*Editor’s note* The views expressed in this post are not necessarily those of DNO or our partners.
Why didn’t Hon Lennox Irvin Linton make it to the top office?
Honorable Linton became political leader of the UWP at possibly the worse period in history to be an opposition leader. First, the excessive financial resources of the Labour Party, presumably buttressed by alleged contractual arrangements with sitting government officials of Venezuela, then China, and subsequently the unconscionable milking and exploits from a deliberately ill-managed CBI programme, made financing the challenge by the UWP a case of David vs Goliath.
Secondly, there has been the effective de-spiriting of our constitution and laws by the Labour Party administration for political and commercial gain, including effectively blocking electoral reform, media deprivation and manipulation of the judicial process.
Added to these two significant situations, there are several other less obvious reasons why Dominica did not have the privilege to be led by Hon Lennox Linton.
- Changes in Dominica’s moral compass.
- UWP’s past governance and various internal challenges.
- The effective demonizing campaign of the Labour Party.
- His personality – modest, honest and unwillingness to deal with personal attacks.
- The people’s gullible non-critical approach to propaganda.
The Dominican Electorate’s gullibility in its non-critical approach to propaganda
At the end of the day, this made it. I have often heard people say that they would never vote for UWP led by Hon Linton. More often than not I would challenge the pronouncers for their reasons and ask “why?”
Most often, many persons, including readers here, do not have a clear or decisive answer – they really don’t why they should not. It is a sign that some propaganda has worked effectively.
However, a few would volunteer some reasons often from the propaganda:
- He is not educated. I do not know that Hon Lennox Linton ever paraded his educational exploits to the public. However, a simple web search of Hon Linton would reveal that he “was trained as a broadcaster at the University of Texas Austin.”[1]
Put that knowledge aside, how does one rationalize that Colgate Palmolive, an international corporation, continued to engage an “uneducated” man in its senior management executive team for many years[2]? What is very interesting is that he was already on the DCP’s senior management team while it was still predominantly owned by the Nassief’s. Mr Philip Nassief knew his worth!
It is a fact that at any one point, Hon. Linton had more management experience and education, formal and empirical, than the Prime Minister.
With all the Prime Minister’s accolades, it is very interesting that he did not consider himself educated enough to engage Hon. Linton in one properly moderated public debate. In fact, the Prime Minister’s educational achievements do not even allow him to accept requests from even persons like me, with far less educational and analytical competence than Hon. Linton, to be a guest on his radio show or any public educational experience such as electoral reform.
Hon. Pierre Charles had no formal university education but the record will show that as a leader, he was able to decisively deal with the economic depression of Dominica in the 2003/04 era including the engaging of able technical advice and persons to steady the ship. In contrast, the current university-educated captain has not shown any competence in starting to reverse the country’s economic woes. Much more than formal education is necessary to be a good leader.
(ii). He is not friendly. There are different personalities in life and all are important for a balanced society. Wolves do wear smiling sheep clothing. Some persons may equate friendliness to a sly-dimpled smile, unaware that it may be a cover for malicious intent of destructive potential, devoid of goodness.
Seriousness is not criminal. We don’t have to laugh and smile about everything, even while we are losing our jobs.
(iii) He has not done anything for Dominica. Really? The extent to which the average Dominican is gullible and vomit verbal trash is unbelievable. There are seemingly educated persons who speak as if the country’s taxes are divided between the government and opposition. Only the government is able to legally spend the country’s money on matters approved by parliament. Under our laws Parliamentary Representatives should not have access to government funds unless it is an approved head under the national budget.
The reality is that anything that ought to be done – any failure in development – is the responsibility of the governing party, not the opposition.
Does one have to be a member of a governing political party to do anything for Dominica? Those given a national award but who were not in government – are we to conclude that they got it by fraudulent means: Dr Bernard Sorhaindo, Irvin Shillingford, etc? The superhuman efforts of Hon Linton’s investigative works, and the personal costs to himself and probably his family in those endeavors, are recorded in history and the hearts of the honest. For these alone, our highest National Award would be elevated if he would deservedly been awarded it for his contributions in that area.
His personality. It’s a personality trait that seeks the good and not destruction; hence it is rare for people like this to waste life answering the shallow or wicked. But there are many times when one has to engage the deceitful and expose the stench which erupts from the pigsty.
The gentleman that Hon Linton is often keeps him from presenting anything but just the facts, without any malice or personal attacks or laced self-seeking glorification, something very rare in our politics today.
He apparently was able to instill this deportment in his party, something erroneously considered as weak, but nonetheless at great political cost and sacrifice.
