Political parties and public invited to participate in public discussion on electoral reform

A committee of the Electoral Reform Group presents its interim report at DPSU building on April 8, 2019

The Electoral Reform Group, which is made up of various sectors of society, will continue its public education exercise on electoral reform, by convening a public discussion on Tuesday 28th May, 2019.

The Electoral Reform Group includes the Dominica Christian Council, the Dominica Evangelical Churches Association, the Dominica Business Forum In. (DBF Inc.), the Dominica Bar Association, the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) and the Waterfront and Allied Workers Union (WAWU).

According to a release from the group, invitations have been extended to the leaders of the Dominica Labour Party, the United Workers Party and the Dominica Freedom Party to be part of the public discussion that will be moderated by Father Nigel Karam, the representative of the Dominica Christian Council.

The topic for the public discussion is: “Electoral Reform  – Facilitating the verification of identity of persons on the Voter’s Registration Lists to enhance the process of issuing Voter ID Cards as an administrative tool in Sanitizing Voters Registration List.”

The Electoral Reform Group says in its release, that the activity was originally scheduled to be held on Tuesday, May 21st, 2019, but was postponed due to the panel discussion organized by the Electoral Commission on May 22nd.

The general public has been invited to participate in the public discussion and to interact with the leaders of the political parties who are seeking a mandate from voters to lead the Commonwealth of Dominica.

“The partisan divide of the electoral reform issue was very visible at the recent event of the Electoral Commission and requires the intervention of entities such as our Electoral Reform Group, now more than ever before, to safeguard our democracy,” the release from the group states.

The Electoral Reform  Group initiated the consultative process on electoral reform on January 31st, 2019, and has held consultations with the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, the Chief Elections Officer, His Excellency the President of Dominica, representatives of the Dominica Labour Party, the United Workers Party, the Dominica Freedom Party, private sector and civil society.

On April 8, 2019, the group presented an interim report to the Dominican media on its work thus far, and convened its first public discussion on the matter on May 2nd, 2019.

“The public discussion on Tuesday May 28th, 2019, is another attempt to bring an amicable solution to the electoral reform impasse which,” according to the Electoral Reform Group, “from all indications, has the potential of disintegrating into a national crisis with unfortunate consequences.”

The Electoral Reform Group is appealing to all stakeholders, particularly the political parties and the Electoral Commission, to allow good reason to prevail for the prosperity of the Dominican people and to champion respect for the people’s right to determine the destiny of the nation “by engendering fairness and transparency in the process which facilitates and enables their right to vote and the peaceful development of the Commonwealth of Dominica.”

The public discussion will begin at 7:00 P.M. at the conference room of the Dominica Public Service Union.

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34 Comments

  1. Google
    May 28, 2019

    The electoral reform group needs to tell the CCM they need to pull out their injunction in the court.
    That is the only way it will work before the next election.
    If the can’t tell them that bpth groups are full of bull ****.

  2. time has told
    May 27, 2019

    Will the police be there in full riot gear and ammunition like how they showed up at the last “discussion”. Do i need an invitation like the last discussion that was widely publicized to the public but when people showed up they were told that only invite guests can attend?

    What the people of DOMINICA need to insist on is a national debate amongst the candidates in their respective constituencies an the issues as well as between the heads of the parties. I would love to see the PM and the leader of the opposition have a cordial debate on the issues and ideas of moving Dominica forward.

    Back to the topic of this article, i believe this meeting is necessary, but without the intimidation of police in military fatigues. We are not under martial law nor under nation attack. While i admit the presense of law and order must be present, let the guys in black and blue our police constables, not the wanna be soldiers, be present. This is less intimidating and less imposing.

  3. Ibo France
    May 27, 2019

    For the umpteenth time, the ruling despotic government does not have even an iota of interest in Electoral Reforms. Their aim is to run out the clock on this very important issue. Anything that buttresses and advances our democracy is of no interest to them. Their goal is to stay in power using any means necessary even if those means are unlawful, corrupt or openly unprincipled. This scandal plagued government do not want forensic accountants to investigate their numerous financial transgressions and their shocking accumulation of wealth from their civil servant salaries. They try their utmost best to make the opposition seems unpalatable to the electorate while glorifying themselves. When one takes a serious look at the country, reality sets in. Skerrit and his unscrupulous bandits are found woefully wanting of honesty, integrity, truth telling, transparency, accountability, empathy, vision, tact and the list could go on inexhaustibly.

  4. Joseph John
    May 26, 2019

    So the government side and the opposition side cannot agree on electoral reform. But no one is recommending negotiation with compromise.
    This matter should be debated in the House of Assembly.

