Ears, nose and throat (ENT) specialist, Dr Irving ‘Eipigh’ Pascal, has made a plea to Dominica’s electorate to band together and denounce the election as a “sham” by either abstaining or spoiling their ballot on election day.
Dr Pascal’s comments came earlier this week, as he formally withdrew his nomination as an independent candidate for the St Joseph constituency.
During an interview with Dominica News Online (DNO) he expressed his disgust over the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) decision to travel to Dominica to observe the snap elections scheduled for 6 December 2022.
“They have given their recommendation and nothing has been done based on their report, so it begs the question why are they coming? They can only be coming to legitimize the results that are already known,” he said.
According to Dr. Pascal, the Prime Minister has already won the election; his current problem is proving the validity of the process to outsiders.
“So the only thing dominicans can do now is not stop the results , by acting in a way to delegitimize the results that are already known,” he said. “And the the only way legally and quietly which in my opinion would be the highest act of civil disobedience, is either one, the people ensure there is a low voter turnout and or two, those who go , demonstrate their disgust by protesting in the ballot box by spoiling their ballot,”
Dr. Pascal emphasized that by writing “no reform, no election” or drawing a “X” across the ballot paper, the voters would have silently exploited a device meant to enslave them, to free themselves.
As to the reason he decided to enter the race, Dr Pascal argues that his nomination on November 18, 2022, was made solely to prevent the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) from being named the election’s victor that evening, because of the lack of other candidates.
Speaking at a town hall meeting at St Joseph on Friday evening he said he believed that his intentions were made clear in his prior declaration and requests for others to do the same in the days preceding nomination day.
He said he had hoped that by now, the populace would have taken advantage of this window of time to express their disgust and opposition to the call for hasty elections, in which three opposition parties have chosen not to take part because there has been no electoral reform.
“And I consider that an act of protest. Everybody has the right to protest,” Dr. Pascal asserts. “And quite interestingly, other people felt the same way. So we had 15 [19] independent candidates get nominated to push back the process a bit and I thought I had done my job because that’s what I said I was going to do.”
But he revealed that since then, there have been repercussions for his actions, as evidenced by the constant phone calls he has been getting, which indicate that people are taking his nomination in what he called a “scam election” seriously.
“Some of the comments were when are you running? When are we going to start the campaign? How were we not seeing you? All of this from the St Joseph and Mero people,” he explained. “And I’m here thinking, how come they want me to involve myself in this corrupt and immoral process of this snap election? Why do you want me to go on canvas? Why do you want me to go and campaign, for what, what is the reason I am campaigning?”
To get a better understanding of the people’s feedback on the ground, the health specialist commissioned a poll in the constituency in which he worked and lived for several years in which 50% of the respondent said that he should not participate in the election.
He emphasized to the others, who were suggesting that he should think about taking an active role, that “I am not interested in being elected, all I want is to continue to enjoy taking care of people’s ears, nose and throat. I want to be able to go to my garden and plant, I really don’t want anything else…. I don’t want to be Prime Minister. I don’t want to be president.”
While Pascal expressed the hope that the other candidates would follow his lead and urge the electorates to either not vote or carry out the protest act that he has suggested, he notes that in the end it is their decision and they should “go with their hearts.”
“ If you feel comfortable doing that, that’s what you should do. That’s what every man should do. Every man or woman should just do what in their conscience they think is right and face the consequences,” he said.
However, he adds that even a legitimate vote for one of the independent candidates is not a vote for democracy.
You know there is a marked difference between opinion and fact; the unfortunate thing is that many of us confuse the two. People, because you feel a particular way that doesn’t make it a reality. There is nothing bogus or illegal about the elections. The constitution we borrowed from our oppressors is the problem; it places too much power in the hands of one individual. Having said that, all these utterances are useless. They will yield no benefits as non-supporters of the government will embrace your advice but the government supporters will vote properly. Whether Skerrit wins by one or half, a win is a win and he will form the government with the most significant majority in the history of elections in Dominica we all know that’s his dream since he is jealous of that achieved by Mia Mottley, and Kieth Mitchel. Never forget majority is not based on the number of votes but on the number of seats in the parliament.
Yes sir,UWP won under the same conditions,with one exception,the MAJORITY of Dominicans did not vote them into office.UWP lies,gossip,fake news,propaganda and greed have destroyed them.
“He said he had hoped that by now, the populace would have taken advantage of this window of time to express their disgust and opposition to the call for hasty elections, in which three opposition parties have chosen not to take part because there has been no electoral reform”.
Didn’t the UWP win under the same conditions? Isn’t the reform documentation being worked on?
The election is not illegal. DFP and UWP called a snap election in 2000 when they lost.
