The United Workers Party (UWP) is describing as “rubbish” claims made by Dominica Labour Party (DLP) candidate for the Salisbury constituency, Nicholls “Shanks” Esprit, that three of its candidates are “not qualified” to contest the upcoming general election.
Esprit told a DLP rally in St. Joseph last weekend that the nominations of Thomson Fontaine, Joshua Francis and Danny Lugay were illegal and they will be challanged.
“We will be challenging your nomination because you are illegally nominated,” he said.
But the UWP brush aside Esprit’s claims.
“Pure rubbish. Mr Nichols Esprit statement that three of the UWP Candidates are illegally nominated is utter rubbish,” the UWP said in a statement.
According to Esprit, those who cast ballots for the three candidates will be basically throwing away their votes.
“The candidates that the United Workers Party nominated are not qualified to be nominated,” he said. “The nomination paper states clearly that if you are facing criminal charges, you are not qualified to be a candidate. The nomination paper also states clearly that if you are insane, you are not qualified to be a candidate for elections, the nomination paper also states clearly that if you are bankrupt…. you are not qualified to be a candidate for any election in Dominica.”
The UWP is giving the assurance that all its candidates were properly nominated and blasted Esprit for being untruthful.
“That is why the big guns in the DLP did not make the statement themselves, but used Mr. Esprit to make such an untrue and foolish statement,” the party said.
It must be silly season. The DLP is sending its goons to make false and misleading statements
Esprit made an excellent point. Furthermore it is the rule and regulation. Those who are before the Court on charges should not be candidates. This also applies to Linton.
It appears they do things differently in Dominica. These should have immediately stepped down from their seats once they are before the Courts. In fact, due to what they stated on the podium. In other words they should have resigned ever since.
How can candidates campaign honestly with this over their heads? How can the people vote for them under the circumstances? Only in Dominica you say?
They will still have to face the Courts if per chance they are elected. They are not worthy of being candidates and should be disqualified.
With all that have been said about this issue I have a few questions I desperately need an answer to.
1. So lets just say for the sake of the discussion that the claims of the illegal nominations are true what happens next?
2. Athenia Benjamin have been living in Canada for a considerable length of time and she came back and was nominated to contest the Wesley seat for the DLP. Was she at anytime a Canadian citizen and if yes, has she denounce her Canadian citizenship?
3. If she was not a Canadian citizen what was the basis of her residency in that country? Was she there illegally or did she violate any of the laws of that country?
Inquiring minds wants to know.
Disqualifications for Representatives and Senators.
32.-
A person shall not be qualified to be elected or appointed as a Representative or Senator (hereinafter in this section referred to as a member) if he-
is by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state;
is a minister of religion;
is an undischarged bankrupt, having been adjudged or otherwise declared bankrupt under any law in force in Dominica;
is under sentence of death imposed on him by a court of law in any part of the Commonwealth or is serving a sentence of imprisonment (by whatever name called) exceeding twelve months imposed on him by such a court or substituted by competent authority for some other sentence imposed on him by such a court, or is under such a sentence of imprisonment the execution of which has been suspended;
subject to such exceptions and limitations as may be prescribed by Parliament, has an interest in any government contract and has not, within seven days of his nomination as a candidate for election or, as the case may be, at least seven days before the date of his prospective appointment, disclosed the nature of the contract and of his interest therein by means of a notice published in the Official Gazette and in a daily or weekly newspaper circulating in Dominica; or
holds or is acting in the office of President.
Arthie you mean well and I support all of your efforts we all love Dominica and want the best for our people but I do believe it’s time that you send the names of those people who will and is trying to disrupt Election in Dominica come December 8,2014 we cannot wait till it’s to late move on that now send out those list now We want things to happen in Dominica but we like to sit back too much We have to stop them before they leave the Countries they reside in . We the people in Dominica are the only ones to vote out the present Government because we are living in the ditches , God help us all because we cannot go on like this any longer so why Dominicans in the diaspora want to come down and vote to keep us in the dirty ditches this party have us in I don’t believe that is right so I am appealing to them don’t come and burry us brothers and sisters.