    • time has told
      May 27, 2019

      There is utter and clear bias in the house. Better they debate in a rum shop if that is the case. At least there the moderator would not be as biased as the speaker of the house. At least in the rum shop Lennox would be able to tell Francine SHUT UP! because the speaker would just let her run her mouth non-stop in the house. I think alllll candidates need to debate in their respective constituencies. and tell the people what they have in store for them. instead of everyone thinking is Skerrit they voting for. You can only vote for skerrit if you are voting in vielle case.

  5. DO IT RIGHT
    May 26, 2019

    The Electoral Reform Group, which is made up of various sectors of society ? that’s the workers!

    • time has told
      May 27, 2019

      thats clarity and justice. Transparency. Because gerald burton and them not doing their job.

  6. Ibo France
    May 26, 2019

    I wish the Electoral Reform Group to apply much more pressure to get the corrupt administration to yield to the wish of the masses. Shut down the country if that what it takes to force the government’s hand on this most important issue. The ‘discussion’ which w’s organized but the Electoral Commission was an exercise in futility. The Evangelical Association, the Christian Council, the Business Sector, the Bar Association, the Labour Unions stand up for the peel you represent, that is, all the people. Don’t allow Skerrit and his misfits to run rough shod over you. One MASSIVE DEMONSTRATION on a Friday afternoon in Roseau shutting down the city. The peel’s will must prevail.

    • Tetecarlbass
      May 26, 2019

      Shutting down of the country can only be successful if the Opposition parties, the union, the Public Service Workers, the Business community, the bus and truck drivers and Marigot and Salisbury get involved. Having one or two thousand people on the streets of Roseau, will not move Skeritt.

      • Ibo France
        May 27, 2019

        Correct! Nothing a government fears more than the collective strength of the people. The power lies with the people but they are too divided to exercise it. That ‘s why politicians love to deploy the divide and rule strategy. Send an unmistakable message to Skerrit and his self righteous minions, the people are the BOSS and they are the SERVANTS. It’s not the other way around. Shut down the entire country on the busiest working day. Show them that the people are in charge of their destiny.

    • time has told
      May 27, 2019

      These days everyone is scared of being victimized. Noone has courage. everyone scared to be fired, or victimized or even shot. Everyone is scared of being worse off then they already are. Pin pointed as being against the current regime. Or else you are doomed. These days i see they have the beggars speaking on their behalf. These days i even see government workers high in campaign planning and even on stage speaking on behalf of the DLP. To my knowledge, government workers are not supposed to be openly involved in political events. But these people of today do not care they singing openly for their supper. No class. I saw the SEP lady speaking at the launching of the Fond Canie DLP office. I wondered why she was there. Maybe to say Labor made xyz jobs available. and the list of classlessness continues. no standards, only on paper when it suits us. in the end people, dont be surprised if you get 5 more years under dlp. So we like it. so we will take the blows. until it is too late.

  7. Bwa-Banday
    May 26, 2019

    Ok guys, hopefully you all will lay down the gauntlet and give Dr. Dr. Hi-Fu a deadline to allocate the money to the electoral commission so they can clean the list and start issuing cards to qualified voters. I suggest 14 days because cash is no problem since it is being handed out to all and sundry who promises to vote the STINKING DIRTY SHOE.

    If the deadline is not met then move into shutdown mode. Simple as that! The election was scheduled for mid June but my understanding is that it has been scrapped because the date was leaked and Dr.Dr. Hi-Fu flipped when he received the sad recent poll results which showed The DIRTY STINKING shoe was going to be kicked out to Tim-buck-too. Time to make a serious move before we all live to regret not doing enough.

    • time has told
      May 27, 2019

      The election will be held after the house in morne daniel finish build. ou pas ka tan? the man not going and give up that good time until he is sure all is well in case he lose. So i give it just after independence 2019. It should be complete by then i believe.

  8. Jonathan Y St Jean
    May 26, 2019

    Kudos to the working committee for keeping the real discussion going on electoral reform. Democracy demands that irrespective what the Skerritt cabal say the power of the people is greater than the people in power.

  9. RandyX
    May 26, 2019

    The time has come to finally stop discussions and talk. We all heard in the past few days what Burton, Petter and Baron had to say. It clearly indicates that the dictator is not interested in reforms and let’s face it why would he be?
    Anyway, the time for action has come… stop the talk, it’s not gonna get us anywhere!!

  10. Ibo France
    May 25, 2019

    I want to applaud this Electoral Reform Group for keeping this most important issue, at present, on the hot burner. The conniving regime is endeavoring to dismiss the growing concerns of the majority of electors about voter’s ID cards and a complete re-registration of voter’s list among other changes to the electoral system . The top hierarchy of the DLP seems determined to derail the efforts of this non governmental group. The people demand an election that is truly free and fair and free of fear.

  11. super
    May 25, 2019

    The panel discussion was held already , want you all want to do is against my constitutional rights and if you try you will end up in court and will lose ok , so our political group will not be there .

