United Workers Party leader, Lennox Linton, is asking Dominicans, Grand Fond electors in particular, to join him in a visit to the Electoral Commission this afternoon “to seek answers” with regard to the results of the December 8 general election.
“There are a number of questions that the electoral commission must answer now about the conduct of the election in the Grand Fond, Morne Jaune, Riviere Cyrique Constituency and why are things the way they are right now,” Linton stated on privately owned Q95 FM Thursday night.
“And so sometime in the afternoon I am going to be paying a visit to the Electoral Commission because I want answers to these questions that I am asking, and I am asking the people of Dominica especially the people from Grand Fond who are incensed about this, who are like me want answers. I am asking them to join me at the Electoral Commission office at 2.30 pm.” he said.
The UWP’s leader is also calling on members of the Electoral Commission to “make yourselves available to talk to us the people of Dominica who have some serious concerns about how this election was conducted,” more particularly in the Grand Fond, Morne Jaune and Riviere Cyrique constituency.
He said answers are needed since all the officers around the island who work in various areas in the Election Process received the same training, and they cannot be doing the job of anything else besides what they are supposed to do.
“For example if you are a Returning Officer or an Election Clerk you cannot act as either a Presiding Officer or a Poll Clerk,” he pointed out.
This week the Electoral Commission confirmed that Ivor Stephenson of the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) beat his rival Thompson Fontaine of the United Workers Party (UWP) by 8 votes in the just concluded general election. According to the final count Stephenson got 622 votes while Fontaine received 614.
The matter has generated much controversy after lawyers for Fontaine questioned decisions to reject ballots cast for him which were deemed “legitimate” but were rejected by the returning and assistant returning officer, and from the look of things, the matter could head for the court.
Meantime, the Linton says his party intends to turn up the heat on the ruling DLP for the implementation of electoral reform.
“We want it there and no more excuses,” Linton said. “You cannot tell me it will happen next year or the year after, we want free and fair elections now; we want a plan on the table when you go to parliament for the first time, to say this is the time frame in which we have agreed with the Electoral Commission that all the systems will be in place for us to have a clean list, for us to have id cards for voting for us to have all the legislative amendments that is necessary for us to have re-registration of voters, whatever we need.”
He said the people are the ones who will be monitoring the process and “If a week passes and something is supposed to be done is not done we will be on the streets to remind the authorities what was supposed to happen,” a tough talking Linton pointed out.
“This has come to the point where we have to take it in hand; we the people must decide what we want, what we want our government to be doing and facilitating and hold their feet to the fire until it happens. Because that’s our role,” he said.
The DLP won 15 seats and the UWP 6 in the December 8th general election.
Sir, as an elected member of the Dominican Parliament I will refer to you as Honorable Linton. I have some serious concerns about your lack of respect for the rule of Law and protocol. You seem to be a renegade, a maverick, always wanting to do things your way;YOUR WAY! Not the right way. I do not think you have the intellectual capacity to be leader of a Domino team much less my country. Allow me to use this latest march to the office of the Electoral Office as the example, I have about five dozen more examples but I wish to be short. You were NOT in Grandfond, the information you have therefore is hearsay. You have not secured statements from witnesses, especially those working for Fontaine at the Polling Stations and those who were present during the recounting of the Ballots. Failing to secure the above, you have nothing to present or ask of the Electoral Commission Honorable Linton. You have failed to file an official written complaint to the commission seeking an audience with the commission, but you show your lack of leadership by going out on the street and demanding that the Commission meet with you ans a thug group of blue as if you are the Court of Law in this land. Dont you have advisors? If you do, did not discuss this with them? If you did, was that the advise they gave? If yes, get rid of them all. Any issue with counting of Ballots, actions of Returning Officers etc must be documented and presented to the Commission for an investigation and you are also free to take the matter of the Grand Fond seat to the Court of Law. I just do not see you sir being Prime Minister of Dominica simply because you speak about Rule of Law but you do not show any respect for that Rule of Law. I hope your party is aware that with you they will remain in opposition forever. Hon Linton Leadership is everything and you sir don not have an ounce of it.
It is time Thule clean voters list issue be decided by the courts . Labour Party win fair and and your rule will jot be questioned.
Mi deba oh Paye papa. Cry baby cry until one day you will borrow tears to shed when all will dry. The Elections was FREE AND FAIR cuz you all took away 3 off our seats yet you COMPLAIN. MIND humm.
MR Linton and his supporters are living in Cloud Cuckoo Land and believe
me they will be there for a Looooooooong time .
Clearly, Mr. Linton seems to be confusing ‘UWP supporters’ with ‘the people of Dominica,. He is talking on behalf of those who voted to ‘earn’ the UWP 6 of 21 possible seats and not for the over whelming majority of dominicans who voted for the 15 of 21 possible seats.
