CCM urges public to support rally for electoral reform

Loftus Durand (left) with other members of CCM executive

In its relentless advocacy for electoral reform to ensure free and fair elections in Dominica, the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) has organized another election rally for Saturday 19th October.

The rally comes in the wake of the government’s rejection of recommendations made by a Joint CARICOM-OAS-Commonwealth Special Mission which was invited by the government to visit Dominica from August 6-9, 2019 to look at the electoral reform system.

The event is scheduled to take place from 3:00 pm on Saturday between the two bridges in Roseau (under the arch).

The CCM is calling for voter ID Cards and the cleansing of the voters’ list before the next general election.

“We are in high gear, and we are expecting a lot of Dominicans to turn out especially those who believe in free and fair elections,” President of the CCM Loftus Durand said at a press conference on Friday.

He said at the upcoming rally, the movement will be putting pressure on Electoral Commission Chairman Gerard Burton and the Commission.

Durand insisted that the Commission is an independent body with the constitutional authority to implement the recommendations that “we have been speaking about for a very long time.”

Meantime, a member of the CCM, Tyron Anthony, also known as ‘Blessings’ called on the public to turn out in large numbers to show support at the rally.

“We really need that support to send a message to the people who think that they run things and the people themselves are irrelevant or insignificant,” Anthony remarked. “We need to show them that as citizens of the country we need to really take a stand and say to them, in a democracy, in a civilized society, that is what people do.”

The CCM has been actively advocating for electoral reform for free and fair elections in Dominica since January 2018.

CCM protest for electoral reform

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15 Comments

  1. Bring back the kidnapped Dominican parrots
    October 20, 2019

    The United Nations Caribbean Community and EU should send monitors to Dominica for the next election and they should also look for the missing money and question yours truly because the usual suspects refuse to say what they did with the money.

  2. RandyX
    October 20, 2019

    We need to keep the pressure on in order to dispense of this anti-democratic institution called DLP and its corrupt leader.

  3. Papa
    October 20, 2019

    That’s a very excellent and achievable initiative that you’re embarking on. However it will put skerrit in a very precarious position for this upcoming election. I don’t think he’ll risk it. So, that might not come to pass before the next general elections. And if it actually does, there’s an ulterior motive that we’re not seeing.

  4. Danziger
    October 19, 2019

    Sir, election always free and fair in Dominica. Seems like you all forgot the red print on the thumb, is trouble you want you’re free go ahead.

    • RandyX
      October 21, 2019

      You clearly haven’t got a clue what fair means. Is the issuance of envelopes your understanding of fair? Is it fair that dead people still vote in elections in DA.?? As far as free is concerned, this election might well be the last free election held in DA if Skerrit wins. Your rethoric and spin don’t work, come again!

      • Danziger
        October 22, 2019

        @RandyX, tell me who carry the dead at the polling station to vote, please explain.

  5. Joseph John
    October 19, 2019

    Is this some kind of joke , “Constitutional authority to implement recommendations ” who died and willed the authority to a loose cult like anti- organization called Concerned Citizen Movement (CCM).
    Pay attention 5th graders. Wake up and smell the coffee: YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO AUTHORITY WHATSOEVER. You only have the right to free expression as every citizen. You can only talk. And if you cross the line of acceptable civil behavior you can be arrested for inciting of violence.
    You can even be sued for libel if your words are out of order. So tread carefully when you try to represent the uwp as a shadow agency.
    There is no law that dictates what recommendations the government can accept.
    Your childish journey can only end with you and your gang suffering childlike tantrums.

  6. October 19, 2019

    The first phase of cleaning up this list is easy. Our death records are digital as are our immigration records. These databases can be queried and cross reference thus reducing the list. The list should be published with a time period given for challenges. As it relates to immigration a bench mark must be set if is 5 or 10 years to have not been back in your country.

    Further electoral reform can be done after election since there may not be enough time to do a full reform.

  7. Ibo France
    October 19, 2019

    I want to applaud the CCM for being so relentless about electoral reforms. It still befuddles me that some Dominicans can give their support to an incumbent administration that so stubbornly refuses to implement these must needed reforms to the electoral system that will only strengthen our democracy.
    I feel very compelled to give kudos to an individual. This person is a genuine, bona fide patriot. He always speaks truth to power. He is courageous, genuine, intelligent, articulate , knowledgeable and only can be described with superlative adjectives. He should be offered an advisory position in the new administration. I don’t know if he will accept such. That person is aka BLESSINGS. Everything that emanates from this man’s mouth advocates for Good Governance and condemns the corrupt practices of the present plutocrats at the helm of government. A professor once told me, you will be shocked how little some politicians know and how much some commoners on the street have to offer.

  8. Dr Clayton Shillingford
    October 19, 2019

    I hope and expect that the rally will be successful and will reach the objective of free and fair elections..in Dominica

    • Man bites dogs
      October 19, 2019

      Dominica elections has always been free and fair when the government offers you aholes to the reform you lots back down now as the election is near all of a sudden you lots calling election reform again go to hell there will not be any so-called Reform before this election another thing it is not the election that needs to be reformed it is Linton, his followers and you lots so-called CCM my knob.

    • Joseph John
      October 19, 2019

      As far as our history shows we have had free and fair elections always. Even when DFP won 3 election in a row when DLP members were intimidated and marginalized.
      This gimmick by the disguised CCM actually agents of the uwp is becoming redundant.
      They are just wasting time because there will be no kind of reform within the next 100 days. Disguised empty threats will be like a drizzle and breeze during hurricane season.
      There will never be Cat 5 activities like May 29, 1979.
      You were never concerned for justice for you own brother and your friends who were burnt to death so why this sudden concern for none issues.

  9. October 19, 2019

    Keep the pressure on, until justice rolls down like water.

    • Joseph John
      October 19, 2019

      This kind of illusion of justice will roll down the drains like blue water rolling down to the sea.

  10. %
    October 19, 2019

    After Tuesday night’s activity at the Bayfront i polished my boots in preparation for this Electoral Reform rally. I think after this event we must take to the streets in massive numbers to compell Burton to give the country electoral reform..The democratic world is on our side people. Skerrit is embattled and cannot prevent the said reform. Furthermore his actions are being watched by the outside world, and he knows that!!!
    Good move by CCM!!
    False God Skerrit:
    Whey is di money?
    Whey is di money?
    Whey is di money?

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