We are still in a democracy and we still have constitutionally entrenched freedoms and rights to assemble says leader of the UWP Lennox Linton.
 
Linton was speaking on the current tension and resistance meted out by the Dominica police force whenever persons choose to exercise their constitution rights yon assemble.
 
Linton is asking the police to pay attention to, and honor those rights.

​Meantime, UWP candidate for the Grandbay seat Nept Pacquette is encouraging the citizens of the country, not to be afraid to stand together, because our ancestors were fearless.

UWP Candidate for Grandbay,  Nep Pacquette

Q95 News has learnt that since the collapse of the Macoucherie bridge during Tropical Storm Erika in August 2015, vehicular traffic has been going through the Macoucherie estate utilizing the almost 100-year-old bridge and a bailey bridge.
 
in early 2017 The bailey bridge collapsed and a bypass was built to assist with the flow of traffic. The ground-breaking ceremony was held just before Hurricane Maria for construction of the new Macoucherie bridge to be built by a Chinese firm. The bridge is still under construction some two years later.
 
Every time it rains heavily, vehicles are not able to pass on the bypass and the 100-year-old bridge helps to ease up traffic. Today was no exception and Mr. Clifton ‘Dense’ Shillingford used this to his advantage and blocked the old bridge with his tractor, seriously disrupting traffic going north and south of the Macoucherie River on the west coast.
 
Dense Shillingford, the CEO of the Macoucherie Estate Limited is staging a one-man protest which began this morning, at the Macoucherie River bypass, because he claims 8 months of rent that is owed to him by the government, have not been paid.
 
The Minister for Public Works, Collin McIntyre, via a phone call, promised to meet Shillingford’s demand for payment for the 8 months owed to him. Shillingford warned that if he was not compensated promptly and adequately, he would block the bridge again until the government fulfils its promise of payment. Since then the Bridge has been unblocked and the administration appears to have reached an agreement with Mr Shillingford

Popular Pastor, and President of the Dominica Association of Evangelical Churches (DAEC) Randy Rodney, has cleared the air on the false allegations being made by DLP officials and mouth pieces on social media, that he had committed an act of incitement on Q95fm Radio on Monday 14th October 2019.
 
Rodney explained on Q95 FM earlier today, what happened from the time he was called by one of the investigative officers within the CID, to engage in a conversation with Police Commissioner Carbon. Rodney says the statement which caused this engagement with police was, “This is not about throwing stones, because there is something much harder than stones.” He was at the time speaking on the topic of cries of Dominicans for Electoral Reform before the next General Elections.

Randy Rodney continued to explain what he said on that night on radio, adding that the meeting was relatively straight forward, where both parties understood there were indeed no statements of incitement on the part of Pastor Rodney.

​Popular Pastor, and President of the Dominica Association of Evangelical Churches (DAEC) Randy Rodney.

​The six contestants vying for the title of Miss OECS 2019 were officially presented and launched today at the Fort Young Hotel in Roseau, in preparation for that highly anticipated pageant on Friday night.
 
After a twenty-year gap, Dominica has chosen to revitalize the Miss Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).The is scheduled to take place on Friday November 1, 2019 at the Forecourt of the Windsor Park Sports Stadium.
 
The Pageant was founded on the roots of transnational integration among member states of the OECS, in efforts to build lasting bonds of friendship and cooperation in the region.
 
The celebrated Regional event last crowned q queen in 1995. That competition was won by Dominican Kamala Jno Baptiste Aron.
 
Pageant Director Mrs. Romualda Hyacinth says patrons can expect an amazing show, with wonderful performances by these lovely daughters of the Caribbean soil.

OECS Pageant Director, Romualda Hyacinth
 
Meantime the pageant contestants introduction themselves briefly and escribed what can be  expectedat the show this Friday.

​The lovely OECS contestants vying the Miss OECS Title.

The plans of the DLP administration are backfiring and the tides are changing, because God is on our side.
 
This is according to the leader of the Dominica Freedom Party Kent Vital.
He was bringing to the attention of the masses, that negativity and corrupt politics is nearing its expiry date.
 
He also highlighted the recent attemptsby the DLP government to character assassinate the leader of the opposition among other malfeasance moves, which were thwarted off by the grace of God.

​Leader of the Dominica Freedom Party Kent Vital.