The effective demonizing campaign of the Labour Party
The German Nazi had a propaganda mantra, “A lie repeated often enough will gain belief”[3]. The advisors of the Labour Party and the Prime Minister utilized the skills of the Far-Right German Nazi dictator, presumably one of their mentors, in effectively deceiving a major section of the Dominican public.
Dominicans are a people who trust its leaders and expects them to tell the truth on serious matters. Our governance norms even bestow sitting parliamentarians the title of “Honorable”, a glaring misnomer in today’s political climate where rogues abound.
Immediately after the election of Hon Linton as party leader, the Labour Party went on a relentless campaign to discredit the person of Lennox Linton. This campaign continued relentlessly at tremendous financial costs for well over three months, and still continues to this day.
There were no governance issues or substantive personality deficiencies or questionable traits in these demonizing campaigns. There was not a real comparison of the attributes of the two political leaders. It was simply relentless efforts at disparaging.
It goes to reason that if the Labour Party spends all this time and resources to discredit one man, they have, and continue to recognized that in this man there is someone greater and more suitable to hold the office of the Prime Minister than the incumbent, than what the Labour Party has. So, in their reasoning, he must be destroyed at all and any cost in order to keep focus on the Labour Party and its leader.
Unfortunately, Mr Linton and the UWP underestimated the damage that could be caused, and never lunched either a counter offensive or proper defense. The result is that name-branding like “uneducated”, “unfriendly”, “traitor”, etc, became, for a significant some, synonymous with Hon Linton. It has been an effective, though notably evil, strategy.
Memory and Perception of UWP’s past governance and various internal challenges
The perceived arrogance for the four-year UWP administration did not help either the party or Hon Linton when he took the reins. What are repeated often stays in minds as history and truth.
UWP, was given a chance to govern when the people had enough of the DFP. Unfortunately, their political inexperience and possibly naivety which were manifested by symptoms of an excess of arrogance and overconfidence, overlaid by an effective campaign against corruption, led to its removal from office.
Added to that are the several internal wounds including the: 1. Crossing of the Floor by Loreen Bannís, former deputy leader Julius Timothy, and Joseph Isaac. 2. Public laundry by certain senior members, or those who the public perceived as senior respectable members which, owing to the standard of Hon Linton, only what needed to be said would be said, leaving much food for the insatiable political criminals.
Of course, the desire of several other opposition parties and their leaders for office did not help the cause of unity in purpose. Impatience of those sidelined by government or deprived of public assistance, and those of a more militant nature, also made his journey more difficult.
Changes in Dominica’s moral compass
Notwithstanding that any corruption during the UWP administration is a harmless ghost of what exists today under the Labour Party administration, the campaign against corruption helped unseat the UWP but does not seem to impact fatally the fortunes of the Labour Party. We need to look inside to see how we have become so individualistic, selfish, mendicant materialistic, uncritical of information placed before us, and a pessimistic people with no zeal to prosper, and rather oblivious to the fact that we are being led on a path to be re-colonized.
The accommodative silence of many of our religious leaders has been a great contributor to moral decay, as “an imprudent silence may leave in error those who could have been taught. Pastors who lack foresight hesitate to say openly what is right because they fear losing the favor of men.”[4]
Probably much of Dominica has decided it wants an anarchistic dictatorial monarchy rather than striving to preserve its freedom and democracy.
So, has it been a lost opportunity?
Every journey of good persons is a step in goodness which together, can be a path to right living, freedom, equity, justice and peace.
It is a very reflective time for Dominica – not a day to be sad or rejoice. Dominica is better off for this light in the darkness of our political sphere and is eternally grateful for a true son of the soil. The efforts of Hon Lennox Linton have not been lost by his resignation. On the contrary, it has created a paved path for another honorable individual to move into place to secure the fortunes of this beloved country.
But we must be vigilant, patient and astute as a people. Democracy cannot exist with veiled opportunity to make uncoerced choices amoung the good, rogues, and indifferent.
But let us not be complacent, fierce wolves are waiting – and they elegantly model sheep’s clothes.
[1] http://www.caribbeanelections.com/knowledge/biography/bios/linton_lennox.asp
[2] “He is also a former President of Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce and former employee at the Dominica Coconut Products and Colgate Palmolive Dominica where he served as Corporate Communications Manager, Human Resource Director, Customer Service/Logistics Director and Supply Chain Manager” – http://www.caribbeanelections.com/knowledge/biography/bios/linton_lennox.asp
[3] “Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth”, is a law of propaganda often attributed to the Nazi Joseph Goebbels.
