The National Trade Union Centre of Trinidad and Tobago (NATUC) has expressed its solidarity with and support for the Dominican trade unions with regard to their ‘No reform, No Election’ position in response to Prime Minister Skerrit’s announcement of a snap general election on December 6, 2022.
The full NATUC statement is posted below.
The National Trade Union Centre of Trinidad and Tobago (NATUC) is deeply concerned at reports coming from the Caribbean Congress of Labour (CCL) and their affiliated unions in Dominica, that the Prime Minister of Dominica, the Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit, has announced plans to hold a snap general election in Dominica on December 6, 2022.
NATUC states in a release, “It is the view of NATUC that while the global economy is still reeling from the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic, that this is no time for any Caribbean country to be thinking of calling snap elections.”
The release continues, “Research has found that the pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on low-income countries and people with low incomes across all countries. it is the humble view of NATUC that the calling of snap elections in Dominica at this time, is insensitive and prejudicial and not in the best interest of the citizens of Dominica.”
The Centre points out in its release that the Covid-19 pandemic impacted all social strata, affecting industry, manufacturing, tourism, labour, and education and moreso, in the Caribbean .
Further, the Centre refers to the process of electoral reform for Dominica which is now being undertaken and .
According to the CCJs report, Section 77, “moreover without such free and fair elections, the preambular value of the creation and maintenance of and respect for lawfully constituted authority would be fatally undermined. The consequences of such a denial, that a reflection on Caribbean history demonstrates include, loss of legitimacy, public unrest and even revolt. In contemporary terms free and fair elections are so fundamental to the democratic way of life, that without it the very legitimacy and sovereignty of the constitutional state is brought into question – consisted as is by, ‘the People of Dominica’.
Consistent with this expressed view and the widespread support for electoral reform, the Dominica Public Service Union believes that a snap election is not in the best interest of Dominica and the citizenry of Dominica.
Further the fact that the citizens of Dominica are seeking to include trade unions, private sector, civil society, and the wider citizenry in Dominica, to support and call attention to the need for electoral reform before any general elections are held, should not be discouraged, since such efforts are conducive to a healthy democracy.
In this regard it is worth reminding ourselves: “The will of People shall be the basis of the authority (legitimacy) of government’ – We call on the government of Dominica to let good sense prevail and to seek to correct all the issues in the affected areas before the calling of any elections. We want to advise the honourable Prime Minister that being a “Prime Minister” does not give him absolute power
to do what he wants and when he wants. The use of political office must be used judiciously and with common sense to the advancement and upliftment of the people of Dominica.
Remember, the voice of the people is the voice of God, and we must be guided by the God fearing principles of love, empathy and impartiality when making decisions that will affect the citizenry of the country.
Dominica is now being controlled by a dictator even the other Caribbean islands can see that. The dictator wants to be ruler for life where he sets the agenda and dictates when his “elections’ can be held. He does not want election reform because he is a dictator. It is time for the United Nations to send a team to Dominica to see what he is doing and arrest him and put him on trial like what is done to other despots before he has a chance to flee with all the peoples money.
I hope this Trinidad union will see the difference in numbers between the electoral reform meeting ,and the launching of DLP Cassani Laville.Then ,and then they should talk about citizenry.The Dominican citizenry is not IN- TER- RES – TED in electoral reform.Do like the Clown ask the people questions and get answers.The general secretary of DPSU is a known supporter of UWP(not the union)
This is not your business, there is enough dirty business in Trinidad to occupy your time. You have aligned yourself with the opposition forces in Dominica in order to gain relevance.
We are all one family. We share the same history, the same space, and belong to the same organization that binds us together. The outside world sees us as one unit. We travel, work and live in one another’s state.
Trinidad and the other members of CARICOM should care. When we sneeze in one member state the whole of CARICOM becomes infected. Dominica is now the errand child in CARICOM. It should be expelled if it doesn’t conform to democratic principles the other members adhere to. There should be no tolerance for pariah members.
Well there we go. Everybody apart from Skerrit and his Cabal thinks that this snap election is wrong in particular in the absence of the promised electoral reform. Skerrit, somehow you managed to fool Dominicans and by extension the international community. Your luck has finally run out. The best and most honourable way would be for you to resign forthwith. Then again, the word honourable doesn’t exist in your vocabulary. If you were a clear thinker, you would start thinking about your family now…!
Keep the hell out of our country affairs it is none of you all business, Trinidad National Trade union I was told by a Trinidadian friend that lot is rotten to the core.
Stop barking, mad dog. Mash!
You and your usual cow patties. Learn to read you 73 year old menace to society. If you and your ghost writer have a falling-out, your comments on this news site will abruptly stop. Can you differentiate between a ‘d’ and a ‘b’? Seriously doubt this.
At dog bite you.. Did you say “our country”? Shame on you DOG. If you allow things to go on inside your house as you favor the things that the labor people do…well your house is a den of thieves and dirty. Dominica doesn’t want or need you. You are a traitor. Get the hell out of Dominica. You are an A…Hole.
I try to respect DNO at all times.Who this ahole union calling citizenry,citizenry is the majority and the majority is with Skerrit and the Labour party.And what union,everybody know the general secretary of DPSU has been a supporter of the opposition for years.In September 2021 the government raised security minimum wage to $8 an hour.More than one year later his security company is still paying security $5.The Minister of National Security did nothing about it.And the Jacka talking about solidarity.Solidarity for the union to keep the poor man poor.
You are a very sick clown, you fit very well in your Masters red circus. Be careful, you are about to run out of road.