One of the government’s top legal advisers, Senior Counsel Tony Astaphan is investigating what he said are reports from residents that the Chief Elections Officer has been removing people’s names from the voters list.
There have been public calls for a cleanup of the voters list ahead of the upcoming general elections.
“I have been approached by persons indicating that there are a number of electors who have been removed or the Chief Elections Officer [Ian Michael Anthony] has decided to remove from the voters list, without notice of the objection, without a hearing and without notification of the decision,” he said.
According to him the regulations make it extremely clear the procedure to be followed on the notice on the receipt of an objection and the court of appeal and the High Court of these OECS countries including Dominica, Antigua, Nevis and others, have made it clear that they must follow the procedure for objections on under the regulations in Nevis that led to the reinstatement of names on the list.
“More importantly the court of appeal has said you cannot remove persons from the voters list without a full hearing of the objection, the reasons and the decision,” he remarked.
He continued, “If what I am hearing is true that the Chief Elections Officer is removing persons from the list without a hearing following an objection, this is going to lead to litigation; this is going to lead to chaos and this is going to lead to the corruption of the system.”
Furthermore, Astaphan said, “it is inconceivable to me that in this day and age with multiple authorities to back it up, that the Chief Elections Officer believes that he can remove persons from the voters list without any notice to them, without a hearing, without their right to be represented which the regulations required.
Astaphan said he intends to ascertain whether this is true, “and if this is true I am going to have to ask the political leader of the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) and the members of Parliament to get names together for us to institute promptly, immediately and urgently, an application for an injunction to…and, I’m going to use this word again, stop this madness from happening.”
Dominica NewsOnline (DNO) contacted Chief Elections Officer, Ian Anthony, who declined to comment at this time.
I agree with Tony , Ian Anthony the chief elections officer must first write to the dead at the various cemeteries and place their letters on their graves, and voila await a response of objection
Peter, I never know you were a comedian but this proves you too think little Tony is an idiot. Best we laugh at him.
Wow, Pity your ignorance, such comment shows your gross
ignorance regarding the matter. Why can’t you make an argument stating your point in opposition to the matter instead of attacking a person, is this what partisan politics has done to your mind.
To Admin: Why would you have a comment policy and not enforce it,referring to ad hominem attacks.
ADMIN: Thank you for pointing that out, the comment has been removed.
Astaphan has gotten too used to sopping up the gravy at the trough and the gravy is about to run out.
Only the residents of Dominica those physically living on the island with Dominican addresses should be allowed to vote not people flying in on planes the day before the election with plane tickets paid for by yours truly the almighty royal highness minister of finance. Planes loaded down with fake “Dominican” voters should be held at the airport till after the election.
Tony your reign is coming to and end,every long rope has and end,your using Skerrit daily,of millions of tax payers money,so sad that our people are not seeing the bobo you are that won’t go away,one day Dominica will be free,from a tyrant like you.
The biggest ridiculous lawyer, ignoramous, full of BS we have roams Dominica who appeals to Skerrit, and jut dont are of our Dominica but continue to engage in a failed incompetent worse Labour Government we have seen. Tony Asstaphan is a fool and a big Joke lawyer, who for whatever reason is like a Skerrit tac tac, he protects.
“Astaphan said he intends to ascertain whether this is true, “and if this is true I am going to have to ask the political leader of the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) and the members of Parliament to get names together for us to institute promptly, immediately and urgently, an application for an injunction, and, I’m going to use this word again, stop this madness from happening.” Tony you are so damn right, that illiterate, psychopathic brains of yours needs to be examined, but you have no influence nor power to stop us UWP, with decent leader Hon. Linton from winning the elections. Failed immature, corrupt Skerrit goes. Hon. Linton will be our PM,with UWP…
“If what you’re hearing is true?” So all this ray ray and you, Tony, have done no investigation to confirm or dispute names being removed from the list. Ok, senior counsel. Smfh.
