It is being described as a political gimmick, a common trick and a form of dictatorship.
On the weekend a page appeared on social media giant, Facebook, proclamining Athenia Benjamin as “the Dominica Labour Party candidate for Wesley & Woodford Hill constituency.”
By Monday the page had gathered 69 “likes” and even Benjamin herself responded to a photo posted on the page writing, “Thanks to everyone for tremendous support. I promise to give my all in service to my people.”
But chairman of the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) Wesley Constituency Association, Cleaveland Dodds, is not taking the matter lightly, telling DNO on Monday he has no idea that Benjamin was made the official candidate for the party.
“I don’t know anything about that,” he said. “I saw that on Facebook last night but that is nothing official. That is a common trick. That is a trick they trying to shut us down to see if we will stay silent and to shove Athenia in our face. But we are not prepared for that at all and we are not going down that road.”
Current MP, Gloria Shillingford, announced earlier this year that she was getting out of the political arena and will not be contesting the next general election. Her announcement came just weeks after reports surfaced that Bejamin, a Wesley native who resided for many years in Canada, was tipped to replace her.
It it reported that Benjamin has the support of prime minister, Roosevelt Skerrit.
However, certain sections of the DLP in the area are not happy about the selection, with Dodds telling DNO in June, that the constituency was in “shambles” because of the entire matter.
Dodds described the latest development in the issue as “disappointing” and “an injustice.”
He said the constistuency was in the process of preparing a primary for selecting a candidate since the association had suggested Financial Controller at the National Development Foundation of Dominica (NDFD), Fidel Grant, as a possible candidate.
“This is injustice and this is unfair and lack of interest in leadership to treat us that way,” Dodds said noting that the Association has not broken ties with the party and is in fact “very active.”
“We are willing to work with them but we are not willing to work with that candidate,” he stated. “We presented a candidate to him (Prime Minster Roosevelt Skerrit) and our cause is to work with that candidate. And if there is a primary and the primary is kept and Athenia wins the primary, well, we will see what is going on next.”
Dodds is questioning why there seems to be a rush to select a candidate for the constituency.
“That is a form of dictatorship. It seems that the Prime Minister take his leadership to a whole new level that we can’t understand,” he said.
Dodds pointed out that the heirarchy of the DLP must respect the opinion of the people “in the legal way.”
“The PM cannot do something like that,” noted. “If he wants a copy of the constitution of the party, we have a number of copies we could issue him one.”
Dodds is also promising to “deliberately mash up” everything if Benjamin is confirmed as candidate for the general election.
When asked to explain this, he said the Association will do everything in its power to prevent Benjamin from winning.
All attempts to reach Benjamin for her comments on the matter have so far been unsuccessful.
All we have to do is stop go on the BUS
Mr Dodds, firstly this is not an issue for public consumption and I doubt if the entire Constituency Branch share your sentiments. I need to refer you to the DLP Constitution, you claim to know so much about, you have not read it properly my brother, for it says that even if your branch nominates it is left o the DLP Party Executive to accept or reject your nominee. I am extremely disappointed in you for bringing the DLP into disrepute and I recommend that you be suspended from the Constituency Branch and if you continue with this embarrassment you should be expelled as a member of the DLP if you are a registered member that is. My advise to the DLP leader allow a Primary in Wesley and respect the outcome and leave the final decision to the DLP
Sir, The disrespect started when the PM chose to ignore the members of the constituency and brought Athenia Benjamin to run the seat without any consultation with the voters. Consequently its the PM who has brought disrepute to the party.
Respect is a two way thing, Much more is expected from those with power and in high places. They are supposed to set the example. What example has the PM set? Wesley people are the kindest and most respectful people you will find anywhere. But they are a proud and unafraid people. They never just follow like a bunch of sheep. They hold their head up high. And make eye contact without any fear. A lot of them die poor but always with their dignity. Not all of them of course, because Athenia Benjamin is from Wesley.
