COMMENTARY: Corruption – No Doubt

Rev Dr. William Watty (file photo)

The recent attempt at legitimizing the transportation of voters to, or towards, the Polling Stations, by an amendment to the House of Assembly (Elections) Act, must be closely examined for what it is and also for what it portends. Only the politically blinkered will dispute that arguments supporting the amendment are not just trivial and weak. They are an insult to Dominican intelligence. The framers seem to take us for a Commonwealth of morons who, for anything that looks like a free-ride, will swallow whatever sugar coated pill that is offered, regardless of the long-term effects. The likelihood, however, is that the further manipulation of the electoral process by pandering to the freeness mentality, in order to retain political advantage, is likely to bring the fragile process of choosing our Parliamentary Representatives into further disrepute, and place our Democratic system in even greater jeopardy.

Let us review the historical background to the Amendment and try, from that vantage point, to grasp what is now being proposed and what the Amendment hopes to achieve. Up to the closing decades of the last century, the sole responsibility of the Government with respect to voting was to so situate the Polling Stations in the various Constituencies as to encourage the registered voters to exercise of their franchise without excessive hardship or undue stress. Beyond that, whether they chose to vote or not, and how they intended to get to the Polling Station was their responsibility, not the Government’s. If, because of age or infirmity, the Polling Station seemed too far for walking, it fell to the voter to take the initiative for making whatever arrangements he/she deemed suitable to arrive safely and in good time; and for anyone else to anticipate, override, abridge or in any way thwart that initiative that was exclusively the voter’s, by making an offer that was not first requested, was tantamount to bribery, pure and simple, regardless of the intentions that may have motivated the benefactor. The gravity of the offence could, of course, be mitigated by the depth, constancy and continuity of the substantive relationship that already existed between the beneficiary and the benefactor – for example, husband and wife; but otherwise, such an offer, however magnanimous or attractive, once it was unrequested and was made solely in the context of an Election, could reasonably be judged to be specious since, in the circumstances, it would have been so compromised and become so saturated by the psychology of gratitude as to be a potent, if not the decisive, factor in casting the vote. In other words, bribery had nothing whatsoever to do with secret intentions or even altruistic sentiments that were expressed to disguise the baser purpose. The mere seizing of an initiative that properly belonged to the voter, in the making of an offer of transportation to a Polling Station, would be sufficient evidence of corruption. The inappropriate initiative would be, in and of itself, a bribe, and the generosity merely a disguise for an ulterior purpose that was basically self-serving. However ornate the phial, the perfume stank.

Multiply that a hundred-fold, and the stench escaping from the proposed amendment should shortly rise above Diablotin, and envelop our Commonwealth to suffocation, especially as it includes the importation of voters from abroad by the plane-loads, openly and brazenly, fore-planned, well orchestrated and free-of-charge, to exercise their franchise in the marginal and doubtful Constituencies and all of this not to the betterment of the country primarily, nor the stabilization of our democratic system, but to the advantage of the benefactor in loving gratitude. The amendment will therefore be giving the ruling Party a leverage and obviously an unfair advantage over its contenders who do not enjoy the resources for such large-scale and brazen bribery as the ruling Party commands. It will therefore make a nonsense of the electoral process and, by extension, our Parliamentary Democracy. By legitimizing bribery, a Party in power, whatever its deficiencies, its obvious demerits or its proven irregularities, is destined to remain in power indefinitely, or until the disgusted citizenry, out of sheer frustration, decides to circumvent the Constitution and bring the scandal to a messy halt. Once we have reached the point where the initiative for transportation to, or towards, the Polling Stations becomes legitimized as an offer that can be made, which the prospective voter will find it extremely difficult to refuse, and once the evidence of bribery is removed from a premeditated and specious, because unrequested, offer, to an entirely private and subjective intention of the benefactor, who is unlikely to confess such a transgression even at the risk of the damnation of his soul, the electoral process might as well be abandoned, since the results would already have been determined, especially as the imported voters are unlikely to tarry long after having cast the predictable vote, but will return to their greener pastures, to suck their confectionery right down to Diabetes II, and leave behind their less fortunate and favoured compatriots to suck their salt right up to Hypertension.

