UWP to hold public meeting in Roseau

Political leader of the UWP, Edison James

The Opposition United Workers Party will be holding what it describes as a ‘public meeting’ in Roseau on Monday morning as the controversy regarding the election of a new president for Dominica continues.

“We will be gathering as close to parliament as possible to indicate to the authorities that the Constitution must be respected,” Political Leader of the the UWP, Edison James, told Dominica News Online. “We will see what comes out of it.”

Last week Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit made it clear that Dominica will have a new president by Monday, September 17 despite the fact that the UWP has insisted that the nomination process was unconstitutional.

James said the acting commissioner of Police, Daniel Carbon, had written to the UWP concerning provisions in the Public Order Act which states that permission must be granted for the holding of a public procession.

The Public Order Act, which became law on May 13th, 1954 states that anyone who desires to hold a “public procession” must seek permission from the Police Commissioner at least three days before the event is held. If permission is not sought, the event is deemed unlawful.

The Act describes a “public procession” as “any march, demonstration or procession in a public place.”

James said he replied to the acting commissioner but according to him the UWP doesn’t need permission since it will be holding a ‘public meeting’ not a ‘public procession.’

“I told him we will be holding a public meeting and we look forward to the cooperation of the police,” James said. “We don’t need permission for a public meeting because we won’t be having a point of departure or termination as in the case of a public procession.”

According to James the public meeting will begin at 9:00 am.

DNO understands that that section of Victoria Street from High Street to Turkey Lane, will be closed to vehicular traffic from 7:00 am on Monday. James says the new president is expected to be sworn in at 4:00 pm.

The government and the opposition have been at loggerheads since it was announced that the nation’s current president, Dr. Nicholas Liverpool, is to demit office early due to ill health. The government has nominated former public servant, Eluid Williams for the post.

The Opposition’s objection hinges on their position that no vacancy has been declared in the office of the President since the President has not submitted his letter of resignation in writing to the Speaker as required under section 119 of the constitution.

The Prime Minister and Speaker of the House have been strongly criticized by certain members of the public, including  some Dominican attorneys, for the process they’ve employed in selecting a new president.

One of those critics, retired Ag.Chief Justice  of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Sir Brian Alleyne, has stated that while he has high regard for the Government’s nominee, Eluid Williams, he could not accept his election as president because of the constitutionally flawed  process being used to elect Williams.

Prime Minister Skerrit maintains that there’s nothing constitutionally wrong with the process and his decision is based on the Doctrine of Necessity as advised by his Attorney General.

The Doctrine of Necessity is defined by Wikipedia as “the basis on which extra-legal actions by state actors, which are designed to restore order, are found to be constitutional.”

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82 Comments

  1. Grand Bay Girl
    September 17, 2012

    I must say I do not know how the appointment is
    unconstituional.I wish as a Dominican that the opposition would use that same determination and energey to help the Hospital and the Schools to make it better.It seens as so much energy is exerted in these things but not enough to work together for a better Dominica.With all these feud
    going on does not speak very well.I hope things
    work out for the betterment of the country.

  2. Smh
    September 17, 2012

    am so sorry for mr james. live in peace sir, poor mr. john he cannot even talk.

  3. ROSEAU VALLEY
    September 17, 2012

    So, the President of Dominica Mr. Liverpool now submits his official letter of resignation to the Speaker of the House of Assembly in accordance with Section 119 of the Constitution of Dominica, effectively creating a vacancy under Sect.19.1

    But now that we have invoked the doctrine of necessity and set aside the procedure of Sect. 19.1, there is no need to follow the constitution because we are to be convinced that “the due process” required under Sect.19 was already fulfilled before there was a resignation. What an interpretation!

    In this case, according to the government, the need for a “vacancy” before having consultations and “due process” as required under Sect 19, have been nullified by invoking the legal “Doctrines of Necessity” and the principle of “the Generous and Purposive interpretation of the provisions of the constitution.” and on e could add the “Presumption of Regularity”, by virtue of which the Speaker has now issued a certificate of election of the disputed President Mr. Williams.

    AND SO LET IT BE RESOLVED THAT ALL DOMINICANS ARE STUPID EXCEPT FOR ANTHONY ASTAPHAN, DR. HONEYCHURCH, LENNON LAWRENCE, MR. PETERS, MS. ALIX BOYD KNIGHT, MR.LIVERPOOL AND MR. SKERRIT AND THEIR SUPPORTERS.

    Justice Cottle has sworn in, now let another judge decided the constitutionality of this process. Let the court decide.

    Respectfully
    Roseau Valley

  4. heavy
    September 17, 2012

    We should thank God forthis young man for doing such a wonderful job in DA what else u all want from him he came in offfice at an early age and did such a clear view of what it should look like let us just give him a chance

  5. Anonymous
    September 17, 2012

    Your so-called “PRESIDENT”, useless as he is, is not elected, but nominated. So please stop using the phrase “to elect the president”.
    I am extremely disappointed with Orville Liverpool, the outgoing “president”, (and I use the term loosely), for not tendering his resignation according to the dictates of the constitution, with he himself being a notable constitution lawyer of some repute,
    If he had, the dictator Roosevelt Skerrit would have no choice but to follow the constitution in the process of replacing him.
    All this fuss about an office that is completely useless and of no value to a poor country barely surviving at the goodwill and generosity of others.