    • time has told
      May 27, 2019

      That was no discussion. It was not free and fair either. Shameful.

  12. Tetecarlbass
    May 25, 2019

    The political parties, the public will attend, but I doubt Francine Baron and Levie Peter, will attend. They attended last week’s electoral reform consultation, because they wanted, through the Electoral Commission, to clandestinely relate Government’s intensions that their will be no electoral reform before the general elections. Their mission was successful. Believe me when I say, none of them will be present, at the meeting of the electoral reform group. To avoid criticism, maybe Government might send somebody to the meeting, I am sure will not be anybody of importance.

  13. Braindamage
    May 25, 2019

    I will be there. It’s time for Skerrit to overstand that Dominica is not his potato field.

  14. Lin clown
    May 25, 2019

    Electoral Reform Group and CCM are an arm of the UWP.If they know they are going to win with or without electoral reform as they say then wait.When UWP win they will implement electoral reform.The election was not necessary fair means the election was not necessarily unfair.That is why the observers did not say the election was unfair.The election was conducted by our LAW.The Government will not be forced to implement recommendation by the UWP or its bunch of PUPPETS especially the CCM……………

    • Neville
      May 27, 2019

      Ok, you’ve sung for your supper now. Now shut up and go away, creep!

  15. flat tire
    May 25, 2019

    is it factual that the Gerald Burton man is a passport sales man? and if so can he be compromised?

    • Dominican
      May 27, 2019

      Gerald Burton is not listed by the Government as an authorised CBI agent for the sale of citizenship. However, Range Developments, the developers of the Kempinski hotel, who were allocated Dominican passports to finance this project, are operating in Dominica from the same address as Gerald Burton chambers, 33 Kennedy Ave. and share the same P. O. Box , 1976, in Roseau.

      • RandyX
        May 28, 2019

        Well there we go. Burton has been a Skerrit puppet for around 12 years now.

  16. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    May 25, 2019

    All of you people sitting there engaged in talking are no more than a bunch of waste of time!

    Time wasted can never be regained; there was a discussion held this very week ending the 25th day of May, today.

    Nothing was accomplished except Roosevelt puppet told you all more time is need before he can implement electoral reform.

    The man and his boos Roosevelt  keep making fools of Dominicans and this thing!

    People like you talking nonsense are seeking photo Ops, getting your faces on the Internet, and your voice on Radio.

    Once you get that opportunity, nothing develop out of your waste of time talk; talking is what Dominicans do best.

    Here is an idea, when people are fighting for a beneficial cause action is needed:
    A general strike should be organized between the labor unions, and civil service, and the general public.

    Once it gets started as in 1979 don’t back down until the obstacles Roosevelt Skerrit in the way of progress resigns!

  17. Lovely DA
    May 25, 2019

    I hope that discussion will be bigger, better, informative and well participated by all, than that hijack coshony discussion in the week

  18. Hey
    May 25, 2019

    Too much bloody talk… you fools

  19. Lin clown
    May 25, 2019

    Look at their faces all UWP puppets.According to them they have held all of meetings and consultations.They are still not satified with the outcome.From all indication has the potential to disintegrate into a national crisis with unfortunate consequences.This is coming from RODNEY.These are the same guys who supported the BURNING of Roseau.They also supported the destruction of Dr.FERREIRA’s building and DUNCAN STOWE and the MUSLIM buildings.Levi Peter,Gerald Burton and Francine Baron has explained everything.RODNEY do not send the poor people on the front line like happened on FEBRUARY 7 lead the way and face the consequences.You know your party is losing the next election so you talking BS.Lazarus has Resurrectd.Wicked People.Any violence again in this country the INSTIGATORS will PAY.Labour should not attended your BS.

    • time has told
      May 27, 2019

      Noone supported the burning of roseau except the people who were actually burngin stuff in the sterrts after the meeting had ended. Those were the young unemployed men from La gore, roseau. You see them everyday upon entering the town. These young men have no political affiliation to the UWP as they have proclaimed themselves red. So whats your point.

  20. sad but true
    May 25, 2019

    At the end of the day eh, let’s be real people
    Dominicans gonna vote Skerrit again.
    Even if he doesn’t win all the seats and UWP gains a few, the sad reality of it is DLP still gonna win. :-|
    MAGWAY SAH!

    • time has told
      May 27, 2019

      Most objective comment. You are correct. 5 more years people. tie all you waist and figure out alternatives.

  21. %
    May 25, 2019

    God willing, I shall be there .It is unacceptable that we go into another election with the same bloated electors list and no ID card …OMG what is Skerrit, a buggy parliamentarian that has bee PM for 14 years afraid of so??
    S m g
    S m g
    L S m g n

  22. Pipo
    May 25, 2019

    Very good, looking forward to it and this time no intimidating military police please. Lets have a true open discussion where the public can have a say.

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