Batt kor Patriot pour changement ou por kor vrai sa ki ni ce Labour all the way.
@Praying hands. ..we all know education is important but not everyone meant to be educated, achievements,wisdom,and common sense are important as well in life, I know some high educated people are losers and I know some people without an education are successful in life special in Dominica and create jobs for some people who are educated, respect each other opinions.
This food for thought excerpt is dedicated to my Motherland, Dominica. I know she is only capable of love; however, there are some of us treading her, who has lost our way.
“Only the self-accused condemn.
As you prepare to make a choice that will result in DIFFERENT outcomes, there is first one thing that must be over learned. It must become a habit of response so typical of everything you do, that it becomes your first response to all temptation, and to every situation that occurs.
Learn this, and learn it well, for it is here delay of happiness is shortened by a span of time you cannot realize. You NEVER hate your brother for HIS “sins”, but ONLY for your own. Whatever form his sins appear to take it but obscures the fact that you believe it to be yours, and THEREFORE meriting a just attack.
Why should his sins BE sins, if you did not believe they could not be forgiven in you? Why are they real in him, if you did not believe that they are YOUR reality? And why do you attack them everywhere except you hate yourself?
Are YOU a sin? You answer “yes” WHENEVER you attack, for BY attack do you assert that you are guilty, and must give as you deserve. And what CAN you deserve but what you ARE? If you did not believe that you DESERVED attack, it never would occur to you to GIVE attack to anyone at all. Why should you?
What would be the gain to you? What could the outcome be that you would WANT? And how COULD murder bring you benefit?
……….. A jailer does not follow orders, but ENFORCES orders on the prisoner. Yet is the BODY prisoner, and NOT the mind.
The body thinks no thoughts. It has no power to learn, to pardon, or enslave. It gives no orders that the mind need serve, nor sets conditions that it must obey. It holds in prison but the willing mind that would abide in it.
It sickens at the bidding of the mind that would become its prisoner. And it grows old and dies, because that mind is sick within ITSELF.
Learning is all that causes change.
And so the body, where no learning CAN occur, could never change unless the mind PREFERRED the body change in its appearances, to suit the purpose given by the mind.
For it CAN learn, and there is ALL change made.
……..Open your mind to change…….”
Source: “A C in M”
Let’s continue to LOVE each other; and have a fair, free and peaceful election on December 8th 2014.
Why, on God’s green earth, the top brass of the DLP are so consistent, in terms of making a fool of themselves. Shanks my boy, if what you are saying had any merit, Skeritt, Tony, Alick, both Aarons, the Crazy man and the Animal Show would have broken that news before you. This news would have been to big for a small sprat like you.
Which is more problematic or carries a stiffer/heavier sentence? A broke man, A mad man, or a criminal who holds a Dominican citizenship seeking to serve his country or another man who has taken an oath in which he denounces his country of birth making a false claim that he bears no allegiance to a foreign country or power?
When I became a citizen of the US I did so by denouncing my allegiance to my country Dominica and to align myself with the US. In so doing I understood and takes very seriously that oath so much so that I will not seek to vote in any election in Dominica even if I were to travel at my own free will and expense far less present myself as a candidate. I know some readers of this blog will comment that I have no authority to comment here but I do because my mom and other relatives and friends still live there and YES, YES I do make a contribution to the economy.
All in all my comment on this issue is to say to my fellow Dominican voters, before you vote please examine your consciences and let honesty and integrity be your guide. Look at yourself in the mirror and have that conversation with yourself asking yourself whether you are the best you can be with the limited or almost zero opportunities you have or whether you can be much improved if you had more opportunities? At the end of the exercise, ask yourself where would you like to be in the next 5 years?
But if Labour Party winning 20 seats why does it matter if the three are not qualified? So shanks is now a mental doctor, a lawyer and a financial expert.
Is Shanks for real? Shanks, you forget that you were a worker? Hmmmmm. I always learnt “never burn your bridges.” You must regret what you put yourself in. Joshua Francis shall take Roseau South constituency, believe me. Shanks, I think you are due a visit to teh Psych ward. I hope is not on December 8, 2014. LOL.