Looking On, The PM is not the Executive. The Executive has the same problem the people of Wesley and Woodfordhill have with the proposed candidate. Thats because the Executive was practicing ‘democracy’ and realized that the members of the constituency did not support Miss Benjamin. So the Executive initially supported the ‘people’. Now ‘Looking On’, who has brought more shame and disrepute on the Dominica Labour Party than PM Skerrit? Go back to all those scandals the PM has been involved in. Did you at any time call for his expulsion? So what kind of double standard are you trying to introduce to us? Put all the laborites together , count all their errors of judgement, and corrupt practices, and combine all together, and still they would not add up to that of Mr. Skerrit.. Shame on you man! Actually , its time Mr Skerrit be challenged and relieved of that position. Their must be other laborites more capable , more honest, and more conscientious. The PM initiated this problem. And Miss Benjamin wants this at any cost whatsoever! But one day all will come to light. We will all learn the reason why the PM went out ‘on a limb’ to have Miss Benjamin run the seat.
when i read these comments these negative and ignorant comments it makes me wonder if the DOMINICA i was born and raised in is the same DOMINICA today,i can boldly say it is not we were a proud and hard working people not begging but working for what we want standing up to our rights as i look at it today we have lost all our values we have become beggers,we have become lazy and dependant on a GOVERNMENT who has made us beggers we allow them to take away our ability work and provide for ourselves and our families,they failed us in so many ways we have become the poorest country in the caribbean they have served us long enough its time they go CHANGE IS A MOST not an option TEAM DOMINICA all the way. wake up people stop hiding behind party and colour we have been blinding by colour its time we open our eyes the power is in our HANDS we put them there so we can take them out lets us speak to them at the poles vote them out in oder for DOMINICA to rise again. TEAM DOMINICA UWP.
Stupessssss!
Your “TEAM DOMINICA UWP” will not even catch “1” seat
in the next general Elections!!!
Garson, go hide with TJ.
DODDS.. el supremo going to shut you up just now and cut your wings!!!
Let me make it abundantly clear, even if I was in Dominica, I would be speaking out the same as I am doing now!
Ask anybody in Wesley in their late sixty’s who may remember me, what sort of person I was at an young age, even before I was fourteen years old, they will tell you I did not take any crap from anybody. You are scared of Mr. Skerrit, Francisco Telemaque is not afraid of, him nor any politician in Dominica. Let me make it clear, I have nothing personal against Skerrit, nevertheless, I have grown weary of his politics, and his inability to develop the country.
That gives me the right to speak out, and let him know I cannot support him nor the labor party and the crap they are doing in the country, if you think because of that he should harm me or seek to harm me, I am not shaken, I am in a business of renting to people, I deal with murderers, thrives dope dealers, and the worst of human kind, yet I am not afraid of any of them.
They do not scare me!
I have dealt with people who abducted my daughter, the same one I brought with me to Dominica when my father died, I had to deal with some very bad people, I retaliated, and when I was about to unleash hell on the culprits they let my daughter go. So your crap about Skerrit will do this and that to me, means squat, and I doubt he is the kind you are trying to impress on me he may not be able to develop Dominica, but I would hate to think he is an idiot, victimizing maybe, but he cannot victimized me in anyway, since I am not,and will never be dependent on him nor any politician in Dominica for anything!
That is beside the point, anything you see me write on DNO, I Write the same thing in another forum, where Mr. Skerrit himself, and anybody in Dominica you believe is a big shot, they are recipients of my comments, Athena herself I know was a recipient , I don’t know if she is still receiving my comment since her return to Dominica.
In any event, anybody in this world, police, mafia, gang banger, dope dealer, anybody who believe they will hurt Francisco Telemaque, and get away with it; if they murder me, anything they do to me, they will suffer the same as they have done to me, even when I am in my grave! So, anybody who may be planing, plotting, conspiring, whatever it is the do to me the same will happen to them. Note: I am not afraid to die!
So, if you think you are scaring me, you have tackled the wrong man!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Is the police going to arrest Francisco Telemacque for responding to Doc.Love “It is a shame for having people like you alive”???????
“Francisco, why don’t you remove the blinders from your eyes like the Ninga Turtles. You cannot tell me you don’t know about the amount of money that was paid to a certain feller, so that he would join a party in order to be a candidate for dem lazy people.”
You know Doc Love, I regret I insulted you in that first response, based on the quote above I sort of get your drift. Now the problem with accepting money to become a candidate, is the worst thing one can do. Under such terms and circumstances, such individuals has given up their rights to even think, they shall forever be a bit of merchandise bought and becomes the property of the person who paid them to run.
Such people will never get the opportunity to utilize their personal ideas, or have any say in the function of government even if the people voted for them, taking money from someone to contest for a seat in a election is the lowest form of corruption, and that is why we have so many corrupt politicians running our country.
They are accustom to the grease palm, therefor if you bribe me to run, when I get in the my hands and feet are now in the cookie jar, (I go thief all me can get). That is why you find so much poor nobody in Dominica gets elected, and within one year, they own millions in wealth.
You call me a Ninja Turtle man?
Hahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahah.
