PM Skerrit blames opposition for delay in electoral reform

CCM president Loftus Durand addressing a protest for Electoral Reform in September 2018

Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, is blaming certain actions by the opposition United Workers Party (UWP) and the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) for the delays in the process for the implementation of Electoral Reform in Dominica.

He said recently, that the only entity showing interest in proceeding with Electoral Reform is the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) Administration.

“This opposition with this movement or whatever you call it, the opposition party used that entity to file an injunction in the courts, preventing the government from seeking parliamentary approval to the amendments, so that is where we are,” he said.

According to Skerrit, the Parliament needs to give to the electoral commission, the legal authority to issue the National ID Cards and to go through the process that it has to engage the electoral reform.”

“As you all know we went to the Parliament, there was a riotous situation and in the judgement and the wisdom of the government in the Parliament, we decided to withdraw the Bill and to go through a process of consultation,” Skerrit stated.

He continued, “We had a consultation, we wrote to various stakeholders asking them to submit certain recommendations. There was nothing substantive coming from them.”

That notwithstanding, he indicated that listening to radio programmes and listening to comments about the draft Bills, “we removed certain sections of the Amendments.”

Skerrit indicated that the only thing the country needs now is the legal authority to allow the commission to make those changes, to effect Electoral Reform and to start the process.

The CCM has been actively advocating for electoral reform for free and fair elections in Dominica since January 2018, through its weekly radio programme, a public education campaign and a number of public protests against such issues as the government’s proposed amendment to the Elections Act.

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32 Comments

  1. Gouvelma
    January 16, 2019

    Mr PM you are joined at the hip to the Antiguan dictator Gaston Browne. Both of you worship the same lawyer Anthony Astaphan. Hasn’t any of them told you that we have VOTERS IDENTIFICATION CARD in Antigua and not a National Identification card? From birth everyone is entitled to a national identification card. However a voters identification card will only be issued to persons of voting age who register to vote. It seems evident that you want to try EVERY dirty trick know to dictators to hold on to power. If you are so confident that your government can win on its track record give the people their wish and allow for electoral reform. Allow them to have voters identification cards and win on your track record of good governance. I guess good governance and corruption cannot be used in the same essay let alone the same statement.

  2. KID ON THE BLOCK
    January 12, 2019

    It’s interesting to read the comments posted by % and Ibo France about the PM,DR.,DR. Skerrit on DNO. The constant disrespect and bashing and insults THEY write. DNO has no problem with THEM but is ME , KID ON THE BLOCK, DNO have problem with for speaking out my mind.
    FACTS ARE STUBBORN
    THE TRUTH WILL SET ME FREE!

    ADMIN: We have allowed your own bashing and insulting comments against public officials, members of the opposition and even our own organization.

    We have stated this before; we will discourage insults against other commentors but will allow a bit more leeway for comments about public officials or groups (within reason and the law) in the interest of free speech.

    • viewsexpressed
      January 13, 2019

      r DNO, this child, KID, will never grow up . He is or may be a bit illiterate of the bugger picture of engaging in political commentary especially as at this time people, from all political colours are demonstrating their civil rights to comment t, address issues and be a critic where leaders fail, especially hat inept failed Prime Minister Skerrit. That basically is the fear of Kid on the and Man Eats Dos. They appear to blind supporters of a corrupt Labour Government.
      Now, red this: “The constant disrespect and bashing and insults THEY write.” If this is the nonsense that comes from Skerrit as Prime Minister, the highest office known in Domininca and he misrepresents this position and th value of it,, as we have discovered, like a teacher in the school. he, Skerrit and his blind followers will receive the wrath of our responses that he spews up or he gets out, because he is a failure and has been incompetent for over 18 years with blind supported promoting him for their interests.

    • viewsexpressed
      January 14, 2019

      DNO has been doing great and will continue to do so as long Skerrit and this corrupt Labour government are in office. Kid on the Block has to wake up and mature himself to that level and bigger picture we all expect every Domininca to rise to. Domininca comes first, not Inept Skerrit and not mature Linton. The former Skerrit is a waste of time and has ruined our economy and life style of our people. Skerrit has turned Domininca into an abyss and reduced our poor people into beggars and he is this great failed political in a Soap Opera falsely admired by desperate people in need of cash and jobs. On the other hand we have a very formidable UWP Leader, Opposition Leader Hon Lennox Linton engaged in professional governance and overlooking the corruption of Skerrit and his failed Labour government . Hon Linton is wat above the level of Skerrit and thee failed operations of his Corrupt Labour Party/government. It is a must Skerrit, his failed corrupt Labour must Go. The UWP will lead us.

