The United Workers Party once again calls on Mr. Roosevelt Skerrit to release the necessary funds to the Electoral Commission so that the decision of the Commission to clean the voter’s list and provide ID cards can be implemented without further delay.
It is alarming and highly unacceptable that as recently as three months ago, officially released in the Minutes of the last Parliament, Mr. Skerrit, in response to a question in Parliament from Senator Ezekiel Bazil, stubbornly, dismissively and with no explanation, informed Parliament that no money had been allocated or disbursed for the purpose of Voter ID cards.
Dominicans would recall that calls for electoral reform have been issued in public and in Parliament. Such calls have been echoed in national news headlines consistently since 2005. Such calls have been made in Chief Elections Officer’s Reports, by International Observer Missions, and by all Opposition Parties.
Against the background of a $27million allocation for a non-essential, now notorious ‘State Palace’, the refusal to provide the funds for electoral reform is high handed, mischievous and dictatorial.
True to his declared hostility to Dominica’s Constitution, Mr. Skerrit continues to undermine and control the Electoral Commission. The UWP notes that one of the members of the Commission is Mr. Alick Lawrence, who seems to have been nominated to the Commission by Mr. Skerrit, with instructions from his (Mr. Lawrence’s) political associates, Anthony Astaphan and Hartley Henry, that all attempts to introduce electoral reform should be frustrated, undermined and prevented.
It is clear from e-mail correspondence that has been in the public domain for weeks now that Mr. Lawrence is in breach of his obligation to treat matters of the Commission with a high level of confidentiality and not allow himself to be under the direction and control of persons outside the membership of the Commission. We call on Mr. Lawrence, therefore, to apply the advice he gave to Sir Brian Alleyne to himself in the interest of ensuring the integrity of the Electoral Commission.
Over the last three months the United Workers Party has been trying to arrange a meeting with the Electoral Commission to discuss the matter of electoral reform – with no success. We have once again requested a meeting with the Commission for Wednesday 16th March at 10.00. a.m. So far there has not been an acknowledgement of our letter.
The United Workers Party is determined to engage in all appropriate action to highlight and protest against the continued attack by Mr. Skerrit and his associates on the democratic rights of the people of the Commonwealth of Dominica.
Aware that Dominicans are fed up with the delays, the inaction, the blockages, and fed up with the dishonesty and deceit, the UWP will persist in all its efforts towards strengthening our democracy.
Ron according to you and the rest of your gang…Skeritt is an illegal PM,dont you believe if he is to do what you are asking of him to do would also be illegal?..You all UWPites are jokers.No wonder Lennox Linton(UWP god)ready to give up on you all…You all are the legal ones just do as you all want.Case close.How you feel?..yaw..yaw..
This is an important subject,but not a pressing one.let us be more constructive.so much intelligence spent in tearing us apart.Jah bless Waitukubuli.
I am niether BLUE, GREEN or RED. I grew up at home as a Freedomite but I have since moved on. I am however a Dominican to the bone and even though I am presently not residing in DA I am and will always be a Dominican. I have been reading a lot of the news, posts and comments on DNO and frankly I wish some of these posts were not allowed to be posted. However, being a free State I guess DNO cannot keep people from making some of these ridiculous comments. That being said let me start by saying that Ron, the Leader of the oppisition and the rest of the UWP followers need to be more respectful to the Prim Minister. You do not have to like him or his policies but he is the priminister and should be respected. Ron you and this Hector John guy should address him by his correct name, you know what I mean. Now about the ID card, I really believe that a national ID card would serve several purposes instead of just a voter card. There are several things that needs addressing in reference to our election system. First and foremost the way election dates are set should be changed. No one man whether Blue, Red or Green should, while in power should set a date for elections. The Consitution should be modified after it has been debated in the House, and a date be choosen so that no one party will have the upper hand over the other. The populace will know when elections are due and everyone will have enough time to campaign. Now about the part of people having dual citizenship, they should choose where thay want to vote. It is not right for them to vote in both places. So the Constitution can also be modified to state how long one should reside in Da before they are allowed to vote because this will eliminate the problem with individuals coming home just to vote and leave the next day, and if they do not abide by the law then there should be a penalty. I now live in the VI and I cannot vote in the VI and the USA in the same election year.Matter of fact if I miss voting for two consecutive general elections my name is dropped from the voter list and in order to vote again I have to register, so the same practice can be followed at home. I have to decide where I want to vote, cuz I cannot have my cake ane eat it. The last piece of advise I would like to give the UWP members and followers is, come up with a solid PLATFORM from now and present it to the populace from now, let people know how you plan to move Da forward and maybe you can get people to see it’s not that you do not like the Prime Minister, you dot not like his policies and these are the policies the UWP would like to impliment to move Da ahead. Bashing everything the labor party does and stands is not going to get you all re-ellected.
