Don Christopher, as a member of the Electoral Commission, has filed a suit against Mr. Roosevelt Skerrit in person and the Attorney General of Dominica.
The suit involves a Constitutional Motion asking for several declarations, and contending that the government of Dominica, the cabinet and Mr. Skerrit in person contravened the Dominica Constitution. The allegation is that in the exercise of its functions the Electoral Commission was made subject to the direction or control of government contrary to Section 56(11) of the Constitution.
The Electoral Commission decided to implement Voter ID cards and compiling a new Voters list in December 2007. However objectives in the 2008/9 estimates of expenditure for voter ID cards were deleted by the government. A premature general election was held on December 18 2009; and thereby prevented Voter ID Cards being issued before the general election constitutionally due in 2010.
The Court papers were served on the Attorney General on 14th September 2010. However service of the Court documents on Mr. Roosevelt Skerrit is being prevented.
A Court Bailiff who attempted to serve the Court documents on Mr. Roosevelt Skerrit was obstructed by a Police Officer describing himself as Chief of Security.
On Wednesday 28th September and Thursday 29th September 2010 Mr. Skerrit’s personal bodyguard prevented the Court Bailiff from serving the Court documents for a first hearing of the case fixed for 22nd October 2010.
i think donsy an his crunies should find sumthing to do 2 develop dis country. in a real coun try these ppl would be somewhere where no one would find dem. its the only country i see these ppl hav no respect for a head of a country. io would put all of them in a container on the port for the geast boat to ship an throw them b/ween the devil an the deep blue sea.
chaves is like, china is like that too,and now skerit is like that. the old saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. lets hope that dominicans dont get arrested for speaking out
Is Mr. Christopher really serious about filing a case against the Hon P.M in person? This in my view is bordering in maliciousness, lack of understanding as a lawyer, hatred and envy amongst others. My good friend Mr. Christopher should know that any matter against the Government must include the Hon. Attorney General as the principal Law Officer in the Commonwealth of Dominica and not Roosevelt Skerrit in person.
Just for enlightenment Mr. Christopher, Roosevelt Skerrit’s first or middle name is NOT the Government of Dominica.
For Mr. Christopher to insinuate that the December 2009, general election was premature clearly demonstrates a lack of understanding of the Constitution of Dominica. I am calling on Mr. Christopher to indicate to the Nation and DNO readers’ one instance where a general election was held in Dominica or anywhere in world where there is a democracy that election was held on the exact date as prescribed by the Constitution. It is therefore disingenuous on the part of Mr. Christopher to attempt to misinform/mislead the public by insinuating that only the elections of December 2009 that was premature in Dominica.
This is just another attempt to lash out at the Hon. Prime Minister and as usual it’s just another field day for Senior Counsel. Tony is going to revel in Mr. Christopher’s stupidity. Not even a kangaroo Court is going to entertain such a matter. Result at the Court “Case thrown out and Mr. Christopher to pay court fees”.
By filing such a case against the Prime Minister in person is so obvious, it is no wonder that the UWP has decided to take Lennox Linton BCL. (Birth Certificate in Law) as their legal counsel, the UWP has now resorted to having their satellites attack the Prime Minister since they now feel they cannot win any matter against him.
There have been several instances of name calling in this articles, mention is made of the PM and his refusal to accept a summon. No one has heard from the PM or the Police Officer allegedly involved. Was the Prime Minister actually present when the Bailiff came or was he the Bailiff advised by the Police Officer? Are we really missing something from this article?
Wise up Mr. Christopher, Roosevelt Skerrit is only the Prime Minister and not the Government, so therefore considering filing against the Government and not the PM in person.
That is a frivolous court action by this gentleman.
The principle here is flawed.
Let us reason it out.
Government from any political party background has a basic and fundamental right to prioritize budgetary expenditure every year.
All proposals cannot be entertained in one year. Some items will always come and will get cut again, and again.
That happens for the hospital. It happens for Teachers. It happens for Policemen. It happens for the Fire Service. And it happens to every sphere of government and the electoral division is no exception!!!!!!!!
Anybody who serves on a government appointed institution has to forget his political affiliations and has to be seen as such in all his actions. If you pleading equity your hands have to be clean boss. Thus you must not let your political masters allow you to taint your image.
No. It looking like you have to please the people that appointed you!!!! I guess you like the prestige and the little refreshments that you does get.
I mean PM Skerrit has such a wonderful excuse. Soon a census will be conducted. Based on the findings of the census his administration will be able to better proceed with the whole electoral reform issue. Plus the OECS has a consultancy right now evaluating the use of a National ID card.
Now all you want to make a big issue about Skerrit security not allowing a bailiff to serve a SAMAN on Mr. Skerrit.
