A new political movement, dubbed ‘Movement for the Restoration of Democracy’ (MRD), has announced that it will be sending a delegation to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Economic Union Treaty signing in St. Kitts. The group intends to sensitize Caribbean officials about alleged fraudulent activities during Dominica’s recently held general elections.
Opposition parties, independent candidates and other concerned citizens came together, following the December 18 elections, to form the MRD. Hector John, Judith Pestaina, Norris Prevost, Edison James, Ron Green, Sam Raphael, Warshwoa Douglas, Nigel Francis and Attorney-at-law Singoalla Blomquist-Williams are members of the coordinating committee.
Spokesperson for the committee, Singoalla Blomquist-Williams, told Dominica News Online that two members of the United Workers Party, elected to parliament, and one political candidate from the Dominica Freedom Party will make up the St. Kitts delegation.
“It was discussed that they would go up to the OECS to voice their discontentment with what happened here,” she noted.
Williams said the committee was formed on Sunday.
According to United Workers’ Party (UWP) leader Ron Green, the MRD was created to promote the return to rule of law and representative democracy in Dominica.
Opposition parties claimed that overseas voters were bribed by the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) to return home to vote. According to reports, flights were chartered from the US, UK and other Caribbean islands with Dominicans based abroad. During the election campaign, members of the opposition also protested for fair access to the media and the implementation of Electoral Reform.
“The MRD will seek to inform Dominicans at home and abroad as well as the international community on the massive acts of bribery and corruption surrounding the December 18th 2009 General Elections as well as other issues of corruption related to good governance and rule of law in Dominica,” a press release stated.
The countries making up the OECS comprise Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, St. Kitts and Nevis and Montserrat. The signing ceremony of the OECS Economic Union Treaty is carded for 5:00 pm today.
The less you know better you sleep
Willingly I accept. In my opinion, it is an interesting question, I will take part in discussion. Together we can come to a right answer.
MRD need the rest of the world to knowall is not well in Dominica.
If the MRD had gone on a mission to Iran , the rest of the world would get it on CNN
Reaching out to the OECS is better than doing like PJ !
If there are more Dominicans out than those that are in, something is wrong somewhere. We Dominicans are fighting each other, But those that in power and want to be in power, they are the ones we have to pressure. Whether you are for them or against them. They don’t care. They are FATENING and we are getting MEG.
We need more development in the country ! more work! cost of living is too sky high! The customs need overhauling ! Those are some the issues they need to give hid to make us HAPPY!
I hope the Mad Rugged and Druged group give Dominicans favourable and truthful results that transpired in St. Kitts because I know they did not get permission to do their nonsense in the people country. These men are the same me who usually come to speak on Labour Party platform and later tell them stop medling in Dominica’s affairs today you begging these same me tolisten to you.
18 on the 18th/12/2009 then stay away from parliment and we will have by-elections and whe will make is 21 so be careful..Satisfy with your defeat and sit down and start plannikng strategies for 2020.
I’m from Roseau and I can challenge the votes in Roseau and put Prevost out these 3 votes he won by are people registered in roseau that are not resident in Roseau, but have relatives living in roseau and they registered on this address. I have proof and can definitely proof it in court. So fellas do play with fire.
These people really need to stop. LET ME SAY YOU DO NOT REPRESENT ME AS A DOMINICAN.
I was in the Bank yesterday in a Foreign Country and two BIG GROWN DOminican women were there talking about how Skerritt had to win the election by any cost, and one in particular said to the other lady that neither she nor her has any right to go to Dominica to vote when she is not living there fo so long.
WELL MAM, that is your business if you don’t have rights. BUT EVERY DOLLAR I MAKE that these people do not take in taxes, social security, bills, etc, it is going to Dominica RCCU. It may not be much, but every dollar counts, and mine is sure fattening up my Account for my return to my country soon.
You people are out of place to say these kinds of things. I WAS EXTREMELY DISGUSTED, especially as many people tuned in to listen to them aand they were very unaware.
But the way these MRD or whomever are operating maybe there will not be a Dominica for me to return to. Please stop embarrassing us as Dominicans please stop.
Your speech sounds foolish, your ideas sound foolish and most of all, you all are supposed to be intelligent folks who know better.
eddison james must first refom himself before he can talk of democracy reformation edison james is the biggest threat to democracy in dominica.we say never again to uwp,,with edison james the monster.
I hope these people realize that they do not represent the majority of Dominicans.
If they are so interested in the welfare of Dominica and Dominicans why don’t they accept the voice of the people and make meaningful contributions instead of going on in this manner?
These are just disgruntled losers from the election and no one will listen to them in St. Kitts.
They are wasting their time.
Dear Liberated:
Do you really know the meaning of non-aligned? When Dominica signs the ALBA agreement isn’t that Dominica has aligned itself with this block of countries and has enter into an economic and military pact with Venezuela?
Don’t be naive; with Venezuela thumbing its nose at the US and being aligned with Iran, Hesbollah and other factions that are anti USA, don’t you see the writing on the wall. When Chavez gets embroiled in a military conflict with his neighbors and the USA is drawn in and traditional friendly countries start condemning Chavez’s action what will be Dominica’s stand on the conflict?
Don’t you see that Dominica will be forced to stand on Chavez side and if the needs arises will have to send men to help Chavez fight his dirty war. To prove what I am saying is correct go back and read Chavez congratulatory message to PM Skerrit. Please think this non-aligned business over and be more sensible with your statements.
The FACTS are very interesting! 32 thousands votes cast out of 68 thousand registered voters?
This is interpreted to mean that less than 50% of the electorate gave Mr. Skerrit of the Dominica Labour party the mandate to govern the country. The question remains – Where were the 36 thousand people who did not vote and why they did not vote or what made more than half of the registered voters stay away from the polls? I need an answer from the Labour party political analysts.
Is it that people are disenfranchised and decided to stay away from the polls? Given the facts submitted on the election results it would mean that more than half of the elecetorate don’t care a dam about which way things go in Dominica. Really! then what we have in place in Dominica is a minority government.