[4] From the Pastoral Guide by Saint Gregory the Great, pope.
Thank you for what?The people’s champion,what people.Anthony Leblanc is one of those free BARABAS and crucify Jesus Christ.Lennox Linton admitted his signature was on the MOU to make a man ambassador within 28 days of him becoming PM,in exchange for $470,000 US campaign money.He say the signature is his,but the contents of the MOU is not his.Linton denies he was in Roseau after the UWP meeting on the night of February 7 2017,but the backstabbing media whore RECORDED him saying”what you see going on will not stop untill Skerrit demits office or resign”………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Roosevelt Skerrit attended DGS,he excelled and went to university,why would Skerrit debate a LOSER?
Big mistake, he was perceived more as a “hater of Skeritt” than an opposition leader.
Another fail among others – Grandbay was handed to him on a platter to begin making inroads into a labor party stronghold, he did nothing there. Are you kidding me? 😳
See you later.
This article is so very well written and loaded with essence of the real critical areas that ultimately keeps Dominica and Dominicans behind (Politically, Economically, Socially) that it reminded me of a quote later turned meme credited to the late great Maya Angelou.
“She was an open book, but he was illiterate”
That’s the problem of many of the supporters of “Party Politics” in Dominica, on both sides. Just sad that those on the DLP side chose to back blind systemic destruction, and the ultimate demise of the people and country. Every other week, Dominica has a protest of some kind, something not going well, poor decisions, neglect, erosion of the institutions and the specialized capacities thereof. I mean, do we need a rocket scientist to tell us something is terribly wrong?
Unless there is education and good conscience among the populace, Dirty Money will continue run things!
Some people have so much hate for Linton yet so much love for one man that hasn’t even built one more crew ship birth since Miss Charles erra. Take a look at Antigua for example. Papa Bird handed over to his son Lester Bird. Within a space of 5 years Lester transformed the market area ,built new megga crewship births. New state off art hospital and the list goes on. Then came Hon Gaston with a few more crewship births to accommodate the bigger Crewships none as the OACIS of the Ocean. New highways, Car packs and the list goes on. All this is within 4 to 8 years not to mention new Deepwater harbor. They all did a bit off what the other Prime Ministers didn’t have time to accomplish. We have a Prime Minister who is in power for over 20 years and can’t even do what these Prime Ministers have done in 1 term. Take a look at Portsmouth and the potential it holds from Long House to the Cabrits. Not even the Crewship Birth is rebuilt or modernize yet you blame Lennox. We must ask…
Lennox Linton stirs up a lot of hate and division on Social Media….broadcasts everything that’s going on with him….like he’s been so unjustly treated. He admits to doing nothing wrong…really?
Dominicans open your eyes. There is no perfect person…Skerritt is not perfect and neither is Lennox. Do not be fooled!
Once again, Mr. Le Blanc, you make a lot of sense. Bravo!
Mr. Anthony E. Le Blanc blamed everyone and everything for the so called “Missed Opportunity?” the UWP party, past leaders, the nations declining morality, those who jumped UWP ship, the current prime minister, the effective cunningness of the Labour party to win elections, Nazi Joseph Goebbels and the list goes on but never did he mention the shortcomings of Mr. Linton himself.
This is what you call a well written BIAS commentary.
This was beautifully articulated, I saw a comment there that underline what was just said, the propaganda has worked. I just have two quotes to add in support to Mr, Hon Linton …
Although the toils of wise people may earn them respect, it is a fact of life that the spirit of the wicked continues to cast its shadow on this world. The arrogant are seen visibly leading their people into crime and destruction. H.I.M
While slander may blacken the reputation it cannot stain the character. That is in God’s keeping so long As we do not consent to sin, there is no power, whether human or satanic, that can bring a stain upon the soul. A man whose heart is stayed upon God is just the same in the hour of his most afficting trials and most discouraging surroundings as when he was in prosperity, when the lights and favour of God seemed to be upin him. His words, his motives his actions, may be misrepresented and falsified, but he does not mind it, because he has greater intrests at stake…
“With all the Prime Minister’s accolades, it is very interesting that he did not consider himself educated enough to engage Hon. Linton in one properly moderated public debate.” News Article
Sir, I beg to differ with this comment of yours. The Prime Minister is a Man for Dominica and Her people; the majority of Dominicans had been with Him since 2004, what reason did he have to go into any senseless debate with Lennox Linton?
What is your thing about him not considering himself educated enough to go into debate with your so-called Hon. Linton? Dominica is not the United States of America!