My God, if you are a Senior Counsel and also one of the government’s top legal advisers, and these allegations are brought to your attention, isn’t the first responsible and mature thing to do as a lawyer is to write a letter or seek a meeting with the Chief Elections Officer to ascertain the validity of these allegations. Instead, “Astaphan said he intends to ascertain whether this is true, “and if this is true I am going to have to ask the political leader of the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) and the members of Parliament to get names together for us to institute promptly, immediately and urgently, an application for an injunction to…and, I’m going to use this word again, stop this madness from happening.”
If your intentions are truthful and honourable, firstly you should have ascertained if it is true and then you may go public. But here you are ranting, promoting chaos, and this may turn out to be untrue! Please allow the Chief Elections Officer to do Dominica’s work and his job!
A good lawyer check his facts first before sounding his alarming.
Astaphan is only looking for his own supper which he has not earned. We will soon get rid of this Denis the menese.
Is it a case where DLP is planting people in certain constituencies?
If it is, get their darn names out, and tell Tony Go to hell..No more stealing of elections!!!
We need reform now!!!
Skerrit:
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
So Mr Tony have a problem with the Chief Elections Officer doing his job?
Somebody approaches you about X, you dont investigate if their removal was warranted or if it’s true. Just legal action?
That list must be the list of people you inviting to your birthday party so if anybody has to touch it they must ask you.
Secondly, you not involved in electoral , if a list is audited…what business is that of yours?
Remember he was the one who wrote to the PM informing him what the Electoral board was going to do and if he(PM) allow them them to do it that would interfere with his winning legacy so that’s why he is fighting to keep every one names on the list so they could steal another election but this time it will not work, the people have to keep pushing out those who obstructing the process and that includes Tony Astaphan and PM. The people of Dominica have raise up and have taken the power from politicians.. BIG UP TO THEM..
The chief elections officer must follow the law. The law is very clear on the procedure to remove a name from the list. Put your political bias aside, if UWP supporters were complaining that their names were been removed from the voters list by the chief elections officer without due process, I guess you would be extremely satisfied. You all are just a bunch of hypocrites. As far as you all are concerned no harm is done once the law is violated to the benefit of the UWP. UWP, out of office is been dictatorial, imagine what would happen if they happen to form the government.
I wonder if you understand what you read. Didn’t you read The SC said that he intends to ascertain whether this is true before he pursue legal action. You should be the last person to ask someone to investigate an alleged matter. Have you not read your previous comments on DNO. You have accused the Government of all sorts of things neglecting to look at facts and evidence but when the shoe is on the other side you asking to produce evidence.
You have displayed such ignorance regarding the matter with the questions you ask, so ludicrous. I will leave you in your perpetual ignorance driven by your political partisan.
Mary, you still haven’t figured out that your political spin don’t work anymore. More and more people in DA are opening their eyes and see what Skerrit, his regime and Astaphan stand for.
Calling me Mary trying to be sarcastic is a sign of someone who is the imaginatively bankrupt. As to the rest of your comment, such matter can only be decided by the results of the up coming elections. You are entitled to your opinion, so long.
Isn’t it interesting that Astaphan think the DLP will be disadvantaged by the removal of the names of dead people and those who have been out of the island for more than 5 years. What does that tell you?
Why are you defending your ignorance regarding the matter with such a comment. Don’t you know what the law is regarding the removal of persons from the electoral list. Why do you believe that you can use your political partisan belief as a reason to circumvent the electoral laws, Wow, so long for such ludicrous comment.
Gary, it is simple; the names of dead people such as my grandmother born 1890, made her exist out of this world in 1993 at age 103 years old should not be on a any list as recently as last year.
My mother born 1912 left us more than twenty years ago; name should not be on any list!
The damn voter list is riddled with dead people name, and people who are still alive, who left Dominica over fifty years ago.
I have a cousin; as a matter of fact never vote in Dominica, lived in Antigua, and New York all his life; left Dominica young boy in 1962, I don’t know if he is yet alive or dead, but surly his name should not be on any voter list in Dominica.
You all are too damn crooked!
It is not good to thief and by votes, to win elections!
There are about 20,000 more names to delete still. Good job Mr. Ian Michael Anthony!