I am no political scientist or computer nerd, but one would have thought that, by now, a little consideration might have been given to the feasibility of voting on-line in order to accommodate the eligible voters abroad and, at the same time, put an end to the aberrations that must inevitably cling to the practice of offering transportation, willy-nilly, to voters, far away as well as at home. Surely, it cannot be beyond the scope of communication-technology, or the skill of the technicians, to devise such a fail-safe and water-proof web site in the interest of fair and free elections. But no. Our Government will not go there – and for good reason. They have become so enamoured with the advantages of the transportation of voters that they would rather adorn the obnoxious practice with legalese. And why not? Everybody knows that Dominicans love a “Vep”; and the further the distance, the freer the offer, the surer will be the “vote” (not so much of confidence as of thanks). Therefore, why should it not stay that way even though our Democracy becomes subverted? On the contrary, the practice must be further extended. It must be regularized. It must be adorned with respectability. It must now be legitimized by “removing all doubt” from a practice that is obviously, intrinsically, essentially, and is now becoming increasingly, doubtful.

Call it what you like, it is corruption. Deodorize it all you can, it stinks. And isn’t it interesting that it is invariably in such ambiguous experiments that Dominica takes the lead even where others hesitate to follow? Here above all we seem to have the genius for creativity. Herein we excel. Here, as nowhere else, we are in our element.  And so, I guess, we will continue on that merry way and prosper as we go, applauding our machinations, extolling our delusions, and believing our own lies, until we wake up one morning to find that ripples from Caracas have crossed the sea, have swollen on the way and have broken in mammoth surges upon our quiet shores.

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94 Comments

  1. Poj
    September 9, 2017

    Disgusting corrupted lower class people

  2. Mr. Watty Sir! Doctor, Reverend, priest, bishop–whatever the organization which you represent; you do not represent the people of Dominica, who are the majority voters for the present Government

    You have done your full of judgement here; you have ascertained the Government is corrupt; you have convinced the people that your judgment is correct through your last statement as quoted below:

    “And so, I guess, we will continue on that merry way and prosper as we go, applauding our machinations, extolling our delusions, and believing our own lies, until we wake up one morning to find that ripples from Caracas have crossed the sea, have swollen on the way and have broken in mammoth surges upon our quiet shores”

    • Where did your judgement come from, Mr. Watty Sir? I am reading that you belong in the group of God’s servant on Earth, Mr. Watty Sir, do you really believe that you represent Him through your political and “one sided” message above? Well I am saying no way!

      What you have said about is that God has turned His back against the peace, caring, and diligence, that is displayed through the attitude and conduct of the present Government of Dominica; and He is supporting the continuous demonstration of vile, disdain, discord, despair, and distress–through road blocking, stone throwing, disrespect for the Police Force and the laws of the Country, itself.

      Mr. Watty, I do not care what is your hierarchy of existence, but I know that God did not guide into that commentary above–no, no, not all! For that reason Sir, I pity you! Good heavens!

    • Elizabeth, shut up! You idiot, the puppets Skerrit pays to promote politics in their church, are they representing the people of Dominica.

      You know you had better stop submitting your daily hypocritical comments about God in on the Blog, because you are not a Christian, you are a hypocrite, a tool of Satan playing Christian.

      If Watty was on his knees praising, and praying to your god Roosevelt Skerrit, you would be saying all knind of kind things about him.

      God Bless William Watty, so that he has not sold his soul to you dictator and god Roosevelt Skerrit. Williams cannot be bought by Roosevelt, he is someone of high integrity, he speaks the truth, and God takes care, of people who are truthful, while he hate liars, like you, and Roosevelt Skerrit!

  3. “Curruption is when foreign corporations or individuals pay money to…”(Emil Dominique).

    Emil, I think I know how your sentenced would have ended, if you had the space to complete it. Nevertheless, I must disagree with your concept, and definition of the term corruption. When the word corruption is mentioned it implies impairment of integrity, virtue, and moral principal.

    Corruption is inducement into the wrong by improper, and unlawful means such as bribery. You speak about one political party outspending the other. That is common practice in the United States, paying for advertisement on Television, Newspapers, and Radio.

    Political parties, in North America, and Europe do give handouts to people to vote for them. In Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit Bribes people with just about anything that poor soul wants; even a drink of rum! In regards to no foreign company in Dominica, they are not there because there are people who, try to get paid under the table to all these…

    • Emil, there are no foreign companies operating in Dominica due to certain reason; and that is we have corrupted people in government, who when foreigners, as well as Dominicans try to establish business in the country, they demand money (bribes) from the prospective investor under the table in order to allow them to set up business in the country.

      I have a friend, whom I have not communicated with for a while, but he operated a very successful business in Dominica, until our people ensured they destroyed him; they stole his business. Nevertheless, in one communication, he told me “you can tell them I say Dominicans like to be bribe in order for them to allow business to operate in Dominica.” I suspect some government officials, or civil servants must have demanded a bribe from him while he was operating in Dominica.