Also, your commentary did not do any favor to Linton, by using the title “Missed Opportunity”. No one forced him to resign as the Leader of the “United Workers Part”. As far as I read, it was his own choice. And that was a sign of “weakness” and “failure” on his part.
Elizabeth, such are not the words of wisdom coming from someone like you. I mean now you know better.
As long as Roosevelt is given free money, free housing, even free rotten turkey, the crowd will follow him to their detriment!
You as well as the people galvanizing behind Roosevelt, knows that he is a lost cause, the man is unable to attack any foreign investors into the country, even local companies and entities operating in the country long before Roosevelt was born, Roosevelt caused their demise.
You were an elementary school teacher, in the colonial days, I am sure you remember the story of the ” Pie -piper” who used his flute to rid the land of all the rat’s away?
I think what he did next was to lead all the children away, except one, who could not follow because he was lame.
Roosevelt is Dominica’s morden Pie piper, taking Dominica down the long street of misery, and poverty.
Free gifts matters squart!
If I have a job I can help myself: Freeness destroys people.
Dominica politics is all about the individual. The one man show many condemn coming from the DLP is what they support while lending support to their party. Why didn’t Mr. Linton not make it to the top office? The question should be why did Mr. Linton not perform better as leader of the opposition? Talk about repeating lies? Talk about the lies that were repeated over and over again by the UWP against the DLP, I guess nazi tactics were used all around…
Ugly Lenny, supporters are all screwed up they talking about him as if he is a God, what have he done for Dominica or anyone else in his life,
I will answer the questions myself “. Nothing at all apart from siphoning” and crap talking all of his useless life.
I commend you Mr. Anthony Le Blanc for a well articulate piece and brilliant account of D/ca’s political landscape, and about Hon. Lennox Linton – the TRUTH give great aesthetic pleasure reading.
One thing I know for sure is that the word HONOURABLE has to do with people and actions that are honest, fair, and worthy of respect. Hon. Lennox Linton believes in TRUTH and doing the RIGHT thing – and aspires to live up to those high principles.
When you lose a game, it’s honorable to shake hands….. isn’t it! What’s PM Skerrit, Cabals and Acolytes relationship with the man?
Has PM Skerrit ever call for the humane treatment of Hon. Lennox Linton?
Humane people act in a kind, sympathetic way towards other people, animals and plants, and try to do them as little harm as possible? A trait not easily or naturally deduced or introduced by PM Skerrit towards Hon. Lennox Linton.
Respect is a two way street. The UWP under the leadership of Lennox lost two consecutive election to the DLP. Lennox as leader has never conceded or extended congratulations. What is this rubbish about humane treatment of Lennox is he an endangered animal? Is Lennox a God that he cannot be criticized?
A lot of food for thought to which Dominicans should take heed. Dominica is truly lost and morally bankrupt under the Labour party, and later will be greater, a greater loss!
You are the one who is lost. Nobody knows who you actually are and where to find you. Dominica is doing just fine under Skerrit. We are moving on. All you do is spread propaganda and false information. Skerrit remains an indomitable force to be reckoned with. Get a life.
The peoples champion. Sir thank you again, i hope the new learder pickup where you leave off , i remember when you walk from layou river hotel to Roseau thats where the journey started, the new leader am waiting to see where he or she going to start.
I herad skerrit talking a hole bunch of on the radio what i would like the new leader of the UWP to do is to organize a walk from their constituency to Roseau then i will give my opinion.
@JAH KAL, do you truly want the new UWP leader to be like Lennox Linton? If so you are calling for another Leader’s resignation, maybe within less than 9 years this time.
You should have said nothing at all, instead of what you wrote above; such as: “I hope the new leader pickup where you leave off”. What will the “new leader” has to “pick up” from where Lennox Linton left off? Good Heavens!
All these attributes of Dominican society are identical to the electorate of most countries. In the USA, for example, 74 million people voted for a man who is accused of raping a woman in the changing room of a department store in Manhattan, and who was accused by over two dozen women of sexually assaulting them, and who was accused of not paying contractors who worked for him, and cheating on his taxes, and heard on a recording that he grabs women by their private parts, etc, etc.
People are the same everywhere. Dominicans are no different. But you must admit that it is difficult to vote out a government that is giving people houses, electrified the whole island, provided potable water to the whole island, and has given Dominica the best roads that we have ever had.
