Open Letter to AG Levi Peter

Rosa Parks Women – Dominica
In the Defence of Ma Dominique and Her Children
Email – rosaparksdominica@gmail.com
Facebook – RosaparksWomen – Dominica
October 19, 2023

Mr. Levi Peter
Attorney General
Financial Center
Roseau
Dominica
Dear Sir,

Re: Violence against Mrs. Anette Sandford
Wednesday, September 27th, 2023 was a historic day in the Commonwealth of Dominica. When the Parliament was convened to elect a new president for the nation’s highest office, members were privileged to have two nominees who were both women and persons from the indigenous Kalinago community. For Kalinago women and other Dominicans, it should have been an opportunity for celebration; albeit the procedure dictated that only one nominee would be elected President.

However, the meeting of Parliament was clouded by your characterizing the opposition’s
nominee Mrs. Anette Sandford as a ‘drumstick’ that according to you, “did not have a chance in hell to be elected”. Moreover, you prefaced your comments with the assertion
that you had “contempt and disgust” for the position taken by the opposition and that
you would have used stronger language in a different forum.
We wish to remind you that as the Attorney General of Dominica, you are a public servant
and the legal adviser to the Government. You are the representative of the public in all legal proceedings for law enforcement and the assertion or protection of public rights.

Therefore, we view your characterization of Mrs. Sanford was unwarranted and
misogynistic. We contend that the unfortunate and unparliamentary choice of words is
consistent with a standard and growing behavioral pattern among parliamentarians on
the Government’s side of the house. The highly visible inaction of the Speaker with
regards to interrupting you or having you withdraw your poorly selected words, attest to
that culture of disrespect and misogynism, which is fermenting on the ruling side of
Government.

We therefore call on you to resign as we believe that this is a necessary step for the
reversal of what we view as a debilitating and toxic culture for girls and women who
aspire to participate in public office. We are also of the view that your unwarranted
attack on Mrs. Sandford in the House of Parliament is inconsistent with the need for
increased participation of women in governance and a greater role for them in
development issues.
Rosa Parks Women shall continue public protest until you demit office. At this point
your cooperation can only redeem you but will not pardon you.
Sincerely,
……………………………………………….
Rosie Felix (Mrs)
Rosa Parks Women Leader