The Electoral Reform Coalition (ERC) continues to raise concerns about the state of governance in the Commonwealth of Dominica and is convinced that since the installation of the last cabinet of ministers following the December 6, 2022, general elections, the country has been rapidly deteriorating into a state of “anarchy, bankruptcy, and lawlessness, while the Prime Minister continues to play games with the electoral reform process.”
This was according to Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the ERC, Washbourne Cuffy while presenting a statement during a press conference held at the Garraway Hotel on Monday.
“The Electoral Commission has abdicated its constitutional responsibilities and according to two of its members, it has not met to review the Sir Dennis Byron report since its submission in July 2023,” he said. “Hundreds of Dominican citizens participated in a series of public consultations convened by the Dominica Labour Party government…”
Furthermore, he said the ERC supported an initiative by the Dominica Business Forum Inc. to write to the Prime Minister recommending the establishment of a broad-based committee to review the recommendations made at the consultations to arrive at a consensus on the critical aspects of the revised electoral legislation.
“The letter was delivered to the office of the Prime Minister on 23rd September 2023, to date the Prime Minister has not had the basic courtesy to acknowledge receipt of the letter and neither responded,” Cuffy stressed.
He continued, “Any attempt to go to parliament with revised electoral legislation without the necessary scrutiny by the Dominican people and in particular those who have been advocating for comprehensive electoral reform will be unacceptable and will be met with fiercest resistance in defense of our democracy, the right to free and fair elections and the people’s indomitable right to change a government through the electoral process guaranteed by the constitution of the Commonwealth of Dominica.”
Cuffy went on to state that since Prime Minister Skerrit indicated that he will take the electoral legislation to parliament within the first quarter of 2024, “and we are in the third of that timeline,” the Electoral Reform Coalition informs the people of the Commonwealth of Dominica of the following:
- As a mark of respect to the citizens of the Commonwealth of Dominica and to demonstrate some level of transparency, accountability, and decency, the Prime Minister informs the nation on what steps have been taken towards the preparations of revised electoral legislation since the conclusion of the public consultations organized by the Dominica Labour Party government in August 2023.
- Who are the people involved in the review process and will they convene public consultations to discuss the revised draft legislation?
- The ERC will see an audience with the Prime Minister to discuss the situation related to the revised electoral legislation.
- The ERC shall write to the international agencies to inform them of the present situation and the growing frustration of the Dominican people who are witnessing another unnecessary delay in resolving the situation. Also seeking their assistance in bringing the matter to a satisfactory conclusion.
- That Roosevelt Skerrit being a beneficiary of a flawed electoral system and having taken advantage of it to manipulate the results of general elections in 2005, 2009, 2014, 2019 and 2022, is not suitable for undertaking the lead role in the electoral review process and this role should be designated to an independent committee comprising of a representative from political parties, churches, trade unions, private sector, Bar Association, youth, women and other civil society organizations or a revamped electoral commission with a new chairman.
- The ERC shall seek an audience with Her Excellency the President of Dominica to discuss the role of the Electoral Commission and the concerns raised by two of its members at a public discussion held on January 11, 2024.
- The citizens of the Commonwealth of Dominica must appreciate that electoral reform has no political colours or party affiliations. Satisfactory electoral legislation is for the benefit of every citizen and will be part of Dominica’s legacy for many generations.
- Those who selfishly attempt to defend the status quo resist the necessary changes to the archaic electoral legislation because they presently enjoy the reins of power, are cautioned that nothing lasts forever, every road has an end, and every road has a bend and one day they will come to appreciate the effort that we are making for the good of our beloved country.
- As part of the advocacy process the ERC will continue to educate the Dominican people with a series of public discussions and events to accelerate the process for Comprehensive Electoral Reform.
- With a failing economy, an incompetent government, and increasing chaos in the country, Electoral Reform is necessary now more than ever and Dominica needs a new beginning.
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Yes and with all your education get 300 people to follow you in you demonstration,the Dominican people have rejected you and your handful of idiots.Skerrit should not answer to a handful of lazy aholes like you.Skerrit will implement electoral reform when the people say, not when ERS say.ERC can go to hell.The Clown is a patriotic Dominican,who risk his life in Grenada in 1983,84 for democracy and freedom in Dominica.We will not be dictated to by me,and a bunch of ERC hungry for power aholes.If you,Mr.me a supporter of corruption,victimization,greed and lies do not like what is happening in Dominica GET the F OUT.Where the F+++ were you when we needed you after hurricane Maria?Dominica was not good for you then,now it’s good for you.Parasites.
I agree with the ERC, we must not allow Skerrit to run away with this. It’s none of his business in the first place. Why does the electoral commission continue to be silent. I have no confidence in this commission, Skerrit has hijacked them and rewarded them handsomely. The same old, this country is rotten to the core.
Good work mr. cuffy, don’t mind the naysayers.. where is the “dog biter”.. is he fast asleep?? keep the vicegrip on roosevelt skerrit’s bawls… and don’t let go!!
Pas la! Not with a record like his. Washbourne?
Organize a national strike. we have to salvage what is left before it is tooooo late.
When you were asked if you would come down to Dominica to join this same strike that you request, you rambled on and on, as usual, but you never answered her question.
You will never remote-control Dominica, maybe one or two gullible UWPites, only.
I know Washby is an educated guy and very knowledgeable in a wide range of political and social issues so I won’t refer to him as dunce to think that he can tell Skerrit to restructure the electoral process to benefit the opposition parties to assume power while putting his ruling party at a disadvantage. I’m not sure where in the world, developed or developing countries would adopt such a process. It would appear that washby and UWP want to have their cake and eat. They call for reform and somebody was paid loads of money to do the consultation, submit a report with proposals which the government is acting upon and implementing but it would appear that, that’s not enough for the people wanting to get into power. They seem to want Skerrit to scrap his mandate given to him by the electorate and vacate the seat so that they can just take over without a mandate. In other words they would like to assume power via a coup rather than getting voted in by the people.
Clowns! If the ERC wishes to speak as a political party, it should not hide behind the cloak of a “civic-minded group.” It is clear from these ridiculous claims that they have gone beyond electoral reform.
As for their rants, they are asking for something that is already being prepared. This does not make them look good and is not likely to win them support. And….” consultation?” Are these guys serious? They claim to want “electoral reform now” and yet, after a prolonged and intense period of public consultation, they still ask for more consultations. See why Skerirt tells you all that “dem fellars (the opposition) do not want electoral reform!?”
Finally, if the ERC wishes to be taken seriously, how does it have Wasbourne Cuffy speaking on its behalf? Washbourne’s record serving in a particular village council makes him a most unlikely candidate for postulating on governance and public integrity. Washbourne, first clean those skeletons!
That whole garbage cannot be coming from DNO.The Prime Minister have nothing to say to ERC,he should not meet with ERC and he have no damn satisfaction to give to ERC.The majority of Dominicans do not care a flying F about electoral reform.If the people are interested in electoral reform as Cuffy say they are he should call them out to demonstrate.Put boots on the ground,close down the country if the think the people are in favour of electoral reform,When ERC stop being an arm of UWP,when ERC will stop dictating to the people then we will have electoral reform.There is nothing the President can do.There is nothing the electoral can do.The roles and duties are spelt out in the constitution.The power to implement electoral reform is the duty of PARLIAMENT, a parliament where majority rule,a majority where Skerrit is Prime Minister.All crooks,traitors,vagabonds and habitual criminals can meet with who they want.The PEOPLE will DECIDE when electoral reform will be implemented,not ERC.
@Lin clown
Man if you want garbage all Dominicans have to do is to read your comments…That us the real garbage!