Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Dominica Opposition Leader:Skeritt’s Violation of the Constitution Continues
Press Statement by Opposition Leader Ron Green
Roosevelt Skerritt once again is demonstrating his intention to rule this Country as he personally pleases. He continues to abuse our Laws and treat Dominica’s Constitution with disregard, disrespect and contempt by deliberately appointing a Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Police without the required Constitutional consultation with the Leader of the Opposition [92 (1)].
The Dominica Constitution clearly indicates in Chapter 1 Section 66 (4) that there is a Leader of the Opposition in post until the holding of the first Parliament after the General Elections.
Roosevelt Skeritt’s casual, flippant and dangerous attitude regarding the Laws of Dominica can only serve to put Dominica into further disrepute, and plunge our Country into chaos and social unrest.
While Mr. Skeritt intends to proceed with business as usual, Dominicans, the people of the Caribbean and beyond, are aware of the fraudulent, unfair and unlawful poll, the Election Petitions in the Court, the Boycott of Parliament, the formation of the Movement to Restore Democracy, and the outrage and disgust in many corners of the Country.
The United Workers Party (UWP) renews its call for fresh elections within 18 months preceded by specified electoral reforms and assurances of adherence to the Laws against bribery in light of the fraudulent General Elections just held.
The UWP warns that this flagrant and deliberate disregard of the Constitution by Mr. Skeritt is a most serious threat to our Democracy, and a further slide towards dictatorship and a one-party state.
Roosevelt Skerritt once again is demonstrating his intention to rule this Country as he personally pleases. He continues to abuse our Laws and treat Dominica’s Constitution with disregard, disrespect and contempt by deliberately appointing a Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Police without the required Constitutional consultation with the Leader of the Opposition [92 (1)].
The Dominica Constitution clearly indicates in Chapter 1 Section 66 (4) that there is a Leader of the Opposition in post until the holding of the first Parliament after the General Elections.
Roosevelt Skeritt’s casual, flippant and dangerous attitude regarding the Laws of Dominica can only serve to put Dominica into further disrepute, and plunge our Country into chaos and social unrest.
While Mr. Skeritt intends to proceed with business as usual, Dominicans, the people of the Caribbean and beyond, are aware of the fraudulent, unfair and unlawful poll, the Election Petitions in the Court, the Boycott of Parliament, the formation of the Movement to Restore Democracy, and the outrage and disgust in many corners of the Country.
The United Workers Party (UWP) renews its call for fresh elections within 18 months preceded by specified electoral reforms and assurances of adherence to the Laws against bribery in light of the fraudulent General Elections just held.
The UWP warns that this flagrant and deliberate disregard of the Constitution by Mr. Skeritt is a most serious threat to our Democracy, and a further slide towards dictatorship and a one-party state.
| | Home Page | Dominica |Welcome Message | Prior Issues|Flag and Symbols | Dominica Constitution | Bulletin Board |Contact Us |Local Headlines |Discussion Board |Radio & TV |Cricket | Current Issue |
// posted by TheDominican.net @ 1:21 PM
Comments:
Links to this post:
<< Home
The Leader of the Opposition MUST at all material times while holding that Office be an elected member of the House.
Section 66(4) of the Dominica Constitution states- The Office of Leader of the Opposition shall become vacant-
(a) if he ceases to be a member of the House otherwise than by reason of a dissolution of Parliament
This means that even after the House is dissolved he still remains Leader of the Opposition. Had Mr Green won his seat, he would continue as Leader of the Opposition untill a successor is appointed or to the first sitting of Parliament when a new Leader of the Opposition appointed which ever is sooner.
Since Mr. Green lost his seat during the election, he immediately vacate his Office as Leader of the Opposition. Had he won his seat, the President would have called on him to be sworn in as Leader of the Opposition and so appoint him by instrument.
Mr Green's Salary as an elected Parliamentarian would have ceased effective December 19, 2009 the day after the election. The same thing applies to any Minister who did not seek re-election and did not continue as a Minister in the new Government.
