By: Staff Writer
October 18, 2024
The Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force have tear-gassed several truck drivers and onlookers who were protesting in the country this week in a shocking display of brute force against what onlookers have called a “peaceful protest.”
The Dominican Tipper Truckers Association are protesting a lack of work in the country, particularly they are upset with the rates offered for their services on the International Airport Project.
Since Wednesday, have had roads blocked off and engaging the Dominican Police Force in confrontations.
A statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister on Wednesday night, quoted Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit as reaffirming the government’s “commitment to addressing the truckers’ concerns, recognizing the essential role they play in the progress” of the construction of the international airport project.
The truckers have in the past accused the Skerrit government of favouring foreign trucking firms on national projects and from early Wednesday they parked their dump and trailer trucks across the lanes on the EO Leblanc Highway, blocking access into and out of the capital.
In a statement, Skerrit indicated that “a consensus was reached to revise the rates for trucking services on the international airport project.”
“The Government of Dominica remains committed to transparency and open communication with truckers and other stakeholders involved in national construction projects, ensuring opportunities for local engagement,” the statement said further.
Some truckers say they want at least 80 per cent of the work created by government.
In an attempt to halt today’s protest action, police officers dressed in riot gear used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
A Canefield woman and her seven children were affected when canisters of teargas fell in her yard and engulfed her home.
“We have seven young children under the age of 12, a baby just a year old experiencing this kind of thing. It has been very bad,” she told reporters.
A source close to the matter said the use of force is “shocking,” as they further exclaim that force like that is only supposed to be used when there is an imminent threat.
A lot of Dominicans are upset over the use of tear-gas. The Dominican Police Force have been prone to excessive force in the past and most of it explained away by the Skerrit administration as either being necessary or taken out of context.