Carrette’s appointment is legal – Gregoire

Gregoire

The government has defended the process in which it has appointed the new Chief of Police Cyril Carette despite accusations that it was done in absence of proper consultation with the Opposition Leader as required by the Constitution.

Cabinet Secretary Felix Gregoire sought to clear the air on the issue at a press conference at the Government Information Service this morning.

Gregoire is adamant that there was sufficient consultation on the matter and that the appointment was in keeping with Dominican law.

“It is legal,” Gregoire declared concerning the appointment. “The Prime Minister, in my presence, called the Leader of the Opposition on the matter. To me that is consultation and I am satisfied that there was consultation with the Leader of Opposition.”

The Cabinet Secretary said that Carrette was appointed Police Chief on March 11,2011 but his appointment took effect from September 20, 2010. Carette had acted in the position for over six months.

Since the appointment of Carette, Opposition Leader Hector John has been very vocal on the matter. He said he was not consulted and has labeled the appointment as “null and void”. He also labeled it as a sign of corruption.  John claims for this reason the United Worker’s Party would not recognize Carette as Dominica’s Police Chief.

“The constitution does not give a description of what is consultation,” Gregoire stated in response to a question from the media which sought to clarify the amount of consultation which would be enough for an appointment.

Gregorie said that he had initially invited John to a meeting with the Prime Minister which would have taken place on March 10, 2011 but John said he was unavailable and could only attend on March 14.

The Cabinet Secretary explained, “Because I know the Leader of the Opposition I thought I could engage him in a discussion and I try to impress upon him that it was a very serious appointment to be made and therefore I would urge him to meet with the Prime Minister.”

Gregoire stated that Carrette’s job as Acting Police Chief was to expire on March 11th. “On the date of the expiration, there must be a new appointment and he (John) was indicating that he would be available on March 14th. There was enough time to make the appointment and it was in fact done,” Gregoire reiterated, adding, “In my estimation, there was consultation with the Leader of Opposition and the consultation between the Prime Minister and the Leader of Opposition.”

Gregoire assured that government business is conducted in accordance with the Constitution.

According to Section 92 of the Constitution of Dominica, “The power to appoint a person to hold or act in the office of Chief of Police or Deputy Chief of Police and, subject to the provisions of section 93 of this Constitution, the power to remove the Chief of Police or Deputy Chief of Police from office shall vest in the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, given after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition and the Police Service Commission.”

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50 Comments

  1. New dictionary
    March 17, 2011

    According to Felix Gregoire dictionary. the new meaning for CONSULTATION is, ” A telephone call to someone today to attend a meeting the next day.” According to the New dictionary of Cyrille Carrette, the meaning of ARSONIST is, “Someone who helps to solve cases of firebombing of homes or arson.” Of course those persons are not Englishmen. They are Dominicans who happen to be speaking English.

  2. Con Salt
    March 17, 2011

    Carrette has done enough during his six months as AG. Commissioner, acting according to the bidding of his political colleagues, to earn his appointment of Chief of Police. Dominicans, you all must remember the sequence of events. DNO in previous articles carried excerpts of those news items from press conferences held and statements made. Never forget those things. Fearing that if I repeat those truthful things my comments would be deleted, I will refrain.

    The former AG. Police Commissioner, Hobbs Jno. Baptiste, was iced out, deliberately forced to take leave, so that before he returned from leave, Skerritt and his DLP Govt. would cast him aside and put in someone more sympathetic to them. That move was PLAIN TO SEE. IT was as CLEAR AS DAYLIGHT. No surprises. Dominicans are not fools.

    If one compares Hobbs with Carrette, as far as qualifications, control of the English language, oratory skills, efficiency, honesty, non-partisanship, level-headedness and respect by the Dominican public it is like CHALK and CHEESE. Hobbs surpasses Carrette by far.

    Consultation according to Felix Gregoire’s dictionary means, ‘ picking up a phone and telling the other party to attend a meeting one day before an appointment.’ No prior information on the subject matter to be discussed? Such an approach is openly DICTATORIAL and CANNOT BE seen as a CONSULTATION. The other party has not met with Skerritt, nothing discussed on the issue at hand, but a consultation took place? Come on Felix. Stop wearing your ignorance as a BADGE OF HONOUR AND DECEPTION. Many of us Dominicans went to school. Felix Gregoire certainly displayed some level of ignorance in defining the word consultation, or was it another sign of protection for his BOSS, ONE MAN’S WRONG ACTION? Who PAYS THE PIPER CALLS THE TUNE

  3. sellout
    March 17, 2011

    mark my words, soon skerrit will declare himself police chief. let carrette only make one mistake and disapprove of a decision made by skerrit. wait…i said wait.

