Attorney-at-law Cara Shillingford-Marsh is suggesting that a constituency for members of the diaspora should be established. She made the disclosure on Monday night, during one of a series of consultations on electoral reform which took place at the Goodwill Parish Hall.
“The people who have to deal with the healthcare system, the education system, they are the ones who should vote and determine which government, which group of people should govern them,” she said. “Additionally, I have no difficulties with members of the diaspora, they contribute, they love Dominica. But I do not believe they should determine which government rules over us, people who are on the ground.”
Shillingford-Marsh continued, “I think that a solution to this problem is to create a constituency for members of the diaspora, so that they could have a say. There would be a diaspora constituency so that they can vote and their vote will go towards that constituency.”
Furthermore, she pointed out that on the issue of whether there should be a five-year limit or whether it should be increased to 10 years for Dominicans living overseas to be eligible to vote, “I fully support that it should remain as five years, because that is in the interest of democracy.”
“Yes, we have siblings, we have families overseas who might be sending things for us every Christmas and visiting two weeks a year, but they are enjoying the healthcare system in their country, the education system in their country, the roads and magnificent bridges in their country and they just visit every now and then,” she remarked.
Meanwhile, she said a voter ID card is needed to secure the country’s democracy.
“On the issue of voter ID cards or national ID cards what we have to consider is with a national ID card everyone who is a citizen, who is a national will be entitled to this national ID card, just as you are entitled to your passport, your social security card, you will be entitled to a National ID Card,” Shillingford-Marsh explained. “If we are talking about securing democracy it’s a voter ID card that we need.”
The consultation moved to the Will Strathmore Steven Primary School in Marigot on Tuesday night.
Here we have the ideal candidate for the office of President! And she is a female too. I would even go further and say that she would be an ideal candidate for the next Prime Minister of Dominica. I am convinced that she has what it takes to rescue our country. A real woman in charge of our country, a patriot in charge of our country, a truly educated person in charge of our country and a champion of the people in charge of our country.
Another bulldust from Rhoda. Rhoda, why don’t you get some sleep and stop writing bulldust on this medium? This medium is supposed to educate, uplift and inspire and you of all people is doing the exact opposite,
You for sure are an intellectual pea brain. Get out of here, mash!
I do not wish to get too technical about this, but sometimes terminologies can create confusion, and confuse the very idea that could change the status quo!
So, we have here the term ” diaspora” commonly used to describe national of a country residing in foreign lands. That word seems to originate somewhere on the African continent, meaning this:
“The African Union defined the African diaspora as “consisting of people of native African origin living outside the continent, irrespective of their citizenship and nationality and who are willing to contribute to the development of the continent and the building of the African Union.”
Then we have the term constituency: meaning “a body of citizens entitled to elect a representative as to a legislative or executive position the residents in an electoral district.
So, here is the problem how can anyone group all the Dominicans around the world in a single constituency?
I think we should be thinking in terms of absentee voting via…
This is what creative thinking is all about: coming up with something different to what has gone before. If only we could apply to same innovative solutions to all of Dominica’s problems, we would leave the rest of the region standing.
Well done Cara.
So Hmmmmmmm,who did the majority of Dominicans vote?Answer that question why did UWP lose 1,163 votes in the 2019 general election?In 2014 UWP with Linton as leader got about 5,000 more votes than they did in 2009.There was no talk about imported voters.Go do some political homework,and tell me why did Dominicans vote out UWP in 2000?.Remember UWP spent millions in their 1999-2000 campaign,it was at that time they used hundreds of thousands of tax payers dollars to build the Sunshine village on private land.
Our best in what?What is her claim to fame in Dominica?Cara Shillingford Marsh is a name only amoung UWPites.She is the daughter of the UWP member on the electoral commission,Hillary Shillingford.She doesn’t know the connection between the diaspora and the needy in Dominica.The people in the diaspora vote because they do not want the wickedness UWP did to the people of Dominica between 1995 and 2000 to ever happen again.
I’ve held a similar opinion for years and appreciate that Cara Shillingford-Marsh has voiced it openly. As someone living in the diaspora, I actively contribute to Dominica. I maintain a Member Regular Account (MRA) at the Credit Union and have funds at the national bank. Although I am abroad for work and family commitments, my heart remains firmly rooted in my home country. I make annual visits and regularly send funds to support family members in need.
I, like many other Dominicans abroad, wish to have a say in the governance of our nation. However, I agree with Shillingford-Marsh that our influence shouldn’t dominate the electoral outcomes across multiple constituencies in Dominica. Creating a separate diaspora constituency seems like an equitable solution, allowing us to have a voice without unduly influencing the political landscape.
Such an arrangement would also mitigate allegations of vote-buying and election manipulation, concerns often raised by the opposition. They…
Quite right, Cara voters ID card we require. No if, no when, no but!
