On September 1, all roads will lead to the once UWP strong hold agricultural village of Castle Bruce which nestles between the wide and sheltered St. David’s Bay and the gentle rolling hills of the 2,272 feet high Morne Fraser for its delegates conference. The high light of the day will be the stepping down of the party’s firebrand founding political leader and the MP for Marigot, former PM, Mr. Edison James and the election of a new leader. By the time the sun disappears behind the mountains, whoever emerges as the new leader will need all the guidance, blessings and resilience of the spirits of our Maroon (‘Negre Marron’) ancestors who resided in the surrounding hills of Morne Fraser.
According to a reliable source, one of the most formidable journalists in the modern era in the region, the debonair and highly respected Lennox Linton seems to have the inside lane and the advantage. He also has the blessings and support of former PM James and will be also be inheriting the secure UWP Marigot constituency due to Mr. James retirement. But can Mr. Linton provide the leadership to dismantle the well oiled machinery of the incumbent Labour party government? One thing for sure is that Lennox can take on anyone in Dominica today. He has been tried and tested and has succeeded in silencing and exposing his critics and enemies. He remains laser focused when the other side ‘brings it on’.
The weekly Dominica publication The Chronicle, choose Mr. Linton as the 2012 Man of the Year. The newspaper’s December 7, 2012 edition pointed out that Mr. Linton has tarried “as the conscience of the nation” and not been deterred from the path of righteousness, despite being vilified by his detractors, ‘effectively’ denied employment by the authorities or by anyone associated with them, receiving veiled threats, and ostracized because of his vocal and principled opposition to government wrong doing.“He has offered hope to many who, for myriad reasons, are reluctant to express their concerns about the path which the authorities have embarked upon,”
Mr. Linton , his wife Shirley Abraham Linton and their two children, reside in the upscale Roseau suburb of Morne Daniel. He is the son of the late Meshach Linton and Rachie Burton Linton (Teacher Rachie) of Marigot. The late senior Linton who was a highly decorated and respected civil servant died this year at the age of 86 years. He was an educator, the first President of the Marigot Credit Union, the 1999 recipient of the Sisserou Award of Honor, and a Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) Senator from 1980-1985. One of his sons and Lennox’s younger brother, was one of my favourite and funniest high school class mates. Bentley who was affectionately called Balawa, died in motorcycle accident outside of Marigot more than two decades ago. I occasionally think of him and still laughs at some of his jokes. May his soul continue to RIP.
One of the criticisms of Mr. Linton is that he cannot comfortably mix it up with the masses and ‘mal-a-way’. No candidate is complete and besides, the UWP has enough of a grass roots machinery to offset that perception if it is true. If he is elected political leader, can he woo the disappointed Rosie/Mike Douglas/ Pierro faction of the Labour party and the DFP members who defected to Labour? The other issue is can Linton make a smooth transition from a credible journalist to a politician in this brutal political arena?
Whatever the outcomes of the day in the former vanguard, once economic engine and anchor village of the east, there is one unfinished business that should be taken care of before the motorcades vacate Glou Glou. UWP should have a good idea on who their candidate for that constituency is or will be. Given Castle Bruce’s recent election history, it would not be advisable to choose a lettered professional because he/she will most likely not win. In a recent past election, local farmer and villager, the late Mr. Rom Bannis, easily defeated his two opponents who hold doctorate degrees. In the last election, Village Council member Mr. Johnson Drigo beat the former Attorney General Mr. Bernard Wiltshire. So why didn’t Castle Bruce choose the more qualified, experienced and lettered candidate? Is it because of personalities or because this community feels more comfortable with their own who are amongst them every day in spite of not being able to fully articulate, garner respect, support and resources for Castle Bruce?