  3. Ibo France
    January 11, 2019

    For the PM to make such a boldfaced misrepresentation of the truth, tells you that he considers all Dominicans, including his eighteen (18) apostles, to be simpletons. The man has an adversarial relationship with the truth. Once you catch someone in one lie, question everything he says.

  4. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    January 11, 2019

    “Skerrit indicated that the only thing the country needs now is the legal authority to allow the commission to make those changes, to effect Electoral Reform and to start the process.”

    When a man is a pathetic confounded delusional liar, he speak with a double tongue; that delusional liar have no concept that he is lying and the magnitude of the lie.

    Dominica is a sovereign country, it is an independent country ” The Commonwealth Republic of Dominica,” as named by former, and first Prime Minister of Dominica Patrick John.

    We have a President in the person of Charles Savarin, and Prime Minister the … Roosevelt Skerrit; so this legal authority for anything to happen in the country, comes from Roosevelt. The proposal must be tabled, and debate in the parliament, if no objections, and the bill is passed the President in his ceremonial position signs it into law; and it’s done! 

    No outside power have any say in Dominica’s political and constitutional changes!

    Who is…

  5. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    January 11, 2019

    I made some sarcastic remarks the other day regarding Roosevelt; commenting that he is the most brilliant ever born, if he read my comments, or was told what I wrote; his foolish egotistical ambition must have overwhelmed him hence, he is out again talking hogwash! 

    The opposition UWP has no actual power in the country, or government; Roosevelt is the only person in the country who has the power to say let us proceed with electoral reform; so why tell such a simple lie when he knows he is simply making a fool of himself.

    The UWP cannot exercise their legal rights as elected members of the parliament, they cannot table a Bill or a budget, it is all about the one man government  Roosevelt Skerrit! The opposition is not in any position to disrupt, nor have any power to implement, or prevent electoral reform!

    Anybody who would believe Roosevelt lies at this time would have to be fool! 

    Roosevelt is dual: the lock and the key; he’s the obstacle!

  6. Titiwi
    January 11, 2019

    When recently hearing veteran politician and ex-minister Atherton Martin describe our country’s leader as the devil incarnate I found it rather harsh.
    However, I have to concur with him as I have come to realise that the character and psyche of Roosevelt Skerrit are fixed and incommutable.
    Columbus named our island Dominica, after the Lord, the day he first cast his eyes on our little garden of Eden.
    Sadly, it has come to resemble John Milton’s Paradise Lost, where Satan infamously declares that it is better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven.
    Most times a cancer has to be excised in order to make the body whole again

  7. viewsexpressed
    January 11, 2019

    “PM Skerrit blames opposition for delay in electoral reform”. PM Skerrit is a big clown and behaves with idiotic mannerisms. He has blame someone other than himself and he knows that what he spews out is garbage and nasty politics to make believe. Skerrit you are already stained, well stained in this office after 18 years there is nothing of substantial that we can see that has made a difference in Domininca. Any default in any activity relating to the states operations Skerrit is the Odd Minister who has to held accountability for his failures and idiotic behaviour. This man must exit the Prime Minister’s office ASAP as he has hurt us enough. Too much of poverty in Domininca and this man Skerrit in illiterate to the process and discipline of development. Skerrit must Go…..Go about your Funky Business

  8. Texas
    January 11, 2019

    The trumpets have been blasting and the bells have been ringing. When the election is called later this year, WHEN or if the bloated voter’s list is used, Dominica will be doomed for another 5 years and will start to look more like Venezuela. The most important detail of Electoral Reform is updating the bloated voter’s list, at least that can be done in the meantime, but Skerrit does not want that.

