CCM and Electoral Commission face each other in court Friday

Loftus Durand at a CCM protest

The Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) and the Electoral Commission are expected to appear in court on Friday [March 8].

President of the Concerned Citizens Movement, Loftus Durand said the judge will give both parties directions as to how they will proceed in a court matter against the Commission that was brought by the CCM.

This court action is part of the CCM’s continuing efforts to ensure free and fair elections in Dominica. The next general election is constitutionally due in 2020.

“The case that I brought forward against the Electoral Commission asking them to declare to the Dominica people where in the constitution of Dominica that the Electoral Commission has the power, one, to issue National ID Cards vs Voter ID Cards or two, where again in the Constitution of Dominica that the Commission has any power from the Constitution to send agents overseas as it pertains to our elections here,” Durand explained.

Meanwhile, the CCM president stressed that no injunction is in effect as it pertains to the reforms which his organization is demanding.

The Government of Dominica recently released ‘a timeline of key milestones’ in its efforts to facilitate electoral reform and blamed Loftus Durand and the CCM for preventing “the Government from seeking parliamentary approval” for amendments to the Registration of Electors Act by filing an injunction at the High Court.

“There is absolutely no injunction now as we speak in effect as it pertains to the reform that we are talking about,” Durand stated.

He said the CCM’s decision to file an injunction was prompted by two measures which the government attempted to legislate.

“One, they tried to give the Commission the power to send people or agents overseas to confirm or reconfirm people who are on the electors’ list and secondly, they tried to give the Commission the power to issue a National ID Card.”

He said that from the CCM’s perspective, this is not what the Commission is mandated to do by law.

Durand explained that when he went to the court seeking an injunction, the government, who he claims was under pressure, withdrew the Bills from Parliament and indicated that they would seek further consultation with the public.

“When we went to the court on that matter the judge in her wisdom said, seeing that the government withdrew those Bills from being tabled in Parliament, then in reality there is nothing to injunct…………….she has no power; the court has no power or no jurisdiction to injunct anything,” Durand recounted.

The CCM has been actively advocating for electoral reform for free and fair elections in Dominica since January 2018, through its weekly radio programme, a public education campaign and a number of public protests against such issues as the government’s proposed amendment to the Elections Act.

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13 Comments

  1. Help Us Lord
    March 8, 2019

    As it is in Venezuela today, so shall it be in Dominica. The CCM is standing for the people of Dominica and the Electoral Commission is supposed to be guarding our democracy. Unfortunately today, the Electoral Commission is doing everything to stand against our democracy in favor of the briber, so they could all become sellers of our passports. Help us Lord

  2. Ras
    March 8, 2019

    DNO this is all so confusing! Exactly what is the court matter about? Is it about the application for an injunction filed by the CCM seeking to prevent parliament from proceeding with enacting electoral reform legislation? Please clarify.

    ADMIN: There will be a follow up to this story that should provide more detail.

    • Karl Orndem
      March 11, 2019

      Why would they prevent parliament when they have been demanding electoral reform. Now it is another thing to demand reform of xyz and they go ahead and say they want to put efg instead, then yes they will always prevent what is not required from being put forward just to say they made a reform. thats like saying we need a roof to finish the building but the government comes with water pipes. Off course you will reject the pipes because that is not what you need. then the government says, hey we brought how much material to finish the house, and those opposition literally rejected it. rejected it madam speaker. then they talk about wanting to finish the house. but fella, we dont need pipes to finish it. its roofing material we need. so go ahead and implement the proper reforms. then we will all be satisfied.