In response to the contribution from ‘The Facts’, the answers to your questions (4 & 5) is pretty straight forward. Their agenda is first of all ‘power’ by whatever means and the financing is also a ‘no brainer’, …… You have to realise that Skerritt maintained a non-aligned foreign policy which made it possible for Dominica/Dominicans to benefit from aid from China, Venezuela (Chavez) and Cuba. Although the Americans since 9/11 have neglected the Caribbean and focused all of their resources on wars in the Middle East, Uncle Sam is at pains to see the influence that the likes of Chavez, Castro and the Chinese have on small countries like Dominica, right on their doorsteps. They were hoping that the election would take care of this little problem since they were expecting the Dominican electorate to vote out Skerritt. However, Dominicans were not fooled by all the lies that the opposition parties bombarded them with and decided to stick with Skerritt so obviously ……We will be watching to see what happens during and after the 18 months ultimatum that the MRD has given our democratically elected Government.
FOOLS ALWAYS ACT FOOLISH.THESE PPL SHOULD ACCEPT DEFEAT.THE U.W.P AND FREEDOM PARTY MOUNTED A STUPID CAMPAIGN BY ATTACKING SKERRIT.THEY NEVER STUCK TO THE ISSUES.THEY NEEDED TO SAY IF LABOUR IS GIVING YOU 10 WE CAN GIVE YOU 15 BY DOING THIS AND THAT.THIS IS WHAT WE NEDDED TO HEAR FROM THEM IN ORDER TO PURSUADE US TO VOTE FOR THEM.NOW THEY’VE LOST THEY ARE SOUR.HAVE YOURSELVES TO BLAME GUYS NOT SKERRIT AND IRREGULARITIES IN ELECTION.THE 6 THOUSAND SUPPORTERS UWP LOST FROM THE 2005 GENERAL ELECTIONS WHERE DID THEY GO.DID ALL WENT OVERSEAS OR DID THEY DIE?NO THEY TURNED TO LABOUR.AND I HAVE INFORMATION TO PROVE THAT SOME TURNED TO LABOUR IN THE POLLOIN STATIONS ON THE 18TH OF DECEMBER.TO PESTINA THERE IS NOTHING ABOUT FREEDOMITES VOTED FOR LABOUR.I WAS A FREEDOMITE.I TURNED TO LABOUR IN 2000 AND CONTINUE TO VOTE LABOUR.I AM NOT A FREEDOMITE.I AM A LABOURITE AND WILL REMAIN LABOUR.
Some interesting observations about the elections and the spin doctors, clowns and jesters that continue to raise their heads to suit their own personal agendas:
1) 32 thousand votes were counted in the 2009 Dominican elections
2) DLP got 61% of the popular vote, over 9 thousand more than UWP who got 35% of the vote
3) 13 of DLP’s 18 seats were won by a margin greater than 250
4) UWP alledges that 600 voters were imported
Some questions:
1) Assuming UWP is correct; does this change the outcome of the election? The people have spoken sorry shouted but a minority is of the opinion that they know better.
2) Who selected/voted for the MRD? We just had an election and did not see them.
3) Who do they represent?
4) Who is financing them?
5) What is their agenda?
6) Do we advance Dominica by launching a pathetic campaign to discredit, distract, disrupt?
-The Facts
never will the true freedomites join uwp to fight the labour party.we can never forget the bugging lies of Eddison James
To Dominicanlover:
How can you be a true Dominican lover and you keep castigating your fellow Dominicans who do not share you point of view or philosophy. I think you should change you Psuedo name to Dominican hater.
Attending the OECS meeting, calling for fresgh elections does not change anything in Dominica. While all the talk is happening Skerrit and the rest of Dominica are doing what needs to be done. The teachers are teaching, the ports are operating, the farmers are tending to their plots, the buses are running. We are in a democracy and people must talk. You are pretending like you were always a Labour supporter when you are a turncoat Fredomite.
nonsense
SHIP OF FOOLS IS JOKE LOL…look set of ppl MRD stupes
I is a shame when supposedly intelligent people let themselves down. It is known you al needed to win for financial reasons. You all wanted to be in the coffers of Dominica. Tell the truth , tell Dominicans how u really need money badly …
Stop the nonsensece about irregularities and corruption. You know this is just red-herrings. You all are broken financially. Tell the people the truth. Stop making fools of yourselves and our beloved country.
In case you all did not know Dominica as an independent Republic is answerable only to its people, and its people have spoken. They voted overwhelmingly for stability and vision.
Those who dont like it, stay away from Dominica, if you cant be postive, then leave. We are sick of your hypocricy.
The LOrd continues to bless our PM Skerrit. No weapon against him will prosper. His enemies will be scattered.
It’s the same thing, said ‘Lets build Domininica after every General Election’ , I AGREE to that, but when you have a set of liars and dishonest group of people, like Tony, Dominicans will continue to seek refuge for employment in Antigua, Monserrat, Guadelope and other places as usual . YEARS come, YEARS GO. Its a GWAYE in Dominica .
No wonder, as Canada puts it, Dominica’s population is SHRINKING because we do not have work here and cost of living is extremely high. Those are the things, that those parties must address.
Come on people we need employment in Dominica and that is the bottom line. None of the politicians have address this issue. The young men and women are falling by the way side doing drugs and crime and all you there praising those jack*** politicians and geting on like idiots. It have families in Dominica that cant meet their monthly bills and feed their children and we their adoring them jack*** politicians like they are Gods. There is only one God and he is in heaven. The amount of graduates that is in Dominica right now it is a shame and they cant find a job to feed their families and we just shouting things good in Dominica, “wah the hell things good. The time will come when all who think that they are Gods will come down from their thrones.
…if the paties had wat money,they would do the same
that was a real rude awakening!
Peoples listrn up and take note of a few things.
To begin with.
Intelligence means nothing unless it is put to good use and produce practicable results.
think of it; every issue that the oppposition forces are hitting this labour party administration with has been an issue or existed in previous administrations. e.g. wasn’t the voters list the same as it is now for the past 3 or 3 administrations? were there ID cards before and was that an issue when Freedom Party or UWP was in office? didnt the UWP pay and brought people home to vote? please i stand to be corrected but i know of not 1 but many persons who were brought in by the UWP to vote.
yea right. at this point you readers may be saying ‘ah ha another labourite defending’ ta..dah..im absolutely not. just a smart thinker and using more commonsense than intelligence.
