The Electoral Commission has not yet decided whether a new multi-purpose identification card, now being introduced in Dominica, will be used in the next general elections.
There are some reports in the media which indicate that the much touted card will not be used but chief elections officer, Stephen LaRocque, said the commission has not made a final determination on the matter.
“The commission has not taken a decision as to whether the cards will be used for this election,” he told DNO adding that the commission has to be satisfied that all those who are entitled to a card are given the opportunity to obtain one.
“We do not know when election can be called, so we don’t want to say its mandatory and next thing people coming and making noise with us,” he explained.
LaRocque pointed out the decision to use the card does not rest on him alone, but the entire commission.
“Until they are satisfied that they are entitled to a card has been given an opportunity to get a card then they will make a determination as to whether the card will be used for election purposes,” he noted.
The Chief Elections Officer also mentioned that the commission gave itself a one-year target to get all Dominicans enrolled in the system.
He said to date 2,600 public officers have been enrolled, however the process has been slowed down since the electoral office will be moving to its new offices in the State House shortly.
He, however, noted that an enrollment office will be set up to facilitate the public.
“The system will be in full operation and our one-year target could be shortened …we are hoping,” he stressed.
Meantime, LaRocque is calling on public officers who have missed their appointed date, to come in and enroll.
He also pointed out that new voters registered under the system have risen to over 1,000 for the 1st quarter (December 1st to March 15th 2014).
General elections are constitutionally due in 2015.
good
I have noticed that the electoral officer said the equipments are slow but will move faster when brought to the new office, i am from far rural Dominica does that mean that i have to travel to Roseau simply to re-register and get an I D card. Then who is going to pay the bus fair and the cost of my lunch?
ID cards isn’t just for voting… they need ID cards so children under 18 cannot enter Adult concerts and jams… they must show ID. some of them doh even have pwell but dey the first in a jam. That have to stop.. It was okay in the past but these days between the explicit lyrics and vulgarity combined its no place for kids, adults in the community have to step up their game to protect the future.
There are only about 80.000 people real citizens on Dominica but there will be over 200,000 people on the island at the time of the election voting for Skerrit. And Melville hall airport will be having plaes landing 24/7 heading to the polls at Government Headquarters. The people coming off cruse ships will be voting too.
Is Mr Larocque for DLP or UWP or independent. Suppose he let it be known that he supports UWP would he keep his job?
They need the ID cards today so that non-Dominicans flown in right before the election can vote for the crooks flying them in to vote for them, hello! people not real citizens should not vote. By the way is there snow on Dominica, Dominica had a team at the winter Olympics. Is there a ski lift and snow on the canfield heights?
The government never intended the MPIC to be used for elections, that’s why they are busy delaying the process.
skerritt told Dominican of his dream of being in power for about 50 years all you forgot that???????
Does he know how long he is going to be on earth for?
why dors the Electoral office have to be in the state house?
Is it so they could get in there and do as they please?
wake up, people wake up. Open your eyes.
The Electoral Commission has lost its “Independence,” like many other “independent” institutions, thanks to we know who.
The “Independent” Electoral Commission recommended Electoral reforms to ensure elections are FREE and FAIR. It wanted specifically to produce Voter ID Cards and to clean up the bloated Voters’ List.
The Commission requested funds from Skerritt’s DLP Govt. about 8 Years now to do what it asked for. The Commission was disrespected. No money from Finance Minister. All kinds of foolish excuses.
However, recently, that same Commission was forced to produce National ID Cards instead of what it really wanted.
Just check the facial expression of the Chief Elections Officer. Pressure. Pressure. Now we hearing a different story, whether NID would be used for the next election.
My people, without electoral reforms, elections in Dominica will not be Free and Fair. Why is Skerritt and his DLP Govt. so stubborn to implement necessary election reforms? Their must be a reason.
January pass, no airline from Florida flying straight to Dominica? Fooled again? They still negotiating with DASPA CEO? Was the airline their transport for their overseas voters given their Free Plane tickets and/or cash? What trickery.
Let’s all be on our P’s and Q’s. Expect all kinds of Kokomakak. The cabal will do anything. They just cannot afford to lose the next elections. They know too well what they have done with our diplomatic passports, secret deals, strangled the economy, institutionalize Begging, etc. etc.
Money gone? millions. Petro Caribe debt in the millions. Felix Chen millions gone? Dominicans getting poorer and poorer while a few are quickly becoming richer and richer.
We ain’t see nothing yet with this Cabal on our backs. How Long? Not Long
@Free and fair So true!
HOPE they give UNCLE DEMON his own too. so when he comes back he wont be denied entry
That national ID card thing is a waste of money if you ask me. That was just a lame attempt by skerrit and his administration to dodge the request by UWP for voter id cards.
So he trying and make it look like he address the issue with that national id card which if implemented still doesnt prevent people overseas from coming down to vote.
Now I not a UWP supporter nor do I think that the absence of overseas voters would have made them win the election but when I see crap I have to say is crap.
And that whole national id card thing is a waste of time money. What you can do is people that dont have ID give them a non-drivers license id like they do in other countries. But to come up with a whole new card is nonesense.
That loud you smoking on giving you brainz boy!
allu too like to lie, some have recieved the cards, even a guy who look ‘haitian kind’ has one…
i getting the impretion that u starting to understand your work start to do what is right
Wow – So the list will not be sanitized and now the ID that was discussed for so many years is now useless for the next election. There should be no excuses and this is an indication of the inefficiencies of this administration.
This administration has to go. Not even a simple matter of providing ID can be successful completed by this government.
This government has been mute on issues of relevance but would prefer spend time on propaganda and lies – trying to destroy Thomson Fountain, trying to attack Joshua, Monelle and the Valley guy.
1,000 new voters for DLP and UWP…. I love it