  4. jaded
    June 1, 2017

    What Dr. Watty says in theory is correct. I do not agree that political parties should give people plane tickets to come back home to vote. But realistically, if I offer a friend or even a stranger a ride to the polls that is no way anyone can say that it is a bribe. I find some of Dr. Watty’s comments to be preposterous. We must be careful not to try to legislate decent, humanitarian, neighbourly behavior. If someone offers me a ride to the polls – regardless of the distance within Dominica – there is no way I am going to change my vote. Dr. Watty surprises me with his outrageous and extremist comments.

    • Gary
      June 2, 2017

      What Dr. Watty is expressing is an opinion not a theory.There is a difference between a theory and an opinion. You are right Dr.Watty comments is preposterous and outrageous.

      • You are so dunce you do not even know what the heck you are talking about! I challenge you to explain to the audience how something becomes a theory!

        I am stepping in your stupid face, exposing your stupidity!

  5. June 1, 2017

    I am much dismay by your commentary sir. May I ask, was it not UWP who was leading the call for electoral reform? Sure it was. You are calling for the government to pull the bill simply because you think it will favor the DLP. Sir, The people is best sever by their government when all political parties work in the spirit of compromise. “New flash” no one gets everything they wants. The best way forward is for the DLP, UWP and DFP to sit down and reach a compromise on electoral reform. That’s how a Democratic government should work. Further more, all political leader should respectly fully and publicly denounce denounce all acts of violence and should any person be caught in such reckless acts will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. The government should never allow itself to be intimidated or subject itself to political blackmail. To say the least, should not the Rev. be in the for front in condemning act of violence??

    • Let The Truth Be Known - Original
      June 1, 2017

      Lennox Linton is a major problem in this. He must not dominate the meeting and expect that it should all go his way. This is the type of person Lennox is. Intelligent people know what Lennox is up to. He is demanding and has no respect for authority, namely the PM. He thinks he is always correct and the PM must march to his tune.
      Unless Lennox humbles himself and respect the authority of the PM, you can forgot about that. If the UWP supporters are blind and deaf to Lennox’s whims and wiles, they will see it no other way. That is another major problem.
      Lennox did not condemn the violence in Roseau, after his meeting on February 7th and also the recent protest near the Parliament building. This should also project the type of person he is. He obviously approved them.

    • Rupert, if your conscience was not dead, yo would have no difficulties understanding that the amendment was deigned to favor Skerrit and the labor party. If you wish to be honest you accept that, if you are a hypocrite you will lean on the side of corruption!

    • Rupert, you are a fool, the Bill was designed to all Roosevelt to import people into Dominica to vote illegally.

      It would also allow, the transportation of Skerrit’s supporters from constituency’s to constituencies to vote more than once; voting for the labor party candidates, indifferent constituencies!

      Has that concept ever cross your mind? The corrupted ploy of Roosevelt Skerrit is not electoral reform!

  6. freshwaterlake
    June 1, 2017

    Obviously, especially when they start bringing in the CBI passport holders.

  7. Gary
    June 1, 2017

    “Corruption – No Doubt” this is such an arrogant headline. Corruption does not happen in a vacuum. Rev Dr. William Watty saying something is corrupt and implying no doubt, does not in any way make it true.Focusing on one part of the amendment to suit a political agenda is very dishonest. What about the other part, why ignore it, it’s the pillar of the amendment. We as Dominicans must not be lead by people displaying “pretend authority” especially when it is wrap up and packaged in partisan politics, perception and assumption.

    I am bewildered that Rev Dr. William Watty a trained theologian,
    with an academic discipline which requires great analytical skill, with a scientific approach and objective mind, write such nonsense regarding the amendment to the election Act.

    • Let The Truth Be Known - Original
      June 1, 2017

      Strange, isn’t it that UWP supporters do not condemn him for what he wrote. He wrote in their favor. This is how bias they are.

    • Gary, you should be in a asylum, living in isolation from the population! You are beyond madness!

      You are one of the shallowest Dominicans alive. With people like you existing in Dominica the country will forever remain a toxic place where corruption and evil will reign over idiots, and scum bags like you until yo make you exist into oblivion.

      There are much more stupid people in Dominica, than I could ever imagine, all brained washed and under the influence of Roosevelt after drinking his urine, you commenced walking around like zombies!

  8. shrewd
    May 31, 2017

    Brilliant work Dr William Watty, you looked at the suggested amendment and did not hesitate to call it exactly what it is, corruption. But you also gave suggestions for a way forward, that could include all who wish to vote, without any significant expense to any political party to airlift voters.

  9. Tj
    May 31, 2017

    Dr. Watty your analysis is timely and needed. Let us pray that the leadership reads and comprehend.

