UWP going back to parliament

UWP Member of Parliament Norris Prevost carries a cross during UWP's boycott of parliament last year

The opposition United Workers Party (UWP) has confirmed that it is returning to the country’s parliament, ending more than two years of boycotting the House of Assembly.

“Yes we are going back to parliament, we will be participating fully,” Opposition Leader Hector John told Dominica News Online while explaining that the UWP still has concerns about the alleged biasness of Speaker Alix Boyd-Knights, but would attempt to make a constructive contribution despite this.

According to John the Speaker has already angered the opposition ahead of the coming sitting of the House, by deleting a part of one of the questions the UWP wants answered by the government.

He has defended the now ending boycott that saw UWP parliamentarians making brief appearances occasionally, suggesting that the party’s handful of MPs were able to draw attention in other forums to their concerns that include a lack of electoral reform.

John has denied that staying away from the house for more than two years was largely a waste of time.

Opposition Leader Hector John

“We have been out there doing our work,” he said in defence of the boycott.

“We will do everything within the law to get our message across,” John said of the strategy the party will employ to try to effectively make its case in the parliament.

He has called on the Speaker to stop being a “stumbling block” in the way of the UWP doing the business of its constituents in the House.

Hector John says he will be taking his role as opposition leader seriously, and won’t be unduly put off by the fact that the party’s political leader, Edison James will also be in the House alongside him.

“I am going to be a leader who is going to learn,” he told DNO.

THE INTERVIEW WITH OPPOSITION LEADER HECTOR JOHN CAN BE HEARD BY CLICKING ON THE ICON BELOW:

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46 Comments

  1. February 15, 2012

    They are not stupid they are only blind to the fact that Mr PREVOS is leading there party to the grave o my God how could they not see that; Why don’t you guys just give it up,i feel sorry for uwp supporters your three [3] leaders has no vision, DOMINICAN open your eyes

  2. Law and order
    February 14, 2012

    Is Prevose KKK, what is it with the cross.Cretin nations more likely.

  3. KENNETH GUSSIE
    February 14, 2012

    Plese stop this,thou shall not call God name in vain.

  4. want to know
    February 14, 2012

    What am i hearing there nah? I AM GOING TO BE A LEADER WHO IS GOING TO LEARN.John where were you all the time? Eddision James had to be the leader of the party for you to realize that after two years given an oppertunity to prove yourself you waisting your time outside there now u want to learn.Staying out of parliament was not a waiste of time you were out there doing your work thats what you said but why then do you want to return?Do you all realize now that the Election was fair and skerite is now duly elected as prime minister are you all accept defeat in the court? So you all are not going to appeal anymore , one thing i know is a real man will always stand on his word so now going back to paliament is like a dog vomiting what it just eat and return to it again. You all realize that your people’s parliament was a joke and your conscience tell you that its robbery to accept pay every month for two years without a strok of work,well well well you loose again.But after saying all of that I say welcome backn to the house cause for true spags you need to learn from Skerrit,pliz pay attention and learn well and at the end if you do well you’ll get a degree.

  5. jokers
    February 14, 2012

    These are a bunch of jokers in the pack of UWP cards they will go no where once they continue to have these unreliable men as leaders how do they intend to win an election with that dont care attitdue the people of your constituency voted them to respresent them in the house of the assembly and all they did was waste Dominicans time and money

    • happy
      February 15, 2012

      laughable!!!! wa mama what is wrong with those people there???? and whats up with the cross? all you have joke boy!!!! im sure the world is laughing!!! wonders will never end…

  6. Adult ED
    February 14, 2012

    UWP do well to return to parliament. However if UWP is intent on returning with the same attitude of blaming the speaker because they have very little knowledge on Parliament decorum and are uninformed about the issues of the state then they will be just as ineffective like when they were out of parliament. UWP stop just slandering and present the people with a viable and superior alternative if you are so not in favour with the present government. Until then you will never be considered the people’s choice! Note, saying no to Dominica and China diplomatic relationship is not the way to go!Prevost we do not need you to overexert yourself by carring our cross but rather show leadership and be productive rather than destructive to Dominica and Dominicans!