  3. Floridian Diaspora
    March 8, 2019

    I really like the pic above that reads population 71293, electors 70645. This can only mean two things. Either a large portion of the electorate does not reside on the island (aka Skeritt chartered planes from overseas for reinforcements before election) or residents under 18 are allowed to vote. Corruption in broad daylight. Instead of electoral reform the only reform this the fake double dr form Punjab is interested in is tax reform where he gives us more than we can bear. The latest tax reform being Domi-n-a-cans entering the island now have to pay 30 something usd upon arrival. Just immagine you have to pay tax ro enter your own country. And they are strategically trying to push this after the diaspora that was here for the carnival left so they would not have noticed. Hope when they bring down their bandwagon to vote they make each of them pay that 30 something usd too. All that extra $$$$ just means more shopping sprees for Gucci mel aka Melissa Skeritt and her clown hasband

  4. Political Analyst
    March 8, 2019

    I have a lot to say but I’m not going to waste my time with DNO because they not posting at least 97% of our comments. I guess Skerrit cut them a fat cheque so they don’t want people to read the many anti Skerrit comments of Dominicans that are afraid to call talk shows less they be victimized by Skerrit, therefore since DNO allows people to hide behind a screen, like I am doing now, to say what they have to say, DNO and Skerrit must have come up with a plan to shut us down before the election. Concerning the subject matter, I have no trust is the so-called Justice system and therefore they will continue to suppress the truth

  5. %
    March 8, 2019

    Mr Durand and the CCM I have admired you all so much,that I felt Mr Durand was my 2018 Personality/man of the year. Although we are just in March, he is already my 2019 man of the year ..I reiterate that for too long election were being stolen on island(2004, 2009, 2014)..It’s time that good citizens of Waitikubuli put a stop to that..There must, and is bound to be reform before we go to the polls. We are not begging for reform,we are demanding it!!!!
    Skerrit Must Go
    Skerrit Must Go
    LAZY Skerrit Must Go Now.

    • Jubal jubal
      March 8, 2019

      Same laws, Freedom Party won 3 terms, UWP 1, elections were never stolen then. UWP move from 3 to 6 seats in the 2014 elections. It was only fair in the 6 seats UWP won? Just asking a few questions

      • Bee
        March 8, 2019

        A few foolish questions. How you want to compare elections of twenty years ago to now? are the circumstances the same?

      • Barbara Saunders
        March 8, 2019

        Yea Jubal

        I too am puzzled by the claim that only the seats won by the DLP were stolen. Same electors list, same process in the polling stations with agents present and the name of the elector shouted to the roof tops so agents can check the list and watch the person’s face. Same indelible ink on the fingers after voting.

        I am puzzled by the fact that at least one parl rep. (there may be others) who has never resided in his constituency not before the 2014 election or after, somehow voted in that constituency in spite of the residency requirement. Perhaps there is an exemption for candidates contesting the constituency?

        I must be really dense too because if there is nothing stopping the government from proceeding with the electoral reform legislation having withdrawn the “offending” sections what is the reason for being in court on March 08? There should then be no matter to contest in court!

        We really need God’s help here. I’m lost in this maze of double talk!

  6. RandyX
    March 8, 2019

    More and more lies are being uncovered by the present government. Their deceit just doesn’t stop. Skerrit is desperate to hang on to power.

    • Ibo France
      March 8, 2019

      He is mortally afraid of a forensic audit and what will be exhumed from under the multi layers of twenty years of corrupt practices.

      • KID ON THE BLOCK
        March 8, 2019

        Ibo MALAPROP Fance,That TORMENTED JOKER aka BLASTING that always call Matt on Q95, must be your relative.
        Only YOU two I have heard/seen using words out of context like that giving the impression, YOU both are so smart and want to educate people.

      • Ibo France
        March 10, 2019

        KID, to have credibility you must first speak the truth. To speak the truth you must present facts. You cannot present one example of malapropism that you have accused me of. I seriously doubt you know the meaning of that word. I usually laugh at you. This is the reason I find your assertion so chucklesome. The vocabulary/language that I use is alien to you. I’m not responsible for your low IQ and your resistance to learn the simplest of concepts. You are just anther Red Clinic parasite looking for alms.

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