A 2022 charge of incitement preferred against the political leader of the United Workers Party, Dr. Thomson Fontaine is now committed to the High Court for trial. Dr. Fontaine who is on $75,000.00 bail is accused of inciting violence and obstruction of justice in connection to the February 7, 2017, riot in the city of Roseau.
On that day, the UWP held a meeting on Kennedy Avenue in Roseau calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit succeeding which time, numerous businesses were vandalized in the capital city. Several opposition
members were subsequently charged with inciting violence and obstructing justice.
Charges were brought against other opposition members including former Prime Minister Edison James, former leader of the UWP Lennox Linton, former Deputy political leader of the UWP, Joshua Francis, along with Nicholas George
and former UWP Member of Parliament (now Speaker of the House of Assembly), Joseph Isaac.
While the matter against James, Francis, George, and Isaac has been adjourned sine die (without a set date for resumption), Linton and Dr. Fontaine are left to answer the charges.
On April 23, 2022, Dr. Fontaine was arrested at the Douglas Charles airport on arrival in Dominica, on a bench warrant issued by former Magistrate Asquith Riviere on November 22, 2018, following his failure to appear at two court hearings. He later appeared in court on April 29, where bail was granted to him, and on May 9, the court granted a variation of bail giving him permission to travel to South Sudan where he is currently employed as the Policy Advisor to that government.
One year later, on April 28, 2023, the Preliminary Inquiry into the case against Dr. Fontaine commenced. The prosecutor, Trinidadian attorney Queen’s Counsel, Israel Khan assisted by his son Daniel Khan, informed the court of their intent to proceed with the case by way of paper committal. Consequently, during the committal process, the witnesses’ statements and documentary evidence were tendered to the Court without the witnesses having to testify at the Preliminary Inquiry.
Dr. Fontaine is expected to stand trial before a Judge and jury should he plead not guilty at the High Court.
With regards to the summary charge of obstruction of justice, which Dr. Fontaine pleaded not guilty to, trial in this matter is expected to begin on December 15, 2023, at the Magistrate’s Court. The UWP’s leader is represented by attorneys Cara Shillingford-Marsh and Tiyani Behanzin.
Meanwhile, former political leader of the UWP, Lennox Linton has expressed his dissatisfaction with the procedural delays of his matter. In April when Linton returned to court for the commencement of his matter, the case was adjourned yet again to September 14, 2023. Four Magistrates have since recused themselves from Linton’s case, including Magistrate Michael Laudat who presided over Dr. Fontaine’s matter.
What about the ‘Speaker of the House’??? Has Skerrit granted him immunity??
CORRUPT DOMINICA
Pm Skerrit, must be doing everything right if not he would not have so many jealousy or jealous illiterate jokers against him. Keep the good work going Dr Skerrit, ” let them suckers suck salt and dyed cake.
Cont.
I believe that since this is a political matter which the lower court may have feared the wrath of Roosevelt Skerrit, if they dismissed the matter; hence she/he passed it unto the highest court in the land.
So, now it is up to a judge who reviews and hear maters based on law to either recuse himself, form the case or when it is over and done with to find the defendants not guilty; because there is no case!
Roosevelt is Jealous of Thomson Fountain academics; we know that Thomson earned his Ph.D in economics, he taught economics in a university here in the U . S, we know he was gainfully employed with the IMF; I know at lease one Dominican he taught in his class.
We are very much aware that the British Government called him and offered him a job to help set up a new nation and government in in Sudan, hence he is Dr. Thomson Fountain; his Ph.D is not bought, as Roosevelt scraps of papers bout from a non-accreditation university of Punjab India!
Fountain can Fix Dominica.
Listen to these blue monkeys and parrots singing on the bandwagon, if the boots was on the other foot say for example Pm Skerrit, or any labour ministers there would be
” dancing in the streets.” But again that would never happen Labour party is a respectful organisation, unlike the other side that was built with criminals, vagabonds, hooligans and money grabbers.
I cannot wait for Rossevelt skerrit to face the wheels of justice and sit in a jail and rot . Time will tell, all your evil spells surrounding you will fail and you will meet justice!
That comment (Mine) DNO felt like not publishing.
But I still maintain, THOSE that commits TREASON TO THE COUNTRY must be and should be jailed long ago. No hehe no haha.
Back again with your Bull Snot. Your comments on this forum amount to nothing more than toddler gibberish.
Unfortunately, the only person that commits treason is still running around freely, keeps dividing the country, wins election unfairly and unlawful, doesn’t account for state funds properly…!
Unbelievably, the country continues to pay the rent for his palace and other ‘perks’. How about that. Who is the real Traitor?????
At the moment I have nothing much to say apart from I just hope that they would jail the b******s for a very long time.
To those encouraging and financing such unjust prosecution are reminded; the Evil that men do sure live with them. Time Must tell. Be warned.
Judges, redeem yourselves! Throw out these bogus charges. Let true justice be done.
How do you know the charges are bogus were you there at the time?
This is on of the biggest miscarriage of Justice that has ever been perpetrated on a Dominican citizen.
Dr. Fountaine we support you 100%. God does not give a man more than he can carry.
This is purely political and dangerous for our country to go down this road.
I am calling on the Skerrit lead Government to stop the political persecution of the opposition. This is not good for the country and for our good name as a democratic county.
It seems like we are in some destitute nation in Africa of Asia.
