Opposition leader and member for the Marigot constituency Lennox Linton has described the overnight detention, by police of Marigot resident, Seth Gussie, as criminal and malicious.
Gussie was picked up by the police on the morning of June 4, 2020, in connection with his role in a video in which calls were made for action to be taken against the government of Prime Minister Roosevelt.
Gussie was released the following day, without being charged.
The police, armed with a search warrant, converged on Gussie’s home in Marigot in the early hours of Thursday, June 4, and took him to police headquarters in Roseau for questioning.
In relating the events which occurred after he was brought to Roseau, Gussie stated that the investigating officer, Davidson Valarie, told him that he was going to place him in the police cell and would return during the day to question him.
“He came back after 1 pm and in the presence of my lawyer, Gildon Richards, interviewed me. I never asked him about his authority. He put me in the cell and telling me he will come back, but I know he was lying. I also met with the Deputy [Chief of Police] asking him to speak with him,” Gussie said.
He described the police cell in which he was placed as “dirty, filthy and unsanitary.”
“The place was in a mess; mosquitoes did not bite me but…the toilet and the cell conditions were just not good at all. I ask for a mop and a broom to clean up the place,” Gussie complained, stating that he was told that someone would be coming to clean the place.
He said the toilet was in an unhygienic state and there were roaches “running in the place like rain.”
“I ran to take a haircut after I was released,” Gussie revealed, adding, “I am talking the truth and was arrested for that, they cannot stop me.”
Member of Parliament for Marigot, Lennox Linton expressed his disgust with Gussie’s arrest.
“They [the police] have gone to Marigot, ransacked his home, taken him into custody and kept him in a cell at police headquarters in Roseau,” Linton said following Gussie’s release on June 5th. “He has been released and they have made no arrangement for him to go back to Marigot. The detention is an act of malice, discrimination and prejudice on the people of Marigot by the investigating officer.
The Marigot parliamentary representative took issue with the fact that Gussie had spent eight hours in police custody before he was interviewed and was then put back in the cell.
“He was kept in custody maliciously. This is evil and criminal behaviour against a citizen of the country,” Linton contended.
Gussie said he was the only person arrested in connection with the video who was kept in police custody overnight.
Gussie was the last of those involved in the video to be taken in by the police for questioning.
Like the others before, he was released without being charged pending further investigations.
you all remember Newton there will be a price to pay hungry for power
I support you 100%. There shall be a “transition of power” in Dca lead by New Town and others whether we like it or not. People can’t take it no more and the youth are restless. The old school politics of talk, talk and more talk accompanied by pray, pray and more praying will NOT work with the current cabal. That has been tried and proven counter productive. Linton and Vital have done enough of that but BS, accompanied by alleged Chinese spying on our citizens for the SLP (NJIC also) and possibly stolen passport -cool-out- money being given to selective people behind closed doors is killing us.
You see, when a majority of religious leaders become moomoo in an opressed society and the judicial system is lock-in-step with corrupt officials the only option is “by any means necessary”…. hopefully achievable through mass “militant” protests
Go ahead and plan coup and think the police will smile with you clowns…..smh
Have you seen the video? Nowhere did they say a coup would be planned or staged. They stated it will be be done by legal and constitutional means. But like a typical dominican, you only hear what you want to hear (remove Roosevelt skerrit) and everything including the context and matter surrounding those words never even entered your ears. Typical moron you are. Comprehension is not your strong point. If that was the case why were they not charged, as that in itself is a chargeable offense, with video evidence to back it up.
the officers and politicians themselves are dumb. what good is arresting these so called coup conspirators going to do now? Any proper police force would watch and monitor and surveil these men. Wait until they can be caught acting towards a coup (transporting guns, bombs, stones, bottles, cyber hacking etc..) build evidence build a case. But no, they rather act like meatheads and run around in camo arresting people for rubbish. NO CHARGE! NO CHARGEABLE…
Linton, Marigot did it to themselves when they attacked the Bishop and the Cardinal, as the marigot representative you said nothing by condoning it. This guy was taken in because of something wrong he said or did. You are a wicked person.
