Salisbury residents on edge MP says; meeting planned for tonight

John said the community is calling for peace
John said the community is calling for peace

Days before some villagers of Salisbury are expected to appear in court in  relation to protests which took place there recently, Parliamentary Representative for the area, Hector John, says residents are on edge and a meeting is to be held to discuss the matter.

The villagers are expected to appear in court on Thursday and the meeting will take place tonight next to Wavel’s shop in the village from 7:30 pm tonight, John told DNO.

“So we want to update the community on what is going on, allow people to express themselves, how they would like to see things go on,” he said. “Overall we are calling for peace, we would like that to stop, the community is on edge right now.”

On May 11 and June 11, Salisbury was engulfed in disturbances as the police and residents faced off. The first action was in protest 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.

Six people are presently facing charges in relation to the first protest.

John noted that some of those who received summonses will be going to court on Thursday.

He said the villagers of Salisbury said they felt that they have been deceived on two occasions by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, since he said at a press conference that he would meet with the villagers but that never materialized. Additionally, John said, in a meeting with religious leaders, Skerrit said he wanted the village to return to normal.

“But you are seeing the total opposite in terms of summons being issued to the community,” he stressed.

Another area of concern that John mentioned are road projects, which he claims have stopped in the community.

He said for the past two weeks, a village road project has halted, with the lack of asphalt being given as the reason but he stated that at the same time other projects are taking place using the same asphalt.

“We have no problem with that but do not lie to us…” John noted.

He said works on farm access roads, the reason behind the protests in the first place, have also stopped.

He said drains were cleared but concrete works have not come to fruition.

“And that’s what we have been advocating for over the last months…and the farmers need to access their farms,” John noted. “That is a serious concern for us.”

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28 Comments

  1. the fly
    August 12, 2015

    TRUTH, in 1997 when the road in chance area was cut as you said by the UWP GOVERNMENT why was not surface at the same time ?answer this one don’t scratch your head and tell me am am am calling chance people brainless dam chick.

    • truth
      August 12, 2015

      not because you are a labour fly to tell me ,you cannot subtract 3 from 15 FLY ,, How far is1997 to 2000? And how far is 2000 to 2015?

  2. island girl
    August 12, 2015

    Everyone has the right to protest .Having said that there are laws within the country
    that we have to adhere to, Protesters does not have the right to infringe
    or disrupt the lives other people ,Blocking roads etc should not be part of protest
    it is violence…when you do that you break the Law. after the law is broken the violators of the law
    has to be prosecuted. But when the Pal Rep says he is not accepting summons, he is doing a disservice to the people and the country on a whole. Maybe if he never use to boycott the house of assembly things could have been resolved for the ppl of Salisbury. The politicans in Dominica both Labour and UWP should realize that only when they work together we can have a better Dominica

  3. Stop It - Too much talk
    August 12, 2015

    You know we have to educate our people. Stop putting them in ignorance. This is how we keep our supporters. “Jim Jones Tartic” so even though you know it is wrong to break the law – you make them believe it is right.

    I like the Fergerson in USA Story. You break the law you get arrested and charged. So those people in Salisbury and Possie who want to plan – Get the Laws of the Lland and read please. They are putting you all in trouble be careful – you break the law you have to face the consequences, please politicians educate your people and stop making them like the “Jim Jones”.

    Politician settle down and stop using the people. I know my Salisbury family and people are not stupid. One day the people will rise up against you, please stop that war zone tartic and get work to do or resign because its the same people tax money that paying you to represent us in the House of Assembly.

  4. the fly
    August 12, 2015

    TRUTH, you talking pure crap now back to bed………..

    • truth
      August 12, 2015

      This is just how the foolish labourites respond ,I know you still waiting for the piece of the pie
      Go ,Learn to be independent,so you will be able to make true and brave judgement like i do,without fear or favor,,and not be afraid of victimization Because
      Execpt the lord build a house, They labour in vain that build it

    • truth
      August 12, 2015

      You are really a fly ,Because ,Only flies follow after people seeking tc access the crumps that fall from their meal ,Get independent,

  5. sandra
    August 12, 2015

    Mr. Prime minister were you elected for the Dominican people or for the Labour rights… God will make a way for the Salisbury people very soon. Those people who are enjoying the Salisbury people cries for help remember what goes around comes around.

  6. bawi youth
    August 12, 2015

    since I was a little boy I have known you Hector and today Ii do not think Ii know you anymore. You want to do the wrong thing and then tell the police not to do their job. I don’t understand that. You are a bad leader and you leading our young people astray. Ii will not vote for you ever again. Also you on radio attacking coach Palem. You need to stop it. He has his job to do and since I know him he has taught us sports and to obey law and our teachers and parents and elders in our village. He is an example to all of us. I was told he also was your coach so you should stop attacking him on radio he has done nothing wrong. You are the one who has done wrong by blocking Government road and damaging it. I read the law on demonstration, you had to get permission to do that and you did not so you must face the court. You getting my people in trouble with the law when somebody die you will stop but it will be too late.

  7. last man standing
    August 11, 2015

    the plan is simple fight the Dominican people and they will come running up the stairs of the red clinic. salisbury has been the strong man of Dominica,you win salisbury you win all Dominica.

  8. August 11, 2015

    Salisbury people must remain strong and resolute against all odds .it is clearly a war which has being declared against you all .a war which you must now fight to win stand and remain united for yourselves your children & Dominica.

