UWP’s Lennox Linton said his party may go to court to secure electoral reforms, and that protests may continue for the same reason. The opposition leader said this may be the next situation after a meeting convened by President Charles Savarin failed to address the matter. Linton said heading to court may be the next recourse since the president has not done justice to the lingering problem.
According to him, the UWP has met with the party lawyers and court papers have been filed in readiness for court action.
“We are in a situation that requires interventions, if not from the President who has the authority to act in certain matters, then certainly from the court.”
The meeting which was convened by the president was attended by UWP’s Linton, former Prime Minister Edison James, UWP President Isaac Baptiste, and La Plaine constituency candidate Francisca Joseph. The meeting which lasted nearly three hours was concluded on the note that President Savarin would convene another meeting in which UWP and DLP representatives will address issues concerning the coming elections. The UWP said they will be in attendance if the matter of electoral reform is going to take priority.
While the meeting lasted, Linton said he reminded the president of the days he fought for probity and justice in Dominica, and urged him to advise all parties to obey constitutional provisions relating to electoral reforms. He said he told the president that many Dominicans feel betrayed and abused by the DLP administration, and that the current government must have respect for the rule of law for the country to move forward.
UWP President Isaac Baptiste warned that public protests may continue if the Skerrit-led administration does not grant the country electoral reform before the coming election.
“We also impressed on the President that, based on our assessment of the situation on Dominica, if there is no electoral reform, there could be a lot of problems in this country,” Baptiste said. “The protests will continue because the people are in an angry mood.”
Last weekend, President Savarin met with the Dominica Bar Association to discuss the coming general elections and related issues.
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