  9. "REMEMBER VENEZUELA"
    January 11, 2019

    My people Remember Venezuela. Remember how powerful Chavez though he was with his military uniform. Remember his huge and powerful army but his army was not powerful enough to save his life. He died at a very young age of 58 but he only needed 14 years to destroy Venezuela! Before he died he selected his right hand man Maduro to continue his failed policies but 5 years later Venezuela is in dee, deep, deep trouble and it is just a matter of time before Venezuela is completely destroyed by gross poverty and sanction. This is the president Roosevelt Skerrit has made his idol and the very same policies he has implemented in Dominica. So far he destroyed our banana industry & Ross University. He maybe feels he going soon so like Chavez, he picked Austrie to run things & protect him . Here is the “take warning’ song https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-adk-adk_sbnt&hsimp=yhs-adk_sbnt&hspart=adk&p=Take+warning+song#id=1&vid=f6553204ec8c7200d50964a961549fd1&action=click.

  10. I Challenge
    January 11, 2019

    I challenge Mr. Durand, be a man and publish the injunction filed for all to see. I need to see it.

    I challenge Mr. Skerrit, be a man and tell us exactly what is the opposition’s concerns with the bill.

    I challenge the Attorney General, give us the more consultations on the bill you promised

    I challenge Dominica, be sober and discuss the bill rationally

    I challenge all political parties, STOP LOOKING TO LEGISLATION FOR ADVANTAGE, let your programs and plans and ideas speak for themselves

    I just challenge …..

    • ras
      January 11, 2019

      I challenge DNO to approach the chairman of the Electoral Commission with a view to finding out where the roadblocks to electoral reform lie.

  11. ibo France
    January 11, 2019

    What Skerrit and his spineless water carriers wanted to do is to push electoral deforms down the electors’ throats. Blaming the opposition for the non-implementation of corrective and sensible changes to the electoral system is insanely ridiculous. You have to willfully suspend your common sense to believe this man. Lying and ‘thieving’ are close blood brothers.

  12. "REMEMBER VENEZUELA"
    January 11, 2019

    Luke 17:23 warns us to “Remember Lot’s Wife”. Though He didn’t tell us what exactly we should remember about Lot’s wife but as we read the story in Genesis 19, we see a very sad episode that led to her death, together with the destruction of a city. As we are on the eve of an election and the lies and blame games of Skerrit continues let me warn Dominicans to REMEMBER Venezuela. The once great, powerful and rich Caribbean island called Venezuela is on the brink of collapsing. It’s important for us to remember Venezuela because every has embraced all the FAILED, corrupt and vote catching policies of Hugo Chavez and trying to implement here. Folks Venezuela was rich in oil and once supplied the world with oil and they had an international airport and very skillful people. Yet less than 6 years after the death of Chavez Venezuela has become a poor country with no toilet paper! WE have no oil, no airport and our strong Banana industry and Ross were destroyed by Skerrit. Please save…

  13. May
    January 11, 2019

    PM so much crimes in this country you should be looking at with that handout and that laziness you create in this country take care of that problem first lazy skerrit and his cabal must go

  14. JAH KAL
    January 11, 2019

    Skerrit u are waste of time u lie so much u cannot even remmember the things u say everytime u open your mouth is another one .U must go Dominicans fed u with your XXXXXXXX.

  15. January 11, 2019

    If Deception; Lies and Propaganda were scholastic requirements for the issuance of PhD’s (fake or real) this double (Dr) would have been bestowed the most in the world “hate the dog but tell it it’s teeth are white” give the guy credit for perfecting the art. You own the majority in Parliament garcon (the “I” have it) it was your coco-marcque and attempt at legalizing TREATING which caused honest Dominicans to defeat the bill that you and you dishonest band of parliamentarians tried to force upon us. Let me warn you bro Dominica will never have a dictator or PM for life which we know is entrenched in your delusional mind; but then again “what do you expect from an empty Bag of Coals but Dust”.

    • viewsexpressed
      January 11, 2019

      It is time we Dominican wake up and get rid of this Fake Skerrit and his bunch of immature 18 ministers. So many weird ministers and they still cant get Dominica on the right path to development. We need change in Domininca, we need new faces and professionals and what we see before us who are competent in the UWP Team under its leader Hon. Lennox Linton and his trusted professional Team.

      It is time this comical Labour Party gets out of our states business. They have failed us.