If Mr. Linton, his colleagues and supporters want to be asking questions about ‘DEMOCRACY in DOMINICA’. may I humbly suggest they ask questions regarding the ‘FIRST PAST THE POST SYSTEM’ that he, his colleagues and supporters subscribe to.
EITHER WAY YOU LOSE. LICK YOUR WOUNDS AND MOVE ON OR BETTER STILL MOVE OUT AS YOU’VE GOTTEN IT WRONG YET AGAIN.
Linton, the Electoral Commission has already spoken. Stephenson won in that riding. If you need E.C. to respond to you, why do you not write the authority of the Commission and wait for a reply? Handle this diplomatically. You have not done so.
The first decision of yours is to demonstrate and get your supporters to do likewise. Is this the manner in which you act?
Under this circumstance, during a demonstration, you should not expect the Electoral Commission to respond to you nor the DLP. There are ways of handling this and seeking answers but not through a demonstration. Furthermore, it appears that you and Fontaine will be seeking Court action. Therefore, do not expect the E.C. or DLP to respond.
When the DLP government assumes its duty, you should not expect this concern to be addressed immediately. Election is five years away. At the moment, there are more pressing matters for the PM to address.
Have patience, Linton. Patience is a virtue. One of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit is patience. Do you not possess it? If not, pray to God for this godly gift and virtue.
Linton please go and than the people who voted for you, and your party then decide how to be a good representation in parliament, you were not going to win the election, but you made great inroads and Dominicans want to give the UWP a opportunity to be the government in waiting. Given time life sorts things out, so chill, and continue to be a strong opposition the good team is still needed by Dominica.
Call it nah! Call it nah! now they call it and u win and someone lose u mad
my advise is stop inciting trouble and work with the Administration ,show the people
u can lead and then u will run on ur record,,,,,But u look bad Mr Linton crying crying
what if u had loose Take ur losss like a man
It is clear to see Skerrit has not just adopted this habbit .We can look back as far a Piere Charles when he was PM to now this .Keep watching because the higher the monkey climbs the more he exposes himself. Wait we will see who the monkey is real soon. Lol
This is leadership, making a stand and not accepting injustice. Every time there is injustice in Dominica UWP will make a stand and there support will grow . More Dominican will want to associate with UWP because they make a stand on behalf of the people in Dominica.
Relax Mr. Linton, let bring back tranquility in the land. The man lost let him loose gracefully not. Putting to much division in the place. Who is the opposition leader. I hope is Hector JOhn. my parl rep
Bodie election finish I suspect them partners going to do the same thing again walking out of parliament. PM change the law and let them get no payment from my tax money for not attending the house.
The electoral list should be made up from the census of the people living in Dominica currently.. That is long overdue. If the PM is being sincere in wanting a better Dominica he would make this a priority and then elections would be free and fair.
What you just said makes no sense. There are persons living overseas and citizens of Dominica who were not here for census. secondly, nothing is wrong in anyone once they are a citizen of Dominica to come here and vote when election. Many of these person got businesses here (pay their taxes) many studying or whatever else they choose to do whilst away. In my community alone there were over 30 persons living overseas who visit every year or two years for creole acitivites and are Dominican citizens, so you mean to tell me that because they were not here for census or on the census list that their name should be take off the list? And that’s one community, what about the many others in Dominica? Be real people, be practical, think before repeating everything someone else says, think for yourselves, research for yourselves!
I support Lennox Linton’s position. It is time to intensify the demand and action for electoral reform. It is time to exercise people’s power for change.
i want no corruption that is all i am asking for
Why are you so naive? how long will you prolong this disarray? you are e making a pa-pee show of your self and the party. Why can you accept defeat with honor and humility. You actions are that of a bully! Respect the democratic process and work for the betterment of your country. STOP THE BLEEDING!
just prove to fountain that he lost if he really lost….why is that so hard??
yup……turn up the heat…and the sheep will label you as aggressive or irrational….
Mr. Linton I hope when you call people out on the street this afternoon you have a permit from the law enforcement officers to hold such activity. Fellow Dominicans please do not allow yourselves to be carried away by ignorance. The courts are there to address any issue which may have arisen out of the just concluded elections. If there were any irregularities let the courts decide. Mr. Linton is looking for fame at all cost. He will not hesitate to sacrifice a few of you to attain his goals. Think before you follow this power hungry man. Please let the court decide.
Good move brother. As the people from the Commonwealth mission said this morning if we want change we have to make change happen ourselves. We can’t wait for anyone or an organisation from the outside to come and do it. That is the job of the people and the parliamentary opposition to push and agitate for change. in matters the Govt does not want to see happen.
