Elected parliamentary representative for the Salisbury Constituency Hector John said his reasons for boycotting Parliament are based on ethical standards and a dissatisfaction with the time allotted for debates in the House of Assembly.
“I was not purchased; I was not paid to run,” John said, while addressing the first ever Peoples’ Parliament organized by the Movement for Restoration of Democracy (MRD) and the Citizens’ Forum.
John’s said his constituents support the United Workers Party’s (UWP) decision not to attend Parliament. According to him, they advised him that they would not be pleased if he attended.
He thanked his supporters for electing him as their parliamentary representative, adding “They voted on values, they voted on integrity and that is why I am proud to say I am an elected member for the Salisbury, Coulibistrie and Morne Rachette constituency,” he stated.
The UWP is protesting the election results, claiming there were improprieties during the election campaign.
“December 18th comes to mind and the weeks leading up to December 18th and that is why, as the elected member for the Salisbury constituency, I join my other colleagues to take this principled stand not to enter Parliament. Regardless what you hear about Hector John on the street, my integrity is priceless – it is not for sale,” John asserted.
The Parliament convened on Thursday for the first time after General Elections without any Opposition parliamentarians present. John described that day as historic since it is the first time such an action has been taken.
John believes such a move was done to ensure that Dominica’s democracy is safeguarded. He considers it important that Dominicans find a common ground to work together to preserve the country, while accusing the Cabinet of lacking principles.
He also expressed concern that preference is given to Government Parliamentarians during debates in the House of Assembly. He recalled on one occasion when Ron Green seconded a motion to allow Government Minister Vince Henderson more time to speak. He said that is reflected in the minutes of that sitting of the House of Assembly on page 12.
“One of my concern that really give me support why we should not go to the House is the debate in the House and time allocation. On several occasions there were motions moved to extend time for members of the House to speak … we had about 11 members in the House and we asked for time for Honorable Claudius Sanford and they turned it down. The House of Parliament where we’re supposed to debate the people’s business; a member of the opposition side ask for more time to deliberate on an issue and that was not given. Yet still Honorable Green, the leader of the opposition, assisted in giving more time to Honorable Henderson … that gave me more encouragement why I should be here today, because we need to find the avenues to deal with issues that concern the people of Dominica,” John explained.
The newly-elected representative suggested that he does not care about the stipend given to parliamentarians.
“I just came from studying, but I’m here … some people tell me ‘why you don’t go up to the House to get paid like the others.’ Ethical stands, ethical values, moral integrity,” he reasoned.
Key yo lay, key yo par lay- we are in the house.
To dominican genius…
My point exactly…
How can i be a genius idiot? You making a fool of yourself….
Seems like you slow so i will excuse you, and why you wanna call yourself genius? I am the original genius….Lmao..
Wait a minute here, did someone say that Hector is future leader of Dominica?? Well stranger things have happened in Dominica. That would be the end of Dominica when that happens.
i thought u were different u all lost and that it i vote for u all but it gone lets moves on from here,going back that road are not going to make u the government how many sit u all want i was ashame when i heard the result but we lost we lost***and move on
Dear anonymous
If you are not visually impaired or mentally retarded, have a think again and look at the two camps ( the ‘smart’ ones and the ‘foolish’ ones). If you remove the blinkers and look at things objectively, you will see that the SMART ones are those who overwhelmingly threw their support behind a winning team that is sitting in the official (constitutional) parliament getting on with the people’s business and the FOOLISH ones are the ones sitting embarrassingly under a shed in an entertainment venue making fools of themselves (similar to you), i suppose. Wake up and smell the coffee! The majority of Dominicans believe in taking the country forward while a tiny minority (like you) trying your utmost best to keep us back.
Move on man!
I wonder how many persons really read what Mr. John had to say. Can’t you people give the public some sense that you all are smart.
I doubt DNO created to forum to castigate and throw mewpuis at people.
These gentlemen have not broken the law, they are not the ones who stole your tax dollars, neither are they the ones who have people struggling cannot get jobs and banks taking their homes WHILE YOUR LEADERS GET RICH.
You all ask for unity, but when persons are moving forward with a serious and positive agenda, the only thing that can come from within you is mewpuis. SHAME.
DISHONESTY PERPETRATED IN A RACE BY THE WINNER IS THE LEADING CAUSE FOR UWP TO BE OUT OF PARLIAMENT TODAY. NOT INTEGRITY ITS DISHONESTY .
And I agree with the UWP. Look at the qualifications of the members of parliament on the Government’s side. ..
And really labourites, is that all you have to offer MENTALLY????? Is that your BEST SHOT??? READ WHAT MR. JOHN SAID AGAIN, and do not respond at a the next level, RESPOND AT A HIGHER LEVEL, PLEASE.
