Among matters discussed at a 35th Annual Conference of Regional Commonwealth Parliamentary Association held in Trinidad recently is the need for an improved parliamentary process and an office for the leader of the Opposition.
That is according to Parliamentary Representative for the Salisbury Constituency and Opposition Leader Hector John who attended the function.
He told the media at a press conference yesterday that better conditions are required to enable the Opposition to effectively represent Dominicans in parliament.
“Three main areas I think that were raised in Trinidad that were tailor made for Dominica. .. and our thriving democracy…our parliamentary process, to improve it. We looked at a library for parliamentarians where proper research can be done to ensure that our parliamentarians can go into the house and make meaningful representation on whatever is being discussed in the house,” he stated.
“Another area of concern that was raised is the office for the leader of the Opposition. In Dominica and I think Montserrat only in the Caribbean, does not have an office … staff and paid for by the coffers of the government of Dominica. We need an office for the leader of the opposition and we will be pushing forward for that. It’s important,” he said.
John is convinced that this office should be manned with proper staffing to ensure that the leader of the Opposition can make his or her effective contribution on behalf of the people. “It does not matter who is the holder of that office,” he said.
Parliamentary Representative for the Roseau Central constituency Norris Prevost also attended the conference.
John stated that he and Prevost also discussed the past challenges faced by the opposition in Parliament.
“We also raised our concerns about the challenges that we have here as the Opposition to make our contribution in the house and how we were particularly kicked out of parliament because of our continued protest.
John reported that he and Prevost had also engaged in a live radio broadcast in Trinidad to voice such concerns.
@advice: Why are they not asking for thing to improve their constituency what are they going to do in the office i would like to know.
My people, the Government is not helping the opposition by giving them an office. It should be a right of the opposition leader to have an office. I am wondering how everyone is looking at the situation in Dominica where we seem to think that opposition is not needed. I do hope that nothing will ever happen in Dominica for us to see the importance of opposition in a democracy. Come on my people, think about what you are doing by trying to make opposition extinct. Be objective as people, and stop being absolutely loyal to man. The precedent we set is not about the individuals who are there at present. The opposition leader of any country should have his office and make his contribution to major decision. Anything money the government spends is not theirs it’s yours all of you so if you won’t view it that way, then you will always think that these men and women are do something to help you instead of you putting them their and making them what they are in terms of positions. Show the world that we are an intelligent people who knows what the real issues are. Politicians work for the people and sometimes they behave like it’s the other way around because we allow them to believe they are God’s when we put them in office. Even our children are rubbed when we won’t see negative things the engage in and correct them to make them better men and women. Please be objective my people
@francis francis chicago il:
has there been any good to oppose??????
u.w.p. party team is to radical to represent any party.
@GOOD: I thought the opposition was all about against the government of Dominica, everything DLP did was a problem, why do they want the government to help them when they hate the Prime Minister? I just dont get it.
If they can spend money to pay lawyers from Trinidad then that same money could be used to rent a building to conduct their affairs.
@ Chief:
I was also taken aback by that thriving democracy statement. You’ve said it all. These guys also said that they were not members of the House of Assembly since they had not taken the Oath of Office but they proudly assume the title of Leader of the Opposition even before the Oath and even represent that office overseas.
Having said that, I do agree that the Leader of the Opposition (Minority Party) needs an office and transportation. But who needs a library when there is the world wide web? Only school kids need libraries to encourage reading.
They want, they want, they want, but they duh want the red clinic that helping the poor. They want office and staff, bondieu oh, opposition duh have backers to mann and sta their office nuh. It have to come from Spraggs salary and Eddison and whoever they appoint, is so it stay.
So where de money to come from to pay from all dey want. People look tax UWP want for Dominicans.
opposition leader mr. hec you oppos the good the bad and the ugly so you don’t know where you stand.
i love the trueth my sister jackie smith.
Chavez wants the whole sea.
http://www.as-coa.org/articles/2582/Venezuelas_Caribbean_Spats/
Hector is not capable of leading absolutely nothing!!!! Trinidad??????? wat a waste!!!!!!!Hector are you blind? cant you see UWP is dead!!! why did Edison and Ron step down as leaders? if they were retired fine BUT they are not…..to me that’s a sign of weakness in your party. T&T…talk and travel…..
Oh boy, more taxes on the Dominicans head. And after we pay for an office for the opposition they might end up walking out of parliament more often than not, or don’t attend all together.
This is an exact quote from Mr. John, “Three main areas I think that were raised in Trinidad that were tailor made for Dominica. .. AND OUR THRIVING DEMOCRACY…(Capitalization mine). Wasn’t his party bawling after the election that the results were stolen, that Dominica was becoming a one party state and so on. Then all of a sudden our democracy is thriving? Hahahahahaha. Make up your mind Mr. John.