    • Gary
      June 2, 2017

      What is so timely about Dr. Watty analysis that it is needed, needed by whom.There is nothing worthwhile in such analysis that the Government needs to read and comprehend. The PM has addressed the Nation already and dealt with the matter.

  10. JOSH SHAW
    May 31, 2017

    their time running out. all the wicked shall fall. one by one thru shall fall. just watch

    • Let The Truth Be Known - Original
      June 1, 2017

      I suppose this includes you.

    • Gary
      June 2, 2017

      Time is an illusion, it cannot heal the destructive kind of politics Linton has brought to our Country. Stop your silly antics, watch what. You perception of all the “wicked shall fall” is erroneous, Wicked people don’t fall because of who you precised as wicked simply because they are not politically aligned with your political beliefs, wicked people are dwelt with by the divine intelligence that governs all things.

  11. mine
    May 31, 2017

    Dr. Watty knows what happend in Roseau 7/2/17 he never wrote anything, but he can comment now.

  12. Anomymous
    May 31, 2017

    I honestly wish we had a man like that in my own catholic church. Yes, I am a catholic but not thanks to the leadership of Bishop Malzaire. I just ignore him because he is like a lost soul and cannot give guidance.

    • Let The Truth Be Known - Original
      June 1, 2017

      You are not a faithful Catholic. If you feel that way why do you not leave this Church? You are not doing the Church a favor nor are you doing yourself a favor. What you are is a cradle/tepid Catholic close enough to a heretic. You do not help to defend It and support It against It’s enemies.
      What good are you to It? Furthermore, from what you have stated as embedded in your mind, little do you know that you deny yourself the blessing and grace of God.
      My suggestion to you is, conform to the Holy Will of God, obedience to the Church and the Hierarchy or leave it.

  13. %
    May 31, 2017

    I am HAPPY and PROUD to have bee a protester..God is alive!!God is Alive!!God is Alive!!
    SKERRIT MUST GO!
    SKERRIT MUST GO!
    SKERRIT MUST GO NOW!

    • June 1, 2017

      Skerrit must go nowhere but Lennox must go to HELL

  14. Tika Jude
    May 31, 2017

    I am from GrandBay and i will vote skerrit no matter what all you say!

    • Xxxxxxx
      May 31, 2017

      That is your right as a private citizen…But Skerrit has no right to be born into a democratic system and change it into a legally corrupt system . As far as l am concerned he can go to Grand Bay or Vielle Case to set up his corrup city and you corrupt labourites can go there to live with him. :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

      • Let The Truth Be Known - Original
        June 1, 2017

        It is all in your mind. You are brainwashed by Lennox and the other UWP supporters.

    • HAVING AN ANGELO AND ARONDEL GROS PWEL
      May 31, 2017

      didnt expect any comment different. you peoples minds have been hogg washed

    • %
      May 31, 2017

      So why are you so vex? Labour has something evil about it man!
      SKERRIT MUST GO!
      SKERRIT MUST GO!
      SKERRIT MUST GO NOW!

      • June 1, 2017

        Wicked he wicked and.calling him self.man of god I hope he read the. Comments

    • Beau
      May 31, 2017

      But.. I am confused by your statement. Skerrit does not seek nomination and election in Grand Bay!

      • freshwaterlake
        June 1, 2017

        that is the most hilarious thing ive seen all day. These people dont vote for the rep in their constituency. The vote for lennox linton or skerro. Not the man in their village or parish or area sent to represent them. such nonsense. Like Skerrit is a one man party, everybody else is just an assistant or an aid. just waiting for the man himself to tell them what to do.

    • Me
      May 31, 2017

      Of course, we expect nothing else from Grandbay lemmings.

    • Women Don't Play
      June 1, 2017

      You are so right, because more than half of allu labourites do not like the parl rep but allu will vote skerrit.
      Bunch of illiterate and pied piper followers allu be.

    • Let The Truth Be Known - Original
      June 1, 2017

      Good for you!

    • The Saint Child
      June 2, 2017

      Hence that make you a Fool

  15. Alas
    May 31, 2017

    Well written and profound. Thank you Rev. Dr Watty. People far and wide strive for democracy yet we Dominicans are ready and willing to give ours up.

