After facing a week of criticism for his recent remarks referring to opposition presidential nominee Anette Sanford as a “drumstick,” Attorney General Levi Peter has addressed the situation, claiming that his comments were taken out of context. The incident unfolded following the election of Mrs. Slyvanie Burton as Dominica’s incoming president. On September 27, 2023, during a parliamentary session, Peter took the floor to criticise the opposition’s choice of Sanford, a former opposition senator, as their presidential nominee.
“Understanding what we are dealing with, understanding the historic step, understanding the candidacy, a woman, a Kalinago first and the symbolism, apart from anything else, that is contained within that person, understanding that the person is vastly qualified in terms of what the constitution requires for your position, that the opposition would have at least said we have concerns, but we will support. But no, they chose to put up a drumstick,” he said.
“Mr. Speaker, that is really the height of idiocy,” the attorney general further declared.
Since then, there has been growing anger and a chorus of public demands for either an apology or Peter’s resignation. Various individuals and organisations, including the Dominica Nurses Association (DNA), the Dominica National Council of Women (DNCW), and President of the United Workers Party, Lennox Linton, as well as social and cultural activist Delia Cuffy Weekes, have expressed their concerns, as previously reported by Dominica News Online (DNO).
In response, Peter quoted Alvin Gouda, emphasising the importance of context in understanding statements. He explained that during congratulatory remarks following the election of the president-elect, a lighthearted reference to a past event in which children had expressed on an outing to a fast food outlet, preference for essentially the same meal by a different name.
“The difference in the meals being that one included a drumstick. With the benefit of hindsight in making the later statement, I perhaps ill-advisedly adopted the earlier light-hearted use of the word drumstick in referring to the nomination of Mrs. Sanford for the presidency,” he said.
The AG added, “I meant Mrs. Sanford, no ill in my use of that word, and certainly was not in any way seeking to impugn her character. As it’s clear to anyone who has listened or who listens with an open mind to the entire statement. The statement was not about nor directed against Mrs Sanford but rather was about the process and motivations of others involved in bringing about her candidacy.”
Peter stressed that the word “drumstick” has universally recognized meanings that are not profane or derogatory. However, he acknowledged that some might associate it with unofficial street meetings, which have unsavoury connotations.
“Context, as the saying goes, is everything,” he said. “ A review of the Oxford English Dictionary and even a Google search reveals the two universally known and understood definitions for the word drumstick. Neither is profane, derogatory, or otherwise offensive.”
He added, “replaying and recounting of the statement, without context, will lead some to the erroneous conclusion that I had been derogatory and intentionally so in my statement. This is furthest from the truth, and it absolutely was not my intention to insult, impugn, or otherwise offend Mrs. Sanford, or indeed anyone else.”
He went on to issue an apology “for any feelings of hurt or injury” that may have been caused by his statement to Mrs Sanford and anyone else. Over the weekend, Sanford herself spoke out, vehemently denouncing Attorney General Levi Peter’s remarks that referred to her as a “drumstick,” and has labelled these comments as “racist, abusive, and discriminatory on both moral and legal grounds.”
“As an indigenous woman, listening to the Attorney General, I wondered to myself, whether he’s even oriented to the context of the event, and more so, whether I had changed my indigenous Kalinago identity by some miracle,” she said.
“I felt lynched for accepting the nomination…which I have the full right to do so under the constitution of Dominica,” she added.
Throughout her political career, Sanford points out that she’s endured political jabs and ridicule, which she viewed as part of the political game. However, she states that Peter’s recent comments crossed a dangerous boundary, becoming a brutal assault on her identity, ambition, and gender.
As previously reported, Sanford called upon the Minister of Gender Affairs and the Minister of Kalinago Affairs to condemn the Attorney General’s words and advocate for his resignation. She made it clear that she and her supporters would not rest until Peters had stepped down, paving the way for a new Attorney General who would respect the Constitution and the rights of women.
