“We are ready to take back control of our country, we are ready to reset this economy, we are ready to rescue our country from the stranglehold of people who have for 23 years been looking out for themselves and not paying attention to us.” Those were the words of President of the United Workers Party (UWP) Lennox Linton.
His comments came while speaking as a guest on ‘The Workers Voice’ Program aired on Q-95 Radio recently, where he called on the Dominican public to turn out in massive numbers on May 31, 2023, to join the party in a peaceful rally organized for the people of Dominica to express their concerns.
“Because it is time for Dominica to say in a very definitive way, no argument, what is happening is not good for us and we are standing together against it.” He argued. “We are standing together for all political colours from all walks of life, from all areas of the country. We are standing together.”
Linton continued, “May 31 is really about us, the country that belongs to all of us, the country we have lost control of, the people of Dominica… [No one] anywhere should ever lose control of their country regardless of who is in government. And the people on the 31st of May 2023 are being called to stand in the capital city of the country and to say enough is enough.”
He pointed out that the evidence is all around us.
“The evidence of that is in the decline in your standard of living that you have witnessed in the last 20 years,” he remarked. “The evidence of that is in the struggle that you have been involved in to just survive…it’s just getting harder and harder.”
Linton went on to state that at the same time, those who the people give responsibility to lead, “or those who take the responsibility from you to lead and to make life better in Dominica are only making life better for themselves.”
He added, “And if that’s your reality then the place for you on the 31st of May is the Capital City of Roseau.”
Linton believes that Dominicans now have a responsibility to make a statement to the government that what is going on is not acceptable.
“The people who have the privilege of being in government should never be allowed to wrestle control of the country from the people,” he stressed. “And that means when those serving governments are not serving the best interest of the people, their lives are not going anywhere, the economy is not doing well, they are not able to make ends meet. They are suffering, they have it hard and in those circumstances, people hold the government responsible for their resources.”
Linton stated that every five (5) years in our democracy the people exercise the right to change their government, to decide who their government will be. However, he said in Dominica, “we have lost that right–to choose a government or to change a government [has] been taken away from the people of Dominica, because the ruling party of the last 23 years has decided it will take advantage of weaknesses in the election legislation, it will create its own loopholes in the legislation, and it will find creative ways of doing all the things that election laws say should not be done in order to ensure that they win the election or they get the results that they are looking for after the election.”
Linton added, “And that has been the story of our lives for the last 15 years, so let us look at Dominica, let us ask ourselves why we are in this position?”
He questioned why Antigua & Barbuda and St Kitts & Nevis are able to employ so many young people from Dominica.
“Why are the other islands around us able to employ our young people, while our young people cannot find sustainable good paying jobs in Dominica?” Linton asked.
Part of the discussion at the rally will be the need for electoral reform in Dominica. The UWP has been actively advocating for electoral reform in Dominica since January 2018, through its weekly radio programs, public education campaign, and a number of public protests.
Meantime, Vice President of the UWP Francisca Joseph has raised concerns over the delay of the long-awaited electoral reform report for Dominica.
“Where is the electoral modernization process? Where is it right now?” she asked. “The electoral reform you told us that was coming that you were waiting for the report and you know that you got the first piece of the report. What has happened since then? Nothing.”
What is the government afraid…? Why is it [that] in this day and age in 2023 we do not have the reform that we need?” Joseph asked.
We are asking people to turn out in large numbers to support the cause for justice, equality and equity, and freedom for Dominica.
Following a recent press briefing Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit continued to express frustration on the delay of the long-awaited electoral reform report from eminent Caribbean Jurist Sir Dennis Byron. Sir Byron was selected by Prime Minister Skerrit to serve as the sole commissioner to advance efforts toward electoral reform in Dominica.
“The report was promised to us on March 23, 2023, we are now in May and this is concerning to me, because we absolutely in the country need to set this issue of electoral modernization/reform aside and focus on more important matters of the state,” he said. “This is a commitment we gave and I have said to Sir Dennis and of course you know we had the challenges with Covid-19 and the slowdown of this.”
According to Prime Minister Skerrit, whatever the final report is, it should be submitted to the people of Dominica, “and let us take it from there.”
The UWP rally is expected to take place at the Arch in Roseau on Wednesday, May 31, from 3:00 p.m.
What Electoral Reform (ER). No need because Dominicans love it so.
But we need a proper ER, yes a proper Emergency Room (ER) is needed by Monday 31 May 2023 just in case the place blaze up.
LOL
waiting for Lin Clown and the other one to come spew their ignorance. You know is there he strong. If he not talking about Linton or UWP they not happy.