All you forgetting Mr. James did that very same thing to Mamo and is after he loose d election in 2000 he had to find EC$77,000.00 to pay Mamo. So take your time ..What is your hurry? It have a Soca song like that.
@The Third Side: When your child do something wrong dont you punish the child and hope he/she will not do it again so what is the different with the PM so as far as you are concern he should be allowed to do whatever he want and we should not comment is that your answer so why dont you open your eye.
@ his obstruction sn in force it is now disarray evrybody vex our security falling down country boy
movingup fast without qualifixcation that is what the big boy want for us shameeeeeeee no army nothing passing all people
INTERESTING. THIS GOVERNMENT IS AN ILLEGAL ONE? THINK OF IT, FROM 2000 DOMINICA HAVE BEEN HAVING (PREMATURE AND OVERDUE)ILLEGAL ELECTIONS.
GO AHEAD DUNSY, BUT I WONDER IF THE RESULTS HAD GONE OPPOSITE WAY IF HE WOULD STILL BE SUED FOR …………….BEING AN …………
@Marlon Giraudel: MARLON, IS THAT REALLY YOU????LOL
@The Third Side: HAHAHAH!! GOOD ONE:)
@ TIME, remember Eddo said when Skerro was being sworn in the first time as PM right after Pierro died that ‘He is a boy with toys and that he wouldn’t last six months in office’….LOL well that 6 mothns has turned into YEARS….LOL
@ Marlon u still in d party nah? not d oda day u say d party dead nah? enlighten me…sackway ajop! all of a sudden u resurface like the most faithful supporter! chooooppps, u should be as loyal as ‘Blessings’ LOL
A PM in service should not be served especially for something that could be considered minor. election results not right? ok rule it out and vote again. what would be the situation in the country if he was sent to jail whould would pull strings and how ? i cannot remember former american president clinton goin to court for anything. the americans bein so set on moral value. the PM suppose to be a diplomat so when if dominicans do like something he do doh vote for him again strip him of diplomacy and then take him to the courts of law but while he still PM take note and ask questions later. i still believe with or without the people that couldn’t vote because of ID skerrit would still win de elections
THAT’S THE WAY HE TREATS THE LAW WITH CONTEMPT,BUT HE IS CALLING UPON THE ORDINARY MAN TO BE LAW ABIDING..
DVT dont you think that the Security-police officer should take the court papers. If the court officer cannot walk up to the PM then maybe the PM should do the right thing as the leader allow the court paper to be served through one of his assistants.
DVT are you implying that the PM cannot be served court papers because of his office. Let us face the truth if the PM must be served court papers at any time the court officer must get past security and if the PM cannot allow the court process to take place then this action is a blatant obstruction of justice .I’m sure that DVT is smart enough and fair enough to understand that. Sometimes we need to take the political gogles off.
The PM knew before hand that the court papers were about to be served.The PM therefore ordered the security to act as they did. If the PM is law abiding then why reject the court papers. when it comes to the court and the law the PM is not above the law. I would think that the police and PM is obstructing the finctionality of the law.
We are talking about the cost to issue voter ID yet we want to spend 27 million dollars building a state house. We talking about national security and the basic requirement of ID’s is a problem. This is unbelievable.
The issue of voter ID show a gerat abuse of power by the Skerrit administration.Some of us will come here and defend this corrupt behavior but then we complain about the lawlessness in Dominica and the rising rate of criminal activities.
There is alot to hide that is why the DLP administration is fighhting the Voter ID. The vast discrepancies in the election results will be revealed and this is exactly why Skerrit and Company is resisting. Deservingly so we blast the opposition for the way they handle this issue by not being true to the proceedings of parliament. Let us not forget the validity of the issue. Let us be honest D/cans and demand the implimentation of the voter ID. The fact is that the Voter ID requirement was made Law by the DLP in 2007. Why it is that the very same DLP is fighting the law. After all this should not be politicisized.
If there is nothing to hide then for once this government should demonstrate that their is transparency.
@Time: He is a child and he beating the old men with the toys…lol
In relation to a summons being served, does not mean the person have to take it personally from the bailiff , the police could have accepted on behalf of the Prime minister, or 2 he could have dropped on the ground at the foot of the prime minister after the summons is being read , 3 served at his office or home with an adult, with the bailiff making proper notes of service stating time and date of service.those are the three different ways the law says that a summons can be served.
BOY THE KINDA THINGS A WANT TO SAY HERE DNO WILL NEVER ALLOW ME TO COMMENT HERE AGAIN I WILL JUST SHUT UP!!!WTF REALLY GOING ON IN OUR CONTRY??/ THIS SAME ONE THEM THAT HOOORAY HOOORAYING SKERRIT THERE THEY WILL FEEL IT EH WHEN THAT AFRICAN STYLE DICTATORSHIP START CRIPLLING OUR CONTRY… I AM VERY YOUNG BUT OLD ENOUGH TO SEE SOON IN DOMINICA THE POWER WILL BE IN THE GUN IF THINGS CONTINUES THIS WAY!!!!
