A visit to the police station to address summonses issued recently, to several individuals for their participation in the weekly walk for peace, justice and prosperity is among the major plans for today’s 8th walk.
Organisers say they also plan to take the peaceful walk to the western village of Salisbury.
Speaking to Dominica News Online (DNO), Dominican agronomist, environmentalist and social activist, Atherton “Athie” Martin, who’s the lead organizer behind this weekly initiative, said the activity has now reached its “ action” period.
Martin disclosed that in light of the summonses issued by the police for violation of Section Five of the Public Order Act to four individuals, including the leader of the parliamentary opposition United Workers Party (UWP) Lennox Linton, and MP for the Roseau North Constituency, Danny Lugay, the participants of today’s walk will visit the police headquarters in an attempt to speak with management.
“We have consulted with our attorneys, and we are assured that there is no case that can be made against anybody who chooses to walk. So, we are going to address the police from outside of the police headquarters and seek to discuss this with the heads,” he told DNO.
Last month, following reports that Martin intended to start a weekly walk to bring about change in Dominica, Chief of Police Daniel Carbon, issued a statement saying that the law makes provision for the lawful holding of any walk, march or protest action and in his capacity as the head of the police, he had not received any request for the activity.
Undeterred, Martin proceeded with the walk which has been held for seven consecutive Wednesdays, beginning March 30, pointing out that he had checked with legal counsel, and had been advised that there is no requirement to request permission to walk under the Public Order Act or any other act in the Commonwealth of Dominica.
Martin has also stated that the supreme law of the country, which is the constitution of the Commonwealth of Dominica which overrides any other law, guarantees citizens freedom of association and freedom of movement, and places no prior prerequisites on seeking permission to hold activities such as walking.
He said the idea of visiting police headquarters today is to inform the authority that the charges should be withdrawn and if not, plans will be made to have those involved sued, for what he labelled as harassment.
“So that is the action that we are talking about. We are going directly to the police, we will go directly to the magistrate and we will say to them, we give you a chance to withdraw these improperly executed summonses and if you don’t, we are going to sue every single one of you in your personal capacity. Not as a police officer, but in your personal capacity, which is what the law allows,” he stated.
He indicated that part two of the walk will be held in Salisbury at 4 pm, in solidarity with the villagers who were “attacked, tear gassed and brutalised” on May 11, 2015, and December 2019.
According to Martin, the goal is to draw attention to the security and safety of the people of Salisbury as well as to highlight the poor conditions of farm access roads in that farming community.
Martin further revealed that plans are in place to decentralise the walk from the capital city into several villages in the upcoming weeks.
“So every Wednesday, in the morning, there will be people walking in Roseau, then in the afternoon, we will join the people in other parts of the country to walk and we will continue walking. That is the beginning of the action phase, to allow the people of the country in their own words, in their own way, to draw attention to their issues and to demand instead of harassing us, support us,” he said.
Right on, Athie! It is ACTION NOW! Sue the Police for harassing and persecuting Dominicans who are exercising their right to walk in the streets of Roseau and the rest of Dominica.
Athie, would be a very good undertaker the reason I said so he is very good at dicking holes for himself 🙏🏽
Least we forget Dominica’s “Declaration Of Independence” was signed in Salisbury; under a DLP led administration. it was the people of Salisbury who stood up to the Police, and this Roosevelt Skerrit led (DLP) rouge regime on May 11th 2015 and December 2019; for doing nothing wrong except expressing their fundamental human rights for freedom and inclusion. Let me again remind the hierarchy of the Police Force and this rouge regime we are not an “armed Police Force” and except laws are enacted for it to become that; stop intimidating the citizens of Dominica under the pretense of nation security the problems for you down the road may become problematic.
