In a striking development within Dominica’s judicial landscape, the protracted legal battle involving United Workers Party (UWP) leader Dr. Thomson Fontaine has encountered yet another postponement—marking the 24th adjournment in an eight-year judicial process. The case, originating from political demonstrations on February 7, 2017, saw opposition members charged with inciting violence and obstructing justice following vandalism incidents during anti-government protests demanding Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit’s resignation.
Dr. Fontaine expressed frustration outside the magistrate’s court Thursday, stating, ‘My matter has been adjourned until April of next year. Another delay of several months. I showed up this morning in the rain, but that’s it, that’s the system.’
The case’s complex trajectory reveals significant judicial intricacies. Initially facing dual charges, Dr. Fontaine experienced extraordinary procedural developments: after being arrested at Douglas Charles airport on April 23, 2022, via a bench warrant issued in 2018, the matter underwent preliminary inquiry in April 2023. Through paper committal procedures, Magistrate Laudat determined sufficient evidence existed to advance the riotous behavior charge to the High Court while retaining the obstruction charge in magistrate’s court.
In a pivotal turn, the High Court delivered a decisive victory for Dr. Fontaine, accepting his no-case submission and dismissing all charges. The ruling explicitly prohibited the Dominican government from pursuing any further legal action related to the 2017 events. However, the magistrate’s court has controversially continued proceedings on the obstruction charge, claiming the High Court’s dismissal didn’t technically apply to its specific case number.
This has prompted defense lawyers to seek judicial intervention compelling the lower court to adhere to the higher court’s ruling—a process that remains ongoing while the magistrate’s court continues its proceedings. Dr. Fontaine, who serves as Policy Advisor to the South Sudanese government, must now return to court in April 2025, extending what he describes as an ‘eight-year ordeal’ that continues despite a superior court’s exoneration.