The Bishop and the Cardinal? What a religious bunch of hypocrites you red ants are when it suits all you. How about you should not lie, you should not steal, you should not bear false witness against your brothers… Let me tell you something, if that incident in Marigot will ever be properly and impartiality investigated, it will turn out that Skerrits supporters are guilty. Remember that fire at the airport some years ago? Apparently nobody knows who the guilty party was apart from the PM. He told us that he knows but never gave us a name! Anybody stalling the coffee yet?
You see,its little yard fowls,house slaves ,morons like ” man bites dogs”, who have this country in such a state of disarray.
These living creatures have no purpose for country. They have the breath of life and that’s it.
No sense of patriotism, as long as ” i love my pm”.
The Police Station is a health crisis. The envorinmental Health Unit needs to visit there. Regardless of if you have been arrested for whatever crime, the cells are not fit for any human use. We laugh at it like it a joke. Some will say if you dont want to go there behanve yourself. but when you yourself or your loved one end up there you will understand. There is a limit to wickedness, and those cells are beyond stretching the joke. You might as well throw me in a pit toilet.
Chou poule… We like it so.
One day things must get better…
They mistreat their own people but are in the MIDDLE of the drama that went on wit Floyd. Hypocrites! Imagine the young man had to ASK to clean his own cell. Shame on you THUGS calling yourselves police. Skerrit must led you all to drink cyanide.
Doh worry you head, police cell was not made for one set. I MUST live to see Skerrit and his cabal hoodlums go inside these very cells one day because there are just too many “alleged criminal activities” tied to them. By then the rats and roaches will be bigger, bolder and hungrier to bite.
Black lives matter, even if it is black on black injustice…..should the above report be correct.
All lives matter equally. There is no black blood or white blood, only red.
We tired explain to allu special people what black lives matter means. All other lives have always mattered. First white and then everybody else. Black people are the most hated people in the world. So much suffering! So much racism, prejudice, injustice and mistreatment. That’s why there is a BLM movement. We have to remind allu that black people are human just like everybody else. SMH at your all lives matter comment. I hope you not black!
I cannot understand how the Bishop and others are seeing these things and pretend they not seeing and yet, he and others have the guts to condemn what is happening all the way in the US, to George Floyd they do not know. Man Dominica is a very sick country because those that know better, those that claim to God’s voice, those that have a voice and those that are very educated, are either saying nothing and in some cases they rather bless the evil of Skerrit, thinking is Lennox Linton and uwp they don’t want to win and become pm. My God these people rather see Dominica go down to the pit to keep an evil hypocrite sacwe rat in office. Boy all you can do what all you want but you can’t keep a good man down. Sadly all you just hurting our country more because if Lennox is God’s plan you guys can’t stop it!
@Lord Help us, what is the bishop seeing?
Let me inform you, that another word for “seeing” is “witnessing”. Did the bishop witness what is written in this news article? At least with the situation of George Floyd, there is video output all over the place.
Here you have a one-sided story, which could be extremely exaggerated–the best thing that Lennox can do–how do you expect the Bishop to come wailing to show his disappointment against something he did not witness, and might even be grounded in lies?
Where is the bishop to chant down this crime against humanity, where are all of those who are chanting black lives matters, it only matters in the US and other countries but not yours? Bunch of hypocrites.
Bwa Banday,what did you and linton say when people were ROBBED at CUTLASS point in Marigot?What did you say when the CARDINAL and BISHOP were ASSULTED at Marigot?When Dr.Ferreira,Duncan Stowe and Muslim store were distroyed what did you and Linton say?.COOLWOSH BAWI and BURN SALISBURY BURN what did you and LINTON say?When the police were ASSULTED at Salisbury,what did you and LINTON say?HYPOCRITES.
