Parliamentary Representative for the Wesley Constituency, Ezekiel Bazil, has explained his decision to individually boycott Tuesday’s urgent sitting of Parliament as a protest against “the injustice and disrespect to members of the opposition and the public” by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Alix Boyd- Knights and Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.
A Bill for an Act to provide for the regulation of the banking sector was brought before Parliament for debate and approval earlier this year.
The Bill also sought for the establishment of a single banking space and for incidental and related matters and the repeal of the Banking Act, No. 16 of 2005 and was unanimously approved.
An act to establish a new Eastern Caribbean Asset Management Corporation Act to undertake that responsibility, was debated in Parliament on Tuesday.
“I did not attend this morning and would not be attending for the remaining of this meeting,” he said during an interview with Dominica News Online on Tuesday. “This is really because I am protesting the injustice, disrespect to the members of the opposition and by extension, the public, by the Speaker and the Prime Minister of Dominica.”
He continued, “I am also protesting the action of this government to recklessly and dishonestly, in a secretive manner, enslave the public with such a piece of legislation in the dark of night without any consultation with the public.”
Additionally Bazil explained, “I am protesting this sitting. I would expect that any other Parliament would go through the due process. I will see what happens at the next Parliament. My position is I am now protesting this specific activity because I think it is very much unfair.”
Bazil said that one needs to explain to him as an elected member of Parliament, “how an agreement that this government had in excess of a year in their hands, an agreement which was signed on the 24th of February 2015; what allowed that agreement to become an emergency in November 2015, sufficient enough so they can use it to treat an emergency sitting?”
“This behaviour is totally unacceptable and the people of Dominica really should not accept these things from the Speaker,” he remarked.
The Weley Rep is Erin order,if the opposition cannot be given adequate time to prepare why go. Vietnam begging for investors and we are begging them to come to DA. If the PM saw it fit to be away when this important matter is being discussed why is Mr Bazil presence is such a malady?
@A Doubting Thomas In Solidarity November 11, 2015
“Demonstrations here; protest actions over there; demands down there and walking out of Parliament and holding press conferences. All for one reason; to try and destabilize a hard working PM and his government”
I like that statement above–it is so true, and the reality is quite disturbing! How far do these men plan to take that mentality of theirs?
Yes indeed! Our Prime Minister is a hard working man, a man of charisma and humility; a man of wisdom from God; he is also a good family man, perhaps a good husband– I see all of those attributes in him as if I was face to face with him on a daily basis. Why are those men so pressed by their desire to see him fail.
But God forbids this! They say that he was a nobody when he became Prime Minister of DA. But that is a good thing. Mr. Roosevelt Skerrit is the nobody whom God has exulted to do His work of people welfare and the development of our country.
labor party supporters in my opinion are just giving mindless and blind support to the party. that is certainly not healthy for the country.
I am having a terrible week at DNO. Two of my comments were deleted and another has not been moderated. I wonder what would happen if I was to change my political color to red.
Ball-less punks they are. UWP needs a shaking up and uneducated Linton needs to be removed from the leadership position.
Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP)
Basil, smarten up! It isn’t everything the PM has to go to the public and obtain approval. Wherever you hear that happening? There are some decisions which governments make without the approval of the public which are obviously unnecessary.
What have you stated? Reducing the government to a low level of having to ask every D/can their views and approval?
In my estimation, I do not think you are an efficient elected member. You are not doing a better job than if the one who ran against you and vice versa could do. You are projecting your incompetence. Mellow and act humbly with respect for Parliament including the Speaker of the House.
Boycotting means disobedience. The Opposition are always in a fighting spirit. I visualize the manner in which they conduct themselves in Parliament. If you are reprimanded and reminded by the Speaker of the House to conduct yourselves in a becoming manner, you should not be offended. You must also respect the position of the Speaker of the House.
Basil, be reminded that some people of Wesley voted for you; not all of them. You represent all of them. Therefore, do not be stubborn, defiant and disrespectful. These get nobody anywhere. When you criticize the PM and Speaker of the House, consider your unbecoming demeanor. You mannerisms are not above them and you are not superior to them. You still have to know your place as a member of Parliament.
I think Dominicans needs a new UWP, members who are respectful and humble to mention a few virtues, in order to properly represent the people and to cooperate with the government.
If walking out of a meeting means disobedience, that means Skerrit is also disobedient, because it seem to me he has decided to Boycott this secession of parliament.
