ROSEAU, Dominica, Apr 9, CMC -The former attorney general of Trinidad and Tobago, Anand Ramlogan SC, is among a team of lawyers who will represent lawyer, Ronald Charles, who on Wednesday had been slapped with charges linked to his alleged participation in an illegal protest here on March 19.
Attorney Geoffery Letang told Magistrate Hansel Valerie that Ramlogan, as well as Shanice Henry, Joshua Francis, and members of the Dominica Bar Association are appearing with him in the matter, which has been adjourned to August 21.
Charles was released on EC$25,000 (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) bail after he was arrested earlier on Wednesday under the Riot Act.
Charles is one of a handful of lawyers, representing more than 20 people so far charged by the police with participating in the illegal protest on March 19.
Charles, a former legislator of the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP), had been present at the protest where police fired teargas and rubber bullets as the Parliament debated and approved electoral reform legislation.
The police had earlier warned that no permission had been granted to anyone to gather and protest outside the Parliament building on the outskirts of the capital.
During the court hearing, Letang had requested that his client, a practicing attorney, should not be placed in the “defendants’ box as a matter of curtesy” and be given a chair to sit during the proceedings.
Letang in making a request for bail said Charles is a “license practicing attorney in Dominica, has never been convicted of any offences, has fully co-operated with the police and is a fit and proper person in society and that bail should be granted to him in his own recognizance.”
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Sherma Dalrymple, did not object to the bail, whch had no conditions attached.
Last month, the UWP leader, Dr. Thomson Fontaine, said he feared “several other individuals are being targeted by the police”.
Several people, including the former parliamentary representative for Roseau North, Danny Lugay and former opposition leader, Hector John, have since been charged with “unlawfully, riotously and tumultuously assembly together to the disturbance of the public”.
They have been released on bail and their matters scheduled for later this year.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, in a nationwide broadcast following the protest said “our nation witnessed scenes that none of us want to see in Dominica”.
The Dominica Parliament had on March 19, approved electoral reform legislation as the opposition claimed that the government had not been transparent enough in dealing with the matter.
The government had late last year tabled the three bills, namely the Electoral Commission Bill 2024, House of Assembly (Elections) Bill 2024, and Registration of Electors Bill 2024, and Parliament was meeting today to give its approval to the legislation that had been reviewed by the relevant individuals and groups since Sir Dennis Byron, the former president of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), submitted his report on electoral reform on June 12, 2023.
The Registration of Electors Act makes provisions for mandatory voter confirmation during a specified period of 12 months, requiring valid documentation for verification.
Dominican citizens residing overseas who wish to be reconfirmed on the electors’ list will be required to do so in person in Dominica.
Voter Identification Cards will be issued containing key identifying information, including a photograph and advanced security features such as a unique identification number.
To enhance the autonomy and capacity of the Electoral Commission, the legislation provides for the establishment of the Electoral Commission Fund and other tools to empower the commission to oversee free and fair elections.
Usage of technology in voter registration and record management; introduction of the use of an electronic voting system; equal access to the media; and increased accessibility for persons with disabilities are also included in the legislation.
CMC/hg/ir/2025