It’s imperative that the UWP take into consideration the smaller close knit and family interconnected communities across the Castle Bruce river of Tranto, Dix Pax, Morpo, Good Hope, San Sauveur and Petite Soufriere for they could decide who wins the constituency. UWP would well be advised to avoid picking a candidate with strong DFP credentials and affiliation because there may be some residual bitterness in the southern flank of the constituency which may cost them some votes due to the hanging of a former commander of the disbanded Dominica Defense Force. Major Frederick Newton (35 year olds) who hailed from Petite Soufriere, was tried and executed in 1986 for organizing an attempted coup d’état in 1981 against the Dame Charles DFP government that resulted in the death of a police officer.
These are some of the issues the new political leader must consider before picking a candidate to contest Castle Bruce. If a methodological approach is adopted in the final selection process for this interesting and confusing constituency, then UWP will increase its chances of recapturing this rural constituency where the party was conceived 25 years ago.
Who wins Castle Bruce may very well determine who forms the next government.
mr. jno finn good to know you are so educated but sad to see to what you are dedicated.castle bruce dosen’t need yout help or publicity keep us off the media and remember reunion is not for people like you thank you.
Boy look jokes on the blog I was a bit tried today but u all made my day. I think we are acters in a WESTERN flim and these ppl fighting to be starring. It is not that easy to be starring in a flim, it is easier to be a SOIDISAN STARRING so you will take what you get thats real PAPY SHOW for big men like u shame.
Come on dominicans listen to Lenox and understand all his T’s very good pronouncciation That man is worth listening 2 when he Talks That is not Austrie nor Skerro nor Tim nor Ronald the man is good and Shirely want a stylish well respected first lady Common!
WORKERS!!! all u can say what allu want!!
c hupes allu 2 sort sort eh no degree as elected pm in this times no way expelllled from d g s
uwp all the way in castle bruce.
Thanks to everyone who commented and tried to make their point in a respectable and professional manner. I also get it that there is strong ‘rum shop’ element in our politics—I refuse to partake in that aspect. You may want to call me a dreamer, but I believe we all can agree to disagree respectfully with our politics.
Sure, I want you to support, advocate and be passionate about your side, but please try to do it in a respectable and decent way. That is what I am trying to encourage and foster- a healthy debate. When we try to tear up each other over politics who do you think we are hurting? Not the foreign nationals who are slowly taking over our small island home. Look at Syria- over 100, 000 people have perished in a brutal civil war. None of the leaders on both sides see it fit to talk to one another and to agree to disagree respectfully.
I have a haunch that maybe some on both sides of the political divide in Dominica are too politically intoxicated to make any sense of that message. Please support your party- that is what democracy is all about – but also know that the other person has a right to support their party as well. That is the spirit of democracy and it should be encouraged. As for me, I am supporting Dominica so please keep the comments and criticism coming.
Thanks,
Emanuel Finn
Mr Finn, I am very confused by your comments. What makes you think that the Castle Bruce people rejected the candidates because of their degrees or qualification, as you put it? They were rejected for what they stood for. And no amount of masking will desuade people. You are for Dominica, you say? Hmmmm…. we can see beyond your nice words and mascarade. Play your politics well Mr Finn, but I hope you take your own advice and come good!
“Who wins Castle Bruce may very well determine who forms the next government”, Dr. Finn, are you serious or are you living in “the paradise of Club cuckoo land”. you fail categorically to say how Castle Bruce by itself will determine the outcome of the next general election. It is one thing to remain among the “Beltway Boys” of Washington, sipping coffee or tea on a Sunday afternoon listening to the weekly radio soap serial on Q-95 lamenting Dominica’s development and quite another thing staying on island and following local developments. Where and from whom do you get your information dr. Finn? Do you get information from the man who could remember if he was ever in St. Kitts with earl Williams and Edison James a few short years before? Does you information emanate from a man who, it is alleged, received over $100,000 from Edison james from an account in St. Kitts and refuses to confirm or deny the same even when he speaks truth to power, transparency in government and integrity to the highest heavens? His argument that this was a private matter cannot hold water, because he has to tell the nation whether it is true he received the funds and for what reason. Does the former PM has a regional business which require the services of a corporate communications specialists or a journalist? If it is true he must tell the nation what was the nature of the service he provided to the former for that kind of money. As he prepare to assume that position and venture into the formal [ublic life, he cannot hide behind the veiled argument that it was a private matter. the same way he has held up the PM demanding honesty and integrity in all of his dealings, he must now take that good advise unto himself. It just will not go away like on Q-95. It will hound him in the campaign. Another advice you may want to give him is to tell the nation how he proposes to “remove the ointment off Pastor Peter Augustine’s anointment as a man of the cloth”. He has indeed opened a can of worms. I wonder if you are able to properly advise him on his past utterances on radio regarding every institution in the state. Oh! Dr. Finn – your anointed is most welcomed into the arena. I am sure he thought long and hard about it. There is more to come, once the bells toll. I am sure you will come down to help him in La Plaine. He will need plenty of help not only in Castle Bruce, but in Marigot as well.