O judgment❗ Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their way❗ (Shakespeare)
The Skerrit led government is a criminal enterprise. Corruption, unlawful arrests, brutality, unaccountability of missing public funds are just a few of the abnormalities and illegalities that plague this cartoonish regime.
When the vast majority of citizens remain silent and apathetic as people’s constitutional rights are constantly violated by the government, it’s like an incentive for the government to commit even greater atrocities.
The people are the ones who really determine how they are treated by their elected officials. One of the greatest sins that is committed is to remain silent when your voice and actions can make a difference against glaring wrongs perpetrated on the innocent by the powerful.
The news media, ‘journalists’, private sector and the clergy, in Dominica, should be chastised for their unconscionable silence in light of Skerrit’s excesses.
Well said, go tell the blind irrelevant followers of failed Skerrit and his failed questionable incompetent Labour government.
There is too much to say about the failure of Skerrit and his failed corrupted Labour government.
After 20 long years, what has our people benefit from this inmature childish failed incompetent Skerrit and failed Labour government.
Our Dominica is in a mess and lack vision and mission to elevate our suffering jobless people who have been stained with this Caronavirus Red Clinic managed by this failed incompetent Questionable immature Skerrit.
Our people are suffering 😢 and crying daily to support 😢 their crying 😢 families.
It is time for change and we need to take back our government and our Dominica.
Skerrit is a pappyshow and a failure. His UWP Government has failed us, killed our agriculture economy and reduced our people and country to begging and suffering.
We need Skerrit out of our government now.
We welcome our Trusted professional UWP Team.
It doesn’t matter where in the world you are and you make idiotic statement bout an goverment it’s allways the responsibility of the police to take u in for questioning some of us might be lucky an get away with it but in that case u were the unlucky one
How about your idiotic dead in voting for the dictator??? What is in it for you?
@Be careful:
I am looking at the reaction of a certain group of people in Dominica, which is extremely pathetic–like stupid!
Here, you spoke in general: “It doesn’t matter where in the world you are—you make an idiotic statement, about the government, it’s always the responsibility of the police to take you in for questioning” But look at the thumbs rating: 3-12 at this point; mine is #3
So that group of people does not know how to analyze anything that is said or written, if it is not in support of their mind production they will reject it–how pitiful!
They are the people wailing about Dominica being this, that, and the other negative growth or production; yet they are the ones who are foolishly behind that outcome. The negativity that they speak about was from the stone ages ago–blinded by darkness.
Their state of blindness will continue, but the Light will shine for our homeland right to Eternity–that is what matters.
Every country has a system put in place where people have to stay within. When you work out of the system and get caught that means you are foolish. The law all must obey, when you break the law, we break you. If all breaks were one break, what a big break that would be. Every human being is born with 49 ounces of brain, when you don’t use yours correctly, you pay the price. You want to run a country with no laws and a system put in place. When you are caught that means you are foolish.
How can Dominicans regardless of their political leanings tolerate that type of harassment and intimidation of law abiding citizens? The police force is being used by the prime minister to try to silence people. Some people think that once it does not affect them personally it is not their business. Don’t kid yourself, once that pattern starts, it could be you or your relatives tomorrow. There is no place for a dictatorship in Dominica.
Shut up Linton, behave yourself stay in your conner like a good little boy or else! Gussie, you complaining about the police cell what did you expected a Hilton hotel room? Lots more of that water and dry bread to come all you think is joke I making just wait and see.
Stop Barking ridiculous messages, it gets you on where and helps stain your failed leader Scare-it who has ruined our Dominica and our people and our Dominica, killed our agriculture economy and reduced our people and country to poverty and begging.
That is the worthless 😡 Skerrit we know. As a civil servant wry are the ones that are open to the values and weaknesses of Dominica over 19 long years under this failed incompetent Questionable immature Odd Skerrit Minister. We don’t want your corrupted Labour Bobol money, we need jobs that we take care of our families.
