Dominica government to take police officers case to EC Court

PM Pierre Charles

Tuesday, October 14, 2003

ROSEAU, Dominica: The Dominican government disclosed Monday that it is going to the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal instead of reinstating three police officers who were compulsorily retired last year by the island's President Vernon Shaw on the advice of Prime Minister Pierre Charles. 

Prime Minister Pierre Charles said his administration wants to have a second opinion on the constitutionality of the decision, which was heavily criticised by high court judge Rita Joseph-Olivetti last week. 

The judge ruled that the retiring of corporals, Messrs. Philbert Bertrand, Miriam Williams and Edward Etinoffe, because they had twenty years of service was unconstitutional, and null and void. She ordered their reinstatement with wages and benefits for the past year.

The judge was critical of the state's treatment of the lawmen saying she feels constrained to say that on the face of the proceeding ''the claimants appear to be persecuted by unreasonable and relentless government action.''

Messrs. Bertrand and Etinoffe have showed up at police headquarters in the capital in uniform but they have been turned away by Police Chief Matthias Lestrade who said he had not seen the judgement. 

The government's silence was broken Monday by Mr. Charles, who added the matter was too serious not to have the opinion of a three-judge panel. 

  Back...

  Most popular articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed

  Printable version