Acting Chief of Police Davidson Valerie has said the police acted lawfully in dispersing what he describes as a “riotous and tumultuous” mob who were bent on disturbing the public peace and causing violence during protest actions on Wednesday.
On Wednesday morning truckers for the Tipper Truckers Association blocked the main road in Canefield, demanding more work on government projects, and better wages. They allege that works are given to Chinese truckers while not enough is given to locals.
The protest essentially cut off the capital from the west, north, and eastern parts of the island from the capital Roseau. The police were quick on the scene and the protest remained largely peaceful, although there were a few scuffles between them and the protesters. On at least one occasion, a policeman was filmed kicking a man while in conversation with a police inspector, much to the horror of journalists who were filming the event. The police, in full riot gear, eventually used tear gas to disperse protesters.
“The police acted lawfully in dispersing the riotous and tumultuous mob who were bent on disturbing the public peace and causing violence,” Valerie said while addressing a press briefing on Thursday. “The situation was exacerbated by the mob who threw stones and bottles at the police.”
He continued, “In their circumstances, necessary actions were taken by the police to disperse the crowd and bring an end to the disorder that had prevailed at the time.”
Valerie made it clear that the police will utilize all lawful means to bring the perpetrators involved to justice.
Furthermore, Valerie said the actions of the Tipper Truckers Association were unlawful and contrary to section 68:1 of the Vehicles and Road Traffic Act No. 46:50 of the Dominica revised laws 2017.
“On Wednesday, October 16, 2024, a number of truck drivers participated in an unlawful protest action on the EO Leblanc Highway in Canefield. The Chief of Police did not receive any request from the Tipper Truckers Association or anyone acting on their behalf to hold the protest action,” he remarked.
Valerie stated that the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (CDFP) is obliged by law to ensure that citizens and visitors to the country go about their business undisturbed and unhindered and the police force must protect the lives of citizens and visitors and their properties.
Ugly lenny, and his so-called Workers supporters are stupid and a waste of time to be honest, where on earth do you ever heard people trying to stop ✋️ progress for the benefit of their children and country 🤔 my life these people are a bunch of mother f*****s idiots and I am being very generous 😇 to say the least.
How could the police have acted properly and tear gas ends up in ny grandfather’s yard?
The police had a right to intervene as the truckers were creating a hazard and interfering with and putting the lives of ordinary citizens at risk,. But, it’s ok to acknowledge better training is needed and teargas should not have ended in neighborhoods who had nothing to do with this. At least acknowledge that instead of peeing on my leg and telling me it’s rain dat do dat.
It’s hard to support the view or position that the police acted appropriately. Of course, the discussion can go a bit further as to whether or not the police acted legally and ethically. Not sure. From recent events it is clear that the police needs further training and they need to employ more sustainable approaches whenever they are confronted with these types of conflicts. I suggest that the hierarchy of the police ‘service’ look at implementing the Verbal Judo and Negotiation Jujitsu training programs for all of their officers. In absence of a sustainable approach to conflict management, you literally have a war between parties, where each party wants a win and ‘f’ the loosing party. At some point, the loosing party will come back for their pound of flesh, and the vicious cycle continues, and we know the story from here on. With this approach forget about community policing and building partnerships with communities. Policing will become exponentially difficult in Dominica.
Ugly lenny, and his crew are a bunch of idiots going nowhere but backwards this guy ugly lenny, is a nasty piece of work even at school when he came from the darkness to the brite lights of Roseau, he could not control his dirty habits till to this day 70 years there about, talking crap that he didn’t know there was going to be lorry drivers blocking the highway dam ugly lier who do you think you fooling apart from your stupid so-called Workers clowns 🤡
De thing is………this was more than a truckers protest
And out here we know that some officers refused to respond
Skerrit will find a response on December 6
will there be tear gas on that day too?
is manpower that throw down de container
and people didn’t sit and plan dat de night before
De traffic was diverted unto an airstrip eh
we even notice officers open disrespect for de acting commissioner
My definition of STUPID!
