Once again, in a desperate attempt to scapegoat the industrious people of Bawi, another ludicrous episode of a series of harassments has been perpetrated by the government on them. Let the truth be known, however, that these seemingly customary issuances of summonses are nothing more than the PM’S tactics of using the Salisbury Constituency to set a precedence.
This scaremongering strategy is twofold: Firstly, Roosevelt Skerrit may be hoping that by frequently mandating the villagers to appear before the court of law, he would, in effect, succeed in instilling fear and embarrassment in them. This fear, he probably believes will serve as a preemption to any future protests against perceived acts of injustice, corruption and the like. Secondly, the PM, it would appear, is using the Salisbury farmers as an expedient ‘ace in the hole’ to deflect or detract Dominicans’ attention from the real pressing issues facing the country – such as his ineptitude – and the persistent deplorable state of the economy.
This onerous ongoing saga was precipitated by aggrieved hard-working farmers of the community, exercising their inalienable rights, on May 11th, by peacefully taking to the streets to protest prolonged dereliction by the government. The planters had simply been advocating for proper farm roads to enable them to access their farmlands, so they could provide for their families – and the nation, by extension. In return, these earnest villagers were met with assaults by Skerrit’s deployed militant police, when they discharged bullets and expired teargas canisters. Even innocent residents were discomforted by the gas, and some homes severely damaged by stray bullets.
Subsequent draconian treatment of the people of Bawi which ensued – beginning on June 11th (precisely one month later) to present – have been relentless. The constant evocation of reasons to issue summonses to Salisburyans has been nothing short of victimization. Conventional wisdom seemingly is that this fixation by the Roosevelt Skerrit Administration on prosecuting innocuous farmers, however, can only be attributed to retaliation. Some may argue that the never-ending harassments could be due to the constituents’ past history of denying the DLP their votes during elections as well. Another reason for the authorities’ unwelcome attention may be their innate independent nature – which do not conform with the principles of a quasi-dictatorial system of total dependency on government. These qualities could potentially be working against the villagers.
But…..this continuing demonstration of heightened insensitivity and antipathy by the government in relentlessly pursuing the people of Salisbury, can prove consequential. Largely, most ingenious Dominicans – particularly those living at home – are frustrated and disheartened by the static state of the economy – with no foreseeable chance of improvement in the near future. People are languishing due to lack of job opportunities, hence little or no independence or empowerment. As a consequence, local citizens, predominantly men, resort to violence, such as murder, robbery, and suicide – as well as sexual abuses – perpetrated against women and young children. To further aggravate the Bawi farmers by continuously tormenting them with repeated court appearances, can potentially result in the people’s frustration reaching the dreaded tipping point. Underestimating the power of the masses would be a huge mistake by the government.
Could Bawi be the catalyst?
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Salisbury people broke the Law so they must pay the consequences. Police made the arrests, not the Prime Minister. If they do not pay the consequences then the rest of Dominica would think that it\’s lawful to stage dangerous protests as this especially for the band of criminal who instigated it, The Blue Devils.
you know I am amazed that every time something truthful is written the amount of negative comments that is posted against it. what is it going to take for Dominicans to see and accept the truth. I am old enough to remember 1979 and other such acts of so called civil disobedience. how many demonstrators were issued summonses back then. let us be real people there has always been and will always be demonstrations against institutions and governments as long as people feel like they are not being treated fairly. as an independent thinker I for one fully understand and support the people of Salisbury. why do you think people strike and demonstrate for better pay, better health care, better working conditions and so on and so on. do you all people honestly believe that had no one stood up and defended their rights for proper treatment by the ones in authority we would be where we are today. come people wake up and stop being puppets for the establishment.
Castigating the government will not help the Bawi people. If this educated man wanted to help he would organise a petition for dropping the charges. They broke the law. The police have a mandate to mentain law and order.
you should not be wrong and strong.
You can tell by the tone of this guy articles that he has a personal grudge against Roosevelt Skeritt and that he could care less about the plight of the Dominican people. Dude if you are so concerned about what goes on in Dominica, why don’t you bring your black A…. home and help us champion our cause. Honestly people are tired of these baseless articles with loaded words that’s getting us nowhere.
jeffers do not even know where wesley is located he talking about salisbury. Them man just sit and listen to Q95 and write coshonie.