Skerrit must get. We know of the qualities of Hon Linton and his trusted competent professional UWP Team under our distinguished experienced commited UWP Team. Our people and our Dominica comes first. We therefore need decent trusted government and not failed immature questionable incompetent Skerrit and his failed corrupted Labour government. Skerrit must get the hell out of our government.
Thanks DNO for this publication
!
Dominica has become a police state reminiscent of the days when Eric Gary ruled Grenada with impunity. However, his time came. Mugabe did the same thing in Zimbabwe and his own troops turned on him. Santos did the same thing in Angola and now he is out his family especially his daughter is under siege by the people for stealing their money.
Marigot, Marigot, Marigot pleaseeeeee wake up from your slumber and smell the coffee. Stand with Seth and be ready for the call.You are strategically located so act in unity! Dominica, Dca, Dca stand with your people and save the land from this madness. The winds of change are blowing, begging for unity and SERIOUS youth action to save this blessed land. STOP the color politics (Red, Blue, Pappy, APP, Freelab, Freedom) and start the CHANGE REVOLUTION. Unity is power. Stand with Buju, Lorty, Seth, Bawi, Handbay, Blessings and others to effect positive change before it too late. Lord help us! :twisted:…
You BWA BANDAY,give your full name and start the change.The names you mention are all LAZY……………………………………Another one is a LUNATIC.Linton,Matt,Blessings and Brian should be ARRESTED.You and your kind MUST understand,DOMINICANS has NEVER,and will NEVER vote UWP.UWP is never going to DIVIDE the Police Force.They dismissed
Commissioner Blanchard and 7 officers on false evidence CONCOCTED by disgruntled police officers.The Police should keep SUSPECTED TERRORISTS in custody for 72 hours.
Great article 👍 and great 👍 response. Dominicans, please wake up and smell the dirty coffee of Skerrit’s and his failed corrupted Labour government and let’s take back our Dominica and government.
Skerrit is this inmature leader and should never have been Prime (Odd) Minister.
Skerrit and his failed corrupted Labour government must get the hell out of our government and its incompetent failed Labour government.
We have, with the exception of incompetent Skerrit y his failed corrupted Labour government must be kicked out of our government.
We need change and we will not be safe with failed incompetent Skerrit.
We welcome our Trusted professional UWP Team under the leadership of trusted and respected, committed Opposition Leader to be Prime Minister of our government and our ailing suffering jobless Dominica. We need change. Skerrit is not visionary and lacks focus and knowledge of Socia-economic development and has our people, our families suffering with no jobs and no…
A 16 YEAR OLD CHILD, would handle the situation better than the grown ups. A policeman is human. a criminal must first blame him or herself for breaking the law. No one is above the law. A person break the law and the police arrested him. the police over used his power of arrest and the prisoner died. The chief of police will first discipline the officer and then hand him over to be charged for the offence, whether it is homicide or other. What is all the force about colour.
It is clear that there is method in this madness. The not so subtle message is that those, who speak out demonstratively against Mr. Skerrit’s regime will be harassed, inconvenienced and intimidated. I doubt this will act as a deterrent but rather stimulate further protest and manifestations. For this to be effective it is important that any such actions are disseminated, instantly and as widely as possible. Social media are not only cost effective but resonate with people worldwide, especially where it concerns the violation of the basic rights of people, by regimes that have no desire to see such misdeeds exposed. Don’t forget, the underdog is generally favoured.
Thank God Mr. Gussie ,those MERCENARIES DID NOT KILL YOU, and I’m of the opinion they had every intention to do just that.
Now,where is the bishop?
These are the kind of things that really angers me. That’s why I’m saying ” living creatures ” such as the bishop CANNOT BE A MAN OF GOD.
So if you are not a man of god,definitely you are of the devil.