I can’t help it but burst, you know perhaps (dem Ninja turtle glasses) caused me to see all the crap the government has done, and so I had no difficulties withdrawing my support, and loyalty from this nasty Labor Party.
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
LOOK BOBOL from all of all you politicians and patrons zo to sort. All you need waking up in DA. From i born and come along (according to Bajans) I have never seen a bunch of negative people like that that is why even when all you go foriegn all you still in Ro Ro because your tongues are free for all no unity no love, no togetherness every man for themselves.
How about fighting for your country instead of bringing it down. Peoplen around the world see Dominicans as idiots carrying on.
Hello ..u people must remember its woodfordhill and Wesley. And we going all the way with Athinia. So talk about Wesley but u people forget wote
Well well my friends out there we want Athinia in wote and not maybe its a most
Mr.d.from wesley face the wote people and here our voice..we want Athinia… and we goin on strong with hear
..labour labour. We Love Athinia
we want Athinia. She here to win..
Labour..power.
What has she shown she can do for Wesley and Woodford Hill. If life was good for her in Canada she would never come back and fight for political office. . She see a goldmine and want some of it. Wake up people and smell the coffee.. ..STOP BEING USED BY PEOPLE WHO WANT TO ENRICH THEIR POCKETS..
I feel sorry for you , you mean woodfordhill ?
After what this labour party did to you ,
I think you should ask someone about woodfordhill 14 years ago ,because it seems you were not here,
woodfordhill people were not beggers, they were independent people, making their own moneys,Buying their own transports ,Building their oen houses ETC ,
look now ,this government have made them beggars ,murderers ,drug,lords prostitutes etc ,and you still have the guts to talk labour?
I think you needs to be chased out of woodfordhill,because you don’t like your village ,your people your country and most of all your self,remember ,
In the abundance of water ,a fool is thirsty,
THATS YOU,
Really? who wants Athenia? Im from Woodford Hill you better get ur facts right……
Say what you like Rasty , you going all the way with Athenia but she nott going all the way with you! Is your vote she want not your nonsense talk. That is all the lady care about, not you.
Looking at the current controversy between the PM and the Wesley/Woodfordhill Constituency i think the problem is a lack of respect from both side,the PM have to listen to the people,they know the woman much better than you and is the of the Constituency that have to vote for any candidate that both the party and the Constituency association agreed upon,it cannot be a one man show. Now to the Chairman, he have to be more carefull of his choice of words as a leader,some of the things that was said wasn’t call for,i can understand your frustration but you to keep your cool brother. My own view on the matter as one who votes in that Constituency, i see that woman as a Candidate as a down grade, first thing she don’t have any manners,badly brought up,she fight teacher in school,didn’t even finish primary school and live in Canada for past 32 years and never seek to further her education,we in wesley deserve better than that,we pass the Elford Henry error we in 2014 and we are not going back in the days of Earl Leslie and others please don’t bring us so low.
It does matter who goes up in westly labour will still win
It can be a frog they will win we are not trusting UWP not now not ever
Go labour go victory in sight
Why is Dodds so against-anti Athenia. If the people-voters pick Athenia as the labour candidate, he should suck it up, make peace and support Anthenia. After all Hillary supported obama. SAnd freedom, suported and pave the way for labour
Kum up Anthie, blows like old clothes on you by Bazile.
But but but…..no matter who or what Skerro send up in Wesley is him people voting for, so he eh care who vex and who is not satisfied. When money and materials start to come to Wesley soon, all this fight will be over, Skerro will get what he want, as always, and Dominicans will be under dictator rules and misery for another 5 years.
Its sad that Dodds have to come out publicly and make these statements. But his expression reflects the opinion of over 80 percent of the people of Wesley and perhaps fifty percent of the people of Woodfordhill. The percentage is higher in Wesley because the villagers of Wesley where Athenia is from know her best and can make a wise decision about her. The disrespect started with Skerrit by allowing Athenia as a candidate without any input from the constituency. The decision will without any doubt cost the DLP the wesley seat. But even worse there is already a trickle down effect in other constituencies. Persons who believe in fairness, and respect can easily identify and sympathise with the people from Wesley and Woodfordhill. Many of them will not go to the poll, and quite a few have said openly said they are so offended by the PM’s behavior that they will make a statement with their vote. Top advisors and aids to the PM are aware of this. The question is , are they telling him the truth or what they believe he wants to hear.
DNO, why does your system consistently state that I may be a spam or whatever? My computer is not a robot. Furthermore, you have the relevant information that was necessary to comment.
You are right Facts, you are just a nuisance, an opinionated old lady, that’s all. Quite harmless really.