    • Justice and Truth
      September 17, 2012

      @ Anonymous

      There are some people who are full of words and love to criticize. What have you ever done for Dominica and what are your plans to do something good for Dominica? Do not criticize anyone if you are useless to the country and only live for yourself for it makes no sense. Your words will be mere words with no substance which will bear no fruit.

  6. I'mWondering
    September 17, 2012

    Can someone enlighten me as to why the process is unconstitutional?

    what prrof is there that it is?

    • 100 % Dominican
      September 18, 2012

      To you, ‘I am wondering’, it is quite simple! Go onto a computer and ask someone to help you to google ‘The Constitution of Dominica’ and read through it slowly. It is actually worded so that persons such as yourself, who have difficulty understanding, will be able to understand if you simply read and take your time to interpret it. Come on my friend, give it a try………stop waiting for other persons to tell you what is right and what is wrong when you can very well make your own determination as to what is and is not contrary to YOUR constitution. REMEMBER FOLKS……WHEN U GIVE A MAN AN INCH AND HE TAKES A YARD AND U SAY NOTHING, THEN WHEN U THINK HE IS GOING TO TAKE A YARD NEXT TIME AROUND, HE WILL TAKE A MILE (POSSIBLY A MILE AND A HALF)!!!!!!!!! BIT BY BIT HE IS CHIPPING AWAY AT YOUR RIGHT TO THAT WHICH IS YOURS AND HE WILL TAKE IT ALL EVENTUALLY AND TELL YOU ‘GO TO HELL’ TO YOUR FACE!!!!!!!!!1 Check your constitution yourself my friend! Peace…………

  7. 4progress
    September 17, 2012

    It is really a SHAME to see that people in such powerful positions, some elected and others who are suppose to be educated, who should lead by example have brought us to this crisis. What is the purpose of all of this.

    WHAT EXAMPLE ARE WE DEMONSTRATING TO THE YOUNG. We are told we must follow the law. The constitution may not be perfect, but there a reason for its construction and existence we all need to adhere to. The President, PM et al can not and should not pick and choose which part of the constitution they want to follow.

    The opposition for their part should refer this case to the courts, if the case can not be resolve professionally, respectfully and CONSTITUTIONALLY.

    We must not let the PM have his way, otherwise we can kiss democracy goodbye.

    Mr PM please do not let the 18-3 majority turn you into an arrogant disrespectful person. Show the country how things should be done properly….transparency is the key….try to reach that higher standard for us to follow. Currently your actions are somewhat dubious, lacking style and suspicious.

  8. anonymous2
    September 17, 2012

    Time to change the law concerning public assembly….or it may get changed anyway.

    • 100 % Dominican
      September 18, 2012

      Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, sounds like you want to take away even more of our rights now my friend. Explain yourself. Are you saying that they should change the law to, as is said in the ‘developed world’, CLOSE THE LOOPHOLE in the law which allows us to ‘assemble’ without a ‘procession’? That sounds like what you are proposing…….please expand on your statement………..

  9. Rule
    September 17, 2012

    Edison is schooling Skerrit on constitutional matters. If he had half the knowledge that Edison has, he would not be in that mess he’s in today.

    • MAS
      September 17, 2012

      If he had knowledge of Edison??? Ok so why Edison is not Prime Minister and cannot win an election?

      • ...................
        September 17, 2012

        He is not Prime Minister because of brainless,lazy, Red Clinic beggars like you.

      • Smh
        September 17, 2012

        he cannot win cause he too hated, we aint want a pm who likes trouble. mr james need to pray more. where is his family nah

    • Justice and Truth
      September 17, 2012

      @ Rule

      Wishful thinking and comments on your part. Is this the same Edison James that you are referring to, the one who was not re-elected as PM? Have you forgotten the reputation of Edison when he was PM? People remember it. What happened to your mind that you forgot it, overlooked it or ignored it?
      Who said Edison is more brilliant than the PM? Some of you make such derogatory statements. Too bad there is not a law against that. You would be arrested and charged for defamation of character. :twisted:

  10. Very concerned
    September 17, 2012

    What a shame! Both the government and the Opposition are incapable of leading this piece of Rock.
    Eliud Williams has just been approved as President of Dominica with NO objection and UWP is on the street belching bubbles.
    At this stage I give up, the stage was set for UWP to go to parliament and marsh up the house, if necessary, to protect the Constitution, instead they are on the street with 100 people under the protective arm of the police.
    What a set….! Edison James, Spaggs and all the rest should resign.
    So now we have a President who I will not respect, I will not stand for him, I will not acknowledge him and to be quite blunt, I wish him the most difficult tenure that any President will ever experience.
    He could have salvaged the process by simply asking the powers that be to get it right in the name of God and for Dominica, but he did not.
    The ego of the short man syndrome was too much for such a small favor to Dominica.

