Island near chaos

Press, 18 June 1979, Page 6

Island near chaos

i NZPA-Reuter Roseau. Dominica Roseau, the tiny (population 10,000) capital of the Caribbean island of Dominica. was near turmoil yesterday with a big city-centre fire adding to a political crisis that erupted last month.

The fire raged out of control in the registry and courihouse building. No firemen were available to put it >ut because they were taking part in a general strike aimed at forcing the resignation of the Prime Minister (Mr Patrick John).

i Mr John led the island to independence from Britain [ last November but he has been under increasing pressure since troops opened fire [on demonstrators, killing a man, on May 29.

His chances of survival re[ceived a double blow at the . week-end when the Acting President (Sir Louis Cocls- [ Lartigue), who had been in [the job only 24 hours, and [the Deputy Prime Minister [(Mr Henke!l Christian) both resigned. President Fred Degazon resigned and left the island last week. Mr John is accused of corruption, of being involved in plans to overthrow the Barbados Government last year, 1 and of establishing links with South Africa.

The support of the 83-man Army is regarded as crucial to Mr John's attempts to stay in power.

Sir Louis said he resigned because he had been given no protection against demonstrators. One of his family’s cars was burned in front of his house on Saturday morning.

j The Opposition leader, [Eugenia Charles, said she was sorry about the violence although she thought it was inevitable.

Eye-witnesses said they saw a man running away from the registry building as the blaze started. Later, the city’s electricity was cut off, but the cause of the blackout was unclear. Charles Savarin, chief spokesman for the Committee for National Salvation, which is co-ordinating opposition to Mr John, said further violence was likely “unless the wishes of the people are met.”