Therefore, the Prime Minister is right by not consulting Mr. Ron Green on the acting appointment of the Senior Police Officers. The President who makes the appointments is very well placed to Know and understand the Law.
I wonder which corner of which country that people are disgusted. Is Mr. Green referring to the very vocal minority in Dominica? Mr Green must make up his mind to move on with his life and stop being a "cry Baby"
Jude Nicholas
Section 66(4) of the Dominica Constitution states- The Office of Leader of the Opposition shall become vacant-
(a) if he ceases to be a member of the House otherwise than by reason of a dissolution of Parliament
This means that even after the House is dissolved he still remains Leader of the Opposition. Had Mr Green won his seat, he would continue as Leader of the Opposition untill a successor is appointed or to the first sitting of Parliament when a new Leader of the Opposition appointed which ever is sooner.
Since Mr. Green lost his seat during the election, he immediately vacate his Office as Leader of the Opposition. Had he won his seat, the President would have called on him to be sworn in as Leader of the Opposition and so appoint him by instrument.
Mr Green's Salary as an elected Parliamentarian would have ceased effective December 19, 2009 the day after the election. The same thing applies to any Minister who did not seek re-election and did not continue as a Minister in the new Government.
Therefore, the Prime Minister is right by not consulting Mr. Ron Green on the acting appointment of the Senior Police Officers. The President who makes the appointments is very well placed to Know and understand the Law.
I wonder which corner of which country that people are disgusted. Is Mr. Green referring to the very vocal minority in Dominica? Mr Green must make up his mind to move on with his life and stop being a "cry Baby"
Jude Nicholas
# posted by 
: January 26, 2010 3:58 PM
: January 26, 2010 3:58 PM
Mr. Green, your implied threat of social unrest and chaos undermines whatever legitimacy your letter may pretend to have. Very disturbing.
# posted by : January 26, 2010 5:20 PM
: January 26, 2010 5:20 PM
1. Authoritarianism in Dominica and the role of the opposition. That is the debate that should be taking place here. Whether you like or dislike or support Mr. Green or the PM; that is the QUESTION and debate that should be occurring here ‘civilized’ people of Dominica. I think Green has a point and if Skerrit wants to change that then let the courts expedite the case which the UWP brought up. The courts are part of the Democratic system and the laws of the land must be obeyed by all. ‘Might is not right’. Skerrit cannot have it both ways. Is he a French citizen or not????? And when did he get this citizenship????? Anyone cares to answer that question? Come on folks …Stop taking out ‘Maprei’ and let’s have a spirited debate. Dominica requires that of you………….I applaud Ron for his leadership and my prayers are with him for strength for the sake of our country. My prayers are with our country for safe passage as well.
# posted by : January 27, 2010 4:05 AM
: January 27, 2010 4:05 AM
Although some of the allegations of fraud (diaspora influx, bribing etc) may have accounted for some changes in the election results. These were marginal.
What the UWP is experiencing is the same firewall that Labour experienced in the 1980s.
A concerted effort by the majority of civil or public servants to lock the UWP out of Government. Period. Civil servants jealously guard, their posts and perks against all forces.
Charles Saverin and Mamo used them to bring PJ down in the late 70s and kept them in check with regular increases, friendly backpays, housing loans etc during the 80s.
UWP never connected, if anything they ran an anti-civil service campaign and continue to. Skerritt is a student of freedom party politics, plus he has the old fox Charles Saverin in his pen. The Old Civil Servants will never turn on Saverin, one reason Skerritt cannot discard him. He is scared of him so was Mamo.
So the UWP has to start right now to start courting the civil servants. The easiest way to take a man's woman is to make better offers than him. Not just criticise the man she will only rise up in his defense.
Almost every home is dependent on a civil servant in some way or another. Target the servants then you will take the master down. It is a long drawn out process but see where Labour was in the 80s.
UWP will get no political traction until they begin to seriously target them, the main source of Skerritt's strength.
Hey 20 years is a short span in politics. Rosie started it and Skerritt is the inheritor. Go Workers.
