Speaker of the House of Parliament, Alex Boyd Knights, has announced that there will be heightened security at the Parliament building in Roseau for the presentation of the 2017-2018 National Budget by Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit on Thursday.
“Every country in the world has security to enter the parliament. Dominica ought not to be an exception, especially since we have to be guided by recent past events,” she stated.
Passes are now required to enter the House and those without them will not be allowed in. “We had to beef our security in light of certain events so that the persons are issued with passes. Those persons who expressed a desire to come, they came in, we took their names, we sent them letters of invitations and they were told they had to reply by a certain date and then they would come in pick up their passes thereafter,” she said.
“Members of Parliament too were given passes and they were instructed to let us know who those persons are. What is going to happen on the day is this: persons who are coming to sit downstairs, barring the media, will pass through the DBS entrance,” she said referring to an entrance facing DBS Radio on Victoria Street. “They will be taken to their seats by ushers.”
Boyd-Knights noted that persons from the media, who will be seated in the upstairs section of the House, must collect their pass by July 25th with a grace period of midday on July 26th.
After this date has passed “no more passes will be given out anymore,” she said.
She explained that on the day of the budget address, persons who have been given a pass must present their ID cards to the police authority who will be guarding the gates of Parliament and reiterated that failure to provide this will result in restriction of entry to the House.
“What will happen on Thursday is that persons who have passes, we have been told they must come with their ID,” she explained. “The police that will be at the gate on High Street will not know who Mr. X is because he has a public persona. All that they know is that you give them your name, John Doe, they will look at their list and see if there is a John Doe to come in, they will then say ‘yes John Doe is here, can you give me your pass?’”
Boyd-Knights insisted that those without a pass or ID will not be allowed to enter the House and she urged all to cooperate with the new rules.
The Speaker was very disingenuous this morning. She tried to say that some media houses making mpwi for suggesting that MP’s need passes. She di not make that clear in her original announcement first so the people have a right to question that. Madame Speaker, please be more specific so people don’t have to speculate instead of blaming them for fake news. It is your fault.
Madame speaker let the people go. What type of legacy do want to leave when you leave this tour of duty? It is obvious the the P. M. Supports your draconian type of rule and disregard the rights of Dominicans. Re. Ever that P.J. was overthrown without bloodshed.
Nothing may happen. However, chances should not be taken.
You know the saying, “Precaution is better than cure. Better to be safe than sorry.”
It is also for everyone’s safety, no exception the audience and also visitors.
First the Speaker was very misleading in her remarks every Country do not operate like Dominica does that’s fake, they don’t send any letter of invitation to any one or check to see what political party they support which I find insulting to the masses.
In other countries we go down to the parliament we all go thru security and of cause we will be ask to show ID especially if the machine goes off , so if the speaker had done her own research instead of doing what her Boss wanted her to do by spreading propaganda she wouldn’t be so obvious ..
So oh ho. I’d and passes for the peoples parliament. But no voters I’d card for voting. ” u won’t know who is who” please ms speaker if the house. Just please. This is the new LOW
PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!! I smell a very big RAT.
Regardless of the party in power this is a good step. In these times security measures must be taken at such locations. Every business is America is now asking for ID and some even take your photo upon being given the ID, then issue you a pass.
I do have a few questions about these new security measures. Firstly, how would these new measures have prevented the …………………..from having a firearm in the house? Secondly, seeing that attendance to the proceedings of the house is now strictly by invitation, who decides whom to be invited? Finally, is the house now being run like a private exclusive club? It would seem to me that the objective is to limit public access, and their ability to be informed about the government’s activities, especially in the light of the upcoming budget. The issue of enhanced security is just a pretext, Dominica is steadily marching into a fascist dictatorship.
The speaker is requesting ID to enter parliament, the question is, does Dominica have national IDs? What type of crazinesss is this, eh? How can she request something that Dominica does not have? I do not have a drivers license nor a passport, does that mean that I am less of a citizen?
wow, Madam speaker, is this the best Dominica can offer as speaker of the People’s Paarliament ?
So who brandished a gun in Parliament
Can’t tell you because if I do I may get called to order for impugning improper motives!
You never know. It is Parliament. Therefore, it is imperative that precaution be taken. It was more than time.
I wonder what prompted the madam speaker to introduce these new security measures for Parliament.Even if it’s a welcome change,it seems that the speaker and the government are afraid of the people.The last protest was outside of Parliament,Even then these measures as explained will not prevent the occurrence of a gun in Parliament.Also why so little time given to the public about the new measures.The parliament belongs to the people, and the speaker seems to have forgotten that.Isn’t it also important to have identification cards to vote as well.In less than 6 months ID is needed for Parliament yet over 10 years and still waiting for voter ID cards.
You are blaming her? She is not the boss. She has a boss and do not forget the Department of Security.
So Truth, who is the Speaker’s boss then? Surely not Roosevelt Skerrit although it looks that way.
Dominicans now have to get an invitation to attend their Parliament?!!! F.. unbelievable! This is so undemocratic. This should be challenged.
