The Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) has made a decisive shift in its approach to the pursuit of electoral reform in Dominica. After careful consideration and thorough analysis, the DFP has concluded that engaging in protest actions to urge the current government to pass good electoral laws is not only futile but feeds into the government’s playbook. To further engage with this government on this issue is to keep validating this many years’ long deceptive campaign they are engaged in to reduce democracy – not expand it.
We note that the entire point of this process – including spending over three-quarters of a million dollars simply to throw the major parts of the resulting report in the trash – was simply to strip away the 5-year absence restriction. The removal of this critical restriction never featured as something desired by the majority of the populace during Sir Dennis’ initial consultations, and only became a main character at the government’s consultations, through the government’s weaving and plotting. Without that provision, elections in Dominica come down to simply who has the most money to import voters. There is no further deep analysis needed. No compensating tidbits of ID cards and a few other peripheral niceties can disguise this central truth.
The Sir Dennis report also showed that Campaign finance regulation laws [were] desired by the majority of Dominicans. Yet, the concept of campaign finance regulation laws, as proposed by Sir Dennis, found itself completely misrepresented to the people by the government at the sham consultations. Now, it has been stripped away completely in the new bills.
The DFP therefore refuses to be party to this farce any longer. We have simply lost the last remnants of faith in the current administration’s promise to enact electoral reforms that bolster democracy in our nation. The DFP firmly believes that meaningful electoral reform on our island will come about only with a change in government. Therefore, we are redirecting all our efforts and resources toward this goal, and we urge all those who oppose this government to do so.
The DFP’s new approach involves an unwavering focus on galvanizing support, building coalitions, and preparing for the next election to bring about a government committed to genuine democratic reforms. Our campaign will concentrate on raising awareness among the populace about the importance of electoral reform and the urgent need for new leadership to achieve this objective. We will also focus on bringing hope to our fellow citizens that a new economy, and a fair society is possible. Spending our time dancing in this regime’s electoral reform circus will only distract us from that existential task.
With this pivot, the DFP calls on all Dominicans who are passionate about the future of our democracy and the exciting prosperity ahead to join us in this crucial mission. Together, we can make things happen – not keep asking for them to be done.
Ok Mr. Freedom Party! Ypu are making a strategic change but, what is the said change? Kneading flour with no fire or heat in place will not get it in an edible state. Say what your plan(s) is, outline your objectives, and lets work on achieving them which will take us all to the ultimate GOAL……REMOVING THE DEVIL AND HIS GOONS OUT OF OFFICE!
Enough “politically correct” blah blaaaaahing with no action. You too sir MUST publicly call out the few Freedomites to join the action from Sunday so we can COLLECTIVELY stop the political madness going on in Ma Dominique. And, have them bring the Ukranian boozei in case Domlec take lights. I am watching you closely sir….Don’t be another Samantha pleaseeeeee!
Otherwise you too will go down in our history as another KUNOUMOONOU.
always loved the Freedom Party. Was always a party that had decent candidates. HOWEVER, WTF is it doing? Cannot only want to show your face when elections are in the air. I advise all non-DLP parties from now! Begin to choose viable candidates for the constituencies. Come up with long and short term development and assistance strategies for your people in each constituency, and begin executing. DO NOT WAIT for elections season to then show your face. the people will know is only votes you doing that for and you dont really care about them. You have to work for the people for the people to trust you and vote for you. Staying on the sidelines and only giving lip service is not going to u win.
The DFP today is no different from a cadaver. It can’t even hold a delegates conference nor nominate a full slate of candidates for a pending election. Not even the most powerful defibrillator can revive its heartbeat.
The metaphor ” beating a dead horse” is most appropriate saying for those trying to make the DFP relevant.
You do not like the strategy, you choose another but have not said hat it is and asking people the join you on mission. if you make that decision you should outline the alternative strategy so people can have something to follow. you did not. this seems self centered and on the spur without concensus. opposition has to be united and this is on the contrary. what were you promised?
The remnants of this defunct party are hanging onto straw. Unity is not part of their mantra. Politicians have never failed to surprise me. It’s always what is in it for me personally and not what is he for the country.
