“Nations fight for electoral reform, not against it.”
Those were the words of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit in his response following protest actions organized by opposition groups in Roseau on Wednesday.
The protest aimed to express dissatisfaction with three electoral reform bills that the government presented to Parliament on the said day for their second and third readings. According to the ERC, the bills did not reflect the type of electoral reform “that the people of Dominica have asked for.”
“People do not usually take to the streets in anger when transparency and fairness are being enhanced,”
Skerrit continued, “So why did this happen? Because this was always the opposition’s plan. They do not want reform, they want chaos, believing it would serve their political ambitions.”
The Prime Minister stressed that this protest is not new, they have done it before.
“2017 stands as a clear example,” he said. “The opposition knows better but instead of leading with honesty, they chose to mislead, agitate, and create fear.”
“It deliberately caused panic over something they themselves once called for,” he added.
Skerrit asserted that it was never about the Bills, it was about creating a spectacle, an illusion of unrest to manufacture doubt in the minds of the people.
“But the people of Dominica deserve better than this political game-playing,” he remarked.
According to Skerrit, a critical point often overlooked is that the United Workers Party chose not to contest the last general elections.
“They deliberately removed themselves from the democracy process and are now trying to impose their will on the country from the outside,” he posited.
The Prime Minister noted that the their absence from parliament was their own doing, “and yet they seek to dictate national affairs without any constitutional mandate.”
Meanwhile, Skerrit revealed that the opposition leaders in parliament fully participated in the process and exercised their role in debating and voting under the legislation.
“The individuals creating unrest are not the parliamentary opposition, but a group of activists who hold no constitutional authority in this matter,” he said. “In fact, the members of the opposition represented in the House supported the Registration of Electors Bill when it came to a vote.”
He said the world must understand that this is not an issue of legitimate parliamentary descent, “rather to create disorder.”
Skerrit went on to state that the regional and international communities must be made aware that this is not a case of a government pushing through reforms against resistance in parliament.
He explained that the reforms were debated, voted on, and passed through due legislative process with the participation and approval of all opposition members including the Deputy Political Leader of the United Workers Party who is a senator in the House of Assembly.
“The actions of the protestors do not represent the true democratic process, but rather, an attempt to undermine it,” Skerrit remarked. “While the video online may seem shocking, it represents a very small group.”
He said the vast majority of Dominicans understand why these reforms are necessary.
“We do not blame those who were misled, when fear is sown it is natural for some to react,” Skerrit noted. “But our duty now is to lead with truth, to show what these reforms really mean.”
“We cannot change the images and videos from [Wednesday]. They will remain on the internet forever, but what happens next it’s in our hands,” he added.
Skerrit indicated that his government will continue to walk with the people hand-in-hand, ensuring that electoral reform is fully understood.
“Electoral reform is not something to fear, it is about fairness, transparency, and a stronger democracy,” he noted. “Like all legislation, if amendments are needed in the future they will be made…but we must move forward with calm, with understanding and with facts.”
He said over the coming weeks and months his government will break down these reforms, answer questions, and ensure that no doubt remains.
“The best way to combat lies is with truth,” Skerrit advised. “I ask every Dominican, do not meet negative energy with negative energy.”
Mr. Skerrit. You are talking unadulterated crap. This is 100% sheet.
This man continuously tried to fool Dominicans and others in the region with his nonsense. For over 10 years Dominicans have asked for PROPER reform and he has danced around the issue. Dominicans have raised concerns year in year out and demanded reforms of certain aspect of the electoral process. This man then comes and act like he has been for reform all along. We then does the most heinous acts of reform our electoral process. Now, based on the reforms i have seen proposed (because idk if that nonsense was passed and approved yet), ANY CARICOM citizen, can come here and vote if they are 18+ years of age and have lived (here) for 12 months. Registrations cards will be issued, but by whom? Electronic voting will be done so that systems can now be hacked by his “friends” outside of Dominica and elections guaranteed. Not to mention CBI nationals can now vote for their good friend jesus skerrit from anywhere in the world without EVER having step foot on dominican soil.