  11. jay
    September 17, 2012

    who will pay me for my day when i come and demonstrate?nobody can fire the opposition leaders but i can lose my job……

    • anonymous2
      September 17, 2012

      It will come down to which is more important….freedom or working at a slave job. We all have to eat and earn a living….that is a given….at least for the little people.

    • 4progress
      September 17, 2012

      Money before principles and we expect progress in DA

    • Justice and Truth
      September 17, 2012

      @ jay

      Good question and a sensible one. It would be a waste of your time. You are better off going to work.

    • 100 % Dominican
      September 18, 2012

      The possibility of loosing your job, YES, is a reality. The need for the day’s pay, YES, is a reality. But the prospect of loosing your dignity, your self reliance, your independence and self respect, your right to vote and MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOUR HUMAN RIGHTS is in fact A REALITY! Think about that and organize a demonstration of your disagreement of the processes on a weekend then so as to not loose your days work but YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS AND THE PROTECTION OF THOSE RIGHTS! ONE LOVE………

  12. flower
    September 17, 2012

    To all the Dominician out of Dominica at present and are calling in to Q95 preaching violence, should keep their mouth shut, cause when we put ourself in trouble, they won’t come home to bail us out. They will be happy in America

  13. The truth offends
    September 17, 2012

    An advise to acting Police Commissioner, Daniel Carbon: Danny, as a fellow villager, a very close friend, and supporter of yours, please do not allow yourself to be dictated by Mr. Skerritt and fall into the partisan politics that is destroying our beatiful island.
    Furthermore, as a law officer, you need to understand the Public Order Act(POA), and seek to protect it and not Skeritt. You sure embarrassed me and the rest of your friends, villagers, and supporters in your letter to Mr. James about POA showed the public your lark of understanding of of a very basic act that even an elementary child should understand.
    As a friend let me help you understand the differnce between a ‘public procession’ which you corrected coated in your letter and a ‘public meeting. A public procession is something moving slowly down a main street, like a parade, march,pargeant, caravan etc. That’s is what the POA of 1954 is addressing. That is not what UWP is having. A public meeting does not require any permit. If that were the case, all of our churches would be braking the law because they are ALWAYS on the road side keeping public open air meetings Ok Danny. Do not go and further embarass us by making stupid arrests today!

    • Anonymous
      September 17, 2012

      stop embarassing your self with your weird spelling and grammar “lark?!?”

    • Justice and Truth
      September 17, 2012

      @ truth offends

      This also goes for you. Why do you not write personally to the Police Commissioner?
      You have advice for others. What about yourself? You are not perfect. Do you accept constructive advice from others?

  14. Too Hard Too Long
    September 17, 2012

    Why is it that every single decision that is to be taken by our leaders has to be cloaked in a cloud of disrespect, fighting and negativity? I sit on the sidelines and I am appalled at the behaviour of these people who are supposed to be guiding the country to success.

    We are undergoing a simple change – a change of Presidency. this position is supposed to be the highest office in the land. For the past few years so many objections have been raised about the role of the presidency, that it’s very existence is now being called to question. Instead of President Liverpool trying to right this wrong, he is now, apparently, sitting quietly back watching an unnecessary drama unfold before the eyes of the rest of the Eastern Caribbean and the whole world. Why? Why? Why? The world is watching, the taxpayers are watching and our children are watching and learning. What exactly are you leading us to? You can’t even do this simple thing without fighting.

    We the people of Dominica, do not want to be laughingstocks. We deserve leaders who respect us and or hard work. President, prime minister, opposition leader and all the others – we deserve some respect. Leadership requires humility and service and it is now obvious that you do not possess these qualities. If you all take the time to stop and look around you will notice that we are now like sheep without a shepherd. Everybody is now doing their own thing to survive.

    Personally, I believe the time has come for ALL of you to step aside. You have failed us. We deserve better. Our island is in desperate need of a new group of statesmen and stateswomen who are ready, willing and able to LEAD.

  15. Bawi man
    September 17, 2012

    Looking for chaos and confusion. That is the matra of the UWP. look for trouble, disrupt everything any where and everywhere. The end justiy the means. That is the philosophy of teh UWp uder Eddison James. That is why he willnot want anybody other than himslef or his hand chosen disciple to lead the UWP.

    After Lemnox embarassed Spaggs and kicked Earl Williams out of the UWP, the UWP held a hasty meeing inSalisbury on saturday to pacify the Salisbury folks and gues who was the “guest” speaker – Lennox Linton. He was very endearingto Spaggs. For him Sopaggs was a nationalist, a hero for refusing to agree with Skerrit. Too little to late.

  16. Citizen K
    September 17, 2012

    All over the world people are taking to the streets, Chicago, China, Spain, The Midlle East, and Dominica is no exception.