Only a fool would believe you words were taken out of context!
you understand the forum in which you were when you insulted her, if you are lets say a politician which you proved yourself to be, with a small amount of commonsense when you came to the realization of what you did, if you had any respect for her you would have made an effort to met with her in private and apologize to her.
Rather than doing that you and that corrupted crook that dictator Roosevelt is doubling down on your wrong!
I don’t know if your resignation, or calling on you to resign is the appropriate thing at the moment, what I do know is that the only way to kill a snake is to chop its head off.
The entire labor party including you Levi forms the neck, torso, and tail following the head “Roosevelt,” whom the people must get rid off; by ridding the country of him, people like you destroyers of the nation will be no more, another administration will clean the house.
In the UK mister was a lousy lawyer so he decided to return to his homeland. Here rejects are always welcome as long as they promise blind loyalty to the man in charge. Poor Dominica!
And to think that Levi said that had he not been in the parliament he would have cleaned Annette Sandford’s clock with saying what he really feels about her. Then the hypocrite has the gall to tell the decent citizens of Dominica that he meant no ill will towards Ms Sandford. Judas said he loved the Christ then sold him for thirty pieces of silver. Levi you make a mockery of the English language, the position of Attorney General, women and of course yourself. All those who espouse support for you are indeed embarrassments to women, to their country and to themselves.
I have no idea what a “drumstick ” means, so, I went to de urban dictionary.
A term used to describe the female wingman. Typically brought out to bars and clubs to prevent social awkwardness by providing entertainment for an interested party’s wingman. The drumstick is not meant to outshine the primary party.
Mr Peter, maybe you should have just stayed quiet instead of offering up this lame excuse. A person of your stature should know the use of that word would engender such feelings regardless of what Google or the dictionary may say. One of the rules when giving a speech is knowing your audience. It is unbelievable that you would use that word to a Dominican audience and not expect the anger it is deserving of.
What in that word or the context in which it was used (and the meaning suggested by its use) that could provoke anger?
Our attorney general said he “ill-advisedly adopted” the use of a word. Are we to assume that somebody else advised you to use it like “sousay sel” was advised to use her moniker?
Oh and by the way, I couldn’t find “sousay sel” in my Oxford English Dictionary, but it results in numerous articles about the Baroness on Google search.
I guess soon, a search for “drumstick” will result in articles about you. Good thing you didn’t refer to anybody as the “Pope’s nose.” Name calling is just childish.
Levi is just an intelligent individual.
His apology is so sincère.
Dominicans now have a new définition for “drumstick”.
That’s a huge step forward.We are making progress.
Levi is a real A.soul.
Levi Peter, you are right in saying that context matters. Well the context in which you lambasted the opposition’s choice for President and you chose to reference the Oxford dictionary to try to explain away your jackass comments in parliament about Ms Sandford, tells me that you are of poor taste and poor class. Don’t you know the colloquial meaning of drumstick? Man, people called for your apology and you did just that. I applaud you for apologizing but there was no need to try to spin your apology by quoting others, who you think you fooling with your highty-tighty address?. The fact of the matter is you did eat crow and were humbled because of your idiocy. Now you have created division among the populace. The opposition didn’t create division but exercised their right to nominate someone of their choice. Who were you trying to impress and it all went wrong. Grow up man. You are not a politician but an appointed AG. You are an embarrassment.
Feller Apologize! we know it will never be a sincere apology, but apologize!
your headline says it all …….de AG did not offer a genuine apology
fire in his boom boom
however Skerrit has NEVER apologized for any of his wrong doing……..puppet following his leader well no matter how much mud he has to rub on his face.
it’s like he doesn’t even consider how he is seen for his character and morals.
if Skerrit up he up when Skerrit down he will be below de coffin holding it up on his head
But surely, a lawyer, of all people, should be doubly on guard against misinterpretation.
Absolutely! Nothing good can be expected from a Cabinet of liars, dunces, bandits, cheats, hoarders, scalawags and rogues.