  4. Anonymous
    March 17, 2011

    Dominica the laughing stock of the world – with a bunch of people jumping Massa Skerritt. ALL YOU GOOD WE BOY IN THAT COUNTRY.

  5. leroy possie
    March 17, 2011

    An earth quake in japan, a world with tsunami threat, uprising all over the middle east, nAo serious cure in sight for so many disease, a global economy in resession with what seems to be no end, yet we sit on our blessed assurance talking about a man that gave his entire life in service to the security of our nation!…One might say it’s politicaly motivated! Well tell me one thing that is done on the island without politics being involve? Or tell me that this man has not been in the police force for over 30 years? Or tell me if while we were asleep this man was not patrolling and keeping our streets safe!Some times every thing or decisions that are being made may not be popular or what we want, but there are times when we must remember that…. JEHOVAH -ROHI -“The lord protects,provides,directs,leads, and cares for his people. And even when our earthly leaders fail us, he will not. Lets ask God to take charge for once! And lets pray that this police commissioner administer his duties and decisions in a just and professional manner.

    • Roz
      March 18, 2011

      You missing the point of the issue – the disregard for due process as prescribed in the constitution in making the decision. We need to stop acting like the crapaud that is our national dish. Put live crapaud in hot water, crapaud jump out. Put it in cold water and light a slow fire, crapaud stay there until it cook!. Our constitution will continue to be disregarded and soon we will ask what has become of our beautiful Dominica when the whole constitution is thrown out the window!

      • Domerican/PossieMassive
        March 18, 2011

        Very well put Roz. Leroy you should know better than that. By the way, glad to see that you are talking about the Lord. Going back to your roots huh.

  6. Hitman
    March 17, 2011

    leave Mr Gregoire alone

  7. open mind in possie
    March 17, 2011

    this is a farce.

    the people of Dominica should now demand respect. From their government.
    This is not a snub of the leader of the opposition but a snub and disrespect of the Dominican people.

    ““It is legal,” Gregoire declared concerning the appointment. “The Prime Minister, in my presence, called the Leader of the Opposition on the matter. To me that is consultation and I am satisfied that there was consultation with the Leader of Opposition.””

    A serious matter as the appointment of the Commissioner of police warrants much more than a ‘phone call’ as consultation.

    Is this how we trivialize the matters of governance in our country?

    Is this what we expect ? are these the precedents and standards that we wish to set ?

    God help us!!

  8. thinker
    March 17, 2011

    Is lying part of the DA culture or are we
    afraid to speak the truth?

    • WAPAP
      March 17, 2011

      I think it’s both.

  9. consultatio?
    March 17, 2011

    Did the opposition have a copy of the file on Carrette to review?
    Is the appointment of the head of the Armed Forces a simple matter?
    Who were the other candidates/ options?
    Was the appointment rushed because the previous acting commissioner was returning from vacation leave?

  10. Brain Damage
    March 17, 2011

    You need to put on your spectacles mr. Secretary.

  11. love da
    March 17, 2011

    .gregoire u and ur master day will come. All u think that dominica was given to u all as a gift. God will give us justic. That system must fall.

    • notin tal go so
      March 17, 2011

      change your name plz

  12. hmm2
    March 17, 2011

    gregoire , consultation , is an act for meeting , deliberation , discussion and decision , what part of what skerrit did met any of this definition ,

  13. Anonymous
    March 16, 2011

    Is it standard practice to renew a job contract a day or
    Two before it expires? I would hate to be in that position,
    If god forbid they don’t renew your contract you join the
    Unemployed. That’s just crazy.
    This is so illegal! Only in Dominica.

  14. Dominican born NYC
    March 16, 2011

    EVEN TO APPOINT A POLICE COMMISSIONER POLITRICKS WANT TO DERAIL PROGRESS.THANK GOD FOR DNO WHERE MOST UWPITES CAN MOSTLY SPREAD THEIR PROPAGANDA AND REDICULE ALL WHO SOPPORTS THE DOMINICA LABOR PARTY AND THE PROGRESS WHICH IS BEING MADE.RANT AND RAGE,JUMP HIGH JUMP LOW..UWP HAVE A LONG WAIT IF THEY EVER HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN ELECTION IN DOMINICA..NOT WITH THOSE DUMB JOKERS,AND JACK&^S LIKE BLIND MICES,LEADING THOSE BLIND LIKE THEMSELVES

  15. Tidy
    March 16, 2011

    Gregoire you are a lucky guy because if that were to have happened under the Patrick John and Leo Austin Labour party with the big bad Charles ‘Charlo’ Savarin as general secretary of the Public Service Union we done shut down the whole dam country already and is Goodwill Parish Hall we heading boy for the next forty seven days or until such appointment revoke– garcon times really change; abbe wey Charlo I can not believe you are part and parcel of the new definition for consultation.

