A group of protesters beseiged the Electoral Office in Roseau demanding for DLP candidate Vince Henderson to step down before the November 25 by-election in Grandbay. Led by social activist Atherton Martin, the protesters held placards and spoke into megaphones asking members of the public to join them in their peaceful demonstrations.
Martin said he had earlier delivered a petition signed by himself and three others – Judith Pestaina, Dr. Irvin Pascal, and Loftus Durand – asking that Henderson step down from the proposed elections since he does not qualify to contest. Martin said he personally delivered the letter to Chief Elections Officer Ian Michael Anthony and addressed it to the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Duncan Stowe.
In the letter, Martin said the electoral commission should vet the eligibility of Henderson who has not reportedly resigned his appointment as Dominica’s ambassador to the US and the OAS. The executive member of WAVE said the letter warned that unless the electoral commission disqualified Henderson before 12 pm on Tuesday, November 23, the Grandbay by-election will not be allowed to hold.
We wrote this letter to the Chairman of the Electoral Commission Duncan Stowe, to share with him the fact that we as private citizens have some concerns about the legality of the nomination process leading up to the By-Election to be held in Grand Bay in two days. We are warning, we are serious, we will stop the by-election, and there will be no by-election in Grandbay if Vince Henderson does not step down.
Atherton Martin, Social Activist
The protesters gathered on Turkey Lane and demanded that other activists join them for the protest. There was heavy presence of police officers at the scene, and news reporters had a field day interviewing various protesters on their core demands. Many of the demonstrators said their peaceful protest will transition to the second phase of their plan if the government fails to act on their demands.
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