Are you saying you need voter ID cards before you and your party can let Dominicans know what plans you have for the country?
Those people with the backward thinking will never understand the importance of having FREE and FAIR elections in any country and the participation of people in the development process. You all forget your history, man. Why did people struggle for years to a have the right to vote and to ensure that elections are conducted in a manner that is FREE and FAIR? Because people cared about building true democracy. Of course some do not care two hoots if they are bought, sold and bought again for pittance. Many do not care one iota if pressure is going to fall on their children in the future when they will certainly demand FREE and FAIR elections, and struggle with more urgency to prevent Fraudulent elections and corruption. Some of you do not care if your children loose their lives for exercising their democratic RIGHTS.
Many problems very often stem from bad Governance, stealing of Elections, Bad policies because of Bad, irresponsible Govt, engagement in Corrupt and illegal practices by those in Public Office, poor or no planning, neglect of the productive sectors, agriculture, manufacturing and so on that could generate money for the country and provide employment, neglect of using the natural resources of the country to create wealth instead of total dependence most of the times on handouts and money from outside etc., etc., etc., You all cannot understand that until…………..
It is the ordinary, poor people especially, and the entire nation in general, who will be made poorer while the rich get richer through fraud and cheating in elections. and other areas. It is the Big wigs who will get the big share of the pie, while the people will get crumbs or nothing at all. You all will never understand that. Electoral Reforms is not, cannot be a Ron or opposition thing. It will benefit everybody. So continue to bathe in you all ignorance and hatred towards Dominicans like yourselves for expressing their views and for genuinely requesting that everything must be done to ensure FREE and FAIR elections.
Does FAIR play and honesty mean anything to you all? Would you all advice young sportsmen and women to cheat, steal and disobey the rules of the game they are playing? Would you all advice the scorer in a cricket match to write down a six for the batsman when is a single he scored? Is that what you all are saying? SHAME !! A BIG SHAME !!
oh my who ever you are you have a good head on your shoulder grate comment
That’s while a Multi-purposed National ID makes more sense.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11433541
http://singularityhub.com/2010/09/13/india-launches-universal-id-system-with-biometrics/
Voter ID Cards for once every few years is also another waste of money and more papaer work and administration with scope for error.
Ron it is lent can we chill with this drama till the season end please sir.still trying to recover from sour sour song.cannot take in your song Ron.
Mr. Green, voters ID cards or not, this will not make a change to vote out Skerrit.
You all need super pressure to drive Skerrit arround. Just blah, blah, blah, bla, bl. b…..
Skerritt can run but he cannot hide from that burning issue of ELECTORAL REFORM. There have been too many indications through the action of the political directorate that frankly they are not interested in positively responding to the recommendations of the Electoral Commission and the Dominican people, on a whole, on that issue. The Parliament discussed and decided unanimously that funds would be made available to the Electoral Commission for the provision of VOTER ID CARDS and to CLEAN UP THE VOTERS’ LIST.
