Concern Citizens Movement concerned over ‘paralysis’ in electoral reform

The Concern Citizens Movement has written to the Chairman of the Electoral Commission about the paralysis that exists in the Electoral Commission as regards electoral reform.

The letter underscores that Electoral Observer Missions of the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Commonwealth Secretariat have made recommendations to the Government of Dominica and the Electoral Commission in 2014 and that to this day no tangible action has been undertaken towards implementing these recommendations to achieve comprehensive electoral reform. It is noteworthy that the OAS Electoral Observer Mission made its first recommendation for electoral reform in 2009 following the general elections held that year.

The letter calls on the Commission to inform the Concern Citizens Movement of the steps it will be taking in 2018 towards realization of electoral reform and informs the Commission of the Movement’s preparedness to have an exchange of views with the Commission.

From the perspective of the Movement, the main elements of electoral reform in the Dominican context refers to an updated voters lists, voter identification cards, and campaign finance reform, and gender equity in candidates for national political office.

Further, the Movement wishes for the process towards comprehensive electoral reform be guided by the recommendation of the OAS and the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The letter is copied to President of Dominica, H.E. Mr. Charles Savarin, Prime Minister, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition, Hon. Lennox Linton, Mr. Kent Vital, Leader of the Dominica Freedom Party, the Secretary-General of the OAS, H.E. Mr. Juan Almagro, the Secretary- General of the Commonwealth Secretariat, H.E. Baroness Patricia Scotland, and the Chief Executive Officer of The Carter Center, Ambassador Mary Ann Peters.

During 2018, the Concern Citizens Movement will be focused on active advocacy for comprehensive electoral reform before the next general election and plans on the implementation of a number of activities in this regard. Activities will include building awareness about electoral reform in communities across Dominica, and building partnerships and awareness in the international community about the indispensable value of electoral reform in Dominica, which is long overdue in Dominica.

Regarding the program of Concern Citizens for 2018, President Loftus Durand, has stated, “the implementation of completer electoral reform has been on the cards for some time now, and therefore we see the need to give this aspect of our electoral process the necessary publicity that it truly deserves; in that once implemented, the citizenry of Dominica will now be able to enjoy the benefits of being part of a true democracy.”

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24 Comments

  1. NabesandI
    January 15, 2018

    CCM or whatever their name is should stop pretending to be some valid impartial group in Dominica. This is just members and suppourters of the UWP attempting to create some semblance of legitimacy… Case in Point:

    http://www.q95da.com/news/ccm-raises-11000-towards-opposition-leaders-legal-fees-so-far-through-radio-thon-on-q95fm-radio

    Stop trying to kyoner Dominicans Parasites

  2. January 9, 2018

    Another bogus, defeatist plot by the opposing party. I wonder why CCM did not forward a copy to DNO for the public’s viewing..in the interest of transparency that is.

  3. January 9, 2018

    UWP in disguise? :roll:

  4. January 9, 2018

    Concern or concerned? And who are the members of this movement? Can we get some more on the ‘CCM’? DNO has no other article on their site where this group is mentioned. At least an introduction of this anonymous bunch????

    • Anonymous
      January 9, 2018

      Just like CREAD Frances. Could be the same people, who knows. The P.M. Loves to sow confusion and divisio so we never know where we are.

  5. Deeyeshaveit
    January 9, 2018

    Wow well Dominica has alot of new socio political groups ( at least on paper anyway) who is the “CCM” in Dominica? What makes them so legitimate that DNO feels that all of Dominica needs to be made aware of their letter and concerns? It seems like the new trend in Dominica is wash your foot and come and say look we have a group. Who is the leader who are the members? Is this a blog or a news site

  6. JOE
    January 9, 2018

    “From the perspective of the Movement, the main elements of electoral reform in the Dominican context refers to an updated voters lists, voter identification cards, and campaign finance reform, and gender equity in candidates for national political office.”

    What is stopping females from entering into politics? the DLP has always advocate for this equity, let’s hope uwp follow suit!!!!!

    • January 9, 2018

      Exactly! In the last general elections the Dominica Labour Party had four female candidates contest. Three were successful, winning the Paix Bouche, Colihaut and Grandbay seats. all three are ministers of government. Hon. Baron and Blanchard were appointed senators and Hon Denise Charles won a by election to become a representative in the house as well. The UWP has a female senator in the house, one of two female candidates who unsuccessfully contested the elections. Women are a force to be reckoned with. and I believe we will have more female candidates next time around. So CCM needs to be realistic in their statements.

