Opposition Leader Lennox Linton has written to police authorities to investigate Dr. Vince Henderson. Linton wants Police Chief Daniel Carbon to investigate whether Henderson holds a public office while contesting the Grand Bay constituency election.
Rumours are rife that Henderson remains Dominica’s ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States (OAS), a position he has not resigned before stepping up to nomination for the Grand Bay by-election coming up on November 25.
Linton requested Carbon to assign the CID to investigate Henderson to determine if he has broken the laws, and to pursue criminal charges if this is proven to be the case.
“Please accept this letter as a formal request that the CID interview Vince Henderson,” Linton wrote. “This request is made as Vince Henderson may have violated our nation’s constitution and electoral laws which prohibit anyone in the public service, and/or in a position of emolument in service to the state, from being accepted to run in any election on Nomination Day.”
The opposition leader insisted that since 2016 when he was designated the country’s ambassador to the US and the OAS, Henderson has not been recalled or proven to have resigned his position before he stood for nomination on November 9 for Grand Bay.
“Henderson appears to have made a false or untrue declaration in the nomination process for which he may be criminally liable under the Statutory Declarations Act,” Linton stated. “Where such letters [resignation letters or withdrawal as ambassador] cannot be provided to CID by Mr. Henderson upon request, a crime has been committed under our electoral laws and criminal charges must issue.” Linton said the Electoral Commission cannot hold a free and fair election in Grand Bay until this issue is resolved. Attorney Gabriel Christian also lent his voice to insist that Henderson must prove his resignation or recall as Dominica’s ambassador occurred prior to the Nomination Day or step down from contesting the Grand Bay seat.
This article is copyright © 2021 DOM767