One wonders why would Skerritt and his Govt. refuse to adhere to the decision of Parliament, where they themselves had agreed to Electoral reforms and to provide the funds to the Commission? It must be concluded that some people do not want FREE and FAIR elections in the future in Dominica. Because take it or leave it, for elections to be FREE and FAIR in the future, as the Electoral Commission foresees, our election process needs some sort of reforms or changes made. Where CAMPAIGN FUNDS and the huge AMOUNTS COME FROM IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT ISSUE TO BE ADDRESSED. All Dominicans would agree that it is not right to have dead peoples names on a voters’ list in these day and age. All Domiicans would also agree that nowadays, it would be wise to be able to properly identify each and everyone who comes to cast his or her vote, given the times we are leaving in.
All over the world such reforms have been or are being put in place to ensure FREE and FAIR elections. In many countries, there have been protests, strikes, killings, violence due to fraudulent elections. In many countries many people have witnessed and aware of numerous irregularities in election processes. We must in Dominica do all what is necessary to avoid irregularities, fraud or stealing of elections. What is the PROBLEM in implementing or providing the funds for Electoral Reforms? Why behave in a way that will bring more hatred, chaos and speculations that some do not want FREE and FAIR elections in Dominica? Is that what we want as a people?
In that case Ron and the general public cannot be wrong for demanding that the issue of Electoral Reforms be given the utmost attention and priority. After all, people have been pleading to Govt. for 7 years now for something that would benefit all Dominicans. Imagine that for yourselves, my people, 7 YEARS, BEGGING, PLEADING TO SKERRITT and GOVT. for ELECTORAL REFORMS. Isn’t the ELECTORAL COMMISSION mandated by the CONSTITUTION to conduct elections? Don’t they have the RIGHT to REQUEST for assistance to make sure our elections go RIGHT? Why TREAT DOMINICANS LIKE THAT? WHY SIDE-LINE, DISRESPECT or RIDICULE THE COMMISSION LIKE THAT. COME ON MY PEOPLE. HAVE A HEART.
It is alarming and highly unacceptable that as recently as three months ago,i had not officially gotten some release. In Parliament. Mr. Skerrit, response was dismissive and no money had been allocated or disbursed for the purpose of fixing my problem.
Dominicans would recall that calls to help me have been issued in public and in Parliament. Such calls have been echoed in national news headlines consistently since 2005. Such calls have been made in Reports, by International Observer Missions, and by all Opposition Parties.
Against the background of a $27million allocation for a non-essential, now notorious ‘State Palace’, the refusal to provide funds for me is high handed and mischievous.
True to his declared hostility to me, Mr. Skerrit continues to undermine and control my personal life. The UWP notes that a commission wth members Mr. Alick Lawrence, who have been nominated to the Commission by Mr. Skerrit, with instructions to help me and political associates, Anthony Astaphan and Hartley Henry, made no attempts but has frustrated, undermined and prevented me from geting the release i need.
It is clear from e-mail correspondence that has been in the public domain for weeks now that Mr. Lawrence is in breach of his obligation to treat this matter with a high level of confidentiality.
Over the last three months i have been trying to arrange a meeting with a young lady from the Electoral Commission with no success. I have once again requested to meeting with her for Wednesday 16th March at 10.00. a.m. So far there has not been an acknowledgement of my letters.
The United Workers Party is determined to help me engage and get some appropriate action.I highlight and protest against the continued attack by Mr. Skerrit and his associates on me and others like me in the Commonwealth of Dominica.
So when a little old lady arrives at the polling station and says that she loose her card or she never had time to get one.
And a Diaspora Dominican comes home and turns up and says “I was not there when they were issuing them”. What the poll clerk supposed to do?
And the just over 18 year old says that they qualified but the Electoral Office did not have time to print it before the general election?
Dont let them vote? And then the same people going to say its corruption, they not allowing the people to vote!
