Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has warned of what he described as a ‘dangerous precedent’ now taking place in Dominica.
In an address to the nation on Thursday, he said the precedent that is being set is where the “expression of views by some, is accompanied, almost always, by street protests, lawlessness, and violence.”
“Dominica is being black-eyed in the regional and international world by media reports of this very “un-Dominican” behavior that is creeping into the mainstream of society,” he stated.
According to the Prime Minister, earlier this week, members of the police force had to restrain themselves as they deal with the mob-like behavior of ‘political activists’- doing the bid of their leaders.
He was referring to scenes outside parliament on Tuesday where protests were held in opposition to matters that were being tabled in parliament, including amendments to the House of Assembly (Election) Act. The protesters said the amendments will legalize treating and bribery, which are electoral offenses in Dominica.
“Earlier this week, members of the Dominica Police Force were forced, once again, to restrain themselves and, by so doing, exposed themselves to the real and serious threat of injury to their person and the destruction of private and state property, as a result of uncontrolled, mob-like behavior by political party activists, doing the bidding of their leaders,” he stated.
He referred to rioting in Roseau on February 7, following a meeting of the opposition United Workers Party and road blocks in Salisbury earlier this week.
“None can forget the disgraceful scene of February 7th this year, when many of the same people who attempted to storm the Parliament of Dominica last Tuesday, caused millions of dollars in damage and marred the beauty of our historic capital city of Roseau,” he stated. “Indeed, it was not lost on independent observers that some of the same characters were not far from the scene of Monday’s road blockage and other insidious behavior in the village of Salisbury.”
He added, “All this is pointing to a very sad and sorry picture emerging that, if allowed to go unchecked, could lead to dire consequences in the not too distant future.”
Skerrit said the government has a very dim view of the entire situation and is blaming the opposition.
“The Government of Dominica takes a very dim view of this unfortunate trajectory, which, it is to be noted, has hitherto been foreign to our political and cultural landscape,” he noted. “There have been differences of opinion before, and political parties in the past have had reason to vent and express their displeasure with, or opposition to, acts by or policies of the authorities. But, never in our history have we had crime and violence being the first course of action by an established political party.”
He said all of this is hurting the image of Dominica.
“The portrayal of Dominica as a melting pot for confusion and antisocial behavior is hurting the image of the country and threatens the social and economic wellbeing of our dear land,” he said.
The Prime Minister also noted that “street protests are normally the last resort of most responsible mature opposition parties in the Caribbean and the world.”
I have seen mr. Skerrit look fat and flushing and i seeing some dominican people look meg. The shepherd eats the fat of the sheep and doesnt feed his sheep properly. One day he will have no ship to eat from. And all them money he has there collecting and saving up will do him no good. Remember skerrit study phycology so he is a master in manipulating situations and people. So people such person in power is very dangerous.
Mr. Skerrit,
i am dominican living in canada. Ans it hurts me to see what i am seeing on the inernet about my country.
Have never seen this before in all my life in dominica. However, the fact, something id definately wrong. You should hear the people out. And i dont think that any dominican who is not living in dominica should have the right to vote in dominica. Only dominicans who feel the heat in dominica should be able to vpte only to decide their future. Why should another dominican who having a good life and future out side of dominican come on vote day and alter the decision or vote of those who bearing the pain in dominica? Please mr.skerrit for you sake and the people sake let only dominicans who reside in dominican vote who they want in power and stop sending for dominicans overs because they dont care about dominica and this action is called bribery and as a man in power this dishonor and thats causing imbalance to the vote. Stop it.
That’s what happens when any government remain in office too long. You do not have all the ideas, you have been there long enough. When you came in prematurely, the people said to give the young man a chance, now you don’t want to give anyone else a chance. Not even in your own party, now you talking about your son. This will continue and intensify until you go!
skerrit a.k.a Infarred, Monfarred a.k.a Skerrit, ball-pen tipped arab a.k.a tony, alix a.k.a skerrtitquickfix have brought Dominica to disrepute. Bribbery, bobbol. bastardry, baum, balony, bandit, buggary, beastiality, barking and belching bubbles is the order ofthe day.
that’s what tony love to see in Dominican because that’s what these kind of people like TONY and the rest of them we welcome into Dominica but all that will stop one of these days when we take our dominica black people has done it before so we can do it
Let me clear my heart…there a a number of Dominican s running out of Dominica, young people at that…ask yourself a serious question my boy
Running to go where stop ur **** i live abroad and dont think its nicer out here stop crying ur damn country down i leved at a young age did lots of traveling their is no place like home nonw all who think its sweeter out here come taste it ppl who live out here dont even want others to live at their home no more u damn jak stop fooling ur self
If things are better in DA than where you are why don’t you move back to DA?
