An independent group of Dominicans has launched a petition calling on the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Gerald Burton, to take the necessary action by November 01st, 2019, to implement electoral reform for the next general election or resign.
The document, dated October 25th, is demanding that Burton vacate office within the next seven days from the original date of the letter unless he immediately begins implementation of the voter verification process and the issuance of voter identification cards.
The petition charges that the Electoral Commission, under Burton’s chairmanship, has failed to execute its responsibilities in the interest of the Dominican people and is engendering the possibility of going into the next general election “under conditions that will encourage the most fraudulent election in the history of Dominica since Universal Adult Suffrage.”
According to the petition document, Burton’s conduct during the recent visit of the Joint Mission from the OAS, CARICOM and the Commonwealth Secretariat has raised serious concerns as he ignored the report and recommendations submitted by the Joint Mission that would help make it possible for the people of Dominica to pursue free and fair elections.
The chairman of the Electoral Commission is being requested to tender his resignation to the President of Dominica so that he can appoint a replacement who will do the work of the people.
“Meanwhile, we shall make a formal request to the President to have you removed from your office for bad behaviour in accordance with the Constitution,” the petition states.
The full petition document is posted below.
On what authority is the CCM calling for anyone resignation? When were they elected to remove and officer who has the backing of the constitution?
They have an injunction in place which prevents any forward movement with election reform. You cannot have your cake when you have eaten it. The very action you want is blocked by you own action. Its like you tie a cow then lash it to run. You cut the fins of a fish and you want it to swim. And when you wishes are not fulfilled you get blue vex and lose your reason. Its like telling a driver to go ahead and come back. How can he drive forward and reverse at the same time ?
Are these uwp gang bangers living in a state of illusion and confusion ? May I add “and desperation ?
If you have BALLS and you all kw for sure erace my name fr the list and we go see. You are the opposition leader and you want to play BAYLEEGERAN, you are a TROUBLE MAKER. Dominicans, stay far away fr THIS MAN and I want you to kw that we are not AFRAID OF YOU. De man bitter with ppl even police he attack is because you kw what you kw and I kw what I kw. Nomme SI OU FATIGUEE ALLEZ POSEE TETE OU ET LAST RAYVEE OU PM DOMINIQUE.
I agree on two parts of your posts. One, we en fraid of dem.
Two, when a person’s name is removed, the person have all the rights to take any action he think necessary. Some of it may not be pretty. No one has the right to tamper with our human, democratic citizens rights. Absolutely no one.
Oh yes our CONSTITUTION RIGHTS.
Very disrespectful in my perspective.
So, if Burton is the chairman, who is removing people’s names from the list without due process? Madness at the electoral commission!!
DNO.. you all deleted my message. I thought anyone could speak their views respectfully here. This is bias beyond.
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To all bona fide Dominicans, this is the most opportune time to stand up and take back your country from the severely corrupt evil men and women. The current ruling regime is in power due to corruption and fraud. Tony Astaphan is leading the country from behind, in the shadows. His interest is solely money. He is of Arad descent unlike the great majority of the local inhabitants. The worst atrocities were committed by Arabs against enslaved Africans. Feeble minded Skerrit is completely manipulated by this despicable, hate-filled , unelectable, verbal assassin. The Skerrit led regime is possible one of the most corrupt governments in the world. Do what the Puerto Ricans did, what the Chileans are doing presently, demonstrate and demand change. Show your power for once. No electoral reforms, no elections.
Why don’t UWP tell the people of Dominica what they will do for the Country and how they will do them, instead of wasting time on something that make no sense at this time. Someone born in Dominica but living overseas for more than 5 years, you all don’t want the to be able to vote. UWP is the only party that wants to deprive people from their constitutional right to vote. There are 1st world countries, that make Everywhere in the world do otherwise, citizens of France, USA, UK etc… can be overseas for over 5 years and still has the right to vote. It appears that UWP wants to take us back into time.
What you talking about ner? Is not UWP that say that, it is the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Dominica.
Look then leap,…. can you quote what part of the Constitution that mention this ? That would be very helpful. In the USA you can vote before election day by post if you reside in an other country, you can also go to a USA embassy or consulate to vote. On polling day no one care hoe you get to the polling stations and who pays for your ride or plane trip or train trip.
@ Watch I watching,
Did you attend school in August?
@Watch I Watching
Stop being a red supporter who does not read or hate reading. Go visit the website http://www.uwpdominica.com, and you will find 1.2 billion things that UWP intends to do for you.OK! It’s not UWP that do not want people outside of Dominica for more than five consecutive years to be off the voter’s list, it’s the law..I feel so sorry for you.Are you brainwashed by Skerrit?
Skerrit:
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
Do you even know what is electoral reform? Smh
The opposition is fighting for voter ID cards in Dominica, you telling me that is more important than finding jobs for people? To date UWP haven’t said how they going to better livelihood of Dominicans. I am from Wesley and everyone knows me so if I vote as someone else you don’t think that will be the talk of the village. To the best of my knowledge when you go and vote the people that’s running the polling station is from the village and everyone knows everyone dead or alive. Lenox please focus on something else we know who is who in Dominica. We know who voting UWP or DLP before they even enter in the booth so stop crying. If you are a born Dominican you have the right to vote in Dominica. I don’t care if you have been out of Dominica for 50 years.