no body follows an undegreed leader never elected to pm office no way d man isn’t qualified and was expelled from dgs
does the name Pero Charles ring a bell. dont throw stones if you live in glass house.
Skerrit has made it clear, he will win all twenty one seats. He knows that will not happen. However, one thing he knows will happen, wether ,Mr.Lennox Linton becomes Prime Minister or not, he will be the PalREp. of Marigot and Mr. lennox Linton will certainly be his worse nightmare.
I will be there for sure !!!
Mr. Linton , his wife Shirley Abraham Linton and their two children, reside in the upscale Roseau suburb of Morne Daniel
RESIDE IN THE UPSACALE ROSEAU SUBURB….he has not been around Weirs/Sams Gutter/Monkey Hill (better known as Marigot)for a while
Juan Pablo, they think people stupid… they are just playing politics with the people. Do you honestly believe Lenox care about Marigot people? SMH…. these guys are just taking the nation for a ride. This is Edison James last strategy to get back in office… but I hope he knows, and they know, that Dominicans are not as foolish as they are thinking! Tell Lenox to go back to Marigot and mingle with the people… bet my last dollar, he cant!
Dr. Finn, Castle Bruce is NOT going back to UWP PERIOD.
Dream on…
“Change Must Come”
Assertive, NOT Agressive!
When I got to that point I stoppe reading: “the most formidable journalists in the modern era in the region, the debonair and highly respected Lennox Linton seems to have the inside lane and the advantage”.
Just get to the damn point tonneh and stop using those superlatives.
Dr. Finn, what is your definition of a “formidable journalist”? Please let us have operational definition of that term. What has this journalist done to prove this? Maybe the proof is in the archives but I have been searching and can find very little. Please inform us. And as far as the older Linton, no one should speak “ill of the dead”. A very good educator.
At first glance,I thought this was a story on the candidate going up for the Castle Bruce constitutancy…..if your doing a bio,come on,be specific s to the subject in question!
Someone said well written I say it sounds like a conte on independence day by Brumant.
Monsieur Quick Quack!
He was an educator, the first President of the Marigot Credit Union, the 1999 recipient of the Sisserou Award of Honor, and a Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) Senator from 1980-1985. One of his sons and Lennox’s younger brother, was one of my favourite and funniest high school class mates. Bentley who was affectionately .This conveys the message he was one of Mamo’s boys in the 80’s that where the UWP came from. And Dr.lapaline go pull some teeth man!You are stuck in time of composition of DGS high school days wheel and come again.Tim Tim bois sec stories are a thing of the past. Come on JF stop Kissing it.
Brown noser.
DNO omitted my comment that Linton’d dad was Mamo’s boy a freedomite before marigot wanted to break away from DA thenfelt they could run DA.
NO why you deleted part of my comment? What ever happen to reporting truthfully? It was nothing that LL would sue on behalf of his father.
Be rightbefirm be fiar print people’s posts n it’s entity.
This has to be the most stupid thing I have ever read.
This is because you do not read a lot.
Give it to dem Dr.Finn and I would like to thank you, Gabo and Fontaine for keeping hope alive in Dominica!