My bro young people will always leave if there is a righteous ruller ruling the people will be happy if there is an unrighteous ruller ruling the people will be sad and will wait to leqve. Its simple as 1 2 3
Man go learn your history – I not even going back to 1979
1993 – who were the people that burned tyres in Roseau when the government was passing the Vehicles and Road Traffic Act?
Which government was in office?
And planes were not allowed to land? And the bridges in Canefield were blocked as well. We forget to quickly.
The Dominica Labour Party led by Rosie Douglas was responsible for these unrests in 1993
In the Name of Jesus Christ you and that cabal will go. Your lies and deception can’t fool the intelligent anymore.
Now sir, tell us WHY THE HELL ROYAL BANK CLOSE THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT
YOU AND YOUR CABAL DOH WANT PEOPLE TO PROTEST. WELL IS NOW YOU WILL SEE PROTEST – ONCE YOU GIVE US REASON TO PROTEST – WE SHALL PROTEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
But the fact still remains that people who wish to use the vote instead of the street protest still have no credible political opponents to vote for. We do not know the UWP’s policies, we do not know their strategy for economic growth, education, social welfare; they do not even take their seats in parliament to properly represent those who voted for them. Yes, this may well be a minor victory thanks to street protest, but I want to know what you stand for before I vote for you.
As for all the diaspora who comment on this website and pay the UWP’s fines for them, you should also be asking the same of the people you support. All we ever hear on websites such as this is personal wrath towards Skerritt – but that is not enough to take the country in a positive new direction.
What else do you need to know the policies of the opposition party? Are you not able to read, or you are not able to understand what they have been presenting for years, or are you being deliberately deaf, or are you just repeating what you hear the DLP officials say? Think before you make such statements? Stop being so blind to the obvious!
I think this guy needs an education in Dominican history. At the very said parliament building before 1979, there was violence to the extent that the mace was made a papyshow. The defence force showed extreme restraint in the face of the violence. Mr Chambers was beaten almost to death and other members injured. The Roseau market, new market was a scene of violence when Lestrate and other freedomites daricaded it with barbed wire to prevent it’s opening. We don’t even want to talk about 1979 even with all the misleading accounts of why it happened and what happened. Then let’s not forget Rosie blocking roads. There are more but those will suffice so to talk that utterrubbish is unbelievable. Skerritt should be thankful that we are where we are at present because given our violent past thing could have been worse with the amount of violence he has perpetrated against the populace.
If all what you say is the truth and is since u become pm them shit there happening don’t youn think that it is only fear that in the interest of the.country that you should resign as pm? Search yourself
Why can a protest be staged to show our digust about this parliamentarian who alledgely had the gun at our HIGHEST COURT??Come on people..And we must let the outside world know about it too!!!
Skerrit your association with the crooks and criminals below has done more harm to Dominica than it will ever experience in the future.
MONFARED
COROLLA
N G LAPSENG
MADUEKE,and many more..This has plunged the country into a crisis from which it just cannot seem to extricate itself..WHERE THE WICKED RULE,THE PEOPLE MOURN!
SKERRIT MUST GO!
SKERRIT MUST GO!!!
SKERRIT MUST GO NOW!!!
OOPS. Why ca n’t a protest a protest be staged to show our disgust about this parliamentarian who allegedly had a gun at our HIGHEST COURT????
I am ready to have my BOOTS ON THE GROUND!
SKERRIT MUST GO!
SKERRIT MUST GO!
SKERRIT MUST GO NOW!!!
The Skerritt DLP Cabal is trying and will continue to try to sneak the bill to legalize bribery and treating.
Dominicans will not allow that to happen. Skerritt will get more arrogant. He is enraged He is getting more and more frustrated that the patriots\’ pressure to prevent that illegality from happening is bearing fruit The POWER of the PEOPLE is GREATER THAN the PEOPLE in \’POWER.\’.
