Social activist Loftus Durand and UWP member Daniel Lugay among other members of the Electoral Reform Coalition (ERC) revealed that the rally scheduled for Wednesday, May 31st, would be carried out against all odds. The organizers said the rally is to draw national and regional attention to the case for electoral reforms in Dominica.
While the Minister for National Security, Rayburn Blackmoore, warned that police officers would deal ruthlessly with anyone causing disturbance or inciting violence under the pretext of the rally, Durand assured that no one would cause public disorder or damage any property during the peaceful protest and rally.
Durand said the words of Blackmoore that the police would deal “rapidly, swiftly, and decisively” with any unruly protesters are a mere threat targeted at creating fears in the hearts of the people. He said there is no need for the minister to issue threats because no one would cause public disturbance during the rally in Roseau.
We need to send a message as well to Mr. Blackmoore, that there will be no fear, that there will be no violence perpetrated against anybody or against anybody’s property there, so no need for trying as security minister to instill fear in the number of persons that will turn out to that activity..
Loftus Durand, Social Activist and President of the ERC
Durand, who is the interim president of the ERC, stated that “On May 31, 2023, we are asking all Dominicans to gather between the two bridges that is, the outgoing and incoming bridge into the City next to the arch in Roseau to come in a united voice and speak clearly that the long drawn-out matter of electoral reform must come to an end. We cannot afford, ourselves, as a country to go into any general elections again with the taints that the CCJ pointed to…”
Lugay revealed that transportation has been arranged to facilitate the movement of people from all regions of the country to the rally in Roseau. He promised to give a public lecture on how former Prime Minister Patrick Roland John was impeached in 1979 for failing to do the will of the people. He contended that John in his entire disregard for due process did not pay himself $64,000 every month as rent while continuing to live in his own house like Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit currently does.
UWP President Lennox Linton and UWP political leader Thomson Fontaine also urged people to come out for the massive rally, saying it would mark a definite point in the clamour for electoral reform in Dominica. Meanwhile, PM Skerrit has condemned the opposition for trying to bring down the DLP administration at all costs. He said the opposition parties are painting Dominica black and creating fear in the minds of potential tourists.
Skerrit complained that when the activities of the opposition parties hit newspaper and social media pages, people outside the country will be jittery that Dominica is no longer safe. He said tourists will turn away and that hoteliers, tour guides, Bayfront sellers, and taxi operators will stop making money; while airlines will stop flying to the Nature Isle.
This is not who you support or who you don’t support; you have to support what is right, what is good, what is constructive and what is God-driven. It’s not about me. It’s not about the Labour Party. It’s about Dominica and the future of our children, and ensuring that we have a government that cares for senior citizens, and that we provide for them.
Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica
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