    • Emile Dominique
      May 31, 2017

      Well written yes , but too partisan. The Reverend could be more objective. Give us the lecture that will make us think, not give us our opinion. What does Caracas have to do with the amendment . Every time opposition people think election is near they go into accusation mode.
      First it was French passport, then bin bobol, then villas, then Skeritt build a family house for his bride to be(romantic), then the Baroness. Recently Skeritt must go because he is spending CBI money on to many social projects, now its electoral reform. They claim that the voters list contain too many dead people. All kinds of accusation with no evidence. Why cant they say who are the dead people on the list, bring the death certificates and confront the Election Office.
      Recently it was salaries negotiations. Why is this a political venture. Salary negotiations to me means interest parties meet and discuss income matters, and come to a conclusion satisfactory to both sides. Not a political street cam

    • Gary
      June 1, 2017

      Why such a silly comment. If you believe what Rev. Dr Watty wrote is a sign that Dominicans are willing and ready to give up democracy, I must say pity your ignorance.

  16. UU
    May 31, 2017

    yayo yooooo tickle me, I fell asleep after the second sentence. Happy
    redance.

    • REAL!!!!!!
      May 31, 2017

      UU!!!!…We understand why you fell asleep on the 2nd sentence because you are always asleep.

      I trust when you wake up it will not be too late.

      Thanks for coming forward Rev. Dr. Watty on the issues concerning our DEMOCRACY and CORRUPTION..

    • XXOO
      May 31, 2017

      You are excused…….obviously you lack the intellectual capacity to understand this masterpiece

  17. May 31, 2017

    Dominicans, let’s keep burying our head in the sand, we all gonna regret one day

  18. JOE
    May 31, 2017

    Very DUNCE statement!!!!!!! at least quote the section of the amendment that supports your foolish claim!!!!!!!

    We are University graduates as well Rev. gone are the days when the likes of you could just blow hot air and all of us would jump with excitement…. Except for the few lambs that follows uwp lock stalk and barrel, just a few like 30!!!!! Although they are few in numbers they do make a lot of noise… you know the saying “EMPTY BARREL MAKES THE MOST NOISE!!!!!!”

    • Fairness for all
      May 31, 2017

      With all your education, do you actually know what’s going on?

    • DominicanDemocrat
      May 31, 2017

      An educated person doesn’t use words like ‘dunce’ to describe a statement, and an educated person most certainly does not pepper their comments on the internet with unnecessary exclamation marks.

      Go back to school.

      • Savan
        May 31, 2017

        Is “person” plural or singular educated democrat? I realize you are trying to be politically correct with your use of the possessive pronoun “their” but that is axiomatically incorrect. You could have circumvented this by using “persons” instead of “person” followed by “do” instead of “does” and omitting the “an”.

      • Gary
        June 1, 2017

        Are you a grammar policeman. What joy do you get from criticizing peoples grammar and trying to belittle them, wow,what a waste of energy.

      • LawieBawie
        June 1, 2017

        Lol. And it “lock, ‘stock’ and barrel”….certainly not “stalk”.

    • Willie
      May 31, 2017

      You write well for a university graduate

    • sweett
      May 31, 2017

      I guess you know an empty barrel since your such a great one stop making noise …… well said Willie !!!!

    • %
      May 31, 2017

      Joe,people who are educated are not boastful..Are you an educated fool?The answer is yes..Let me just inform you that the literature that you read was ABOVE YOUR HEAD…Stop stressing yourself about things that are illegal..Didnt you know God was on the side of the people.Go wallow in your ignorance!

    • Emile Dominique
      May 31, 2017

      Joe this is a one man opinion and he is entilled to it, Dominica is a democracy . But leaders with credibility and in an unbias position should be more truthful and have no hidden motives. Because our Christian heritage teach us to respect men of the cloth they have a duty to guide us to fairness without one sided compositions

    • %
      May 31, 2017

      Joe did you get your fake PhD from Punjab?Well Joe you are shameless boy!So you really attended school?OMG!
      SKERRIT MUST GO!
      SKERRIT MUST GO!
      SKERRIT MUST GO NOW!

    • If you are a university graduate, I would not wish to attend classes in the midnight hour, in that one simply to prevent people form seeing me at the place you attended.

      In broad daylight, I would cover my head with a fertilizer bag, to hide my shame standing on any step, of the university you attended. Maybe you attended the same university of Punjab at the same time with Roosevelt Skerrit, and perhaps both of you attended the same one in the United States he claimed he attended, where there are no records of him graduating there!

      You do not know Watty; and his educational Background; you do not know his family history, and educational background, So, be informed his family hales from Wesley, and Portsmouth. Be informed one of his ancestor had a private School in Wesley, which my late grandmother who died in 1993, at the age of 103 years old was a student of one of his ancestors. My grandmother was born on the first day of January 1890, and expired in 1993.

      Hence we…

      • Me
        June 2, 2017

        Indeed Francisco, cover your head with a fertilizer bag. it may enhance your appeal.