What are you all afraid of? On the 6th, one must triumph. It is time for you guys to respect people’s intelligence. It is not you alone who went to school.
It is generally said that “Marigot” people always think that they are more than others. Who are to tell people how to vote and because you are a Doctor too? Who gave you the wisdom? Certainly not yourself. Humble yourself and put down that Marigot people pride thing.
We are all the same in the Creator’s eyes – Stop now the internal hatred thing and internal racism.
Humble yourself. We black people are always our own enemies, IP come on I respected you but now what is that? Jehovah gave us free will. Is that a retaliation for the slavery mentality? Man is always contradicting themselves and creating more problems in the world for the brotherhood.
Who gave us the right to control others? Emancipate yourself from mental slavery
Boycott not going to fix the economy. Boycott is the sister of strife, wars, etc, and all ugly things.
Pascal you are supposed to be educated. What foolish advice this is!
Do you want to be a part of the civil war? The monsters created today will turn back on you later.
Word of advice. God is real and he is in control. Do not lean on your own self-ambition. The higher being gave us the breath of life and we need to reverence him.
We seem to forget we have to give an account of how we work in this world – did we give love or sowed the seed of discord?
We should all seek our Creators’ face for guidance.
I am comforted though that the God of the heaven and the Earth will intervene in the affairs of men who are being used by the “evil One” to divide and hate one another. This, therefore, furthers the “evil one: agenda to steal, kill and destroy.
TAKE NOTE – LOVE CONQUERS ALL. LET US LOVE
Nonsense. Foolishness. What u sow you will reap later,
Good moves… Doctor..
By the hook or by the crook, Skerrit has to fall…
the bad you wish for people might happen to you before it happens to them.
If confused had a face!
Well I bandé for you all the evil forces will not work. Not on Danzi, Labourites, DOMINICANS, open your EYES WIDE. JALOUSY c’est fami à SORCEIUX, We voting LABOUR AGIAN et ENCORE.
This story makes no sense right to the end. How can this man be a medical professional?
At first, he is an independent candidate, then he says: “I am not interested in being elected, all I want is to continue to enjoy taking care of people’s ears, nose and throat.” Who forced him to run as an independent candidate?
Sir, if that is your way of advertising your profession to the outside World, you have done so in a foolish and wicked way, wee!
“According to Dr. Pascal, the Prime Minister has already won the election”. –This is what you already know, the reason why you are backing off, before you are publicly shamed; but it is much more shameful to advise the people they way you have done, this is nothing more than cowardice!
Don’t you know who entrusted you, your gift of medicine? You job is for His glory, not to interfere in His work for the people, by the man He chose as His Servant, with Party, by their voice. His is the Almighty God!
@SoldierofSatan
Your posts are widely ignored or rejected. They are like poison ivy – TOXIC, and at times SACRILEGIOUS ( stating that God put him as ruler). Sinful Liz!
This guy is an educated doctor with no sense.The majority of Dominicans are Labourites,why would they go to vote and spoil the ballot when they are happy
to see the back of UWP.The reason the majority of Dominicans are always voting DLP is to make sure UWP never get into government.Supporters of UWP will not vote,in that case all independent candidates will lose their deposit.Look at the following of the DLP,does that look like people who are going to spoil ballot?Only a handful of Dominicans,fail to see and understand the majority of Dominicans do not care about electoral reform.If they did,they would do what they did in May 1979.The PEOPLE have totally rejected UWP.When UWP was kicked out of power in 2000,they were a much better party than they are today.Today they have mixed victimization,corruption and greed,with lies and violence.
I’m really proud of you!!!!!!!
best statement in this tone
SPOIL YOUR BALLOT
let this election be the lowest voter turnout and highest number of spoiled ballots!!!!!!!
that’s my kinda talk Doctor !
Boycott the bogus election. That’s it.
What makes it “bogus,” really? Or is this simply Ibo and his propensity for malapropism?
Man stop your foolishness…
Da to the bone – real foolishness by those who want to seek representation and who thinks that their personal vendetta against one person gives them the right to hold the country to ransom.
AFOS All you think that the Creator sleeping and you all run things!
Jehovah is alive. He is in control. The Creator who can take the breath he breathed in a second.
Fear the Creator. Proverbs states ” The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. We all need wisdom though not the wordly one where some of us think because we have a little degree that we are everything and can control those who are less fortunate (academically) than us. Who we think we are to prevent persons from exercising their rights to vote. Have you all listened to yourselves? Promoting violence .
Hear you IP “However, he adds that even a legitimate vote for one of the independent candidates is not a vote for democracy”. Take down your pride – swallow it because pride comes before a fall. Godly people are…