OFFICIAL STATEMENT – Community of Dominican Leaders on the Island of Antigua and Barbuda

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OFFICIAL STATEMENT
Community of Dominican Leaders on the
Island of Antigua and Barbuda

CODOAB (Dominican Community in Antigua and Barbuda) addresses public opinion on behalf of the slate of the Community of Dominican Leaders on the Island of Antigua and Barbuda, with the purpose of establishing a clear, responsible, and transparent position regarding recent events that directly affect our community.

Through this official statement, we wish to publicly express our concern, rejection, and formal denial regarding the call for a supposed “community election” that is being promoted unilaterally, irregularly, and without legitimacy by a person who neither represents nor has the support of the organized Dominican community in Antigua and Barbuda.

This activity has been organized independently, including the hiring of a lawyer and a police officer—individuals whom he himself has designated to swear him in as president—who have no connection whatsoever with the Dominican Republic or with the official institutions that represent our community abroad. He personally selected the judges for said election. It is important to clearly state that the Consulate General of the Dominican Republic on the island of Antigua and Barbuda has not been notified nor has it granted any authorization, nor has the Dominican Embassy or any other official entity representing our community. Likewise, the governmental offices of Antigua and Barbuda are also unaware of these elections, since any activity of a community or representative nature of a foreign country must have proper validation from the corresponding authorities, both from the country of origin and the host country.

Consequently, any electoral process promoted under these conditions is entirely devoid of legal, institutional, and community validity.

This committee, on behalf of the Dominican community on the island of Antigua and Barbuda, categorically denies the existence of such elections and declares that it does not support or recognize them, as they do not comply with the regulations, rules, and legal frameworks established by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda or by the Dominican Republic. The only legitimate path for any community election process must be carried out in accordance with current laws and through a process that is previously agreed upon, organized, and approved by the corresponding authorities.

We issue a clear and responsible call to the entire Dominican community residing in Antigua and Barbuda not to participate in this activity, as it has no legal or representative validity, and participation could lead to confusion or manipulation.

It is even more concerning that the person promoting this process has engaged in practices of intimidation and psychological pressure, publicly stating that those who attend but do not support him at the event scheduled for January 11 at the Multipurpose Cultural and Exhibition Centre could be arrested, falsely alleging that there will be police presence and authorities to detain those who do not support him. These statements are serious, irresponsible, and false, and are intended to instill fear, coercion, and psychological pressure on Dominican citizens, violating their peace of mind, dignity, and right to decide freely. He has stated this publicly on social media platforms, such as Facebook Live.

These actions are part of a strategy of manipulation, misinformation, and confusion, disseminated through social media and other channels, with the aim of dividing the Dominican community and also creating uncertainty within the Antiguan community.

Additionally, we denounce that numerous individuals were induced to take photographs and sign documents under false pretenses, being told that such signatures were necessary to receive hams during the month of December. These signatures were later improperly used to claim alleged political or community support.

It should be recalled that this same individual attempted last year—an effort that was a complete failure—to divide a historic celebration of Dominican Independence on the island of Antigua and Barbuda, an event that has been continuously organized, coordinated, and recognized since 2003–2004, generating confusion and unnecessary tensions within our community at that time. Unfortunately, the same pattern is now being repeated, with even more delicate consequences.

We firmly reiterate that this person has self-proclaimed himself president of the Dominican community, without having been elected through a democratic, transparent, participatory, and legitimate process. The Dominican community in Antigua and Barbuda does not recognize or accept him as its representative.

From our organization, we reaffirm that the only legitimate way to elect community representatives is through an open general assembly, with the participation of all Dominicans residing in Antigua and Barbuda, in a transparent, inclusive process duly supervised, with the presence of the competent authorities, namely those of the Dominican Republic and Antigua and Barbuda. The repeated refusal to convene a general assembly clearly demonstrates the lack of real and majority support.

For all the foregoing reasons, we make a respectful but firm call to the competent authorities to take the necessary measures and put a stop to these types of practices, which only seek to manipulate, divide, intimidate, and deceive both the Dominican community and the Antiguan community.

Our community deserves order, respect, unity, and legitimate representation, based on truth, transparency, legality, and the common good.

This person who has self-proclaimed himself leader of the Dominican community in Antigua and Barbuda does so because he fears holding a meeting with the entire community. As he claims that the community supports him, there would be no problem for him to win. For this reason, he is manipulating these elections that have no validity, because he knows that the community neither wants him nor supports him. His objective is to show the Antiguan community that he is a leader, when the community has neither accepted nor wants him as such.

Sincerely,
Manuel Melenciano Herrera
On behalf of the
Slate of the Community of Dominican Leaders
on the Island of Antigua and Barbuda

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