Let us face it, someone may have decided to play a prank on Face Book. I have heard enough about/against Face Book that I am not a fan and have no intentions of accessing it. Some of the information on Face Book could be inaccurate.
There seems to be some prejudice against Athenia Benjamin. I do not see why she is not able to be a candidate if she is chosen by the PM. After all, he is the boss – not you Dodds. You guys are the ones making the mess and comess, causing disarray in this Party. Your indifferent attitude contributes to that. Be careful you do not lose this riding.
Anyway, why copycat the US with a Primary? This is D/ca; not the US. There should be a simple method of choosing a candidate. Why make it complicated, having a Primary? This costs time and money. Make life easy and simple for yourselves with less anxiety and stress, if none at all.
My boy educate yourself. The only persons who have created the mess are the Prime Minister and Miss Athenia Benjamin. The people in the Constituency do have a right. Its only after the people have selected a candidate it is then endorsed by the Party Executive. Several members of the Party Executive opposed the PM and initially sided with the people. Those are the facts. The PM has since tried to get to these people to get their support for Athenia. Anyway its now a lost cause., Labour will loose the seat. But win or loose Athenia has been promised a Ministry once Labour wins. Thats according to her and her family. The Constituency had no problem with Gloria Shillingford, but she was forced out by the PM. Grant has strong support from the people but for obvioous reason the PM does not want him. But if the analysis that the PM is using to suggest that Athenia can win the Woodfordhill Constituency ,is the same being used for the rest of the country, then its obvious they are living in a fools paradise.
@ The Facts: The people of Wesley knows Athenia for who she is. The “well mannered and lovable ” person she portrays is not who she really is.
Any way the point I want to bring across is this. After the last election when she came down with the intention of competing in the general election and this did not happen she should not have gone back to Canada. She should have stayed and work alongside Teacher Glo and let the people get to know her. Let them see that she is their for them and is willing to work with them. But NO, she had to run back.
To be an effective candidate the people have to know you. You have to GAIN their trust and loyalty. You have to show them that you are capable of leading them.
Athenis is not ready for that.
First she has to make peace with the number of people she has hurt, starting with her own family.
And the childish behaviour she is going on with needs to stop. Passing on the road and laughing at people, Stooping so low as to taking people’s pictures. Are you a paparazzi?
But who has the last laugh has the best laugh.
You talking nonsense, the woman have her son to school and feed, do you think staying in Dominica for crap, would take care of her and her child? Do you believe the money she makes on her Job in the court house in Brampton they would have paid her half of that to stay in Dominica and please you and you stupid politics.
If Gloria could not accomplish anything in five years with all the knowledge, what difference would it have made if Athena held on to her coat tail and walk around Wesley. As for the idiot who said she is not who she pretend to be, you had better shut up, otherwise you will have to deal wit me, I the Wesley kid, king of the mud!
I know the lady from the time she was little girl, okay, and she is no different to the majority of people in the village, if anything she is much moor respectable and kind than most of you, get off her back.
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemmaque
It seems the more skerrit sh-t on them the more they love it, so why all this roro. OPEN YOUR EYES WESLEY and WOODFORD HILL, YOU ARE BETTER THAN THAT,.
IF YOU TOLERATE THIS, THEN YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE NEXT.
CHANGE IS A MUST.
WELL well somthing is not right as a result the pm have to do all in his powers to protec himself with all the comment that dosent help if there is a fear in the candidate that mrs dodds pressing for we must understand the concern of a conspiracy if can be avoided and that the way.
Dodd chill out the people are voting for Skerrit the other candidates are just sheepish mules.
He is working himself up for nothing. He must be careful he does not suffer a heart attack or brain aneurism.
Dictators always say that every man has his price. Mark my word. As soon as the dictator pullout the money all knees shall bow and every tongue go dead, all ears go to sleep and eye shot
skerrit do u think dominica is urs.well its high time to pack up and go u are no longer valid.boy looknonsense change must come.
You do not even know if the article on Face Book is correct. You must wait/read to hear the truth of this prior to assuming and passing judgment.
“But chairman of the Dominica Labor Party (DLP) Wesley Constituency Association, Cleaveland Dodds, is not taking the matter lightly, telling DNO on Monday he has no idea that Benjamin was made the official candidate for the party.”
I hope history is not about to repeat itself. Athena, I have spoken to you in the past you are not compelled to listen to me, but remember the last time when you were packing to go to Dominica I was at that time vacationing in Canada in your very own home.
Try and remember our conversations on the matter.
