CCM to protest against amendments to election laws outside Parliament

The Concern Citizens Movement (CCM) is planning to stage protest actions outside of Parliament on Thursday [September 20] to encourage Dominicans to stand up for their rights as it relates to electoral reform.

The organization is staunchly opposed to amendments of the House of Assembly (Elections) Act and the Registration of Electors Act proposed by the government. The amendments were expected to be taken to Parliament on Thursday but the government has since put them on hold saying it wants to further consult with stakeholders.

But President of the CCM, Loftus Durand told DNO that the protest will still take place. He said he wants Dominicans to stand up for their rights.

“Basically having Dominicans stand up for their rights in Dominica, asking the government of the day to basically speak to the rules and regulations that are in our Constitution as it pertains to the whole idea of election and other matters of national development,” he said.

He called on all Dominicans to take part in the protest although the amendment will not be going to Parliament.

“We are calling on our people to come in spite of it not being brought forward on the 20th, but the government has the intention of re-introducing it to the Parliament, so we are taking in front, before in front take us…,” Durand remarked.

Durand said utterances by members of the government cannot be trusted when it comes to fairness in general elections in Dominica.

“We cannot trust some of the utterances of the Attorney General and any member of the government as it pertains to having fairness and equity in our elections,” he indicated. “Based on that level we are asking persons to demand justice, to demand fairness in Dominica’s general elections.”

Meantime, the CCM attempted to file an injunction to prevent the amendments from going to Parliament but ran into some problems at the court.

“We were seeking some kind of injunction but what basically transpired this morning is that from the court’s end, seeing that the government has postponed the reading of the Bills tomorrow at Parliament and it will not be on the Order Paper, the court decided it has no reason to injunct anything, there is nothing to injunct,” Durand explained on Wednesday.

Despite this, Durand said the matter is a win for Dominica and the CCM has not entirely withdrawn the matter from the court.

“Technically it is a win for the people of Dominica,” he stated. “As soon as they decide to go back, we will just activate our matter.”

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26 Comments

  1. RandyX
    September 20, 2018

    Good! We must not allow Skerrit to push this through.

  2. JAH KAL
    September 20, 2018

    Lufty go for it.I want dominicans to be there in the thousands to let skerrit and the labor party to know its not a joke if we have to shut down the country lets do it, peeping tom keep on peeping is people like u and others that get all the crumps from the masters table, but time will tell there is …. all in your face and u dont even know it keep on peeping Dominica belong to all of us and its not skerrit estate.
    SKERRIT MUST GO.
    Lapseng
    Lorenzo
    Monfared Ash Corralo Maddeque and more.

  3. Ibo France
    September 19, 2018

    This is concrete evidence that Skerrit and his DLP goons are oblivious to the country’s dire economic situation. No pronouncements on trying to jump start the economy. All their energy and interest lies in winning the next general elections by using skullduggery, shenanigans and manipulation of the electoral system. Just imagine, the country is teetering on complete economic collapse and the DLP is focusing strictly on electoral ‘deform’. One has to rid oneself of common sense, common decency and one’s conscience to support these ultra selfish, unenlightened, unscrupulous bandits in government.

  4. Ask Trump
    September 19, 2018

    The statement of the president of UWP poured cold Water on their base and I can tell that will hurt the CCM protest tomorrow. As honest as Isaac Baptist may have been they need to learn to keep their base fired up and not their opponents base

  5. Dr. Clayton Shillingford
    September 19, 2018

    As I understood it the protest is more broad based and not focused solely on the amendments of the House of Assembly (Elections) Act and the Registration of Electors Act proposed by the government.

