The anouncement on Sunday 6th November 2022 by the Honourable Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of “Snap” General Elections in Dominica for December 6th 2022 came as a great surprise to all Dominicans including the majority of his own party supporters.
The Prime Minister sought to justify the calling of General Elections constitutionally due in 2025 (more than 3 years away) in a very deceptive manner, to say the least. There can be absolutely no justification or reasoning for calling such elections in the national interest, but clearly to advance his own personal and selfish political agenda.
This decision by the Prime Minister to call elections almost 3 years before they are constitutionally due against the following background dismisses any arguments he may wish to advance to justify his rather unfortunate and disrespectful decision to impose participation in an election on the people in a system that he knows is flawed:
- His own promises to undertake electoral reform from the 2014 General Election and more so his “within 100 days” promise after the 2019 General Election.
- The appointment of Sir Denis Byron, retired Chief Justice of the CCJ as a one man Commissioner to advise and make recommendations for electoral reform which were well on track with correspondence from him to the Leader of the Opposition on the same date of the Prime Minister’s announcement.
- The opinion of the Caribbean Court of Justice, the APEX court of Dominica, in a written Decision that in its opinion “…. there remains areas of grave concerns about how the process of these elections (2019 General Elections) was conducted. Future Elections in Dominica ought not to proceed with these or similar taints…”
- In light of the foregoing, there was legitimate expectation by the people of Dominica and in particular the opposition Parties for such critical reforms to be undertaken with ample time to do so before any future General elections in Dominica.
The action of the Prime Minister must be seen as an abuse of his constitutional power and an attack on the core of our democracy which will have far reaching implications for future generations. What is even more concerning and alarming is the support of his cabinet, candidates and the entire rank and file of the Labour Party who seem to have surrendered their patriotism to him unconditionally and without shame or remorse.
It is disturbing and disheartening that one man, indeed one man, is allowed to stand taller than the constitution of this country and is allowed to insult and disrespect the people of Dominica including a large number of his apparently unsuspecting supporters with impunity.
Not-withstanding his unprincipled and immoral decision to impose unnecessary and costly General Elections on the backs of many a suffering Dominican, his action is permitted under law. Since violence and disorder is not a wise option to force the President to advise the Prime Minister to revoke his Election order, it would be prudent for the opposition and patriotic Dominicans who are able to, to offer themselves to the electorate in this General election.
Although there is little or no confidence in the fairness and transparency of the present electoral system, it would be foolhardy to allow the Dominica Labour Party, all 21 parliamentary seats with total loss of constitutional representation by the opposition or the immersion of a sham opposition likely orchestrated by him. The Prime Minister has demonstrated both in his utterances and actions that he is bent on turning Dominica into a one party state and he is in full gear towards a total dictatorship in this country.
While we as a political oppressed people hold our breath that the Sir Denis Byron’s electoral reform report will be finally delivered and implemented without further controversy and delay, we do not believe it is fair or sensible to disenfranchise the 16,000 plus Dominicans who supported the opposition in the last General Elections to the glory and satisfaction of the unrepentant Prime Minister.
Accordingly, all abled and suitable men and women of this great land are hereby called upon to offer themselves for service to their country to save it from the tyranny of an impending dictatorship by offering themselves as candidates in this election!
There should be a unified theme and message by all contestants of the opposition which should seek to expose the dishonesty of the Prime Minister and the urgency to save the country from an impending dictatorship.
The fair people of this country and in particular the supporters of the Labour party are called upon to put country first before party and before leader! You owe it to your children and grandchildren, to save and preserve our democratic way of life which our fore fathers fought and died for the future generations!
The message for this election, must be to punish the Prime Minister by resoundingly rejecting him and all his surrogates at the polls! He must be taught a lesson in humility and be told in no uncertain terms that this country does not belong to him, but to the people and that he will not be allowed to entrench himself in power by any means necessary like the dictators that he seeks to emulate!