Ive come to realise even i was and srill am amazed by the skill used by PM Skerrit and his team in this and the previous election. PM could have only done it by staying focused on getting the ball in the goal and that he did.
Case in point: The Ambrose George issue: i really thought that would have made a big dent in the DLP credibility slate, just to see Mr george won his seat so convincingly after all the bashing in the media.
This election was focused on PM Skerrit.. boy wen i heard and listened to the heavy-tops like Frank Baron who came foreward, OJ Seraphine, PJ, Osborne Riviere, Urban Baron, Gabriel Christian, Athie Martin, etc with Lennox Linton in the media against the likes of Tony Aataphan, Charles Savarin & Crazy I said “the opposition stand a damn good chance. Go for it.” what went wrong for the opposition..I dont know, but doesnt all that say something about PM Skerrit that has become a thorn in the sides of our intellingencia in the opposition that cant readily be accepted? What can I say. The DLP lead by Skerrit. What a force to be reckoned with.
Lets be mindful. There has not been a party or government in office that have been freed of corrupt practices or even political and administrative mistakes. This does not exclude the Roosevelt Skerrit Administration. Dont fool yourself. They are well aware of that
Please..pleases stop that shit about skerrit bought people with gifts and money. i was not bought. lots of labourites have taken persons to task for that statement. Dont they know we all are fellow brothers and sisters. why bring down each other even if we differ on political views?
who is to say even that all the persons alleged to have been brought from overseas to vote really voted? Or even voted for the Labour Party? HEADLINE..some of these people never even went to the polling stations for fear that their names were no longer on the voters list. So wat did they get? A voter holiday!! ha..ha..
So i say to persons pushing political issues. Be on the ground, do your local research well and avoid misguiding your potential and true die hard supporters.
Again, i stand to be corrected. Who would want to eat their vomit or should someone consider doing that? and at what cost?
Advise to the opposition. Sacrifices have to be made to survive for the next general elections. You have a good team of intellectualls. Sift out the garbage, regurgitate, rebuild, reform and finally rename to form a new party for a smart, strong and constructive opposition.
Analyst
i must say miss singo you are too beautiful for that, i think you need to continue in your law business
and stay neutral, your 1st surname don’t even dipict Dominica, so call yourself lucky, Ron and them Boycotting the seating ( which they acustom of doing) but they waking up next morning and booking flight to st kitts, oh boy you Guys just no were close to politicians.
No plans, lack of knowledge= perish
18 months = 18 seats
you guys hooked on 18 ?
WE CANNOT ALLOW THES SOUR GRAPE LOSERS TO URN BACK THE VICTORY THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE WON! tHEY OVERTHROW lABOR IN 1979 AND THEY SEND LEBLANC BACK TO VIELLE CASE.
NOt this time. we are willing to go ALL DE WAY WITH SKERRO AND LABOUR. We will stand up to the losing opposition who has no points. They cannot go to the courtts. All the obervers say the election was fair and square. Freedom and UWp won using the same voters list with no ID cards.
Let us stand up for our country, Skeerit and Labour!!
You all cannot be serious. I am not a Labourite, UWPite or Freedomite, but a Dominican living overseas who contributes very generously back home as this is the Place I am preparing for Retirement. Every dime I make in this very cold weather goes back home,and for you all to tell me that you all cannot accept the election as the “PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN”. This is really ridiculous right now. Call another election and this time I will have to allign myself to one of the above 3 ITES and Pay my own ticket and come down to vote. You all have no idea whatsoever of the damage you all are doing to this little island, and to think you all call yourselves EDUCATED.
Give me a Break !!!!!
sorry bunch of fools..u guys are not representing us Dominicans ..the Election done ..dust off yourselves and more on. The majority of nationals voted the current administration for a next term NOT the minority..what the heck is wrong with u people..there was soo much talk and people voted otherwise..
go ahead dominica …next in line ,please try to bring to justice the person or persons involved in hacking d.n.o so dominican abroad will not know what was going on .
Not regarding the childish comments / responses The counter arguments (those worthy of discussion )by the Labor Party supporters is really interesting. What I am now hearing is (1) the broken electoral system is acceptable because it is so with some of the other Caribbean islands (2) That we should START working towards amending the broken system..
“The broken system is OK because Jamaica has a broken system too – we had a feeling something was out of line but it is what it is” – Common guys is that the direction we want to take, is that our mind set .My feeling is that the DLP took the Machiavellian position – win at any cost. A little bit of “shooting from the hip”
Why didn’t we fix the system before the election?. The honest answer should dictate that even if St Kitts , Jamaica or St Vincent imported voters it does not imply that it is OK to do so in Dominica. We must operate according to the laws not according to ST Kitts or St Vincent. The DLP is yet to deny the mass importation of voters therefore I would like to believe that integrity and honesty took precedent – I sincerely hope that the DLP verified the voter eligibility of the imports . The same goes for any other party contesting the election who imported voters.
In as much as I believe that the MRD is a combination of disgruntled Laborites and Sour Looser UWP members the fact remains that a call for electoral reform was made way in advance of the election and that the DLP’s plan to mass import voters was flagged a number of weeks before the election . To all honest Dominicans do we see patterns of voter manipulation? let your conscience be your guide.
The best thing for us moving forward is to be sincerely objective. If we are not honest with ourselves don’t expect the politicians to be honest with us. Some of us are much smarter than the politicians so let us prove that we are not suckers. Our rights to choose a government should not be taken lightly. If our analysis of the issue is based only on counting of the votes then only 21 out of 60 thousand came out victorious
BUNCH OF FOOLS!! LABOUR HAS WON FAIR AND SQUARE..!!
All I am depending on at this time is endurance. I want to see how long the idiotic behavior will go on for.
It is unheard of that intellectuals are behaving this way. The world is taken a back by that kind of behavior. You all got all you asked for, now the complain continues. Do you all realized that the coalition forces were beaten two to one? this is enough to tell a story. I am still waiting for the manifesto Mr. Green, respectfully, can you tell me where I can find it sir? IF not an apology will be welcome sir. We all do make mistakes.
Mr. Green, James et al, you all political career has come to an end, please admit and bow out and go into retirement. I will be healthier for you all, rather than fighting truth. The people knew for a fact who they wanted to ead them and for sure it was not you the three stooges.