  16. Jonathan Y St Jean
    January 11, 2019

    Only a lampoon leader constantly blames others. Double doctorate dude its time to man up. and lead

  17. %
    January 11, 2019

    Skerrit the delay is DELIBERATE.. It’s because DLP, the Electoral Commission are not trustworthy. Who can trust these bodies to go abroad and do things above board? And can you all go to all countries a road where Dominicans live?
    But Electoral Reform is not your possession that the people want from you,it belongs to the people of Dominica! You may well see thousands of Dominicans asking for what is the foundation block of their democracy. And you must stop the Lies!!!
    Skerrit Must Go
    Skerrit Must Go
    LAZY Skerrit Must Go Now

  18. Your sister brother
    January 11, 2019

    What a mental contortionist our M.P. is. The opposition are not delaying electoral reform. They do not want him to legalise the reforms HE wants to push through enabling him to crook us again. No Sir, you are so disingenuous even Belzebub have trouble keeping up with you.

  19. John Jay
    January 11, 2019

    Why is this man saying this things its not only the group mentioned but some of his own people who sees their is a need to clean the voters list.
    What’s wrong with skerrit boy listen to the electorates, they put you there.

  20. LifeandDeath
    January 11, 2019

    Time Dominicans take Skerrit out of there..the result is just too poor for so long. By now we can be certain that this PM takes the majority of Dominicans for Granted..but the power remains with the ppl.

  21. %
    January 11, 2019

    Dominica is largely a Christian country, where the people believe in the existence of God. Most Dominicans were taught the basic tenets of Christian living “thou shall not lie””. Unless the Christian community comes out openly and publicly denounce Skerrit’s BLATANT LIES, we are already supervising a decaying society which will further damage the country more than Skerrit has done with bad leadership. He is a bad example to our children. He is a bad example to the country.He prides himself as an inveterate and impulsive/compulsive liar.Where are the pastor’s,priests, bishops .The country is sinking.OMG.This man can lie!
    Skerrit Must Go
    Skerrit Must Go
    Lazy Skerrit Must Go Now

  22. Johnnie Boy
    January 11, 2019

    Why is this Prime Minister so dishonest the injunction he referred to is to prevent the Government from calling a general election without the issuance of voters ID cards and cleansing of the voters list. It is not to stall the process of electoral reform . In other words give us electoral reform before any election can be called. The Government simply has to go to parliament and pass law to give the electoral commission the authority to issue voters ID cards

    • %
      January 11, 2019

      Lying has become Skerrit’s mantra..The thing is some Labourites believe his lies!!!
      Lies!!! Lies!!! and more Lies!!!!!
      Is Electoral Reform Skerrit’s personal possession?
      Skerrit Must Go
      Skerrit Must Go
      LAZY Skerrit Must Go Now

  23. james mattis
    January 11, 2019

    Mr. skerrit you LIE.You said with your own mouth “no law no constitution can prevent you from doing whatever you want, how comes now the CCM and the opposition preventing you from doing what you want.Another lie. liars have no memory and you are exhibiting just that.skerrit is better than Columbus

  24. LaPlaine Observer
    January 11, 2019

    The main condition for electoral reform should be when Skeritt stop importing illegal overseas voters. The overall integrity of the elections process is already diminished as a result of Skeritt’s quid pro quo bribes. Let Dominicans who reside in Dominica determine who should govern the country.

  25. Bee
    January 11, 2019

    Skerrit your favorite thing to do is to tell us what the UWP is at fault for. Tell us oh mighty king skerrit….. are you guilty of any wrong other than storing all the millions you have amassed in the foreign banks?

  26. RandyX
    January 11, 2019

    What?? Skerrit you can’t be serious! I’m getting really fed up now with your constant lies and political spin. Let me tell you something , your are thief and a con man. That’s it, full stop. You can twist it and turn it as much as you like – we will get you out of here. That’s not a threat but a promise!

  27. jamie
    January 11, 2019

    Always blame someone else for your corrupt system,Skerrit your a scam and a con,I have been to meetings where tickets were distributed to people to come back and vote,i have proof.know of people who left over 20 years ago and were paid to come and vote,stop your lies man,supported you before but can’t continue this corrupt system.

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