The Dominica Police has allegedly harrassed social activist and attorney Henry Shillingford during a peaceful protest organized by the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM). The group had gathered outside of the palace of President Charles Savarin to demand for electoral reforms before the December 6 general elections. But the police ended up manhandling Shillingford who had arrived to support the protesters.
According to Earl Bruno, a CCM member, the group had gathered with placards opposite the president’s residence to obtain his attention in a peaceful manner. But the police asked them to leave the place, at which time they relocated across the road to continue with their protest. After about two hours, the police came back to ask them to leave the spot again and they refused, before placing calls to human rights lawyers.
Shillingford arrived and told the police that the protesters were well within their rights to gather and to seek audience with the president. A witness said the attorney lectured the police on the legalities of the demonstrations before a senior police officer grabbed him and marched him away. The witness said the rough way the lawyer was handled was uncalled for because the gathering was “peaceful and we were respecting the office of the president.”
The CCM said they had written several letters seeking an audience with the president but never got any response. So they thought it better to gather outside the president’s residence for a meeting to press home their demands. The group is asking for voters ID cards, cleansing of the voters list, and other electoral changes. The movement said they will continue to press for their demands until the Election Day arrives. Meanwhile, the UWP is also asking for these changes but revealed they will be participating in the elections whether the reforms were carried out or not.
In a related development, political activist and famous conservationist Artherton “Athie” Martin has been freed of all incitement charges by the court. A Roseau court magistrate threw out the case against Martin for insufficient evidence from the prosecution. The talkshow host was charged for incitement when allegedly asked for a roadblock in December 2018. He was said to make the call when members of the CCM made a demonstration calling for a free and fair election. His defense team was led by Cara Shillingford.
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