The United Workers Party (UWP) of St Lucia has hit out against prime minister Roosevelt Skerrit for calling snap general election in Dominica saying he has disregarded the will of the people who have been calling for electoral reform.
The party also said it stands in solidarity with its sister party in Dominica in its boycott of the polls.
“The United Workers Party of St. Lucia stands in solidarity with the United Workers Party in the Commonwealth of Dominica in its decision to boycott the general election called on 6th December 2022 by PM Roosevelt Skerrit despite the fact that Electoral Reform is needed to facilitate free and fair elections,” the party said in a statement.
The party said the will of the Dominican people was regarded by Skerrit’s move.
“Prime Minister Skerrit has completely disregarded the will of the people with the announcement of snap elections before electoral standards have been put in place,” it said.
According to the St Lucia UWP, former president of the Caribbean Court of Justice, Sir Dennis Byron was tasked with preparing a report on electoral reform in Dominica which Skerrit promised to table in parliament.
“Recently Byron had written to Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, as well as Opposition Leader, Lennox Linton, indicating that he ‘was working towards expediting the presentation of my recommendation for the improvement of the electoral process in the Commonwealth of Dominica,'” it said.
Despite this, the St Lucia UWP said the government of Dominica “renegaded” on the promise of electoral reform “which stood as a priority to the people of Dominica during the last election.”
“Although a schedule of timelines for the improvement of the electoral process, the draft Registration of Electors Bill and draft Registration of Electors Registration, are both with the government and opposition for review, the government has chosen to subject the people of Dominica to the same inadequate and unjust electoral process that existed in the last election and to which Dominicans raised strong objections,” it stated. “Without the promised electoral reform, aren’t Dominicans being deprived of their democratic right to due process and fair election?”
The party encouraged the UWP in Dominica to stand firm in its commitment to electoral reform on the island.
“We support and encourage the Dominica Opposition United Workers Party to stand firm in its commitment to ensuring the electoral process meets election standards,” the party stated.”Anything less than firm adherence to the tenets of a well-functioning democracy is regressive. It is imperative that the region continues to strengthen its democracy.”
Will of which Dominicans? Democracy in most cases is majority rule not what the opposition wants.
Yours truly the illustrious great and royal highness PM Skerrit is a baby Trump based on Dominica wanting to be a dictator like Trump wanted to be. Just call him Skerrotrump Dominicas dictator.
What Chestanet has failed to realize is that he will never be a John Compton in St. Lucia as head of the UWP in St. Lucia. He continually attacks the Prime Minister of St. Lucia on every front and on every issue. The electoral reform project is a work-in-progress. When Baron is completely done, then we will begin to make those changes, if any, that you have asked for. Got it, Mama Mia?
There was free and fair election in Dominica before electoral reform.The 3 election observers mission tasked with monitoring the 2019 election in Dominica said,the election was free and fair and reflected the will of the people of Dominica,and,was conducted according to the electoral law of Dominica.Who are the Dominicans who want free and fair election,when the last election was conducted with their blessings according law.
They wouldn’t be those election observers that were wined and dined at the dictators expense? They were running around with dark sunglasses for 3 days. They couldn’t see a thing. Are you referring to them? Man, get a grip!
If you comments are true then why did the dictator pay one man $750 000 to make changes to the electoral system? Give a reason why a ruler will dish out $750 000 for changes to a perfect according to you.
I have to come to the logical conclusion that you are incapable of logical reasoning. Some people are wise and some are otherwise. You, Lie-clown, are in the otherwise category.
The money was only spent to show you jokers that the cry of electoral reform was a joke. You never needed reform in 1995 and 1999 but started needing it in every consecutive election that you lost? 22 years and no constructive plan on how you can take the country forward but a foolish reform talk is your refrain? UWP has died a political death hopefully now we can have a serious group of people present themselves as a viable opposition in Dominica.