Expect the unexpected with Skerritt. But we will not RELENT. The world is fighting against Corruption, money-laundering, fraud, bribery, evil, dictatorship. The patriots are on the right side of history fighting for democratic way of life for themselves and their children
FREE and FAIR Elections. Complete Re-registration of electors, to clean up the bloated Voters\’ list, voter ID cards, reforms to campaign financing, equal access to DBS and GIS
http://www.caribbeannewsnow…
The guns in the hands of the paramilitary of Dominica will be turned on the people in not the too distant future. we have a history of well documented massacres on the island, it was the french and england killing black people enmasse then, today, it will be blacks working in the name of law and order. we are embarking on a new era of mass qualming of people,and Dominica is not exempted, I have and will continue to say that Dominica with a population of under 70,000 peopled do not need a paramilitary of this magnitude. Is the gov’t looking to intimidate or instill fear in the populace in the name of law and order? remember ,a people can only take so much, and they will fight back in due time. I hope that Dominica is not being turned into a garrison to subdue the forward movement of their well being.If as the motto says,After God is LaTerre, then Dominica is in the middle, the choices are on the table.Bob.Hotep.
Millions of dollars worth of damage to our beautiful Roseau?Surely this is an exaggerated of the facts.Like most of the other so called incidents the PM quotes.REALLY PM you need to come clean that you have been found wanting.
It is not an exaggeration. The multiple buildings that received damage, the number of buns that were damaged, the roads that were damaged due to burning, the utility lines, the work required to clean repair all the above, the cost to the state to send our officers in an effort to find peace.
I support people protesting and standing for what they believe, but tell me what damage to property gets any of us. Put politics aside, those actions hurt us in every way, especially the country’s international image. All that too has a cost when potential investors refuse to come because of fear that they too might suffer the same.
I know some people will dislike this post, but these same people know within their hearts that this is true.
As a Labourite of the PJ era I could not support the evil that Prime Minister Doctor Roosevelt Skerrit was trying to perpetuate in Parliament. Mr. Prime Minister must know that Dominicans are not Jack Asses as Herbert Volney referred to us at the DLP meeting held in Portsmouth recently…
So you saying you would support it as a Freedomite or UWPite but not as a labourite? Do you think saying as a labourite give you credence? Look around you we online and anonymous, we don’t care what ITE you are
Mr. Skerrit and his cohorts have created a perpetual state of mendicancy in the country by over promising and under delivering. I don’t support any willful damage to private or public property by protesters but I fully endorse their rights to protest vehemently against blatant wrongdoings. Mr. Skerrit ascribes blame to the Opposition for every conceivable wrong in the country and has deliberately failed to realize that his divisive, ineffective policies and his intransigence are driving people to the fringe. The PM has an adversarial relationship with the truth and a penchant for lying. He told the world that the Opposition intended on overthrowing his government when there was not a scintilla of truth to that most serious accusation. He has lost all credibility. The government’s ill-advised policies have nurtured an environment of poverty, hopelessness and mendicancy. These are the main reasons so many are willing to protest so openly.
What is wrong with Roosevelt Skerrit? Why he likes to blame others for his own failures for nor? He reminds me of a certain pastor that was caught in adultery a few years ago and instead of blaming himself for his fall he went on blaming everybody including his concubine . Mr. Skerrit when you said “No law not constitution could stop you, a ‘dangerous precedent’ was set. When your lawyer made a tax calculation error that deprived the country of over $50,000 on your behalf that was a ‘dangerous precedent’. When you told us that Aliereza Monfared was a Malasian, “But Skerrit is of the view that Dominicans should follow the example of the Malaysian man” ,when the world knew he was a wanted Iranian that was a ‘dangerous precedent’. https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/general/controversy-rages-over-my-dominica-trade-house/When the entire world is asking why so many doggy criminals like Lap Seng, Madueke , Corallo, and many more were arrested holding a DA diplomatic passport
Why does the PM look to shift focus from himself and align those who oppose the proposed bill , with violence and anything of that nature , while the majority of the people ,have not been properly informed ,what are the pros and cons of the proposed amendment to be presented in parliament ?
Let me send some advice to Skerrit, becarefull who you choose to do battle with, we the people will crush you
Skerrit, PAR CHOGONNAH KAKA
In Dominica, there are rules,guidelines ,procedures and laws that must be obeyed. Most of the comments are from exconvic.cameras in operation, it might take a little time but, you never know when the Police is going to knock at your door.
Skerritt the dangerous precedent in Dominica is the type of leadership you have introduced there and your lack of respect for the norms of good governance as existed and practiced by your predecessors.All of a sudden you sought to adopt the practices of your friends in Venezuela,China,Cuba etc where you infiltrated the institutions of government and perverted them for the gains of yourself and your cohorts.The police chief will not even be neutral and preserve the law but is always doing the bidding of you and the Minister of national security.Where in the Constitution does it specify how many protests the opposition can hold.You keep saying too much politics in Dominica but no example of you offering the olive branch to the opposition in deed much less in words,it must start with you if you feel there is too much politics.Your end is near,thank God.