What the UWP is experiencing is the same firewall that Labour experienced in the 1980s.
A concerted effort by the majority of civil or public servants to lock the UWP out of Government. Period. Civil servants jealously guard, their posts and perks against all forces.
Charles Saverin and Mamo used them to bring PJ down in the late 70s and kept them in check with regular increases, friendly backpays, housing loans etc during the 80s.
UWP never connected, if anything they ran an anti-civil service campaign and continue to. Skerritt is a student of freedom party politics, plus he has the old fox Charles Saverin in his pen. The Old Civil Servants will never turn on Saverin, one reason Skerritt cannot discard him. He is scared of him so was Mamo.
So the UWP has to start right now to start courting the civil servants. The easiest way to take a man's woman is to make better offers than him. Not just criticise the man she will only rise up in his defense.
Almost every home is dependent on a civil servant in some way or another. Target the servants then you will take the master down. It is a long drawn out process but see where Labour was in the 80s.
UWP will get no political traction until they begin to seriously target them, the main source of Skerritt's strength.
Hey 20 years is a short span in politics. Rosie started it and Skerritt is the inheritor. Go Workers.
# posted by : January 27, 2010 9:54 AM
: January 27, 2010 9:54 AM
Morris, you make absolutely no sense. Savarin is probably the most disliked politician in Dominica, if for nothing else but the painful memory of that long drawn out strike. Civil servants never recovered.
The UWP is experiencing sudden old age as its younger,stablilizing backbones have yielded to more attractive political avenues and ventures.
But to think that the appointments recommended by the Prime Minister were an indication of Civil Service action against the UWP is a bit farfetched
The UWP decided to boycott Parliament as if this would make government inoperative without their presence; and that might have made it a boycott indeed.Unfortunately, it turned out to be a sulk rather than a boycott.
The UWP is experiencing sudden old age as its younger,stablilizing backbones have yielded to more attractive political avenues and ventures.
But to think that the appointments recommended by the Prime Minister were an indication of Civil Service action against the UWP is a bit farfetched
The UWP decided to boycott Parliament as if this would make government inoperative without their presence; and that might have made it a boycott indeed.Unfortunately, it turned out to be a sulk rather than a boycott.
# posted by : January 27, 2010 11:03 AM
: January 27, 2010 11:03 AM
I have two questions
(a)Why does Charles Saverin continue to inhabit the recesses of the inner sanctum of the Labour party? A man who was never a Labourite at anytime.
Skerritt leaves nothing to risk. He ensures all bases are covered, thats his genius. He would rather have Saverin in the tent pissing out, than have him outside the tent pissing in.
It is a perceived fear by the PMs (mamo dispatched him to Europe and Skerritt can't seem to do enough for him). You and I know that Saverin is as harmless as a fly but the fear is real. eg. You may be scared of being sodomised by a unicorn, the unicorn is an imaginary animal but the fear is real. You may make decisions based on that fear.
(b) Why for the past 25 of the last 30 years, (first the Freedom party 80-95 and then the Labour party 2000 2010) were dominated by parties that pandered to the civil servants?
All I am saying is that the UWP having been rather unpopular with the civil servants has picked the wrong club to tee off. Simple.
(a)Why does Charles Saverin continue to inhabit the recesses of the inner sanctum of the Labour party? A man who was never a Labourite at anytime.
Skerritt leaves nothing to risk. He ensures all bases are covered, thats his genius. He would rather have Saverin in the tent pissing out, than have him outside the tent pissing in.
It is a perceived fear by the PMs (mamo dispatched him to Europe and Skerritt can't seem to do enough for him). You and I know that Saverin is as harmless as a fly but the fear is real. eg. You may be scared of being sodomised by a unicorn, the unicorn is an imaginary animal but the fear is real. You may make decisions based on that fear.
(b) Why for the past 25 of the last 30 years, (first the Freedom party 80-95 and then the Labour party 2000 2010) were dominated by parties that pandered to the civil servants?