Is there any pappy show wedding take placing in DA this carnival? Am just wondering whether it has been replaced by this pappy show paliament that has just taken place. What a bunch of losers and jokers. How do these guys expect dominicans to show any respect for them or take them seriously. Dominca does not belong to UWP, you all are not fit to run the affairs of the country. Start regrouping for the next 5 yrs, you bunch of self centred jokers who has no interest in the development of this country but your own personal gains.
I fail to see UWP’s point. Their track record speaks for itself. The more they do, the deeper they burry theirselves. Their political days are over.
WORKASSSS
Caribbean genius, you’re such a GENIUS IDIOT!
You expect all idiots to be sitting on the same bench with you and eating from
the same plate?
Labourites seem to have forgotten how the House Speaker treated the last opposition….
Garson las feh sort avec cow
I dont understand why the UWP have to take the parliament in a .. is that what you want for our country, To make decision of our country in a .., what people parliament you taking about, we have a House of Assembly and it is a great place and we respect it, if the UWP respects the people of Dominica they would have gone to the parliament to represent the people who voted them, We see straight through your so call integrity, power is for people who work hard for it, not for people who want to grab it out of the hands of hard workers.
Boy Neg,
The only thing I can really say is that, years from now you are going to look back at that time period in your life and deeply regret it.
This is your first coming out man, and this is what you are always going to be remembered for.
Who’s ethical standard, who gave you and the other 2 monopoly on ethical standard…
And by the way people who don’t think for themselves, if Dominica didn’t still have its democracy they wouldn’t be able to keep the UWP’S parliament. Is because they have democratic right s they using it to make fools of themselves, and non thinking biased people is supporting their charade.
If democracy wasn’t live and well, those idiots would be in jail just as the opposition in countries without democratic rights are jailed…
You all make me laugh… I am sorry for d.a if you all are the future leaders, we just wont get anywhere…
Hmmmmmmmmm
To al those who are soo religious, know that God allowed the DLP administration to win, he also admonishes us to pray for our leaders in Government. I thanks God Jehovah for DLP and I pray that their enemies will be their footstool, I pray for prosperity for the Prime Minister, the people and the country of Dominica.
UWP aim is to divide Dominica and the lack of respect they have shown to the people by their actions is most insolent and rude.
I think Ron can learn a lesson from ST LUCIA opposition party, i admire kenny and his team.
GOD BLESS DLP
When a man not working he often lose his wife or she bring some strange attitude.Hector is just like the voters.Brother is people your age group who is in the political arena right now.Leave Ron and Eddie do there talking.Good luck with the peoples party without Ron and Eddie.
Labour power!!!!! It is a shame that these retirees are giving the youth a bad impression as they retire. how can we follow those bad examples.
Forget me Not,
Yeah Right…Just as Earl
Am i wrong in assuming that Judith Pestina wisely extricated herself from this ‘pappy show’ event? i could not see her face in any of the photos so I’m assuming that she finally saw sense and stayed away. If this is true, it will work in hers and the Freedom Party’s favour if by-elections are called to replace the stay-away opposition elected members in their respective constituencies. This would put Freedom Party in a good position to replace UWP as an alternative opposition. But i might be just deluding myself thinking that she wasn’t present. She might have just made a conscious decision to avoid the cameras. What ever the case i couldn’t help but observe the embarrassment on the faces of those who were unfortunate enough to have the cameras focused on them.
well well well breadrens greating to u from de most hi. this is a great start by a opposition party but bad strategy. they should have a constituency forum island wide instead off dat name stop being so immature and lets move DA to the next level spiritually fisrt. hey john take ur time dont rush ur colleage might trip u in de future. y wasnt u upfront wit de three socalled big shots
This man is the future leader of Dominica…just watch it.
I say forward with the MRD for if democracy is not restored in this country, consider us already worst than Haiti.
“NOW WAIT A MINUTE ” I AM A CULTURAL AND CARNALVAL ENTHUSIAST AND IF I MAY TELL YOU I CATEGORICALLY DISAPPROVE YOU BRINGING OUR CARNIVAL CELEBRATIONS , INTO THIS ONE YOU SAID AND I QUOTE “I can only assume that it is a new feature to the carnival celebrations having replaced the usual pappy show wedding with which we have become accostumed to. .. its Pappy Show for Carnival 2010 IN A NEW WAY!!! ” NOTE MR BULLY VAL AND THE TEAM HAVE WORKED HARD TO BUILD CARNAVAL AND THIS STATEMENT THOUGH MADE IN THIS LINE OF POLITICAL DISCUSSION DOES NOT GO WELL FOR OUR HARD WORK WHETHER YOU ASSUME IT OR WHAT BUT ITS PLAIN OUT STUPID AND SHOULD BNOT HAVE EVEN BEEN WRIT NY YOU, , NOTE OUR USUAL PAPPY-SHOW IS ON AND IN DAZZLING PINK BLACK AND WHITE SO THINK OF SOMETHING ELSE TO SAY AND WITHDRAW FROM MAKING SUCH SCENICAL COMMENT, AS FOR THIS WHOLE POLITICAL THING YOU LIVE BY THE SWORD SO YOU MUST DIE
DOMINICA WILL LIVE ON BUT TIME WILL TELL FOR HOW LONG WE LIVE FOR WE ARE COLLECTIVELY EATING THIS COUNTRY AT ITS CORE .
