Opposition Leader and UWP member Hector John signs the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of while Ag. Pres. Dr. Edward I. Watty (left) and the Pres. Sec., Donille Blackmoore (right) look on.
By Nester Phillip
DOMINICA: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is to receive much attention under the chairmanship of Salisbury Member of Parliament (MP) and opposition United Workers Party (UWP) member, Hector John as Leader of the Opposition.
This promise was made by the Hon. member John at his swearing in ceremony at the State House on Monday.
“The effectiveness of the Public Accounts Committee is a concern for many Dominicans, and I promise to give it serious attention in the public’s interests.”
The parliamentary body holds the powers to look into and review the nation’s finances.
He pledged to execute his duties in the country’s interest while recognizing that it is possible to sway and become complacent and as such called on supporters to help him stay on track.
“When we reach at this level of leadership, we sometimes become complacent and forgot how we got there in the first place. I ask you to call on me and to get me back on track whenever I sway from my duties. We sometimes overlook the little things that mean a lot and end up being disappointments to the country and the people we serve”.
President of the UWP Edison James is throwing his support wholly behind the new Leader of the Opposition while urging persons to ensure that democracy is a thriving institution.
The former Prime Minister declared, “Hector ‘Spags’ John, as Leader of the Opposition will lead us into the Parliament, in the Parliament, and if necessary, will lead us out of the Parliament depending on the circumstances at the extent of which any impediment are put in our way. I pledge to you, Hon. Hector ‘Spags’ John, my twenty years of experience in the parliament”.
He also pointed out that both his name and that of John’s will be indelibly etched in the island’s history as “the only two persons who have been elected to a Parliament twice in the same session. The reason for this has to do with our fight for democracy.”
Leader of the UWP, Ron Green maintains that development will not be sustained if there is no “organic democracy”.
“We cannot progress to a vibrant, economically sustainable development that we all want unless we have a vibrant organic democracy. So I put democracy issues first.”
A congratulatory message also came from leader of the minority opposition Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), Judith Pestaina.
John, along with Edison James retained their seats of Salisbury and Marigot respectively, following the July 9 by-elections by a larger margin than at the 2009 general elections even with lower voter turnout.
The incumbent Parliamentary Representative for the Salisbury constituency, John, beat out his rival, Dominica Labour Party’s (DLP) Julien B. ‘Tolo’ Royer 772 votes to 415.
Former Prime Minister and Member of Parliament (MP) for the Marigot constituency, Edison James was returned as parliamentary representative following a 669 to 131 votes defeat handed to the DLP’s Dayton Baptiste.
The Salisbury and Marigot constituencies have long been a UWP stronghold since the party first contested elections in 1990 after its inception in 1988.
The party’s by-elections victories come after the two members missed three consecutive meetings of the House of Assembly following the December 2009 general elections. Speaker of the House of Assembly, Alix Boyd-Knights subsequently declared the seats vacant in accordance with Standing Order 15 maintaining that the members did not receive leave of the Speaker in their absenteeism.
Attorney General Francine Baron-Royer came to the Speaker’s defense stating that the Speaker acted within her powers and that the seats were made vacant “by operation of law”.
On June 7, 2010, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced July 9, 2010 as the date for by-elections in the Salisbury and Marigot constituencies.
Following their victory, the UWP filed a declaration before the High Court to seek the court’s intervention as to whether or not the Speaker acted lawfully. The matter is pending.