Or; could it be that he is sick and is in New York, or China being medically treated; while they are telling the nation he is out there selling thirty million dollars worth of passports!
How much of the thirty million he intends to thief and put in his deep pocket?
I getting blows boy. Thumbs down on left, right and center from both those on the government side and the opposition side. But that’s ok because it confirms I am not partisan or aligned to any party and I will criticize whoever is at fault. I am a Dominican and love for country comes first and when Skerrit is forming the fool, though there is never a day he and his corrupt DLP not forming the fool, I will not ease up on them. On the other hand, though I like the vision of the opposition, when they acting like little boys I sure will call them out as well.
In the case of what happened yesterday all of them should join Basil in boycott of this bill that skerrit himself ran away from!. It was just two weeks ago the Jamaica opposition boycotted Parliament for something less important than what Mr. Basil protested against: http://rjrnewsonline.com/local/opposition-senators-plan-to-boycott-parliament
Our local opposition is too week and they need to be more aggressive in their role
Well said – the populace needs to get together and shut down the machine
UWP; they are all fools, they do not any ideas of representating in Parliament and their members. It’s seems they want to be on power, they must remember they were not voting in. The primo inter do not need to make decisions. FOOLS!!!!
I understand your pain, Mr. Bazil. There is no need for any boycott. Be patient, it is only a matter of time before the nonsense that is going on at the Parliament will be over. Please be present at the next Parliament meeting, because we need you to ask the Prime Minister to disclosed the contents of the documents he signed with Ng Lap Seng at the Macau Conference in August. The people of the Wesley constituency need your presence at the next Parliament, in order to ask the following questions on their behalf, such as, who is Timothy Cornwall, who is Frank Lorenzo, who is Leroy Paris, who is Giampaolo Pioli. If you make yourself absent, how are the people of Dominica and by extension the Wesley Constituency going to know the real story behind the Sun Kian Ip Foundation’s connection to Dominica. Mr. Linton almost got into trouble for asking questions, maybe he asked the questions at the wrong place, but in Parliament, apart from the Speaker, you are safe.
Whereas Ezekiel is complaining about Alex Boyd disrespecting him, and the rest of the opposition, there seems to be a greater disrespect perpetrated on the parliament, and the people of Dominica in general!
Collin is substituting for the duly elect prime minister the Mountain Chicken Crapo Mentality Skerrit.
I do not know if there can be a legitimate meeting of Parliament in the absence of the duly elected, the real so called prime minister Roosevelt Skerrit. If Skerrit had any respect, for the people of the country he would be in Dominica attending to the peoples business.
If there was any doubt in the mind of any Dominican that Skerrit’s concern is only his personal welfare, and cares nothing about Dominica, his absence should be a warning. It is only a matter of time for the economy time! The economy of the country is about to collapse. Skerrit and all his associates have already bought their mansions in the United States, he is here enjoying life with his wife and…
Thumbs up to you Wesley Parl Rep.
“the injustice and disrespect to members of the opposition and the public” by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Alix Boyd- Knights and Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.”
Ezekiel, that in the above should not be a cause to boycott the secession of the Parliament. You are elected by the people of Wesley, you are paid to be there. You cannot be effective by staying on the outside looking!
If the Speaker, is disrespecting to the opposition, let the people of Dominica recognized that and do something about it at the poles. If they vote Skerrit out of power, the Speaker will also lose her position in the House. One of the reasons why the UWP has lost support in the past ten years is because of such behavior!
Be a man stay there and tolerate the disrespect if any; take the punches; you are in politics. The bitter goes along with the sweet also! If you walked out, the others remain that might indicate dividing factions! Be very careful; politics is a bouble edge sword!
Just want to say, this is an opportunity to go and debate the bill. Instead of boycotting, go speak on behalf of your constituency and in large the people of Dominica.
It is up for debate, that is why there is a sitting about it. So use, this and go say something meaningful and stop that nonsense of boycotting. What does that prove?
What else would one do if he is unprepared and have nothing to contribute? Isn’t the house the best place to state your concerns? I wonder why he was the only one to boycotted.
Good thing we have the proper people and team as the Government of Dominica.
Let us see what this opposition has been up to since they lost the election. Of course, I cannot remember all but you will get my drift. Demonstrations here; protest actions over there; demands down there and walking out of Parliament and holding press conferences. All for one reason; to try and destabilize a hard working PM and his government.