    The opening para above states..”.Concern Citizens Movement (CCM) is planning to stage protest actions outside of Parliament on Thursday [September 20] to encourage Dominicans to stand up for their rights as it relates to electoral reform”. and other concerns, ..lack of transparency, other social, legal and economic issues.. Ross departure etc..

    t

    • Joseph John
      September 20, 2018

      Dr Shilingford. Are you on the executive of this group. Hope you can find time to gain closure for the burning to death of the 3 (THREE) Dominicans who were burnt to death on carnival Monday in the early 60’s and the death of Timothy on May 29th. Concern citizens must be concerned about justice.
      What about monies that DAAS collected in dues, contributions and even financial assistance from the Smithsonion Institution. Don’t concern citizens have a duty to investigate and demonstrate about this lack of accountability ?

  6. Massacre
    September 19, 2018

    I want to commend the CCM for taking this courageous step to organize a protest that all the political opposition should do.
    But I still support them in this move and will be there for sure. Let us show Skerrit and his cabal that Dominicans are fed up with is incompetence .

  7. Loftus Durand
    September 19, 2018

    I truly believe “peeping tom”that it’s only when you and others like you stop watching things with one eye like a sole then you all will be able to see clearly how this rogue regime has and will continue to have your minds in a state of perpetual shackle.
    Really hope that day is not too late

    • Peeping Tom
      September 19, 2018

      Bossman, if i have to “see things” with two eyes like you, i would rather remain with my one eye!

      • Joseph John
        September 20, 2018

        Marks men aim at their target with one eye. You could swear that a sniper has only one eye.

    • Roy Williams
      September 19, 2018

      Loftus tell peeping tom exactly what he is, a red Cyclops.

    • Joseph John
      September 20, 2018

      So concerned citizens are part of the name calling and insult flaunting ingroup full of egoism and no empathy. I thought concerned citizens would be very concerned with social justice. They talk about demonstrating about citizens rights but isn’t ones constitution and democratic right the most important right of all.
      So how come you are demonizing “peeping tom” who have not even made a comment on this piece.
      So stop pretending that you are not a political party because pretense is a scam, a fake.
      You have a right to be a political party anytime in this democratic Dominica, every one does. People are free to form or support the party of their choice without fear of being insulted.

  8. KID ON THE BLOCK
    September 19, 2018

    Luftus, you know something, why don’t you go and find some positive work to do and stop acting as a fool. What really is the protest about? Stop making a fool of yourself. Who is going to follow you other than your usual blind mice, People fedup with you ALL. Think of all the meetings and protest actions you have had and what has been the outcome. You ALL are just another branch of the UWP. You can not stop REGGAEL Go and seek help for those who are still suffering after Maria, go get involve in the rebuilding process instead of You and your likes going on Q95 and lie to people. You ALL are a special breed of liars and trouble makers.

    • Ibo France
      September 19, 2018

      Where are the jobs, KID? The hardest thing to find right now in Dominica is decent work. Finding work in Dominica is like looking for a lost wedding ring in the Amazon river. Too many people are unemployed. Where is the money to buy materials for repairs? The government has selectively given the donated materials to their parasitic supporters. Gullible simpletons like you are the enablers of this useless bunch of misfits. This is a severely underperforming government. Dominica, under DLP rule for the last 18 years, is consistently at the derriere end in terms of economic performance in the sub region. Instead of being the bread basket of the OECS, Dominica has become a basket case. The leader goes globe trotting ever so often with a panhandler’s basket. Begging is now the country’s chief source of revenue, everything else has failed miserably. Vote them out!

      • Joseph John
        September 20, 2018

        I understand that there is a lot of work in construction right now . Some people who never
        hammered a nail is finding word. I understand that people with insurance money cannot find workers to repair their home, farmers have to depend on Haitians. There is so much work right now the workers have to be imported. Am I wrong?

  9. Maria
    September 19, 2018

    CCM be careful that you do not burn out your followers. It is ill advised to proceed with a protest when there is nothing to protest about. When the real protest is needed you might not get anyone to protest.
    The millennium activists lack basic strategizing techniques, it appears that these guys need some mentorship from the 70s activists.
    It would be much better if CCM used its limited resources to educate people on the impending legislation to be prepared for the next battle. The protest is really wasting your ammunition. When Skerrit fires back you will be undefended, God forbid.

