Prime Minister says he is not worried about court challenge

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.

ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says even though the opposition United Workers Party (UWP) is victorious in getting the courts to overturn the results of last December’s general elections in five constituencies, the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) will continue to govern this Caribbean island.

“As I said before, if we took a decision to give the opposition the five seats they are challenging we would still have a government of 13. I do not see in the foreseeable future this government falling. I see this government being there, comfortably, for another 20 years,” Skerrit told a news conference on Wednesday.

“Our lawyers are dealing with the matter…I am not going to get involved on what is happening in the court system. Whatever decisions the court takes we shall respect and we shall move ahead.”

Lawyers for the UWP Wednesday, returned to the High Court to file a response to the DLP’s application filed last week, to strike out the petitions challenging the general elections results in five constituencies including that of Prime Minister Skerrit.

The UWP has challenged the results on the basis of alleged “irregularities in the conduct of the December 18, general elections” that the DLP won by an 18-3 margin.

“We believe that there is no reason to strike out any of the five petitions but that is a decision a judge will make. We are awaiting the court’s decision which we expect will be heard in detail shortly leading up to the 14th of June when the matter will be heard in court,” UWP leader Ron Green said.

The three opposition UWP legislators, including former prime minister Edison James, are in danger of losing their seats in Parliament after boycotting two consecutive meetings.

Prime Minister Skerrit has already told supporters to be prepared to contest the three by-elections that would become necessary if the opposition legislators miss three consecutive meetings of the Parliament without permission from the Speaker.

Skerrit announced Wednesday that the Parliament will meet for its third sitting on April 29 but Green told reporters recently that ‘whenever the next parliament is called, the UWP will take a decision as to what it does about the boycott”.

But the opposition party said it would continue to participate in the People’s Parliament, the third meeting which is set for next Tuesday in the Salisbury constituency won by Hector John, one of the opposition parliamentarians.

The organisers of the People’s Parliament said in a statement that “this session …will feature a special presentation by a prominent Dominican physician on the state of “health” in Dominica.

“This presentation will be extremely timely in light of Government’s recent issuance of a permit to establish an asphalt plant on the Layou River and their deliberations on other initiatives that may be detrimental to public health,” it said, adding that “as usual, a major part of the programme will be deliberations on issues of the day by duly elected opposition Members of Parliament.”.

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22 Comments

  1. Communicables
    April 15, 2010

    My boy start looking older these days.Is just accelerated due to stress of the office of P.M, the corruption in the head and being caught in the future or is it as a result of the Macow visit . Remember the favors as reported by LL on between you &me from a the ambasssador? …
    But check the commander in chief’s face it looking fat yet unhealthy.
    Would you agree?
    DNO let it flow please.

  2. CAca Beef
    April 15, 2010

    those guys don’t care
    their pride got hurt so here we are again
    Ron honestly as a true Dominican i never believed in you you are are convincing
    and you keep reading what other peoples ask you to read ,which means you don’t even know what you are talking about most of the time

    it’s all good to loose at time
    loosing is not so bad as long as you learned something out of this
    but you didn’t you just keep dragging this on and on man
    take it easy wise up and move on
    6 in 1 half a dozen in other
    a pas plus kwibish ki kakadore

  3. yasbella
    April 15, 2010

    I’m backing you ONE MILLION percent. Ron. Go for it!
    And next election the blue movement wont be so laid back. We are coming down to vote!

  4. April 15, 2010

    uwp is a waste of time. They were misled by ….Edison James….this was a foolish decision to stay out of parliament. whoever came with that idea lacked the vision to leadership,.Edison himself is the biggest threat to democracy in Dominica. PM Skerrit must call a bye election if those uwp …fail to appear in parliament for a third time.

  5. Dixie
    April 15, 2010

    Way to go PM!

  6. Phmmmph
    April 15, 2010

    If you love DA so much, JUST RENOUNCE!

    And save the country the time, embarrassment and money of this court case.

    I am not favorably considering you as PM in 2015. I voted you in, now I’m reconsidering.

    Just RENOUNCE. choops

  7. Arrogance
    April 15, 2010

    “I SEE THIS GOVERNMENT BEING THERE, COMFORTABLY, FOR ANOTHER 20 YEARS,” Skerrit told a news conference on Wednesday. Don’t forget sir, it is GOD who builds up and tears down. So be careful what you say. Pride goes before a fall.

    • rohan
      April 15, 2010

      Well maybe he knows some things you don’t!…Ha,Ha,Ha….

  8. April 15, 2010

    All supportors of the UNITED WICKED PEOPLE are not concerned aboutr the development of Dominica… What you think is going to happen when they get into power? these same investors will not want to invest because as far as they’re concerned that Dominica is corrupt.

    I don’t care of no french man investing in dominica, we are too biased and we need foreign investment in dominica.

    DLP ALL THE WAY. Skeritt stand proud, you are young , vibrant and energetic.

    • Manchat!
      April 16, 2010

      Tribal Warrrrrrr, we never had it in I father land,Tribal Waaarrrrrr!, nuh badda follow,follow………
      Oh,sorry! (lo).

  9. 4u2c
    April 14, 2010

    The peoples parliament will continue to educate the masses. All we concern of in Dominica is ignorance on who is youn and who is olld. Why don’t we think of who can lead and lead with the masses in mind and not young to cheat the masses. What the hell A Frenchman running our English country. That is why we fight for independence so we can get away from foreign controle. Which other country in the world is run by a forigner –BOtha in South Africa, are back to Apathied days…….Skerrit and his bunch is the best we have to show the world? All countries send their best and brightest to represent them and we sending people that dont even have an O level, people with no experience of running a candy shop and we call that our best a brightest? We have serious problems!! We may as well be looked at as the other HAITI

    • Triplea
      April 15, 2010

      Are you really believing the things you are saying, do you have Dominica best interest at heart? I would really like you to tell us your thoughts on who would be the best leader for this country right now.. We all heard the rallies and the plans the different parties had for this country, without party politics that is very common in Dominica who had the best plan to take the country forward at this time? Which of our many parties in this country was ready to govern?

      • yes i
        April 15, 2010

        I wanted to see an election debate on national television to help me decide who will best run the country…but the PM said no and that the opposition should debate the issues by themselves….and the Dominican people accepting that. How can that be possible?

    • la
      April 15, 2010

      ron green is an american citizen

      • NIKE
        April 15, 2010

        Correction Ron is a Peace Corp. Earl is British and he wanted to be next PM, Edison is Bajan and he was PM. Somebody tell me something new.

  10. DVT
    April 14, 2010

    The UWP is preparing to announce, that “the people” have “advised” them to go to the parliament. They will come take their oath and then go outside. This is typical of the UWP. Now they running scared and all the hoopla about what they had about the ruling Antigua cannot be brought to Dominica, so they have to back back.

  11. de caribbean change
    April 14, 2010

    Hey Ron, it’s 11.00pm. Time to go to bed. At your age you should be in bed already. The PM can stay up still, because his young, energetic, vibrant and a visionary.

    • Typical Dominican
      April 14, 2010

      ohh shut ur mouth!!!

      • Triplea
        April 14, 2010

        Oh gosh That hurting you eh… lol… you all not easy

    • hmmm
      April 15, 2010

      but look at you talk….why dont u look at a before and after pic of your pm skerrit…? he aint aging too well either!!!

  12. I VEX MAN
    April 14, 2010

    That Peoples Parliament is really just a JOKE!!! Some side SHOW. I mean can you guys be that sour for losing an Elections? The Dominica electorates REFUSED the UWP. REFUSED

    REJECTEDDDDD

    MOVE ON CRYING B

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