But if allyou doltish then allyou need to take everyting Mista giving allyou!!!
Skerrit not mixing his words yeh look what he said: Skerrit asserted that it was never about the Bills, it was about creating a spectacle, an illusion of unrest to manufacture doubt in the minds of the people.
From the time mista call special judiciary to come monitor election and make recommendation for reform he knew the plan all along and now he reveled it,,,
All those town hall meeting where he was dragging his suppose to attend, those same people was at all those various parishes’ meetings because they were being bussed there, so yah this was just a spectacle for people to believe Skerrit is the Only One dat can Save Dominica,,,
Why doesn’t he address that at election time there wasn’t enough place to park private jets at Melville Hall airport
Ask Skrrit what is the break down of the demogaphic on DA???
“But the people of Dominica deserve better than this political game-playing,”…
Boss you will burn in the hottest place available to mankind on this earth…..Very deceitful and extremely cruel Prime Minister. Edi Amin all over again………What will you do next, opening kill people in the streets who oppose you?
There’s little doubt that Skerrit is a corrupt leader, that his opaque passport program ought to be permanently halted, and that the police force is useless, but the UWP is not a serious alternative. Until it actually contests a general election having clearly spelled out in detail how it would govern Dominica, then it breaks my heart to admit that Skerrit is correct – its members and followers are just a bunch of unelectable rabble-rousers with no mandate. Get serious people, and then maybe we will take you seriously in turn.
@ Lucas
Clueless, nincompoop talking on both sides of your mouth. Really? Are you really serious dude? No wonder we are stuck in reverse gear in the nature isle. With people like you who need enemies?
Well.. they have done so for every election they have sat in the past. to the point where the DLP has waited for them to launch their manifesto.. to then copy some of their propositions and placed them in their manifesto. Some will say i am lying, but if not for the UWP bringing truth to power and shedding light on what was going in REGIONALLY where cannabis is concerned, Skerrit would have still been telling you all it must be discussed on a regional level before he can entertain the matter. Meanwhile it was already discussed on that level WHILE HE WAS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CARICOM HEADS OF STATE meetings. that man is a liar………….. and arguably a lecherous person. Dominicans you have chosen poorly and continue to do so. Everyday you all complain about this and that. Why this not that way, why that no running so? It is because WE continue to ensure this ……. remains in power. He on his 3rd mansion IN dominica and many of us cannot even buy half an acre much less to build on it.
It’s a damn shame people have to refer to Mr Roosevelt Skerrit as honorable as this man makes honorable sound like a curse word or an insult
This PM has me confused. Since childhood and elementary school we we taught to inform the police if we see somebody committing a crime or even about to commit one we should tell the police. I practiced that before and the police protected me and even and even once gave me a gift. Today we telling the police about a crime that’s about to be committed and instead the police coming after us with long guns, army uniform and even brought regional soldiers to fight and shoot us for alerting them of crimes committed and those about to be committed.
From childhood, in elementary , Sunday school and sabbath school we were told that stealing was wrong and was a crime. I guess it’s no longer a crime when the thieves are government officials.
How do you Mr Skerrit do everything in your power to steal our elections and for us who were well taught to watch you now use your majority legalize stealing, just to suit you? Man thou shall not steal is steal in the Bible no matter what you steal
The police are the biggest snitches when it comes to ratting out informants. As soon as they are given information they sell you out to those you reported. Then they come asking for public cooperation. The last time my close friend gave them critical, big time information on a cabalist they called and told him to hide the evidence. Then they showed up about 5 hrs later and pretended they were looking for about 10 minutes and left.
When the officer was confronted by the informant he confessed his superiors told him to do so but he did not reveal his informant…yeah right! The next day the criminal met and told the same informant that snitches like him need stitches…Dca police is a corrupt, political bunch. Dcans MUST not cooperate with them if they want to stay alive. Now the same police snitch wearing garbadine (Insp.)
