato
        July 13, 2018

        We know the message. The reputation of the messenger lends credence to the message. Luftus and Mervin are on the radio criticising the government everyday. To make headway we need to get out of this partisan mode.

    • viewsexpressed
      July 16, 2018

      I read the letter, well down and commended. Thoughtful, professional and spoke lie a very professional parliamentarian. The Likes of Kid on the Block and pepping eye are a nuisance to Dominicans politics and political stability. These kid and peeping Tom are a liability to the politics of Domininca. they seem t support Bobol, corruption , poor governance and waste of inexperienced PM.

  12. %
    July 12, 2018

    Great job CCM..Even when the UWP succeeds this fetid DLP when we go to the polls again, you all must keep the flames burning.DLP tenure in office stinks of failure to the highest degree.In fact those self centered misleaders have been Dominica’d most destructive hurricane.The speaker is planted there by design,and she won’t change,but her party will soon be kicked out.
    Where The Wicked Rule,The People Mourn..This DLP is a wicked and evil party!!!

    • Me One
      July 12, 2018

      Rev up YOUR base my friend. % I like your political garbage, WHEN WHEN WHEN. NEVER take your medication. I will not be paying your diarrhea mouth bill.

      • KID ON THE BLOCK
        July 12, 2018

        I’ve listened time and again to this Luftus Durand, This guy and his movement are just another part or arm of the UWP. His auterance and that of Lennox has no difference. This guy criticiizes the government for every and anything but have never ever criticize the Leader of Opposition and his party for doing any wrong. There have been so many factual things the Leader of the Opposition and his party have been involved in and not one word from this hyprocrite, Luftus. The Salisbury incident, Roseau on Fire, Police stoned, just to name are few; Why was he the LUFTUS so silent on those matters?
        Luftus, I would advise you to write to Lennox, THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION and his party TO CONDUCT and educate themselves and be familiar with the rules of the house and you stop being so bias. Maybe you too, Luftus needs to educate yourself. You seem to be more concerned about yourself seeking to see what you can gain. You are also one of the POWER HUNGRY ONES too.

      • Ibo France
        July 13, 2018

        KID, you are accusing people of what inheres in you. You laud praises on the satanic regime even when they deserve to be excoriated. You malign and accuse the opposition of every imaginable wrong. Let me repeat this. When Mr. Skerrit ascended to the apex of government, I was elated to see a relatively young man in charge. To my chagrin, the man has turned out to be a master manipulator, an insatiable power hungry imbecile and an abysmal failure. As preposterous as it may sound, the evidence is incontrovertible, Skerrit has a deep-seated disdain for Dominica and everything Dominican. He chose the US over Dominica for his children place of birth. He disrespectfully exported the National Birds. He gives and sells Dominica passports to shady characters. Skerrit and his useless sycophants should be flogged with all the people’s votes at the next general elections.

    • Danziger
      July 12, 2018

      Qui polls allez à droit allez à gauche en reverse et en avent se SKERRO NOUS vlé. Toute sa qui pa vlé Madame Speaker, rester a kaz à zor pa veni en PALIMENT, se Speaker la qui bon bwa zor E say MET DABON MOUN IS ENTER OR STAY OUT.

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