Opposition leader Lennox Linton has blamed Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and the Dominica Police Force for the prolonged violence that played out in Roseau on November 18. Linton said the prime minister instigated the police to unleash mayhem on peaceful protesters who sought an audience with President Charles Savarin at his Victoria Street residence.
Skerrit had on a radio address to the nation blamed the opposition for the riots, saying the protesters were acting out the script handed to them by the UWP. He said the opposition was bent on painting the DLP administration black and trying to scare investors away from the country. But UWP President Isaac Baptiste said his party supports the protesters but not their violence, and that his party did not instigate the protesters in any way.
Linton in his response denied that his party organized the protesters in any way, apart from supporting their legitimate demands for electoral reforms.
“I want to be clear this afternoon that the incident in the evening of November 18, 2019 was instigated by members of the police squad,” Linton said. “It was not the protesters but the police…because of the directive from higher authority…”
The UWP leader said the protesters became unruly and violent when the police fired tear-gas against protesters carrying only placards. He blamed the police for blocking the traffic to the south of the island, prompting people to break down the barricades set up by the police and burn garbage.
He went further to disclose that the prime minister violated the oath of office and breached the trust the people held for him. He stated that Skerrit swore to serve the people without favour to himself or ill-will to others, but he has turned contrary to this vow by assaulting the rule of law. He added that the UWP will continue to support protesters and all Dominicans who demand for electoral reforms for the sake of a free and fair election.
“Mr. Skerrit has violently attacked the people’s right to free and fair elections and he is unrelentingly assaulting the constitution of the rule of law and good governance in our nation,” Linton contended.
This article is copyright © 2019 DOM767