But what does who registered where have to do with a Rat in a deep valley that eating my cheese nou? I should be concerned about that eating that eating my cheese no matter where I hide my damn cheese
Mr. Astaphans. Let the Chief do his job. The man verified that these names should not be on the list and he dealt with it. What’s your problem? Ohhhh….you thought this election would be yours and Roosevelt’s dirty business as usual? God will confuse your plans! It won’t work this time. Buddy. Tony, let God’s people go!
When the court rules you will see who is doing work. The chief election Cannot remove names from the list without following the law. If he did that he is in deep trouble and no amount of nonsensical comments can save his rear end.
So this chief elections officer guy seem to have more power than even Donald Trump if he has the power to remove whomever he want from the electoral list. I wonder what Lennox and Loftus would say if it was UWP supporters that were removed from the list without consultation?
Our LAW SAY for somebody name to be taken of the electoral list,there MUST BE AN OBJECTION,except the person is DEAD.Any other way is FRAUD.If what is said about the Chief Election Officer is true,he is going to JAIL.
So Tony dont know if is true yet but he threatening legal action
Tony you continue to be just a laughing stock, nothing more. Gone are the days when you were respected.
So mister told Skerrit it was madness in 2008 when the Electoral Commission decided to issue ID cards and clean the list. Again its madness when names are removed from the bloated list. SC seems to be the only one who can see the madness as far as the Electoral reform goes. As the PM said “Is Dominica a real country”?
A-A Mr Astaphans, you are interested in Reform?
Tony Boy what you really saying nah ?
you mean de chief elections officer needs my permission to take me off the list even if I have been living overseas continuously for over 30 years . Man , he don’t need my permission .
If I wanted to be part of Dominica’s election then I would be living in Dominica, and not in Neptune for the last 30 odd years ,I should not have the right to come down and decide what is best for the people down there , then return to my comfort zone in Neptune .
STRAIGHT TALK .
Why are you so careless with your understanding regarding the removal of persons from the electoral list. Where in The law does it state that The Chief Elections Officer can take it upon himself to decide or verify who should be on the electoral list. We live in a democracy the electoral list is a fundamental aspect to democratic elections the removal of person from the voters list cannot unilaterally decided by The Chief Elections Officer without due process.
Toni
in this day and age you want people to vote without ID cards ein ?
don’t you think you are outdated ?
Man Toni
why you trying to intimedate people dere nah
you dow notice people dow fraid again ?
everybody telling you about ”marks in your tire” now wee . people get smart .
That a crazy. The only name that can be removed from the voters lest. Are the ones who have died. And that too gave to be supported by proper document.
Tony you can do or say whatever you want, but the people, the majority of people want:
1) A cleansing of the bloated voter’s list
2) Voters ID card.
Did you tell your puppet Skerrit, reform would interfere with his re-election legacy?
Well the electorate is ready and prepared to kick the wicked MISLEADER out at the polls!!
Skerrit:
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
It is hard to believe that Tony Astaphan is proposing to use the law in order to stop our voters’ list being cleaned up. If he is for law and order I would expect him to support this noble effort instead instead of attempting to block it as it would seriously question his, and his paymaster’s motives.
Our OECS neighbours do not appear to have any problems with this. We basically have similar legislations, so why must Dominica be different and in defiance of natural justice? It does not make sense and I trust any judge worth their salt will see it in the same light.
The madness really needs to stop. I do not believe that Ian Michael Anthony is removing names from the list. More than likely he is disallowing the illegal registration of persons.
Labourites in Dominica are registering persons who live in other constituencies where they think or know they have already won in other constituencies where they are not sure of winning. They are registering persons in Roseau Central with their addresses being empty lots. A woman, her husband and 3 children living in a house in Newtown, this household has one child under the age of 18 but there are 12 new persons registered on this address.
I understand you very loud and clearly Mr Senior Counsel Tony Astaphan, THE MADNESS REALLY NEEDS TO STOP.