At the risk of not sounding too righteous, I suggest that we seek objectivity in our comments to the postings on DNO. At the very least, if we can refrain from calling each other derogatory names, we might yet learn from each other.
But to the point of this thread.
Mr. Green et al prove the point of the proverbial, “Politics is not for the faint-hearted.” Their doings and sayings after such humiliating defeat are merely sour grapes. They should be careful that they persist in their specious pursuit at their respective parties’ eventual political annihilation.
A few observations on this declaration of war (lets call it what it is) by the MRD are in order.
If the MRD did not choose such a high-profile venue to launch their baseless claim, indeed if the election of a government to rule over its people was not such a solemn undertaking, one would be inclined to think that MRD’s appearance in Basseterre was intended for comic relief.
After all, this body, the OECS, which falls under the umbrella of CARICOM has in fact accepted the election outcome in Dominica and has all but sanctioned the findings of the OAS and CARICOM observer missions both having given their blessings to a well-run election season in Dominica.
The world knows that, while not operating under this brand new nome de guerre, individual members of the newly formed MRD loudly called for – some would say, demanded – elections NOW! knowing full well that there were no voter registration ID cards in place, no scrubbing of the voters’ list, and that plans of bringing in and allowing non-resident Dominicans to vote was in full swing.
The latter point was loudly pronounced by none other than Mr. Lennox Linton, himself a seasoned UWP political operative, who modeling American talk show hosts Bill O’Riley of Fox News, or Rachel Maddow of MSNBC on his program, “Between You and Me,” heard on Q95.FM on Saturday afternoon, a few short weeks before the polls, laid bare the nuts and bolts of the Labor Party’s campaign strategy.
Once the date for election was sort, Mr. Linton called his program from his vacation in early December and outlined the entire Labor Party electioneering machinery, calling it “corrupt.” He cited the names and times of planeloads of individuals bound for Dominica just to cast their “illegal” vote. According to Linton, more than $21,000,000 was set aside for the DLP campaign season.
No one knowingly supports a corrupt electoral process. But make no mistake, elections irregularities do occur in every election – sometimes to a lesser or greater degree. That is not to justify any deliberate breach of election law, whether by the ruling party or by its opposition. The point is that, by virtue of us being human, mistakes are inevitable. Even in an election.
The DRM’s charge that the sum of its parts did not get fair access to DBS radio during the campaign is a red herring. If it were to be honest, the DRM cannot with a straight face say that DBS provided a platform for Labor Party political campaign only – as was the case in the 2005 polls.
Should DBS have taken the stance of not ceding its airwaves to all and sundry to promote their political platforms during the three-week campaign? Absolutely not. There, the DRM have a prima facie case, even, to demand an inquiry into DBS for its stance during the campaign. But to assume that because the radio station, as a pseudo-government entity, wholly responsible for its own administration, acted on the instruction of the government is unfair, to say the least.
Yet, there is no principal so vaunted and that evokes the real essence of democracy than the right of any citizen to freely express themselves. However, with rights come responsibilities. In Dominica, many of our citizens express this right without fear of impunity, even if making the wildest, unsubstantiated allegations.
What has now become customary is that when parties in the MRD feel wronged, they pursue extra-judiciary responses and remedies for any perceived injustice. They choose to grand-stand through press conferences, and/or demonstrations. For this and other reasons, it is hard to take the DRM seriously.
Mature statesmen, if they have proof that the electoral regulations were violated, would immediately and vigorously pursue the facts. They would enlist the lawyers in their midst to thoroughly scrutinize and review the electoral laws relative to their complete and faithful execution on election day. They would carefully catalogue any and all breaches of the law. Thoroughly investigate and pursue the evidence wherever it leads to and then seek redress of their claims in the courts.
Instead, the DRM’s now famous strategy is first muddy the issues, then obstruct and disrupt governance. This is irresponsible behavior.
More disturbing is the cellar position to which the DRM and its membership have chosen to relegate the opinions of Dominicans in their choice of who would lead them for the next five years. You listen to the DRM and recognize their wholesale condemnation of Dominicans as political stooges.
In the collective minds of the DRM’s members, Dominicans are political ignoramuses. The DRM and its adherents would have us believe that the Dominican electorate is not smart enough to choose wisely. They are easily bought and sold (a sheet of galvanize here, a handout there). The way they tell it, Dominicans’ ignorant choice of a Labor Party government will prove cataclysmic. Hell will rain! Woe be onto the nation!
The DRM can still be a force for much needed electoral reform in Dominica. As the observer missions reckoned, much work needs to be done in strengthening Dominican democracy. The new entity has its heart in the right place, i.e., safe-guarding the democratic electoral process in Dominica. Now, the organization needs to use its collective brains to advocate for genuine electoral reform along the following lines: insisting on cleaning up the existing voters’ list, on instituting a national ID card, on embarking on some model of campaign finance reform (that would enable freer dissemination of political views island wide), and on clarifying voters’ eligibility as to who can vote, how, when and where.
Calls for a redoing of the elections, without clear and unambiguous evidence of corruption, is dangerous and premature at best. Go do the investigation. Where proof surfaces that the election was rigger, take it to the courts.
It has not yet been said, Mr. Green and company that Mr. Skerritt has bought the judiciary too. Otherwise, God help us!
Why are the opposition people talking about voters list over populated, and about 30% of the list did not vote? Even some so called educated politicians are using that. We are ignorant of our history. Dominica, like Jamaica and Guyana have the same problem of having voters lists that does not reflect votes cast on election day. These caribbean countries in the last 30 years have suffered from mass migration, where 50% of their population have migrated to other lands. Most of those people were registered voters. 90% of these people do not return to vote, so you must have more people on the list not voting because they are absent.
In the 1980 election there was a big voters registratio drive done by the freedom party, most of those people are no longer in Dominica. Almost 70% of the people who voted Freedom in 1980 are out of of Dominica today. The 30% still living home have moved to Labour, that is why the new freedom have no hope, they have to start from the groud to build are new party with a new image not a joining with UWP, a party of hatred and Skero jealousy.