IN HUMBLENESS I SUBMIT
hahahahahah!!!! Drinks on the house later man Eddo lmao! classic ****
“A house divided against itself cannot stand”
Sometimes to be the bigger person requires on to be the humble person…
Just a thought in general about all this craziness that’s going on in Dominica’s Government system. If you see wrong or claim you see wrong and you only choose to stand aside… you have not yet done right.
spags i just don’t know what happened ey hahhahahhahaha lololol the three stoogies ? all u doh make me laugh ey hahahhahhaha three stoogies that ‘s good for them.
What Jokers. Disgruntled losers. UWP, be of some value to your country. Stop wasting time doing nothing. Accept your defeat and move on. Dominica does not belong to the UWP.
To “Stay Tuned My People”, I have only this to say to you, I have observed your frequent cynical comments as if preluding something to come, well my friend I have news for you whatever you are anticipating WILL NOT and CANNOT remove the DLP administration from government so I guess you are the one who will have to be staying tuned to development taking place in this country under the DLP until, at least 2020 because there is no way under the sun that the DLP can be moved before then. As for the JOKERS PARLIAMENT, nuff have been said already about this COMIC RELIEF PAPPY SHOW coming as it is around carnival time I can only assume that it is a new feature to the carnival celebrations having replaced the usual pappy show wedding with which we have become accostumed to. .. its Pappy Show for Carnival 2010 IN A NEW WAY!!!
Skerrit followers going to cause God to curse our nation…we do not want no disaster like haiti….and you guys asking for more haitians to come….this people’s parliment is what the people needs…and to the person who said it is UWP parliment…the other parlimnet is Labour parliment, ..
Ebeh weh weh weh look jokes
As a registered voter from Coulibistrie, I am ashamed to hear such utter nonsense from an individual who was elected to represent my village at the country’s parliament. Mr. Hector John is playing simple petty politics and making up excuses to be lazy in the job he was given the mandate to do. Of course, like a sheep in a herd, Hector is blindly obeying orders given to him by his politically-driven elders in the UWP and expresses a sour decorum as a statesman. He agrees to join the new movement to cripple any progress for my village and Dominica in the name of party politics!
However, my question to Mr. John today is: seeing that we the people of Coulibistrie will have no REPRESENTATION [in parliament] for the next 5 years, does that mean that we will have NO TAXATION for the next 5 years? You see, in years gone by, I was taught by Earl Williams of the UWP and the members of the Coulibistrie “House” group that under no circumstance should anyone pay taxation without representation. Having abundantly and fundamentally clearly understood this common sense premise, I am announcing today that I am withholding ALL house and land taxation (and willing to contest it in court) and any other financial contribution that I usually pay to my local government (which coincidentally currently happens to be a UWP based). Further, as a citizen of the Commonwealth of Dominica and a villager of the Coulibistrie village, I am demanding from the appropriate powers that be, that no salary be paid from our public coffers to Hector John if he fails to represent my village and constituency in the job he was elected to execute for us in parliament!
ROME FALLS IN 2010
Wow! This is a true representativeof the people. Good job, it is time we stand for value and the rights of others as oposed to political parties. I hope the masses can see this and get over the political party divide and tackle the issues that move a country forward..
Well done Sir!
This is UWP’s Parliament; not the people’s parliament. They do not represent the majority government. By the way, who is the speaker? If this is the people’s parliament why don’t they keep their parliamentary proceedings in the people’s parliamentary building that the state has provided. Government has a state building for parliamentary proceedings. After all it would be a mockery to have such a farce in our perliamentary building. It looks like pretty soon we might also have the People’s Court with judges selected by the UWP. This is nothing more than a comical parliament ochestrated by three stoogies
.. hahahahahahaha Jokers
Good look DNO on the pics.
Hector go and represent the people that vote for you and stop following Ron Green.This man was defeated by the great Peter Pepper and have no important contribution to make in dominican politics again.It’s over for this man and Eddie.
Well my brother its going to be a tough road.
Listen to the People , listen to your mind ,then speak your mind.