Former St. Lucian Prime Minister Allan Chastanet has urged CARICOM to undertake an independent assessment of the situation in Dominica before deploying Regional Security System (RSS) personnel to maintain order during a demonstration planned for March 19, 2025. His comments come following remarks by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, suggesting the potential need for RSS intervention.
Chastanet drew from his experiences during a public protest by Salisbury residents in 2015 who blocked the E.O Leblanc Highway to highlight their concerns about the poor quality of the roads in their community. He acknowledged that, under a CARICOM treaty, he approved sending St. Lucian troops to assist in stabilizing Dominica during election-related disturbances. However, he later became uneasy with how the troops were being utilized.
“The first day our troops arrived, they were engaged in an incident in Salisbury,” Chastanet recalled. After receiving reports from St. Lucian officers, he issued directives that troops should act only to stabilize situations, not to provoke or restrict citizens. “In hindsight, I would not have sent any troops. If I had, they would have been explicitly instructed to avoid aggressive actions, such as house-to-house operations or restricting Dominicans’ movements,” he admitted.
Chastanet emphasized the importance of respecting civil rights during such interventions. He stated that the RSS should not be used to suppress peaceful protests, which he described as a fundamental democratic right. “The RSS is a stabilizing force meant to support local police when there are genuine threats of destabilization, not to infringe on people’s civil liberties,” he remarked.
The former prime minister also highlighted the broader need for reforms to strengthen regional security cooperation. He proposed the establishment of a fully integrated regional police force, funded by a small levy on airline tickets, to ensure better training and coordination among officers across CARICOM nations. “This would allow police officers from one country to integrate into a regional force, enabling cross-border collaboration and audits of police forces to establish best practices,” he explained.
Chastanet further addressed the ongoing concerns about voter registration and electoral reform in Dominica, linking them to similar challenges faced by St. Lucia and other CARICOM nations. He noted the risks posed by the Citizenship by Investment (CIP) program, where new citizens could potentially influence electoral outcomes. “This is one of the most basic elements of our democracy. If voters’ rights are marginalized through gerrymandering or other means, it undermines the true will of the people,” he warned.
In advising CARICOM, Chastanet stressed the need for careful deliberation. “Before accepting any request for RSS intervention, CARICOM should send a team to assess the situation on the ground, including discussions with protest organizers. Decisions should not be based solely on government accounts but on a balanced evaluation of the circumstances,” he recommended.
The Saint Lucian politician reiterated his intention not to interfere in Dominica’s internal affairs. “Dominicans have the sovereign right to decide their path. My comments are simply meant to share past experiences and provide perspective,” he said.
In the end the people have the power. Those who want to be bought and sold with 0 back bone will affect the lives of everybody else because of their greed.
Chastenet is the very person, when he was PM, who blocked St. Lucians from getting close to the house of Parliament. He instructed police to ensure no protest.
Why is this failed politician talking here?
The RSS is now being used by political rulers against their own people when they become unpopular. This once revered organisation is now being used like a political football by a social club comprised of foul-mouthed thugs, kidnappers, swindlers and unabashed liars.
In recent times Roosevelt has an intimate courtship with his Grenadian and Lucian counterparts. Political expediency indeed!
Chastanet that whitie colonialist agent lacks relevance beyond the elite western spheres that once put him in his position. Fortunately it does not represent the voice of the People of Saint Lucia!
did you read what he said..he did not lie..its you who dont have relevance…move your bombo clat and ras clat..u have no dam dignity…
@ Caribbean Indignity
Chastanet is a bona fide Caribbean man. Just like in Africa we have people of all shades. Some have more melanin than others. Disabuse yourself of that fallacious notion that all descendants of African ancestry are ‘jet’ black.
But did he lie? Your purpose here is simply to try to discredit him based on what? His complexion? Nothing he said here is a lie about Dominica. We have our own internal struggles that WE can take care of ourselves. No need for RSS. Skerrit is a coward and a thief.
Very well said and very sound advice. So let’s just enjoy some good old time calypso of calypso Rose from way back then
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFz-l1fkJ1A
Let’s have a petition in all 21 constituencies where we sign our names to express the abuse of the RSS by the compulsive liar Skerrit, and forward the thousands of names to the leaders of RSS member states, and to other human rights organisations worldwide. For 21 years Skerrit has been ‘throwing stones’ at the opposition, and we have been responding by throwing back at him ‘sponge balls’. That’s bad politics.
Things can’t work like that.
You expose the coward’s evil work worldwide.
if you start it i will sign it
my sentiments exactly. Skerrit thinks that he can do as he pleases. the people of Dominica have a right to protest. His way out is the send police to teargas innocent people. I am happy that someone is standing up to Skerrit. A new enemy on the Block!!!
Very wise and responsible advice. I find it very very strange that we have no war in Dominica, nobody’s life is in danger and for foreign soldiers ro just come to our shores because a very corrupt leader threatens to use his majority in office to legalize thievery and corruption and the caring people of Dominica have decided to have a very peaceful protest. I mean the gathering is for Wednesday and Skerrit already has over 500 local officers that are armed and he can call on to ensure everything is peaceful. Bur because he knows the majority of the local officers will not open fire on citizens uselessly, the Evil one has decided to bring in regional officers to shoot, intemidate and fight against us, knowing damn well that we are not armed. I just don’t understand how a regional body can join Skerrit in his corruption and and send their soldiers to intimidate us
Eh ben Chastenet come out.
Who is denying anyone from protesting in Dominica? Is that what he was told? Who is it that’s threatening to interrupt the business of parliament just because their exact demands for electoral reform were not met “word for word, line by line, paragraph by paragraph” etc. As PM of St. Lucia did he always responded to the demands of the opposition in the manner they always wanted? Is there an honest answer? Is he also opposed to non-resident citizens of St. Lucia exercising their franchise to vote in St. Lucia’s elections? What is his motivation. Talk about open and transparent administration of the CBI. Is the gentleman serious? Where does he live? In Mars? As tough Dominicans are not in tune with the local and international campaign to end our CBI. SMH!!!!
He would do well to follow his own advice. He was PM at one time, not so long ago in St. Lucia. Skerrit is not the reason for his single term, like his hosts here.
I see you as a foreigner trying to tell us what is right for us papa. Play yourself like Skerrat but be advised the time is neigh for you and your god Skerrat to face the music.
The police are. It is been said the no permission was granted to protest outside the parliament building. In reality ABSOLUTELY NO PERMISSION IS NEEDED OR SHOULD EVER BE REQUESTED. A protest is a protest. It is your right as well as it is mine to one day wake up and decide to protest. I do not need to ask anyone any permission as long as i am on public property, not harming anyone or anything, not obstructing the flow of traffic or movement. I have the right to stand infront the parliament building on public property and protest. I do not need to seek any permission. i do not need to be granted any permission. You and i have that right as citizens.
Garcon you are a bold faced liar. You are a Dominican Laborite masquerading as a St. Lucian.
Chastanet is talking nonsense. The cost of inter-regional travel is already high because of many taxes so to add another tax is the thinking of a mad man. I can only laugh at such a reckless statement.
Now he in opposition he seeing things different uh!
No one should be allowed to vote unless they were born on the Island. Only real Dominicans not people who bought citizenship.
That is your opinion, but I will tell you, such opinion is not based on any knowledge of reason,, believe what you want, keep living in a box.
I will see you as a brother and a friend.
thank you 👍
de RSS should just stand and observe……….non interference in our domestic issues relating to our right to vote.
Skerrit is using RSS to suppress de people
Give us our real electoral reform and move from our face
go and open a supermarket or a car dealership for us to see your success out of politics