Then came a natural disaster in Erika, did that open the eyes of the Opposition to their ills? Your guess is as good as mine. So tell the gentleman the government has been very busy.
Like a true leader the Prime Minister and his Government was up to the difficult task God gave them but it also showed us again why the majority of Dominicans voted the Labour Party. We knew who could do the job in an emergency.
A boycott by one or all the opposition members is a recycling tactic. Plus bad letter writings to the list of how not to be a Government.
ALAS POOR WESLEY.
The mistake which was made is now showing it self .
NO REPRESENTATION FOR WESLEY.
DNO ADMIN,
We the people of wesley would like to hear from our Caretaker Ms. Benjamin. This is just sad.
That piece of rubbish, have to be written by Athenia herself, or her son Wessly!
Wesley do not have any representation what? Fifty years from now Wesley people will still not vote for Athenia! Her hopes of becoming honorable Athenia Benjamin, Robin Dods, or Telemaque will never happen eh!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
How we make our bed in life we sleep in it; hard or soft. She has made a hard bed in Wesley, which people has not forgotten, and will never forget. She can enjoy the rest of the left overs of the part of the thirty-two million dollars they had given her to buy votes, and bribe people; she better thank Skerrit for paying her for sitting in a none recognizable job!
To say she is the caretaker of Wesley, is an over am ambitious hope! She will only become a minister in her dreams! If Wesley people wanted to here from her they would have voted for her, and not Ezekiel.
My position is I am now protesting this specific activity because I think it is very much unfair.” Your protest should be in Parliament not in Wesley. No work no pay. You were elected to do the people’s business. Your tactic isn’t working, you become useless. People who don’t work should not be paid!
Bazil I agree with U stand up for what you want…they too bright!
Your reason is shallow. You are a lone ranger boycotting.
I am surprised Linton, Thompson, Joshua Francis, Isaac Baptist and the entire UWP did not boycott this nonsense. After all, Skerrit is prime Minister and minister for finance and he too boycotted it and chose to go tell more lies in Vietnam, and the opposition went? Boy I am starting to question this opposition that has demonstrated to be afraid of Skerrit and that old speaker. Surely Rosie Douglas my boy and hero would have boycotted it if he were alive and be opposition leader. This opposition starting to behave like boys with toys to man? Who vex, let them vex but I speak my mind
your comment reminded me of why we are the way we are. why wouldnt the opposition take every avenue to ensure that our best interest are tended to. the ruling party doesnt care what uwp does or doesnt do as long as they dont interfare with what they propose and do. boycotting on the part of uwp has had absolutely no effect so why keep it up? you might as well go and do what you are supposed to do – represent your people.
Record stuck. The same old story like complaining children. Skeritt & the Speaker.. stop yeyehing over & over . Are you all not mature citizens? After Erica all you still yeyehing … grow up & take part in the affairs of the country. collectively, individually or as a party. Trop parler, Trop boycott. Where is your love? You do not love the very people you want to represent. Awar. awar. the Almighty is looking on you. Strife & vain glory is on your agenda. Stop it for once.. what can you say you did for the country but strife turning persons against one another… demonstrations and boycotts. .. no alternative views .. opposing just for oposing sake. Spreading hatred of mostly 2 persons PM and Speaker moreso. Do you want to have blood on your shoulders? Preach love & practice ..doing nothing tangible for the youth and the population. only strife, parler, looking for ugly, digging into persons private business, stop. Do something for Jehovah spoke thru Erica
Hope you know what happened to Ananias and Sapphira in the book of Acts.
I getting blows boy. Thumbs down on left, right and center from both those on the government side and the opposition side. But that’s ok because it confirms I am not partisan or aligned to any party and I will criticize whoever is at fault. I am a Dominican and love for country comes first and when Skerrit is forming the fool, though there is never a day he and his corrupt DLP not forming the fool, I will not ease up on them. On the other hand, though I like the vision of the opposition, when they acting like little boys I sure will call them out as well.
In the case of what happened yesterday all of them should join Basil in boycott of this bill that skerrit himself ran away from!. It was just two weeks ago the Jamaica opposition boycotted Parliament for something less important than what Mr. Basil protested against: http://rjrnewsonline.com/local/opposition-senators-plan-to-boycott-parliament
Our local opposition is too week and they need to be more aggressive in their role
You are a hater period.