“Our voices need to be heard.” This was the reaction of one female participant in a United Workers Party-organized protest near parliament as controversy continues to swirl over the election of Eluid Williams as president of Dominica.
DNO took to the streets on Monday to sample public opinion on what has been going on so far.
“we cannot continue to live in a lawless country! Skerrit and the members of the Labour party need to learn to follow the rules. We should demonstrate against these things because we are fed up of the disrespect from this government,” another individual said.
However, not everyone supported the opposition’s action. “I believe people have their own opinions; however I don’t think that is the manner in which they should take action instead of going as a crowd and causing problems in front of Dowasco that is technically slowing down the business and causing confusion so I don’t believe that’s the way they should have stepped up,” a Dominica State College student said.
Another man blatantly described the whole ordeal as a “non-issue.”
“I think people are creating an issue where there is no issue. The procedure for the election of the president has been vetted by the Speaker of the House, who is a legal person, the Attorney General who is another legal person and I have every belief that these people know what the procedure is established in law and I believe what is happening now is unfortunate ….that a bunch of politically disgruntled people, are using the less informed or less fortunate among us to stage this demonstration,” he said.
He added “Therefore this is a total waste of a very productive day in this country where people could have gone to work to make money for their families and they are brought to the government house to protest something to no avail. There is not going to be any impact or any effect because there is no cause if there was a cause you would have found hundreds of people in the streets not just a few some people are going about their business and don’t even know that this is going on. This is not something that is affecting the nation to the extent that it requires a demonstration and I believe it is politically motivated and it ought not to be.”
A Roseau vendor also declared the demonstration “a waste of time.”
“They wrong, they deadly wrong … they shouldn’t be doing that. I mean if the president sent a letter and they (the government) choose the person they want it’s alright, because it seems as though the opposition like problems and like to cause trouble so let’s forget about that and let the man do what he doing. So if he doing wrong or whatever they can protest against him and for him to walk out but if he doing good I see nothing wrong with that,” she said.
Members of the United Workers Party and their supporters gathered near the Parliament building on Monday morning to hold a public meeting to protest the process leading to the election of a new president for Dominica.
People began gathering as early as 9:00 am.
UWP political leader, Edison James, has hinted that the protest might continue later today when the president-elect gets sworn-in at the parliament building at 4.00 pm.
The educated people could not protest because Skerrit is giving them the milk and honey that they cannot give do with out. these educated people of today are just like their P.M the only thing that matters is wealth and earthly things but remember educated people this life is a stage we are all passing thru and we have a Higher Authority to answer to. God help us all.
Can I ask a few questions? Cause i know there are many many poor people in D.A that need help.Is it true that the expresident will still be paid for time left that was not serves.? and that includes housing Monthly Grocery Bill and Insurance? Is it true that Pension monthly will be 12,700.00 monthly that includes his wealth.Is it true that expresident has a $93,000.00 car in the customs cause he has to drive himself? Is it true that the new president is being paid $8000.00 a month plus $2800.00 for rent? Isn’t thatcostly for D.A. what are these people doing for the country?Dominicans wake up.
UWP must stop listening to Brian Alleyne. Just to much bad advise. Mamo was so right. Who kill Freedom.
When a leader calls out people to follow him and can only muster 150 to 200 people something is wrong with his leadership. Mr James should resign now as party leader. Not even his own party supporters are taking him seriously. You see Mr James not every Dominican is stupid. WE DON’T WANT YOU, can you hear?
all they do is fool the people who don’t know better
they lie so much that the ignorants start believing the lies
99% of the demonstrators were there because they were AGAINST this UNCONSTITUTIONAL ACT. These opinions seems to be from the lowest caliber fools they could see on the streets.This place is getting ridiculous!!
these people were there to support the president while mr james usual supporters there. but majority came in solidarity for the president.
@ Anonymous. What you are saying about DSC students is stereotyping, and your comment is out of place. Queen show is a completely different forum. Although I agree that some of the responses to questions in the competition can be more educated, these women are under a significant amount of pressure. Also, most students at DSC work our butts off to do well at school, and it’s not right to see persons try to bring down the youth. Many of us do the associate’s degree program (more than one major), the a levels, some the SAT, plus an extra curricular activity. I would like to see you handle that in your daily life and still do well in every aspect! So please do not take the actions of minority and make it gospel. A little credit from adults and those we ‘look up to’ would be appreciated.
Who cares? The New colonial masters do not care two hoots whether the masses of the Dominican people eat up each other. It is in their interest.
The colonial masters do not care whether the standard of living of the people decline day-by-day. It is in their interest to impoverish the people, then institute Begging from the Clinic. By that time you become their zombies. Your life is under their control.
