In a strong denunciation of recent events in the Commonwealth of Dominica, the Caribbean Democrat Union (CDU) has expressed grave concern regarding the arrest and detention of political Opposition members, notably Mr. Johnson Boston. The arrests occurred as these individuals exercised their constitutional rights to peacefully protest and voice what it affirms as legitimate concerns over the pressing issue of electoral reform in the country.
The CDU is described as “an alliance of moderate and center-right political parties in the Caribbean region, upholding Democracy and the Rule of Law.” Membership spans various countries and parties, including the Dominica Freedom Party, and other political bodies in Anguilla, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Turks and Caicos.
In its press release, the group states, “Electoral Reform is critical to the integrity of the electoral process and the administration of free and fair elections in Dominica.” The organization characterizes the actions taken against the opposition as a “blatant abuse of state power,” deeming it “unconscionable,” “undemocratic,” and “deeply dangerous.”
The CDU underscores the importance of freedoms enshrined in the Constitution, noting, “The arrest of citizens for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and peaceful protest is a direct affront to the democratic principles” of Dominica.
The concern raised by the CDU is not merely about the current situation but the Union’s identification of a troubling trend they believe is developing within the country, adding momentum to the increasing scrutiny that the Dominican government’s actions have garnered regionally.
They assert that there is a “deliberate trend: the use of the machinery of the state as a tool of political victimization and intimidation.”
This erosion of democratic norms, according to the CDU, signals a “dark and dangerous turn—one that should alarm every right-thinking Dominican and every citizen of the Caribbean who believes in justice, accountability, and the rule of law.”
The organization firmly declares, “Political dissent is not a crime. Speaking out against the government is not a crime. Assembling to peacefully protest is not a crime.” They argue that these principles are the very “hallmarks of a functioning democracy—not threats to it.”
The CDU’s statement carries broader implications, warning that the “heavy-handed actions of the authorities in Dominica bear the hallmarks of authoritarian regimes and dictatorships that have no place in the Caribbean.” They stress that the protection of democracy within one Caribbean nation is a shared responsibility across the region.
In light of these events, the CDU has issued a call to action: “We therefore call on the President of the Commonwealth of Dominica to immediately uphold the Constitution, denounce these scare tactics, and ensure that the fundamental rights and freedoms of all Dominicans—regardless of political affiliation—are protected and preserved.”
Additionally, they appeal to “all democratic forces, civil society actors, religious leaders, regional organizations, including the OECS, and the people of Dominica—especially the youth—to unite in full condemnation of these abuses.”
The CDU warns, “Silence in the face of injustice is complicity.”
“Democracy in Dominica is under threat. We must defend it,” the statement concludes.
Full statement below:
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