Dominican President departs

Press, 13 June 1979, Page 8

Dominican President departs

NZPA-Reuter Roseau. Dominica. President Fred Degazon has slipped out of Dominica as opposition forces moved to bring down the Government. Mr Degazon, aged 65, who became President at the Caribbean island’s independence last November, left by air with his wife for the neighbouring French island of Guadeloupe, highly placed sources have said. From Guadeloupe, the President intended to fly on to Antigua, the sources said. This gave rise to speculation that he might be planning to go to England. Direct flights to London are possible from Antigua and Mr Degazon's six children are already living there. According to well-in-formed sources, the President approached British officials recently with queries about his British citizenship. As the President left Melville Hall Airport, closed to regular traffic by a two-week old strike which has shut down most commercial activity on the island, the opposition, linked in a Committee of National Salvation, toured the country whipping up support for a mass rally to press home an ultimatum demanding the Government’s resignation.

The ultimatum expires today, two weeks after Government troops opened fire on a crowd of 13,000 people demonstrating outside Parliament against legislation cracking down on strikes in the civil service ai.J essential services and tightening press libel laws. One man was shot dead, a baby was suffocated by tear-gas, and another 10 persons were injured in the clash. The Prime Minister (Mr John Patrick) repeated in a radio broadcast on Monday that he would not resign.