    Jesus is coming soon!!!

    When the world seeks peace, this is when Jesus will make his appearance.

  17. The truth offends
    September 17, 2012

    Please Mr. James and the rest of the opposition parlementarians, we want you all to go to the house today and make it known the public and those who respect our constitution know that you stand for justice. It would be a serios blunder to bouycott the house today.
    Please go to the house, and allow us to keep the meeting for you, We have enough strong and educated people in the opposition and therefore are well able to keep a street meeting while you all fire from the house of assembly. Please understand that the opposition is not just comprised of UWPites but there are freedomites as well as enlightened labourites, who together want to see justice in DA, and we will not allow Skeritt, Bouyd Night, and the AG to continue disrespecting our constitution.

  18. LATITUDED810
    September 17, 2012

    DESRESPECT EVERY OFFICE,PRESIDENT,PRIME MINISTER,JUGDE,PRIEST,PASTOR,BISHOP, AND YOU EXPECT TO GET MORE VOTES PAPA MET PAP MET, THE FLOCK WILL WIP YOU IN 2013 ELECTION

    • ME
      September 17, 2012

      what are you saying exactly?

  19. Mr. Jedi
    September 17, 2012

    Morning Dominica,

    Did you know that only the president can dissolve parliament in order to call elections?

    Did you know that the president does not want to dissolve parliament until the UWP – DLP court case is resolved?

    Did you know that if new elections were to be held the previous case against the DLP would have to be dropped?

    Did you know that the president has one more year in his term?

    Did you know that i find this all very amusing?

    Did you know that most dominicans don’t care, once a sea-wall or road is built?

    but yet allu don;t like the chinese…. tsk tsk tsk

    Good Day Folks

    • anonymous2
      September 17, 2012

      Keep the information coming.

    • 100 % Dominican
      September 18, 2012

      I agree with you my friend………this has something to do with something else coming through the pipeline effectively. There is more coming our way around the court proceedings in November. There is more to come from the IPO (I expect nothing from them as it relates to their ‘investigation’ into the PM and his financial dealings). There is more coming regarding freedom of speech and freedom of expression (extensions of the ‘THIS COUNTRY IS TOO FREE’ and the ‘DON’T WORRY, WE KNOW THEM AND WHERE THEY LIVE’ and ‘ONE DAY THIS NONSENSE WILL COME TO A STOP’ statements by the PM. Watch out and keep an eye on the developments Dominica! It is going to get worse and ANYONE and EVERYONE could get caught in the nets. We watching…….

  20. tommy
    September 17, 2012

    Unfortunately Eluid will inherit a presidency that is tainted with controversy. That will prevent Him from effectively carrying out the office with the dignity it deserves.

  21. ROSEAU VALLEY
    September 17, 2012

    PLEASE GO TO PARLIAMENT – GO TO PARLIAMENT

    Edison, Prevost, Hetor, Lugay, Isidore, Bazil et al should go parliament and physically try to stop the election of the President. Fight for your rights in the inside while the people protest on the outside.

    I see parliamentarians in South Korea throw fist punches in the Senate for much lesser matters.
    The elected and nominated opposition members of the House should represent. They must go to parliament and try to stop the Speaker from swearing in Mr. Eluid Williams.

    Edison, Prevost, Hector, Lugay, Isidore, Bazil et al please go Parliament – Disrupt the process. If that fails walk out or let the Speaker charge you with contempt of parliament but in any case, you will not be part of this mockery of our constitution.

    Go to parliament- let the people protest outside.
    Respectfully
    ROSEAU VALLEY

    • ROSEAU VALLEY
      September 17, 2012

      I heard Mr. Frampton and Tavernir on Q95 expressing a view that the presence of the UWP in Parliament will give legitimacy to the unconstitutional act…….No Gentlemen! Whether or not the UWP goes or stay out of parliament the process will continue because of the 18-3 super majority.
      This has to be physically stopped
      The opposition must represent us in parliament by stopping this nonsense. By their conduct and utterances in parliament the record will show that they were not in any way , shape or form giving support or legitimacy to this unconstitutional act.
      Staying out will result in nothing. We must fight fire with fire and unconstitutional actions by any means necessary. What is this about -do not behave like them. If a man is attacking you with a sub-machine gun, why use a stick to defend yourself?
      This is not a normal situation. We are now under an unofficial state of emergency being governed not by the constitution but by “Doctrines” and ancient legal principles used to prop up dictators. Be smart, do not be shameless. Be aggressive and assertive out of pure Necessity, which has now ousted the Constitution.
      Please. Stop being docile and submissive

      Respectfully
      ROSEAU VALLEY

      • ROSEAU VALLEY
        September 17, 2012

        As Frampton himself has observed if you want to meet the bull dog minister Austrie ..you must go down to the gutter at his level to meet him…same analogy. Go to Parliament and face up to Alix and Skerrit…Please.. you will regret it if you don’t

      • Anonymous
        September 17, 2012

        Who beat you, you crying???LOL. Garcon, why all you blues always fighting amoung all youselves?? That is what headless leadership is about. No one can lead from the front. Really sorry for the UWP!!!!

