The Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) has responded to allegations made by Dominica Business Forum Inc. President Severin McKenzie, who criticised the union’s handling of venue arrangements for a recent Electoral Reform Meeting. According to DPSU General Secretary Thomas Letang, the accusations are both misleading and unfair, highlighting a clear breakdown in communication rather than deliberate obstruction.
Letang explained that the DPSU had agreed to provide its hall for the Electoral Reform Meeting but clarified that certain logistical expectations were not communicated beforehand. McKenzie claimed that the venue lacked essential facilities, including adequate seating and equipment, which created challenges for organizers and attendees. However, Letang insists that the union was only asked to provide the space—not to manage event setup or provide supplementary resources.
We provided the venue as requested, but there was no prior discussion about DPSU handling the full setup, including equipment and seating arrangements. That responsibility usually falls on the event organizers.
DPSU General Secretary Thomas Letang
He further noted that the DPSU hall has been used for numerous events in the past without incident, and the union takes pride in maintaining good relations with all stakeholders, including the DBF. Letang emphasized that constructive dialogue, rather than public finger-pointing, dialogue would have been the preferred way to address any dissatisfaction with the venue.
This is not about conflict between DPSU and the DBF or any other organization. We are always willing to facilitate national discussions, especially one as important as electoral reform. What happened here was a simple case of miscommunication.
DPSU General Secretary Thomas Letang
The Electoral Reform Meeting itself attracted considerable public interest, with stakeholders from various sectors gathering to discuss proposed changes to Dominica’s electoral processes. However, the dispute over the venue temporarily diverted attention from the core issues at hand. Letang hopes the matter can now be laid to rest, and focus can return to the broader national conversation.
The DPSU has also reiterated its willingness to collaborate with both the Dominica Business Forum and the broader public sector in the future, provided that clear terms are agreed upon upfront to avoid similar misunderstandings.
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