Where are the other defendants like Joseph Issac et al? Travesty of the Justice system if there is still one on Dominica.
Skerrit is jealous of a man who holds a real Doctor degree. SMH
They have the wrong “Doctor.” The Punjab Ducktor is the one of interest. What about him? Ok, the UK and the US will look into capturing this wanted one. Everyone knows who this one is. Tick Tick Ticking 😂😂😂😂
It is clear to everyone that the prosecution (or should I say persecution) of Fontaine and Lennox is purely political. What did these two do or say that was any different from those of the others whose cases were set aside?
I don’t understand why the courts are being used as Skerrit’s personal battering ram.
The incidence of some, including the now speaker of the house, having their cases adjourned sine die, while that of the opposition leader is being quickly expedited raises some very troublous questions about the integrity of law and justice in Dominica. While I cannot “cut my neck” for the leader of the opposition in this matter, we better be careful that justice is seen to be done
If we had gone all out and remove the corrupt Roosevelt Skerrit back then Dominica wouldn’t have been in the mess we are in today and I can assure you that we would not get to the point where we now need a visa to go to the UK. We the Only damn country in the English speaking Caribbean and CARICOM that now need a visa to go to the Uk, a country we once held their passport, thanks to the dangerous Roosevelt Skerrit just as we are the only island that Barclays Bank / First Caribbean had to run from thanks to the corrupt Skerrit.
Now, concerning incitement charges, I was back then a strong supporter of Skerrit and the DLP and I can tell you that there was never any plans by the UWP to overthrow Skerrit. In fact I spoke to a few labor friends of mine back then and they told me that the alleged burning of Roseau on the night of the protest was financed by the DLP . Though there was nothing close to inciting if any of that, Joseph Isaac would be the chief and Skerrit made him Mr speaker
This charge is an absolute waste of tax payers money and just the government way of abusing their power and frustrating the democratic business of politics. The case needs to be thrown out of court. The relevant government ministers need to focus on catching the real criminals by applying the appropriate sentences and look to fix the bias Mickey Mouse judicial system which takes forever to draw the rightful conclusion on every case put before it.
What is going on in Dominica? We set wrong priorities and we are focused on the wrong things. Political acolytes get away with mischief and individuals who trespass against our laws get away with murder and other infringements. Otherwise questionable decisions are being made to discontinue cases. Wow!!! But Dr. Thomson Fountaine and Lennox Linton are being targeted as political threats. Again, I ask what is going on in Dominica? We are retrogressive in our actions because the powers-that-be are incapable, incompetent, misguided, mischievous and evil. We need help but the cultish state of affairs is unfortunately hampering a change in the status quo.
Mr. and Lennox should have been in JAIL long ago.. No hehe no haha
Yes, indeed, Lennox who never thief anything in his entire life of living, nor have we caught him in a tangled web of lies should be in jail!
Nevertheless, the thief who cannot account for billions of dollars, words from his very mouth, should be allowed to walk free to the day he die stealing the billions from the country.
I do not feel sorry for scum of the earth people like you; when I see you all begging people for money to go abroad to get medical treatmem!
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Roosevelt Skerrit stands on apolitical platform and told you idiots when he and his regime, and family are sick they can fly out of Dominica for treatment; but when you all are sick you have to stay here.
Whatever he means by that I don’t know, but the idiots listening to him jumped high and clapped, they gave him a huge applaud.
That’s how stupid your uneducated, kind can’t right a sentence are!
Jail the innocent, and let the liars, and thieves roam free!
…………
So what about Issac?when will his case call?
Why is he still the speaker?
Stay strong our two political heroes.. you all will be vindicated.. and when the dust of labour coruption settles, you all will be….
STALLED TRUCK COUP, COINED BY THE Caribbean’s Starboy of Stupidity!!!
I attended the said meeting. At the end of the meeting i went home and was listening to Dr Fontaine on Q95. I am still flabbergasted that Fontaine is being mentioned in this bogus and vindinctive criminal act.
It would be interesting to find out how many MILLIONS Israel and Daniel Khan have raked from our treasury. No wonder we are still the last in everything in the Caribbean according to Austrie!!
The country lacks proper leadership! Starboy of Stupidity wants no opposition to his destruction of Dominica! He has dismantled even the DLP itself and transformedvit into the Skerrit Labour Party (SLP). But Time Will Tell…!
The majority of Dominicans have remained stoically indifferent for too long and watch Roosevelt harass and crucify the best and the brightest citizens among us.
Once you are brighter than him, self-reliant, speak truth to power, refuse to worship him, he uses the corrupt ‘police’, the corrupt magistrate and high courts, the vast resources of the state to make your life a living hell.
There is no sin that goes unpunished. Roosevelt, you will meet your waterloo someday and it’s not going to be pretty.
This is absolutely unbelievable. Who does that dimple-head from Morne Daniel thinks he is??? If we allow this to happen we might as well give up on our country.
This is egregious. Where are the voices of the people – clergy, law fraternity, the averag Joe? This action is irrefutable evidence that the mutton-head at the helm of government has the people living on the edge of a cliff.
Murderers are walking free for want of prosecution. There is a serious backlog of cases that are on hold for five, six and seven years. Yet the court is being burdened with this phony case. This is the epitome of persecution.
Roosevelt and his worthless missionaries are immaculate sinners. Their day of reckoning shall come. God doesn’t like ugliness.