  16. DVT
    March 16, 2011

    The UWP will not recognize the appointment of the Police Commissioner… that is what 4 people out of 70 000, I think we can live with that

  17. Lougaoo Mem
    March 16, 2011

    Poor Gregoire, just another one sitting at his master’s table singing for his supper. I wonder what will happen when the meals run out? Lougaoo will always have a stash in the woods of Morpo to give. Sail on Greg, sail on!

    • Jude Nicholas
      March 16, 2011

      All the PM had to do was to call the Leader of the Opposition and say I am going to recomment so and so to be appointed as chief of Police. That would be constituted as consultation. That is how it was done in the past.

    • hj
      March 17, 2011

      Felix does not need the Dominican money to survive. He has already made it in life. Actually he is doing a service to Dominica by getting a pittance for his wealth of knowledge, expertise and experience. Stop complaining like little babies and go find work to do.

      • MARIGOT
        March 17, 2011

        SO HE SHOULD GET HIS ARSE OUT OF THE WAY SO SOMEONE CAN DO AN HONEST JOB OF IT DAMN IT.

      • hmm2
        March 17, 2011

        wealth of knowledge in what , forrestry?

  18. Cerberus
    March 16, 2011

    Dear media people, did you expect the man to say that his paymaster made an error and apologize on his behalf? Maybe I’m getting cynical in my dotage but I can’t ‘see this warranted a press conference except for p.r. purposes.

  19. Poor us
    March 16, 2011

    Gregoire every dog has its day. Enjoy your time.

  20. Clarity
    March 16, 2011

    The fact that he was first invited to a meeting shows that the PM knew what consultation means. It is a meeting to find consensus on a matter. Stop the arrogance. When did you find out the Police Chief’s 6 months tenure was ending the day before?

    • D'ican/diaspora
      March 16, 2011

      This is how the wheels of justice do not work appointments are set up and sometimes individuals cannot make the meeting for one reason or the other the next step it to set up another date to meet that do not give anyone the right to carry on as if nothing have changed for various reason I would have to conclude that their were no playing feild in this matter it was only a make belief gesture which they never intented to up hold other wise they would have arranged for another date that was convenient for all the players so dont try to tell me that the Mr.Skerrit and others were trying so to you I will say stop your arrogance it doesnt fly to those of us that think before we speak or comment I dont haven got to be a party supporter to know right from wrong so try it for yourself you might shock yourself.
      I feel very strongly about our constitution and the way that it’s been abused to serve the propose for those that do believe that they cannot be touched.Why does these men/women believe that DOMINICANS are so gullible they can be had all the time people wake up think for yourself read between the lines you have the facts dont be blinded by prejudice.
      Gregoire have no choice but to be singing for his super bnut all over his face is egg slime running down his face he look so uneasy durning the press conference.

  21. bandolieeeeeeeeeeeee
    March 16, 2011

    we in dominica dnt know who is the leader of the opposition.one day is eddo another day is green but all i know sprags is the puppet on the string chuking from one corner to the other.for a man that say he studied over seas i find he is a dotish on a black board.

    • %
      March 16, 2011

      You do not know NOT we…. Wonder if you know who has disrespect for the constitution…Gregoire is singing for his supper…..That must end one day.

      • dog
        March 17, 2011

        atlis he have supper to sing for. unlike you who can’t sing because we don’t prepare bats for supper.

        so eat the three blind bats.

        ron green

        edison chenfill james and the majee from barwii.

  22. Sad state of affairs
    March 16, 2011

    Is the cabinet secretary trying to cover up ineffeciency?
    If a meeting has to take place for an important matter such as the “Appointment of Police Commissioner” are you implying that there is such gross disrespect for the Leader of the Opposition that he is not given at least a week’s notice for the meeting with the Honorable Prime Minister?
    That is not a matter that came up out of the bag. You knew that Mr. Carette’s acting position was coming to an end on March 10th, why therefore the last minute rush to set up an apointment for consultation between the Hon. Prime Minster and the Leader of the Opposition. Is this what can be referred to as efficiency?
    Consultation Mr. Gregoire, according to Webster’s dictionary, is a meeting to inform and plan.

    This is indeed a sad state of affairs.

    May the Almighty Father help our beloved Dominica. Let us keep praying.

