Social activist Atherton Martin has defied the chief of police to stage a peaceful walk in Roseau. Martin marshaled almost 100 Dominicans on Wednesday to walk in the city as a way of drawing the government’s attention to perceived injustices in the country.
Police Chief Daniel Carbon had earlier warned that no approval was granted for the planned march since the organizers did not seek official permission for the event. He said groups who plan to walk, march, or protest in Dominica must obtain official approval after making a request for such; but that his office had not received any request for the planned walk.
Martin said he did not require a police approval to walk in Roseau City, and that the laws of Dominica empower anyone to walk the streets without government approval. He said it is the fundamental rights of everyone to walk to anywhere they desire, and that the planned walk would hold despite police antagonism.
Backed by the UWP, the DFP, the CCM, and other social activists, the marchers wore white and gathered at the Prevost Cinemall before moving to other parts of the city. Martin addressed the crowds in places that the group marched to, and law enforcement officers were on hand to witness the rally without any interferrence.
Over the last couple of years, I have observed as you have, the steady abuse, violation, deterioration of what we held dearly in Dominica our Constitution. Contractors are breaking up Dominica, they are breaking up the treasures that the creator gave us, and that hurts me and we cannot let that continue. You cannot have people quietly deciding who gets a contract. It is a violation of our laws.
Atherton Martin, Social activist
After leaving Prevost Cinemall, the group walked orderly along Hanover Street and addressed people at Jackson’s Bar. They also reached Dame Eugenia Charles Boulevard and continued on to the arch beside the E.C. Loblanc Bridge. The organizers of the walk said they will stage the walk exercise every Wednesday without fear of interferrence from the police.
Martin and other prominent participants in the walk called the exercise a “walk for democracy” and a “walk for change”. The former agriculture minister tasked the people to be orderly and to use the sidewalks instead of the main roads during the walk. He also warned participants to be law-abiding and to exercise restraints against provocations of any sort during the exercise.
This article is copyright © 2022 DOM767
