It appears that like many Dominicans, Sir Dennis Byron, who was tasked by the Government of Dominica to be the sole commissioner to advance efforts towards electoral reform in Dominica, was taken by surprise when Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit called a snap election slated for December 6.
In his response to a letter sent to him by the National Joint Action Movement (NJAM), Sir Dennis said he did not expect that a general election would have been called on the island in 2022.
“Permit me to sincerely apologize for not updating you on the status of the work being undertaken,” Byron wrote in the letter. “I did not anticipate that the general elections would have been called this year and anticipated consulting with your organization before the end of the year.”
In late August 2020, after several years of advocacy for electoral reform by opposition voices in the country, Skerrit announced on his Anou Palay Programme that cabinet had approved Sir Dennis for the job.
“Electoral reform for this government is important; it is important for the country and we are hoping that once Sir Dennis would have submitted his report, then we can go to the Parliament to effect the necessary changes as he will recommend to the country to move forward,” Skerrit stated at that time.
He went on to say that the eminent Caribbean jurist should be in a position to submit a final report by the end of December 2020.
However, there was no report and Byron came under fire from several quarters including NJAM, which said in January 2022 the report was taking far too long and considered it a “delaying tactic in order to delay the commencement of real reform.”
It’s a matter that Byron sought to explain in his letter to the organization, which is dated November 17, 2022 and addressed to its Chairman, Kent Vital.
“While undertaking the review exercise, I decided that simply providing a report of findings and recommendations would be somewhat of a redundancy as this had been done in the past,” he wrote. “To effect true reform, I had to present, the revised legislation that would support the recommendations and allow for a more seamless and effective approach for the implementation of the required reform changes.”
He said that his intention is to work towards presenting phase one of his report by the end of this month.
“I recently circulated the draft legislation for review by the key political parties contesting elections and presented a timetable for the completion of my assignment,” he wrote. “I am aware that this has reached the public domain, and the only thing I would like to add, is that I intend to work towards that timetable and present the first phase of my report by the end of November 2022.”
Byron, who has said in the past that Dominica’s electoral process is old and needs modernization, stated that it his desire to see effective reform on the island.
“I must place on record that it is my true desire to see effective electoral reform in the Commonwealth of Dominica,” he wrote in his letter. “However, the recent calling of the general elections makes this is a very sensitive matter. I fear that any public statement from me may compromise perceptions of my impartiality. I think that I would be of greater service by completing my task of submitting the reform legislation and working towards getting the relevant parties to support it.”
Although it was widely discussed in the past, the topic of electoral reform has become a firebrand issue since the calling the calling of the snap general election.
The main opposition party, United Workers Party (UWP) and the smaller Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) have decided not to participate in the election without reform.
“No electoral reform, no election” has become a popular slogan among them.
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I don’t trust that guy one bit , skerrit have foreigners doing dominican’s what they want, it is so heart breaking .
NO REFORM NO ELECTION
Hello my people. Rum-Buy is a damn crook. Pretending he had no knowledge of Skeritt’s plan. Look how long he had been sitting on his assignment and the timing of his letter to the Honorable Lennox Linton, as well as letting to Skeritt. Dominica is being taken for a joke. The people of Dominica should apply for a complete refund for Buy-Rum of the $500,000.00 plus interest. Last but not least, Dominica MUST PULL OUT FROM CARICOM. They have dumped on us, vagabonds, thieves, murderers, prostitues, tear gas, money launderers and terrorists. We have a heavy task ahead of us to clean up our country. We are on the verge of be extinct from our homeland while many of us are asleep.
I recall, Sir Denis coming under serious condemnation to the extent that it was aid that it maters not what Sir Denis proposed, the opposition is not interested. They are only interested in a reform that GUARANTEES the UWP victory at elections. That is all that matters. Infact the chairman of Dominica’s Business Forum, a member of NJAM was savaged when encouraged the opposition to look beyond their immediate and go dialogue with Sir Byron and then make an assessment following his report. Sir, Byron was even scandalized by the very same NJAM.
Today, Sir Byron is their reference point.
