High court Judge Bernie Stephenson is expected to deliver her ruling in the election court matter brought about by members of the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM)
The group is asking the court to issue an injunction to prevent the holding of the general elections slated for December 6, 2019.
However, that matter is being fiercely defended in court by Lennox Lawrence, the lawyer for the President of Dominica, Heather Felix-Evans lawyer for the Electoral Commission and the Chief Elections Officer and Levi Peter, the attorney general of Dominica.
They are of the view that the court “does not have jurisdiction to hear the matter.”
They are also contending that since the election writ by the President was issued, the election law which was available to the group was via election petition after the holding of the general elections.
However, Cara Shillingford, the lawyer for the CCM, told the court that under the laws of Dominica, the group does have a constitutional right to approach the court.
“The court has a duty to ensure that the electoral list is accurate…if the names of ineligible voters are on the list, it disenfranchises people,” she said.
The case is being observed closely by the members of the Commonwealth election observer mission who are on the island to observe the election.
The names of dead people still on the voters list does not disenfranchise anyone. Yes, the list needs to be purged of those names; but dead people do not vote. The UWP just wants to continue with their lies, deception, chaos, destruction and division.
Watching and waiting!
Despite what is happening there is hope for a better Dominica. Here is why. There are young people like the lady going up for the carib territory, there are people like clement Marclin, Jefferson James and most of all this lawyer Cara shillingford. These folks give me some hope that there are better days ahead in my beloved country. I see a young intelligent lioness of a lawyer against three older establishment personal and she is going where other are afraid to go. It is a new era. The court must play a roll in the interpretation of law and establishing the clarity. The old thinking that courts have no roll is ridiculous. They have a responsibility to solve disputes and there is a legal dispute as to the cleansing of voters list. No matter what the result this young lady will establish herself as a force to be reckoned with. Keep it up Dominica needs rescue.
Yes they give me hope too! But Skerrit still has to go and he has to go now. If he gets another 5 years he will stay forever. See Robert Mugabe…
“…if the names of ineligible voters are on the list, it disenfranchises people,” she said.”
This is my real beef wit the CCM . The above statement is particularly untrue. There has not been a single case successfully brought to court to show anyone voting on behalf of a dead person. (or an absent voter, for that matter). If there are cases where ineligible voters (non nationals or underage) are voting on behalf of dead or missing voters,, bring it out … let us see them … there are agents all over the place as well as observers that can expose that. Non nationals would be particularly reluctant to do this as it endangers their status. … but for goodness sake … just show even a hint of proof that this is real and you might get some traction .. until then…just expend your energy on winning … there is no substitute for that.
Let us see if this injunction will work this time again.
When is the ruling expected