  7. February 14, 2012

    ha,ha only now they realise that the Strategy was foolish,so irresposible behavoir and immature tactics,,,anyway hope they behave themselves inn the House

  8. KAISO FAN
    February 14, 2012

    PREVOST CARRYING UWP CROSS

    • DANZIGER
      February 14, 2012

      This is the cross where they first saw the light but unfortunatley the cross came back at them it states MOCKERY ,wasted years, lost upportunities and more.

  9. Nkrumah Kwame
    February 14, 2012

    Dear mr. James and the UWP:
    Sirs, you slow on the draw!Now alone all you decide to do dat?You certainly vacillating in your position. Right thinking citizens have been asking for this from day one.

    However, to quote Adolph Hitler, “al propaganda has to be popular and has to adapt its spiritual level to the perception of the least intelligent of those towards whom it intends to direct itself.”

  10. DA Lover
    February 14, 2012

    What did they accomplish by wasting our vote and voice for 2 yrs. Hector thinks he is the captain of a soccer team and he is just hanging with his boys. My friend this is the real world so be a voice for the people and stop this childsplay.

  11. Anonymous
    February 14, 2012

    Tiny what happen everything that is done in America must be done in Dominica, please !!!!! We are a chritian nation. American have taken God out of everything should we too ?

    • tiny
      February 14, 2012

      ok i should lot have made that comment….i just hope things that it do not become that way in dominica

  12. Gee
    February 14, 2012

    **FINALLY***

    IT’S A STEP CLOSER TO BE A REAL OPPOSITION PARTY!!!!!

  13. Gangsta
    February 14, 2012

    “I am going to be a leader who is going to learn,” he told DNO.

    Whatever that means….. :-? :?: :?:

  14. .............
    February 14, 2012

    :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

  15. Satelite
    February 14, 2012

    Is something wrong here. I may have misunderstood. Isn’t Eddison James the leader of the party which in truth is the appointed “Opposition Leader”. So how comes John is now saying he will be taking his role as opposition leader seriously? What is really going there?

    • Go do your homework
      February 14, 2012

      The Opposition Leader and the leader of a political party are 2 different positions, but can be held by the same person. In this case, Edison James is the leader of the UWP as he replaced Ron Green recently and Hector John is the Opposition Leader. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. In the case of St Kitts/Nevis, Mark Brantley is the leader of the opposition and a member of the CCM while the leader of the CCM is Vance Amory. Hope this clarifies any misunderstanding that you may have.

    • happy
      February 15, 2012

      all of them want to be the leader of one party that is why they cant take wise move!!! so im i crazy to vote them in???? never happen….

  16. as I see it
    February 14, 2012

    WEY!WEY! WEY! Now I see its TRUE. UWP really do like Mr. Green. As soon as he was booted out they back in the house. All the time they had him in the yard. They doh tired do things to Mr. Green?
    1. He alone that declre his assets.
    2. They make him launch a manifesto knowing full well that there was no hard copy. Up till today no one can see it.
    3. They make him take Peter to court while he is in the very same position. What weezib that? Even though I do like Pepper, I do think any body would do that to him. He too mody.
    My advice Mr. Green DO FOLLOW THEM FELLAS THEY DO LIKE YOU>

  17. Dominican for sure
    February 14, 2012

    Like as if you guys had a choice. One last mistake to correct is to replace sprags as opposition leader with Mr. James. You’ll are thinking it already anyways. :-D

  18. Anonymous
    February 14, 2012

    I agree. Go back to parliament and raise hell. Let the Dominican public hear what you have to say. And not only electoral reform, but issues pertaining to increased crime, lack of sustainable employment, transparency in the service etc.. Speak for all Dominicans who have no voice or are afraid to speak. Let people become more accountable for their actions.

  19. The truth
    February 14, 2012

    it is about time we have had a working opposition in this country. finally. now we can know exactly what is being discussed and what they doing to fight for the people of dominica. i hope they learn a valuable lesson.

  20. HOPE!!!
    February 14, 2012

    Prevost has aged!!

