The Leader of the Opposition Jesma Paul-Victor, has publicly stated her reasons for seeking to have the appointment of Sean Douglas as a Senator revoked.
In accordance with section 35 (2) of the Dominica Constitution, Jesma Paul-Victor advised Her Excellency the President of the Commonwealth of Dominica on Monday, November 6, 2023, to take this action.
Victor-Paul said in a statement issued today that as a servant of the State, responsible for the senatorial appointment of Mr. Douglas on January 13, 2023, this was a particularly difficult decision for her. However, it came after weeks of careful consideration of the importance of protecting the dignity and credibility of democratic governance processes from individual excesses.
The Opposition leader expressed deep regret for this course of action, “which became necessary because of a significant breach of trust, callus disregard for the principle of collective responsibility in the Parliamentary Opposition, and a refusal to be responsible for unilateral actions that undermine the work of the team.”
She said these behaviours conflict with the values that are essential to the effective discharge of oversight and representational responsibilities in Parliament.
“Further, this severely frustrates upholding integrity, ethical conduct, and the commitment to the highest standards of national service that they strive to honour and uphold at all times,” Paul-Victor added.
Jesma Paul-Victor also noted the verbal abuse directed at her, the calls for her resignation, the double standards, and the misogynistic disrespect for her decision that have flooded the airwaves and social media in recent times.
“First and foremost, I serve the people of Salisbury, Coulibistrie, and Morne Rachette as their representatives in Parliament. It is because of their votes that I also serve at this time as Leader of the Opposition. I serve faithfully to the best of my ability and absolutely at the pleasure of the constituents of Salisbury, Coulibistrie, and Morne Rachette who have the democratic right and responsibility to terminate my services at any time,” she said. “Until such time, I will continue to discharge my duty as a creature of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Dominica with great honour and pride, without fear or favour, affection or ill will according to law.”
Since Monday the Opposition Leader Take her suitcase and Leave the country. lololololol. She leaves the Husband babysitting a 1yrs and weeks baby. She running her life.
DNO please refrain from using that ugly pic of the opposition leader. It is the ugliest one you have on file so use something better. She looks like a soucouyant with that ill advised stupid wig. I may disagree with her firing of Sean but still want her to look good. And by the way still waiting for the reasons behind the said action. She is not a ducker so she must stop ducking before jean-bawi change her name to Ducker.
Jessma you have violated all the principles you addressing here. Girl sit down!
I’m sorry but Sean Douglas cannot be trusted.
The disastrous outcome of the appointment of Sean Douglas as senator and the nomination of Annette Sanford for President has opened the eyes of Ms Jesma Paul Victor. Using the office of Leader of Opposition to advance a UWP agenda is not helping her to accomplish anything for her constituency or her political career.
Her statement is clear: She is not acceptable to the UWP. Therefore, she owes the party no explanation or apology for her decision to fire Sean. Her responsibility is to the people of the Salisbury constituency who she promised to continue serving to the best of her ability.
Considering her political inexperience, that move reflects a high level of maturity.
Sean is not a member of nor is he representing UWP……….your point flies in de wind
What were the reasons? I did not hear any clear and concrete reason (s) given by the lady – just that Mr. Douglas has breached protocols and policy. – generic stuff- please be more specific lady if you can??????? O well the devil must be in the details.
Sorry this lady is not upholding anything than beholding to someone? I wonder who that might be????
@james
You are exactly right. The goodly lady has confused more than enlightening the citizens as to the reason(s) for her decision.
In this instance, a simple, concise, forthright explanation is needed for the entre curry t understand precisely what you are trying to convey. Come again!
a weak opposition leader makes a bold move to weaken her hand.
you only hear her voice in parliament… she doesn’t speak publicly on matters affecting the people.
is it because she identify herself as an independent candidate?
what does it mean to be an independent in our political sphere?
she can’t or won’t defend us against Chinese invasion of Roseau business landscape…….she doesn’t even speak on behalf of the constituency that she claims to represent……. more power to Hector John.
I think that she knows she lacks the capacity for the position that she holds, she not visible neither vocal so her support is lacking and wanting.
de weakest opposition leader I’ve seen in my life… Skerrit see her fault and failings and attempt to prop her up with suspicion of manipulation
As I see it,you are a liar.You were one of those who encourage people not to vote.You supported the call by UWP to boycott the election.Saying you encourage people to vote Jesma is a lie.LikeSean Douglas you are the 2022 election was a sham,and up to today you still agree the election was a sham.To say you encourage people to vote in an election that you say is a sham,is beyond dishonesty and shameless.You should have listened to parliament on September 27th 2023,instead of listening to the media whore on q95 with his fake news,propaganda and lies.Jacka.Yes there was a saying by Insp.Roberts of the CDPF,that very few people have commonsense ole police is one of those with no common sense.You ole police must stop embarrassing police with commonsense.Sean Douglas was dismissed for disrespecting Mrs.Jesma Paul-Victor,that is commonsense based on the debate in parliament on September 27th 2023.Did you not hear Jesma tell the speaker proceed with the nomination before Sean was finished.