U lie. You not from Wesley. Wesley people are smart. You cannot automatically expect the people working at a polling station to know everybody in the constituency.
Anthony Astaphans wants the names that were recently removed from the voter’s list to be returned. Mr. Astaphans, if people were doing their jobs in the first place, those names would not still be on the list in 2019. Shame in their eyes, that’s why they are now rushing to correct their mistakes. I wish the servers with the entire voter’s list would crash and their backups would crash too
Then all names will be deleted. Maybe then we’ll get an accurate list.
The officer that authorized the removal of the names, knows the rules and process to do so..I would fire him with immediate effect.
Meanwhile… Anthony Astaphan is mad at the Electoral Commission for doing their job. He says they removing names that are not supposed to be there. Smdh
Lennox you are NOT TALKING ON MY BEHALF nor on the majority of Dominicans, when the government was going to pass the necessary law to allow for BIO-METRIC ID CARDS WHICH CAN BE USED FOR VOTING what did you do? You pulled your 30 brainwashed supporters gave them paleau and stones to create MAYHEM, you convinced them that the bill was legalizing bribery and treating, you remember that? no matter how many trained and experienced Lawyers told you that this is not the case you insisted is violence and mayhem you want to cause….
DOMINICA HAS NEVER SEEN SUCH MISCHIEF!!!! You are a bully and a dunce we the majority do not like your style… our electoral system is good we do not need any reform!!!! Thank you DNO for posting..
Anguilla can fit into Dominica at least 9 times and its population is only about 13,000 people. Yet little Anguilla has just cleaned up their voters list and issued Voter ID Cards. This action has been discussed only since the last election, the decision was then taken and the action executed. Dominica’s human, technical and economic resources presently surpasses that of Anguilla’s. I know, I live there. So what could possibly take Dominica that long to do this? In my opinion this is clearly an issue of political will. Like Dominica, Anguilla’s election is constitutionally due in 2020.
Thanks for your observation, but there a over 225 countries in the world how many countries has done this reform.
Dominica and other “british” countries have been having elections since 1950 with no reform. The DLP,DFP and UWP have all won elections with this system.
How many other countries in this part of the world, in Europe and Asia has had what you are demanding with threats of chaos.
So because uwp say so we must meet their demands ? Well the massive silent majority do nor care either way, to reform or not to reform is no big deal for us
The biggest deal is who had our backs and who stood with us when Mathew , Erica and Maria almost destroy us. Who went M.I.A (missing in action) and went hiding like cowards in time of our greatest need. No one in the History of Dominica not one has face this Cat 5 calamity and overcome. This was a test by Nature to test and demonstrate true leadership and fortitude. Linton has none of these attributes, he is all talk and show.
But how the letter is dated 25th and DNO publishing on the 23rd.
Look at the big picture. Small minds always major in minor. The country cannot hold another election without basic electoral reforms. Period!
We the people…you are too late. Besides, what will happen if the “President in Name Only” does not act? You forget who run things around here? I’ll give you a hint; he is the chosen one sent by God himself.
DNO there will be NO electoral reform before the next election.BURTON will NOT resign.Who are they refering to as the PEOPLE,?The PEOPLE is the LABOUR MAJORITY.Not a bunch of LAZY,LYING,UWP,TRAITORS.Any action without the permission of the Commissioner of Police,the LEADERS WILL BE ARRESTED.UWP did nothing to assist in the RECOVERY OF DOMINICA,and CCM is UWP.
There will be no election in Dominica in 2019/2020 if there is no electoral reform! No election. Lin clown you hear that?
AMEN@Lin clown, this man has a serious problem with two words PROGRESS and DEVELOPMENT at the age of the world a man say he opposition leader and he has that kind of attitude no MAN, you worst than hurricane Maria. Every now and then he attacks someone cuz his only aim is to be PM of Dominica by COUP d’ETAT.
He wants political power so he can control the CIB money which he estimated at 2.2 US Billion Dollars. That is all.
UWP scare mongering again..
It’s not a threat. It’s a promise.
You also need an online version of this petition that will be shared on social media, email, etc.
Change.org is a good one. People can log in to Facebook, sign the petition online and share it with their contacts who will do the same.
You singing Sankey, you singing Sankey , you singing Sankey song. I rest my case.
That gentleman, Commissioner Burden, is the most pitiful of all of Skerrit’s enablers. Dominicans have to speak with their feet if they are to get rid of the aggressive cancer that presently occupies the Office of the Prime Minister. Agitate night and day, don’t allow Skerrit and his goons to pad the voters’ list with ineligible overseas voters. This I,ME and MYSELF government MUST GO.
Very good move,and ,i can finally say that concerned Dominicans are becoming serious!! This DLP government is a mockery of good governance, and Gerard Burton is likewise a bad example and a puppet of the DLP..
I am prepared to join any movement aimed at giving the people the democracy we deserve, and cleaning up the mess we have in our voting system!!!!
I am together with you all on that!!!
Skerrit:::
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
The Chairman of the Electoral Commission is just a ceremonial position. This guy is just an enabler for the PM’s unethical and corrupt practices at the electoral office. Without a level playing field at the electoral system, Dominicas will continue to live in perpetual poverty, despair and on the edge of life.
Force that rogue out of the Electoral Commission!!!