The fake doctor needs to warn himself! It is he who keeps bringing shame and disgrace to Dominica in the region and internationally.
PM the behaviour of the people as you described are very much unfortunate but these are just reaction to your actions ; why was not this proposed Bill part of your town hall meetings? Enough of Partisan Politics Save by the bell !!!!
Mr Punjab PhD (PM) ”the dangerous precedent was set by our President Charles Saverin since 1979; go read your proverbs son; the only dim view to be considered is your constant lies and innuendos concerning the CBI and good governance of our country. I’m convinced now more than ever that it’s time for ”skerrit and his entire deceptive cabinet to go”
I am honestly telling you that you have made me laugh so much I now have a serious headache.Thank you.
What is the dangerous precedence is this so called Prime Minister referring to. The precedence set now in this country is before Jack sprat can say match, protest or demonstrate a gang of men dressed in full army fatigue well armed appears at all angles even on roof tops blocking roads and denying people their rights through intimidation that\’s the precedence being set. Unlike what we are seeing in Barbados, St.Lucia and St.Vincent where massive protest are allowed some even accompanied by DJ\’s and sound systems without one single riot police or police dressed in full fatigues heavily armed in site. DNO you should show the Video from a recent Labour party match against UW P government in St. Lucia as a fair comparison to what is now taking place here in Dominica.. So PM that\’s the New precedents being set in Dominica unlike the other islands protest are met with heavily armed police.
George Orwell, the man who wrote Animal Farm” is credited for saying “in times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” A majority in the House of Assembly is not mandate to run the country as a dictatorship. Just ask Colonel John.
what is hurting the image of dominica is the lying the stealing the deceiving,corruption overload corruption overload
We playing with these fools tomuch find all of he or she who is causing these sadistic. Behavior bck home and jail them every one of them. No short term jail and their advisers double their jail term they r causing the outside world to not respect us for what we potray our self to b ,i will say like i always did this could never happen in my SSU. days never LL for one would have gotten some hard slap already
Nonsense. I was in SSU too, we would not harm people to support a lyING corrupt govt
I could never take your rhetoric seriously from since I saw you use the word “sadistic”… Clueless and out of context. Go run find a dictionary and look up the meaning of the word “sadistic.
@Ny boss Talk is cheap!!! You sound illiterate though!!.Skerrit needs to buy you an exercise book and pencil..You are an idiot!!!!
SKERRIT MUST GO!
SKERRIT MUST GO!!
SKERRIT MUST GO NOW!
Shut your a double source
Skerrit would have liked that the opposition Parliamentarians come and make their case in the Parliament, as it should be in a peaceful democracy. But that’s where DLP has it’s strength: 15 to 6
Linton knows he doesn’t stand a chance in parliament so he’s taking Everything to the streets and the Airwaves. With UWPites unopposed on the streets That’s where Linton feels strong.
Nous deja connaitre : The image of Dominica doesn’t really matter until you’re Large and in Charge.
/ / / score this one as a UWP victory
It is a victory for ALL Dominicans.
You are very myopic.
Jaja, did you watch the parliament proceeding. If you did, who did you think had the edge; certainly it was not the DLP.
Linton stunned the speaker who was trying to forbid him from speaking with the general order she claims to know so well- she had to re-paddle with a laim excuse
(ii) The PM was embarrassed by one of his won brandishing a gun inside Parliament and had to agree that the matter, when addressed by the opposition, should be dealt with
(III) another indefensible, hard slap to the CBI, occurred when the opposition asked why Royal bank asked the government to remove its 250+ millions from its bank; exposing the PM’s lying nature to the world, when he said no reasons were given as to why he should remove the money- who will believe such crap…OK..a bank told you its no longer wants to bank you money; you not asking them why. The only reason you my not asked why is because you know why. Party colours have u in a trance…
We are turning dominica into a war zone , these people call themselves Christians, the bible says love your neighbor as your self , it also said if a man does not work he should not eat. We have to remove from our heads that we are poor and not capable of talking care of our selves , if that’s the case we accept the fact the only The government can solve all our problems . Our ancestors were great worries , they were not beggers, you all people are capable of talking care of your selves go do it.
Stupesss… Allu, I thought is resign the PM going to resign wee. But he knew very well demonstrations was going to take place. .
