UWP Leader and Marigot MP Lennox Linton has faulted the DLP’s drive to employ another Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) given the current one-year contract of Acting DPP Sherma Dalrymple. The opposition leader said the recent public notice published by the Ministry of National Security and Home Affairs calling for suitably qualified candidates to apply for the position of a DPP is contrary to the provisions of the Dominican constitution.
To buttress his points that the position and tenure of the DPP is shielded from political interference, Linton said the criminal justice system is independent to ensure justice and equality as enshrined in Sections 88 (1), Section 88 (6) subsection (7) as well as section 88 (7) of the constitution.
He went further to insist that it is an anomaly for the DPP to work under the supervision of the Attorney General since this arrangement is contrary to Sections 72 (2) and 72 (6) of the constitution. He argued that the situation where the AG supervises the DPP is absolutely wrong and not covered under the constitution. According to him, the effort of the Skerrit-led administration to appoint another DPP smirks of total disregard for the law and the constitution.
The office of the AG and that of the DPP are yet to respond to Linton’s contention.
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