United Workers Party (UWP) Member of Parliament for the Roseau South Constituency, Joshua Francis, presented an address to the nation on Monday 15th January 2019. This statement came as a result of an earlier leak of what appeared to be a divorce petition from his wife.

Below is the full statement by Mr. Francis:

Ephesians 6:11-Let us Put on the full armor of God, so that we can take our stand against the devil’s schemes. Dominica, all that I have is you! My Dominican family: sisters and brothers, colleagues, friends, supporters, well-wishers and political opponents; I greet you with love, hope, strength, and good courage. It is my fervent wish that you have peace, as we all seek progress and prosperity in 2019 and beyond. Let us embrace life together and thank the maker for granting us yet another day to appreciate, love and cherish each other.

I entered the political arena in June, 2013, and my family was right there with me; my beautiful wife, and my two blessed children are indeed the blessings of my life. Today, my family is separated and my good name has been under ferocious and consistent attack. My service to our nation has resulted in profound personal losses as opposed to personal gains, just the opposite to the players on the other side.

When I signed-up to serve our nation, I expected it to have been tough, and demanding, but not dangerous and malicious for the wrong reasons. I have been dealt with a severe bout of prosecution and persecution. I have been referred to by all manner of unclean names; some even try to discard me with untrue legal tags even without any criminal charge ever been read to me in any part of our globe, far less for a criminal trial and/or conviction.

The constant malicious, unwarranted and evil attacks against me have come from all angles. The greatest plot to destroy my good name and reputation is rooted in a sexual scandal of 2016.