Thank-you Mr. Anthony Le Blanc. All of this needed to be restated and summarized in a public forum. Hon. Mr. Linton was unfairly characterized, demonized and victimized for far too long by the diabolical, cynical powers that be. We hope and pray that Dominica can rediscover its moral compass. Hail Lennox Linton!
He was no Maurice Bishop. Not even his personality. He was not handsome, therefore, not magnetic. He was diabolical during election campaigns setting everything on fire and blocking roads rendering them impassable.. He was a boom boom fly.
Honest and realistic commentary. Honorable Lennox Linton will not be the first party political leader not to become Prime Minister.
Honorable Michael Douglas of the Dominica Labour Party did not become Prime Minister.
President Charles Savarin of the Dominica Freedom Party did not become Prime Miniser.
Honorable Lennox Linton like Honorable Michael Douglas played their part in national politics as Leaders of the Official Opposition. While Honorable Charles Savarin never did today Honorable Charles Savarin is the President of the Commonwealth of Dominica.
Everyone of us have a role to play in life, we some times think we a the ones deciding on things but in reality that’s the work of God. So thanks to Honorable Lennox Linton and all the best for the future.
You; ds, are just a very foolish person; I wish I could call you stupid; but once again let me expose your stupidity!
“He was no Maurice Bishop.” (ds).
Reading that I almost choked, wondering why that stupid comment, where you mentioned Bishop’s name. I read the whole article again to see if the author mentioned anything about Murice Bishop; the name of Murice Bishop is not written anywhere in that article; so, I wonder what you are referencing by naming Murice Bishop, whose first name you cannot even spell!
Edison James did not teach you guy, as you claimed as far as I am concerned you did not attend secondary school!
He was not as handsome, intelligent, educated, people person and charismatic as Maurice Bishop was. Got it, boom boom fly. You need to be choked.
Hogwash ds, in writing, be it a book, novel or simply creative writing there must be an outline.
Whatever the author have in the outline must be talk about or discuss in detail in some chapter of Whatever is written about.
The author of that article made mention of Maurice Bishop in the debate, so a reader written on anything in that article should be confined to only what is discussed.
And this crap about Lennox was not as handsome, and educated as Bishop is bull!
You are talking nonsense simply to justify your lack of intelligence what you have done is like two people discussing the weather of the of the minute, without a conclusion, when one of the two references an Elephant when the Elephant has nothing to do with the weather.
Ds, only fool calls another person ugly!
You see guy all people are not children of God though we are all his creation, unique in our way.
You may think that you are plenty, but think about what the Bible said about humans and a bit of filthy rag.
What you should be concerned about you are not. Be concerned about your bums falling down one by one. There are more to fall. All you do is run your ugly mouth from the ghettos of Los Angeles. Lennox Linton has failed once again. He is doomed. Now, he can disappear into oblivion. You go along with him with your 10 fake degrees in medicine, electrical and law.
Boy shut up; stop babbling about what you do not know!
California in general is the most expensive place to live in the United States!
I don’t remember seeing a ghetto in California, and just in case you don’t know what is a ghetto, be informed that is part of a city, especially a slum area occupied by a minority group!
Guy the average house in California, cost nine ($900, 000.00), thousand dollars; Anybody buying a house in the city of Los Angeles at this time unless one have more than a million dollars, in pocket or can qualify for a mortgage for over a million dollars, with prospect of paying more than five thousand dollars per month in expense, and mortgage, don’t start buying!
Boy, ds, right now I am sitting in one of my house in a California suburb, it is a 3,000 square foot five bedroom, house with a den in addition to a loft, perhaps larger than the house you are born into!
I spent the weekend here, in the morning; heading to another home somewhere else.
So, shut up!
Keep on writing Tony. Dominica needs more people who can speak truth to power. The number of silly comments on here is proof. As de Hurricane once said “tiway yo si yo pa bon.”
Preach.
By the way ds, I meant the author did not mention Bishop in his/her discussion.
D ip S tick, you sound like a broken record. Absolutely nothing of significance to contribute. Keep on cleaning the white men toilets in the US. The only thing you are remotely good at. The stench surrounding you must be significant!
The white man pays better and higher than the black man. Now mash with that black lives matter.
Lennox was NOT a Communist nor did he have any dictatorial aspirations. So how can you even attempt to compare him with Maurice Bishop. Having said that, it clearly shows that 99.75% of the time you do not know what you are talking about. Actually it’s a fate that you share with all your fellow Labour supporters and Skerrits cabal. It’s amazing the ignorance you people portray, not only on here. Now mash, Rex!
I am comparing his ugly features with the handsome features of Maurice Bishop. Now mash your Philadelphia broke shyster.