STOP TRYING TO STEAL THE ELECTIONS, THIS IS MADNESS
So Tony wants to represent the dead persons at a hearing 😂. Tony, the attorney general is the legal consultant to the government, so if he doesn’t do his job properly then go ahead and take him to the task. However, note that there will not be any election without electoral reform to include cleaning up of the voter’s list. Your buddy Skerritt has had nine years to follow proper procedures to ensure that complete electoral reform was in place for this election. You have had enough time to advise Skerritt on the necessary procedures. Stop grandstanding and be a true patriot and reach out civilly to those trying to enact the justifiable reforms for a modern democratic election. Stop trying to be a part of the problem and be a part of the solutions. Your time now Tony
Tony, I am probably color blind. However I love that picture I see in this story. The color fascinates me I hope it is planning and preparing for your orange jump suit. You would look good and the vagabonds at the state’s pleasure would enjoy playing with you.
What a waste of your imagination, Wow. Why make such a malevolent comment out of thin air simply because you do not like a person views or stance regarding a matter. It shows how irrational you are regarding your ability to reason.
TA vs the people of Dominica. This guy is a nuisance and need to be dealt with. When has TA ever worked for the interest of Dominica, dominican people and thier advancement? In skerrit tony has found a puppet and a jackas he can manipulate for his own personal interest. TA has benifited immensely over the years from the mis deeds of this donkey from villecase and he would like to keep it like that. Does tony care about young people getting work? Does tony care about people salary? Does tony care about dominicans ability to make a life for themselves? Does tony care about personal independence? Does tony care about productivity and whereabouts of passport revenue? I have not seen. All this guy does is spearhead hatred and attacks on LL and dominicans. Even labourites he thinks are roaches. TA keep pushing the black man you will soon get what in store for you. A labour loss will be your demise so you will keep fanning the flames of hatred. Your day of reckoning is near.
It is sad when you just sit behind a computer and express an uninformed opinion about a person. Your uninformed opinion does not change the reality of what it is. Why make such nonsensical statement quote “TA keep pushing the black man you will soon get what in store for you” is this what your partisan political beliefs has done to your mind. Do you think that calling someone a donkey from Villecase can give credence to the change you want to see in the Country. When you write such things it only shows how ludicrous you are, so long for your uniformed opinion.
What are these people really afriad of?
Let the people do their work
it seems tony is the owner of dominica, injunction against inland revenue to prevent them from auditing astaphans and now electorial commission… the penguin not easy papa
“I have been approached by persons indicating that there are a number of electors who have been removed or the Chief Elections Officer [Ian Michael Anthony] has decided to remove from the voters list,”(Tony Astaphan).
Tony, you know I have a problem with the rhetoric in the quote.
If it is my understanding that you are residing on the island of Antigua, are you actually saying you are approached by Dominicans residing in Antigua, or Dominicans living in Dominica?
There lies the problem, how do they get to approach you when Dominica does not have any land boundaries with Antigua, which are separated by thousands of miles ocean?
If the list must be cleaned it’s obvious that all the dead people like my parents who’s names I saw on the list the last time I viewed it must be removed!
I do not believe Micheal is removing legitimate names, hopefully when it is cleaned, we might have a chance for fair elections in the country.
Dominica and Antigua are separated by THOUSANDS of miles of water? Which Antigua are you referring to? The one I know is only 190 km from Dominica.
You are correct, I think Francisco has sailed too many seas but I support his sentiments.
Read my comments which followed, perhaps by then you will redact your question!
Okay because I do not wish to exaggerate let me correct something I said.
I loosely said that there are thousands of miles of ocean between Dominica and Antigua.
Actually the distance between Dominica and Antigua is 190.59 km.
That distance is equal to 118.43 miles, and 102.84 nautical miles. The distance line on the map shows distance from Dominica to Antigua between two cities.
Here is the calculation: 190.59 km X 0.62137119223 = 118.427 or 118.43 miles.
If we simple do this: 190.59 km/ 1.609344 the product is also = 118.427 or 118.43 miles.
Vote
What difference does the residence of Astaphan or the complainants make? Astaphan is saying (right or wrong) that the removal of names from the list MUST follow a prescribed process and that if that process is not followed he will seek redress for these people in the courts.