Who cares? Dictatorship does not happen in one day. That evil system begins small. Corruption, cheating of elections, lies, kick-backs, resultant erosion of the Constitution. Subtle trickerey. The Constitution has been virtually suspended. It is of no value to the new colonial powers. it has been discarded for their dictatorship moves. But the people will never allow Skerritt and his Cabal to drag Dominica down the drain, even though the Constitution has been cast aside.
The new colonial masters are ignorant of the impact of their lawlessness. That raging river of Lawlessness will sweep them away as well. They will run but will not be able to hide. All dictators must have their day. How long? Not long.
alu want people to support alu non issue..the world is in crisis..we want to know how to survive in this global environment..not about some issue without teeth..i would have protested if there was no president..because their would be no head of state to impose curfew.
Whats the big deal about the president,which Dominican cares who is president.Once the person is Dominican and is of good character thats all that matters.I only hear of the president when its independence and when its time to dissolve the house. I believe this is politicaly motivated.My question is; where was the opposition when this was being addressed in the house? were they absent as usual.
you know what? I look at the bright side. If Dr. Liverpool had to appoint someone to act for him them the state would have to pay two presidents. Good move mr Liverpool. you save the country plenty money
A lawless PM, a lawless country. Support the UWP full time, the constitution has to be obeyed by this lawless PM.
go and read your constitution. stop listening to hear say. get educated my friend
Now that the roro is over and a new president is sworn in office,let us take an inventory.
Who made the first move to select a new president…………………….. …..Skerrit
Who called for consultation even though he had not yet received any letter…………..Skerrit
Who said he received information from Mr. Liverpool of his intension to resign…..Skerrit
Who presented a letter to the Speaker even though he new it was unconstitutional…. ……Skerrit
Who refused to show members of the opposition
the intended letter of resignation…….Skerrit
Who selected president Eluid Williams….Skerrit
Who refused to follow the constitution during all that roro ………………………Skerrit
Who said no law no constitution can prevent him from being a member of parliament……..Skerrit
Who showed strong objections to the flauting of the constitution……UNITED WORKERS PARTY.
and who made the decision and listen to outsider and have no say………hector
who they dont want to run again…hector
and who finally run away cause he know his selector will lose bad……….hector
and who put him aside to lead the demonstrators ….eddo. haaa
and who agreed and ran for advise cause he afraid his selector will lose……..hector
who they put aside and lead the demonstrations….hector
who dont understand the constitution …hector
The issue yesterday could easily have been avoided. The UWP had all the time in the world to file and injunction, seeking a judicial review of government’s interpretation of the constitution relative to what their Chief JKustice had to say about the same matter. You see the opposition sought legal advise, hopefully from an attorney (s) who are trained in the practice of the lawyer. Government also sought advise from its own lawyers without and withoiut the Public Service asnd even outside of Dominica. That advise determined the course of action – procedure that government used to elect the new President. Obviously, The opposition disagreed and instead of going where it matters to the courts for a judicial interpretation, they chose rather to deal with the issue from a partisan platform. To do that they entrusted the fortunes of thier party to their failure-plaqued political strategist, the journalist now turned politician to advise them on the law. Imagine that. Lennox Linton is now a constitutional lawyer, taking on trained and experienced counsels. That is why, despite his colourful and very articulate language, which you really cannot fault, he is really fooling himself.
Here is another scenario. The Senior Counsel, one of the sub-region’s premier constitutional law expert has advanced the view that the only recourse the UWP has now is to question the qualification of the successful candidate for election to the Presidency. In this case the UWP can question in a competent court of law (not Q-95), the eligibility of Mr. Williams. That is the opinion of the Senior Counsel. Whether the UWP and its dwindling band of disgruntled followers agree or not, Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphans is among the top legal minds in our region. The UWP did not make him and try as they wish they certainly cannot break him on their present and past campaigns. Conversely to what Mr. Astaphans is saying, Mr. Eddison James told a public meeting on High Street on Monday morning that his lawyers have advised him that the election of Mr. Eliud Williams can be chalenged in a court of law. Here is the million dollar question. So which lawyer is right? is Tony right or is the UWP’s legal advisor right. It would be nice to find out who is that legal advisor.
If we agree with Mr. Astaphan’s opinion that President’s Williams’ electoral victory elevating him to that highest office in the land can only be challenged on the grounds of qualification, then we should examine that aspect of the process. Mr. Williams is well past forty years.The minimum age for a president is 40 years. No question about that. For all intents and purposes he has met that requirement. He has also met the qualification to be nominated for election as a candidate of the House of Assembly.9ability to read and write to be able to participaet in the debates, not bankrupt or facing sentence for a capital offence, does not hold foreign citizenship consequent upon his ownactiosn as an adult etc. Well maybe not yet as one of the requirement is related to his place of residence. Hs he been living here formore than one year following his stint at ECTEL in St.Lucia. Has he been here long enough to meet the requirement. Considering such a basic requirement, I want to beleive that H.E Williams would have considered all the above before consenting for the position. Is that what the UWP has in its sight? We do mot know?