Thank you LL. I know you are tired and weary after this brutal election preparation and campaign and maybe you just want to go to sleep for a week without bother. But you are sacrificing for the good of the national that much more. Let me give you your flowers now….thank you and God’s blessings and protection
Lennox put himself in politics but time will. Tell.
Mr.Lintton keep up the fight,Skerrit Monarchy must fall,you and the rest of the patriots have all the right to protest.KEEP UP THE FIGHT,his cabinet will start turning on him,the more pressure you put on him.
Mr linton u’re a badman hhhmmmmm….well lets jus c who is the bigman u think u tough ! hope u’ll nt be raising a sleepin giant !
This move is so IRRESPONSIBLE why is he trying to destroy the integrity of Dominica? He really think is Skerrit he will be hurting???
The election was free and fair and also free from fair, Thomson loose he loose, look Sikiri beat Ambrose and Bazil won Wesley under the same system, Laplaine could have never been stolen as the history will show that Ron Green votes were diminishing just look at the figures from 2000 – 941; 2005 – 775; 2009 – 772 and 2014 – 706 so go figure!!!
Linton, instead of stirring ignorance among your fellow Dominicans, do something positive for once. Your negative intentions annoy most of we Dominicans abroad .
“This has come to the point where we have to take it in hand; we the people must decide what we want, what we want our government to be doing and facilitating and hold their feet to the fire until it happens. Because that’s our role,” he said.
We the people decided on December 8th what they wanted and that is why 25 plus % of the electoral votes cast were cast of the DLP. On the hand, I do see why Linton needs to get Thompson elected. My suggestion, find someone to give him a salary so that he can be available and stay in Dominica.
One Love Dominicans!!!
Linton, is that the way you aim to develop Dominica? With total disregard for the Dominican people, both at home and abroad, in your a dress, you thanks the people of Marigot, you thanks members of the uwp and you congratulated the members of the uwp who got elected. What about the other 60% even as tthey did not vote for you. In a democracy, a leader is for all the people, not for those who vote for him alone but for all. Leaders, also are not bitter ànd not easily distracted. A leader in a builder of people’s not a divider nor a follower. A leader is a leader. A word of advice! Start building your party, stop advice ll that useless fighting. By the way, you did not congratulate the Labour party for their victory at the polls. Remember you need those same people next time around. What goes around comes around.
Mr Linton you are indeed right, i will support you in full.They do have an answer to us for democracy is no longer free in Dominica. The Excellency the President is the head of all state election for without the writ issued by him there is no election. In 1989 strick i was part of it and on the stage with him. We all stood up for our rights, we had several demostrations , the police never, never used any gun on us. We were peaceful. I as a malewe is calling on the President to do the best in his power to solve this problem in the interest of all Dominicans.
Dear Mr linton,
Focusing excessively on the alleged problems in the system is not in anyway leading to the country development.You have criticize every corner of Dominica’s Political system and other wise.Do you even love the country you wish to govern?since,so much is wrong with it?.It is clear the citizens did not want you as a leader ,your constant criticism only serve to shed light on the personality you harbor.Stop pulling my country down.When its good say its good,then people will listen to you more intently when its bad.Is it really all bad?
Thank you
Lennox Linton you and your party team fou must learn to accept defeat.Thompson Fontaine you loose just agree you loose
I am calling on Isaac , Joshua, Hector, Danny and , Bazil To kick Linton out and move over to the DLP. It’s clear what’s Lennox agenda is , to make problems for Dominicans.. Get this poor excuse of a man out of politics plain and simple or else he will fester in your bones like a cancer with no cure. There is no political career for the above mentioned 5 being in the opposition. You can’t do anything if you don’t have the political stand. Get with the ruling party and make something of your self . That’s if politics is your career. If not wellll…
Correction DNO the “The DLP stole 6 seats and the UWP won 12 in the December 8th general election.
DNO please report on the Bajan Henry declaration so that the so called Christians who support evil can say that their demigod is a pathological liar, a conman,a diabolical SOB, a thief and rapist.
Lang Mama is no diplomat I swing for the fences and I call it as I see it.
I listened to Linton on the radio this morning and I can tell you that if somebody told me in that tone of voice and with that belligerent attitude to “make myself available” because “I will be paying you a visit”, believe me, I would either not show up or I would show up with police protection.
We don’t want a dictator for a leader but Mr Linton, I don’t want to be lead by a militant either. You speak like you want to start a physical fight. That probably appeals to some people but to me, it is not the kind of leadership I want.
Lennox we know that you’re upset and we can’t blame you for that but the election is over and you’ve lost. Prepare yourself for the next time and ensure that your concerns are addressed prior to the next election. Right now it just sounds like sour grapes.