In the US, you have to have a pass to enter the Senate or the house while in session. Without a pass you will not be allowed to enter. So, is the US Democracy flawed. When one considered that people opposed to the government wants the US to police or every move even calling on the US to arrest Skeritt.
The invitation is given to those who expressed interest in attending. Once they expressed interest they are sent a letter as a formality. There is nothing undemocratic about that since Dominicans must initiate the interest.
I hope there will also be security checks at the entrance so nobody comes in with any weapons, IN LIGHT OF RECENT EVENTS, which btw has never been addressed to this day.
I am sure the speaker of the house knows the capacity of parliament. The. Ask for I’d land search if you must and ,eat the people go.
So, what has happened in the past that is the reason for this new change? Understanding that security is expected, but what has been the problem in the past that warrants such concern now? Initially i thought, it was because a certain minister was said to have brought his firearms into parliament. but that would not warrant need for ID and special list unless you want to keep certain people out or only accept certain people like it is a private affair. If they had said that all entering would go through a search and screening, then i would understand more or better at least.
“… what will happen on Thursday … we have been told they must come with their ID”. Who is the “we” and WHO told the “we”?
Moreover, when was this information/ new measures communicated to the public?? Is it an attempt to close the people’s parliament to the public??
HOTEP!
I concur Madame Speaker. Can’t trust these UWP supporters. They have their plan.
It is amazing how you keep your eyes bow ad your head close. Was it the UWP members who brought weapon to parliament? when are you going to open your eyes and for once be truthful with the truth? Lennox Linton and his team with little money has given and is giving this evil regime a run for their money
17 years this government is in office – not one of the DLP ministers have table a motion to amend some old laws. They are all welfare workers – ensuring the ignorant remain ignorant (like you) and dependent. Plus these ministers have no brain to think for themselves – they follow their dictator like sheep. Big men functioning like immature children – yes massa fake Dr. Skerrit.
That’s how some of our people are so stupid in their thinking which is very little, so I ask you was it a UWP minister/supporter that showed off a gun in parliament I doubt that, so get your thought on track with positive thinking it will do you good .
Dominica seems on fast track to becoming a military State. Surely one would want proper safety measures to be employed inside parliament and its close environs. The people entering parliament should be thoroughly patted down and the area just outside should have a few law enforcement personnel. Usually when law makers mess up and become unpopular, they turn the Security Forces against the citizenry. Instead of being inclusive they distance themselves from the very people that they are supposed to serve. This ticket system and other stringent measures give the false impression that the parliament in particular and Dominica in general is under siege. Dominica is a highly politicized country where politics trumps everything. One can be assured that all those who are issued tickets are of a particular political leaning. These are signs that the powers that be are galloping towards dictatorship.
If you are a disciplined person who loves peace and your safety, you will comprehend.
I hear the Speaker say this morning that you must have an invitation before you can get a pass to enter the House. Who decides who gets a pass, the police? Does this apply to member so parliament also? That would totally against our democractic principles because Member of Parliament, regardless of the party they represent have an automatic right to enter the House of Parliament and do not require a pass. Will the P.M require a pass ore ven the Speaker herself? I hope my suspicions are misguided but I am watching and listening very carefully.
Do not fret. I will send you an invitation so that you could get a pass.
So Tjebe fort
you just want to ask if de banned journalist Carlisle John Babtiste got an invitation from de Speaker so he could get a Pass ? well ask that nah man , do you think either that Mr Tarvernier from Soufriere would get an invitation ,just two examples , man relax yourself nah .
I just cannot understand why a steadfast man like Carlisle cannot see that she is discriminating against him, infringing his rights as a Dominican and more so, as a journalist ; man Carlisle sue is for everybody you know , WHY YOU FRAID DE SPEAKER EIN , .
Which RECENT PAST EVENT Alix??????
Is it the GUN that the Dominica Labour Party parliamentarian allegedly had?
Is this particular DLP member going to be thoroughly searched? Are other parliamentarians going to be placed at risk?
SKERRIT MUST GO
SKERRIT MUST GO
SKERRIT MUST GO
Security yes,but the SPEAKER faiiled to tell us whether the parliamentarians ,particularly those on the LABOUR PARYTY side will be THOROUGHLY screened,searched,in light of what happened during the last parliament with the alleged brandishing of the gun by this DLP member.How ma.y other LABOUR PARTY idiot had a gun?And to do what? Only God knows.
SKERRIT MUST GO
SKERRIT MUST GO
SKERRIT MUST GO NOW
The regime,you all are desperate,time will tell.
While I support security I hope the Speaker does not use these new measures to obfuscate the allegation that a Minister of the current government brought a gun into the House during the last sitting, This has not been addressed and I thank that is regrettable and shameful. I trust the new security measures include metal detectors.
She should cordon off the entire area from Garraway Hotel to the Newtown School and from the Bishop Palace to Victoria Street and have armed helcopters hovering the Building and over Residence Belefant Kaiche from dawn to dusk. Dominique dooo kon serooe.
enfantdiable
go suck salt , you hear me .
She Speaks like NabesandI writes
Is nabes a woman. Eh ben, I always had my suspicions.