    • rolling eyes
      September 17, 2012

      go nah…

    • Jokers Wild
      September 17, 2012

      Oh come off it!! Deh too lame and childish to come up with credible policies of action.

    • Justice and Truth
      September 17, 2012

      @ Roseau Valley

      What right? Do not confuse the gullible. They had the opportunity to present their candidate within a certain time frame and they failed to do so.

  22. Peace
    September 17, 2012

    The final say is always with the government to elect the President. Thats the best part. God Bless the PM and Dominica.

    • Puzzled
      September 17, 2012

      yes, you are correct.However that is when they follow the due process of the constituiton

    • BAD MIND
      September 17, 2012

      GOD bless all dominica i can see its on your side so pray that you well all time see the PM on the good side i pray that he and the rest keep doing things the way you love it good or bad all things are just for are time hope you know that the thing i see in dominica is as long you dont say what ppl want to hear you have are problem with the Goverment and thats not are good sing

  23. Anonymous
    September 17, 2012

    From a realistic point of view, the police should simply prepare for any eventuality, including protests or violent protests. I think they should just prepare and allow uwp and their followers (dcans) to express themselves. We live in a free country and there should be enough police to deal with that. Even at short notice. This is not to say I agree with how uwp handle things but Dominica too small for all this drama. We live free

    • anonymous2
      September 17, 2012

      Unfortunately, DA in not that free in the respect that you describe.

  24. ROSEAU VALLEY
    September 17, 2012

    Democracy

    Ironies of Ironies, while the OAS celebrates International Day of Democracy, we in Dominica are struggling to inject life into our constitution and to keep our democracy alive and well.

    The Secretary General of the OAS should take this golden opportunity to extend a special and urgent invitation to Mr. Skerrit and his political and legal advisors to renew the challenge to strengthen, promote and fight for the effectiveness and development of democracy in light of the struggles of the peoples of Dominica.
    The leadership of Dominica, including the Head of Gov’t and the Head of State have apparently not recognized or acknowledged the great pains, respect and value that the people of Dominica has sacrificed for their freedoms. Consequently, our government must exercise more tolerance and pluralism of divergent views in this country.
    Without a doubt the time is right to strengthen our democracy, for those of us who believe in our constitution and our democracy are absolutely convinced that it is the business of everyone.
    The Secretary General of OAS should be made to understand that in Dominica we are rapidly sliding down a dangerous precipices of unconstitutionality, lead by a rogue administration.
    In 2012, we are still fighting over basic interpretations of our constitution and debating whether we should inject truth into our politics and whether we should adhere to our constitutional provisions, whether we should defend our fundamental constitutional rights and whether we should respect the rule law.

  25. save our children
    September 17, 2012

    Uwp will not be welcomed on high street.i Thereforeadvice them to keep their meeting in the gardens.

    • teena
      September 17, 2012

      oh shut up!!

  26. ROSEAU VALLEY
    September 17, 2012

    The meaning of the word “WHENEVER”

    I am just a simple, ordinary citizen from the ROSEAU VALLEY. I do not know English as well as Dominica’s English AG. However, we have schools in the Valley and parents and teachers are diligent in ensuring that dogs do not eat the recess bought from J. Astaphan’s & Co. Ltd.

    So please allow me, as a product of the education obtained in the Roseau Valley to invoke the doctrine of necessity in advising the AG of Dominica of the meaning of the first word of Section 19 of our constitution. We the People of the Commonwealth of Dominica understand that the AG does not comprehend the meaning of the word “WHENEVER”

    Well Sir, WHENEVER, you come to your senses and recognize the value of your manhood, I am afraid that you will understand the meaning of the word- “whenever” as used in Sect. 19 of the Constitution.

    AT THE RELEVANT TIME, when you wake up from your deep, comatose state, you will realize that Dominicans have a reputation for dealing with their AGs in a certain manner, when these AGs fail to implement our constitutional provisions.

    AT WHATEVER TIME, you were to receive your LEC to practice law in the region, you will realize the benefit of having the legal training of a UWI trained Attorney.

    AT ANY TIME WHEN, you realize that you are no longer free to walk the streets of Roseau, you will understand the meaning of “whenever”;

    AT EVERY or ANY PARTICULAR TIME that you Mr. Peters were to be true and honest with yourself and your profession, you will understand that WHENEVER anyone decides to repeatedly violate our constitution, the coolwash bridgade shall be legal;

    WHENEVER you realize Sir that you are a functionally illiterate boy occupying the office space set aside for the Attorney General of Dominica; and

    WHENEVER you get it right, you will realize that there is no need for me to explain the meaning of the words “Vacancy” or “Resignation” as the earlier you understand this- the faster you should immediately resign- fold and disappear into the unknown.