    • Continue Reading idiot goat:

      Hence we have 1993 – 1890 = 103 years, so if she attended Watty school, that means his school might serve our people and village for almost two hundred years. If you do not believe there was such a school, the old building is still in the middle of the village of Wesley, now renovated as a national monument, it is a historic building, the same building which the British took over, where many of us got our early elementary education, and went on to higher learning.

      Have you ever heard of Dr. Watty M. D., I think they are brothers, not sure: but, Dr. Watty became a medical doctor when Black people were still treated as nobody. In those days a black person could not even enter the government library, nor enter a bank in Dominica, and the rest of the Caribbean. Dr. and others Boyd, and Winston, and others went to England, and Ireland to study medicine before the Black migration to England. Who are you to try to insult someone who can chew you up, and…

    • Finally:

      Who are you to try to insult someone who can chew you up, and spew you out of his mouth, and trample over you?

      You do not even express yourself as someone who had an elementary education, never mind university! You all said I disrespect people; that might be true, but I disrespect people who are deserving disrespect. Watty do not deserve your disrespect. I suppose if he was here thanking God for the rootless dictator “Roosevelt Skerrit, ” like the boy bishop, you would have everything good to say about Watty.

      At least we know he is not a political poppet; and might just be the only true preacher of the word of God in our country; he has the courage to speak against what he perceived to be wrong; thank God he is a man who is not bought, and I suppose can be bribe!

    • @JOE May 31, 2017

      The UWPites are neither ” sheep or lamb” those terms belong to the people of God, The UWPites are nothing but “goats”; scape goats all the way. I have read their thoughts on other forums; not one of them has a word of substance in their thoughts–what a sorry bunch of people!

      • Shut up fool, you are a wicked woman playing Christian, God, will punish you for all the hypocrite comments you write all over the place. You are burning in hell, and you do not even know it!

  19. A. E. Williams
    May 31, 2017

    Rev. Dr. Watty has presented an excellent analysis of the proposed voter transportation amendment; it does lend to the expansion of a corrupt system. However, in the essence of equity, if public transportation is being granted to the emigrant voter, similarly, the bonafide local voter should receive benefits of public transportation as well. Thus, amendments intended to enhance the electoral process, election reform, should instead, focus on measures to terminate the use of public funds to transport emigrant voters, establish limitations on emigrant eligibility, improve voter registration and identification systems, periodic cleansing of the electoral roll, and curtailment of gratuitous offerings.

    • Shaka Zulu
      May 31, 2017

      Concur

    • Me
      May 31, 2017

      All that needs to be done is follow the existing rule of law.

    • Gary
      June 1, 2017

      Wow,so you have made you own amendment,voter transportation amendment, LOL. Where did you see such amendment being proposed.There is no such thing as a voter transportation amendment proposed by the Government.What are you trying to say with such mumbo jumbo jargon.

      • Shut up Gary!

        The the whole purpose of the proposed amendment, was to give Skerrit right to transport people from anywhere on the planet to Dominica for the purpose of voting!

        The amendment would also all him and his clones to transport people form different villages to vote at random in other constituencies, hence, allowing Skerrit’s supporters to vote multiple times in any constituencies where the believe the opposing party may have a chance of winning!

        You are an idiot, to ask such a stupid question.

  20. Me myself and I
    May 31, 2017

    You are a brave man and a man of integrity. Nobody else in your field has had the guts to say anything. I commend you and I’m sure others do. Thank you for standing up and talking about the difference between what’s morally right and wrong. The first of your kind that I can recall in recent times. Many of the population are lost in a sea of corruption and aren’t aware of it. This can help to extract them from it.

  21. Spike
    May 31, 2017

    Buh-loney! When the time for persuasion ends and Election Day begins, a well-organised party goes into Election Day Mode, uses a list of who leans their way, rings them up to remind them to vote, and arranges for backers with cars to lend rides to backers without cars. Whereas a poorly organised party kicks back and prepares to REACT to the election returns. Anti-Skerrit people imagine the stupidest and most costly thing he could do (squander DLP funds flying expats back to Dominica) and imply that the amendment mandates it!

    By the way, if you are ant-Skerrit, how then do you trust him to set up a website on which for you to vote?!

  22. Watty, the whole issue is elementary; it does not require a bunch of rocket scientist, or people involved into quantum mechanics, or quantum theory to figure out the intentions, and results of the amendment if the corrupted labor party succeeded with their demonic plans.

    The only purpose for the proposed amendment was to legalize the transportation of expatriates (Dominicans, and none Dominicans) living in the diaspora, practically in the United States, and Canada to go Dominica to vote for Roosevelt Skerrit, and the Labor Party!

