Marigot villagers protest to reinstate magistrate Behanzin

Vaugh Dodds is the organizer of the Marigot protests.

In March of this year, government refused to renew the contract of Behanzin who had served as a magistrate over the past three years.

Behanzin who is the son of former prime minister Roosevelt Douglas has accused the ruling Dominica Labor Party of wrongful dismissal and is pursuing the matter in court.

The villagers say that there is a dire need of a magistrate in their community and point to the great work that Behanzin did while he was on the bench.

Leading the protest was Vaughn Dodds who claims that he is a changed man today because of Behanzin. Last December, Dodds who have had several brushes with the law was shot multiple times in what Police called a gang related feud. Dodds survived the attack and credits the hard charging Behanzin for having positive influence on his life.

In a much acclaimed Peace Conference held in Wesley earlier this year, Behanzin succeeded in bringing together several feuding gang members who agreed to work together and to tone down the cycle of violence in the villages.

The villagers have vowed to continue with the protests until the magistrate is reinstated.