Jesma Paul, the people did not vote for you because of your convincing message and brilliant strategic plans to improve their social and economic wellbeing. Get that straight and come down off your high horse.
The people’s vote was more of a protest vote against the ruling party than a genuine vote for you. That’s a fact and should not be twisted.
In your very brief stint in politics, by default, it is clear that you have become swell-headed. You have not even being a good advocate on behalf of the people. You collect a monthly cheque for sitting in parliament looking like a rabbit caught in the headlights.
The people are just asking for reasons for your action. Your reasons given can be equated to ‘ speaking in tongues’.
“The people are just asking for reasons for your action”. The people, which people, who is asking, is it UWP? You’re asking Ms Paul-Victor to be specific but can you be more specific with “The People”. Ms Paul-Victor is the elected member for Salisbury, Coulibistrie, Morne Rachette, by default or otherwise (besides the point)
and answerable to the citizens in that constituency, not anyone else. Mr Douglas is not an elected official so he doesn’t have a constituency so again, who’s asking.
Ms Paul-Victor is responsible for Mr Douglas’ appointment therefore if she feels he is not a good fit, she is well within her rights to sack him. “The People” did not ask for an explanation when he was brought on therefore it is not necessary to give a detailed explanation about his removal.
Ms Paul-Victor is beginning to see what I have said all along, that is she is being used by UWP. This bold decision to sack Mr Douglas has angered UWP supporters.
Zandolee,did you listen to parliament on September 27 2023?If you did you would not be making a Jacka of yourself and UWP.That is the thing with UWP supporters the do not read all they do is gossip,she say,he say,they say.You would have heard the leader of the parliamentary opposition tell the speaker,she and her team did not discuss objecting to Mrs.Borton’s nomination.The question is why did Sean object?why,why,why,because objecting to Mrs.Burton’s nomination was a conspiracy by UWP.We heard Dr.Lecointe and the media whore discuss the objection of Mrs.Burton before September 27th 2023.Dr.Lecointe told the media whore he had spoken to TYANNI Behanzin and they both agreed an opposition member should object to Mrs.Burton’s nomination.Sean was given a job BY UWP to object,dispute the fact that he,Sean and Jesma did not discuss the objection.Typical UWP dishonesty is flowing in their veins.As they dishonest is so the corrupt,lying and greedy, is a good thing 97% of Dominicans can read.
I am a very busy person. I have no time to devote to listening to people and who constantly lie to the populace.
Well so far is she said., She didn’t tell us what happened and we have not heard Shaun’s side of the story. While she is correct that it’s the people of Salisbury, Coulibistrie, and Morne Rachette who gave her that mandate she should also realize that we all supported her and encouraged others that would not have voted to vote for her and now she is the opposition leader of Dominica.
I find she is a little rude and needs to calm down and get out from her high horse. If from day one she had told us what happened she would be in a better place. But to just get up one morning and hear that she fired Shaun, our favorite in the opposition and then PM Skerrit is giving her support while we are in the dark, she has no one to blame but herself
DNO what a misleading headline, she actually did everything in her power to avoid “giving reasons for the requested revocation….”
Instead of hiding behind that letter written by an attorney, Mrs. Paul-Victor must come clean and tell us what happened. No gibbish or children melee BS. Tell us what happened so we can come to our own conclusion.
She did tell you what happened: Breach of trust and an arrogant Sean. What you want are the unnecessary details…the real roro.. so you and your ilk can then spin and twist and contort the facts.
All you like too much beff!
One of my mentors always told me that he does not know why the word is called “commonsense” when so few people have it” and that is why the phrase was coined “a little bit of learning can be dangerous” Madame leader of the opposition according to your other appointed female senator from Salisbury in an address to Parliament referring to PM Skerrit “fire yourself”; because you have not been forth coming with the people of Salisbury and by extension the Dominican populace especially those who are opposed to the reign of the Cabal. What you have said and nothing is the same girl, wheel and come again.
