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Norris Prevost exiting parliament
When Honourable Norris Prevost, the United Workers Party (UWP) Opposition member showed up at Parliament this morning to take the oath of office, Labour Parliamentarians breathed a collective sigh of relief, content that the Roseau Central MP had broken ranks with his party, thus effectively ending its boycott of the parliament.
Their relief however was short-lived.
Immediately after pledging to “faithfully bear true allegiance to the Commonwealth of Dominica according to Law”, the Roseau Central MP walked out of the Parliament.
That however did not prevent the other members of the House from congratulating the newly sworn in Opposition member. Nevertheless, even as they welcomed and praised his decision to apparently break with his party’s boycott of parliament as a bold and courageous move, the Roseau Central MP was reassuring supporters and the nation at large at a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Roseau that the boycott would continue. “My taking the Oath of Allegiance strengthens the boycott and is part of the United Workers Party’s overall strategy to intensify the fight to protect the people of Dominica from Skerrit’s ambition for absolute power and a one party state” he said.
He reassured the public that his swearing in this morning did not “stop the United Workers Party’s boycott of the parliament” nor did it in any way “legitimize what continues to be a fraudulent parliament.” Prevost insisted that the party “remains united and strong.”
Prevost’s solo appearance at this morning’s third sitting of the House had sparked rumors that he had broken rank with the UWP. President of the party and Opposition member of Marigot, the Hon. Edison James categorically refuted the claims. He argued that rather than breaking ranks with the UWP, Prevost’s decision had actually strengthened the party. “What you are seeing here is the continued unity of the United Workers Party” he said. James told reporters that Prevost’ reporting to the Parliament to take the oath of office was part of “a strategic position of the UWP in its efforts to protect the people of Dominica from being governed in a one party state.”
James, who also reported that he had officially written to the Speaker of the House seeking permission to be absent from this morning’s proceedings, confirmed that the Opposition “will continue not to participate in parliament.”
Hector John the member of Salisbury gave a similar undertaking. “We are very supportive of the move by Mr. Prevost to go to the parliament and take the oath and to tighten the boycott” he said. Like James, John had also written to the Speaker informing her of his inability to attending this morning’s parliament.
In taking the oath of office at this eleventh hour, Prevost effectively forestalled the possibility of any by-elections in Roseau Central. However, what happens from here on out in Salisbury and Marigot is still up in the air
