The Dominica Freedom Party believes that the adjournment of parliament on Friday, May 26, 2017 without further consideration of other matters which were on the order paper including the amendment to the electoral Act, was the only course of action to avoid confrontation on this dangerous path of the labour Party Administration to undermine democracy in Dominica.
The disrespectful and dictatorial behavior of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit which is supported by members of his cabinet must come to an end in the interest of peace and goodwill among the people of Dominica.
The DFP is looking with great interest for the engagement of all stakeholders for discussions to arrive at consensus for real amendment to the electoral Act that will modernize and improve the electoral process in Dominica. This certainly cannot include making it legal for political parties to finance the transportation of persons into Dominica to vote.
Prime Minister Skerrit misled the nation by saying in his address to the nation on Thursday, May 25, 2017 that the Opposition had not made recommendations for electoral reform in Dominica. This is viewed as a deliberate attempt by the Prime Minister to deceive the people of Dominica, the region and International community and this level of untruth can only create further distrust, confusion and disunity among the people of Dominica. The Opposition parties have been vocal in requesting electoral enforcement and reform to the election laws ever since irregularities surfaced in the 2005 general election in Dominica. In addition regional and international election observers made recommendations of a similar nature to those proposed by the Opposition political parties.
Since then there has been separate meetings held between the Opposition political parties and the electoral commission at which discussions took place and recommendations for electoral reform were made. Following the December 18th 2009 general election, a joint white paper on electoral enforcement and reform was prepared by the Opposition political parties UWP and DFP and was sent to the electoral commission, thereafter presented to the media at a press conference where presentations were made by Mr. Ronald Green and Mrs. Judith Pestaina political leaders of the United Workers Party and the Dominica Freedom Party respectively at that time. Furthermore, a delegation from both political parties went to St. Kitts in 2009 where a meeting of the OECS heads of government was taking place to heighten attention on the need for electoral reform in Dominica.
The recommendations that were put forward by the Opposition political parties for electoral enforcement and reform includes the issuance of voter ID cards, sanitization of the voter’s list, equal access to the state-owned radio station – Dominica Broadcasting Service, and campaign finance reform. The DFP believes that any amendment to the electoral Act should be for improving the existing legislation to arrive at a fairer electoral process in Dominica and to ensure that elections outcomes are not determined by those who have and will use money to secure votes through bribery.
Elections outcomes in Dominica should never be determined by criminal elements such as drug dealers and money launderers, or by undemocratic means but must remained through the principle of one man one vote, conducted fairly so as to continue to enable ordinary citizens to participate freely and without hindrances in the electoral process.
The Dominica Freedom Party is disappointed in the Chairman of the electoral commission and Chief Elections Officer for not correcting the Prime Minister, and the Attorney General for the miss – Information that they have been giving to the general public and view this as a failure on their part for allowing the work of the electoral commission and management of elections in Dominica to degenerate into confusion of partisan politics and to be influence and control by the ruling party.
The Dominica Freedom Party emphatically rejects the current proposed amendment to the electoral Act, which is viewed as an attempt to legalize bribery and treating. We call on the people of Dominica, irrespective of political affiliation to stand firmly against this attempt to undermine democracy in Dominica.
Good articulated article coming from DFP. We just need a good person to lead/resuscitate the Party to help get rid of the swamp in Roseau and all over Dominica.
So how many DFP are there? Christian is the leader then Astaphan is the interim then Boston is which?
Freedom party died long time ago
Agree with you, since the party betrayed it’s supporters, merging with labor, that’s why all young freedom movement people turn labor singing for their supper like little tommy talker, especially those in the roseau south constituency, I will never vote freedom party again, no more trust in freedom party
The DFP is probably the biggest threat to the DLP. The truth will always be the truth. Dominicans want change but they are still fearful of the UWP and it’s leadership and that’s a fact.
According to recent and undercover polls the DFP is still seen in Dominica as the only Party people can trust if elected into Government. And yes ,the DLP knows that. It was proven by the PM statement at the ground breaking ceremony for Jungle Bay.” there is blue and red or sometimes a little green that is available” When someone talk like that it tells you, he is scared of the little Green that is left.
I do not want to let the cat out of the box bu,t there are nine constituencies in Dominica the DFP can win in the next election if the candidates can do their home work well.