One thing for sure is very clear, the UWP must be very un-happy with their performance or rather the response of “the people” to their war cry for “boots on the Ground” on Monday. They have tried their utmost to bring people out on the streets on a number of occasions now. Each time they have failed and the numbers keep falling. At lagoon and in Salisbury, leaders of the UWP repeated time and time again, that it is time for action. Enough of talk. ‘Enough is enough”. I wonder how many court cases with only political argumenmts will be enough.No wonder Mr.James told the people that they have the final say in this matter. I wonder if he was inciting the people to take up the “Kool Wosh” brigade a la 1979 to bring the UWP back in office?.
Know that I and many others (61% of the popular voters, in case you forgot) will fight to ensure that the constitution is observed all the time. I would prefer to be wrong with a trained and experienced counsel on matters of law than to be right with those who recently graduated one Friday afternoon from a morning crash course in constitutional law.
Well said. Did you observe the absence of the leader of the opposition in all the interviews and pronouncements on Tuesday? What did his masters do with him? Where did they hide him? The organizers of the demonstration seem to have forgotten that the leader of the opposition was an integral member of their party hence, they dumped him aside to teach him that he is just there to follow what he is instructed to do. There are so many top notch lawyers including the former president to advise the prime minister. Who among the so-called journalists are qualified lawyers? Some of us can learn and utter beautiful words without even knowing what they mean. Long live our former and new president.
What are you saying Met T Yo?
If we don’t stop this soon politics will finish dominica. Dominicans too easily influenced by politics. Both sides handling things badly and both sides using the lack of education and ignorance of people to fulfill their ridiculous intentions. People in Dominica should really consider what politics is for. That it is once every five years and when it is over let it be. If you don’t like something come back in five years and vent your fury. If you lose then you lose. That is what democracy is, learning to respect opinions even if you don’t like it. Too many times I have seen people fighting, literally fighting or creating enemies over politics. Ridiculous! Learn to cast your vote and allow another to cast theirs. You cannot vote for someone On your beliefs and expect someone else to vote for someone (the same person you voted for) on your belief also. Different people want different things and that’s the nature of being human. So my people, let politics to until the next election yes?! When that election comes, then remove the labor party if they are least popular. If they don’t get removed then the majority wants them there and it needs to be handled as adults that are over 18, in a respectable manner.
DNO, you have finally made your colours known to all of us. All along I’ve always questioned your political biasness since you would always delay to post comments against the PM or you would just blatantly delete them. However, this report of yours today clearly shows us where you stand as far as truth is concerned and will help me and others understand why you delete comments against the PM.
You are covering a protest called by the opposition, where hundreds of people left their busy schedules just to be part of it, yet you quoated one statement from supporters of the protest whereas you gave out three negative voices. This is journalism at its worse and I am expected something much better and different from a seasoned journalist . What a shame!
@ cool what are u talking about dno more blue than any thing else,see the headlines every thing is about the pm.Dno is the 1st to break news on the pm,when they take pic’s of the rally they take it close up not over head so u don’t see is 10 people that there,so leave dno alone we love this site.
“they deadly wrong”…lol…lord have mercy on these idiots
I just love chilling out in Giraudel..its perched on this beautiful hill
Dominicans if u vote fr U W P ever in your life is problem in dominica
u wrong it wont be problems it will only lead to questions and the the dlp dont hav answers cause the truth will be reavealed sooner or later
That’s a serious run-on sentence which said alot about nothing from that Dominica State College student. My god…
What is a lot about nothing that you profess? Me T Yo so now you even want to stiffle the college students. The thing about college students is that they are educated now. Gone are the days when it was only an elite few who went to school and that is what is hurting some persons here who would prefer the masses to stay ignorant so they can manipulate them and have them doing marjee. One thing even if you do not like PM but if you have children you must respect him that he wants all our children (yours and mines) to go to to college. So in future no one who just wants to be in power will tell them anything and they will run in the streets and protest.
Massa day is done but it still seems that some of our own wants to keep us in the dark and want to get power by whatever means they can. But let me tell you something , no uprising, no demonstration or war will be in this country just like storms. God will protect us since there are still praying persons in this country. We are also praying that those who conive/plan/devise evil plans will have a chamge of heart and will show love to one another as Christ have loved us.
what a laugh? is it the first time we have heard these students talk utterrubbish? Just rewind to the answers they give at the queen shows.
Well said Dominica State College from a student at the Antigua State College. People need to know how to protest instead of meaningless demonstrations which causes strife. The new breed of Dominicans and caribbean people coming will surely have more sense in politic strategies which will benifit all.