ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC) — Police Commissioner Daniel Carbon yesterday announced a ban on motorcades “on any day” as the campaign intensifies for the December 6 General Election here.

Carbon said that he made the decision after holding talks with representatives of the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) and the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) that also included the hierarchy of the Dominica Police Force (DPF).

He said he had called the meeting to discuss the applications he had received from both parties to have their motorcades on Sunday December 1, 2019.

“After having discussions with them I have taken a decision not to grant permission to any of the parties to have their islandwide motorcade on Sunday…or any day as a matter of fact.”

“I have to take the safety of motorists, road users, pedestrians into consideration,” he said, noting also that Dominica is expecting the visit of two cruise ships on Sunday and one of them “is a mega ship”.

He said both parties agreed, as a result, not to have a motorcade on Sunday, Carbon said, adding that he was informing the general public “that they should be guided accordingly.”

There have been several acts of violence during the campaign. Last week Monday police used teargas to disperse Opposition supporters who were seeking to hold a meeting with President Charles Savarin on electoral reform.

While Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit blamed the UWP for the incident, UWP leader laid the blame on the police.