PM Skerrit is right because the nation should rise up when they noticed the government, police and government lawyers were pushing for double murder accused Jonathan Lehrer to be bailed so he could run. Government should be pushing for criminals like him to get life in prison. But he was a government CBI agent.
Nationals should prepare the government to arrest stealing ministers caught on camera stealing and a real government would dismiss such minister and until investigation. But again it’s government, police and government attorneys standing against truth and justice
The nation should put partisan politics aside and force their government to account for their riches and for missing money
But this is the Dominica prime minister Skerrit is on record saying that it’s not a real country
Instead of bombarding the people with your avalanche of lies, use that time to work on practical actionable plans to lower unemployment, inflation, NDCs, and restore the nation’s economic health when Dominica was the bread basket of at least the sub region.
A few days ago one leader of a neighbouring Caribbean island berated his people for complaining about lack of job opportunities when scores of Haitians and Dominicans are migrating to his country in droves for the sole reason of employment.
Comparing the plight of Dominicans to Haitians is embarrassing but true. Roosevelt has failed Dominicans spectacularly. No amount of fantastic falsehoods by Roosevelt can remove the dark, ominous clouds hovering over Dominica caused by a combination of ineptitude, selfishness and lies.
I take the PM there for malcolm… boyyyy… no boyyy!!!!
Roosevelt should be rewarded in the Guinness Book of World Records with the title – THE WORLD’S GREATEST LIAR.
If there were ever to be a Lying contest among Don-Old Trump, Satan and Roosevelt, it would be a mismatch. Roosevelt will make those two seem virtuous.
My gracious goodness:
Look a LIAR.
Its shameful to have someone like that as a leader.
Dominica’s problem is its people.Only here a man can so blatantly lie and still be in office.
1 000 000% correct. This guy is a perfect Liar. The biggest problem with Roosevelt is that he believes his own lies so he will NEVER change.
well said Master! You have always desired an opposition that serves your interests. You have always felt that this is the best way to govern Dominica. It seems that you are on your right track, please show them now what this reform really means.
@Hardlysoft
If you notice his blinded supporters now have this present opposition on a pedestal.
What a country. Where are the voices of reason?
Mister lying just like a man from Vieille Case that used to give ‘conte’ during our National Day celebration.
Boy look a liar, Papa God!
Roughly 190 years after the emancipation of slavery in the ‘West Indies’, many are still enslaved by the mentality of ‘them vs us’. The DLP and those who support the ethos of tribalism, feudalism and avarice are slaves to the belief that, because the DLP through coalition and factional DFP appeasement formed the government in 2000, they should remain there forever. This legislation is a further step to consolidating that goal.
The legislation is burdened by a major shortcoming: It maintains a bloated, inaccurate Voters list and continues the practices of keeping ineligible ‘Oversees Dominicans’ on the list. Any election results arising thereof will be corrupted. In addition, campaign finance reform, cheating / treating, illegal voter relocation to fabricate results etc are not addressed. DLP firmly believes voters are dumb.
Re current violent interaction, aspects of Dominica law which fragrantly violate the International Declaration of Human Rights need to be eliminated.
u are so deceitful….u cannot be trusted….
See his face!
If you say so, Skerrit, the father above is the only one to judge you at this time. Of course, you can fool men, but you can’t fool the father above.
Play yourself Skerrit.
U can never ever stay in power forever! Just remember that the evil that men do live with them. Chavez thought he was immortal but GOD had other plans. Saddam killed and oppressed his people, but GOD had other plans. Gadaffi killed and oppressed his people but GOD had other plans. Noriega, Eric Gary and The new Jewel Movement in Grenada killed and oppressed the people bu GOD and the people had other plans. Mugabe and E.D killed and oppressed their people but GOD had other plans. Hitler and Mussolini killed and oppressed their people but GOD had other plans. Papa Doc, Baby Doc and Cedras killed and oppressed the Haitian people but GOD had other plans. Even when PJ attempted to oppress our people GOD took care of that before it was too late.
So, take heed because I know the GOD that me and a majority of Dcans serve especially the Bawi people has other plans for you.