Cara for PM. She the only person who make sense in this country.
Ha ha ha another Mad 😡 one loose on the streets my God Edison James, and Ugly Lenny surely has them screwed up
You mean, even more than Linton, Fontaine, Eddie, and Matt?
I think that Cara’s legal performance has been overrated, in my opinion. She may be somewhat “charismatic” but that’s it. What high profile case (s) has she litigate? People are making too much out of nothing, simply because they may like her for whatever reason.
@No Big Deal
You are out of ths loop. Go educate yourself about the high profile cases she has litigated and won. Noone should help you….You all Dominicans are too unconcerned about Dominica.
She is right. I fully agree with her. What is the big thing about Cara? Nonsense. Can you imagine if one of Skerrit’s professionals was dressed like that what the UWP clowns would have been saying?
What about you? True to you because what you said makes no sense at all. Have you listened to everybody in the country? Maybe you have.
With all due respect, I disagree. When the government passes laws, implement policies etc, good or bad, how will those be applied to persons in the dispora?
A simple but brilliant idea/solution to solve the crookery in Caribbean Politics. If a Government isn’t confident enough to win elections with only the people they serve, then what’s the point of continuing to have them run the country?
If ministers of government are afraid to live as ordinary citizens in the circumstances that they have created, isn’t that indictment enough?
A diaspora contituency would serve the needs and interest of Diasporans, but they only get one(1) seat.
It’s not about the country and it’s citizens anymore, it’s only about Skerrit and associated blood suckers. Why don’t people see that?
I fully agree with this woman. Very valid and salient points. Let them stay where they are. Moy concern is will this voters card be issued every few years? Because what is stopping me from getting my card as a Dominican living and working in Dominica, then leaving Dominica to live and work in another country, but still coming back to vote because now i have my voters card? New cards will have to be issues within a stipulated time frame prior to each election. Otherwise it wont solve the problem. It will be like me using my WCMF season ticket from last year to enter the jam this year.
The cards would only be valid for 5 years and require renewal thereafter. If they are valid for any longer, the attached voters list would be bloated again.
A female lawyer dressed so? See the expressions on the men’s face!!!! Awesome 😎
@Ujokin
It’s your mind that is improperly dressed. You like how those criminals dress though. With jaacket and tie, and a smiling face!!! This country is sick!!!
Had it not been for your post, i would not even look at the dress that she wears.
What’s really wrong with it? I just can’t see it!!
@meme you are so right when you said that you didn’t see the dress. I agree, because you are so used to the vogue that a woman can dress anyway she wants; this is because decency has been thrown out the window. How would your opinion change had it been a “Male lawyer” wearing a vest? We are not showing any moral examples to the young. So little girls dress up as adults and you know the results of that too well. The issue here for me personally, is that the female lawyer is not fully dressed being in such venue. Her “outfit” resembles something I would wear at a bar or a beach 🏖
I was thinking the same thing. The taste of clothing as a professional is very poor. Men goes by site. Very unprofessional. The first thing I said. We need to keep all these little party clothing for our weekend Pampalam… Poor taste.
You take offence how a female lawyer is dressed in her private time? What’s wrong with the dress? Absolutely nothing! Not once have I heard you criticising Skerrits chamber maids conducting themselves and dressing themselves out of office. Hypocrites galore in the SLP and government. Sometimes I actually believe that madness has taken over the inner circle of Morne Daniel.
Now, see how unbalanced you are??? Already you are placing politics in something remote.
Are you one of those chamber maids? Come on, be honest!
Totally agree with the young, powerful and one of our best Cara Shillingford Marsh, re the constitueny for diasporans. It is a very vexing matter when a small percentage of bribed diasporans are given paid pocket money, and their travel fare paid to come here in selective constituencies to vote for a selected party and then the leave the same day. They should vote where they live, or come home on their own, live in their constituency for 3 months, and then they are qualified to vote..Sending 1000 barrels to your family, sending them money via Western Union are not qualifying factors to vote.
The election theft must stop!!!
Let me tell you Mr,UWP was formed in 1988.The majority of the people of Dominica has never voted UWP in their 33 years of existence.Tell me truly Mr MTW in which constituency do you know the diasporans votes has changed the out come of any election in Dominica.Grandbay,Portsmouth,St.Joseph,Petite Savanne,where?For your information there are 10 constituencies who have voted DLP 6 times strait.So everytime DLP win in those constituencies is diaspora that make them win?In the 1999,2000 election campaign UWP had millions more dollars that DLP and DFP combined and they lost.In 2019 DLP got only 222 more votes than got in 2014 and UWP LOST 1,163 over the same period.
@Lin Clown
Neither have the majority of Dominicans voted labour party. Didn’t you know that one?They have to import illegal votes to win. So stop putting your feet in your mouth.