Magwe Sa!
stop talking bull you know beter than that.
In every country, at any time, there will always be persons in the situations you have mentioned,so what? Ask charles savarin how zealous he was after may 29th 1979 to have complete reregistration and update of the voters list. You people will seek every possible excuse under the sun to justify what you know to be wrong. shame on you!
You see again? The lack of adequate knowledge on subject matters causes some of allu to sound so foolish it’s not even funny no more.
If you were aware that a “diaspora dominican” who has been away for more than 5 years should be living in Dominica at least 6 months before the election to be eligible to vote, you would not be asking that question.
If you were aware that there is a cut off point after which persons can no longer register to vote in the election being announced, allowing sufficient time to print the last set of ID’s (almost 20 days), you would not be asking that stupid question.
ok…now lemme laugh at you now hahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
These guys come with these things as if that is what really bothers Dominicans. When will they get it thru their tuff skulls that people just don’t care about Voter ID cards or access to DBS.
People care about their pockets.
1. Import Duties are way too high and need to be lowered
2. Electricity is also to ‘Damn’ high
3. People are taxed too high
4. Not enough jobs.
These things will get people to come out and vote.
Not the Rubbish they keep spewing….
Boy u hit the nail right on the head. Who cares about voter id cards when we paying almost 50% import duties on the port. Gas prices killing us. No investment in the economy to create jobs unemployment is so high. If these issues are addressed seriously you would not need to worry abt voter id cards because the poeple would vote for you regardless. But all the UWP does is fuss about nonesense. UWPWEEEE dead and bury.
Ron Green the voter I.D card will not help you and your party win election.Time we put this tape to rest….aaaaahhh.wanna sleep.
it’s time to rest mr.green or cross d floo rbecause u know u want it
So every time the leader of the opposition comes up with something Ron comes up and try to upstage him also Eddo.Let the man try to do something even though he embarasses himself.Doh worry,Eddo coming behind,wait and see,heh,heh,heh.
A A Rip-Van-Green you wake up? Now which won of allu go and wake up de man? Weh papa!!
Mr. Green, give it a break already!!! A A…you there ner? Tick tock, tick tock….
Ron is waste of time. Too much talk Ron. all u have to do is raise funds and let Dominica know u can do like Skerro
I am admitting that I did not read through thoroughly the article but still feel that i should comment. I know, it is like a blind man telling you what shade of green is a mountain but hear me out. I support a national I.D card. I propose the card comes with bar codes and perhaps finger print which is also linked to a national database at the registry. In light of so many natural disasters a national I.D card might come in very handy. Imagine (God forbid) that we encounter some natural disaster, the card can be useful for quick I.D. I can go a little further to suggest that the card’s unique number can be used for medical info, school info etc. The National I.D card would also serve as a voter’s validation card. Once having voted the card must be swiped and can only be processed once for any given election. One person would not be able to vote in two places and a dead person would not be able to vote.
I know it is going to be an expensive venture but it would be more worthwhile that a card which only serves one purpose.
Sparrow sang 10 to 1 is murder. But 18to 3 is a lot of political capital and we are seeing how it is playing itself out. . I am not a politician therefore I will leave it to any body to explain to me the ramifications,the benifits or anything else that can be derived from that situation.
I think that we seriously need to address the issue of the voter cards so that we can be as transparent as possible. However I am not sure that this will change UWP’s election fortunes because the majority of Dominicans seem to be quite happy with what the present administration is doing.
Voter ID Cards and then what next
Hi Ron, you are arround.
doh worry mr green we will hold him,,,,, he 6ft 2 but he not strong,,, a feh bow he is,,,
“We will hold him”?
Does Ron Green even know u exist dude? When will you stop sucking up to people?
I bet you were the kid in school who used to run go erase the board for the teacher in the hope that they will like u lmao!
very funny lol,,, i was the quiet one sitting like no one exist,,, which diabe erase board lol