President of the opposition United Workers Party (UWP), Senator Isaac Baptiste, has expressed his party’s support for the protesters who have taken a stance for electoral reform. However, he made it clear that the UWP does not support any violent actions in that regard.
Baptiste’s statement comes in the wake of protest action which occurred in the Capital City of Roseau and other parts of the country on Monday night organized by concerned Dominicans in their continued fight for electoral reform to ensure free and fair elections.
Protesters have been gathering peacefully for days near the residence of the President on Victoria Street demanding to meet with him on the matter. Some of the protestors went as far as sleeping in the area to emphasize their point.
Metal street barricades were used by police to prevent them from entering the premises of the President.
But last night, things came to a head when protesters removed the barricades and clashed with police which resulted in the police using teargas.
Videos circulated on social media showing the actions of protestors in Roseau, some uprooting plants, blocking the roads, burning garbage, and some even spreading garbage on the streets.
Gunshots were also heard during the chaos.
“We support the protesters as long as they do it peacefully and as long as they continue to make their demands that there be electoral reform before the next general election, that is, cleansing of the list and the issue of ID Cards,” he told Dominica News Online (DNO) during an interview on Tuesday. “We will continue to support them but we will not support any violent actions in that regard.”
Baptiste said the people have a right to take possession of their country in “a peaceful manner” but he made it clear that the UWP did not organize the protest.
“The protest has been going on for the past couple days and the UWP has nothing to do as far as [its] organization [is concerned],” he revealed.
He indicated that UWP leader, Lennox Linton, will respond regarding the matter.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, in an address to the nation earlier today, condemned the protests ascribing them to supporters of the opposition and describing them as “part of an evolving narrative to suggest that law and order have broken down in Dominica and that elections set for December 6th, cannot be free and fair.”
However, Baptiste fired back, saying that Skerrit “lies with a straight face” in speaking to the nation.
“The gentleman continues to do that and it is pathetic…,’ Baptiste stressed.
He maintains that the Prime Minister has no right to be addressing the nation, “and what it tells us is that the President of Dominica has abandoned the people of the country and is in favour of the Dominica Labour Party.”
“Because if he was on the side of the people, he would have insisted that Roosevelt Skerrit does not come on the radio this morning saying that he is addressing the nation on such a serious issue and all he did was try to pass blame on the United Workers Party for what happened last night,” The UWP president remarked.
“The house is dissolved and he is Prime Minister simply for the purpose of continuing to administer services for the country,” Baptiste continued, “but not to interfere with the constitutional issue that is now faced by the country. It shows the desperation and the amorality of Roosevelt Skerrit and the desperation to remain there.”
He warned that the UWP is going to demand that the Leader of the Opposition, Lennox Linton, receive equal time on the State-owned radio station and state media, to respond to the statements made by the Prime Minister.
Meantime, Baptiste said the UWP is proceeding to have its candidates’ nominated today (nomination day) to ensure that the DLP does not walk away with 21 seats, “but we shall continue to support all constitutional methods.”
Senator Baptiste, the uwp instigated the idea movement. You said you support the protesters but you guys are the ones who motivated the people to protest. Now you said as long as its not violence. Is there any way that you and your party could have done tgis differently. For five years plus it has been platform talks from you guys.
Make the proposal.
Follow up on the proposal.
Involve people
Ask them what they think
Explain for them why the uwp has taken this stance
Follow up again
And if nothing in five plus years raise the issue during the reelection season.
I personally think adults should have a different perspective in their decisions making than kids.
Stop the violence. Stop this. Venezuela is suffering. No Dominican wants to suffer. I denounce violence. One love and peace to all my fellow Dominicans.
Lets do it peacefully then.
We are supporting the protesters with a petition demanding the basic use of ID’s during the Dec 6th elections.
We will make our voices heard by both the UWP and DLP so that its clear that free and fair elections are a non-partisan, non-negotiable issue.
Let’s get the numbers to show all these politicians that we Dominicans know what we want, and we want it before Dec 6th. Add your voice here:
http://chng.it/r4McwtTF
They are not doing it peacefully. Blocking roads and starting fires is not peaceful.
Nothing will come of this. Darkness cannot drive out darkness.
Well sir it is not being done peacefully so disassociate your organization with it. The protesters actions has brought negative attention to Dominica and Dominicans both in Dominica and out here are becoming sympathetic to the government and angry at the UWP as a result.
Dominicans am so Fing upset we from Bawi is so disapointed with u all we been holding our end and the rest of you have no balls am asking my people to hole the peace and let us do what we have to do, 2016 u all sit on your lorell and never help us stop calling the radio and call salisbury my people let do what we have to do for our contiuency , i came homein 2016 and took lots off tear gas skerrit have 42 of my peolpe in courts and u all just calling the radio and talking a hole bunch crap show your fortiude that’s it for us and don’t call us , my people from that peice of rock let do our thing f the rest of the country.BAWI stand strong.
Isaac Baptiste, who is to blame for the removing of the barricades at the roundabout last evening, is it not the UWP. Whose supporters were they Sir. There were UWP party members at the venue last evening, did they even once inform the protesters to not touch the barricades Sir, did they inform the protesters that this should remain a peaceful protest Sir, was anything done by your party to defuse the situation you saw boiling up for days Sir, did your part leadership ever call Matt to inform him to stop encouraging or allowing the UWP callers inciting violence on Q95 Sir. Now that your party received the backlash from the events of last evening you now crying fowl, shame on you Sir, this was exactly the outcome you should have expected if you were some serious politician or leader.
