In a letter to Mottley dated March 18, 2025, Dr. Fontaine expressed grave concerns over a statement made by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit where he announced that he had authorized his security minister to activate the RSS in response to a planned protest demanding electoral reform, scheduled for March 19, 2025, outside the Parliament building. Fontaine alleged that this move suggested an attempt by Skerrit to manipulate the RSS for undisclosed reasons.
Dr. Fontaine further stated that the UWP feared the RSS was being misused to suppress the fundamental human rights of Dominican citizens to engage in peaceful protests. He urged CARICOM to carefully evaluate its actions to prevent what he described as a “selfish and unwarranted manipulation” of the RSS.
Responding to Fontaine’s concerns in a letter dated March 25, 2025, Mottley clarified that Prime Minister Skerrit had informed CARICOM’s Conference of Heads of Government about the rationale for placing the RSS on standby. She explained that the decision was based on past experiences with protests and was made in the interest of national security, in alignment with the purposes of the RSS Treaty.
“It is noted that the RSS mechanism was not deployed,” Mottley stated. She emphasized CARICOM’s commitment to its Charter of Civil Society, which guarantees the rights and responsibilities of its citizens, including the right to assemble, demonstrate peacefully, and present petitions. These rights, she noted, are subject to restrictions imposed by national law in the public interest and must be justifiable in a free and democratic society.
Mottley also pointed out that the planned protest in March 2025 did not receive the necessary permission from the Police of the Commonwealth of Dominica.
She said CARICOM will continue to support democratic expression in keeping with the national laws of its Member States.
Below are both letters from Prime Minister Mottley and Dr. Thompson Fontaine.
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