In his message to the people of God in Dominica, Roman Catholic Church Deacon, Jeffers Paul, could not have said it better, I quote:
“The calling of this snap General Elections in Dominica in 2022 is a test for the people of God. It is a test for the integrity of the people of God. It is a choice between good and evil, right and wrong. It is not a constitutional test because the calling of such an election is constitutionally legal. However, what may be constitutionally legal may not necessarily be moral.
It is a test to see whether the people of God will choose politics over principle, dishonesty over integrity. This is a battle for the conscience of the people of God. This is beyond politics, this is beyond party colours, this is a battle for righteousness, peace, and justice….”
God Bless the people of Dominica. God Bless Dominica.
So sad to witness the continuing fallout of petty politics in our divided small island state. Collectively, we as a populous of 72,000, cannot even fill the 92,000 capacity University of Georgia football stadium in the US.
Our divisive politics continue foster an ugly self-defeatist, crab in a barrel mentality where party affilliation dictates how, where and with whom we interact and do business. We, as a nation, have morphed into a “bloods and crips” nation where the colors of red and blue dominates and determines ones viability and survivability.
Deniers and naysayers here will cry foul, arguing that this is also the nature of the political beast in larger countries like the US. I say that is true; however, we are a small resource limited, under-developed island state where an all hands on deck approach is more critically required to weather the frequent natural and unatural disasters. May God guide our nation unto a path of peace, prosperity and unity!
Girl you are very hypocrite and speaking from both sides of your mouth.
on one hand you tell us:
1. That calling an election at this time is unfair and immoral
2. That it is a “disrespectful decision to impose participation in an election on the people in a system that he knows is flawed”
3. That it is “but clearly to advance his own personal and selfish political agenda.”
4. That “the action of the Prime Minister must be seen as an abuse of his constitutional power and an attack on the core of our democracy”
5. That “there is little or no confidence in the fairness and transparency of the present electoral system”
Yet Little Miss Muffet, you are on the other side of your mouth calling for and putting yourself forward to contest against all these negatives and moreso against the unified theme and message by all of the opposition according to you.
You are just exhibiting the same callous and selfish characteristics of Roosevelt Skerritt. Do you by this hope to be…
That’s same woman i saw hanging out with those guys , man!!!!!! money can do things, greed is a sickness ,thats one of then that bending their knees to. We will hear more later.
( NO REFORM NO ELECTION)
“The Prime Minister sought to justify the calling of General Elections constitutionally due in 2025 (more than 3 years away) in a very deceptive manner,”
Lady, you spoke about the “General Election” that was held in 2019, this is 2022 in November.
And if according to the Constitution of Dominica, a General Election must be held every 5 years, what do you mean by “2025”, saying that it is “more than 3 years away”?
I am sure that 2019+5 is 2024. The year that next General Election would be held, and 2022 to 2025 is not more than “3 years away”
If you cannot write this simple information without mistakes, you have to inform the people of Dominica, as far the Prime Minister and the Labor Party is concerned.
Your message is pure negativity and hatred towards the Prime Minister? If you and your party have decided to participate in this “snap election” why not tell the people about your plan for the social & economic development of the country?
“Since violence and disorder is not a wise option to force the President to advise the Prime Minister to revoke his Election order, it would be prudent for the opposition and patriotic Dominicans who are able to, to offer themselves to the electorate in this General election”
Best thing is for those of the opposition who feel lke they still want to run shold join up with those from other parties (independents and Freedom Party) make a new coalition. That is how DLP and DFP were able to get UWP out of office. Use the same tactic.
Crabs in a barrel.APP pulling down TUD and TUD pulling down APP.The statement is not incorrect,it is a deleberate and calculated lie typical UWP.There is no law no constitution which say’s Skerrit cannot call election before it is constitutionally due.This woman was a senator in the UWP government.
I knew that there was a reason for this sudden election. Thanks for letting us know that the Caribbean Court of Justice had “grave doubts about the probity of the 2019 election”. That says it all. Skerrit is possibly a thief.