  27. ROSEAU VALLEY
    September 17, 2012

    Unify the leadership of the Opposition

    I plead with Mr. James and the UWP that the time is right without any further delay to consider the immediate unification of the office of the Leader of Opposition and the Political Leader of the UWP.

    Respectfully
    Roseau valley

    It is time that Mr. Skerrit face up to his nightmare and greatest of fears when consulting with the Leader of Opposition as the constitution demands him to do.
    Respectfully
    Roseau Valley

  28. Doc, Love
    September 17, 2012

    The attorney general should be fire for telling Dominicans and the rest of the world that the letter sent to Skerrit by the president concerning his intended resignation was a red herring letter.The meaning of red herring is, “something intended to divert attention from the real problem or matter at hand, a misleading clue.” :lol:

  29. Anonymous
    September 17, 2012

    Garson,look roro in my beautiful Dominica.What does the Attorney General means by a red herring letter. He said that the President’s letter to Skerrit was a RED HERRING LETTER.Skerrit should fire the attorney general for telling Dominica and the world be extension that Skerrit is so stupid that in accepting that letter he doesn’t know the different between an authentic letter and a red herring letter.Even the speaker was fooled by the red herring letter.

  30. DESIE
    September 17, 2012

    Eddo i do not want to DEMONSTRATE.
    I want you to hold a meeting, and tell me you going to put duty free in Dominica or at least 30% duty.
    Things are just to expensive.
    Tell me you are going to build Factories.
    Tell me when Gadakan Contract over in Colihaut you will not give him a next one and make it a state owned quarry.
    Tell me the plan for the International airport is still there.
    But the #1 choice is the Dutyfree that will attract investors so more work for us.
    you guys will make more money on your tax, We need tax so you can leave it.
    So next election you will not make us go online and look for manifesto cause we know your plans.
    The opposition tired Demonstrate & never gaining nothing from it.

    • LMAO
      September 17, 2012

      He hasn’t got time for putting forward real oppositions policies, he’s too busy balling in the streets and carrying on like a child!!

      Please, there must be a bright young and astute mind that can form a viable opposition, this current batch are just too backward in their approach!!

  31. ME
    September 17, 2012

    I think it’s time THE PRIME MINISTER stops acting like a child and do things in order!!

    FED UP OF ALL THIS RORO!

  32. Cosco
    September 17, 2012

    This is simple.

    All the general public has to do is tonot respect Eliud Williams as president. He will quickly become a lame duck.

    So basically every function when calls are made to honour the president all that has to happen is for people to stay sitting, or to not acknowledge him in their opening remarks.

    Let this happen everytime and he will be embarassed enough into a dead end.

    And I dont have a prblem with Mr Williams but maybe this is asking too much for Dominicans, spineless as they are.

    Basically they voted for the crap they gettin.

    • langsal
      September 17, 2012

      i love that, lame duck hahah president lame duck

  33. T mama
    September 17, 2012

    Have your meeting self…stand for rights of DA..if all you were not saying anything, it would be another story…Democracy forever…

  34. Very concerned
    September 16, 2012

    Part 2
    The Red tribe is determined to go to parliament to confirm Eluid Williams as President with no law, no constitution to stop them and the Blue tribe says they will demonstrate, but the Police has already issued its order that Victoria Street will be a restricted area between Fort Young Hotel and Dowasco, therefore any protest will be restricted to Peebles Park and New Town Savannah. Parliamentarians will not even know a demonstration is taking place on the outside.
    By the end of Monday, Eluid Williams will be sworn in as President of Dominica with a visible section of the population taking objection. So President Williams will preside over the office for the next twelve months with the expectations that he will be subject to insults and disrespect by those who objected to the process. Such insult and disrespect will be demonstrated in the refusal to stand and deliberate walk-outs upon the arrival of the President at official functions, criticisms on political platforms and talk shows and general disrespect for the president at any given opportunity.
    The Opposition protest on Monday serves no real purpose if all they intend to do is to stay out of parliament and raise their voices. As soon as the vote is taken and the Speaker signs the Order, the process is irreversible, No Law, No Constitution, No Court can take the presidency away from Eluid Williams until he resigns or his term expires next October. So the Opposition has to reel and come again, another battle lost! Don’t play with the Red Tribe. The War Lords who advise the Prime Minister have his back covered whereas the Elders of the Blue tribe have lost all their strategizing skills.
    So there is no winner and the biggest loser is Waitukubuli. Our children are witnessing the debacle of adults fighting each other for the election of the highest office of the land. The behavior of the top echelon of the nature isle is revealed in its most despicable way, from the outgoing President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the House, the Leader of the Opposition, the Attorney General, the new president and all the others on both sides of the aisle, and we expect students to show respect to their teachers and violence at schools is unacceptable.
    At one time in Dominica’s history the word COMPROMISE was highly acceptable and politicians were prepared to dialogue with each other, not at each other behind the microphone of combatant radio stations. The last such dialogue was in January 2000 when former Prime Minister Edison James squared up with Roosie Douglas in a debate, twelve years later our politicians have not seen the merit in sitting together in a public forum to discuss with each other.
    Sir Brian Alleyne volunteers to give a professional opinion in his capacity as a retired acting Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and a Minister of Government, Reginald Austrie, takes Sir Brian to pieces ordering him to “Shut Up and go to the toilet at Belfast”, I will reserve my comments on that episode only to mention that in any other Caribbean Island, particularly Barbados and Jamaica, the Minister would be now history.
    There is a simple solution to the ongoing presidential “Roro”; President Nicholas Liverpool simply sits with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, informs them that he intends to resign, advises them to make the necessary arrangements for his successor and within twenty one days all should be settled. The tribes decide on a joint nominee or they decide to go to the tribal council, whichever way, Eliud Williams is President and the country continues on its normal path. However, with my ignorance, I do not consider the urgency of having a new president Now or Never, but again I am not an internet child, I grew up learning to take my time, wait my turn, good things come to those who wait but not to those who wait forever.
    But NO! There must be a tribal war to show who rules the jungle! Any compromise on the part of either side will indicate a sign of weakness, so the war between the tribes continues, the office of the president continues in the Presidential Roro and Waitukubuli becomes the laughing stock of the world because this confusion is completely unnecessary. In fact it is disgusting!