The DFP and the recently formed ‘nutten burger’ party are comprised of ultra-selfish, uncaring and egotistical.
Too late to talk about strategy for election reform because we ain’t going to have that. It’s clear that Skerrit and his former president Charles Savarin planned how they were going to fight election reform when the two independent candidates agreed to share opposition leader seat. Then Skerrit’ s new president Burton further built on the plan by accepting the resignation of Ms Jasma Paul. So now they got Dominica to a crisis of no opposition leader, Skerrit is going to use that crisis to call another fake election. So he will stop work on the so called international airport until next election in 2030.
So right now we should be thinking of outing fire with fire and instead of talking election reform we must start to talk about casting out this demon by all means necessary, legal or otherwise.
Jesus’ disciples couldn’t cast out a spirit and asked why, Jesus replied, “This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting . Our demon can’t go out through election or reform
Agreeeeed! Cast them demons out by any means necessary starting on Sunday 7th. No slacking up or the proverbial going home…period!
It is a good thing unlike UWP you are learning.Forget about Sir Dennis Byron,go on the ground,and you will know that the majority of Dominicans are NOT interested in electoral reform,not id cards,not campaigning financing and not the 5 year limit.The most important thing for the majority is,the removal of the 5 year limit and every REGISTERED Dominican should vote.That nonsense about demonstration is not for the majority.NJAM,CCM,ALAS and ERC are not political parties,so they say,why are they so interested in electoral reform.
@Lin Clown
Stop babbling buffoonery.When last have you gone on the ground to conduct this poll? Stop your shameless and brain deficient, brain limited insult to Dominicans that we don’t need electoral reform. Most countries in CARICOM have had reform 2, 3 or 4 times over the last 20 years. An infamous e-mail to a corrupt leader, stalled Dominica’s reform. I am enraged that a no brainer like you are insulting Dominicans to the hilt.
When you have nothing to say why cant you stay quiet instead of exposing you arrant ignorance and stupidity with your asinine comments?
Lin Clown, the usual nonsense and ’empty drum’ noise’ originating from a source of total ignorance. This is what the granting of a free, leaky apartment has done to you? You have lost your brain.
@Ibo France
Happy you now know that its Lin Clown. Same old garbage by a different name.
Lin Clown
On which ground he going? He living underground in America…
If is is Lin Clown,them Lin Clown is smart.Backing up the right tree since 2000.Only an idiot will carry their badge of stupidity and constant failure as a badge of honour.
The DFP does not exist today. It has been morphed into the DLP. However, some former members still want to reminisce about its past.
Today, if the DFP were to convene a delegates conference, I seriously doubt it could muster as many as ten (10) members.
The problem wth Dominica is too many sons and daughters of the soil crave for political power and hardly anybody wants to be activists for the indigent and most vulnerable among us.
It goes to show Hurtault know nothing about Dominica and Dominicans.The get the DLP out of office the Prime Minister MUST do something extremely bad against the majority of the people.Unless Hurtault can tell himself Dominica is Labour country,and stolen election is foolishness DFP will never see the reigns of power.To move forward and be positive the opposition must have foot soldiers,DLP has many on the ground and the opposition have none.Another stupidity from the opposition is that they criticize all the social programmes,where more that 15,000 Dominicans are benefitting,it means therefore the opposition is against the interest of those people.Importing voters is foolishness,campaigning financing is foolishness.Between 1995 and 2000 UWP boasted about being incharge and on stage,everybody had money,and money was meeting money,they had hundreds of millions from the Reengineered Citicizenship Programme.With all that they LOST the 2000 election.They were too arrogant and corrupt.
“The Sir Dennis report also showed that Campaign finance regulation laws [were] desired by the majority of Dominicans.”
This is a lie. The Report shows that most of those groups consulted (mostly satellites of the UWP) recommended campaign finance reform. Most Dominicans do not care about electoral reform because “most Dominicans” do not believe that our electoral system is so flawed that it must be replaced; the same electoral system that we have always had has allowed us legitimate elections.