I believe that come December 8th you are the one that will most likely visit the psych ward. (hee hee) Shanks will definitely prove you wrong !!!!
I believe that come December 8th you are the one that will most likely visit the psych ward. (hee hee) Shanks will definitely prove you wrong !!!!
All of this stuff is just Distractions Stay Focused UWP
I second that. Our minds are all made up already Shanks. You talking for others but you not saying that Spaggs will give you a nasty beating on the 8th.
If ” UWP is giving the assurance that all its candidates were properly nominated” and that is the team of jokers they come up with. Well awa weee…. All I see is a bunch of disgruntled with NO know how. If that the team UWP fine pick, best they wheel and come again in 2019. We voting LABOURRRRRRRRRR…….
poor you.
we? you voting Labour not me.
We voting Labour all the way.
What You saying/ Labour lose 2015 election and You waiting for 2019 to put them back? OKAY!
Di le bwa mwen ce Labour all the way.
@Views…Garson it seems you read a different column or didn’t understood what you read.
There was always thee feeling that this would have come, especially in the case against Danny Lugay. Hence it is either that the Electoral Commission is not doing its work (to allow the nomination of Mr. Lugay) or the comments by Mr. Esprit are out of touch. If the nomination paper states clearly that if you are facing criminal charges, you are not qualified to be a candidate, then there is some problems for Danny. Bankrupt and insane goes to the DLP for being bankrupt of ideas and the demonstration of insanity in good governance.
I was hoping that we could challenge the three candidates now, because I am sure with the madness that Skerrit is displaying we will not be in the house to challenge anything.
Dominicans don’t get carried away by this, Dr Fontaine’s case is a Civil case, and was filed for this purpose to confuse the electorate, this will not work. Let us remain focused and get rid of this dragon,once and for all we are a Christian nation and as such must be single minded in our prayers, as God is the only being who can get rid of the agents of the dragon.Vote the blue team we will be happy to get rid of massa the Ass, who is the man behind the scenes. We did not give him a mandate to conduct business in our country. Get them out.
Dominican politics is Oh so embarassing. Utter Rubbish i tell you. Rubbish!
Dear Mr Nicholls “Shanks Esprit”,
Why are you following the herd?
You are being used and abused. The puppet master laughed with every strike of the shovel during your speach.
Your late father, Mr Ellis Jno. Charles is turning in his cold grave.
Your father was a local politician, a decent, ethical man, with intergity, he NEVER followed the herd. He was his OWN man.
Garcon, although I do not know you, I have a request, PLEASE STOP FOLLOWING SHEEP.
Do not allow these people to use you, for their own self gratification. Concentrate on the local and national issues facing your constituents and our beautiful and precious land, Dominica.
Your elders and fellow “comrades” are leading you over the “Si nous mort” or “Pointe Canoute” precipice. And when you fall over, they will not throw you a lifeline, they will not support you, they will desert you.
You are in a very dangerous place right now. Rein it in and step back; for you have been chosen as the fall guy.
If you have not written the speech or approved it, do not read it! If you feel uncomfortable reading it, DO NOT READ IT!
Stand up and be a man!
Let’s just say that what this “Shanks” person is insinuating is true; then the entire electoral commission/committee should be fired. Allowing 3 candidates to be illegally nominated is quite serious in my books.
I am certain all the homework had to be done by the electoral commission before a nomination for any candidate was accepted…So pray tell; what nonsense is this DLP Shanks candidate speaking of?
Issues, give us de issues Mister Man. Tell me why we should vote for you and why you consider yourself to be the best candidate for the job and your party the best to lead Dominica; and enough with all the smoke and mirrors. I am proud to say that Dominicans are very smart and can quickly differentiate between facts and “pawol sort,” and with all due respect sir, this just sounds like a hot stinky load of “pawol sort.”
“SHOW ME YOUR COMPANY AND I’LL TELL WHO YOU ARE” has the proverb changed. Isn’t it the same SHANKS Esprit as a UWP senator who stood up in Parliament on numerous occasions and challenged the corrupt régime of the DLP cabal? Politics really makes strange bed fellows. Tell me SHANKS when were you born again and washed till you were whiter than snow? hummmmmm!; If you want to get rich too there are certainly many other ways and means; but please don’t sell your soul to the DLP political
SATAN.
