The matter involving several residents of Salisbury has been adjourned to December 8th2015.
The residents appeared before a St. Joseph court this morning and while a date for final submission was set for September 30th the prosecution informed the court that they were not ready and as a result the case was pushed back to the 8th day of December 2015.
The matter has roots in the arrest of a number of villagers following protest action on the11th of May and June of this year.
On May 11 and June 11, villagers and law men faced off over a number of issues in the community.
Protest action number one was as a result of poor farm road conditions in the area. It was eventually broken up by the police. The second protest took place after the police swooped into the community and arrested six residents on allegations that they were part of the first protest.
Both actions have been described as “riotous” by the police.
A few residents were summoned to court in July and more were subpoenaed in August and three more appeared before the Magistrate’s Court in St. Joseph; more are expected to appear in court today.
They are facing charges of riotously and tumultuously assembling to the disturbance of the public, which is contrary to the Riot Act.
The Prosecution will never be ready, and when the Magistrate throws out the case for \”Want of Prosecution\” the authorities will want to blame the Magistrate.
we need more demonstration, just follow the law and get back on the street. Skerrit killing the country and we canot stay there and wait for more nonsense, more corruption, more injustice, we have right to talk for our right, so no more time to loose. TO MUCH IS TO MUCH…
The law is really an ass you know. How can you take the people to court and months now you are not ready. Why an arrest if you do not have evidence to prosecute? And the magistrate continues to treat the matter law as an ass rescheduling a court date. THIS COUNTRY IS FULL OF IT BOI
That was either incompetence or malice but whatever it was it is not good. Next time this happens the judge should dismiss the case.
May to now you not ready yet what nonsense is this. YOU ALL DON’T HAVE A CASE. THAT MAGISTRATE SHOULD THROUGH THAT OUT NEXT TIME.
Salisbury, oh Salisbury, stand firm, stand strong and never ever allow evil doers to muzzle and handcuff you!!
Stand strong, unite and show the world that regardless of differences Salisbury people will never surrender their constitutional rights. This government seems intent on breaking your backs and have NOT learnt their lesson. Erika came and gave us a reminder of who is in charge, yes god not man but this DLP administration is focused on breaking you. From Savannah to Macousherie and unto Batalie the cry should be;”Salisbury Ahead!!”
I again appeal to those in authority, PLEASE, SOUPLAY, AH BEEGING, leave the Salisbury people alone and give them their livelihood (road) back instead of criminalizing them. Salisbury people are peace loving and hard working but we should not take their kindness for weakness. I pray for Dominica!!!
Assertive, Never, Ever Aggressive!!
After Erika I thought we would all come to our senses in Dominica. Why should these people be prosecuted for demanding what rightfully belong to them as hard working citizens of Dominica. Really???
You know I was looking forward to the 3rd November Independence celebrations this year but my patriotic spirit is again dampened by this news. Please don’t get me wrong people – I am not saying that because of Erika criminals should go free, but this Salisbury thing is highly political. I believe God spoke to us through Erika but we are still not listening.
To: the farmers of Salisbury, let not your hearts be troubled and fret not thyself because of evil doers. under the circumstances you did no wrong, legally or morally . Your cause is just and so the men of iniquity is persecuting you.
While the hard-working people of Salisbury are intimidated, harassed, brought to court, the Skeritt DLP Gov’t carved out 15 acres of our Cabrits National Park and gave our land to the foreign Range Dev, firm. Even passports selling for Range Dev. to make millions to build their hotel.
The farming community of Salisbury have been pleading to Gov’t, for Years, to simply repair the farm access roads, so they could go to work on their farms. No response. Nada for Years from Govt until the roads reached a deplorable state.
The people exercised their RIGHTS to protest against the neglect and non-action re. improving road access to their work places, their farms. After all, Salisbury residents pay taxes too. They have and still are contributing to the development of Dominica.
Even though they may come from far away lands, some get our land, passports just like that. Farmers toil for Years cannot make 1 passport money
Stop holding poor people in BONDAGE. Massa…
These wretched Salisbury rebels who attempted to overthrow the blessed and divine Dominica Labour Party Government through violent riots needs to be all hung by the necks in a public square for all to see. These men and women acted with reckless abandon and depraved indifference to human lives. The fact that they blocked roads and denied access to emergency response personnel is enough to condemn them to death. Their actions were treasonous to say the least. It was an act against the national security of the State of Dominica and should be prosecuted likewise. Labourites everywhere are calling for an example to be made of the six charged as well as others yet to be. We, the dedicated and loyal Labourites of Dominica, would like to see either a sentence of death in this matter or, in the alternative, a lenghthy prison sentence for ALL the Defendants. Further, we call for the immediate arrest of Hector “Spaggs” John as an instigator in this evil crime against Dominica! Hang…
We shall NOT be intimidated. All I will say is if these people are convicted in anyway, shape or form, Dominicans will not be stand for such injustice.
I remain ASSERTIVE, NEVER AGGRESSIVE!
No justice, No peace
i even thought that thing die
When will the policeman who murdered the guy in Portsmouth jail be taken to court. Are we waiting for time to pass so the public can forget it happened. DNO please note the commissioner said it was a homicide so there must have clearly been evidence if that for the Top Cop the say that. I think as a media outlet you guys need to do some investigatve reporting and stories. Please find out why this case has not gone to trial and let public know.
Yes the commissioner said it was an homicide; meaning the killing of a human being. It could be murder, manslaughter, death by misadventure or if you will justifiable homicide
For Pete’s sake, let’s move on and drop all charges. As if Erika was not a jolt enough to remind us, that there are more important things than pursuing matters more of a vindictive nature. I’m not advocating the dismisal of all vandal related cases. But the Salisbury one deserves special attention, as it is a people expressing their rights to correctly needed resources.
In the spirit of love and unity in the heart of our independence activities,I appeal to the PM,the Attorney General, the commissioner of police,and the senior counsel and advisor to the Prime Minister to let this unfortunate incident go.Squash it for the sake of a peaceful country We say that Domenic’s is a Christian country and as such,Christians are known by their actions and their love.It pained my heart to hear the senior counsel, after the supreme court ruling on the Linton vs Pinnard Byrn matter,espousing that people put on their boots and run to the hills.Dominican was never this type of hateful place it is now,where people see their opponents as enemies,and want to destroy them at all costs.
When did we become like that? This approach in a country with limited population is a very bad thing.It’s better to go back to Christian principles of turn the other cheek,love your enemies, do good to those who don’t like you.Let’s show maturity in nation building and Christianity.
Good luck to all of you. You are fighters for democratic rights. You remind me of the Tolpuddle martyrs and govt. dunce heads better look at that history before they commit the same injustice.