  21. tiny
    February 14, 2012

    Funny ..a government minister can’t be seen holding a cross while protesting government polocies/strife in America…ther would be an outcry from alot of people for this act

    • so_silly
      February 14, 2012

      tiny this is dominica not america

  22. THE GREAT
    February 14, 2012

    THINK ABOUT IT FOR A SECOND.EDDISON JAMES COMES BACK AS HEAD OF THE UWP AND THEY R GOIN BACK TO PARLIAMENT.Y COULD HE NOT ADVISE RON AND HECTOR TO MAKE THE SAME MOVE 2 YRS AGO?IS EDDISON JAMES A MANUPULATOR?DOES HE HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF MANIPULATING PERSONS IN HIS PARTY?

    • Anonymous
      February 14, 2012

      i was about to make that same point…………..the answer is he did not want any one to lead him ha ha ha John wise up my brother and give facebook a break pls

    • DANZIGER
      February 14, 2012

      This is my party im the boss im in charge.

  23. Time will tell!!
    February 14, 2012

    Yes you are so right,what they have to know is that Dominica is a small island, and will be surrounded by wolves, don’t think that they are helping DA? without some thing in the head, that’s not the days of E.O LEBLANC, Eugenia, Edward Scobie,Loblack,Labad,thoes were the days when DA? people eyes were open,right now it’s a new generation with new comming out, regardless to the price we may have to pay tomorrow!!!!

  24. Anonymous
    February 14, 2012

    That is a good decision, now go in there and ask the hard questions to these jokers. Debate the laws being passed.

    • Anonymous
      February 14, 2012

      who have been the jokers

      • Anonymous
        February 15, 2012

        the prime minister has been the joker….called a bi-election which he thought he would have won and refusal to debate the issues….have you ever tried debating issues with your prime minister??? the guy cant take the pressure of questions

  25. Hold up!
    February 14, 2012

    Enlighten me. Wasnt Eddison made Party leader and Opposition Leader at the last Delegates meeting? Ebben weh!

    • hmmm
      February 14, 2012

      you are wrong and stupid. He couldnt have been made opposition leader at a delegates conference.

  26. Anonymous
    February 14, 2012

    Good going guys, Let’s see If the old speaker has been fixed…lol

  27. Real Patriot
    February 14, 2012

    Finally, the UWP has seen the error of their ways and are ready to take up their responsibilities of representing the people who elected them. It is about time! I hope that they can rise to the challenge and do their best to be respectful of the House. Hopefully they can disagree, without being disagreeable.

  28. tiny
    February 14, 2012

    John maybe you should make a few changes…the human mind is a funny thing…that word group thinking….personally I don’t see anytthing wrong with you being on fb…but it seems like these group thinkers aremade to believe that you deserbe less rezpect because off that…I can go on but …..

    • Shameless
      February 14, 2012

      Facebook is part of the new information age that all must embrace including politicians. Stop being a cunoomoonoou and get on with the program

  29. Lougaoo Mem
    February 14, 2012

    That’s the right thing to do. The message is sent, now get down to the people’s business. I am confident that even the hard core Labourites know very well, that their corrupt politicians are on the wrong tracks, and is about to derail the train
    in the valley of no return. Certainly, now is the time for all D/cans to join together as one people, and get the country back on tracks by getting rid of all those who got us in this mess. We can maintain good relationship with China, Venezuela and the outside world without compromising our identity, our rights and country for kickbacks and self interests. Don’t be Red, Dread and not well fed!

    • TOO
      February 14, 2012

      and u should stop being BLUE

      • Lougaoo Mem
        February 14, 2012

        Really? You don’t know me. I am the Red, White Blue and Purple. Hahaha,Hehehe!

  30. POSITIVELY DOMINICAN
    February 14, 2012

    Where is the icon??????

  31. ann
    February 14, 2012

    These people have too much time on their Hands! STUPES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    LABOUR going to win again!!!! Hate it or love it!This time all 21 constituences! LOL,weak opposition

    All you cannot run country,what a waste! stupes

  32. yeah
    February 14, 2012

    hmmmm here they go again, same old again :lol:

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