61-year-old former soldier, Swiss National Ernard Gerber, and his Swiss girlfriend, Brigitte Muller, were freed in court on a technicality, after being charged with possession of an assault rifle, without a firearms import license; as well as 80 rounds of 7.5 mm ammunition, 97 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 4 rounds of .22 ammunition, 5 rounds of 7.5 ammunition and 100 rounds of .22 ammunition without a valid license.
 
Gerber pleaded guilty to all seven charges, however his girlfriend pleaded not guilty. The prosecution then decided to withdraw charges against his girlfriend while proceeding with the charges against him.
 
On October 18, 2019, a 20-foot container with items belonging to Gerber was opened by customs in Jimmit where he resides. Upon inspection, the assault rifle and carbine rifle along with 97 rounds of 9mm ammunition and 4 rounds of 22 ammunition were discovered.
 
They were not declared by him and customs seized them, then reported the matter to the police. On October 26, 2019, the police, armed with a search warrant, went to the home of Gerber and his girlfriend in search of “illegal firearm and ammunition.” They found 100 rounds of .22 ammunition and 5 rounds of 7.5 ammunition.
 
However, Gerber’s defense attorneys, Wayne Norde stated the following “From the facts presented by the prosecution; they did not prove if the defendant had a valid license. He was not asked if he had one and they did not inquire…no checks were made by the police to find out if he had a firearms license,” Norde told the court.  “The burden is on the prosecution to prove its complaint as charged and they have failed, hence in the circumstances, the matter should be dismissed.”
 
Considering the law, Magistrate Asquith Riviere upheld the submissions put forward by defense counsel Wayne Norde and said in his ruling, the law is clear. “A person who is charged is innocent until proven guilty and the prosecution must prove every element of the alleged offense or charge,” he posited.
 
“He was not asked if he has a firearm and or ammunition license…the police was supposed to ask. The burden of proving its case never shifts and if they fail to prove, the case falls, notwithstanding the guilty plea,” Riviere stated.
 
The police, he said, never asked Gerber if he had a firearm license and so he said nothing. “The court is not at liberty to assume…the prosecution must prove its case.He is under no obligation to provide incriminating evidence against him. In criminal law, there is no room for speculation,” the Magistrate said.

Government has presented plans for some 156 residential  units and some 32 shops for persons of Roseau.
PM Roosevelt Skerrit made the announcement at a town hall meeting last night.

PM Roosevelt Skerrit
Meantime Representative Christopher Timmins of Montreal Management Consultants, the company contracted for this project says the structural drawings for the said project are already done.

​Christopher Timmins of Montreal Management Consultants.

​Dominica has signed a new economic grant agreement with China to the tune of US$50M.
The money is to aid Dominica with recovery efforts.
China's Ambassador to Dominica is Lu Khun. 

China's Ambassador to Dominica Lu Khun
Meanwhile, PM Roosevelt Skerrit has expressed thanks to the republic of China for this and its continued support.

​PM Roosevelt Skerrit.

Minister for Education Petter St Jean has urged youth to be active participants in nation building.
He says young people can be powerful contributors to solving some of the country's most pressing problems.
He was addressing the Annual Northern District Youth Rally at the Benjamin's Park in Portsmouth Monday.

​Minister for Education, Petter St Jean
Meantime Featured Speaker at the Youth Rally Novenia Isaac says Dominicans must be united, to conquer hurdles which will inevitably present themselves.

Featured Speaker at the Annual Northern District Youth Rally Novenia Isaac
Meanwhile Mayor of Portsmouth Titus Francis has made a call for patriotism.

​He says to develop the future generation it is necessary to ensure they understand what love for country is.

​Mayor of Portsmouth, Titus Francis.

​During his performance on night three of the 21st edition of the World Creole Music Festival (WCMF), Motto, a St Lucian Bouyon Artiste, whose legal name is Lashley Wendel Winter, ended up changing the origination of one of Dominica’s Genres, Bouyon, to something he said came from St. Lucia.
 
However, Motto has since then apologized for what he claims was a slight error of wording and was caught up in the excitement of his performance
 
According to Motto what he wanted to say was St Lucia is influenced largely by Dominica’s Bouyon music.
 
“I would like to apologize to the people of Dominica for my slight glitch of words last night at the World Creole Fest,” he said. “…After my little speech in [an] attempt to unite bouyon music, I wrongly stated bouyon started in St Lucia where I obviously meant to say Dominica,” he explained.
 
Motto said his remarks should not be viewed as any disrespect to anyone.