President of the opposition United Workers Party (UWP), is urging Dominicans to oppose new electoral reform legislation that the government is about to present to Parliament and which he believes is inadequate to ensure free and fair elections.
The bills, set for their first reading on Monday, December 16, 2024, include the Electoral Commission Act, the Registration of Electors Act, and the House of Assembly Elections Act. This procedural first reading will allow members of Parliament and the public to familiarize themselves with the content before further scrutiny or debate.
Linton expressed skepticism about the government’s intentions, suggesting that the first reading might be a tactic to gauge public interest or reaction. He questioned, “Is the public interest high? Is it low? Is it somewhere in between? If what we are getting is Skerrit reform as opposed to genuine electoral reform for free and fair elections. Will your people react with more talk show and social media talk or are they finally ready to shut down the country?”
He accused Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and his administration of manipulating the electoral process to maintain power. “My brothers and sisters of Dominica, the struggle for electoral reform in Dominica has been against one man and his gang in government taking control of the electoral process, and thereby depriving Dominica of the right to choose freely and fairly government of the people, by the people, for the people, with the majority votes of conscience of the people. Roosevelt’s Skerrit has played the people for his fools on a merry-go-round of trickery, deception, false hopes, and empty promises, while he systematically abused, tainted, and manipulated the electoral process to secure his winning legacy in elections.”
Linton specifically criticized the proposed Registration of Electors Act, claiming it would legitimize a system allowing overseas citizens, who are not ordinarily resident in Dominica, to be paid to return home to vote.
“Let me say to you clearly, from what I have been able to read, the proposed new registration of Electors Act to be introduced in the Parliament on Monday will legitimize a system for electing government that allows for citizens living overseas who are not ordinarily resident in Dominica to be paid to come home to vote to determine the results in constituencies where they do not live and therefore cannot be represented.”
He also condemned the exclusion of campaign finance regulations from the new House of Assembly Elections Act, arguing that it would permit unrestricted election campaign spending and unregulated sources of funding.
“There are no provisions in the new House of Assembly Elections Act to prevent the bribery of citizens living overseas with money for traveling expenses to come home to vote,” the former Marigot MP stated. “Taken together, what this means is that Skerritt’s electoral reform gives him free reign to continue the practice of using the billions of dollars from the sale of Dominican citizenship that remain unaccounted for to pay Dominicans not resident in Dominica to determine representation in the Parliament of Dominica for persons resident in Dominica.”
Lintons insists that it is the duty of the people of Dominica “to oppose and to prevent enactment of any new and revised election laws that will normalize the formula of unlawful and corrupt electoral conduct that has been engaged to steal elections in Dominica.”
It is preposterous to think that by just saying the same thing over and over without pointing in any specific direction that people are going to follow. You cannot continue to ostracize those who support the government and expect them to come to your rescue. The old saying “empty vessels make the most noise” continue to be true of the opposition, electoral reform is needed but it’s not going to happen the way the opposition wants and that a political fact that will not change no matter which party is in power. The people see no other way out, no other viable option, what is presented does not look better so they keep what they have , half a loaf is better than none. Stop blaming Dominicans who are overseas trying to earn a living including the UWP leader who is in Sudan doing the same for your election losses , and accept your failure to COMPETENENTLY challenge the current administration to win an election
It is very interesting that for years, there is the make belief that Dominicans abroad are somehow not entitled to vote in elections in their own country. The Dominica constitution is very clear on who outside the country can vote and im sure it says that if you are out for less than 5 years at any one time you can still remain on the voters list. Secondly with all the objections and call for chaos, there is no list of what is wrong with the electoral reform bill before the parliament by the opposition. Thirdly, the first reading of the bill is to give the public and just about everyone concerned the time to review and understand what is in the bill and if there needs to be changes granted I dont think the government plans to make any. Lastly, tell the people what you find wrong with the bill, itemize, give page and paragraph numbers. At no time in any of the incoherent rambling from the opposition did anyone point to a specific item or section of the bill that violates any law.
Here we go again! The UWP and supporters believe that no other group in Dominica can have a say in electoral reform, it is all about what the UWP wants, we are supposed to be living in a parliamentary not a dictatorship.
You should be in parliament, where are you? Now you are just a single man shouting in the wind, you are not even an elected member of parliament, imagine that! At least Mary Eugenia Charles was in parliament when she shut down the country. I am sorry Linton, but as much as Skerrit needs to go, you are not a very bright fella!
“Will your people react with more talk show and social media talk or are they finally ready to shut down the country?” Did you really say that? Shut down the country for what? For who? For you? The Government are in the majority for passing bills and laws! You gave Skerrit that majority by boycotting the last general elections! You are a fool. Another fool. You have the same type of arrogant foolish personality like Blackmoore!
Amen, they boycott the Election and now you all say PM, this and that. We will vote Labour Party again and Encore. One love .PM, We love you
Dominicans are too timid to fend for their own best interest. They are wilfully kept in abject poverty in order to depend on the government for handouts to survive. Therefore, the overwhelming majority don’t want to offend those in high places who they beg for alms.
My people wake up! Rise above this level of supplication. Sbetop this freebies and beggar’s mentality if you want to end your perennial state of penury.
“Poverty is not an accident. Like slavery and Apartheid, it is man-made and can be removed by the actions of human beings.” Nelson Mandela
P.S. Protest, demonstrate, remonstrate, challenge, revolt, question, object, rally, march, speak out, agitate, …..
This guy is really a Jacka, he does not say sale of passport,he really want people to believe the DLP government is buying a ticket for and paying the overseas Dominicans to go to Dominica to vote.The election in Dominica has always been free and fair,even when UWP won in 1995 with 34.86% of the votes.It was also free and fair when UWP was kicked out of power in 2000.Linton cannot face the people one on one,and UWP cannot win election by campaigning on q95 and DNO.It is time Skerrit call out Labourites to confront the handful of blue do nothing UWP acolytes.
The business sector, the law fraternity, the trade and labour unions, the teachers, doctors and nurses, the bus drivers, the truckers, the taxi men and women, the whole of civil society, should come together and shut down the country. The people have to send a strong and unequivocal message to the outlaw in power. Your days are numbered.
All dictators owe debt. They usually have to live in exile when they fall out of favour with the masses.Roosevelt thinks he is indispensable. So did many dictators before him. Many of these indispensable despots are in the cemetery.
Warlord Roosevelt, the people want no war with you. All they Hearn for is a level playing field with the electoral system. Stop the corruption!