Like the clock say time will tell no reason why we have to demonstrate keep your meetings what are you going to get out of demonstration nothing the date is set and that is that lets demonstrate after election and start early so you can get it done but I still say 3 sixes and 3 singles for DLP.
But u knownyour party is warzone…vadalizing party..so what peace u talking about
Sir agree with you but when peaceful protest has been exhausted then the people will repeat what Charles Savarin taught them in 1979. Is is commonly said ”those who do not hear will feel” i advise the Prime Minister and the President to listen to the people and give voter ID cards and clean the voters list and who win, win.
The Prime Minister has no right to address the nation, Baptiste, according to you.
Did Lennox Linton had the right to take the salute at the canceled Youth Rally for Independence? Just asking.
Issac, you and your party don’t just support what’s happening on our streets, you are part of it. On one hand you put up candidates to contest the election, on the other hand you send out the militant arm of your party to cause mayhem and deny the rest of us the right to a peaceful life. The security services have an obligation to protect the President and the tourists staying at the Fort Young Hotel, so they had every right to blockade this section of Victoria street and divert the so called protesters away from the area. I suppose you also support the unlawful blocking of the road in Salisbury area whereby depriving people of their right to go to work and students trying to get to school to pursue their education and in the case of an emergency preventing medical staff to attend. You guys not just trying to destroy the country, you are also putting people’ lives at risk with your nonsense. It is time you guys grow up and start behaving more responsibly.
Batte core zor con di Massisi la bat li, batte li ce LABOUR AGIAN. You support yr protesters well we support our PM and President ce toute.
I can’t make you any promises Mr. Baptiste
so who organized the protests?
BOTH UWP and LABOUR ka manti. mais ki moun ou vle? someone with the experience or someone with some fresh vibes? Dominicans are “traditional” people ; but lets see….
Baptise hmm I really don’t understand you boy . You should have stayed in your hotel business and not into politics . Your business got damage by hurricane Maria and you never rebuild . Clear evidence of miss management how can you run a country when you can’t even run your personal business shame on you
he is waiting for if the uwp wins when the roaster grows teeth to rebuild.
You call that peaceful when you play with fire it must burn you one way or the other.You just waiting to up grade you guest it will never happen, God has a plan for you all wicked people. Riot in Salisbury there comes Erika, you burn Roseau here comes Maria he looking and is crying over Dominica right now. It is well it is well in Dominica soul. God let peace reign in Dominica for the sake of the children and the elderlies.
Mr Baptist look like a protester
“Baptiste said the people have a right to take possession of their country”
So in your opinion, “the people” are a few “nothing else to do” guys and girls are the people of Dominica?
And where in the World have you heard of people protesting in peace?
And now, because they are doing exactly what protesters do, you claim not to have anything to do with it, just like you did about the incident of February 07, 2017–saying that the UWP is a peaceful party–and yet all of you all’s behavior spells WAR, DISCORD, AND DISDAIN, all of the time?
When are you all going to acknowledge, that your plans are nothing but “unrest” for the people of Dominica, and to take responsibility for what is happening?
You may want peace but the majority of your members have a different mind; if you want to keep the peace, please speak to them.
People protest peacefully all over the world, all the time. Of course, peaceful protests don’t make the news cycle.
Here’s one example: when the Ontario Conservative government under Doug Ford announced drastic cuts to the provision of funding for children with autism, the grounds of Queen’s Park in Toronto were filled with parents, children, care givers, teachers protesting these cuts, peacefully but passionately. And, a few months later, the government “rolled back” their previous statements and reinstituted some of the cut funding.
Most climate change protests have been peaceful, including in Dominica. And they have drawn hundreds of thousands of people out in support.
Even most of the pro-and anti-Brexit protests have been passionate, but peaceful.
And until Monday night, election reform protests in Dominica had also been peaceful. Even if subject to mockery, in person and in commentary.
Agitators can be in any crowd, anywhere, anytime.
It is really confusing
They are protesting for electoral reform
But yet still they are norminating candidates tidy
This people are down right wicked and out to create trouble
Because they know they cannot win
💯💯
Change Is a must
Yes u are right but please do it with your votes not violence on Victoria street. December 6th is the set date for elections in da. Peace and love we dealing wit.
Baptiste..why don’t you zip it!!!! You know very well that it is the supporters of the UWP who are committing these violent acts. You want to show the international community that there is chaos and civil unrest in Dominica so they will interfere in our democratic elections but this will never happen. You shall not harm this beautiful country and the people of Dominica will go to the polls on December 6 and vote the best man and party for the job – Roosevelt Skerrit and the Dominica Labour Party.
Amen and amen @Yea Right, di E sa ba mwen ENCORE SAY LABOUR NOUS KA VOTER ENCORE.
How can this man claim the united workers party is not responsible for the violent protest when his own leader Linton announce this gathering that took place yesterday in their rally on Sunday in St. Joseph? Also, if the workers leadership is not in favour of the violence and illegal acts of their supporters then how is it that up to now they have never once publicly called on them to stop? Also how is it that esiaon James and their deputy leader was was present at d time
Do it peacefully protesters, but i fully support the protest. Burton, Skerrit, etc, had more than enough time to implement the reforms that are being demanded.
Skerrit had a lot of gibberish to say this motning, but he was moo moo on electoral reform! Ha! Ha!
Skerrit
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?