Only a JACKA would expect Clayton Shillingrord not to give Athie his full support.Birds of a feather.Clayton Shillingford,Athie Martin,Floyd Capitoline and others went on the property of Alexis at Savanne Paille.They said the property belong to Skerrit,bought with state money,and so the property belong to the state.All the defendants were taken to court by Alexis and all were ordered to pay $7,000.Alexis was defending his property from liars,rouges,vagabonds and crooks.The only problem is the licence for Alexis gun had expired.Clayton and the others got away without getting a bullet up their A.UWP and supporters say the building being built on the corner of Independence,and Cork streets,opposite NCCU belong to Skerrit.
The majority of Dominicans know and believe UWP is a cult.A group of satanic people trying to destroy Dominica,and then going into the cemetery to invoke the dead.These cursed sons of Satan used hundreds of thousands of dollars of the people’s money,to build a Sunshine village on private property.They prayed to Satan to get the sun to rise,it never did.Only holy people of GOD can get the sun to stand still,to rise or to set.Satan was an angel,and like UWP he was kicked out of office.
You are just totally out of it! Any mental institution anywhere in the world would have a field day with you. And that is the kind of supporters the CM loves.
UWP trying to destroy Dominica?
Get real and stop your clowning around. Be serious for once. Dominica has already been ruined by the tyrannical dimwit in the top office of government.
*No Intel airport *No proper seaport *No livable wages. *No fair elections. *No fair share of resources *No functional public service *No justice. *No consultations *No inclusion of the people *No visionary strategic plans
Dominica is in a forlorn state of affairs. The most infrastructually underdeveloped, economically deprived, and politically unsound country in the Eastern Caribbean. If you doubt me ask Austrie. He said that he’s tired of Dominica being last.
The fake doctorial dunce in the OPM cannot lead.
The walk is healthy and will go on…
Y mista doh keep himself quite for Christ sake.
Athie Martin you have my full support Let me know if and how I/we can help You remember in spite of the bleatings of persons like Petrolina Savarin and others we brought Rennith Alexis before the courts and he had to pay for violating the rights of Dominicans by threatening them with gun And Chief Carette gave him back his gun that was in evidence in the court while the case was proceeding
There is nothing in the constitution which makes provision for organize march or walk it makes provision for individuals .Anybody who has a copy of the constituition and is not a jacka know that.so Athie is telling lies to his supporters.The law makes it clear any ORGANIZE march or walk,must get permission for the commissioner of police.I have always said the leaders of the march or walk should be arrested.The police force under carbon is weak.
…there is nothing in the constitution that makes provision of non-accounting for state assets! But it is still being done and worst of all the militia do not even investigate. BANANA REPUBLIC
Maybe somehow I am missing the punch line, could someone explain to me what is the purpose of that stupid walkabout? My life these hooligans is getting ridiculously rusty by the day walk about in Roseau, planning to walk in Salisbury, to address police summonses don’t forget walk in the Cemetery invoking the dead using magical incantations meaning black magic so that they will get dead people’s votes, what ever I asked you or maybe Ibo, will have the answers to my questions !!!!
Athie is BS and his lawyers are BS,followed by his BS supporters.The constitution of Dominica has 111 pages.The same constitution gives parliament the right to make laws.The constitution gives everybody rights individually.Any planned or organized walk or march,must get the permission from the commissioner of police.The police is right by charging the organizers,Athie has been in this situation several times.
I know someone that is even bigger BS and he/she goes by that funny name Lin clown. Anybody know this waste of space?
The actions of the diabolical regime, along with the support of the Death Squad Force should backfire. Instead of intimidating innocent WALKERS, it would strengthen their resolve to pursue fundamental change in order to protect their constitutional rights.
Do the ‘police’ realistically expect the citizens of this land to cooperate with them to solve the gargantuan waves of crimes when these very people are being subjected to brutality and the infringement of their constitutional rights?
Maximum Respect to Athie! I hope your courage and bravery would inspire thousands of fellow Dominicans to grow a spine, cast away their fears, and take back your country from the jaws of the TYRANT who is devouring the resources of Dominica for himself, his family, and his cronies.