Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on April 4 urged the Caribbean island nation of Dominica to investigate the apparent police attack on a journalist last month during the protests, which erupted in response to the passage of certain legislation. A police officer allegedly verbally abused EmoNews journalist Soana Benjamin and seized her equipment.
RSF executives have demanded an investigation, stating:
Soana Benjamin had every right to do her job by covering the police reaction to a public demonstration. In such situations, law enforcement must ensure that journalists are identified and that their specific role is respected…
No one should be ill-treated by the security forces – especially a member of the free press. We demand full accountability, a thorough and impartial investigation, and justice for Soana Benjamin
The protests erupted following the passage of three bills reforming elections in the legislature — the Registration of Electors Bill & Regulations (2024), the House of Assembly (Elections) & Registration Bill (2024), and the Electoral Commission Bill (2024) — with bipartisan support. Among other things, these new legislations aim to establish an electoral commission fund, stipulate a compulsory voter confirmation process, distribute new voter identification cards, and incorporate technology in voter registration and record-keeping processes.
The reforms were based on reports submitted by Caribbean legal expert Sir Dennis Byron in 2023, suggesting legislative changes in the electoral framework. However, the Electoral Reforms Coalition (ERC), a prominent civil society comprising several opposition parties, and other critics argue that these reforms fail to address core issues, including reforms in campaign finance and the cleansing of the voter registration list and voter identification cards.
On the date of passage of the bills, the Election Reforms Coalition along with opposition leader Thomson Fontaine spearheaded protests against the bills and stormed the parliament, prompting the police to fire tear gas and rubber bullets at the protestors. Several arrests have also been reported in the wake of the protests. The ERC has also condemned the passing of the laws and use of force by the police on the protestors. They also criticised the actions of the police officer against Benjamin.
The following day, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit released a statement addressing the protests, calling it “misinformation” and a “deliberate agitation” led by the opposition, the United Workers Party (UWP).
Although Dominica’s Constitution protects freedom of expression and freedom of the press, with no previous records of attacks on journalists on the island, EmoNews claims their journalists are increasingly facing threats and harassment from the police. Dominica is part of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and ranked 68th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index.