He was born agian in the again winnig Labour party.
Public servants cannot get a raise but every weekend the head honchos of the DLP having lobster cookout… They living lavishly on your tax money, giving the illiterate ones little handout(RED CLINIC, WAR ON PIT TOILETS) LMAO…. so they can keep them right where they want them. Dominica is now known as the island that begs…. Stop being foolish my people and see the crooked agenda that being presented to you by that corrupted administration. If this man wins one more election I believe that you all with be stripped of your freedom and end up like Cuba, Venezuela and China. Dictatorship is in the works, remember i told you so. Even the USA is aware of what’s going on so don’t say i didn’t warn you. Be blessed my people and vote wisely. Don’t allow propaganda from the current administration to keep you from getting rid of that dictatorship in the making.
I smell a ratttttttt……… one thing skerro coming up with all kind of mess so he could steal the election once more…. Dominicans need to open their eyes, even Stevie Wonder could see past that chunk of cow feces….
The nomination paper also states clearly that if you are insane, you can not stand as a candidate for election. Well, well, well if that is the case, Skerrit and Austria most certainly can not stand…
You hear what the manifesto have to give for a whole year now. Can manifesto VOTE??? Best no plans are on paper, and not doing what you say you going to do. Jokers. D UWP doh have that kind of money you all have. DAT, POLICE WELFARE need all those %%%%%%ages, and what your party do, spend it lavishly. I hope you all will be able to eat the remnants. Go in peace.
You sound uneducated, foolish with not a peanut of common sense. I would stay off this media if I were you.
The media is not only for you.
Poor Shanks,
My brother I’ll be praying for u
pray for the three nominees he highlighted fool, rule of law is rule of law, shanks shock UWP. WAIT AND SEE.
@new kid on the block – Get thee hence!!!!!
Skerrit had case after case in court and he was untouchable – he still say no law no constitution can prevent him; he had land transfer he had villa she had bin bobool and still sat as PM; so precedence is bad thing it comes back to hunt us – so all you have no moral authority to say who qualify and who is not;
So I guess your PM is and has been playing by the ‘rule of law’ – correct? I won’t go any further because you got my point! smdh
So why you did not say that when they illegally place the president in office think before you talk please
it takes a fool to know a fool wipe and if that’s the case the same can be said about Jesus Skerrit. The one you all worship and glorify and do as if it wasnt for skerrit there wouldnt be a dominica chaaaa man
Shanks Esprit you must have overnight been graduated a psychiatrist for you to diagnose …… as mentally unstable. I would sue your royal … you labourites stretching the damn joke now. First your supremo say we have no manifesto now this…LIARS….How long? Not long …you first to loose your deposit
and Skerrit not adhereing to rule of Law? Think before you talk not because u support a party
Is Athenia Benjamin a Canadian citizen and is she owing allegiance to a foreign power or State? Just asking.
commonwealth.
well the question is not whether she is a Canadian citizen but rather did she obtain the citizenship by her own hands.
plus Canada is a Commonwealth state , so the citizenship question does not apply here
There in an exemption for Commonwealth countries, so Athenia Benjamin who has a Canadian passport would be eligible to contest election in Dominica…
Stuppesssssssss! Garbage!
Nothing of theirs is working so they are trying everything, lies and more lies our prayers are stronger God is in control you all cannot scare us. Change is a must. Psalm 27, ” the Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall i fear? No one God alone.
check my comment above pls
@new kid on the block – Get thee hence!!!!!
And also check my comment above pls.
that’s the thing with politics that kills me. there are two party’s and they have their own supporters. it doesn’t make sense bring down another person or party because of your views. these foolish comments should stop. stop sending words in directions and think of the country and what is needed. when supporters see these kinds of statements they sometimes wonder why they are with this party in the first place, i hate hearing all this. don’t use another party and bring it down just to feel proud and think you have more votes, that doesn’t make sense. come on people, we are better than this.
shut up…go and put your head in de earth like an ostrich…politics whether is locally, regionally or internationally has always been about mud-slinging…not that I agree with any mud-slinging….but don’t come on DNO and pretend like it’s only happening in Dominica.