Hahahahaa there is no DFP there are Dominicans who vote labour or UWP. If the DFP rebuilds it will be the same Dominicans who will chose which party they will vote. That nonsense about DFP vote labour is crap, people change sides all the time. What you UWP has to do is convince people to our side instead of talking crap
The DFP may be at its lowest ebb but the thoughts and proposals espoused in the commentary above is relevant, timely and rational. We have a tendency to launch blistering and grotesque attacks on the messenger and completely ignore the pertinent message. If we continue to defame, excoriate and malign people for sensible suggestions and ideas, the country will have hell to pay. Let’s ignore the vicious and vacuous attacks. Can anyone give me a sensible critical analysis against the suggestions and ideas put forward by the DFP? Should a party only make comments when it is in a dominant or powerful position? We cannot reach our fullest potential by giving blind support to one party and heap scorn, invectives and blame on others. No one individual or political party has a monopoly on good ideas. Let all voices be heard. Even a fool sometimes come up with brilliant ideas.
DFP is stirring up trouble and causing more divisions in Dominica. You stated this to encourage UWP, Linton and supporters. We know what you are up to.
I am not impressed with you.
Every other political party other than the Labour party should make a coalition in order to remove Skerrit in power.Dominican and should not continue to retrograde in such a speed; poverty, unemployment, and violence are on a high increase.Skerrit must go.
I have been say that for the longest while it’s time that all the Opposition Parties join together to remove DLP and stat to help moving Dominica forward the people need help, I’m sure both parties cam make some kind of arrangement or contract I know they can, so I would suggest that put Dominica and the people first work it out and defeat DLP and Skerrit for good.
FREEDOM PARTY AND UWP PARTY come together and take Skerrit out of power..
Does Freedom party have at least 1 parliamentary representative in government? the answer is NO not one!
there fore its not a political party!
you sound like an idiot. DFP supporters is the reason DLP is in power for all these years
Nonsense. You either DFP por DLP if you vote DLP you are no longer DFP. When you learn this easy formula then you are ready to remove skerrit from office. But if you want to wait for DLP to remove him that’s ok.
The DFP is I believe is still a registered political party. It however has been a member of Parliament because they won no seats in the last couple of elections.
Anyway most DFP members supports the DLP Government. The remainder just tags along with the UWP. Mamo must be very disappointed with them.
. . . And should keep quiet. It has no authority. We know DFP does not support DLP.
The President was a Freedomite before he was a Laborite. If not for Freedom Labor would be nowhere. At one point Labor was the laughing stock. It was only Freedom and UWP that was taken seriously, granted grandbay always went to labor.
It was Portsmouth that always went to Labour more times than Grand Bay. Sout City was Freedom for a while in the 1970s and 1980s.
How does a Freedom Party endorse “campaign finance reform,” which usually means new rules against spending money on political advocacy? Freedom to spend would be Freedom. Who knows what they mean by “fair”? In fact, how does a Freedom Party spend time on fairer use of the state-owned radio station, instead of advocating selling it off and having as many private radio stations as the market will bear?
Freedom party trying to make itself relevant. a ghost party with no head and no body. This posting of a one person opinion is an imposter posing as a real political party.
Let reason, common sense, fair play and justice PREVAIL.
Why doesnt the DFP get serious and stop pussyfooting around with this politics thing. Start woring so people can take you all serious again. If not for the DFP, Labour would have never been in power in the first place. Now you all act like unwanted step children. being arrested marginalized and threatened. Step up and take your rightful place. But first select credible, upstanding respectful, tactful, people with some class and direction.
A third party is a dilemma everywhere with elections in which we vote for the lesser of two evils. Parliament could tolerate members of three parties, and two could gang up on Mr. Skerrit and unseat him, if Freedom and UWP have anything in common. It strikes me that “Labour” and “Workers” is the same message: targeting the passive with promises of Free Money from government, and to hell with him who aspires for Freedom to become something more. Now, if in individual districts the Freedom candidate cannot win but holds the balance of power, and he will not quit the campaign and throw his support to the better candidate but he lets the worse sneak in, that is a problem.
SO if both UWP and Freedom have the same goal in mind which is a change of government, maybe we need another alliance. But maybe then people would say Freedom only good when all you want to take a government out of power. None the less. Times have changed, the people and the parties have also. Lets see what transpires in the years to come. Slowly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBLBFl5cDRE&index=9&list=PLWwqBcUAd9ij_Kgxe-uXIk6TVKAgRJkFH
Good position DFP who is leading this party.?
Dominica’s third political party, and people don’t know who its leader is? And the DNO runs a press release from the Freedom Party that reads as though it was written-by-committee but omits to mention the leader’s name? Yikes!
Dr. Sam Christian, I believe.
They are looking for a leader, strangely no mention was made of Dr Christians name by Astaphans