On the night of Saturday, October 19, 2019, I joined other patriotic Dominicans on the platform provided by the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) in speaking in favor of electoral reform and the preservation of Dominica’s democracy. It was only fitting and proper that we did so.
We thank God for the work of CCM as it is a demonstration of the importance of strong civil society organizations in holding any and every government to account. Absent the work of CCM and other such groups in our society, our democracy will be destroyed as the government will ride roughshod over our rights and the letter and spirit of our constitution.
We applaud the CCM rally and the many speakers who spoke in learned fashion at that pro-democracy electoral reform rally. The rally organizers hosted a successful exercise in civic education. The singers like Dice, Bob and others who participated, raised high the banner of art in defense of democracy, as opposed to art as a narcotic to dull the sensibilities of a distracted people.
The CCM performed a meritorious national service by that rally and did so without resort to the cracking of whips. CCM rallied our people without resort to costume-clad masqueraders, rum glasses or beer bottles in the hands of inebriated revelers, and a carnival out of season spectacle of the kind favored by the ruling regime flush with cash. The regime abuses the vulnerable, our needy or the feeble-minded among us, by such mockery passing as election campaigns. We must always seek to educate our people in sober fashion and not seek to pander to their weaknesses or base instincts.
In speaking out in favor of our democracy we give real meaning to the cause of a better Dominica we sought to birth when we participated in Dominica’s independence movement in our youth. We, therefore, give thanks for life and strength and the spirit of discernment – unclouded by the lure of filthy lucre.
Why must we speak out?
Many nations have collapsed where good people remained silent or worst – were complicit. Do we ever ask ourselves what role did the Haitian elite and church play in the rise of Papa Doc and his replacement by Baby Doc? They were silent, where not downright complicit in the destruction of that country. Today Haitians flee to Dominica.
The culture of corruption in office became endemic in Haiti. The Haitian state is in constant crisis many years after the downfall of that doctor doctor tyranny (father and son carried the title “doc”).
Do we ever pause to ask ourselves how or why the biggest thief in the history of Nigerian governance Allison Madueke became a Dominica ambassador`? Sadly the Nigeria that should be an economic powerhouse of Africa and an example to us all is years behind where it should be because corruption is endemic in that society. Nigerians as individuals are gifted people, but the culture of corruption has eviscerated their institutions. We give thanks to God for the increasing role of anti-corruption campaigners in Nigeria who worked hard to root out looters of state resources like Madueke. They have our respect and support.
Many in Dominican high society either remain silent or complicit in excusing that appointment of Madueke as some “mistake.” That even where we well know that all the arrested “ambassadors” (Corallo, Ng Lap Seng, Monfared, Madueke, etc) were arrested for crimes which included bribery, tax evasion, or money laundering.
Now, in an unprecedented act of brazen criminality, mercenaries came to our island to destroy the parliamentary opposition and it is exposed as a provocation with tentacles that emanate from the highest echelons in our society. Aided and abetted by those who should guard our security, foreign agents can be seen lurking in front of Lennox Linton’s home planting evidence. Why? In their desperation, they have sent their agents after me too. More on that later.
Yet some sit there and jester with the future of our nation, complicit in the destruction of our culture as a generally honest and competent people. Hitherto, we had been blessed with mostly honest leaders – despite our political preferences or differences. No more! The abyss is where we are as we witness such misconduct.
The destruction of our culture as an otherwise noble people is being eviscerated before our very eyes. Do we still have a professional and unbiased civil service? Do we still have a professional and unbiased police service?
The government is yet to say where the 1.2 billion dollars was deposited overseas. Remember well, the Fonseca money laundering firm in Panama showed there to be 65 Dominica linked companies. Is our money being hidden there?
Dominica UN Ambassador for Oceans Zampoli is suing for his share of the passport sales money. Where have you ever heard of an ambassador engaged in such “business?” Is such conduct in accord with best practices of a man who is our Oceans diplomat or international conventions governing diplomacy and diplomats? Zampoli said he was afraid his money would disappear in some offshore bank or the “Dominica Bank in Switzerland.” Was his suit not a declaration that there exists an apparatus of overseas accounts into which passport sales money due the Commonwealth of Dominica has disappeared?
In the face of all these atrocious acts against our fair land many so-called “educated” Dominicans remain quiet. Do not acquiesce in such shameful misconduct my fellow Dominicans. Where your sensitive position prevents you from being vocal in public, then become a whistleblower against corruption in office. By becoming a whistleblower you protect the independence and prosperity of Dominica. We honor all the honest Dominicans who expose wrongdoing… The CCM, and the patriots who spoke on 19th October 2919, support enactment of a whistleblower law when we elect, soon, a government committed to the best principles of democracy.
History will be most unkind to those who fail to do their civic duty. Morally repugnant elites have destroyed many nations. May we never bury ourselves in blind obedience to the siren songs of the morally repugnant elites who abuse our people in carnival out of season spectacles. Let us never abuse our needy by doling out state resources in return for a vote or personal sexual gratification. Let us strive, all of us according to our station, to do our best for Dominica – without fear or favor.
I give thanks to all of you who care to try to build a better Dominica and salute all who organized and participated in this historic rally for democracy on Dominica.
Dominicans, let us struggle evermore to realize a new birth of freedom. As was said by Abraham Lincoln many years ago, and emulated by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we must work to ensure that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.
God bless our cause for a better Dominica!
Written by Gabriel Christian