Police detained Opposition Senator Dr Thomson Fontaine Sunday on suspicion of conspiring to incite

​Police took Opposition Senator Dr Thomson Fontaine into custody at about 2:30 pm yesterday Sunday 12th February 2017, on suspicion of inciting. For about two days, rumours had been circulating that Police were planning to arrest Opposition Leader Lennox Linton, UWP Roseau North MP Joshua, and UWP Senator Dr Thomson Fontaine, for unknown reasons. Fontaine was picked up by members of the Special Security Unit (SSU), shortly after he left his radio show ‘Lifeline’ on Q95.
 
Just about one week ago, Police had arrested Dr Sam Christian, a member of the Opposition Dominica Freedom Party, on suspicion of inciting violence in 2015. About two years prior, UWP opposition member MP Danny Lugay was also arrested on suspicion of inciting violence. On the surface, it would seem that opposition members are being taken into custody on suspicion of inciting violence.
 
After Dr Thomson Fontaine was taken into custody today, a large crowd gathered near Police Headquarters in Roseau, to show solidarity with Dr Thomson Fontaine. The eastern section of the road next to Police Headquarters was blocked by the police, and no one was allowed to enter that area.
 
Police were dressed in full military gear and had an unusually heavy presence in the area.  Attorneys David Bruney, Gildon Richards, Ronald Charles and Julien Prevost were at Police Headquarters with Dr Fontaine shortly after he was detained.
 
Opposition Leader Lennox Linton posted on Facebook, that Fontaine was taken into custody “under instructions from the Skerrit dictatorship, to imprison him for speaking the truth, and for standing up for the good of the people of Dominica.”
 
Meanwhile, Dr Thomson Fontaine was set free by the police at about 6:00 pm, after his lawyers made representation on his behalf, and in the face of a large and rapidly growing crowd, outside Police Headquarters in Roseau.
 
Q95fm Radio will continue to follow that story, and will bring you more information as it becomes available.