Candidates who want to be elected to Dominica’s Parliament will begin the formal process of doing so today since it is Nomination Day.
The process begins at 9:00 am and ends at 4:00 pm.
Candidates are expected to present themselves to returning officers in their respective consistuencies with six electors from their consituencies in order to be nominated.
“On Nomination Day the returning officers are required to be available in their designated offices to recieve nomination from candidates who present themeselves,” chairman of the Electoral Commission, Gerald Burton, explained to state-owned DBS Radio.
The candidates are expected to fill out the nomination forms and sign the necessary statutory declarations as required by law, according to Burton.
“The returning officers would verify and ensure that the nomination documents are in order as stipulated by law,” he said.
Additionally each candidate is expected to make a deposit of $500, which at the end of the day is deposited in the treasury.
When all the documents are in order, the information is then sent to the Electoral Office where the process of preparing the ballot papers with those who had been properly nominated printed on them.
“Part of the requirement of the law is that you have to make a statutory declaration that indicates that in fact you are a person that is properly qualified to nominated as a candidate in Dominica,” Burton said.
Over 40 candidates from both major political parties, including some indepedent candidates, are expected to be nominated.
General election will be held in Dominica on December 8.
when is DNO gona clarify for us ‘why the DLP is still operating as if they are currently Gov’t officials’?
All government officials, ministers and the Prime Minister are still very much in their position until another Prime Minister and Minister is appointed to replace them. Technically speaking, the PM must resign FOLLOWING the results of the general elections and to make way for the incoming Prime Minister. A strange arrangement since in the last two elections, the outgoing Prime Minister was also the incoming PM. I suspect the same scenario is in place for a third time repeat. The Ministers will no longer hold office after the PM has resigned.
Where the outgoing Prime Minister is different to the incoming Prime Minister, the President will arrange with the outgoing Prime Minister a suitable date and time that is convenient to the incoming Prime Minister to tender his (outgoing) resignation within a very short space of time to minimize on the vacancy that will exist between the timing of the resignation (out going PM) and the swearing in of the incoming Prime Minister. If that is true in this instance 2014, the outgoing PM will pass the incoming PM on the steps of the State House or the incoming PM will be in the VIP waiting room to have his turn with the “illegal President”. Where the oath of office will be administered and “pleasantries” exchanged. Then it is off to business with the selection of his cabinet.
Just Observing you are not quite correct, the outgoing PM do not have to submit any resignation, it is automatic, once his party no longer holds the majority in the house he is automatically out.
But you are correct, the Parliament is dissolved but the Executive Arm of Government remains, as in our Constitution we MUST have a PRESIDENT and an Executive arm to manage the affairs of the island.
Tell Tyani to look it up!!!!
@ Looking In… Sir/Madam, in the Presidential elections of the world’s superpower, The United States of America, there are always two parties contesting for the Presidency, Republicans and Democrats, yet you have issue with the same practice here in tiny Dominica? This election is about Darkness vs. Light, Good Governance vs. Corruption and Sense vs. Nonsense!!!! It’s one or the other!!! Just choose wisely.
Come on Dominicans offer yourself the call for public service is upon us take the challenge. It is not good to have just two political parties contesting the general elections; we need some alternative choices, as solutions and options are the key. As a result, there is a direct need for “Independents” to have the courage and challenge folks in this election. I am all for what is best for Dominica and not individuality or party.
I nominate Mr. Lennox Linton and Team Dominica to form the next Government of Dominica.