Residency is NOT relevant. He says that names can only be removed by following the legislation governing the removal of names from the list.
This is the issue. Deal with that. Is he right? Does Mr Michael Anthony,the Chiel Election Officer, have the authority to remove a name from the voters’ list without first allowing the voter to protest the removal and if necessary appeal Mr Michael Anthony’s decision to the courts?
The voter ought to have that right.
Do you disagree?
If you do then please state why.
But wait ner why is Mr that threatening legal action.. what it have to do with mr?? But where I be there ner?
This basic checking of voter’s list should not have been left for last minute like this. It is INEPT on the Electoral Commission, gross negligence and dereliction of duty. Note here I am not even bringing into the mix the legitimate call for electoral reform – just the basic periodic review of the voter’s list.
That this simple matter could not be done to me is shamefully evil to Dominica. This has nothing to do with who you support. It has to do with basic procedures and ensuring our Electoral process has integrity.
The first thing to determine are the names of the persons in question. I would categorize them as follows: Dead, Resident, non-resident.
The Senior Counsel should have called for integrity too and political Hygiene which is sadly lacking. He is right though about procedure.
If dead there must be a procedure to prove/confirm death.
If resident and presently living in any community, they cannot be removed from the list.
What thou doest do quickly.
The Electoral Commission must move swiftly to at least show a modicum of decency and willingness to act professionally in the face of what is already a shame, disgrace and a black stain on the vestiges of democracy that may elude us if this corrosive approach to management of the electoral process is perpetuated and sustained for any protracted period. It must act in earnestness within the administrative and procedural lanes of
Setting aside all political biases, anyone with an ounce of honesty would see the the Electoral Commission has approached this with ZERO Professionalism and Moral fiber. The ruling DLP Government must also take the blame in in full measure- Presiding over this is disgraceful.
Any remainder of Godliness and concern for country should tell the PM to give two months for cleaning the list.
Simply put our electoral system needs sanitization!! A very deep scrub from top to bottom. Anything short of that is a mockery, a travesty and frankly, UNGODLY!!
It is sad that Dominica does NOT have an Attorney General.
It seems to me that this position has been vacant for over a decade. 
If I am wrong and someone is occupying that seat can someone remind me who it is.
. Also please enlighten me as to the lack of visibility of such an important office on matters of legal import or of Governance to the state. Help me to understand this anomaly – for indeed an anomaly it is from start to finish.
Sir, I salute you. We need more impartial comments like this who create awareness of problems. The electoral officer should be held accountable for posting the lists so late. Then if what Tony proved true, the man should be fired. You cannot remove a name from the list without due process.
I think the Electoral Commission and the Government have created a terrible mess that could have been dealt with over the last decade. This last minute approach is despicable. The Electoral Commission ought to have insisted on doing its job under the constitution without overwhelming undue political influences.
What is equally despicable is the Governments “don’t care” approach to electoral reform. Apart from the contentious unresolved issues in the legislation, is anyone telling me that issuance of voter ID Cards and cleaning of the list was not possible.
Anyone who puts this forward as an argument for not cleaning the voters list or not having voter ID cards would be blatantly dishonest, deceitful and malicious to the well-being of our country Dominica.
Equally though, sanitization of the voters list must be done within procedural and legal guidelines and not in haste.
AS A MATTER OF CONSCIENCE, DUTY & GOOD GOVERNANCE, THE GOV’T should allow time to clean the…
Some persons of intellect hold themselves up to ridicule…The Electoral list of Dominica is already and has long been corrupted.
An electoral list that contains more people than there are on the Island is an invitation to fraud and much angst and contentions following any such election.
The lists needs a thorough Purging….
Astaphan, Astaphan… you need to be careful, little man! Nobody is buying your spin, nobody is listening to your nonsense.
Maybe we need to invite Anthony Astaphan to the heights so he could understand our struggle as children of slave masters. I bet you when he comes to the heights of Zion he will not want to return
Alas Tony… without dem dead people vote you fraid all you will lose?
And the airport all you promise to start building the day after electin 2014, where it?