Dominican police investigate election motorcade furore

by Paul Charles
Caribbean Net News Dominica Correspondent

Wednesday, May 4, 2005

ROSEAU, Dominica: Dominican Police chief Matthias Lestrade said on Tuesday he was seeking legal advice on whether the opposition United Workers Party (UWP) had broken the country's law by simultaneously staging a island-wide motorcade which collided with the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) on Monday. 

The two main radio stations were inundated with calls on Monday about a major confrontation at Hatton Garden, about 30 miles north-east of the capital Roseau, which resulted in the anticlimax of both rallies that attracted thousands of UWP and DLP supporters. 

The police chief said he held prior discussions with the two parties and informed them it was not feasible to have their motorcades on the same day. He added that the UWP was awarded Sunday while the DLP was given Monday for its motorcade. 

"Both political parties could not have motorcades crossing each other and it would always cause confusion. 

"I thought that common sense would have prevailed and averted the situation but to my disappointment that was not the case," he said. 

He also dismissed radio reports that some people had brandished weapons during the altercation. 

Opposition leader and political leader of the UWP Edison James denied that his party had engaged in illegal activity. 

"The law, the Public Order Act, does not require permission to be sought or granted for rallies," he said. 

James said the UWP had informed the police chief that whistle-stops had been organised for that section of the island. 

But according to prime minister Roosevelt Skerrit, the confrontation was orchestrated by the opposition party. 

"If all parties had respected and obeyed the direction of the police, none of what happened yesterday would have taken place.

"They chose not to hold their motorcades on Sunday but deliberately and against the wishes and admonishment of the police started their motorcades in the east knowing full well they would have clashed somewhere along the route," he said.

Despite the latest incident, Skerrit said he was confident that Thursday's election, regarded as too close to call by local political commentators, would be peaceful.

Lestrade said no major injuries have been reported and plans were afoot to avert a repetition of the controversial issue. 

"We are discussing what happened yesterday, how best we can adjust to ensure that there is not a repetition," Mr Lestrade said. 

  Back...

  Most popular articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed

  Printable version