DNO just need to inform that also at that conference was a youth parliamentary debate among young people in the Caribbean region. Dominica was represented at the Youth Parliamentary Debate in Trinidad and Tobago by Kaidie Williams, the winner of the Youth Mock Parliament which was held in Dominica earlier this year.
The youths of the region in addition to debating met in a social forum with the New Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago
he attend in trinidad , can not represent his constituency want to be leader.
Dominica should have never become a republic and the only thing that has kept Her from becoming a dictatorship is the OECS. Wonder why small time dictators never mess with the rest of the OECS territories, all they need is one nasty look from the Queen (Head of State) and they run like scared little boys in their diapers. Lest we forget Bird Island.
I will admit that some of the things mentioned in the article are of significance. Each has it’s own level of importance, and I am sure, level of priority as far as the Government is concerned.
I must ask this — If for some reason the Government makes no move towards ensuring that the Opposition has an appropriate, fully functional office, with staff members and such luxuries, will the Opposition never make a move towards establishing an office for themselves?
If, as they say, it is the responsibility of the Government to set this up, then in the mean time, the Opposition could find an establishment and start working towards getting the Government’s assistance in the form of initiatives such as stating that starting capital would come from the Opposition and the Government could add the rest and establish secure employment for the people who would work there.
More jobs for Dominicans regardless of who they work for.
Somebody has to be the bigger man here. I see very little examples of informed decisions, discretion, transparency and maturity in our political arena. It sad.
I hate that name opposition.can we be the one to change this name to minority party or anything?this is why our politics got so much hatered because you got to oppose even when good things happening
Mr John to be an effective leader of the opposition needs none of the things you’re recommending, These things which you are alluding to are the least of the mater in making you an effective Opposition Leader. You’re thrust into something of a position which you know nothing about, relax your self, get your composure and start thinking of ways as to what leadership means and the things it takes to be an effective leader and not just bearing a title or name Leader of the Opposition and opposing for opposing sake, asking for things, it is not what this is about.
it is time you and your Party get to work, drop the “egos” and the bitterness which as a result polarized the country never seem before, that is not what is needed in the country. Let us hope that you being at the helm will bring something different to the Parliament, remember a statesman is he who thinks in the future generations, and a politician is he who thinks in the upcoming elections, the later has passed let us move on.
I think that was a bad move.
This is one time I will agree with you sir.
Bad as everyone would say PJ was in the 1970s Ms. Charles had her Office in d Ministry as Leader of the Opposition. She had her secretary who was a civil servant just like the other civil servants that working in d ministry.
After Ms. Charles won the 1980 election there was no opposition leader since the two independent men and the two DEMLAB men could not come to an agreement for four and a half years. So Mr. Timothy , Mr. Joseph, Ms. Didier and Mr. Henry were appointed Senators.
After the 1985 elections the issue of office for Leader of the Opposition died again!!! ” I will not allow Patrick John to be heard by the rest of the World” No live broadcast. Mike and the others protested and were denied salary for two months when they boycotted Parliament on the issue of live broadcast. So PJ and Mike were punished by the Dame while all that time Judith was casting a blind eye!!!! For over 10 years.
Fast forward the year 2000 and Mr. James made the observation when he saw what attains in St. Vincent. James, Williams, and Green never had the Office functioning but may have been paid the appropriate salary for doing less work than was expected.
Mr. John should have his office, a vehicle, telephone, internet, first aid kit, A/C unit, a single bed to rest when he needs to stay up all night working and canteen supplies. To cut a long story short , provisions should be made in the budget for that Office.
Check de man head…. he deserve to be head of the country
@Hugo Grotius: In this 21st. century, you find it a problem if one wants FREE and FAIR elections with proper Voter ID cards to make the work of the Electoral Commission easier? You do not want equal access to the national radio station? You hate the idea of cleaning the Voters list, 67000 names on a voters list in a population of 69000? Ridiculous. You like laws to be broken? No respect for the anti-bribery laws/ What kind of Dominica do you want to live in? The dictators of Haiti never believed in FREE and FAIR elections. They continually stole elections by doing all kinds of illegal and irregular acts. many persons supported them. What is Haiti’s situation now, apart from the earthquake? What kind of Haiti do you have now? Their actions still have a debilitating impact on people’s livelihoods. Where did the $20 plus million come from for the 2009 elections? Is not our D++++ business? The opposition are Dominicans too? You all bawling for opposition in Parliament, but refuse to even listen to the people’s concerns they represent, much less to agree to take them and their good advice on board in our National development. Just crocodile tears about ‘Let’s work together.’ Not one idea or advice is good to be listened to? Everything those guys say are wrong or against the country moving forward? All knowledge lies in your DLP politicians and party and everybody else should shut up?
You all want office, u all want ID cards, u all want free & fair elections, u all want, u all want, u all want too many things, everything u all want costs money, WHERE will it COME FROM, u want he Govt to tax the people more.
Wish this will at least prompt the PM to take some actions re your concerns,but when you are dealing with an arrogant leader as this man,you can expect anything..