“There is no justification, no rationale, no argument that one can use for any protest in Dominica at this time in relation to electoral reform.” Those were the words of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit during his end-of-year press conference held on Friday at the State House Conference Centre.
Parliament convenes today, Monday, to consider various important matters. This includes three electoral reform Bills for the first reading only, namely the Electoral Commission Bill 2024, House of Assembly Elections Bill 2024, and Registration of Electors Bill 2024.
Other matters on the Order Paper include a Bill for an Act to establish a Pharmacy Council to provide for the regulation of pharmacists and pharmacies and to regulate the supply of drugs to the public; as well as a Bill for an Act to establish the Medical Laboratories Council to provide for the licensing, monitoring and inspection of the operations of Medical Labor. A resolution of a credit facility to fund the completion of the east coast road is also on the agenda, also the Money Laundering (Prevention) (Amendment) Bill 2024, Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2024, Investment Funds Bill 2024, Dominica Hospitals Authority (Amendment) Bill 2024, Eastern Caribbean Securities Regulatory Commission Agreement 2024 and Securities Bill 2024.
However, The Electoral Reform Coalition (ERC) is expressing deep disappointment and frustration over the decision by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit to introduce electoral reform bills to parliament without what it deems “proper public notice and scrutiny”. According to a statement issued by the organization, after nearly two decades of advocating for electoral reform in Dominica, the ERC feels that the government’s actions ignore the public’s right to full transparency on the road to free and fair elections.
The ERC is demanding that the government take immediate action to address the concerns of the people.
Furthermore, the ERC is urging constituents to persuade their parliamentary representatives to support the electoral reform process, which is crucial for free and fair elections. The coalition encourages citizens to make their presence felt outside of parliament on Monday, December 16, when the bills are being debated.
The ERC contends that it is time for citizens to take action and demand that their voices be heard.
“I can say to the country that no protest, none is going to prevent the parliament from debating these Bills and for parliament to proceed with these Bills…,” Prime Minister Skerrit stressed. “It’s not going to happen.”
He continued, “If you have suggestions we are still open to suggestions, but they have to be sensible suggestions.”
The Prime Minister added that anybody who is proposing protest is simply seeking to mislead the people and to create unnecessary discord among ourselves at a time when the public should be sharing with each other, and expressing love and celebrating the Birthday of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
“Anybody who is pushing that, cannot be a patriot, anybody who is pushing that is being dishonest, anybody who is pushing that is lacking integrity,” he remarked.“The opposition [does] not want Electoral Reform”
He explained that the content of this legislation has been reviewed by the relevant individuals and groups since Caribbean Jurist Sir Dennis Byron submitted his report on electoral reform on June 12, 2023.
The Government of Dominica held a series of consultations where they met with members of the public, political parties, trade unions, business associations, professional organizations, youth-based organizations, sports organizations, the media among other groups, including international observers from the Organization of the American States (OAS), from the Commonwealth as well as the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
“The public was also given the opportunity to review the report and draft legislation on the Government of Dominica website and submit written feedback,” Mr. Skerrit explained. “Copies of the Bills were also made available to all members of parliament on two separate occasions so that they too would have the opportunity to go through it, review and if they had any questions they could post these questions to the office of the Attorney General or to the Office of the Prime Minister.”
Furthermore, the Prime Minister pointed out that he has consistently stated his government’s commitment to presenting these legislative measures to Parliament to ensure that elections remain free and fair.
“In keeping with government’s commitment on that matter the electoral reform bills will be taken to the parliament on Monday for the first reading,” he reiterated.“What this means is that changes can be made before the Bills are tabled for the second and third readings…It is usual practice in the parliament that we go through all of the readings and the Cabinet [takes] that decision in a deliberate manner, because we ascribe the same importance as if it is a constitutional amendment.”
He added, “What we do not want to happen in Dominica is for us to have these Bills in consultation for perpetuity. These Bills must come to the parliament to be passed and so that the Electoral Commission can be given the authority in law by the parliament to effect electoral reform.”
The Prime Minister noted that there are things in these Bills that he does not support, “but in the process of understanding that we have to build consensus, I decided and the Cabinet decided that we will agree to certain things that other entities agree to or wanted.”
The Electoral Reform Legislation is available on the government’s website at https://dominica.gov.dm/notices/draft-electoral-reform-legislation
Parliament has convened as of 10:00 AM.
Skerrat is like a rat now planning his pending escape. Even his own bodyguards are ready to place him under arrest should Valarie give the nod so u don know. ALL criminals have their appointed day to be prosecuted for crimes committed!
Have no fear my people, someone said he has to dive in the sea and swim away when the water rises
but he will not even have the time to pack his groceries for the extended stay in stocky. You see how Assad flee with $250 Million ? Don’t worry he already has his millions but will not get the opportunity to take any more or enjoy it. The god that me and Soulpuss, Hilary, Blessings, Jean -Marigot and Jean-Bawi serve is not a Bajan officer. God is good all the time! 
I what you say is true,you big braying blue id10t the people would have kicked out Skerrit a long time ago,just like they did to UWP.Same BS from you just a different day.That is the problem with fools the keep making the same mistakes over and over again,they never learn and they die foolish.Boss the majority of Dominicans are NOT interested in electoral reform.
When Roosevelt first became prime minister by default Dominicans were mostly enthralled and optimistic by his ascent to the apex position of government. Today, most locals have become quite disillusioned with his poor leadership. His administration is run like a criminal enterprise. It has been nothing but a menace to society.
Here are the unvarnished facts of this:
*corruption is ubiquitous throughout the public sector
*the economy is ailing to the point of ruin
*electricity and water supply is substandard at best
*road network inadequate and unsafe in many places
*dictatorship has replaced democracy
Dominica has become a police state. Democracy has been replaced by autocracy. Roosevelt is a wet blanket over the whole of Dominica. Get rid of him and his brainless jellyfish ministers.
This gentleman acts like he is demon possessed, Lets hope the puppet ministers do something before Diminica goes to the abyss.