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Fontaine Released After Arrest

Image of Dr. Thomson Fontaine

AN Opposition lawmaker who was taken into police custody at the weekend following last week’s riots in Dominica, was released yesterday afternoon without charge.

But Senator, Dr. Thomson Fontaine of the United Workers Party says he will be reviewing his legal options in light of the severity of the accusations made against him.

Image of Dr. Thomson Fontaine
Dr. Thomson Fontaine

He was arrested on Sunday afternoon and questioned before being released in the evening and told to return Monday for more questioning, which he did, only to be released again without charge.

After his release, Fontaine told how he was questioned for four to five hours.

“Initially they said that they were accusing me of attempting to overthrow Roosevelt Skerrit..” he said adding that he was also accused of certain actions last Tuesday during protests in Roseau without a shred of evidence.

“All false,” he added. “And they decided that they have nothing to go on and so they let me go without any charge,” he stated.

But Fontaine indicated that he was not taking his arrest lightly. He said: “It cannot be that the government can tarnish your good name in the international community. It cannot be the government can accuse me of something I know absolutely nothing about,” he remarked.

Fontaine’s release came hours after the police erected barricades in front of Police Headquarters possibly in anticipation of more protest action. A crowd had converged on the area in support of Fontaine on Sunday when the Senator was taken into custody.

He was eventually released and was carried through the streets by jubilant supporters who at the same time shouted, “Skerrit must go.”

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader, Lennox Linton said on Monday morning that word was out that he would be arrested later in the day “in connection with “ Skerrit’s bogus story about a plot to overthrow the government.”

Hours after an opposition’s public meeting last Tuesday called to demand the resignation of Skerrit and his government , violence flared in Roseau and several businesses were vandalized.

The opposition organizers have distanced themselves from the violence saying it had nothing to do with the public meeting. However, Prime Minister Skerrit has said the matter was part of a plan to overthrow the government by storming and occupying the Financial Center, where the office of the Prime Minister is located.

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