I am beginning to get more and more disgusted with Dominica politics on both sides and comments that candidates’ would make on their political platforms. I am convinced that the “Code of Conduct” meant absolutely nothing, and was just a move to save face. There are two main political parties contesting the general election and none can’t rise above the bar and abstain from these attacks. Anyone with common sense would think that the only thing that matters to Dominicans is, bringing each other down at any cost to win an election. Is that what really matters to Dominicans? I am not hearing these guys focusing on the issues and what really matters to the country but sadly, they will win the election solely on these innuendoes. Sad times for my country – because we are often stuck in regressive modus operandi.
These kinds of behavior beg the reason why I argued that a third political party should have been in the running to give people like me another choice.
I need another choice too. Neither of these two parties deserve my vote.
you are certainly not listening to Team Dominica UWP because you would here that 96% of their campaign is about the plans to develop DA; the other 4% is their response to the DLP propaganda and untruths directly at Team DA- check it out one day BRO; it is just a simple shift of your radio dial from 93.1 or 88.1 to 95.1 and I guarantee you will be satisfied with the difference in quality and campaigning.
The Code of Conduct was concocted by Gabriel Malzaire.
Go and complain to him.
These are words of fear. Three constituencies that they realise the UWP will win.
‘Shanks’ are you insinuating that the electoral commission is insane and not qualified to supervise our upcoming elections?
@Partisan
That’s a DAMN good question, now let’s pose that Question to Lennox Linton!!!!
Is this a strategy of the DLP to persuade people not to vote for these gentlemen? The three named gentlemen may wish to consider legal action against Mr. Esprit
HAHAHAHAHA, Linto it don’t feel nice now eh, those were the things that you all did, and how is it not true? we all know Thompson is in court with the bank. Lugay has a court case with his foot he put in his mouth so how you can say that’s not true, only in DA a man can have these things against him and still run for office.
Real Possie – only in DA one can have a PM seating in Gov’t with so many cases of corruption against him. You need me to remind you -1). Villa’s; 2.) Land Transfer – he was made to pay back monies to the treasury – he did not go to court in other words he settled out of court; 3.) the bin bobool directed from his office – again he as head of the office – his Ministry was forced to get a refund paid back to the treasury; also the fertilizer bobool; it is only in DA that a PM can curse people who do not support him public and on national radio- ” it is not you damn business where labour part geting its money go to held;
Lets talk about Danny statement – no name called – so it is alleged – and he did apologize publicly – but what is so different from Lennox Lawrence statement “we will hunt down them down like how Obama is going after Bin Laden ” how did OBAMA go after Bin Laden – with drones and lethal weapons -oBAMA had all intentions of destroying AL Qadia and killing Binladen and that he did- so if Lennox Lawrence was advocating similar tactics he meant hunting and killing – was he arrested for threatening to kill not one but many? no? and why not? Lets go to the recent statement in Wesley when Skerrit said Wesley Labourites will be the one responsible for the blood shed in the streets if they should allow Lennox Linton and the Workers party to win — emmmh was he questioned and arrested just like DANNY LUGAY was? if not . why not? he publicly said that there will be blood shed if WORKERS WIN – obviously to make a bold public statement like that he had to know what and who would instigate the bLOOD SHED; so lets hear you call for justice on both side; but that is the kind of bias and the hypocrisy that exist among us.
Well they taking a leaf out of your god Skerritt’s book…”No law, No constitution…”
I’ll leave you to fill in the blanks.
nonsense
stop the talking Shanks and prove it to us on the nomination paper……..hmmmmm Dem man desperate
So you mean to tell me shanks already start going mad. Can’t you see these big guys are using you. I thought you were smarter than that Mr Esprit.
prove yourselves then
“Esprit told a DLP rally in St. Joseph last weekend that the nominations of Thomson Fontaine, Joshua Francis and Danny Lugay were illegal and they will be challenged”. What he did not say is, because we in the Labour party KNOW that these seats are going to the UWP at the coming elections
hahahahahahahahaha! Joshua Francis is a non-issue in Roseau South, although a much better opponent than the last guy the UWP tried to send
Ian Douglas learned his lesson, the vegetable we like to eat for breakfast that we refer to as cucum in our creole, learned its lesson too so the DLP Operatives found a new one in the person of Shanks, to make pay for his tongue.
