Speaker comments on controversy surrounding new parliamentary term

Speaker of the House, Alix Boyd Knights

ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – The Dominica parliament meets on Thursday for the first time since the December 18 general elections with the in-coming Speaker, Alix Body-Knights, saying that she is not worried at the decision by the opposition legislators to boycott the event.

I would not be surprised if the opposition decides they would want to come to the parliament. Their seats are there for them and they could certainly come in and take their place. “Until such time as I don’t see them appear, they are coming,” she told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

Boyd-Knights will be reappointed as Speaker of the House of Assembly and has dismissed allegations that she has been biased towards members of the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) in the past.

“It’s a job that I have done to the best of my ability despite those persons who tried to say that I was biased and I did all the wrong things. I want them to remember that on two occasions that they took me to court, the court sided with me. That is extremely significant to me and it should be to those naysayers,” Boyd- Knights said.

The UWP had taken Boyd-Knights to court on two occasions in the last five years alleging that she was biased and had “hijacked” the parliament, making it impossible for the opposition to function effectively.

“I have never denied that I have sympathy for certain parties over others. But the fact of the matter is when it comes to interpreting the rules that does not have political colour. The rules are very clear,” she added.
The UWP has decided to boycott the Parliament to protest what it claimed were irregularities in the general election that the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) won by a massive 18-3 margin.

Former opposition leader, Ron Green was among those who were defeated in the polls, but the party has since gone to the courts challenging the results in the La Plaine constituency that he represented in the last parliament.

The UWP said that it would participate in a “People’s Parliament” that will coincide with the official sitting of Parliament.

“I don’t know what their entire game plan is. That may just be their preliminary moves. I would say that (the late) Mike Douglas proved how effective one man could be and if I am to use that as a yardstick I would say if one could be so powerful much less for three plus the four senators,” she said.

President Dr. Nicholas Liverpool will deliver the Throne Speech at the start of the new parliamentary term.

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21 Comments

  1. Mahaut People
    February 4, 2010

    Garson pete you are so right. After all these years we are still using such terms, i wonder why

  2. GWATANCE
    February 4, 2010

    To continue the work constitutionally in Parliament for the people of Dominica

    UWP allocated 4 Senators

    I will assist them by naming three, BERNARD WILSHURE, LENNOX LINTON AND ANGELO ALLEN.

    Then let us work TO-GET-HER for our beloved COUNTRY DOMINICA

  3. Sout Man
    February 3, 2010

    Why should Misa and Max resort to insults and predicting that evil befalls the people of Dominica because they voted their conscience? If the people are so uneducated and unskilled, why does the UWP have difficulty connecting with them? Wives and husbands disagree; families are sometimes in turmoil; so we expect disagreements in our government. As long as disagreements are handled in a mature manner, we will be supportive to the bone. If firing will be warranted, so be it.

  4. caribbean genius
    February 3, 2010

    Ron is pushing the boycott because he cant be opposition leader because he lost his seat, so he buying time to see if the court will rule in his favor and he win back his seat… So he just holding back leader of the opposition to see if he still can get it.. Old men with outsdated ideas trying to hold on to power.. Stop the nonsense ron and let one of the victorious uwp politicians take leadership role. Your political career done….!!!!!!

  5. February 3, 2010

    BEWARE OF A FORKED TONGUE WOMAN.

  6. February 3, 2010

    … .. The UWP has all the rights to do what is right and fitting to them , thats their democratic rights. why all the fussing now , and press confrence when votes were bought and sold nobody said a thing . we shall all live by our actions, Aliks boyd knight don’t have any DOGS to kick now , but wait !she will find one to kick very soon, because everybody always want a DOG to kick.Go doggy go wag your tail now ,and shake your leg, wuff wuff.

  7. February 3, 2010

    I am so disappointed in my people and that leaves me to wonder how do they correct their children when they do something wrong, people election is over so take the time to go thru the issues that confront you on a daily basis and see how we can all try to move DOMINICA forward and not one step backward, open your minds you must be tired of hearing others say that D’ICANS haven got the intelligent to think for themselves come on stop being so d—-m biase.
    I do not suport any of the parties I am concern only about the issues that DOMINICA faces every day.
    At the same time why it is that the DLP people and their friends are so concern if the UWP is in the HOUSE or not they are exercising their Contititutional right maybe this is the time to get a copy and got thru it educate yourselves and stop be littling each other . We have elected a PM and as of tomorrow we will have a one party state and Government and a speaker that do not have any integrity in the house , People listen to the CALYPSONIAN and what they are saying regardless if you agree or not take heed and move on.

  8. Hello
    February 3, 2010

    Come on John ,Edison and Mr Parl Rep show your maturity ; get your senators and go about the PEOPLE’S BUSINESS…….. IT’S NOT YOUR CHOICE…… You tried this before and you failed.