All I am saying is that the UWP having been rather unpopular with the civil servants has picked the wrong club to tee off. Simple.
# posted by : January 27, 2010 11:55 AM
: January 27, 2010 11:55 AM
Charles Savarin occupies a position of importance out of sympathy in addition to that of being an accomplished agitator.
1980 - 1985
Post hurricane conditions forced civil servants to contemplate the possibility of governmental insolvency; they had to be appeased or bring to a hault the recovery effort.
2000-2010
Post Pierre Charles - same difference except that it was a financial crisis.
The UWP failed to assure the electorate that the ideological gulf dreamed up by the Freedom Party - city vs country (civil servants vs farmers) - did not exist. The UWP thought it necessary to replace PS's with people who were aboard with their agenda to change traditional colonial governance to a business organisation. In support of your argument,civil servants were not happy. In one instance, even the Canadian government intervened.
But if Skeritt has no desire to interfere with the core system and needs the loyalty of the old heads(considering his relative inexperience), he may be perceived as being coddly to the civil service.
1980 - 1985
Post hurricane conditions forced civil servants to contemplate the possibility of governmental insolvency; they had to be appeased or bring to a hault the recovery effort.
2000-2010
Post Pierre Charles - same difference except that it was a financial crisis.
The UWP failed to assure the electorate that the ideological gulf dreamed up by the Freedom Party - city vs country (civil servants vs farmers) - did not exist. The UWP thought it necessary to replace PS's with people who were aboard with their agenda to change traditional colonial governance to a business organisation. In support of your argument,civil servants were not happy. In one instance, even the Canadian government intervened.
But if Skeritt has no desire to interfere with the core system and needs the loyalty of the old heads(considering his relative inexperience), he may be perceived as being coddly to the civil service.
# posted by : January 27, 2010 1:39 PM
: January 27, 2010 1:39 PM
I agree Morris when Rosie Douglass made the Alliance with Freedom party in 2000, it was not so much the Freedom party as the civil servants he had made the Alliance with.
They were the backbone of the old Freedom party.
They were the backbone of the old Freedom party.
# posted by : January 27, 2010 1:54 PM
: January 27, 2010 1:54 PM
anonymous 1:39pm
You present a man a Senatorship and a full Ministerial Post, while risking the wrath of elected members of your party out of Sympathy and being Agitator.
Don't you think my 86 year old granny a better candidate, she is blind and she can certainly agitate.
Get real my friend.
You present a man a Senatorship and a full Ministerial Post, while risking the wrath of elected members of your party out of Sympathy and being Agitator.
Don't you think my 86 year old granny a better candidate, she is blind and she can certainly agitate.
Get real my friend.
# posted by : January 27, 2010 2:52 PM
: January 27, 2010 2:52 PM
Morris,a lot of people have expressed dissatisfaction with Savarin's position, but a deal was made; in reality he is personal advisor to the Prime Minister.
# posted by : January 27, 2010 4:01 PM
: January 27, 2010 4:01 PM
Some people really have guts to come here and defend the idiotic attitude of Ron Green and his colleagues towards government and governance in this country. Can you imagine this man still refers to himself as 'Leader of the Opposition'? AMAZING!!! Man you LOST the elections, JUST CHILL!!! Build your party and wheel and come again in 2015. That's all. You better behave yourself and don't try to perpetrate violence in this peaceful country, because we will just open up some cells in the Cabrits to put you troublemakers in since we really don't have time for your nonesense. We are about moving forward, not backwards.
# posted by : January 27, 2010 4:08 PM
: January 27, 2010 4:08 PM
Zang does evoke sympathy and is an accomplished agitator.....
# posted by : January 27, 2010 4:50 PM
: January 27, 2010 4:50 PM
When did Zang become a political agitator? People are trying to have a rational discussion and you have to display your stupidity.
# posted by : January 27, 2010 5:50 PM
: January 27, 2010 5:50 PM
Thanks for your clarification Jude and thank you thedominican.net for posting all our commentaries.