    The amendment would also allow the transportation of corrupted people from local constituencies in Dominica to vote more than once in different constituencies on the island, ensuring Roosevelt wins, and remain Prime Minister forever. We heard of a plan to import non-Dominicans from other islands to vote for the labor part!

    • Emile Dominique
      May 31, 2017

      you are right Fransisco, You do not need a Phd to see what is going on. But you can see partisanship in people who post anti-Skeritt and by extention anti-DLP slants.
      Some student of democracy see the value of facilitating the electorate to vote, to exersize their human rights to vote, their citizenship rights which advocates of democracy should understand and support. The facilitators want their votes, but they will not be in the voting booth with them looking over their shoulders. The electoral station will have observers and agents from all parties. No coition allowed. All parties have the same oportunity . It is an equal playing field, except that one party can outspend the others. So if a party like the PPD can outspend the collective others it will have an advantage.
      As for corruption….People have been saying that the DLP is a corrupt party, but in the same voice they say we have no foreign investment. Curruption is when foreign corporations or individuals pay money to…

      • Emile Dominique
        May 31, 2017

        pay money to government officials to aquire some advantage, to make decisions in their favour.
        Now people say that government ministers are spending public money to bribe people. Ministers do not sign vouchers or any form of payment transaction. This is done by the Account Officer, usually a Permanent Secretary. All these payments are authorized by the budget and detailed in the Estimates. If money is paid by advances that is no authorized by the House a supplymentary Estimate (BUDGET) must be passed.
        The opposition does not like the amendment because they feel disadvantaged like what happened last election. Claiming bribry and corruption and threatening violence is just a smoke screen. But they cannot prevent DLP people from usuing their own resources to come home to vote. If I am a registered voter I can walk, get a ride, drive, fly, sail or swim without financial assistance from anyone to get to the polls, because that is my right. So how come it can be a bribe if I get help?

    • Gary
      June 1, 2017

      If according to you, the whole issue is elementary, why make such silly comments displaying your ignorance regarding the matter. I’m referring specifically to your third and last paragraph of your comment. If your read the amendment in it’s entirety you would not have written such nonsense. The second part of the amendment was written to dispel and bring closure, and to do that, evidence and proof is needed to establish bribery, saying something amounts to bribery or corruption without evidence or proof is not enough to establish such thing occurred. Assumptions and perceptions are not evidence in a Court of Law. You proclaim your self to be an intelligent person, can you go to Court to prove an allegation solely on an assumption and perception. Stop displaying your pitiful ignorance regarding the matter, read the amendment in it’s entirety. Stop making silly assumptions.

      • “The second part of the amendment was written to dispel and bring closure, and to do that, evidence and proof is needed to establish bribery, saying something amounts to bribery or corruption without evidence or proof is not enough to establish such thing occurred. ”

        Garry the only proof of corruption, and bribery to vote, we need are the people who are alive who Skerrit gave free ticket and food to travel to Dominica to vote labor. We have the proof of the in the aircrafts he and his puppets chartered in the united states to fly his puppets to Dominica to vote.

        We have proof of his clones, and puppets dancing and creaming ten more years in the terminal building when they arrived on the charter flights at Melville Hall.

        You are just too dumb to know!

  23. The Evangelist
    May 31, 2017

    This is one of the very few Rev left in Dominica. He calls wrong by name no matter who is involved. Sadly we have a lot of Reverends in Dominica but they are so blinded by darkness that they can’t even tell the difference between right and wrong. Surely if Dominica had 7 true men of God like Rev. Dr. Watty we would not be in the mess that we are in. let me hear what the Rev fro Canada has to say

    • Gary
      June 1, 2017

      Who cares if there are very few Rev. left in Dominica. Do you think the tittle Rev. bestowed to someone makes them infallible or more intelligent.Rev. have masters who they serve and give allegiance to. To suggest that a lot of Rev. in Dominica are blinded by darkness and cannot tell the difference between right and wrong is some what a childish statement.The problems with so called Reverends, is their egos and title bestowed upon them, believing that they have some kind of moral authority, thinking they are Sheppards, made to guide us. Do you really think that if Dominica had 7 true men of God like men like Rev. Watty our Country would not be in a mess, what ludicrous thing to believe. What makes Rev.Watty a true man of God, is it the tittle he carries, are you not a man of God also. How can seven men given the tittle of Rev. like Rev.Watty save Dominica from the mess it’s in, where is the responsibility of the 70000 people, should we just give it up to seven Reverends, wow.

