DFP’s Bernard Hurtault Wants Dominica to be Emotionally Connected to Democratic Rights

Barbara 25th February, 2023

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Leader of the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), Bernard Hurtault, has noted that Dominicans must get emotionally connected to their democratic rights. He said this is the only way to guarantee the victory of democracy over tyranny in Dominica and beyond. Hurtault stated that fundamental human rights are rooted in true democracies, and citizens must attune themselves to it to reap its benefits.

According to the opposition political leader, tyrants exploit the ignorance and lethargy of the people to wrest their rights from them. He said Dominicans must understand their legal rights as enshrined in the Constitution as well as how to weaponize those rights to fight tyranny, oppression, poverty, joblessness, violence, and other societal ills.

Hurtault went further to state that electoral reform is one of the ways to protect democracy in Dominica, and that everyone should work to get it instituted in the country. He added that citizens must create and uphold a democratic system that guarantees personal freedom and promotes a progressive society. He stated that until people demand for their constitutional rights to be respected, authoritarian leaders would continue to subject them to economic oppressions.

In the same vein, Justice Dr. Irving Andre revealed that democracy exists to be defended at all fronts. He stated that the rights to participate in politics and vote or contest elections are synonymous with the rights to speak, exercise personal opinions, associate with others, fall in love, and raise a family.

He said it is injurious for people to sit back and watch as leaders make a mincemeat of the democracy that Dominica’s founding fathers fought for, but that everyone should get involved to work for a new Dominica that will serve the needs of incoming generations. Andre expressed hopes that the electoral reforms being designed by Sir Dennis Byron will be a step in the right direction to meeting these needs.