  9. February 3, 2010

    The people parliament as suggested by the uwp is total rubbish! Edison and his cohorts must respect the views of the people.IF after 3 consecutive meetings of the house of assembly they fail to attend they must be dismissed from parliament as provided for in the constitution.

  10. max
    February 3, 2010

    The heat is on –Skerrit and his clowns are in the house…..and that ;fam beth; Alix Kinght too……..

  11. Fbd
    February 3, 2010

    UWP Please stay out ( I mean far far far away from ) of Parlaiment. Please allow Ma Knight and these.. persons run the country anyway they want to and in the end all of us will pay the price -it really doesnt matter to me because I DID NOT VOTE LABOUR.

    LONG LIVE MEN OF MORALS AND INTEGRITY -LONG LIVE UWP ! ! ! ! !

  12. Misa
    February 3, 2010

    If you say the opposition did not contribute to Parliament, then you never listen to Parliament,. Do you know how many times the opposition had to beg for the Soufriere Sea Wall before they got it??

    THE UWP IS NOT GOING TO PARLIAMENT BECAUSE IT REFUSES TO RECOGNISE A GOVERNMENT THAT COULD NOT WIN AN ELECTION FAIRLY.

    This is written in English.

    Its not about winning or losing. Its not about hanging or all those nonsensical mewpuis. Do you people read or are you all able to comprehend what is stated. How many times does someone have to spell it out for you all. Even a foreigner would understand this by now. Stop making people think that you all are not capable of understanding simple sentences, please.

    Just looking at some of these comments you just know why its easy for Labour Party to win an election in this contry.

    Look at the Labour Party Leaders and you will find their supporters EASILY. A STRAIGHT ROAD TO DISHONESTY, NO EDUCATION OR SKILLS AND LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING.

  13. Anonymous
    February 3, 2010

    well i voted for UWP and i dont want them to be in parliment among those type of pple there.People that lack integrity and only care for themselves and to give the bits of what that remaining to the public.That speaker is absolutely one-sided!no doubt!even if the court sided with her it doesnt mean it right.If you know history you suppose to know that!

  14. steve
    February 3, 2010

    THE RED TRAIN IS SLOWLY FALLING APART. STAY TUNED

  15. Truth B Told
    February 3, 2010

    The Speaker is right, the House of Assembly with go on, with or without the UWP in attendance, and the people’s business will be conducted as per the rules and procedures in place.

    I wonder what point the UWP is trying to make, by boycotting the House of Assembly. We are a nation of laws and their concerns over the humiliating defeat they suffered at the polls on 18 December, will be addressed by the court. There is no legitimate reason for the elected members of the opposition to refuse to attend parliament to represent the people who elected them.

    This really is a case of acting like spoiled children and I personally am fed up with such immature behaviour from such old men! Come on guys act your age and show some leadership for the youth of Dominica, some of them may actually vote for the UWP someday – who knows?

  16. STAY TUNED MY PEOPLE
    February 3, 2010

    THE SPEAKER’S DAYS IN THAT POSITION IS ALSO NUMBERED.

    KEEP BASHING UWP.

    DON’T SAY I DIDNT INFORM ALLU, THAT THINGS WILL HAPPEN IN THIS COUNTRY TO MAKE SOME PEOPLE BAAAAAAAAAWL.

    STAY TUUUUNEED

  17. Nitara
    February 3, 2010

    The Peoples Parliament…lol. We are really a laid back and peace loving nation. Where else in the world would that happen. U.W.P don’t need us to give them rope to hang themselves, they are greedily grabbing it.

  18. Mac-Arthur Haughton
    February 3, 2010

    Like little boys they are not playing if they can not control the game. Don’t cry, go home and suck your thumb.

    I hope they use the time they are away to brush up on the rules and regulations of the house. As well as their manners, discipline and respect. A few hours practicing what they have to say before they do appear would not be a bad idea either.

    How many sittings of parliament do they have to miss before they call a by election?

    If they want to continue to get paid for doing very little in parliament they will attend. The mentality of “free food lets eat” continues. I have never witnessed a more ineffective opposition in a Parliament. What do they come to the house to do? Do they know what they are supposed to do?

    Before the opposition concern them selves with what the speaker of the house is doing, they should concentrate on what the voters in their constituency voted for them to do. Which I am sure is for the parliamentarian to represent them.

  19. February 3, 2010

    well said my lady..two times in court but they think what they are doing is right.the u.w.p party is just about getting back into government and will try anything to get there.good luck to the government of our beautiful country in there first seating of parliament……..god bless u all…..

  20. Dominican lover
    February 3, 2010

    What throne. It is the presidents speech. the opposition have me confused. do they seriously want to be in power ever.

  21. pete
    February 3, 2010

    Throne speech? what throne speech? Why do we blindly hold on to vestiges of the past? We are an independent republic! Simply re-name it the president’s address!!

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