    • Anon Again
      September 17, 2012

      Dear Very Concerned, I do not normally read through comments as lengthy as yours. I read your entire piece because you make so much sense, it was so mature, which is something we don’t get from our leaders involved in this process. So, thanks for restoring my sense of optimism. Just when I thought all was lost with my country, you came up with this. Thanks again

    • winston warrington
      September 17, 2012

      Very Concerned, this is a very thoughtful summary of the conditions surrounding the election of the President. I doubt, however, that Dominica is even marginally important to the rest of the world for its petty shennanigans to stimulate any interest.

    • Proud
      September 17, 2012

      You could not have said it any better! If only the majority of Dominicans (including the powers that be) were not so blinded by party and politics! If only we were mentally free! Then we would have a nation the world would respect instead of them laughing at us every chance they get! (Not like we don’t give them countless opportunities!) :(

      • anonymous2
        September 17, 2012

        The world doesn’t pay much attention to DA. I do agree with you that the majority of people are not free thinkers and have to align themselves with the mind control antics taught in the schools and society……namely the rah, rah for this team or that…..or we are number one, etc.

    • Sweet Carib
      September 17, 2012

      Well said!!! I wish I could give u 100 thumbs up on tht statement. All of this roro will never go away till they learn to compromise..
      Key word is COMPROMISE

    • anonymous2
      September 17, 2012

      Revolution is coming worldwide, if the peoples of the world want to survive and be free of the oppressors.

    • 4progress
      September 17, 2012

      @ very concerned…I wholeheartedly agree 100% with your observation, but I fear the importance and principles of democracy is slowly being diminished because the PM has a 18-3 majority.

      This could only to electoral apathy as some will see this action as step leading to dictatorship.

    • ROSEAU VALLEY
      September 17, 2012

      Not so fast ——–As soon as the vote is taken and the Speaker signs the Order, the process is irreversible, No Law, No Constitution, No Court can take the presidency away from Eluid Williams until he resigns or his term expires next October. So the Opposition has to reel and come again, another battle lost!

      Not so fast cowboy! Don’t be sucked into Tony’s lies. The constitution is not that empty and weak. For every legal or constitutional act there is a presumption in law that it is done properly and executed regularly and in accordance with due process.

      The good thing about such presumptions is that they are always rebuttable to the extent that the one who challenges the presumption can adduce sufficient and relevant evidence to show that the presumption cannot hold true- making the process void as contemplated under Section 103 of the Constitution…..read the requirement in the constitution calling for “due process” giving jurisdiction to the High Court.

  35. Very concerned
    September 16, 2012

    PRESIDENTIAL RORO AND POLITICAL TRIBALISM
    I witness with much pain and agony the ongoing tribal war between the two opposing political tribes on the issue of acceptance of a President for the Commonwealth of Dominica. I deliberately use the word Acceptance because with an 18 – 3 majority, whoever the government chooses will become president, including Buffong. What has proven to be a very simple exercise in all the other Caribbean countries, and in Dominica until now, is becoming so controversial that it appears that the end result will be a President who will be the subject of ridicule, insults and disrespect from one side of the tribal divide and admiration from the other.
    The office of the president is supposed to conduct the respect of All Dominicans and the person who holds the office is suppose to be color-blind and impartial. The qualifying word is Suppose.
    The resignation of President Nicholas Liverpool presented a much needed opportunity for the government and opposition to demonstrate that a certain level of civility still existed among our politicians but, regrettably, this will never happen.
    How can such a simple procedure go so wrong and create such confusion?
    I am no legal luminary, not even a student of letters, therefore I will not even venture into the semantics of interpretation of the provisions of the constitution. So I will give my bit as a layman as I understand the situation.
    President Liverpool should have informed both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition of his intent to resign and allow them the opportunity to prepare for the election of a new president. The fact that President Liverpool only informed the Prime Minister who in turn informed the Leader of the Opposition, verbally, is the beginning of the comedy of the absurd.
    The Leader of the Opposition obviously did not do his homework so he responded to the call of the Prime Minister for consultation and left the meeting in high spirit, yes everything seemed to be o.k. Then he realized that the Prime Minister had bowled him a googly, the P.M. had no letter of resignation, neither did he have the authority to summon parliament, this responsibility lies in the hands of the Speaker of Parliament.
    So the Speaker summons parliament but she has no letter of resignation and the Prime Minister decides the letter from the President is between “He and Him”, therefore he will show it to no one. Parliament had to take the Prime Minister’s word and shut up. Well from there all hell break loose. So we fast track to Monday 17th September 2012, D-Day.