I left Dominica in the 80s, when i return home, most of the people i went to school with are no longer in Dominica. Most of the communities in the country areas are dying because people have moved to the town areas and most have migrated to other countries. All my life in school, dominica had 70-80,000, it is the only OECs country that has not eperienced population growth in 30 years.
Did you know that there are more Dominicans living outside of Dominica than those in, The same is true of Jamaica and Guyana. So understanding our history will help some people to stop the political nonsense of voters list too big and Dominicans coming down to vote. They are Domincans and have a right to. All the caribbean islands do the same. In the 90s when i lived in St Kitts, both parties brought down plane loads of peope to vote, It was the party with the most money got the advantage, no one cried foul. So they can go to St Kitts, Kittians will take them for fools. Both Pam and Labour are expects in bringing people from outside to vote, even gettting Guyanese to register who have lived on the island for more than five years. The opposition in Dominica must grow up and understand caribbean politics.
Canada
But what the hell am i hearing there nah? These people should accept their defeat and leave the P.M and his government. This constant embarrassment of Dominicans by the opposition and their goons is really getting on my nerves, now. The people have spoken and if this attempt succeeds, the DLP will win again and this time they’ll win 19 seats. I suggest that we ask these men to resign and stop embarasing us Dominicans. The rest of the Caribbean and the rest of Dominica will be laughing at you all, when you embarras yourselves in St. Kitts.
Singo, you dissappoint me to the point of dispondence. I thought you were in love with me but I find you openly in bed with Raphael. Raphael, my O my politics does make strange bedfellows.
Shelli correct me if I’m wrong but you seem to be in agreement that reform is needed. If so Shelli then why did we have to wait after the election. After all the issue had been placed on the table for a long time before the election. What does it take to provide voter ID. After all we’ve spent money of things that were not in the budget . I hate to use the garbage bin as an example,for my argument may seem political. I do agree with crying Dominican- What was wrong with the implementing the voter ID. Was it because it was a proposal by the opposition or was it because it was opposed by Tony Astaphan.
Shelli if the Labor party start talking about reform then I’ll have no choice but to believe that the election was manipulated . so Shelli for the sake of intelligent and honest discussion – Do you think that we need to reform the electoral system. Is there a need for reform when the laws are in the books? Is right to import voters who are not legible to vote whether the act is done by UWP , Labor Party or Freedom Party?
Like Crying Dominican said – No political meandering. Lets move forward a deal with the problem at hand.
Shelli note that I did not insult you nor use any derision in dealing with your comment. I wish that you would encourage ALL to be respectful of everyone’s opinion and stop the insult and arrogane.
I would like to move past the election all for the advancement of Dominica. However I must admit that something is definitely wrong. We are walking on thin ice and it’s just a matter of time before we plunge into the chilling reality. I am not a Party pooper and I must say that we need to clean up. I’ve seen blatant disregard for the constitution , from what I’ve read it is also apparent that our politicians are no longer honorable men and women instead – sexual favors for diplomatic maneuverings. This is atrocious. The election process was just a big joke no political debate instead one party after another. Imported voters many of them have no real interest in Dominica.
Can someone tell me why is it not important to have some type of voter ID? – Honest non Bias answers only
Why do we have a constitution and when issues such as voter legibility comes up why can’t we just flip that page and adhere to the rules? After all I don’t think the constitution is as scripted as say … the bible. We argue as to whether or not Diasporans should be allowed to vote. If there is a moral argument on this issue I can understand the bickering but everyone has his or her own interpretation of morality and the end of all this moral debate we will settle for an agreement to disagree. The law is clear cut. If Skerrit imported illegal voters because Ron green did it does not make it right PPL- if it is wrong say so. These are the things that we must begin to teach our children. We expect the same
Approach from the so called public figures that includes the lawyers, priest, pastors . Our leaders must promote adherence to the constitution at all time but alas they themselves don’t honor the laws of the country.
If moving on is acceptance of a broken system then I must ask whether we intend to move in the right direction. Do we intend to address the issue, see where we’ve gone wrong and fix it. Are we afraid of what we may find out or is that we choose to be reckless. Are we prepared to give a selected few the authority to bend the rules as necessary- After flexing the rules so many times the social fabric will soon rupture.
It is unfortunate that the MRD is operating on sour grapes ,I do hope that they are not just serving their own personal MO’s but they are truly concerned about the status quo. As I indicated earlier the hands of some of the MRD members are not squeaky clean but then if we are to dwell on finding out whose hands stink the most then we are mere political play dough. I would like to think that we are way smarter and calculating than the politicians think.
once again we taking allu 4 a ride? we fool allu about the manifesto . now we fooling allu about MRD.
ok the truth is we going to st Kitts to meet and speak tern and condition of our loan we have to pay back.
CAMPAIGN FUNDS
wait !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! where was mrs williams all the time during the election ?wat happen was she death or blind through out the entire month?why now? all the time the leader of the freedom party was making senseless noise never heard a word from u .all of a sudden u are out now ?
any way we are in a democratic country so it is never too late for things to happen .wat am saing is election is over we are about to start a new era ,acept the defet and move on .
The members of the UWP who have been reelected have not taken their oath of office – particularly the leader of the Opposition!!!
While the Immigration authorities will allow them entry to St. Kitts, they will not be allowed to participate in the ceremony proceedings or allowed to protest. And that ios key!!!
The St. Kitts Opposition Party could say that they are invited guest of theirs but they would have to abide under the laws of St. Kitts since the signing ceremony is only an economic union and not the real political union as yet!!
The St. Kitts Opposition would also play it safe by distancing themselves from the internal political squabbles of the Dominican Opposition in the even that they were to win the 2010 elections in St. Kitts they would have to work with Skerrit as PM of Dominica.
The big question that must be answered is this:
Is it statistically impossible for any political party in Dominica to ever win 18 seats or 21 seats for that matter?
The election results of 1975 when the DLP under Patrick R. John won 17 seats and in 1980 when Eugenia Charles won 17 seats did it bring more harm than good for Dominica’s democracy, freedom of expression, individual rights and liberties , and instability to government itself by opposition forces?
The big problem with the UWP here is that the UWP and in particular Mr. Ron Green as leader of the UWP cannot accept the fact that he lost his seat and that he cannot be Leader of the Opposition and name four Senators!!!