I really do not understand what is going on. Although I like Linton, did you not stand down? Help me understand….
I can do that for you, He ugly Lenny is a loser no brainer and could not even run a Run Shop to save his life, this is the understanding of D***head ugly Lenny.
Is it about Linton or about Dominica? Where is Fontaine the political leader and his deputy, why are they missing in action. This party is total confusion. They get on as if electoral reform will mandate that the UWP must be awarded 11 seats for the election to be fair.
@Paul T
Electoral reform is a necessity, and Skerrit is trying to avoid it by all means possible, to keep rigging the polls. Every other Caribbean country has had reform over the past ten years except Dominica. Skerrit’s behaviour has always been trecherous, and that’s why i will never support him or his party. However, you have made a very important point asking for Fontaine and his deputy!!! I have done the same!! Fontaine has to decide what he plans to do with dispatch, to be the leader of UWP, or work in South Sudan. What he is doing presently is not good enough!
The longer a politician stays at the helm of power the more corrupt and dictatorial he becomes. This is exactly the case in Dominica.
The UWP will never be able to wrestle Roosevelt and his minions from power by themselves. It will take the collective and well coordinated efforts of a restive populace. Together the people can accomplish this task..
No honest person would so stubbornly resist sensible electoral reforms. With the suggested new reforms, no political party would have any advantage. The playing ground would be even. This hardened resistance by the ruling party shows that they are bent on handcuffing themselves to immorality and rottenness. Cheaters!
No matter your party affiliation, people go out tomorrow and stand tall for your country. When insulted by injustice, face it, stand up against it, and demand your right and justice.
You just talked about cherishing one another and here you are by the same breath instigating a war and inciting law-abiding citizens of Dominica. How …… and ……. are you to say one thing today and tomorrow to talk about doing something else? Dominicans are very happy with the status quo. If you don’t like the status quo, then, get the hell out of there. Electoral reform will do you no good. We will still be reelected in a landslide victory. Nobody cares about blue monkeys and Ugly Lenny, the high school drop-out.. We need people with a vision and not a division. You are a very frustrated, disgruntled blue monkey with no purpose in life. How about becoming the next rock and roll star after the passing of Tina Turner? Give you something to do. You are a blue nuisance on DNO. Your actions just don’t reverberate, at least, not with Dominicans in the majority but with the blue monkeys in the minority. There are lots of cheaters in the Zoo that look like leopards.
You for sure are a D unce S oul. Now get out of here and jump back in the CM’s cesspit and do your job.
Linton boy, you forget to say there will be booze, plenty booze and more booze…
Nah, his party is so broke that it struggles to meet monthly rent. How do you expect them to have booze to share? Not even a lapokabwit band they can afford. Yet, this is the same makakwee that you wish Dominicans would vote. Gimme a break tan!
UWP has no access to the state coffers you meant to say. Only Labour backed by tax payers money can afford to give cheap rum and burnt wings to their dunce supporters totally free of charge. They just have to pledge to put their cross on the right spot of the voting papers.
Oh Linton, get some sleep. You are no more the President of the UWP monkeys. Haven’t you been ousted? What’s next, ugly Lenny. Electoral reform won’t do you anything good to catapult you into the White House.
Way papa! Ugly Lennie has escaped from the rock he has been hiding under since he was deposed as leader of the defuncted UWP. Is Ugly Lennie trying to be relevant again? Can somebody please remind Ugly Lennie that in order to be relevant in politics you have to be elected and have a voice in parliament. Boycotting elections is the same as shooting yourself in the foot and expecting to walk. Bunch of jokers.
A question to you Mr D….-head, sorry Ugly Lenny, could you
explain to the Dominican people how on earth you going to take back control of our country, as you put it to your supporters, I will give you a little advice old man that will only happen in a ballot box and no other way Lenny, old man just you grow up and behave yourself time is running out on you in your twilight zone, next week Wednesday may 31 we will be watching.
Barring ill health, i shall be present as usual. What concerns me though, is that with a week to go, i am not hearing the publicity being done in the country areas (certainly not where i live)…The audience on Q95 are largely the converted ones already..The mobilisation and publicity aspect need to pick up steam so that people of all political persuasions hear about the event.
Poor event organisers you all are!!!
Congratulations! You are finally waking up to the reality that the UWPWee cannot even appeal to those who last voted for it and who maybe still quietly wish that it would become relevant.
I always suspected that you saw the light.
@Putin
I am different from most UWPites. I freely voice what i want, based on what i see, hear, read and observe.