PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
At the invitation of the Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Her Excellency Dr. Carla Barnett mounted a CARICOM Election Observation Mission (CEOM) to observe the conduct of the General Elections which were held in the Commonwealth of Dominica on 6 December 2022 (“Election Day”).
The General Elections were called two years prior to when they were constitutionally due, against the backdrop of clarion calls for electoral reform in Dominica.
The seven (7) member Observation Mission comprising the Chief of Mission, Observers, and the CARICOM Secretariat’s support staff arrived in Dominica on Friday, 2 December 2022.
The CEOM comprised of nationals from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. The CEOM is led by Ms. Fern Narcis-Scope, Chief Election Officer, Election and Boundaries Commission of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
On polling day, the CEOM visited 113 of the polling stations across the 15 constituencies that were contesting the General Election.
The CEOM monitored the polling activities, which included the opening of the poll, the voting process, the closing of the poll and the preliminary counting of ballots.
From observations, the polls were opened in a timely manner in the majority of the polling districts. All the stations observed were fully staffed and most had at least one (1) polling agent present, representing the ruling political party and independent candidates that contested the General Election. Most polling stations were conveniently located and easily accessible to the voters, though some instances of accessibility challenges for the disabled, elderly and infirmed were noted. The Mission observed that there was an adequate supply of the required voting materials which were present to facilitate the opening of the polls. The Mission also observed overall that there was a low voter turnout. This may have been attributed, in part, to the Prime Minister’s call of a snap election and the opposition’s decision not to participate in the polls.
Adequate police security was in place at all locations visited, with officials conducting their duties in a professional and efficient manner. This likely contributed to the level of calm which accompanied the day’s activities. The poll workers generally appeared well trained and, in most instances, steadily carried out the required procedures, thereby ensuring that all eligible electors who turned out to vote were able to do so.
The initial assessment of Election Day activities by the CEOM is that the voters were able to cast their ballots without intimidation or fear, and that, in all material respects, the results of the December 6, 2022, General Elections are an accurate reflection of the collective intention of the voters who casted their votes on polling day. Notwithstanding the results however, it is the hope of the CEOM that the newly elected Government will continue and build on the efforts to date, to secure electoral reform for future elections in Dominica.
The Mission extends its appreciation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business and Diaspora Relations for its assistance and congratulates the staff of the Electoral Commission; poll workers; the political party and independent candidates; the security forces and the People of the Commonwealth of Dominica on the level of maturity displayed in the peaceful execution of the election day activities.
A full Independent Report will be prepared by the Chief of the CEOM for submission to the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Her Excellency Dr. Carla Barnett.
The CARICOM Election Observation Mission wishes to thank all stakeholders, including the Leaders of Political Parties, Independent Candidates, Civil Society, the Media and the People of the Commonwealth of Dominica for their warm welcome and cooperation which contributed to the success of the Mission.
FERN NARCIS-SCOPE
CHIEF OF MISSION
CARICOM ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION
ROSEAU, COMMONWEALTH OF DOMINICA
7 DECEMBER 2022
CARI-COM or CARI-GO what is the difference “mem bet mem powel” total waste of time and human resources; have allowed skerrit to bring the community into disrepute, by selling our Caricom passport to rogues and vagabonds unabated, you think they care a damn about anybody except themselves.
Gary you are talking crap. The opposition lodged a complaint with details of these frauds to the court. It ended up up all the way at the CCJ, who ruled that our court had a right to rule only for the case to be dismissed by our prosecution. The evidence was never heard in court. I sometimes wonder if your real name is Rupert instead of Gary. But don’t worry, your day of reckoning is near too.
How much were these people paid by yours truly his royal highness the PM? Dominica is in a dictatorship one man rule for life.
If we are to judge CARICOM by the state of affairs in each member state, it’s a monumental failing grade (Z-).
All these member countries are tormented with widespread and abject poverty; perpetual indebtedness; stubborn and pervasive unemployment; spiraling crime; deteriorating infrastructure; widening and intractable political disunity; and more.
Look at Haiti a member of CARICOM. What has the CARICOM Secretariat done to bring reprieve to these long suffering people? CARICOM has flagged its wings and have flown far away from the perennial suffering of these beleaguered people. The most this dysfunctional organisation offers is mere lip service.
C – chaotic
A – abysmal
R – reprehensible
I- immoral
C – clueless
O – obsolete
M – mendacious
Is it just me, or have the pronouncements of ‘election observers’ gotten to be as predictable as ‘police shooting’ verdicts in the States BEFORE everybody got smartphones?
We try to put pressure on the election observers for pressure that should be directed at our electoral commissioner and the fake president, Charles Savarin. The observers only reported what they say and made recommendations. Our job as Dominicans is to make the job of Charles Savarin and the electoral office miserable until they fix the problem. It is Charles Savarin and the electoral commission that are responsible for free and fair elections and those unfair rats are doing nothing to correct the problem. So we should not wait until next election to start to put pressure on them but rafts day after the sham election of Skerrit, we should follow Charles Savarin and the electoral commission wherever we see them with our placards until they have no peace
In order to cast a ballot and before making an x the polling staff must be satisfied you are who you say you are.There has never been a report where John Doe who is alive is voting on John Doe’s name who is Dead.What UWP has to do instead of talking BS,24-7 on Q95 go on the ground and meet the people.Johnson Boston,Tyrone Anthony,Dale Dangleben,Irvin Andre,Gabriel Christian,Arthie Martin,Anthony Leblanc and Loftus Durand are a waste of time.The people of Dominica don’t care about these guys.
The biggest waste of time is YOU.
Another snap election is coming in all you boom boom if it’s only comments posting you all know. When a gallon of gas hits $30.00 it will be too late to take back Dominica. No Chinese complaining about the election, no foreigners are complaining because they don’t give a damn about Dominica because they are free to go back to their respective countries. But we are sitting on our aS. doing sh… The easiest and simplest ruler one could become is a dictator. It’s not rocket science. 1. Take away your jobs, increase the prices on basic commodity, increases the police force and pay them well. 2. Have only folks in your party to head public entities like hospitals, public works, cargo port, airports, schools and all medical facilities. Have lawyers and doctors in your cabinet with you (the devil) having full control and Bingo – You “Run Things.” That’s all it takes to be a dictator. And you could put all these in effect in less that a month. Then claiming we are a “Democracy” to fool us.
” … the voters who casted their votes … ” Please, this should read: ” … the voters who cast their votes …”
Election reform is needed. I think everyone agrees. Too much no-bol in our sweet country.
Shameless people travelling to Dominica every election cycle to observe election conducted with a bloated list, no ID card, no campaign reform legislstion, with voice note from a devil on polling day, urging supporters to go out and vote, etc, etc.. You all must be laughing at Dominicans!!!
CARICOM is a waste of time, a damning disappointment for the people of the Caribbean region.The heads are all hypocritical and tyranical in nature. Those heads are money centered and money grabbers, devils who do not care a dam about the Caribbean people.
What a Shame!!
“The General Elections were called two years prior … ” Did we have more than one general election?
Did you notice that one did not have to show ID? And one could come off a plane never been in and say their name is John Brown ( who let’s say is dead) and be allowed to vote?
Noticed that?
You guys and your nonsense, is this how it really works, If you noticed that then why did you not report it to the presiding electoral officer at the polling station, why say it on DNO. Do you know, it is very easy to prove that someone used the name of a dead person to vote, I’m referring to Dominica. Why you guys perpetrate such thing with your mischievous perception to satisfy a political agenda.
Cause I don’t want to be victimized.