Mr. Green cannot accept the fact that Edison James or Norris Prevost can be the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.
Mention of bribery is a classic red herring and I will tell you why – in the days of the 1990’s ….. …….Persons got TVs, furniture, groceries, stretched repayments etc I guess these were not bribery tactics. ..do not have access to these funds from their businesses since many of these businesses have had to close for lack of adequate capitalization and positive cash flows they suddenly cry bribery for they are fully aware of the consequences of their past actions towards the Freedom Party and Old Generation of Labour Party.
Like they say.. do so never like so. And so the political drama will continue.
Now for the electoral reforms to take effect the opposition must attend Parliament at least once which is usually the very first sitting to appoint the many committees to allow for representation of the opposition interest. Remember the previous parliament was dissolved and a new Parliament will take effect in January 2010. Now between January to June 2010 no funds are available for electoral reforms until July 2010. So0 when does the 18 months begin?
If they do not attend as they appear to ventilate then the President has no choice and appoint persons in his own judgment that he sees fit and worthy to take up the task of Nation building and these good citizens will no doubt begin the groundwork of forming an alternative political party movement with the immediate objective of attracting the supporters of the UWP and the DFP as well as the 30+ Thousand persons who did not vote in the last general election.
And Dominica would be better of as a result.
Who are they going to complain to anyway. You ask any caribbean national in the U.S and they will tell u of @ least 10 people they know of who got tickets from political parties to go home and vote in their country’s election. So I wonder what kind of consolation are they expecting from the rest of the OECS. Lets build Dominica people. Enough of the politicking!
To have a man like Warshwoa on all you committee alone speaks of your … To loose by such a great margin and still continue with these allegations….come on now. The opposition has failed the people who actually put them in place. Shame on you guys man. all giving dominca a bad name
YOU SEE LET THEMPEOPLE EXPRESS THEIR DEMOCRATIC RITES .
DOMINCA IS ALLOF US OWN NOT SKERRIT
OH BY THE WAY I BEEN READING ALL ALON GAND WHATI COME TOTHE CONCULSION IS
DONT BLAME DOMINCANS FOR THEIR IGNORANCE BECASUE THE DOMINCA CONSTITUTION IS HIDING IN CHAVEZE CLOSET . THAT WHY TH EOUT COME OF THE ELECTION TURN THIS WAY
DOMINCANS ALAS THAT WHAT WE LIVING FOR
The truth is, as a Dominican, I’m getting sick and tired of this rubbish by these so called intellctuals. Why won’t they accept DEFEAT and let the work of the country continue? Where did all these roaches came from all of a sudden? Did Skerrit use any political pesticide in the country??
Come on man……Let the work of the country move on.
These people are bad losers. They took part in an election in which they had no plans on how to take the country forward. That in itself was a big insult to the nation. That group of people who call themselves opposition must get it into their heads that Dominicans want to be governed by smart people who have the nations interests uppermost in mind.
If they cared about Dominica they would congratulate Mr. Skirrit and the Labour party, wish them well and if there is something they don’t like, work constructively to reform the system. They should remember that the election was well observed by several professional organizations and individuals who all gave the process a clean bill of health. If, for some unexplained reason, the Workers party had won the election they would all be in State House twiddling their thumbs thinking of what to do next. They would be out of their depth, desperately fishing about for ideas.
One possibility is that this new grouping is being manipulated by outside forces who are bent on overturning the election results. The whole idea would be to provoke the Labour government into some irrational response that would spark chaos in the society. One thing would lead to another and before we know it Ron Green and his lot is installed. The opposition should not allow themselves to be used in this way. Whichever party we support we should put Dominica first.
Singoalla Blomquist, …should provide us with evidence to support these allegations. …
The election is over Labour won let’s all move forward.
Hello there
What are you all up to? Really and truly you all need conselling. Get a grip. You all are taking this to far now. Do you want Dominica to become a laughing Stock. A malgres Ca- Singoalla, Spaggs, Sam (So you were UWP parading as Independent), Mr Prevost, Ron and all the others – pleeeeeeeeeeeease stop that nonesence. Pls represent your people.
I was saying in my comment just yesterday to “Spags” Hector John that some of you need to be wiped out from taking part in politics here and now I really see that. You are not constructive only destructive. Get serious – most of our young people are going to College right now and it is disheartening to see the things that you as opposition are opposing. You asked for Elections. It was given. You asked for Election Observors – This was also given. And now what??? You cannot come to grips that someone besides yourselves have been given the mandate to run the affairs of this country. We all cannot run this country. We all cannot be elected. Singoalla do something for the community of Delices.
Mrs Pestaina – you also joined that hate group. Why don’t try to rebuild your party and be ready for the next general election. The five years come and go by quickly. What signal (example) are the older folks like yourself and the 50 60 plusers are sending to the young people. Apparently you all don’t like young people and you cannot stand them being empowered and taking positions that you all are dying to be in. we are suppose to be Ambassadors and we should be standing behind young persons who are willing to serve this country. You are like power hungry persons. Don’t you all believe in our Supreme Father? If you all did you would not be doing all this nonsensical things you are all doing. Like wasting your precious time coniving what next. What Next???? You are all destroying yourselves with that hating syndrome. The money that you spending to go St. Kitts – look for somethign worthwile to do with it. So many things can be done with that.
Nigel Francis you too.. A young man like you .. joining that hate group? …….
The 50 ers and the 60 ers are all getting redundant. Get a life for yourself. Join the Senior Citizens Organisation and I will be there too. Let us do something to make Dominica a better place to be. We have lots of hidden talents. Let us see what areas we can assist. We are advisers don’t you all know that. The young persons in Dominica needs to be encouraged.. You are allowing them to lose their self esteem since you all want to be in control all the time. Time to bow down , humble and let us pray for the Nation. Enough now of this hate talk etc. Power of life and death lies in the tongue.
