Only in Dominica do politicians bring our country to a complete standstill for days, all so they can drive down Victoria Street, without traffic, for 15 seconds and park in the Parliament’s parking lot.
There is no grand occasion, no diplomatic convoys, no heads of state arriving, no global summit. It is just the same tired group of Members of Parliament showing up to do a half-day’s work, and somehow, that justifies shutting down 400 meters of Victoria Street in both directions for the entire day?
It would be laughable if it were not so disruptive and disrespectful to our people.
The Whole Country Stops So The Political Elites Can Park.
.
When Parliament is in session, Victoria Street is blocked for 400 meters. Not because of any real security threats. Not because of crowd control. Simply so the arrogant politicians can arrive without having to drive in traffic for 15 seconds like the rest of us.
They create the gridlock and chaos for everyone else trying to get to their destinations. The street is not naturally busy, they make it gridlock by shutting down 400 meters, transforming a normally smooth thoroughfare into a nightmare of congestion.
Let that sink in:
- Mini-bus drivers lose fares and have to drive extra distances using more gas.
- Mothers and fathers are late picking up or dropping off their children.
- People have to race to their jobs to be on time.
- Elderly people on their way to the clinic are stuck, going on “tours.”
- Small businesses suffer delays in deliveries and sales.
- And the list goes on…
And these politicians? They pull up, park, and pretend it is all part of some sacred tradition. It is not tradition. It is arrogance, plain and simple!
Not One Ounce Of Shame.
Most countries go out of their way to make government accessible. In Dominica, the government shuts down 400 meters of the main road so a few political elites can make their entrance without “inconvenience.” However, they show no shame in inconveniencing thousands of Dominicans who are simply trying to go about their daily lives.
And what happens when they get inside? Do they debate urgent reforms? Do they pass laws to ease your cost of living? Do they address poverty, unemployment, healthcare, or crime? No. They make endless speeches, political chest-beating, and a few staged arguments, then everyone clocks out at the end of the day and heads back to their taxpayer-funded comfort.
A Small Island, A Big Ego Problem.
This lockdown of Victoria Street is not about security. It is theatre. On an island this small, with a population this tight-knit, shutting down traffic for a 15-second drive to Parliament is absurd. This 15-second stretch costs mini-bus drivers and regular drivers over 5 minutes of extra time as they have to detour around Roseau to get where they need to go.
The very people who should be setting the example, humility, service, responsibility are instead putting on a show of power, blocking roads, delaying lives, and daring you to question it. Well, the NEW Dominca Reform PArty (DRP) is questioning it. And we are done pretending it is acceptable.
The NEW Dominica Reform Party (DRP) Will End This Immediately.
The NEW Dominica Reform Party (DRP) will bring this pointless, disruptive practice to a halt, effective immediately. No more unnecessary roadblocks. No more parades of power. No more treating the citizens of Dominica like mere obstacles to be avoided while politicians roll in like royalty.
Under the NEW Dominica Reform Party (DRP), this spectacle ends. No more unnecessary shutdowns. No more roadblocks for inflated egos. No more treating public inconvenience as an acceptable price for political vanity.
This nonsense has to end. There is no reason why parliamentarians can not park like every other citizen and walk inside. There is no reason why a couple of handfuls of politicians should be able to shut down a major road and paralyze an entire city, all so they can avoid 15 seconds of traffic and at the expense of an entire city’s ability to move. Let the politicians park like everyone else and walk inside. Like grown-ups, like we all would have to do.
The NEW Dominica Reform Party (DRP) is not doing this because it is convenient for us, we are doing it because it is right for our people. The people who have had to endure this overblown display of arrogance for decades deserve better.
It Is Not About Us, It Is Always About You.
The NEW Dominica Reform Party (DRP) is here to remind the government that public service is about the public, not the people in power. We are not here to create inconvenience for the very people we are supposed to serve. We understand the frustration of being delayed by things that do not need to happen. We have heard from mini-bus drivers, parents, workers, and small business owners who have had their days ruined by this pointless roadblock. Our people should not have to deal with that, and we will not allow it.
Every single one of these Members of PArilemnt knows exactly what is going on. They know that shutting down the streets, creating traffic chaos, and inconveniencing thousands of Dominicans is not only unnecessary but deeply disrespectful to the people they are supposed to serve.
Yet, they smirk as they drive past the barriers, continuing to do it proudly and without a single word of apology. They treat it like some inherited privilege, as if this pompous display of power is their right to block roads, waste time, and bask in their inflated sense of importance. Not one of them has the decency to challenge this outdated practice or speak out against it. They enjoy their privilege in silence, while the people of Dominica pay the price.
It is a disgrace that these so-called public servants would rather indulge in this show of self-importance than address the real needs of the people who put them in office. They should be ashamed, but instead, they wear their selfishness road blocks as a badge of honor, completely detached from the struggles of those they claim to serve.
Common Sense Government.
The new Dominica Reform Party (DRP) is committed to bringing common sense, practical solutions to governance. We believe in common-sense policies that benefit everyone, not just the political elite. We understand that every minute matters to Dominicans trying to go about their daily lives.
We are not selfish. We do not need to create drama or block roads to feel important. The people are important, and our job is to make sure their lives are not disrupted by the whims of a few self-serving politicians.
When the NEW Dominica Reform Party (DRP) takes charge, this practice will be gone. There will be no more needless road closures. There will be no more political performances. Just common sense and humble leadership that serves the needs of our people, not the egos of those in power. We will not waste your time or your patience. We will work to make life easier for Dominicans, not harder.
Let us stop the gridlock. Let us stop the selfishness. Let us start putting the people first.
Team DRP