Your service is invaluable.
morrispadua@gmail.com
Your service is invaluable.
morrispadua@gmail.com
# posted by : January 28, 2010 6:10 AM
: January 28, 2010 6:10 AM
Skerrit is French not Dominican his passport is living proof of this, is he ashamed to be a Dominican or is there an underlying reason, I believe that there is, or why else would he desire such a passport, some will say that the French privacy laws protect people and this is true you cant break it, many statesmen from countries who have done wrong whilst in power simply vanish into this system and live out there existence in luxury with moniess taken from the country where they were in power.
Of course that is only one reason there are others, the crooked elections, the corruption, the bobol, scandal after scandal, I wonder when the press will be stiffled permanantly, this carry on is a carbon copy of red shirted Hugo Chavez, look at the mess in venezuela right now no independant tv stiffling of the press looks a bit familiar to me,
I wonder what happend to the promise he made to his fellow red shirts in Dominica I refer of course to the coffee processing plant, I immagine he will bring his soldiers in to build it that is of course if it ever happens,
Truth hurts and it is staring you in the face but you are blinded by the colur of the devil RED I pray for you all you are in the throws of total dictatorship and the appointment of police without regard for the constitutional laws are only a small example of what is to come, business as usual Sker4it says if this is true prepare for the worst.
Of course that is only one reason there are others, the crooked elections, the corruption, the bobol, scandal after scandal, I wonder when the press will be stiffled permanantly, this carry on is a carbon copy of red shirted Hugo Chavez, look at the mess in venezuela right now no independant tv stiffling of the press looks a bit familiar to me,
I wonder what happend to the promise he made to his fellow red shirts in Dominica I refer of course to the coffee processing plant, I immagine he will bring his soldiers in to build it that is of course if it ever happens,
Truth hurts and it is staring you in the face but you are blinded by the colur of the devil RED I pray for you all you are in the throws of total dictatorship and the appointment of police without regard for the constitutional laws are only a small example of what is to come, business as usual Sker4it says if this is true prepare for the worst.
# posted by : January 28, 2010 11:15 AM
: January 28, 2010 11:15 AM
Is Mr. Green going to take the Government to court for the payment of salaries since he claims to be still the Leader of the Opposition?
Mr. Green salary was stopped effective December 19th 2009.
Moreover, if Mr. Green Claim is right that he is still the Leader of the Opposition, then the Laplaine Constituency would have two Parl Reps Since Petter Saint Jean was returned as the winner. Bearing in mind that the Leader of the Opposittion must be at all material times be an elected member of the House.
Can Mr. Green reconcile that fact?
Jude
Mr. Green salary was stopped effective December 19th 2009.
Moreover, if Mr. Green Claim is right that he is still the Leader of the Opposition, then the Laplaine Constituency would have two Parl Reps Since Petter Saint Jean was returned as the winner. Bearing in mind that the Leader of the Opposittion must be at all material times be an elected member of the House.
Can Mr. Green reconcile that fact?
Jude
# posted by : January 28, 2010 12:34 PM
: January 28, 2010 12:34 PM
Anonymous Jan 28 11:15 am, How could you be so blind not to realize that the MRDP took their protestations to CARICOM where they were promptly ignored, thereby leaving them no option but the Halls of Justice.These people are not about Democracy - what they are contesting is the right to rule. Their Divine Right.
# posted by : January 28, 2010 12:58 PM
: January 28, 2010 12:58 PM
Hey folks don't worry with fools such as Anonymous Jan 28 11:15am. These people still can't get over the fact that they will never see the reigns of power in Dominica again, not for another 20 or 30 years and as such are preaching all kinds of doom and gloom for the country. The thing is the more negativity they preach, the more progress which we continue to realize in DA, so please LET THEM CONTINUE THEIR RUBBISH TALK!!!!!!!!
# posted by : January 28, 2010 3:59 PM
: January 28, 2010 3:59 PM Links to this post:
<< Home
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
Post a Comment
Please Provide Opinions and Comments on This Article.