  10. PEACE AFTER THE STORM
    September 19, 2018

    I was planning on joining the CCM in the protest tomorrow but since the Preisident of UWP said they want to recorgnize the work Skerrit did after Maria, I will no longer join the protest because maybe Skerrit needs my support to continue to do more work. Off course this is the blogger that was well known as “Hurricane Skerrit but now I changed my name to Calm After the STORM. SO give me more thumbs down UWPites

    • September 19, 2018

      Right now I see that you have neither thumbs up nor thumbs down at this stage; it must be that people cannot trust you. You sound like those people who quickly change their mind. It is hard to trust people with the character like yours

      • Ibo France
        September 20, 2018

        Elizabeth, every critic of the government’s ill-advised policies is subjected to vicious personal attacks on their character and intelligence by you. If you can defend Skerrit’s ruinous practices and conduct you can defend the devil. Repair your conscience for it has been severely damaged.

      • September 20, 2018

        @Ibo France is PEACE AFTER THE STORM criticizing the government for the comment which I responded to? So how do you arrive at your judgment of me? And why is it that you have the right to speak your thoughts, and I do not? Can you please answer those questions?

  11. %
    September 19, 2018

    Count on me FOR SURE..
    We should NEVER allow a corrupt DLP that is under intense pressure at home,because they will surely LOSE the next election,to go abroad to confirm,register or reconfirm voters.No Way!!!
    The thing is this party since 2004 is famous /infamous for trickery, chichanery,shenanigans and deceptive strategems.This is not a party (DLP)that can be trusted. Remember 2014 election???,the Commonwealth Election Observer Team told us that we had an UNFAIR election .We must stand up,and ensure that Skerrit, the most idiotic,lazy, incompetent leader get his election whippings on his behind and clear the way for Dominica to have good governance.You all are wondering how he made his bed?But that is not my doggone business.If he has music to face I pray that he faces it.
    Skerrit Must Go
    Skerrit Must Go
    Lazy Skerrit Must Go Now

  12. Peeping Tom
    September 19, 2018

    “He called on all Dominicans to take part in the protest although the amendment will not be going to Parliament.” So what is the “protest” about then? What are you protesting?

    “We were seeking some kind of injunction but what basically transpired this morning is that from the court’s end, seeing that the government has postponed the reading of the Bills tomorrow at Parliament and it will not be on the Order Paper, the court decided it has no reason to injunct anything, there is nothing to injunct,” Doesn’t the Court’s decision seem very obvious to anyone? Who advises these people?

    Like its parent company, the UWP, CCM operates on ignorance, illiteracy, and emotion. Comic relief!

    • Joseph John
      September 19, 2018

      So a protest is called for no reasons. At least tell me what are the amendments proposed that will infringe on my rights. And what are the rights involved.
      If some people want to form a new political party that is their political and democratic right. But disguising yourself as a concerned social group is just dishonest and an outright lie. If you want to launch a political party do it the normal professional way. Have a convention not a pappy show. be a model for the young since you are a concerned citizen otherwise you are just a fake politician who will fade away like the remnants of a hurricane after reconstruction.
      The government can easily keep on postponing the bill every time there is a hint of protest …..then what…there will never be any reform .
      Again …..what are the rights at risk that we have to defend. Details please. All this “rights” generalization is just a political stunt.

    • RandyX
      September 20, 2018

      Comic relief you talking about? Well the cap clearly fits. Nothing more pathetic than these rednosed brain-dead Skerrit supporters

      • Joseph John
        September 20, 2018

        I am beginning to realize that all the opposition forces have to offer are empty insulting words. They can do nothing and have nothing to offer, but noise and bubbles. AND MAYPWEE.

      • RandyX
        September 22, 2018

        JJ who are you trying to impress?? You are supporting a corrupt and incompetent PM and you know it. What do you get out of it? What does that say for your intellect? Nobody is taking you guys serious anymore. You, your friends and your PM ruined my beautiful country. All you just want me to lay down and take that???? After a change of government all you should get 6 month in Stockfarm for treason to your country.

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