PRESS RELEASE
ROSEAU, DOMINICA – January 12, 2026 – The United Progressive Party (UPP), under the leadership of Joshua Francis, is once again calling for the immediate cessation of all excavation activities currently underway at Deux Branches, Commonwealth of Dominica.
This urgent appeal comes amid growing concerns about the irreversible damage being
inflicted upon our nation’s precious ecological system. The UPP is mobilizing all citizens who love Mother Dominica to join renowned music legend and son of the soil, Nasio Fontaine, along with several other like-minded leaders, in direct protest action at the excavation site. This is not a political issue—it is a matter of national survival and our sacred duty to protect the land that sustains us. “Our ecological system is not for sale. Our heritage is not negotiable. Our future must not be sacrificed for short-term gains,” Francis emphasized. “We are calling on every Dominican—from every village, every political persuasion, every walk of life—to stand with us at Deux Branches until our voices are heard and our demands are met.”
The protest action begins immediately, with participants gathering at the excavation site to
maintain a continuous presence until the desired results are achieved: the preservation
and protection of Dominica’s ecological integrity.
Nasio Fontaine, whose music has long championed environmental justice and cultural
preservation, will be joining fellow Dominicans on the front lines of this critical struggle.
His presence symbolizes the unity between our cultural identity and our environmental
responsibility. “This is our moment. This is our test,” Francis concluded. “Will we stand by while our natural inheritance is destroyed, or will we rise together to defend what belongs to all Dominicans—present and future? The choice is ours, and history will judge us by our
actions, not our words.”
The United Progressive Party urges all media outlets, civil society organizations, and
concerned citizens to amplify this call to action and join in the peaceful defense of Deux
Branches. The United Progressive Party is committed to protecting Dominica’s environmental heritage, promoting sustainable development, and ensuring that the voices of all Dominicans are heard in decisions affecting our nation’s future.