And by the way the Elderly prayed for the Young PM and the Heavenly Father heard their cry and the Heavenly Father is the one who puts up and puts down government. We need to go the next level of having Selfless and not selfish persons and those who have the fear of the Lord to run Government in this country. Away with the haters. I pray for this. And so this will be. Go into retirement the 60 ers and pray for the Land. Some of us time have passed.
you people make me sick……go make a fool of ya’ll selves and not us dominicans.
weren’t the people here to check on the elections? did they see any of that idiotic points ya’ll bringing
forward. i can bet inside you people feeling like gosh we should stop eh and jus give it a rest. instead of bringing the country forward you all going to such an important meeting to do what? boycott? really and trully is that the way you people want to put dominica on the map? my gosh… i never knew dominica had such fools.
this is not the way people. everyone who went to dominica to vote are lawful citizens and have the right to vote as everyone else. i see no reason for all this nonsense. if i were the people in St.kitts at that OECS thing i would post all you back right where all you come from…
all you talking about democracy and yet all you want to prevent a party to call on other citizens to return home to vote their future government…..BULLS*****
You Damm right, these Loosers are making Dominica look like the Bannana Republic, with there Sore Loosing Selfs. Accept the Facts, and Move On..You all need to Form a Coalition Party Jack.. for a Better Dominica, and may all the MRD Memebers be in Founding Members,
The FOOLS that form the MRD are yet not limited to the following . Hector John, Judith Pestaina, Norris Prevost, Edison James, Ron Green, Sam Raphael, Warshwoa Douglas, Nigel Francis and Attorney-at-law Singoalla Blomquist-Williams are members of the coordinating MRD Fools committee.
Spokesperson for the committee, Singoalla Blomquist-Williams, whom is a Big JOKE, told Dominica News Online that two members of the United Workers Party, elected to parliament, and one political candidate from the Dominica Freedom Party will make up the St. Kitts delegation.
“It was discussed that they would go up to the OECS to voice their discontentment with what they have no grounds to stand on.
ANY ONE ON THE VOTERS LIST IS ENTILED TO VOTE THAT IS THERE RIGHT, THEY WERE THE ONES WHO SAID THAT THE DIASPORA WAS WITH THEM AND YET THEY ARE COMPLAINING, THERE IS EVIDENCE OF THE OPPOSITION PAYING PEOPLE TICKETS TO COME TO DOMINICA TO VOTE BUT YET THEY ARE COMPLAING BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WIN THE ELECTION.LIKE A LITTLE CHILD THAT DID NOT GET A SWEETY THEY ARE CRYING WELL I SAY TO THEM WHO LIKE TO DO SO DONT LIKE SO.WHAT THE SHOULD ADDRESS IS THE FACT THAT THE LOST 5000 VOTES AND WILL LOSE ANOTHER 5000 IN THE NEAR FUTURE. IT IS THE SAME BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO CRTIZED THE YSE WE CARE PROGRAM,THE FREE MEDICAL CARE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 18 YRS,THE FREE BUS FOR CILDREN ALL OVER DOMINICA,THE CUBAN EYE CARE PROGRAM, YET THE CRYING FOUL. THE NEW FREEDOM PARTY SHOULD NOTE THAT THE JUST KEEP PUTTING MORE HOLES IN THEIR PARTY WHEN THEY DISREGARDE THE FACT THAT THE FREEDOM RITES VOTED FOR THE LABOUR PARTY,WHEN I WAS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRIAL WHAT I HEARD FROM THE FREEDOM ITES WERE WHAT PESTINA IS DOING TO THE FREEDOM PARTY IS WRONG AND MISS CHARLES DID NOT WANT THE PARTY WITH THE UWP,WELL SHE CAN CONTINUE BECAUSE YOU WILL NOW TOTALLY LOSS THEM TO LABOUR. I NEVER SEE SOME PEOPLE WHO CALL THEM SELVES POLITICAINS WHO YET TO UNDERSTAND WHAT POLITICS IS ALL ABOUT.
I SAY TO YOU ALL LIKE BEFORE THE PM KNOWS YOUR EVERY MOVE AND HE WILL BEAT YOU AT YOUR OWN GAME BECAUSE YOU YET TO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE AND POLITICS. THE OLD GUYS NEED TO RETIRE BECAUSE THEY HAVE LOST THEIR WAY, KEEP COMPLAINING LIKE A CHILD WITH OUT A CANDY YOU WILL BE THE LAUGHING STOCK ALL THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAVE TO ASK IS HOW MUCH SUPPORTED DID YOU LOSE, YOU ALL ARE A CLASICAL BUNCH OF JOKERS.
After reading this a few questions come to mind, The people who made up the voter’s list, were they all Dominican? Can an international agency or group revoke results of an election in any state or Country and forces that Country to call Fresh Elections?
It really bleeds my heart to see the same method used in the campaign prior to the December 18th, Elerctions in Dominica is now showing its ugly head again. Former prime ministers were used as instruments to stop that democratic process and they failed, the trade Union General Secretary attempted, but failed and in a last news release, he started eating his own vomit, the Talk show hosts of Q-95, exhausted there time and energy to do the same and it failed, so why can’t Dominicans allow the smooth transition of continued progress take place.
What surprises me, is the idea that so call intelligent people with degrees to their names, allow themselves to be carried away by their own fancies and fit in the category of low minded persons instead, and are adamant about that association. Wake up peeps andsee it as God at work.
He puts one up, and puts down another.
If the claims made by all the people above ever work, it means God is not just, but if it fails, it means neither Ron Green or Eddisson James will stand to contest another Election in Dominica.
Bye to you guys,
Serve God and stop putting division in our nature Isle.
OK THATS IT. Our opposition is becoming a regional joke now.. what a joke!!!!
But thats a good place to start since elections is due in St. Kitts soon and in the past both the Government and the opposition have had no issue with overseas nationals returning home to vote. Just ask St. Kitts voters in resident in Anguilla how they intend on getting home to vote when the date is announced?
Lets review the members on the Committee again and see who they really are?
i hope we dont look like FOOLS in de end.
but if what de opposition is saying is true and dere not doing it out of anger they better think again. because to my knowledge all of the caribbean run the same kind of politics.
i’m waiting to see the out come of it.
and all the Alliance leaders who preaching corruption and communist and one state.
be careful. the oppostion leader Mr. earl williams called for IPO and he was the first to be condemed. His own actions condemned him before he was brought before the IPO.
i always marvel about dat.
Hmmmmmmmmmmm!