Although I believe all the political parties are self serving, I think his behaviour at the Swearing Ceremony of the new president showed a complete disregard for the leader of the opposition by attempting to usurp her authority. His behaviour, I would say was worst than that of the Attorney General as his behaviour was directed at one of his own. It was chauvinistic, authoritative and downright embarrassing. His resignation should have been demanded on the way out of that ceremony.
That doesn’t shed a bit of light on the reason for his removal. If she was going to make a statement to avoid looking petty, she failed miserably at it. Sounds very personal to me…
I must be dumb; can’t read or perhaps so inebriated on the blowing of the wind that I could not find a reason in anything she said that would have remotely suggest a reason for the quashing of his appointment!
Jesma, you need to be specific, because that in the following; does not constitute any specific reason for Douglas’s firing!
“The Opposition leader expressed deep regret for this course of action, “which became necessary because of a significant breach of trust, callus disregard for the principle of collective responsibility in the Parliamentary Opposition, and a refusal to be responsible for unilateral actions that undermine the work of the team.”
Breach of trust is simply a violation of duty by a trustee or a person in a fiduciary position: I doubt that was Sean’s position, so in all you said boils down to total nonsensical crap.
I am beginning to see why people are questioning your educational background, and intelligence!
You need to be more specific Jesma.
The reason given by the parliamentary opposition leader for the revocation of the senator’s appointment is a Nothing Burger.
“However, it came after weeks of careful consideration of the importance of protecting the dignity and credibility of democratic governance processes from individual excesses,” Jesma Paul-Victor, Leader of the Opposition, Dominica.
What a perfect observation of the state of bad governance shown by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and the Dominica Labour party over the past two decades!
The question is, how do we get rid of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and the Dominica Labour party? You may be fighting the wrong battle my lady, there is a war to be won for Dominica, choose your battles! You win some, you learn some, I pray you learn the art of politics very quickly!
Are you confused? Stay focused on the issue at hand.
Mrs Jesma Paul-Vctor got a team to carefully craft this response in ornate language. What’s up with the grandiloquence? Layman’s language for people like me would have been much more preferable.
Sean Douglas purportedly said he was awaiting reason(s) from Mrs Paulo-Victor for the revocation of his appointment as senator before responding. Hope he would keep that promise. This is a public issue that needs to be fully ventilated. The pubic awaits hs response with bated breath.
DNO…..this article is as clear as mud. Besides the word salad (albeit small salad), I still have no idea why he was fired from that position. We need details and examples of his actions to draw our own conclusions as to whether his firing was justified.
Absolutely! After reading her reasons one is even more confused and ignorant than before the issuance of her reasons for the revocation of Sean’s appointment.
One thing I can say with confidence about Mrs Paul-Victor. If nothing else, she has become expertly well at guile, deception and obfuscation like the typical politician, in a very short time.
A feeble response by Leader of the Opposition! We’re told that Mr Douglas acted unilaterally, which breached principles of collective responsibilities, exhibiting a lack of trust – in a nutshell. However, where’s the details…… the essential subordinate part(s) of her argument?
Given the Opposition Leader’s opening salvo, it wouldn’t be wrong to conclude judgments/decisions influenced by preconceived notions, stereotypes and attitudes toward Mr Douglas.
“Given the Opposition Leader’s opening salvo, it wouldn’t be wrong to conclude judgments/decisions influenced by preconceived notions, stereotypes and attitudes toward Mr Douglas.” Only if you have difficulties understanding simple, basic English or you have a different script submitted by Hon. Victor.
Ms Paul-Victor has released a statement regarding Mr Douglas’s revokation and one of the reasons given was trust among other things. Apparently, Mr Douglas felt that he didn’t have to work as a team, got himself a “Big Head”, most likely felt he was a more accomplished person than Ms Paul-Victor so he didn’t respect her.
UWP supporters have been fanning the flames of this episode by all of their name calling, their disrespect for her as opposition leader and the questioning of her abilities as a parliamentarian. Ms Paul-Victor has rightly pointed out the double standard. Where are all the so-called women’s groups? Do they understand why they cannot be taken seriously?
This is not the end of the story. I believe Ms Paul-Victor owes it to the Dominican public to come out and disclose the persons behind the controversial decision of Mrs Sanford’s candidacy. I maintain that Ms Paul-Victor and Mrs Sanford were both used by UWP for their own selfish agendas.
“I maintain that Ms Paul-Victor and Mrs Sanford were both used by UWP for their own selfish agendas.” More specifically, Linton and the decrepit and discarded “trustee” in chief of the UWPwee appear to be using and abusing them for their selfish political fantasies.