Lennox Linton's brother Brian Linton abuses Bishop of Roseau

His lordship Bishop of Roseau, Gabriel Malzaire endured the worst kind of violence in the manner of verbal abuse and assault as UWP supporters in Marigot – the constituency of leader of United Workers Party – got into his face to shout their abuse.

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The primary abuser of His Lordship the Bishop can be seen clearly on video was Brian Linton, brother of the leader of Opposition, Lennox Linton. As the UWP supporters have blocked the main highway connecting city to the Douglas-Charles Airport, all the passengers including Bishop had to personally carry their baggage while walking to pass burning debris in Marigot. Following the incident, Lennox Linton and his followers were asked by PM Roosevelt Skerrit to apologise from His Lordship the Bishop of Roseau following the attempt of harassment.

“On behalf of Christian community of Dominica, I apologise most sincerely to his lordship for what must have been very frightening encounter and experience as he went about for his lawful business,” said Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit during an address to the nation through local Radio.

“I will not have lawless people attempt to frustrate decent voters on the way to their polling or destroy the democratic process in Dominica. Law enforcement officials have exercised much restraint as humanely as possible; they have endured verbal, physical abuse, threats of violence, injury and even threats of death. Many law-abiding citizens have been harassed,” he added.

The country’s economy is now being affected by the action followed by the opposition United Workers Party. "Toward the beginning of today alone, December fourth, the 'Azamara Journey', a cruise ship with more than 1000 travelers, who were to go through the day in Dominica, turned back and will never again enter our port. This ship visits Dominica once in every 2 years, and such abrogation is a noteworthy misfortune. Executives of the cruise line felt constrained to take this choice, because of the negative input they have been getting about the violence and scare strategies utilized by the Opposition in different places of Dominica," said PM Skerrit.

Roosevelt Skerrit also said we in Dominica have prided ourselves on the nation's reputation for being one of the friendliest and most secure in the Caribbean for our kin and for our visitors. Dominica has gone through years assembling and enhancing our reputation for being extraordinary compared to other eco-tourism travel islands in the Caribbean. What it took us years to construct is currently being obliterated in about a couple of days, for the selfish gain of a single group!

The actions of the leadership of the United Workers Party and its supporters are impacting negatively on the image of Dominica, and ordinary Dominicans are now beginning to feel the repercussions of the UWP’s callousness and indifference.

Hair braiders, vendors, tour operators, entertainers, artists, popular tour stops such as the Kalinago territory, clothing and souvenir vendors, bars, restaurants, shopkeepers, wholesalers, those who set up their tents last night, taxi drivers who lined up this morning, service providers at the various sites, all waited and looked forward to the arrival of the Azamara Journey. They were all very disappointed at the news of the cancellation. All these people, their families and staff, will feel this loss in their pockets.

Dominica cannot afford to receive another black eye at the hands of the United Workers Party. We have worked too hard, did too much, and come too far to build a solid, positive national reputation to have it destroyed by this lawless bunch.

“Just imagine visitors trying to get back to the ship or Airport and being stuck behind one of the blockades of UWP supporters. Imagine their fear.”