Exactly, they are caught in the act and then use a little dose of spin in the hope the issue goes away. His political master does it all the time. What do all you expect of these spineless excuses of a human being?
we need to has more respect of people in public office.Dominican need to so think before destrying someone name and reputation.
Respect for people like that? First of they need to earn our respect. Don’t be so foolish.
This AG is of the opinion that no one else but him, comprehends english. I am of the view that referring to Mrs Sanford as a ‘drumstick’ was deliberate, since in the past members of parliament of this Skerrit Labour Party (SLP), have insulted and denigrated opposition parliamentarians with impunity. This conceited character is clearly acting as if he is an attack dog for Skerrit, and as an AG that was not elected by the people, this is unacceptable. By the way, was the speaker of the house present? Was he asleep? Was he in a coma?
I’ve never heard such a lame explanation in my life. The Oxford English Dictionary also does not make reference to his analogy either so not sure what point is being made here. The whole speech was no value except for the sole aim to berate and disparage the opposition for their nomination. Call a spade a spade.
Levi should have resigned or been fired since last week. He should not be on here trying to mah-mah-guy his way out of this great insult to women and the original people of this blessed land, my ancestors the brave Kalinagos.
Levi must go YESTERDAY!
This apology is not an apology. Levi Peter wants to insult our comprehension skills. Just like Roosevelt and his comrades they think the people are all fools.
To ensure that his unsanitary remarks could not be misconstrued, he further remarked that if he was not in parliament, she would have gotten worse ( I’m paraphrasing). This lame non-apology should be roundly rejected by all rational citizens. We, the people, demand his immediate resignation and nothing less.
Madam Pampalam the Minister of Miseducation, should follow closely behind Peter for giving unequivocal support to him. This woman who doesn’t know basic Subject and Verb Agreement. In her comments on the day she said ‘she have’ when even an average grade 2 student knows the correct thing is ‘she has’. Shameful!
Taken out of context my foot. He knew exactly what he was saying when he made those comments. That was not a genuine apology, it was just a clarification of what he said.
I thought the context was set when you said “if you wasn’t in the house you’d have used stronger language.”
So how you go from basically telling her “girl you lucky we in the house else id have let you have it”, to now “oh it’s a joke, a drum stick not nothing bad.” Question, do you refer to your Kalinago employee as a drumstick ? Or the new president ? Why not ???? Nothing wrong in doing that.
Without all the technicalities and bogus sifting and shifting trying to make yourself look good and “intellectual.” Just shorten all of the rhetoric and apologize to the young lady and to all Dominicans, by extension. Also, you ought to apologize to bar who blindly issued the (lore) license to you so you could align yourself with crooks to feel big and above everyone else. No one took what you said “out of context.” One or two persons may have; but not the entire country. Stop drinking that high colored Kool Aid.
If he had one ounce of common decency he would resign!
Wishful thinking I guess with this lot.
Dominica is one messy little country.
Not even electing a President, who by the way has zero political power, we could get through without some immature senseless “twakah.” Everything is about individuals and personalities. Where is The Nation in all of this?
And like clockwork we come on blogs such as this and other social media to pick sides; and squirt venom at each other.
We all know that the Prime Minister does nothing without a political agenda. But which political leader doesn’t. That does not however make a decision or action questionable by default. Each has to be judged on it’s merit.
Both the government and opposition failed The Nation big time in this matter. The opposition should have been more mature in responding to the Prime Minister’s choice. And by the same token the government should have taken a “higher road” in their reaction to the counter nominee. That is how mature developing countries behave.
Levi pretty much sums up this government and state of affairs on our country: Sad
Levi must go:
Levi and Sanford are deserving of the hot mess that they have found themselves in. His statement was unbecoming of his position but her calling it racist when the candidate that he supports is the same race as her is just stupid. Then she wants his resignation over something so trivial. she is like the red queen – off with his head – for any small offense.
The government is laughable but people like Sanford who oppose them, don’t show much sensibility or promise either.
Why should Anette show sensibility or respect to any of these rogues. They deserve anything they get and more.