  24. A blast from the past
    May 31, 2017

    Violence we all say is not the way to go-as we destroy what we have built. On the surface it makes commonsense. However with growing aggression by Medard a once unknown poorly spoken youth who emerged from who knows! has become a thorn in D/ca’s side or soul of a foot. Has to be extracted by any means necessary. Further than even Malcolm X himself would oppose if he like Jesus Christ were to return.
    Skerrit time is overdue it is not a threat but a necessity.
    Comic Grifith in the USA apologized to Trump for her joke here no apologiies for saying he Medard et Al is on over time.
    The current opposition, likewise RASTA, the religious left or right are jokers This inhumane, hostile, ignoramus Neo-DLP has to be extracted from where they are rooted as a pseudo DLP.
    What else could they be when the President and P.Mare by products of the notorious DFP of the 80’s
    I rest my case/The enablers like the opposition are free to respond.
    Dr.Watty said Venezuela’s tides are…

  25. Pioneer
    May 31, 2017

    Hmmm, if only the other religious people on the island had a little of your integrity, Dominica would have been better off for it. Well written and articulate, it tells the truth irrespective of whom it offends.
    Like many of our other articulate and conscious sons and daughters of the soil, who stood up and has taken a stance against this dark raging storm and tempest of bribery and corruption, the mammoth ripples of Caracas will rage on your shore much sooner than on Dominica’s quiet shores. Brace for it.
    Our people have sold their souls and integrity for mere petance and vanity. And did I mention idolatry also? So yes a storm is coming, a very dark storm…

  26. SN
    May 31, 2017

    Well said, Dr. Watty!

  27. Rx
    May 31, 2017

    When a member of the CLERGY meddles in POLITICAL AFFAIRS to influence one side or the other–that is ultimate CORRUPTION and BETRAYAL of the cloth!

    • Xxxxxxx
      May 31, 2017

      Corruption is corruption no matter who does it :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

    • JOSH SHAW
      May 31, 2017

      idiot the man and yes he is MSN before priest only wrote the truth. Go listen to the Thomas giu at the Catholics c church at goodwill. then make your Rubnish comment?

    • %
      May 31, 2017

      No its not corruption…The corruption is paying for those overseas people to vote for you,but those people living on island do not want you.
      SKERRIT MUST GO!
      SKERRIT MUST GO!
      SKERRIT MUST GO NOW!

  28. Shaka Zulu
    May 31, 2017

    No comments. I’m need add nothing to this.

  29. Hendricks ismael
    May 31, 2017

    I am very happy to live in a democratic system where every citizen has the right to voice their concerns . Lately the word corruption is thrown around very loosely . Their is a democratic system put in place by the British where Dr Roosevelt skerritt cannot be corrupted . Here’s why, in the system we have now no prime minister cannot sign a check on his own. And if he can and if he does the entire country is either stupid , insane , lazy , or all are beggars , and you know what I do not think all Dominicans are stupid . Corruption is a form of dishonest or unethical conduct by a person entrusted with money . Dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power , typically involving bribery , the pm has no personal access to money without the ok of parliament . Corruption the process by which something typically a word or expression , is changed from its original use or meaning to one that is regarded as erroneous or debased . Every one should welcome a good debate on good governance .

    • JBaptiste
      May 31, 2017

      Bro! That level of ignorance is frightening.

      • Gary
        June 2, 2017

        I would like to ask you, what is the lack of knowledge Hendricks Ismael has displayed with his comment that is frightening. If Hendricks Ismael has shown to lack knowledge of the things he wrote then give us the knowledge he is lacking fill in the blanks, you seem to have the missing link.

    • JOSH SHAW
      May 31, 2017

      I glad for you and your rubbish. go bk under d stone u crawled out from last night!

  30. Zandoli Claywat
    May 31, 2017

    Brillant pice by Dr Rev. Watty, I am calling on the bishop of my church, Bishop Malzaire to SPEAK OUT against the ills in society which is your job to do.

    • JOSH SHAW
      May 31, 2017

      D so called bishop has mal zeux. Hence he will never see all the ills these criminals have brought to Dominica. I am confident that the rope coming to an end!

    • Gary
      June 2, 2017

      Why do you need Bishop Malzaire to speak out about against the ills in our society. Don’t you have a mind of your own to recognized such things. You got DNO why don’t you write a commentary regarding the ills of society. Do think if Bishop Malzaire spoke about the ills of our society, such ills will magically disappear, what a fallacy. The ills in our society are caused by us and can only be corrected by us.

      What is so brilliant regarding Dr Rev. Watty commentary, is such commentary going to cure the ills in our society.

  31. Laplaine Observer
    May 31, 2017

    Only the blind converted ones will not see this as corruption. We are at a stage of exceptional dictatorial behavior in this country. While we have the third highest unemployment rate in the Caribbean, this regime sees it justifiable to spend millions of dollars to import voters, just to maintain their grip on power.

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