I was asks by someone in Canada about the candidate for Wesley, I assured the person then, that you were the official candidate, and I gave him that assurance based on the conversation we had. The man is an Labor Party insider, he told me not even once was your name mentioned in the inner circles as a probable candidate. I was shocked, I later informed you of that, I do not even see why you are involved in this mess as it is. I even remember mentioning both you and Gloria name to a certain big cat in the party, that person told me he never heard of you, however, had heard of Gloria, and told me they thought she was a little to old, to late for the position.
Had it not been for the people she would not be the candidate five years ago!
You went to Dominica, and wasted your time five years ago, the result will be the same this time around. I told you that the only reason Gloria your cousin, and God knows my cousin also was allowed to be the candidate, was because the people of Wesley, and Woodford Hill wanted her to be their candidate, and demanded that, so the party had no choice they had to put her on the ticket. in your case it is a totally different story.
The problem is not you, the problem right now is the Labor party, the people of Wesley and Woodford Hill does not want to deal with the Labor party for now, everybody wants that change, hence they have decided they are not voting Labor, and you are not going to change that, you are not influential enough; if they did not allow Gloria to serve the people. what makes you believe you will have any power to do anything that Gloria could not have done.
You need to go and talk to Gloria in private and get an idea of the obstacles that prevented her from functioning. Would you like to get elected and become a puppet on a string, Don’t you believe Gloria has some good reason for declaring that she is not contesting the seat this election, give her some credit, I give her hell, but I sure respect her more now than I did before because she has decided to do the right thing, and not burden herself with thing of just been a nonfunctional token.
Is that what you wish to become?
In your case the powers that be are using you, even if they make you the candidate, Wesley and Woodford Hill people have long decided not to vote for you, you are wasting your time! And this thing on face book is a joke, how many people in Woodford Hill and Wesley have computer going on Facebook? There are less than three thousand people in the constituency’s of Wesley and Woodford Hill, the odds are against you they are not going to vote for you, save yourself the humiliation, and return to your job in Canada.
Human nature is as such you will be angry with me when you read this, but blood is thicker than water by the time it is all over, you will cool down, and you anger will dissipate, we shall remain relatives the same as how I cursed off me cousin Gloria, and critique her but I will continue to regard her late father as my biological uncle, I hope she will never deny my mother as her biological aunt.
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque.
Francisco, you are too kind! You have tried your best to remain a true and loyal friend and relative. I commend you though. But if I were to advise you, my suggestion to you, would be to encourage Athenia to run the seat. This way it would be a sure win for Bazil and the UWP with whom you are more aligned. Although at times you do seem non-aligned politically.
Let me say this to you, I try to be nonpartisan, with me it is a catch 22: if I do; I die, if I do nothing I still die. I am in a situation where Dominica is my main concern, If I become more aligned to the UWP, one may say well his grandmother, his father’s mother is Lennox Linton aunt, If I push for Athena, same thing, Atheian grandmother, Ma Robin mother is my aunt, if I push for Gloria, her father is my Uncle, my mother is her aunt.
So you see what I am talking about? Where it pertains to the Prime Minister, going against him is painful, though we are not connected by blood, I am related to some of his cousins, Sarah Wallace was born Skerrit, who in Wesley is Sarah grandmother, a lady who was born Telemaque, She was Mascoll grandmother, Arnold Telemaque aunt.
So going against Skerrit, if I am not careful there may be conflict between his cousins, and me who are cousins; you see how difficult it is to survive in Wesley Marigot, and Woodford Hill politically!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
So, that person with no name who suggest to me that Skerrit will do something to me is simply blowing in the wind, but I had to make the person aware, that Francisco can be as dangerous as the anyone else, because I live with danger everyday!
You get the drift, I cannot win, so I prefer to be nonpartisan, yet I am very protective of Athena, because I believe by the time it is all over she will be hurt.
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
ALOT OF WESLEY PEOPLE HAS FACEBOOK.
AS YOU WORK THROUGH THE VILLAGE YOU PICK UP WIFI.
So Telemaque please stop talking about wesley, you do not know any one in wesley UNDER 40.
thanks for your so called concern, but we are fine.
You are such a fool!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
By the way the word is not “work”, it should be walk. Work is when you are on a job working, exchanging labor for money; how about that? Have you learnt anything, learn this, only an idiot writes comments in all block letters.
Worry about yourself before you start worrying about someone else, talking fart!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Francisco, one of these days I am going to have to invite you to Dominica to give a lecture on family history and connection in the Marigot, Wesley, Woodfordhill area. Politics aside, I have always been impressed with your grasp of this family connection in these area. It means nothing to some people. But I can see that it does mean a lot to you. Anyway I hope your fees are not on the same level with Hillary Clinton.