STUPID is knowing the TRUTH, seeing the TRUTH, but still believing the LIES. The utterance of this feeble minded toy poodle of Roosevelt should be summarily dismissed and frowned upon. This guy is just serenading Roosevelt to retain his present unmerited position.
Trust is earned, respect is given. Betrayal of any one of these is to lose both. Dominicans don’t trust nor respect Valerie and his blind, mischievous mice.
Valerie must be fired, go buy shoes for your police officers.
I am a strong supporter of the police and will always be because it is prestigious yet thankless profession. Unlike many here, who always attempt to tarnish the reputation of Mr. Valarie, I will always say among the three fighting for the position of Chief he is most qualified and should be given the job. However, I will disagree with him here and join the band wagon in criticizing the police for escalating a situation that was a simple protest. People have the right to protest in a democracy and politicians must not directly or indirectly order the police to tear gas, arrest and brutalize those who chose to partake.
The actions of the police portrays a very dangerous trend that only happens in dictatorships where a police state exist. Mr. Valarie, I understand your job is a political one but you, yes you should immediately direct the concerned officer to drop all charges against the brutalized trucker that was arrested. You and I know those are made up charges. Enough of the BS!!
This police chief is nothing more than an echo chamber of the disgraced man who illegally occupies the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). His job is to do Roosevelt’s bidding and parrots whatever he utters.
Dominica is fast becoming North Korea n steroids. This is democracy gone awry. Even the most peaceful protest is handled with excessive force by thugs and hooligans disguised as once officer.
Think about this for a few seconds. Families near the location of the protest who thought they were secure in their homes were subjected to many canisters of teargas. Not even a one year old baby escaped the poisonous, suffocating, burning gas.
Only a tyrannical, ruthless, godless vagabond of a leader can heap praise on the barbarians who displayed such reprehensible and savage conduct.
Roosevelt MUST GO NOW! He is a grave and enduring danger to society.
When are you going to live up to your so called “Truth to Power”? By
failing to call out the truckers for blocking the road, an unlawful act that I’m certain you’re aware of, you’re not acting in the best interest of the truckers. All law abiding citizens are able to see right through your motives hence you will never receive the support you crave for.
HYPOCRITE…
how can you stand there and say police acted appropriately during the protest. it is you the police that escalated the situation to what is was. you defend year gassing people including innocent persons in their own yards and not caring about how it would affect small children in a daycare? this is irresponsible behavior sir.
Precisely the sentiments expected from the head honcho of an ill-trained, functionally illiterate zealots of Roosevelt.
These school dropouts perform to pleas an audience of one. To them, the safety of the citizens is inconsequential.
This guy is a darn CLOWN who makes a fetid mess, with the english language. He simply does not know, or have the slightest inkling of the meaning of the words “tumultous” or “riotous”. Its not a howler, he is just stupid, a dunce. POOR PITY!!
What a horrible and disastrous shame to have such a comical, brain limited pinhead like dumb Valarie plunging a once well respected CDPF into an abyss. Is he an acting commissioner?
No wonder this force is in such disarray.It will only get worse, because as i have said adnauseam, the CDPF lacks leadership. The entire top echelon represent failure and incompetence, and it will only get worse. He is compelled to echo Skerrit’s sentiment, even if it makes him appear stupid!OMG!
DNO you should even stop reporting on this koshony of truck drivers, in the name of protest. You blocking the poor and oppressed from going to Roseau but you leaving the entrance to Morne Daniel where Skerrit resides wide open? To me it was just oppressed people fighting and hurting the oppressed while the oppressor of us all was granted a first class ride for oppressing us. So DNO please stop reporting on this nonsense because we are feeling more depressed
police academy….have u ever look at them.. .when ever I see them…they always remind me of tackleberry playing with his gun…..