The Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) has come out forcefully in defense of protesters arrested during demonstrations over the government’s electoral reform legislation. In a statement issued Thursday, party president Johnson Boston accused the ruling administration of using the law to silence dissent and criminalize protest.
Boston, who was among those detained during the March 19 demonstration, called the arrests “an assault on democracy” and warned that Dominica is entering dangerous political territory. “What we’re seeing is a slow but deliberate drift toward authoritarianism,” he said.
He was joined in his call for accountability by well-known public health advocate Rosie Felix, who was also arrested. Felix stated she would not be deterred by state pressure, noting, “I’ve dedicated my life to defending public health. I will now defend public truth and civil rights with the same energy.”
The DFP’s public endorsement of the United Workers Party’s (UWP) protest adds a layer of political unity not seen in recent years. Both parties have criticized the electoral reform bills passed in Parliament, particularly provisions they claim weaken transparency and electoral oversight.
With rising tensions and continued arrests, the opposition has vowed to keep pressure on the government through legal challenges, public engagement, and coordinated action ahead of future elections.
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