I’m down with workers this time arround, Count me in.
Is Mr. Meshach runnig fo election? Say more about Lenox.
But what else can he say about Lenox nah? Them man bankrupt in all ways, even in literary work! They are trying to paint Lenox as a saviour… BUT… if Dominicans want to see what real suffering is, let them make the mistake of electing Lenox in office… especially as PM… hmmmm… all you want to play with fire… thats all I will say! Maybe we should ask Phillip Nassief for advice lol lol
Hope Linton gets it. HE IS ONE OF THE most feared politician by the Labour party. He is competent,honest,has integrity,and he understands what it takes to propel Dominica forward.
You forgot to add POMPOUS!!!
And what makes you think people afraid of Lenox? Thats the problem with us in Dominica, we like to make people think that they are more than they really are. We ll see who afraid of who in the coming months. Lets see who can stand the political heat. Lenox does not have what it takes to be leader of the UWP, farless for Prime Minister.
UWP well smell victory an its gona be real close mark my words,but they spent useless time when they should have regroup,thats why they are still not prepared an will have to wait till 2020
Anonymous August 9, 2013
lol….uwp had a great following on the delphis forum before the last elections. I really thought they would have won the elections. I suspect the uwp has a much wider percentage of the ‘online” market in Dominica. But how much of that market makes up the total voting population? I’m not sure, but suspect it’s a small portion. Think of it, the older persons trend to lean towards dlp, and most of them are not online.
Reply to this comm
Sir or Madam , there are old and young people who are not using the on line forum and who are UWPites and who are also DLPites but what you must also say is that there were DLP imported vote from all over the world which has never happened in Dominica’s politics, which was not taken in to consideration on the delphis forum before the last elections. really i did not like some of the uwp people but now when i see how wealthy some ministers in the dlp have become in just are short time with $4000.00 to $5000.00 monthly, so i said to my self if i love my Country i should not vote for the dlp.
I thought that u were going up in that constituency.
Them man can just stay abroad and make subjective statements. Not one of them can come to Castle Bruce and Win this seat. His campaign for the UWP can only and will remain long arm. Clearly this commentary is one of bias! UWP cannot win the Castle Bruce Seat and Cannot will the Next General Elections. Castle Bruce was never and will never be the seat which has or which will determine who Governs the country. Finn is passionate about this and fine – he has every given right to support which ever party, candidate or leader as he so please.
the only thing i can wish you is good luck i think that labour party is bit to comfortable and we need a party to keep them in check but as far i can see uwp is doing a terrible job at that come on workers i mean no disrespct but lennox of all people time will tell
go research Lennox Linton see what you find then come back on DNO to make a comment again, idiot.
who the hell are you to even make a statement like that , the thing about you ignorant people, you are so blinded by bias all you can do is break down.
castle bruce & one who care next election you all will see who is the biggest idiot time will tell FOOLSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
What do we rally want in DCa ..skerit was a no body in 2000 now he is PM..what’s wrong with Lenux..?I think everybody deserv a chance….
Amen to that.
yardie why you dont run what happen to lennox of all person you dlp you sing for you supper lennox we want for leader weather you like it or not he will be the chosen one get it in your head
Your masked comment betrays you!
Very good comentry I am impreesed…uwp be very careful when chossing…we want that seat back..we fed up of labour ..
“commentary – impressed – choosing.”
Mr. Finn, your post is from a dreamer’s/fairytale perspective. Mr. Linton is not highly respected. He is as bias as can be, and that in itself speaks for itself. This man had ample years to prove his passion for Dominica, instead he created a negative reputation for himself by using the airwaves to make it evident to the rational thinkers his selfish motive. He has done everything in his power to bring down the Government, for the goodness of the little rock, as he sometimes refer to Dominica, he has failed, and will fail miserably as leader of UWP. Mr. Finn, upscale neighborhood does not impress the electorates of Dominica, the majority of the electorates could care less. Oh how I love business and politics. We gonna mash down the UWP! I cannot wait to return home to start campaigning!