Prominent UWI academic Professor Don Marshall has warned Caribbean governments against using force to quell public dissent following violent clashes in Dominica, where police used tear gas and rubber bullets against opposition protesters.
His remarks followed the violent dispersal of protests in Roseau, where police moved to break up an opposition demonstration against three controversial electoral reform bills.
The demonstration, organised by opposition groups, sought to challenge the contents of the proposed legislation, which, according to Professor Marshall, does not fully incorporate recommendations from previous electoral reform reports by the Commonwealth and retired Caribbean jurist Sir Dennis Byron.
Professor Marshall, the director and senior research fellow of the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) told Barbados TODAY he was deeply disturbed by the turn of events, stressing that the response by Dominican authorities should serve as a warning to the wider Caribbean.
“I am disturbed by developments taking place in Dominica following reports of the use of tear gas and rubber bullets to scatter and bring to an end an illegally assembled demonstration on the part of oppositional groups protesting aspects—or rather the contents—of three electoral reform bills,” he said.
Though he acknowledged that Dominican police deemed the protest unlawful due to a lack of official permission, Marshall strongly condemned the State’s response.
He also expressed concern over reports that Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit was seeking assistance from the Regional Security System (RSS) to maintain order.
“This is not the Caribbean way,” he said.
“Our approach to dissent has always been one of engagement, not militarised crackdowns. This egregious use of force on the part of the Dominican State is of concern for us observing across the region.”
His comments bear weight as Barbados—like many Caribbean nations—heads towards an election cycle. Barbados’ next poll is due in 2027.
Pointing to the 12 elections set to take place between now and 2027, including in Trinidad and Tobago in the coming months, he warned against governments responding to public frustration with force.
“This is not the season to test Caribbean people,” he said.
“We are living in a time of increasing hopelessness, gun-related violence, voter apathy, and indifference. The last thing we need is a show of force against those who seek to voice their frustrations.”
He stressed that in times of political and economic uncertainty, governments should embrace dialogue and inclusion rather than suppression.
“It will be ill-advised for crackdowns on the right to assembly or dissent. Now is not the time. Facilitating outlets for people to express themselves and ensuring they are accommodated in inclusive governance arrangements is the more appropriate response,” he said.
Marshall also urged regional law enforcement to exercise caution in handling organised demonstrations, warning against the tendency to treat every protest as a potential riot.
“Our police services are trained to reassure and maintain order, not to escalate tensions,” he noted.
“The tear-gassing of ordinary demonstrators—that’s not on.”
The university professor cautioned that heavy-handed responses to public dissent could have serious consequences, not just for Dominica but for other Caribbean nations where frustrations are mounting.
“We really don’t need images strewn across social media of enforcement authorities using excessive force,” he said.
“That can only provoke a response from ordinary citizens that will threaten law and order.”
His message to Barbadian authorities was clear: avoid responding to public frustration with force.
“Inclusive governance is the only sustainable response. Facilitating outlets for people to express themselves, rather than treating all organised dissent as a riot, is critical to maintaining stability,” he said.
Professor Marshall urged Caribbean leaders to listen to their people and resist the temptation to silence dissent through intimidation or force.
“Caribbean people are watching,” he warned.
“Now is not the season to test them.”
shannamoore@barbadostoday.bb
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