President and Electoral Commission Chairman blamed for the political crisis in Dominica
Severin McKenzie of the Electoral Reform Effort Group has put the blame for the political crisis in Dominica, squarely on the shoulders of the President of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Charles Savarin and the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Gerald Burton.
The Electoral Reform Effort Group comprises representatives of the business sector, churches and other organizations in Dominica.
“It is two men in Dominica today who have the situation on their hands and they will be held responsible for any type of disintegration of this process in Dominica,” Savarin stated.
He contends that President Savarin has the authority to delay the election so that the process can take place and the Chairman of the Electoral Commission with support and approval of two other members of the commission can write to the President informing him (President) that they will need more time to clean the voters list and issue voters ID cards. “that’s as simple as this, simple!”.
“The Electoral Commission and more specifically the Chairman of the Commission and the President of Dominica, are the two authorities responsible right now to determine as to whether this disintegrates into chaos and civil unrest, or whether the people of Dominica are given an opportunity to have free and fair election, for the next five years political cycle,” Mckenzie asserted.
He insisted that Prime Minister Skerrit should not be involved in influencing, in any way, the electoral process.
“The Prime Minister is, in fact, a participant of the process, hoping to benefit from the result; so, which means that Prime Minister has absolutely no authority in what is happening with electoral reform at this time,” Mckenzie explained. “He can get all the support that he’s getting from Caricom, Alba and from where ever he getting it, but he is just an active participant just as the opposition. We cannot depend on the Prime Minister to be the one to make any decisions for us.”
He suggests that the prime minister should, “in fact, let the public know that he is not interfering with the process and allow the President of the Commonwealth of Dominica, who is the one who has the authority to postpone the election, at least since the House (Parliament) was dissolved, and the Chairman of the Electoral Commission who is supposed to be the independent person”.
President Charles Savarin has been meeting with various groups to discuss their roles in maintaining peace and tranquillity during the elections season and the matter of electoral reform has featured been raised at these meetings. So far he has had separate meetings with the Dominica Labour Party and the United Workers Party. He also met with the Bar Association, the Dominica Association of Evangelical Churches, jointly with representatives of the business community, among others.
The Electoral Reform Effort Group has since written to the President requesting a meeting with him.
When asked at a news conference earlier this week why should they want to meet with President Savarin since he has so far not indicated any willingness to facilitate electoral reform before the general election can be held, a member of the Electoral Reform Effort Group, Randy Rodneresponded?
“We are operating under the advice that we seek peace. Peace in conflict resolution is giving what you have. Every one of us has to give something but governance is not willing to give anything. You can’t resolve any conflict if you are not willing to compromise”, Randy Rodney.
UWP leader, Lennox Linton, after meeting the President last week told the media that electoral reform matter was being taken to court.
The United Workers Party has also written to the Electoral Office complaining about the inability of the Office to consider some 1300 objections it has made concerning names on the voting register.
The Electoral Office has since issued a statement indicating that no further amendments will be made before the December 6 elections, to the register of electors which, according to reports, contains over 74,000 voters.
President Savarin told the media group with which he met on Wednesday that he has received no indication from the Electoral Office that it is not ready to conduct the elections.
STICK TO THE SPECIFICS
I. The OAS has indicated that new legislation is required for the issuance of ID cards
2. The Government previously brought in such legislation. After some changes Linton said publicly that he is ok with the bill
3. Concern Citizens Movement CCM the through an injunction has prevented the bill from returning to parliament
4. In order to have the cards for the election the government lawyers requested an early hearing of the injunction , however the CCM refused.
5. Let us all be clear about the specifics and who is obstructing electoral freform
Tony what have the PM did to you that you have so much hatred towards him?
People like You should not be no lay minister. The apple did not fall far from the tree from generation to generation.
Because C ben-David it have to take a foreigner like WICKHAM to tell you the majority of Dominicans are NOT interested in ELECTORAL REFORM.If they were DLP would not the massive following.Dominicans would RISE UP as they did in 1979.The majority of Dominicans do not TRUST UWP.