Tired of all the useless arguments and fighting. It’s time for the LOSERS to just move on. The people have spoken whether it be Dominicans living abroad who came home to vote or locally living Dominicans. There is no law that states that Dominicans cannot return home to vote. There is also no law that states that the party cannot bring their voters in… as long as the people are registered to vote. I personally amd sick and tried of all this bickering by the LOSERS. they are the ones complaining about dirty politics and how they’ll be better and change the country. Change starts right now- not in destroying what is left of DOminica but in working together and rebuilding the country through this difficult times. DOminicans are now divided because of this election and it is a shame to see that the opposition which tried to show how negative the Labour party were- are being just as bad. Its a shame- the people have spoken so its time to respect the ppl. In 5 yrs come back and let the ppl speak again. Until then, do not undermine the majority who have made their decisions. WOrk with YOUR P.M and not against him. Leave the politricks in DOminica and do not make your dirty laundry international…I’M TIRED!!!!!!!!
Again see who they put on their team..UWP and the othere that lost their seats..
they trying everything to get control of power, what the oecs can do?
is only Dominicans that can change it.
So get lost you fools!!!
oh gosh i thought we’d be going into the new year fresh n clean towards moving Dominica forward, you have got to be kidding me, get over it already will you all !!! you lost and lost bad suck it up like men and help move Dominica forward acting like a bunch of power hungry mongers…
Come on, singo, sam, ron et al give it up. “Mummy the Teacher dont like me , that’s why I failed my exam”. Grow up. How long is your tantrum going to last before it becomes neurotic.
Aren’t you guys beneficiaries of the same broken system in one way or the other. You all are simply pissed off that you are too educated, too well born, too well connected to be at the receiving end this time.
Shame eh, this Skerritt has you envious and bent out of shape.
That’s how your poor exploited labourers have been crying about all along and the fellow Dominicans you all continue to abuse and exploit. Embrace the torment!!
But wait I forget this! Is this a matter of the losers leading the losers or the blind leading the blind. Oh Oh!!!!
All too ften we hear about massive corruption and bribery during the election,and one wonders what and why are the opposition not taking the matter to court. It is that our courts are involved in corruption and bribery?
Why not let the courts decide instead of making a mockery and a nuisance of themselves to the regional and international bodies they seek to inform of their grievances. Surely, those regional and international bodies will asked, have you taken your concerns to the court.
The head of the OAS Observer Mission told the world that the election was free and fair, obviously, the UWP and opposition members did not hear his comments, or is it that they did not agree with him, ….?
Those members of MRD may just believe that the regional bodies will boycott Dominica’s parliamentarians and do not allow them access to regional and other forums. Oh, how daft.
When I look at the members of the delegations it is just too glaring, the very persons who contested the election and failed miserably. Sour grapes of course. Bringing people to vote is the last thing that Ron Green should be talking about. Isn’t his daughter living overseas, are the De Gallerie’s of Delices not living in the USA and the list goes on and on. I need not mention the several other people who I know came from overseas and voted for him. Did he discredit them? If not, why?
This is hypocrisy. Guys just stop the crying. Dominicans know corruption and know what to do when they see it. The people have spoken and there is nothing you or anyone of you can do about it. Sorry Mr. Green your hopes of being Prime Minister has disappeared, and with your age you chances of being that only lies in 2020, by which time you would be almost 80.Happy retirement guys.
By the way, Eddison your chances of being President has also disappeared, kindly hope for a change of fortune in 2020, by then you too would be too old, almost 80. Good luck and happy retirement Eddison.
Your bunch of Jackasses just don’t know how to end. had you guys won the elections i am sure that ministers would have already been sworn in so as to commence replenishing those bank accounts.
GET A LIFE AND MOVE ON PLEASE.
Do whatever you guys have to do. We have to restore and maintain democrecy in our country………….
thats the bottom -line. To Hahahah, don’t you worry about who paying for the tickets, all these people
are well capable of purchasing their own tickets…………..
What nonsense is this? Isn’t it the same rules and regulations, election procedures that got the DFP elected for 15 years and the UWP for 41/2 years? Didn’t we have the same situation of bloated list, no ID cards etc.? Didn’t the UWP send for overseas Dominicans to vote in 2000 and 2005? It’s really amazing!!! Desperate men (and women) can really resort to desperate acts.
Whatever you call yourselves (MRD?) you all will have to wait till 2015 to get another beating at the polls, because nobody aint gonna pay you no mind. You just wasting valuable resources going to St.Kitts which you could use to build your new party. In the meantime the hardworking DLP administration will continue to do what they do best i.e. TAKE DOMINICA TO THE NEXT LEVEL!!!
Stupes! Stupes! Stupes! Whats next. Poor my people!
1. You all ask for election you all got it
2. Ask for refund of bins you all got it
3. Ask for Observers you all got it
4. In 2005 everybody brough down electors. No one complained
What all you want fresh election for a worst beating.
Note that these people are all on the electoral list. They have a right to come to the place of birth and vote!!!! What next. What all you need to do is to rally for the clean up of the electoral list and then you can talk…………….
If the other parties had money they would do the same.
The number of persons who is alleged came into vote could not have help the Labour party to win? Its the DOMINICANS right at home who voted. Why you all are bent on making us look illeterate.?
Let us build our Country its ours! You all are now telling me that the Observers report is not right. You all are putting these professional in bad light. Stop that nonsence and let build our Country. We the youth need your guidance – how can we follow you all when you all are misguiding us.
I think you all should assist us to understand the Constitution and stop behaving like children who lost a card game. STOP THAT NONSENCES, ACCEPT DEFEAT AND MOVE ON- IN JESUS NAME.
give it a rest people accept defeat gracefully i am sure the people who voted are lawfully registered on the voters list.Its time to move our country forward
Now the lawyer want to talk she had the chance to be FREEDOM leader she back down… …. HMmmmmmmmmm i wonder how. Accept defeat and move on if all you had the Labour resources is the same thing all you would have done. Is not a damn thing the OECS can do, let the government do their JOB and we will either sink or swim, i wonder who paying for them tickets.
This is nothing but a ship of fools. The voters list is overpopulated and obviously outdated; there is a residency requirement of six months before eligibility. Why not enforce residency requirements, update the list and remove all the deadwood . What is being demonstrated here is the inability to enforce simple provisions of a constitution written by ourselves.