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| Volume No. 1 Issue No. 36 - Wednesday, January 29, 2003 |
Party Leaders to Meet on Corruption Charges
 by Thomson Fontaine
The leaders of the three political parties in Dominica have agreed to meet formerly in six weeks to discuss the issue of corruption charges leveled at the opposition United Workers Party. Prime Minister Pierre Charles, leader of the Labour Party along with Honorable Charles Savarin of the Freedom Party, and Honorable Edison James of the United Workers Party (UWP) made the announcement at the end of two days of discussions with Catholic Bishop Gabriel Malzaire, and President Vernon Shaw.
The three leaders along with the Bishop were meeting in Roseau to discuss the issue of rising lawlessness on the Island. At the end of the two-day meeting, a joint statement was issued at which they condemned the rising incidence of crime and violence in Dominica, and pledged to seek ways at reversing the negative trend.
The issue of the corruption charges leveled against the United Workers Party continues to dominate the political landscape in Dominica. In the past, Opposition Leader Edison James and other party members have refused to attend government functions and other activities organized by the government in protest over what they view as an unfair attempt by the Labour government to tarnish their image.
The Edison James government, which ruled Dominica from 1995 to 2000, was severely criticized for their handling of the economy and several members of government were accused of corruption. Upon taking office, then Prime Minister Roosevelt Douglas appointed attorney at law and staunch labor party member Tony Astaphan to head an inquiry into the allegations of corruption.
From the very beginning, UWP supporters cried foul arguing that Mr. Astaphan is biased against the UWP and could not issue a fair ruling. More than two years after the appointment of Mr. Astaphan, the public is yet to receive a report on his findings although many have claimed that the report is ready.
UWP supporters have in the past accused the government of withholding the report with a view to releasing it just before the next general elections scheduled for 2005. Most Dominicans welcomed news of the commitment to meet on the issue, as there is a general feeling that the process is unnecessarily tainted by political considerations.
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