Skerrit brother i know you would like to say NO PROTEST action in Dominica..,but i can tell you very early that it will be an exercise in futility..I had MY BOOTS ON THE GROUND,outside of parliament to show my disgust at your regime trying to legalize bribery and treating,and i think we should protest at this unintelligible,dictatorial harangue of yours,which passes as a pres conference.I thought you would call the scene outside of parliament a COUP!!There should be island wide protest action tomorrow against this foolishness that you have garbled..I LIKE TO PROTEST AGAINST ANYTHING EVIL,and i SHALL continue to do so.
SKERRIT MUST GO!
SKERRIT MUST GO!
SKERRIT MUST GO NOW!
Roosevelt you are the …… who set your evil precedence a very long time ago in the country; remember you advise your supporters, to harass the people who do not dress in read. You told your supporters to harass them when “you meet them” in the streets, in shops, on Aircrafts, in another country, and in church! That is the kind of evil precedence you set in Dominica!
You set the precedence of lawlessness when you order your police to arrest members of the opposition without just cause; you sent police to ransack the homes of the opposition in the early hours of the morning for absolutely no reason; claiming that the bits of rags burnt in the streets of Roseau was organized by members of the UWP.
Tabling a law that will allow you to import, and transport people across the globe to vote illegally in the country, is indeed a precedence, because it will be the first such law in the history of the world. That Roosevelt is indeed a bad precedence!
And Roosevelt whereas I know you like to drop words that you do not even knows the meaning since you like to pick them up from people better educated than you are; I take the pleasure of defining the word “precedence, or precedent to you in public, eliminating your myth that you believe none but you know the meaning.
In one simple word precedence means or precedent means; an earlier occurrence of something similar. It actually means, something done or said that may serve as an example, or rule to authorize, or justify a subsequent act of the same or an analogous kind.
It is something such as a verdict in a court case rendered for the first time. That is why when lawyers argue cases in court or file a case they have to site a former precedent. I know in Dominica such is not the case, but I submit to you Roosevelt you have once again played with a word in the wrong context!
Say Francisco Etienne-Dods who is not an English, nor Linguistics Major told you!
You are such a retard. The way you speak is like you have your bachelors, masters and PhD but you have none. Get a life loser and stop coming on DNO writing long paragraphs like you get paid to do so.
He could also have meant precendence or precedent, in the meaning that he really and truly, was expecting it and… well, it stayed true to meaning and happened earlier than expected.
Fattening pockets is a process, much akin to a mosquito (hons.) sucking something dry…
We are now like a sold country… no real rights…superficial.
DNO, when people like Kermit open their mouth to try an humiliate people who are academically educated, by talking nonsense as if they know the person they running their mouth on. I believe one should have the right to defend themselves.
This bastard do not know me, I am sure he is not 1/3 as educated as I am, you all him/her to write their stupid opinions about me; however, you omitted my response, that is not fair conduct, it is biasness.
I can understand you disallow comments, which constitutes law suits, but if some talk unfounded crap about somebody they do not know that person have a right to defend themselves, because Dominica is the only place on earth where allegations usually becomes fact!
I am an open book, and nobody have the right to assume what the wish about me!
O K never before ein , i hear .
when i say Carles Saverin is de …….in Dominica nobody believes it . He dere and he hearing the Prime Minister saying never before this and never before that , and he not opening his mouth and telling the Prime minister that not true , as he himself can vouch for that .
I say Dominica need prayers first , plenty rosary , then, only then , we could begin to see de light in the distance .
I am not even commenting on that hogwash….Protestors were not violent so why mixed limes and oranges just because they look alike. And for a PM, the PM of all, to describe a selective set of people for exercising their fundamental rights and dissatisfaction of a proposed bill that would, if passed, lopsidedly favour the ruling party in a peaceful manner is both irresponsible and unfair. Look at how the policemen dressed to address a protest situation with fewer than 200 persons…it’s seems like we are in Afghanistan and Syria.
PM, also remember as alleged, the guns were in the parliament building; no reports confirmed your suggestion that the protestors were violent as it is alleged that trigger-hungry young policemen were the ones firing warning shots…And in my lifetime, I saw so many major protest in Dominica…where roads were blocked and people (labourites) ready to fight due to Mamo increasing so traffic fees..
Skerrit, your Trumpism is showing…do you even read the words written for you before uttering them? I mean in 2017 where protests are taking place the world over, you expect Dominicans to fall for this BS:
“street protests are normally the last resort of most responsible mature opposition parties in the Caribbean and the world.”
Tell us why RBC closed the gov’t bank account instead!
The are dress very well defending Skerrit