Mr Skerrit is now exposed for the fraud that we all think that he is. But be careful. He will not give up all his ill gotten gains so easily. It is still not worth giving up your life to expose him.
Defeatism and complacency are the compagnons and lifeblood of dictators and tyrants.
The best way to deal with Skerrit in these circumstances is to embarrass him, to damage his massive ego. He will win the election, that is obvious, but let him do so with the lowest voter turnout in history. Think of the message it will send to the world if he wins with less than 10 percent voter turnout. If you are a Labour supporter but your moral standards tell you that what he is doing is wrong, then send him a message by not voting. He will win anyway – but the ambition of Dominicans now should be to remind him that it is the people who have the power, not one man. Give him a dressing down by not voting. Boycott the election.
all the dlp supporters will turn out and vote. It will be much more than 10%. Keep in mind that all it takes is for 1 person to vote to win an election. What not contesting will show is the disparaging numbers of people who didnt vote compared to previous elections. and thats all. That is the reality. In the end DOminica will have noone to cry to. Our President is already bought and we know he has no ethics. The CCJ already made their ruling and left it up to us to fix, we cannot go before them and cry again. The leaders of other CARICOM nations say absolutely nothing because all of them is friends and most of them is Labour party for their respective territories. So really Dominicans only you can make the change, otherwise is 25 more years for us. Grenada changed their government they had for how many decades, and is now things moving for them. jobs and development all over grenada. Dominica we scared of our own shadow and quick to follow people we shouldnt be following.
App is nothing but a nuisance to the people of Dominica. It is irrelevant. This group of undesirables only surface when there is a burning issue of national significance. I even forget that it was still in existence.
On a fair election day, App and TUD, two inconsequential political entities, can not even capture the support of 0.01% of the electorate. Alex Bruno is the founder of both embarrassments. No wonder both are not even the tiniest of dots on the political radar.
Ibo MALAPROP France, if APP and TUD are a nuisance as you are, you have the right to label both as such. Because YOU Ibo MALAPROP France is worst than being a nuisance.
Skerrit send u man… u not even saying how many seats u contesting.. why u doh go..
The day I trust any politician is the day the devil will be buying a winter coat. As far as I’m concerned every one of you would like only to sit in the sit of power and have access to the public’s purse. In any event better the devil you know than the one you haven’t met yet. 😜
Sadly, there are many more like you who continue to put their personal interest first over that of the country. Shame, shame, shame on you. Now go run the election let me see you win. Enjoy the alleged donated money from the Cabal my lady.
Sanctimonious crap Tahira, that is all this is. You think our people are that cheap or gullible. You are in the U.S.are you not and I doubt you are even eligible to vote under our constitution. Stop stirring the pot please.
“This decision by the Prime Minister to call elections almost 3 years before they are constitutionally due”
Anyway, point of correction. The election was in December 2019 so this year December 2022 is three years. So your statement as quoted above as almost 3 years is incorrect Correct this statement you made.
For the very first time I hear you speaking sense and criticise this corrupt dictator. Well done, Madam Blanchard! They aim for ALL of us now, to completely isolate the CM. NO election without electoral reform.
Wake up will you ? Wanting something even to the point of death don’t make it so. Where is he isolated on this little green paradise of ours. I’ve said before and I’ll say it again……. Better the devil we know than the ones we’ve not met…..and we know this devil…. He’s been here for 20 something years….
He will be isolated internationally for ‘winning’ a snap election which wasn’t contested by any of the opposition parties and the questionable fairness and integrity of such election without implementing the promised electoral reform. He might keep a few friends of his own ilk, China, Russia, North Korea, etc., all well established One Party Dictatorships. Don’t talk BS in my ears. I’m not buying it! If YOU want to run, go and knock yourself out!
Ryan are you seriously suggesting that we should live with Skerrit because he may be the lesser of two evils? Maybe you should say that to the people of Ukraine. Look brother, I don’t want to die but I rather go down fighting than living a life without freedom under dictatorship. If you are a defeatist, I’m not, trust me.