What’s next?
I like these bashing atmosphere campaign without disrespect each other,respect eachother opinions no hatred and fighten.
I was listening to the DLP St. Joseph rally live and was shocked when I heard those statements from Shanks and the blank reasons he identified, though he was very careful not to say which one insane, bankrupt or had criminal charges against them. I was hoping Lennox Lawrence, who was one of the speakers and qualified attorney would shed some light or even strengthen Shanks statement; but he stayed very far from it. I listened to Ian Douglas who is a lawyer and was used in the past by the dlp operatives to do Skerrit’s dirty work but he too stayed very far from such thing. Then I listened to the man himself, the accuser of everyone, the man that has no control over his tongue to hear what he had to say about it since he promised to take on Arthie Martin. But he himself, Skerrit stayed very far from it. So they chose to use Shanks to make those claims since they know very well that he does not have a chance of winning his seat and might even lose his deposit to talk their nonsense. When I look at the three candidates Shanks and the DLP are accusing of challenging their nomination after December 8,2014, I took it as confirmation that the DLP agree that Grandfond, Roseau South and Roseau North are all far gone from the DLP and therefore they have to use the “Scare voters tactic” to see if it work. But they can try what they want they cannot stop the waive of change that is blowing through out the island.
Shanks …… He should ask Dr. Benjamin which of the current representatives that he treated for mental illness after the 2000 elections. Then he will know who is not validly nominated.
You mean Mr.Skerit used the small guns to make this statements,Mr.Skerit used such statements to bash Miss Monelle it make sense to me, now Mr.Skerit trying to be more professionalism politician. I always say politics is a game and some folks failed to realize it.
Boy stop calling the lady name. After such tremor she needs her rest. Nobody bash her ask for the facts!
Garzon…it seems you read a different column or didn’t understood what you read.
Thomson Fontaine, Joshua Francis and Danny Lugay were illegal and they will be challenged? Are these the candidates you guys are afraid of because they have solid positions in their constituency? I see an attempt to put more fear in the electorate again a breach of the elections code of conduct..
Oh my God how far are these people willing to stoop. Illegal nomination, People please stop it.
So one is broke, one is mad, and the other is a criminal? Welcome to the show, folks!
which big guns..by the look on the pm face during the time esprit made the statement,he knew nothing about it… lennox u will never be prime minister of dominica unless pm skerrit decides to step down… i waiting to hear and see d manifesto…jokers
You are the joker, the problem with you haters is that you can not step in Lennox’s shoes. If you have to face a crowd you will stammer and shit on yourself becasue you are a dotish, you have no common sense. go get an education.
@Praying Hands
I was not going to comment but when you said “go get an education.” and you said it in the same statement defending Lennox Linton i just had to LMFAO
Who did you say is the “Joker”?????
Well if it’s not you surely you gave me a good laugh, THANK YOU!!!!
That attack on TR Massive is unnecessary.
@praying hands…we all know education is important but not everyone meant to be educated, achievements wisdom,commonsense these are important as well in life, I know some high educated people are losers and I know some people without education are successful in life special in Dominica and they create jobs for some people who are educated.
@praying hands. ..we all know education is important but not everyone meant to be educated, achievements, wisdom, commonsense are important as well in life, I know some high educated people they are losers and I know some people without an education are successful in life special in Dominica and create jobs for some people who are educated, respect each other opinions.
shanks don’t make politics make an of yourself. these are the seats that have you guys shaking in you boots and trust me these seats are going in uwp favor. all you can bring down as many people as you can but uwp still wining. i can see lots of people getting diarrhea. We await patiently. How long? Not long…I myself cannot wait
There are those who are not mentally ill but Benjamin has had to council them anyway