P,S I hope Athenia heeds your plea!
Oh dominica what is wrong with you?. You use to stand tall with grace from above, now your burden is so heavy your children are weary and crying within,they are being trampled by a government with no love for you.when I was a child I use to love you so much my people I was so proud of you wherever I travel in the U S your name always excel, but today I’m sad my people are being know as beggars and cowards with no backbone and cannot see skerrit is taking away their freedom.wake up dominica don’t close your eyes don’t give in to sleep tomorrow is a new day
Lmao. Did he say he going to send party constitution to Skeritt? Too funny. Skeritt abuse Dominica constitution you really think is this one he will respect.
Workers supporters so bias..allu forget Edison James just throw Lennox on allu.. Stupes.
It’s not the same thing and you damn well know it.
two wrongs do not make a right, let us learn to call a spade a spade.
What happened to all You Wesley people ! All you going on like woodfordhill not in that its not about Wesley people okay get it right! We the people of wooty don’t have a problem with miss Benjamin ok way go to five more years we say labor to the world 365 Wesley people could never satisfied look some wicked ! And jeusolose people omg it is a shame Miss BENJAMIN I WANTS TO KNOW WHERE SHE WAS BORN ????
You people sound so illiterate…No wonder skerrit can treat you like …
The DLP branches and grassroots must regain their party from Skerrit and his cabal. They are simply using the DLP as their vehicle to personal aggrandizement. Labour has stood for the little man. We, in all honesty, cannot say it is so now. It’s a huge disgrace what has become and what is happening to the DLP. Alfrey, Loblanc and Leblanc must be turning in their graves.
Do you mean, Loblack?
Completely in agreement.
The people are chanting LABOUR, LABOUR, they do not UNDERSTAND that LABOUR is NOT doing ANYTHING for THEM. The LEADER is NOT the PARTY. I understand the people want the PARTY to stay in POWER, BUT, the LEADER of the party DO NOT CARE.
He, the leader of the party, is all about HIMSELF and HIS FAMILY. HIS FAMILY IS NOT THE CITIZENS OF DOMINICA. When will the PEOPLE REALIZE that?
I VOTED ONCE, I WILL NEVER VOTE AGAIN. What is going on has NOTHING to do with me. I have NO BENEFIT.
It is a SHAME that despite the COMPLAINTS of EVERY KIND, the people still want to HOLD ON to that PERSON.
I say KEEP YOUR PARTY, FIND ANOTHER LEADER.
I second that.I could support labour party but not with this leader, never!
A true politician does not air dirty linen in public! Neither does an intelligent man. Freedom Party was destroyed after Mammo publically made her preference for leader of the party known. History serves as a warning, Dodds.
Hmm they way that thing going on there, people fighting to go up it leaves me to wonder if is a bomb sewo that there, cause if you want to serve, my God if there is not a space in parliament, it have council, improvement groups, cooperative etc. So I need an explanation….just thinking!
How come Roosevelt Skerrit owes Ms. Benjamin so big time?? Anybody can explain that to me?
Good question, Ma Jo. The same question should be asked about Tony Astaphan..
The answer would be revealing.
MA JO
Thats the question of the year! What does the PM owe Miss Benjamin like that? What has Athenia done for Skerrit? Certainly she has done nothing for Wesley or Dominica. In the eyes of the people of Woodfordhill and even Wesley Athenia is considered a ‘non-achiever’. Never completed anything of any worth. Not willing to do the long walk. Always looking for a short-cut to ‘the next level’. Maybe she should take some time off; go back to school to finish up a Primary School Living Certificate and maybe there could be some discussion about her candidacy. What Athenia and the PM doing there is just’ disrespect and more disrespect. Is like the people of Woodfordhill and Wesley are nothing. Its like Athenia is more important than these two villagers put togehter. Thats wrong Mr. Prime Minister! The lady has nothing to show. If she wants to represent Woodfordhill she has to earn it. How do you expect her to bypass us the voters; just seek the Blessings of the PM and thats it! Mr. PM do not allow Miss Athenia to bring you down. Mr Dodds view of Miss Benjamin reflects that of the entire constituency. Sir, she grew up in Wesley. The people of Wesley and Woodfordhill know Athenia. Thats the reason they do not want her.
woy woy woy somethings happening… and its so exciting
So with all the comments, have we missed a very critical and important point? So lets say in the end of all these back and forth of a battle, and Anthenia truely gets the green light to represent, will she be willing to give up her Canadian Citizenship? Will there be another court battle over dual citizenship?
