The Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force has defended its decision to use tear gas to disperse protesters in Salisbury last week.
Farmers and residents of Salisbury blocked the public road in Salisbury on 11 May 2015 over deplorable farm access and village roads.
Some police officers, who attempted to clear the blockage, were attacked by protestors with stones and bottles. One police vehicle was damaged as a result of the stones that were pelted at the police.
After several warning by senior police Matthew Cuffy, the protesters refused to clear the streets and as such, tear gas was used in order to restore vehicular access.
This decision to use tear gas has been widely criticized by members of the public. It was reported in the media on Tuesday 19 May that some residents of Salisbury are planning to take action against the police for using the tear gas.
But police public relations officer, Claude Weekes said on Wednesday 20 May, the police is mandated by law to maintain law and order.
He said the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force has, by law, an arsenal of weapons and ammunition in compliance with United Nations Conventions and international law and that it does not look to having any confrontation with the citizenry as it is “a civilian force not a military”.
“However, the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force must deal with acts of lawlessness whenever they arise. By law we are mandated to do so,” Mr Weekes noted.
He said the police force had to deal with a “riotous mob at Salisbury” and in dealing with the riotous mob, it “used force that was necessary, reasonable, lawful and justifiable in the circumstances”.
“The Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force did not use weapons of mass destruction, chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons or white burning phosphorus. The ammunition used fall under the United Nations conventions and international law,” Mr Weekes added.
Source-Dominica Vibes