  7. January 9, 2018

    What’s this fuss about electoral reform? Is anyone in Dominica been denied the right to vote because of their color, class, religion, or political association? Every registered voter has a right to vote and there is a process by which unqualified voters can be removed from the list. The electoral reform that is been demanded by the UWP under the cover of Concern Citizens is a joke aimed at restrictions voter participation.

    • January 9, 2018

      I couldn’t agree with you more! This is just another UWP ploy! These fellas are desperate and realize now that there is little hope for them. They’ll do anything I believe.

    • Paul Rossnof
      January 9, 2018

      You would come on here and would make a statement like this. Your full of the red look aid.

  8. Dowad
    January 9, 2018

    Skerit,take notice, no electoral reform ,no election. And also don’t even think of illegally governing this country beyond 2019 as I understood election is constitutionally due sometime in 2019.
    Enough of your evil government.
    We want a new Dominica. I know it’s gonna take some time to clean , to flush,to sanitize all the mess you’ve made of this country but eventually that New Dominica will be realised.

    • JOE
      January 9, 2018

      The election is constitutionally due 3 months after the first sitting of Parliament after a general election. Therefore let’s see when is is constitutionally due:

      Elections held December 2014; first sitting of Parliament February 2015 so election is due May 2020…….so we have 2 more years to go now get on with your life and drop the politics..!!!!

  9. January 9, 2018

    Shouldn’t this be ‘CONCERNED Citizens’ and NOT ‘Concern Citizens’? Just a matter of grammar tenses.

  10. Paul Rossnof
    January 9, 2018

    Skerrit has no interest in electoral reform. Let’s be clear since he is not interested nothing will happen. He has Dominica in an iron grip, he is the absolute ruler thanks to his stupid and corrupt supporters.

  11. anonymous2
    January 8, 2018

    They have no desire to change anything…….except in their favor. They have no respect for anybody either. Your letters will fall on deaf ears. Until you have enough people that are willing to risk everything, nothing will change. Because why should they risk everything for the benefit of the lazy and ignorant. So you see you are in a quandary.

  12. Massacre
    January 8, 2018

    It’s about time some Dominicans open their eyes to the evils that have been taking place in our country.

    • Me
      January 9, 2018

      Not some, but all Dominicans!

      • pues toutes D'cen aveg
        January 11, 2018

        Pas L’air toutes pues aveg . Nous finir bat accepte’ sa.

  13. Ibo France
    January 8, 2018

    When the electoral system is flawed, there can be no true democracy. A sound and just electoral system is of utmost necessity for democracy to strive. If the electors firmly believe that the elections are fair, and free from fear, then there would be no need for the usual post election acrimony, hostilities and court contests. This government has refused to implement the recommendations of several reputable organizations for approximately nine years. Why, you may ask. It’s patently obvious even to the blind. Their mantra is, corrupt the electoral system and win at all cost. How can any decent minded citizen vote for Mr. Skerrit and his unscrupulous band of acolytes?

  14. DLP STRATEGIST
    January 8, 2018

    You wasting your time

  15. It's my damn business
    January 8, 2018

    Right now Dominica is in deep hell and our future doesn’t look good at all, especially if Skerrit continues as PM. Under him not only is mother nature destroying all his works and infrastructure we enjoyed many years before Skerrit but we losing all foreign businesses and employers that he met. I heard him talking his usual nonsense about Ross University coming back in May but has he told us about this article circulating in New York times ; https://mobile.nytimes.com/1999/06/30/us/foreign-medical-school-has-hopes-of-hanging-its-shingle-on-us-soil.html?referer=android-app://com.google.android.gm

    • Stalin
      January 9, 2018

      hold on, circulating where ?the date on this article is june 30th 1999

  16. It's my damn business
    January 8, 2018

    Right now concerned Dominicans from every walk of life, should grab the bull by the horns and ensure that all what had gone wrong in Dominica under Skerrit, be restored. I am referring to our democracy, our justice system, our elections, our freedom of expression, and everything that was contaminated by Skerrit and his corrupt government. Maria has provided us with an opportunity to correct the wrong made right and right becomes wrong that governed Dominica the last 13 years and surely, if we don’t use this opportunity to correct them, I say boldly that Dominica is lost for good! So thanks to the few Patriots that are standing but we sure need much more support if we are going to rebuild Dominica again

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