Better to go aside baby
You are too much in charge
Accept that’s enough
Anyone knows if Skerrit has already PROMOTED the so called police that was
“T-WAYING D KOOL WORSH”
Boy look KOOL WORSH. OMG!!
I heard a fool (a karpon), dressed in black, and wrestling with the English language calling him William OR Williams.
He must be ASP now!
The compulsive liar mentioned 2017, but the inveterate liar did not say he accused people of a coup using a truck filled with speakers. The fool never mentioned why no navy seal, soldier or sniper was arrested. They are still well protected in a red zone in Roseau maybe plotting again.The compulsive liar did not mention how much money he paid CARICOM Investigators or the 2 Trinidadian lawyers.
Only thing Chi-Chi, you are smarter than many who blindly follow you, so you must know what you will face at the end of it all. Hope by then, (if i am still alive), i will be living next to a PATAN, PATAN, PATAN building (costing about $50 000 000.00) next to the Credit Union in Roseau, so that i can walk to the court house every day.
Your little Gwa Gel coward!
Does any Dominican even with a modicum of honesty and integrity believe a word from this congenital Liar? Look at that sly, fox-like demeanour.
His intention is consistently routine.The sole objective is to hijack the electoral process. The fractious, divisive relationships among the members of the hierarchy of the UWP has granted him his desire on a golden platter.
Also, the failure of the leader of the UWP not to have all his caretakers in position to motivate the party supporters, and to give those electors who are fence sitting viability to his party as a plausible and a much better alternative government to the incumbent idiocracy, is turning off potential supporters.
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.
Mr.Skerrit is correct. The opposition has itself to blame for deciding to boycott the last election. Why? Some persons say they didn’t want to validate the election. What a dumb reason. Who told them that lie that Mr.Skerrit was seeking validation from them? The citizenry validates election results and not any political party. DUMB, DUMB and DUMB. Who advises those guys anyway? They should all be sacked. Now Dr.Fontaine and company, with absolutely no voice in parliament are trying to use their unsuspecting and vulnerable supporters to destabilize things on island.
@Mark
When you have nothing to say, i thought it would be wise to stay correct. Whether or not a political party contests an election, the onus is on the leader of the country to do the right thing. Is Skerrit capable of doing the right thing? The answer is NO, because nobrainers like you have accepted his lies, deceit and deception for handouts so you have no power to hold the liar accountable.
Fella, Mr.Skerrit is correct as much as you don’t want to admit it. Scroll up to the top of this string of comments and see what Lucas wrote. Until such time that UWP puts out their manifesto and contests an election, they will not be taken seriously. You can simply choose to place a blind eye to reality but this is an undisputable fact. Keep living in LaLa land and see where this gets you the next time elections are held.
@Ibo France
At least some of you can speak your mind and i like that. Politicians should fear the people, and it should not be the other way round. Skerrit would have been a more decent human being if he had people like you and a few others here, (who have the gall to speak the truth) around him.
Sadly, greedy Labourites have destroyed him, leaving he alone to face the music later.
Wicked people.
Thanks! I try my best to consistently speak truth to power regardless of the torrents of criticisms and the agonizing backlash from the Labour sycophants.
I blame the media mostly for Roosevelt’s longevity in power. The media can make or break any politician. This current administration is indelibly scarred with scandals. It is one of the worst performing regime in the Caribbean. The ministers cannot justifiably account for their opulent lifestyles. Yet the media give them a pass.
When the local news outlets remain silent in the face of blatant corruption, police stoning and brutalizing unarmed civilians, dictatorship flourishes. This precisely what’s happening in Dominica today.
Silent, cowardly media = corruption, dictatorship
Active, investigative media = robust democracy
Here comes the inveterate liar. From 2008 to 2025, that’s 17 long years, you and your gang have highjacked electoral reform, while suppressing dissent, with rogues in the police force. But with every passing day, you are one day less before leaving office. I wish you long life Mr Liar, for you to dance to your own music, after all the friends have abandoned you.
Little ‘Gwa Gel Coward’!