    • KG
      March 17, 2011

      My thoughts exactly

  23. John Brown
    March 16, 2011

    It seems John was trying to let the clock run out on Carette,So on March 12th to the 14th we would have had no acting Police Chief or Chief. The High Commissioner of the UK to Dominica would be coming to give us the equipment to help fight the drug trade but no one knows if Mr i’m to busy John would show up beforehand to consultat on a Police Chief that would be receiving the equipment. Yet they saying they want the Government to fight crime, You see how these guys Playing Politics.

  24. ELLEHCIM
    March 16, 2011

    consultation 2 minutes before the story broke you guys need to be more professional in handling the affairs of the People of Dominica , stop playing little school boys games. Mr. Gregoire how well do you sleep at nights? OGAD!!! ALLU DEM MINISTERS IN GOVERNMENT DERE HAVE PLENTY GUTS,ALLU DOH FRAID TO DIE AND GO TO HELL?

    • dog
      March 17, 2011

      well there is where he had to prove him self a states man. 1 min is ok to consult if you understand what the word means.

      • tandy
        March 17, 2011

        Statesman? you need ARICEPT continue to bark puppy your master will drop bones.

  25. Voice from the Wilderness
    March 16, 2011

    Alas, when u hear cr$% like dat- all i can conclude Dominique fini-bat. The constitution does not give a description of what is consultation- well, why did he not consult a dictionary? How could people believe this crap and stooop so low to support Roosevelt Skerrit cr^%. This country needs a cleansing. My conclusion- the country does not have an appetite for intellectual engagement, ethics, and the rule of law and transparency.

    voice from the wilderness

    • fa
      March 16, 2011

      your wilderness have internet or you came out just to comment? GO BACK EH

      • John Brown
        March 17, 2011

        i like that

  26. Phil
    March 16, 2011

    ‘The constitution does not give a description of what is consultation” Does it declare who can be PM Mr. Secretary?

    • ELLEHCIM
      March 16, 2011

      :-D BOI YOU GOOD EH WELL WRITTEN

  27. Hugo Grotius
    March 16, 2011

    Gregoire assured that government business is conducted in accordance with the Constitution. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

  28. Roz
    March 16, 2011

    To me important parts of the story missing. When was Mr. John called/consulted about the meeting to take place on March 10? And really what kind of “discussion or deliberation, u know,,,spending some time on the subject matter” could have taken place when Mr. John was not furnished with the subject of discussion? The constitution does not give a description of consultation. Please consult a dictionary and stop with the “insultation” of the people.

    • lol lol.
      March 16, 2011

      I THINK ROZ NEEDS TO GET SOME COMMON SENSE INTO HIS/HER BRAIN.

      THE APPOINTMENT OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE IS NOT PREPARING FOR A BUDGET REBUTTAL NAH. NOR IS IT A BILL HE WAS ASK TO PRESENT TO THE HOUSE.

      ITS JUST TO INFORM HIM OF THE GOVERNMENTS INTENTION TO APPOINT A INDIVIDUAL TO A POST OF COMMISSIONER OF POLICE.

      IF HECTOR JOHN NEEDS 4-7 DAYS TO PREPARE FOR AN APPOINTMENT OF A POST….HOW MUCH TIME WILL HE NEED TO PRESENT THE COUNTRIES BUDGET AT THE END OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR IF PIGS START TO TALK NOW AND THE U.W.P WINS THE NEXT ELECTION BY THE STRETCH OF ONES IMAGINATION?

      WELL YES PAPA. DOMINICA HAVE ON ITS BACK WI LORD.

      LORD HELP ROZ AND THEM.

      • ...
        March 16, 2011

        padner, you really serious about those comments? you maybe have too much on your back so your brain can”t function

      • Anonymous
        March 16, 2011

        Go to the dictionary and look up the meaning of consultation you trying to correct people and you sound like a wind bag. No sense!

      • Roz
        March 17, 2011

        If is to inform, why waste time and call a meeting? Just send him a letter informing him of the choice. Why all the pappy show?

        • Domlucian
          March 17, 2011

          Lucian

          The PS needs to implement a diary system and or a computerized calendar system to help his time management and efficiency. He is in a position to know and understand that it is not always possible to cancel an engagement at very short notice. He must accept responsibility for failing to give Mr. John adequate notice.

          The Prime Minister advised his telephone conversation constitutes consultation, however, his failure to “engage” demonstrated a lack of respect to the Leader of the Opposition. I applaud Mr. John for speaking out.

          Mr. President please enlighten us on the protocol for your sign off.

          Politicians, their advisors and many supporters need to make a Paradigm Shift if they really care about Dominica and its development. They must stop the selfish “what’s in it for me ” attitudes and focus on relationship building, engagement, nation building and working together to ensure there is peace, unity and harmony among its people regardless of party affiliation.

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