Considering that election date is only two days away, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has begged the opposition to sheath their swords and give peace a chance. Skerrit specifically called out UWP and opposition leader Lennox Linton, former Prime Minister Edison James, and all UWP supporters to quit violence and lawlessness. He also cautioned law enforcement agents to exercise restraints when dealing with protesters in the buildup to election.
“I repeat my call to Lennox Linton, Edison James and the UWP, to bring an end to this lawlessness,” Skerrit appealed. “I am calling on them to tell their supporters to stop. I am calling on Linton and the UWP to put Dominica first.”
The prime minister was forced to make the appeal given the wide protests across the country for electoral reform. Several residents in Marigot constituency took to the streets to set up bonfires and baricade the roads in their demands for electoral reforms. The demonstrators said they will not stop the violence or the damage to public property until the DLP administration accedes to their request. Opposition leader Linton is representing Marigot in parliament.
The opposition wants the elector register cleaned and voters’ cards issued among other things. The UWP and the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) have been leading the campaign for electoral changes in the country. The government however insists that there is no need for electoral reforms given that the UWP and DLP have both won and lost elections under the same laws for many decades.
In the face of the ongoing pockets of violence across the country, Skerrit expressed confidence in the ability of the police to handle the situation. He said the law enforcement will not allow things to get out of hand, and that they will exercise restraints in the face of direct provocations.
The prime minister said his party has cancelled all political meetings and activities scheduled for recent nights. He said this is to safeguard lives and property “because it is the prudent and cautious course of action in light of today’s political developments.” He insisted that the DLP is concerned for all well-meaning Dominicans and would not allow any one person to be endangered on account of political events.
“We are taking this precaution to ensure that innocent Dominicans going about their business and labour’s supporters attending public meetings do not fall victim to supporters of the United Workers Party,” Skerrit said. “We will not put a single individual in harm’s way or at risk.”
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