@Marlon Giraudel:
Marlon, is that the same you
http://dominicanewsonline.com/dno/%E2%80%9Cthe-party-is-dead%E2%80%9D-leader-of-uwp-youth-arm-claims-the-boycott-was-ill-advised/
Really why is it Mr Skerrit has to be sued in his personal capacity? Mr Skerrit is the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance he acts for and on behalf of Government Therefore it is the Government that have to be sued. As a result the Attorney General is the one to be served.
Mr. Skerrit in his personal capacity cannot deny the electoral commission funds. It is Mr Skerrit as the Minister of Finance who can do so.
This is just politics. Another legal field day for Tony Astaphan, Heather Felix and the Attorney General.
so how you expect corruption and crime to be curbed in dominica
the leadership of dominica sucks period…when you have a child in office
the PM isnt a mature person….he still plays with toys…can you see..
thats why nothing this Govt does will ever bear fruit,just since they came into office
this island has being pulled into the gutter by their foolish policy
@The Third Side:
When are you going to stop bleeding the nation?
Thats the kind of action we need in Dominica, Take the ruling criminals to court. Why is the police force getting involved in this? Mr. Carret take control of your officers. Is Skerrit above the law? This man called Skerrit need to be brought before the courts and sent to prison for all the crimes he has done and caused in this country.
@The Third Side:
You doh even know what you saying there. This is the first time a case like that going before the court. And these throw out nonesense you speaking of, the appeals court has not given a ruling on none of the matters. Its ok to celebrate in Dominica where there is serious coruption in the judicial system, but as always when it gets particularly to the lawlord in London, its a total different story.
So carry on with your third side. Time will continue to reveal.
You all sot eeeh, how can a baliff walk up to the Prime Minister of a country and serve him with papers? IN every country the Prime Minister is protected by security… why in Dominica this is a problem
According to the law and precedents; where the person to be served refuses to accept service of such legal document from the bailiff; the bailiff merely has to drop the document at the feet of the person and it will be deemed that the person has been legally served.
these comment seems to come from a bunch of fools . why is it u make comments that are senseless? the pm or no one else is above the law . u put GOd in yr comments but u speak as a person that hates the pm but remember that God has warned us about hatred. so trying to bring the gov and the pm which u all seem to want to distroy personaly down . dont be fooled u are just giving the country that u pretend to love a bad name. and remember that people all over are listerning to u all. but again one cant expect better from fools and empty barrels like u.
they need to charge that police officer ………. serve him and lets see what he going and do if is stupid he stupid ….
see if skerrit will help him …
the law is there for all of us ….
UWP scrappers will love this case. The good news, this is another money losing venture by the unwanted wishful people.
Didn’t the Judge throw out a similar case??
LOL
When are these uwp thugs going to concentrate on nation building
No one is above the law. I see nothing wrong with Skerrit being served by a bailiff. That PM needs to stop the car he does. he needs to realise that he does not own d/ca
I don’t think the issue is based directly with the PM. It’s the so-called ‘chief of security’ who refused to give his name and doesn’t understand the requirements of his job (nor the law) very well. This government employee acts more like a thug than a professional.
The PM just benefited from the fact that his ‘chief retard’ was present at the time of the serving…
interesting stuff….i wonder who stop the bailiff….maybe Sebo..lol
SO NOW SKERRIT IS EVEN OUT OF REACH OF THE “HIGHEST ” LAW OF THE LAND>………………..HMNNNNNN
LONG TIME IN THE MAKING!! TAKE WHAT WE ASKED FOR DUMBNICANS
Yes good move mr donci, and dont worry the good lord is on our side we the people so now he has enough of Skerrit behavier on we the people of Dominica so he is coming to the rescue thank you lord , and he will go down with a fight but God is stronger than him so carry on MR PM may God have mercy on your soul befor it’s to late
Hmmmm Well they can only hold back the bailiff for so long. But then again the Supremo thinks he is above the constitution and (i suppose he has reason to believe) that he is above the IPO too, since he thinks that he has gotten away with his villas and his million dollar house. Right now (is me that blessings) I listening, I reading, I looking, and without a doubt…. I waiting, Waiting to hear and see that my fellow countrymen stand up and wake up from their slumber as far as the Supremo and his Band of Thieves are concerned.
I would like to hear what the Ag has to say on the obstruction (deliberate) by Skerrit. he is clearly avoiding being served. I wonder why?