Former Dominica Prime Minister, Edison James. (Photo via CMC)
ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Former Dominica prime minister Edison James, as well as former opposition leader, Lennox Linton, have been committed to stand trial at the High Court, according to the lawyers representing the state in the matter.
The state-owned DBS radio announced Friday that the Trinidad-based lawyers prosecuting the case of incitement against the politicians, had also named the current leader of the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP), Dr. Thompson Fontaine.
In February this year, James 80, had been released on EC$50,000 (One Ec dollar=US$0.37 cents) bail after spending an estimated 20 minutes in a holding cell in a magistrate’s court after he been committed to stand trial in the High Court on a charge of incitement.
James, who served as prime minister between 1995-2000, has been at the centre of the alleged incitement case that also includes Linton and Fontaine.
The police alleges that on February 7 , 2O17 at a public meeting entitled ”D –DAY OF THE PEOPLE” in Roseau , they did unlawfully incite by encouraging and or persuading and or instigating by words or deeds caused persons to come out , gather in groups or act in such a manner as would jeopardize public safety and order and or endanger the public peace and or cause a tumultuous disturbance of the peace in Roseau “.
DBS said that the statement from the lawyers, led by Trinidad-based Senior Counsel, Israel Khan, noted on that day they incited people to assemble in the public meeting thereafter to commit acts of riotous conduct and breaching the public peace. It said said stones and bottles were thrown at the police and business places were damaged
DBS quoted the statement as saying that the lawyers had indicated that there were challenges prosecuting the case such as the passage of Hurricane Maria , the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic among others, bu that they have reached at a stage where the matter is now committed to the High court.
Efforst to contact the lawyers for the three accused men, have so far proven futile.