I am reading from abroad and taking in the scene of comments on this Website. She is not the PM or Leader of the Party. I hope this Constitution will be changed sometime.
If not, it will deter D/cans who have resided abroad for a while to return. If they want their money in the bank and expect them to invest in D/ca as passports are given/sold to non-D/cans who wish to invest in D/ca, they must treat their own Dominican-born nationals differently. Otherwise, in the end they will lose.
The citizenship is only a piece of paper. Canada is not a non-democratic country. The Queen of England is the Queen of Canada even though D/ca seceded from Great Britain which was not a good idea.
Being a citizen has not changed the country of birth. Dominicans can have dual citizenship. Furthermore, prior to migrating abroad, some worked in D/ca and contributed to its revenue/economy.
If you resided abroad and worked there for some years, would you not procure citizenship? It is worthwhile to do so.
well Canada is a commonwealth country , so that exclusion doesn`t apply. here.
Canada is NOT a FOREIGN country , she does not have to give up her citizenship, Canada is a member of the Commonwealth.
She is qualified to participate and run for office.
Unfortunately you are right. But equally she could run in Canada but maybe Canada have enough small fish already.
Canada is a member of the British Commonwealth, so dual citizenship is not an issue. The issue is the right of constituents to propose who their candidates are and to support whoever is democratically chosen to represent the party.
For a constituency chairman to declare that, “I will deliberately mash up everything”, if Athenia is chosen, is in fact unprofessional and uncalled for. Dodds has a right to protest for his candidate but he must avoid being a jerk.
Dodds dont have no respect for our beloved PM. The PM has done so much for us. We must kick out that dodds before he make any more trouble.
LOOK IT
https://www.facebook.com/AtheniaDLP
Boy Oh boy
I wonder why they still have you on their committee, invaluable man. Your contribution is zero, nada. Dodds are you speaking for yourself alone, boy you sounding like a Judas. Well Skerro if the great Savior had Judas on his team, much more for you. Dodds, i mean Judas go rest your head.
You clearly don’t know the meaning of “invaluable”, lol (https://www.google.com/search?q=invaluable)
The more you guys speak, the more it is evident why the country fell under dictatorship. You guys don’t know an “invaluable” PM from a “valueless” one. Let it be clearly noted that the one you have now is valueless.
Stupes Dodds. That is all I have to say, traitor traitor, the members supporters should throw you out of the committee. Big mouth traitor.
Hey dodds I mean Judas how many pieces of silver did Pilate (Lennox) give you. Tell me?
I am not impress with all that noise from Mr. Dodds. Skeritt always gets what he wants. Money will pass hands and before the general Elections everything will be back in order.
You are as sick as they come!
Money cannot buy everybody; some of you are contented to receive and live on the crumb the devil leaves, you would rather die than to go out on election day, put the country and your welfare first . Instead you are prepared to sell yourself to Mr. Skerrit for a few measly pennies.
It is your kind of stupid sentiments that will cause the people of Dominica to vote the Labor Party out of power in the country, it is a shame that there are people like you alive!
Are you not ashamed to say Skerrit gets whatever he wants?
Only dictators gets what they want where it pertains to people and voting on election day, that is a very stupid comment you made.
You are suggesting he buys whatever he wants? The people should take note and ensure that money will not buy this election, you are a fool, if you prefer to live for another five years under a none productive waste of time government. You should die from starvation.
I hope you are not writing such garbage believing you are doing that in support of Athena, if is one thing I am sure is that she is not a idiot!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Francisco, why don’t you remove the blinders from your eyes like the Ninga Turtles. You cannot tell me you don’t know about the amount of money that was paid to a certain feller, so that he would join a party in order to be a candidate for dem lazy people.
That must be a joke, after so many things Skerrit did, is now Dodds seeing Skerrit is a ditator
Somebody has to stand up to skerrit and his own ideology style politics. Wesley will not be one. Don’t treat us as if we are stupid. Have dam respect and we will show you respect. I stand by you Mr. Dodds speak your mind and for the hundreds more who are dissatisfied with the behavior of skerrit and Athenia.
But it appears that Balaw fighting to ensure that the dictator wins. I don’t get it… If Skerrit is good for PM then Athenia is good for candidate. So who is the one to be afraid of, Athenia or SKerro.
The pm needs to give the people there primary. Its getting out of hand and it looks like that lady is really no good.
