As the staging of what has been dubbed an Election Reform Day rally in Roseau today, draws nearer, president of the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), Loftus Durand, is reiterating the organization’s commitment to ensure free and fair elections through electoral reform.
Durand told Dominica News Online (DNO) that he failed to see the significance of Prime Minister Skerrit’s decision, as announced in a statement on Thursday, to bring a joint mission of CARICOM, Commonwealth and OAS experts to Dominica to advise on the implementation of reforms for the introduction of identification cards for the purpose of voting and er ID cards and for the revision of the register of electors.
“The representatives from the different organizations which he said that he spoke to, to be bringing them down here to basically make recommendations as to a way forward for the electoral processes in Dominica, we must note as well, that no details were provided from him as to who he spoke to, who are the representatives in terms of names and further details,” Durand stated. “Now, persons have to, like usual, wait on the prime minister for full details.”
Durand is skeptical as to whether any good can come out of this latest move by the prime minister because, according to him, “it is some of the same organizations that the prime minister is now going back to that have made countless recommendations on how to fix the electoral process in Dominica.”
The CCM president insists that the “identification card for the purpose of voting” that Skerrit mentioned in his statement, must be specifically for voting and not a multi-purpose National ID Card as has been proposed by the government.
“The Dominican people, we need an identification card for voting as he said, but it [is] supposed to be expressly for voting. We need a voters ID card with specifics on there: a pictorial ID because an identification card without a picture is of no value…your name, date of birth, registration number, polling station number and so once this prescribed information is entered on a card, it will guarantee the Dominican people who will be voting in the electoral process, that they are more secure,” Durand explained.
He maintains that the Electoral Office has the legal authority to issue voter ID cards pointing out that according to the law, “the Chief Registering Officer may cause identification cards containing prescribed information to be issued in accordance with the regulations.”
Another area of contention between the government and electoral reform advocates is the proposed amendment to the Registration of Electors Act to authorize the Electoral Commission “to designate the office of any mission or embassy of the State or any other place approved by the Commission as a registration office in order to facilitate persons residing overseas.”
Durand says The CCM is opposed to this measure because they believe that the intent of the amendment is to target overseas areas with large Dominican populations and this, he says, will inevitably disenfranchise Dominicans in non-targeted countries.
“We know Dominicans are living all over the world. If you don’t bring that information or give that person that opportunity that’s maybe living in Jerusalem, in China, in Zimbabwe by having an enrollment officer physically come to them where they are…. then what the commission is doing or is seeking to do is to disenfranchise these people themselves,” he posited.
“Everything that is happening in relation to elections [is] supposed to be happening in Dominica,” the CCM president contends.
Durant must be out of his mind… These organizations were brought in to ensure the system is free and fear. The bottom line is that the UWP is simply looking to take away the overseas voters because they support the DLP. His concerns have nothing to do the free and fear or the legality of the amendments. He knows these organizations will agree with the amendments since they are current practice and have already been ruled on by the courts. Durant knows his goal is to keep the misinformation out there and not seek the truth. What a sorry bunch of losers.
“Everything that is happening in relation to elections [is] supposed to be happening in Dominica.” Really! Be objective – What happens to those who live here but perhaps, they went on a course of study? To someone who is away on medical or under doctor’s care overseas? To voluntary persons or those on mission overseas? and I can state manyother instances. So you see why there must be proper evaluation. I quote “Durand is opposed to this measure because he believes that the the intent of the amendment is to target overseas areas with large Dominican populations and this, he says, will inevitably disenfranchise Dominicans in non-targeted countries.” Durand one must always look at all situation. Then tommorrow if you do not, you will be the same person complaining when this affects someone in your family who is temporarily overseas. Persons overseas are not necessarily most times citizens of where they are at the time. Durand how do u address this? Your truthful…
The CCM has become a movement, the gathering last night should have been much larger. Hopefully the next gathering will show a more accurate representation. People, we only need one thing, just one thing to succeed in getting electoral reform; an accurate electors register and voter IDs. That one thing is ‘unity of purpose’. We may not agree on many things but on this issue and on fighting a common evil, WE MUST AGREE. We must be willing to put aside our differences and start singing the same song. No Elections without Electoral Reform! We want Electoral Reform now!
I attended the rally!! Encouraging turn out . Let’s keep pushing ahead.
Fantastic presentation by the featured speaker..
Alibaba is trying everything possible to have the election results go his way. If Skerritt was truly in favor of genuine electoral reform why didn’t he contact these overseas organizations to come to assist the electoral commission years ago? All of a sudden, on the eve of the upcoming general elections constitutionally due early next year, he is dragging the process he doesn’t want along to the finish line. Since the electoral commission is independent, whether Burton, the Chairman, wants it to be or not, why does Skerritt have to seek the assistance and not the Commission? Games are being played here, but there isn’t any room for games. Burton, get financial support from the government to have voter Identification cards made and clean the voter’s list before the next election. The same way that the banking act was amended in one day in Parliament, so too can any legislative amendment needed to facilitate the use of voters id cards. No wasting time and playing games Skerritt.
Mr. Durand has it precisely right. Dominicans deserve Voter’s ID cards not National ID cards. Just wish to repeat the specifics on the Voter’s ID cards:
1) Name of Person
2) Photo of Person
3) D.O.B.
4) Registration #
5) Polling Station #
Anything amiss about that? What’s so difficult to implement? Only the MOST DISHONEST and the VERY CORRUPT could be against this. Period! Can anyone pontificate a problem with the card and these specifics? Dominicans should always fight for the hard right and shun the easy wrong.
Point well taken. We should ask the Electoral Commission to tell us what exactly will be on the card
Mr. Durand didn’t you, the CCM, and the UWP asked for international interference to assist in Electoral Reform in Dominica?
You ALL PROMISED to write the very same organizations, now that Skerrit has done what you ask for you are now saying you don’t see the need for that!
Are you people for real or just being wicked?
Chrisphin was advocating the same. So was Lennox, and Arthie.
Skerrit is just a little too soft with you all, that’s why You Luftus and the rest like you are continuing with all the BS you are doing.
Thank God for the CCM and other patriots because as I look on face book you see some gullible supporters like one named Roselia magloire decked in red and worshiping Melissa skerrit with her expensive outfits while they themselves can hardly read and write and make a proper living for themselves. Mello mills and marveling breedy Re two other gullible followers and potential clippers for roosvelt and Melissa. Two who care not about electoral reform and seem to have very little concern about baby Sarah