  36. Very concerned
    September 16, 2012

    Garcon go to Parliament for me to see all you on TV and for my sister in Canada to see all you on the internet fighting for a just cause.
    While de government grand styling in parliament for the world to see all you going to be talking to de Sea?
    Garcon, according to Pastor B.J. Zor toe Sort! Go to de parliament and make some noise, then I will join de meeting satisfied you fight for me. By de way, this is not a UWP thing eh, this is for DA.
    You know all school children laughing at all you? Big men and women, the highest power in de land cannot even elect a President that have nothing to do than to cut ribbon. What if de president had real power? It would be blood flowing!
    Edison go to parliament eh garcon for you to become a hero, this meeting business is a pappyshow.

  37. Right thing to do
    September 16, 2012

    The ongoing controversy over the position of President, although revealing the spirited and opinionated nature of our people, is also showing some people up as lacking the goodwill even to listen to what makes sense for the Country. All HR people should be itching to see the related clauses in the Constitution revised to reflect today’s realities of hiring an executive officer or director.

    The Constitution was developed under duress by imperfect men and women at a time that was quite divisive in our nation’s history. Like all man-made guidelines for harmonious societal living, it is long overdue for a revision that would better reflect the realities of our people in these times. How can the president’s contract have no “out clause” in case he is not performing as expected or if he wants to quit before his contract expires?

    If President Liverpool resigns tomorrow morning, then there would be a vacancy. According to the Constitution, it is only at that time that a replacement can be sought, firstly by the PM consulting with the Opposition leader and if there is no agreement on the nominee, the matter goes to Parliament for a vote.

    The messages here are very simple: no advanced preparation is required to fill the post of President when he or she intends to resign and that position can remain vacant as long as it suits the Speaker of the House.

    So what is the controversy really about: is it the PM’s failure to follow the sequence of actions as stated in the Constitution OR is it that if this “breach” of the Constitution is allowed, then it somehow grants permission to “breach” other aspects of the Constitution, such as the required criteria for nomination to contest elections? Which is it?

    Finally, if I were in the place of either the PM, Speaker of the House or Mr Eluid Williams, to bring some peace to this situation, I would let the stated Constitutional process take effect. It is not too late…and besides that: what is in a contract, is in a contract, even if it makes no sense to the spirit of what could have been intended.

  38. domnichen
    September 16, 2012

    No matter what the law say Skeritt not going to worry with alu , Eluid will swear in as president and business as usual continues,Haven’t domincans seen that there is no body or group who can make skerritt change his mind when he decides to do something, alu just wasting time

    • Looking in
      September 17, 2012

      Have no fear, there is a group or a few bodies that will make things right…’the people of Dominica’. When Dominicans had enough, they react…and that time bomb has been brewing for some time now. There is the Law of the Land to be guided by, and if those in authority refuses to heed to it, so will the rest of the nation. I hope I wont be there when that bomb burst.God bless Dominica.

  39. No Name No Warrant
    September 16, 2012

    Oh Lawd, the Bacanalist is havin another meeting….The guys from Marigot have hijaked Hector and the UWP

    • Cosco
      September 17, 2012

      You fool.

      You worrying about who hijack UWP when a set of people pimping the country.

      • No Name No Warrant
        September 17, 2012

        Man you all just interested in roro and …no wonder the uwp is looking so ugly now.

      • Anonymous
        September 17, 2012

        @ Cosco why u always calling people name when u don’t side with there viewpoint?some of the crap u post on here i don’t agree with i won’t call u name’s,didnt edo pimp the the country where were u then one thing we dominicans always think we have it worst till we go out there then we say how much we miss home.Personally i think the PM should have done this the right way am an avid fan of his work not him personally.

    • DIDI
      September 17, 2012

      Are you making any sense?

    • Citizen K
      September 17, 2012

      I guess its more sensible to stand up for what you believe in than to go on a rampage on the radio. A people must stand up for the integrity of their country, if they don’t do it then who will.

    • MeT Yo
      September 17, 2012

      lol…you can never come in Edison James foot. Be is educational background, work experience or his solid track record of performance.

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