I believe the Wesley constituency have the legal right to nominate the person they believe that will win for them and the PM /DLP Admin must respect that, he is creating more division in the Village, Benjamin lives in Canada she is home just because it’s election season and it doesn’t matter if the PM ask her to come down to run , if she have any moral fiber she would know and understand that the people have to decide, so I believe the people of Wesley should stand their ground and make sure that things are done properly.
I have no delusion that Team Dominica UWP will win the Wesley seat because change is a must.
But when something is wrong it must be corrected so have a run off of both individuals and see who would win and that person would be the one to run for the party.
……and here we go again; whether its Athenia, Suzzette, suzzanne, Maritta or Jane. Fidel or Joe or Jonesy – I think the collective process sould be on the selection of a “winnable” candidate for that consituency. We have to do all in our power the keep UWP out and doing all of this is counter productive. Lets not forget we have a common enemy Mr. Dodds – UWP Team Dominica
Rubbish. You have to do what is best for the country and not be blind in one eye!
18-1=6. (Six) 6 is the number of seats for this DLP government when all is said and done with the elections.
Big up Wesley and the rest will follow.
Thats a new Mathematics?……..woooow
Take out Mr. in our party, right away i say
to girls fighting to revive a dead donkey, look story
Oh but that donkey well hung, not so?
Not just in Wesley that the DLP is in disarryn but the whole of Diminica. More and more people are expressing their dissatisfaction in the DLP.
Just a bunch of Robert Mogabes , ruling by fear and revenge.
But this sort of Politics in Dominica will soon stop, when the voting begins.
It also seems like you are in disarray – please seek help!!
jah boy …. allu people can lie!
Balaw u r a man in the community I respect and I think u getting urself in trouble my advice to u is don’t let, CW, MR, PW lead u astray cause when Athenians win they will say is u alone that had problem with her. Don’t trust them people there all of them crock. A word to the wise is sufficient.
Way, way, wayyyyyyy papa, way way way. Come on Dodds take it like a man. Like i.e. or not Skerro will shelve it right down your throat tomorrow and you will have NO say. So just be quiet and let your master do his thing. Be reminded: “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek” US Pres. Obama
Assertive, NOT Agressive!
I do not agree. Skerrit should respect the party that made him what it is today but Skerrit is not the labour party. If the true labourites feel offended the could do worse than abstain to show their disapproval. A vote for Benjamin is a vote for Skerrit because is two hands in one glove.
you wrong. Skeritt IS the Labour Party
Trouble in the camp,, My boy don’t let this type of leadership suprise u it has always been this way ,,
DLP at its best,,lol
All these are reasons why change is a must :
It would amaze some people if change for them would come. Those who wish change, change will come for them and there will be many more of them.
Nothing in this world is promised to anyone. Not a job, not a business and not politics. Therefore, as some say change, little do they know that their change is coming and sooner than they expect.
those folks in Wesley don’t speak the patois, that’s the bigger issue..that’s why change is difficult in Dominica…
the patois speaking areas apparently lack the understanding of focusing on “ISSUES” thus expanding the discuss base is like defeating the DEVIL IN HELL…the patois speaking areas in general are thankful with little or nonsense aspects,they are trapped with top up and pampers and wipes aspects, which is a hell shameful act of Any Leader having this as a highlight pointer in a BUDGET to the World where, Top level investors listen to the level of ideas from a island’s leader…sounds gutterish and lack any sort of growth mediums….foolish to say the least..
keep it up wesleyians im proud of you all…
don’t like a juvenile who still plays and get excited with toys cloud your common sense!!
FOOLS PARADISE———-DOMINICA!
I speak Kweyol and understand issues as good as anyone else. Speaking a second language shows more intellectual capacity than speaking only one. I hope you did not intend to insult the majority of Dominicans. Those who are quick to call others a fool are themselves the greater fools.
Athenia? O my God, of all people in the constituency.
There you go using that name again. You should not be a copycat. Could you not think of another name to use? There are numerous names you could use. You love this one, eh!
“That is a form of dictatorship. It seems that the Prime Minister take his leadership to a whole new level that we can’t understand,” he said.
This is exactly was has been allowed to fester over the years. The people need to stand up and demand that the PM backs off.
“The PM cannot do something like that,” noted. “If he wants a copy of the constitution of the party, we have a number of copies we could issue him one.”
If the PM has no regard and respect for the Constitution of Dominica is not the Labour Party’s own he will regard and respect.
Skerro the dictator,bow to me you fools,no constitution can challenge me,bow down fools.
Papa Doc Haiti #2 Prime Minister for life in Dominica.