It is what it is!!!! Byron said what he said and his words must be used a a reference point! We all know Byron is part of “the club” so you can’t blame them for holding a certain position towards him… Let’s be fair. Now Byron KNOWS all too well what NEEDS to be done here, but his is a monumental task..why?? He is part of “the club” simple!!! Generations to come history will be written and his is a tarnished record because he chose to advance injustice in Dominica. May his grave be wet with the tears of Dominicans!
If I was Byron I would charge Dominica another $500,000.00 again because Skeritt did his thing without Byron reform. However, in this case I hope Byron is going over his draft and make the reform more complex to avoid dead people from voting. I’m embarrassed to call myself a Dominican. We are foolish and cowardly. One man against 72,000 people and not one brave soldier among us. This is very disheartening. If nothing is done soon I won’t even talk about politics anymore. The young people are seeking their future being dashed aside while their parents stand idly by. When our children are not able to see about their parents in later years because they are unemployed, or they cannot make ends meet; then we who stood idle while Skeritt keeps enriching himself; then we are the ones who will reap what we sow. We should demonstrate in large numbers for as long as it takes. We need to end the reign of Skeritt.
If you were also taken by surprise why not come out and condemn Skerrit for calling at elections prior to electoral reform taking place…!!!???!!!
I am not surprised at another black needy rogue in the name of menace buy-run;money talks, bullshit walks! I don’t know why some people think that buy-run is so much of a noble man? The fact that he accepted to do such nasty job for the one-man rogue regime is proof that he’s dishonorable! Cause he should know that the one-man rogue regime has no authority to hire him as sole commissioner for electoral reform!!
Thia clearly shows this Pm is not interested in implementing electoral reform at all. He just put on a ahow by hiring Byron to give recommendations. Why hire byron and pay him almost half a million dollars if your not interested in implementing the recommendations?. Thia pm is clearly playing games.
Well, well, well. You know what this article reminds me of? It reminds me of when Skerrit was about to contest an election that he was not qualified for because of his French citizenship and he said “ No law No constitution can prevent I Roosevelt Skerrit of Viellecase …”from doing what I want. But not only that you know. He went on to say all you can bring the best lawyers in the world and they won’t be able to stop me. Well Skerrit was damn write because no law or constitution stopped him from breaking our laws and constitution and, the man went for one of the best legal minds in the Caribbean in Sir Dennis Byron and look Skerrit making Mr Byron pass as a joojoo
No law , couldn’t prevent him from contesting, is after that he had to be challenged with the evidence proving he has French citizenship.
Voliere Conman Jailed Fontaine going up for Laplaine and no one saying nothing.
Skerrit became PM aa a result of an accident- two PMs died during one term- now he is still an accident- a bad one too.
Pray for the homeland– Dominica is in uncharted waters with no compass or GPS- we are screwed- We are in trouble- real —-
Mr. Byron sir, it appears that even you were CAUGHT with your pants down at the knees, with no underwear thus exposing your derier to the rod of this mad man who in turn proceeded to day-kar-lay you
. Ouch! I am sure that hurts badly! 
Sadly, Lil Willy Toeknee being in the legal fraternity did not see it fit to have this loose cannon contained and await your report because it appears he had inside information that the said recommended reforms would tarnish the legacy of his dear leader.
Sir, with your broad legal knowledge and expertise I humbly ask that you, yes you sir take the appropriate steps to ensure that the “Little Willy” man be sanctioned by the legal fraternity somehow to ensure that caribbean jurisprudence and the legal profession is once again respected? NO REFORM, NO ELECTION!
The government does not have to accept the RECOMMENDATION of Sir Dennis Byrone.The last say is with the PEOPLE as we saw on Saturday.There will be election without electoral reform.Who vex lost.UWP want to force election reform down the throats of the PEOPLE,that will not happen.I agree to election reform,but not at the end of a sawn-off, double barrel,semi- automatic buckshot carrying 12 Guage shotgun.We the PEOPLE will show UWP what the PEOPLE mean.
The clown lin; so you are justifying an immoral and unconstitutional move an by your one-man rogue regime, to singlehandedly hire a man paying him more than $500,000.00 to oversee electoral reform, then when the report is about to come in, go against it
What kind of human being are you 
Would you sign a contract with someone to do a job for you,pay the person and then change your mind with that person being paid 
I’m really not surprised at people like you on that slave plantation mentality island, there are lots of you like that, who has no objectivity! What is it that you are really supporting?
what an as. !!!!!!!