President Savarin please listen, because win, lose or draw Skerrit must go!
Every honest and right minded person would know that both Skerrit and Linton are crooks.
Nevertheless, the people of Dominica deserve elections that are free, fair, and transparent.
If the necessary electoral reforms do not occur, the people should rise up and be counted by mashing up the election using direct action, the only means they have to prevent the Labour Party from securing another term through fraudulent means.
We have nothing to fear but fear itself.
We still waiting and calling on Gerald Burton to say “choo pool” and give us electoral reform, we also telling him to watch his arse in the blame game mele.
MCKENZIE and his group are LIARS and TRAITORS.They refuse to tell DONINICANS reform is a recommendation and not the LAW.Instead of having a discussion with Government,like UWP they are making DEMANDS.These group of puppets,who are ALL supporters of UWP,are DICTATING to Government.If DOMINICA had an election problem the people,(not a handful of UWP idiots)would RISE UP.So you and your group stop that BS about civil unrest.Tried to impose your will on the people.IT DID NOT WORK.Anybody who break the LAW whether directly or indirectly will PAY.Just remember we do not need RSS.
Why are you opposed to electoral reform?
Why the the DLP opposed to electoral reform?
Why?
Hon Hayena! stop behaving like a real hyena. The maddening frenzy to devour what you think is your prey will only cause you to self destruct.
You want to focus on issues that have been ventilated for years in the media with no real effect. But you want to forget about the “sudden and surprise turn of events”. You see, a priest, human as he is should not be caught in the act of adultery or stealing. It has been his lifetime vocation to preach against it. If and when he is caught, he offers a sincere me aculpa and move on to mend his life. He might even decide to go on what is known as a Sabathical. Fighting to gain some composure and to blame others is not what honorable men do. An apology for doing wrong is without the finger pointing at others in the same mould. Do you know who is that ‘Ambassador to be”. In the interest of transparency, openness and good governance ask him to tell the public who is that exemplary “patriotic” non-national who is willing to work for us for no…
@Observant Reader, you behaving like a Confused Reader though one can clearly see your agenda. You told me to stop behaving like a real hyena yet, later down in your post you are trying to defend real hyenas by referring to them as priest. priest is a bible word and here is what the bible says in Pr 6:30-32. “Excuses might be found for a thief who steals because he is starving.
31But if he is caught, he must pay back seven times what he stole, even if he has to sell everything in his house.”
32 “But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool”.
Notice carefully. The one that stole is a criminal and that (whether is a priest as you suggested, a pastor, a PM etc) must pay sevenfold even if it means he has to sell what he has to pay. The person who committed adultery did not commit a crime just made a fool of himself.
You want us to forget about crimes committed against the country and instead, focus on someone who didn’t do anything? SACWE HYPOCRITE! U must be a real hyenas
Hypocrits! hypocrits!! Hypocrits!! They know the truth. They interprete the constitution based on their partisan bias. Look at their faces. All they looking for is a confrontation on the streets of Roseau. They are preparing their customers for an obvious defeat in the upcoming elections.
What prevented them before now from making their representation. Identify those who should not be on the list as the opposition did (albeit very late) a few days ago?
@ Observant Reader
Absolute garbage! When you are trying to protect your democracy from being torn apart by greedies, there can be confrontation.
Their faces are the faces of patriots, not thieves..
I totally agree with the Patriots and I agree that the president and Gerald Burton are the ones to initiate things..
I am still waiting!
My name is Honorable Hyenas. I an so named because according to the key witness in the Al Jazeera investigation Manoj Bhullar, who worked very closely with our government in cutting the passport deal with Alireza Monfared, he described them as Hyenas and since up to today non has attempted to clear their name or office, I conclude that they agree with Monoj Bhullar that what we have in office today is Honorable Hyenas.
So to the story now. I Hon. Hyenas, agree with and endorse everything in the above release except that the name of Daniel Carbon should be added as part of the hyenas problem we have found ourselves in
@Hon. Hyena
I endorse everything as well.
Very well said by the Patriots!