Electoral reform group to focus in panel discussion on indelible ink as ‘practical’ electoral reform mechanism

McKenzie said homeowners are getting the raw end of the stick. File photo

President of the Dominica Business Forum, Severin McKenzie and member of a group of church, business and civil society leaders says the group will be focusing on indelible ink used for the upcoming general elections as it is the only mechanism in place to prevent Dominicans from voting twice.

McKenzie made that remark on the Hot Seat on Q95FM this morning, ahead of another panel discussion on electoral reform which the group is staging this evening at the DPSU building in Roseau.

“This time we are actually going to concentrate on indelible ink because as you know indelible ink is the only mechanism that is in place right now to prevent people from voting twice and one of the questions that are coming up is whether indelible ink is still an effective mechanism that can be used in 2019,” he explained. “We will be focusing on that and also, the practicalities of the cleansing of the voters list and issuance of voter ID cards. This discussion is going to take place at the PSU at 7’o’clock and we are asking the general public to come to have an interactive discussion.”

McKenzie stressed that the objective of the electoral reform group, is to ensure that the next election which is constitutionally due by 2020, is free and fair.

“We do not care who win since it is done freely and fairly, and we realize that if we do not do the work for us to achieve that objective, then its not going to be done,” he said.

McKenzie maintains that the responsibility for electoral reform and consequently, free and fair general elections, lies not with the government but squarely in the hands of the Electoral Commission.

“We want to let the Dominican public know that the whole process of organization and preparation  for general elections isn’t really in the hands of the prime minister, it rests in the hands of the Electoral Commission…the government is not the one responsible for implementing electoral reform, it is Electoral Commission that has the responsibility and we have to recognize that,” he insisted.

He contends that if it is the Commission’s chairman [Gerald Burton] who’s “messing around, or seems to be “biased” with the electoral reform process, then his group would have to call the president who appointed him [Burton] to withdraw his appointment and “do what has to be done to get him out if he’s not doing what he is supposed to do.”

McKenzie also said that the group welcomes the initiative announced by the prime minister to invite the Commonwealth Secretariat, Organisation of American States (OAS) and CARICOM to Dominica to assist in this situation so that the country can move this process forward.

Attorney General  Levi Peter, Electoral Commission, Gerald Burton and a member of his group will participate in the discussion. He is asking those who attend to be respectful and disciplined.

The meeting starts at 7:00 o’clock this evening at the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) building.

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7 Comments

  1. Eyes open
    July 18, 2019

    What the CCM is asking for will benefit everyone in Dominica except for Skerrit and his gang. Just like salary increases will benefit everyone except Skerrit and Co.
    These are the two main ways they control Dominicans by steering the elections in their favour and by keeping Dominicans poor. They can easily bend the will of the poor. It is 21st century slavery. Skerrit, Let my people Go!

  2. July 17, 2019

    If Mr. Mckenzie is saying that it is the electoral commission that is responsible to implement electoral reform and the government has no part to play he is also saying that the existing electoral laws are fine. That the electoral commission can implement electoral reform using existing laws sounds rather strange.

  3. Jonathan Y St Jean
    July 17, 2019

    Of course these government operatives viz Burton and Levi Peters will attend the panel discussion because the more talk without concrete actions and change is dragging the process out closer to the election date so they are happy to be facilitated in running out the clock. After 9 years Burton is yet to ensure the work of the commission is being done except to seek guidance from Skerritt as to the next move or none move. Burton told the nation that there will be no electoral reform before the next election and his decision was echoed by Ms. Baron and Mr. Peter at the Goodwill hall. These people won’t voluntarily provide electoral reform but must be made to do so or moved out of the way for reform to happen. Relying on the stooge of a President is like pouring water on a ducks back.

  4. majee
    July 16, 2019

    You mean to tell me the electoral commission has the responsibility of cleansing the electors register, BUT, they need a new legislation to have the power to do just that? Chupes. What back to front nonsense? You know what…forget it. I am no longer interested in this thing. I do not want to hear any more discussion on this issue. My position is, if your name is on the list, you have a pulse, come down to vote. Period.

  5. Smh
    July 16, 2019

    All you not seeing Skerrit and his crew ( Burton, Charlo and Levi ) taking this issue for a joke? :-x No plan is in place to resolve this problem.
    They intend to remain in power and will do anything to make that happen. So, what happens now? Hmmm?

  6. Lol
    July 16, 2019

    Big men like that why they don’t go and get something positive to do with their life, o my God man. all where you turn something positive is happening them man still there banging a dead hose.

    • Casio
      July 18, 2019

      didnt know hoses had life.

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