Hey BIG Clown cakafete my countryman. Long time no see you. Anyway I see you deep in the election melee in support of your god from Amber, Vielle-Casse. Partner remove your nose from the man’s anal cavity and come up for some air before you toufay with that bad gas mister passing.
Opinion Expressed! Can we, or will all parties, slow Down, Re: set in Earnest, for the good of Dominica? Remember. We are one flag, one Love, one Dominica! Let our differences, unite us. Not Divide us! Tha World is watching and paying Attention. I Rest!!!
Mr. Byron I maintain that you erred when you took up Roosevelt’s offer. Now your reputation is soiled and you end up with egg on your face. You, Mr. Byron, will be tied to
this infamy created by the universe most deceitful, indecent, abominable despot.
No one can walk through a mud pit and come out clean. Also, no one can work for Roosevelt and his reputation remains unblemished. The lure of money makes many incorruptible men corrupt.
FIVE MORE years for LABOUR. TOUFAY if you want . The PEOPLE were the ones that walked the street on Saturday from Potters ville to New Town. They run things with Skerrit. That is the end of your nonsense and the UWP. Damn++s! Ibo MALAPROP France
After TWO YEARS you talking about “present the first phase of my report by the end of November 2022” and “I fear that any public statement from me may compromise perceptions of my impartiality”.
Actions speak louder than words. Take your cool out and we will drink our cool aid.
Like a shadowy figure from the dark, Roosevelt caught not only Dennis Byron but every Dominican by surprise. What a most fitting and appropriate sobriquet for him – ‘Prince of Darkness’.
I have been repeating this ad nauseam. Anything Roosevelt does is meticulously calculated for political expediency. The Dennis Byron’s electoral reform exercise was calculated to appease the restive electorate after the cheating, treating, and the corruption in the 2019 general election.
Dominica shone blindingly bright in the past. Cricket, basketball, football, agriculture, manufacturing, and the private sector shone brightly. Enter Roosevelt. The blinding bright light went dim. Now all of Dominica has metaphorically gone dark. There is now not even a flicker of light.
Roosevelt has dragged Dominica to space into a Blackhole. A thick, dark, cumulonimbus storm cloud hovers over the future of the nation. Apathy, collusion, greed, political animosity and division have taken hold.
Always expect the unexpected, Sir Byron. It is all part of everyday life. It should never be a surprise.
What you should have stated is simply this: Always expect every word that emanates from Roosevelt’s mouth to be a colossal LIE.
@ds, you know what is the biggest surprise? Dominican women who from time immemorial have looked down on men for lying to them about a host of things to include infidelity. It’s a common saying “men, you can’t trust them, they are always lying”. Now I’m seeing a majority of women lining up behind and in support of Skerritt and his bold face lies. He has made so many promises which have not been met, the most recent being the promise of electoral reform before the next election. The fact that there isn’t any electoral reform and he’s going ahead with the next election and Dominican woman are throwing unparalleled support to him is shocking. I’m wondering if it’s not the free money and other coolouts why they have ditched their value of honesty. Come on women wake up from the spell that the puppet master has put on you and once again be role models for the youth and a proud country based on biblical principles. It’s not too late
Dennis, you will be held as an accomplice alongside Skerritt for the political abuse of the citizenry of Dominca. Skerritt gave you a task for which he promised the voters of the country would deliver electoral reform by December of 2020. For him to have said this suggests that you had agreed to meet a certain deadline in keeping with his pronouncements. You f**ked up and dragged this thing on and on. 2022 will soon be over and you are yet to deliver a report. You must know that justice delayed is justice denied yet you were in no hurry to do you job despite having modern technology to assist in the working you were asked to do. COVID-19 is no excuse for this long delay. Do you expect that what you deliver in your report will be so good that it will last forever? Come on Dennis, you are not part of the solution therefore you are part of the problem. Your behavior reflects that of the judiciary in the region and it’s shameful.
Join the club, Byron. Nobody expected this election. Again it shows the ruthlessness of the CM. Everything goes when it works in his favour. No election, without electoral reform.