This article is really getting to some people.Lol the truth hurts.
You may have a college education, but it isn’t worth crap! Who are your AUDIENCES? If you are gearing towards the intellectual you are not reaching them, therefore, your message is falling on death ears. Your long winding and double adjectives are irrelevant. Plain and simple the people of Salisbury broke the law by rioting, simple they have to pay. Every time you wish bad to an innocent person it comes right back to you. Skeritte did not block the roads, he did not set fire and burn tires, he did not impede anybody movement. You sound so empty by blaming the PM for the behavior of my family. Before you and Skeritte were born poverty and corruption existed. Now, go in the subway where you live and see poverty yet AMERICA! and how many jobs do you have to work? I work one in DA and drinking Kubuli, Marchouqe, Kaiee, and teetewee everyday and healthy TOO!
@ Y This piece of writing sent a dagger to your wicked heart! If you are a labourite you are a lazy one.Salisbury people are not lazy, and they like their farms.Tell Skerrit your master give the people their doggone feeder road.Your wicked soul!
At least you and I, since we both commented!
HOTEP!
Padna, go find something more productive to do with your time than constantly writing these loads of garbage on DNO
People of sane minds are wondering the same thing,which is ,why doesn’t this government seek advice from progressive people on how to develop the country of Dominica. Now that TS Erica has happened and their backers in Venezuela have lost power,it’s frightening think of the coming months and what lies ahead for the Dominican people. So many failed plans by this bunch of mentally challenged government. The PM runs off to try to sell passports and comes back with news that there is hugh potential in Vietnam.
With $1.3 Billion in debt,over$1.4 Billion in damages from Erica,the man comes back home empty handed and tells of potential in Asia.How about reaching out to traditional friends for support. Instead he uses the Salisbury farmers and villagers to deflect attention from the misery Dominicans are mired in. He is also using the election of Baroness Scotland to make political noise.Mr.Skerritt the country is going to hell in a hand basket. Use your influence to have this case…
No one is stopping you from implementing a plan that will employ at least 100 people, that would be very good for Dominica and it will show the mentally challenged government how to govern, you will also be leading by example by putting your money where your mouth is. So go for it bro and stop going bla, bla bla….. in support of anything that is anti government.
Another article by this writer containing political rubbish.
Brilliant piece of writing.No matter what Skerrits tactic is, he will not scare the people. HE WANTS THEM to forget that he was cutting cake in Macou.I CALL HIM the CAVEMAN!
JJ for one who should be educated again you should be leading people to higher causes. This whole article can be trashed in the first paragraph, I did not read further cause you are wrong and any justification lower down in your story will also be wrong, so I saved myself the anguish of reading more. Here’s where you’re wrong, the PM has nothing to do with the laws that was placed on the books before he was born or after as a child. The people chose to break the law by their actions, so going to court to answer to if they broke the law or not has nothing to do with the PM. That’s like telling the PM to not have the police look for Shaba because time has elapse because he’s nowhere to be found. Dude you live in America where you know that kind of thinking could never fly up there, why do you think it should be ok down here? Why are you saying the PM going after Bawi people? The seats in the house is not 10 to 11 it’s 15 to 6. Why should I go after you when I never needed you?
You are one of the greedies taking
from the needy, so the content of the article will obviously leave you devastated.Greedies like you are too blind to see that the economy has been comatosed by poor, lazy and incompetent leadership. You greediness has helped to obliterate agriculture in favour of a begging culture. Salisbury people are hard working independent people. I am once again calling upon them to stand firm and defend every villager!
JJ. Joseph was a police officer in DA, he knows that laws are enact by reputable people in the House and are in the statute books, why should he think that Skerrit created these laws. When laws are broken, there are consequences and those responsible should be held accountable
My dear Deb,
You said :when laws are broken, there are consequences and those responsible should be held accountable”. Know something? I agree with you. Nonetheless, I have not heard you on the renaming of the Melville airport. Are you aware that the law “was broken” in this case as up till this morning, the law to change it from Melvillehall to Douglas-Charles is pending? What then, are the consequences and who should be held accountable?
HOTEP!
You could not have said it better, Skerrit day will come and the people of SALISBURYWILL BE FREE FROM THE DICTATOR.
Why is it that when people speak the truth it offend them so call Dominicans who knows what is been said is true I don’t understand that.