  9. Manup
    August 11, 2015

    Mr. John, your points are valid, DNO isn’t the house of Parliament! You gracefully choose to walk out when you had a chance to ask the PM to address your concerns, now you are going to your comfort zone and saying WHAT, WHAT? Don’t’ voice your opinion on Q 95 and DNO. you should be able to voice your concerns in the house. You broke the law you should man up now.

    • %
      August 12, 2015

      @ Do you know that 12 intellectually deficient SQUARE PEGS IN ROUND HOLES from the DLP that has made you a groveller and beggar could not utter ONE SINGLE WORD ON THE BUDGET? . What a shame!!!! ,Do you know that the coward Skerrit could not stand Honourable Linton critiquing the budget, so he too was out.STOP BEING UNINFORMED!

  10. new york dominica
    August 11, 2015

    yo stop politics over stop not again get a job and stop the problem boss

  11. %
    August 11, 2015

    I feel what you all have gone through, and I am in total solidarity with you all!

  12. Nature
    August 11, 2015

    Don’t worry real possie, today is Salisburys turn tomorrow my well be possie especially the people of Chance. The world is a cycle.

    • real possie
      August 11, 2015

      Why Chance? They should be the last people to talk, they got their land for free or a dollar a square foot. They got houses built for three quarter the price, some only had to come up with 2000 and they got a house, am really trying to get where you coming from.

    • joe
      August 11, 2015

      Nature are you condoning people stoning civilians on their way to work?? The leadership of workers carried out a protest under the Financial Center recently because they say Skerrit employed persons who were rejected at the polls and were paid more than those that were accepted…… I DIDN’T SEE LENNOX ET AL BLOCKING THE ROAD OR STONING ANYTHING THAT PASSED, DID YOU???

      Hector et al was in New York protesting i never saw one stone pelt at the building or passersby did you see any??

      Do you actually live in Dominica?? Hector Spaggs John is the WORSE PARL REP AND IS EMBARRASSING THE GOOD PEOPLE OF SALISBURY, BOTH IN AND OUT OF PARLIAMENT!!!!!!!!!

    • peace
      August 11, 2015

      Chance people has more brains than that,we don’t break law to get what we want.

      • truth
        August 12, 2015

        Peace , I am from chance area , chance people have no brains ,this is why ,the main road in chance was cut in 1997 under uwp ,And we are in 2015 ,Two weeks ago this government gave it a surfacing,but all the people who live on this street are labourites, ,Go see their condition; This present dlp under skeritt is cursed ,this is why as a supporter ,you will never get off the ground,,
        So peace ? is chance people brainful ? or brainless?

  13. real possie
    August 11, 2015

    @ Truth, please tell me what rights of Portsmouth people that was trampled on that they should’ve demonstrated in a riotous manner? In the past if we did not get the progress we should’ve gotten that was like all other parts of the country, what makes us better than Grandbay? We are seeing the light at the end we will be a force to recon with in the next three years to come, the foundation has been laid, even in the great US of A when measures are passed it takes two to three years to show it’s worth.

  14. real possie
    August 11, 2015

    For the life of me this is one issue that just sticks in my craw. and here we go again. In the 1st place had you Spaggs John educate your constituents this would never go that far, they broke the law and you and your party egged them on to do so. Even if you had a meeting with the PM, well not you-you were in NY at that time in a peaceful protest in the UN yard, people like could file charges against the PM if he did anything to intervene in the laws that are on the books, the people broke the law let the courts deal with that, to make it seem he can speak and this will go away is a farce. You talk about the drain work was done but nothing else, Spaggs the 2nd riot didn’t they have to stop work there because people were being stoned again? All leaders of demonstrations I’ve seen before find it an honor to be arrested for their cause, you and your people are the 1st I see who run scared, could it be deep down you know you all were wrong in doing what you all did?

    • real possie
      August 11, 2015

      50 plus people were arrested in Ferguson on Sunday, tear gas were used, rubber bullets were used, and they said more arrests are coming, could the people of that place tell the governor to just let that die? One person was shot too. Am just sick of the mediocrity representations you and your people impose on the people who just refuse to want better for themselves.

      • truth
        August 11, 2015

        If possie people used to stand up for their rights like saulsbury people ,we would be better off

      • the fly
        August 12, 2015

        REAL POSSIE, you took the words right out of my mouth i could not have put it any better Salisbury people and Co. take note, real possie thank you.

    • August 11, 2015

      You people cant sidetrack the goal of the people of Salisbury, fix our road or face the consceqenses :-D

    • LawieBawie
      August 11, 2015

      I don’t live in Dominica but I used to support this government because I felt that generally they were doing a decent job even though they were neglecting my village. However a few months ago I really began to become more aware of all the lies and deception which they have been putting over on us Dominicans and if I had any lingering doubts about the evil of this government, then their recent actions in Salisbury have totally and convincingly swayed me away from them. Additionally, their continual targeting of Salisbury even after these assaults, is indicative of the fact that they are trying to make an example out of Salisbury. This is as political as it gets and is as glaring and blatant an action of political retribution as I have ever seen.

      • the fly
        August 12, 2015

        Lawie Bawie, reading your comment it tells me you are a fool to think this way,where ever you are on this planet please tell me one good thing workers party have done for DOMINICA i will tell you nothing at all but put DOMINICA in the RED mean to say BROKE, so you don’t come with that rubbish LABOUR government like it or not have done a lot for D/CA i have roots in Salisbury but when people breaks the law of the LAND they must pay heavy ,take a look at the USA by the way if you want lies go to Q95 they are good at it

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