Leader of the United Workers Party (UWP), Dr. Thomson Fontaine has announced that Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has agreed to meet with members of the electoral reform coalition to hold discussions on electoral reform.
He made the announcement during a press conference held at the UWP office on Monday.
“We have through the electoral reform coalition, that is a coalition that includes not only the political parties in opposition, but also a number of civic groups… made an approach to the prime minister, we are supposed to have met with him last Thursday, but he asked for a postponement and so we are waiting on a date from the prime minister so we can sit down and discuss the issue with him,” Dr. Fontaine said.
He continued, “He has agreed to meet, so it’s just a matter for a date to be announced.”
Furthermore, Dr. Fontaine said it has been many years since the party first heard the promise of electoral reform from the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) Government.
“Late last year there were a series of consultations following the publication of the Sir Dennis Byron report on electoral reform, yet well into two months of the New Year we have seen no noticeable movement nor any urgency by this government to press forward with these much-needed reforms,” he remarked.
Dr. Fontaine believes it is important to remind the public that the country’s electoral system is broken and its current form continues to pose a serious threat to our democracy,” he said.
He continued. “We can no longer wait for the passage of legislation which will pave the way for our democratic rights and freedoms here in Dominica.”
According to him, it is equally important that his party reminds this government that any proposed reforms must contain at the very minimum four components.
“Number 1, a clean voters list through a re-registration process based upon the residency criteria, number 2, the issuance of voter ID cards to all re-registered voters, 3, equal access to the state-owned radio station DBS Radio and 4, campaign finance reforms,” he revealed. “We need these reforms and we need it now, so let us move this process forward and as quickly as possible.”
Meanwhile, while speaking as a guest during DBS’ Talking Point program in January 2024, Prime Minister Skeritt assured the public that the government is expected to go to parliament during the first quarter of this year to give authority to the electoral commission to effect the reform agenda.
“We are hoping that in all things considered, we can go to parliament in the first quarter of this year and give that authority to the electoral commission,” Skerrit said. “We contracted the services of Sir Dennis Byron, his submitted report.”
Skerrit said extensive consultations were held across Dominica with stakeholders and everyone interested in being consulted showed up.
Nuff talking and allowing SOS to play you all for time for RSS to get here. Stay focused, hit the streets and get labour out through people power. The people will implement reform after they are forced to leave office through people power.
“Stay focused, hit the streets and get labour out through people power.” Lol, you do not reside in Dominica, do you? Probably spend many hours listening to Matt, huh? Yea, this is how they catch many of you.
Dominicans pas vlay UWPWee. Have you seen any evidence of “people power” in Roseau as a result of a call by the UWPWee or its satellite groups? Have you seen any indication that Dominicans are ready to follow the UWPwee to the polls?! Lol! You’ve got espwa mal papye or maybe you are simply one of those Diassporans who was duped by the UWPwee.
A plethora of delay tactics and stubbornness have been displayed publicly to prevent any changes to the flawed electoral system.
Recently, the consaltations proved that instead of listening to alternative views on the matter, authorities showed that there should be no reforms. No ID cards, No Re-registration, the bloated list is ok, no campaign finance regulation, no fair media access, in fact, election without these cannot be Free nor fair. Int. election observers, on several occasions, have recommended such reforms, which Dominicans have been pleading for years. The CCJ warned of the negative effects, the blow to our democratic way of life, if these reforms are not implemented. Yet that hurried activity was done in December 2022, irrespective of all those concerns from many quarters to prevent citizens from choosing the representatives of their choice.
Several other CARICOM Member countries have done these reforms to ensure FREE and FAIR elections.
Roosevelt has the country going around in circles with this electoral reform. Just like a circle has no end this reform debate also.
What I want to say to Starboy of Stupidity is that Karma is real. For you Roosevelt, Karma is like a loan, you will pay interest.
Just refrain from SHAKING either of his hands. Please TAKE my advice. Many times you all don’t listen when others who know better ask you men and women not to do something. For e.g asking you all not to touch his throw about $$ but yet you all advice others, ” Take the money is your money “. My friends please refrain from this man and if you decide to meet please keep your hands down. My brothers this man Roosevelt Skerrit is 1000% No Gooder.
Why does this megalomaniac has this insatiable desire to control everything. This meeting would be more appropriate with the members of the electoral commission. Roosevelt chairing a meeting concerning electoral reform cannot bear any succulent fruits.
Allowing Roosevelt to preside over this critically important consultation is tantamount to allowing the manager of one of the two teams in a football World Cup Finals to referee that match.
Roosevelt is allergic to fairness, truth, respect, integrity, morality, honesty. It’s foolish to expect this evildoer to be impartial.
Exactly right! It’s none of Skerrits business. Anybody meeting with him regarding this issue is legitimising him in his claim to lead electoral reform. Once again, it’s none of his damn business.
Take good care of King Charles for me, please. He is suffering from cancer. While you do just that, we will take care of Skerrit.
Exactly! Having Roosevelt chair a meeting of this nature is like giving him the legitimacy as the sole electoral commissioner.
Where on earth are you hiding? You sound like Kim Jong Un, living in a dungeon giving out orders. How can he be impartial when you are so partial? Aren’t you tired of using analogies in your garbage you keep spouting on DNO? Remember you are an election day loser. Your bum. You sound like Prince Harry writing all kind of shit about the Royal Family, the Skerrits, in Dominica. Somehow, I think your system is glutted OPIOD.
Every time you come on here with your garbage you prove that you are not right in your head. You are a typical Dominican beggar that has no shame.
This guy is a lunatic.UWP don’t have a single seat in parliament,but they want to dictate to a 19-2 government.There will be NO re-registration.There will be NO access to state owned DBS.There will NO campaigning financing and there will be NO voter ID cards.There is nothing ERC can do about it.We will remove dead names from the list,and we will remove the 5 year restriction.
You only win because of the list full of dead people. If you brave try cleaning it up.
So all the dead people on the list only voted for DLP? And what happened in those constituencies where UWPWee won, the dead decided to vote for them too? What special breed of tehbeh are you to believe this foolishness?
Yet an other desperate attempt from you to appear relevant. You are one sad creature!
And since you all like to take on responsibilites that are not yours, please maintain my children for me. Thanks
Oh and before I forget, I wonder what it is that you all cower and tremble in fear whenever the words “electoral reform” are sounded?
As long as Roosevelt remains at the are of political power in Dominica, there will be no credible electoral reform. This crooked man has to hold on to power to stay out of jail. He cannot chance it by implementing fair electoral changes that will create a level playing field for all political parties and candidates.
For some unknown reason he postponed the meeting that was slated for last Thursday. He has promised to have the said meeting in the near future without giving a precise date. Surprise?
Only a very naive and credulous person would put confidence in any promise Roosevelt makes. Even if the meeting takes place securing a huge advantage for himself and his party is his only motive. Trusting Roosevelt is like playing with a scorpion and expect not to get stung.
Fontaine, stop all this talk of electoral reform and find something better to do with your life. I am sick of all this talk of electoral reform. Isn’t there anything better to do in life than all this talk of electoral reform? Reform or no reform, the UWP party is already doomed. Ibo France, get a life and stop living off that dole and welfare cheques or checks.
Reform will come with or without the corrupt monster. Pay day will follow shortly after that. He will pay with his freedom. Life with no chance of parole. The cold, bare concrete shall be his bed and roaches and rats his only companions.