Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has made it clear that the new Dominica Labour Party (DLP), when re-elected, will introduce recommended reforms when the reform process is completed, and the necessary changes will be made to voting procedures in Dominica.
He made the announcement while addressing supporters during the launch of DLP candidate for St Joseph, Darron Lloyd.
Over the last few years the opposition, United Workers Party (UWP), various groups, and movements have been advocating for electoral reform. The topic has become a firebrand issue since the calling of this year’s snap general election.
The UWP and Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) have decided not to participate in the December 6 general elections without reform.
“No electoral reform, no election” has become a popular slogan amongst their supporters.
“I want to make it clear that this new Dominica Labour Party government which we are about to re-elect shall introduce recommended reforms as soon as such reforms are ready and have been imputed by all willing Dominicans residents at home and abroad,” Prime Minister Skerrit said.
He continued, “We shall make the needed changes to the manner in which voting is done in Dominica, but I want to say that we vote in Dominica today how we voted 20 years ago and how we voted 27 years ago when the United Workers Party won the government.”
Skerrit added, “So let us cut off this nonsense about Dominica’s having a voting system that no other country in the world has.”
He mentioned that his government retained the pre-eminent legal luminary in the Caribbean to undertake the review of our systems and the review is underway.
“Whenever it is submitted we shall share with the people of Dominica and when all views are entertained I shall lay the document on the floor of the Parliament.”
The Opposition is also calling for voter identification cards.
“They are talking about voter ID cards, but in the United States of America or Great Britain there are no voter ID Cards, yet people vote,” the Prime Minister argued.
Furthermore, he argued that the Opposition is complaining about non-residents Dominicans being eligible to vote, “but non-resident Antiguans vote in their elections, non-resident Kittitians vote, so why are they telling the world that something obtains in Dominica that does not obtain anywhere else in the world?”
Skerrit went on to state that whether or not Dominicans living overseas should vote in Dominica is not a decision he is willing to make on his own.
“Let us get to the heart of the issue. They want Roosevelt Skerrit to unilaterally decide whether Dominicans living overseas should vote in Dominica or not,” he said.“That is not a decision I am willing to make on my own. I have said I want to be advised on this.”
He explained that of two countries in the region that have attempted the same reforms in recent years, both of them returned to a policy position of embracing those brothers and sisters residing elsewhere, but continue to contribute to the social and economic development of their native land.
“My view is that Dominica is too small to cut itself off from the rest of the world,” he indicated. “Philosophically I believe that if a person works elsewhere, but sends home money, provisions, and other enabling assistance to upkeep their family in Dominica, I Roosevelt Skerrit [do] not see why that person should be unilaterally removed from the voters’ list in Dominica.”
He continued, “They have a right to vote in Dominica’s elections.”
However, the Prime Minister pointed out that he does not impose his personal view on the country or the Cabinet.
Meantime, the Prime Minister reiterated that the Opposition refused to participate in the December 6 general elections because “we caught them with their pants off.”
He accused the Opposition of having no policies, programs, no presence on the ground, or money to run a campaign, “and three years after the last elections they have no political leader.”
“That is why they couldn’t submit nomination papers on November 18, 2022.”
The PM is correct they don;t asked for ID at polling station. I voted this month I gave my name it was in the system i was given the ballot i voted. Am also am poll worker and we don’t ask for ID only if there is some kind of problem.
when you’ll will want the presence of an opposition to fight your case for you in cabinet, there will be none.
bunch of fools
Linton should not be given a copy of Sir Dennis Byron’s electoral reform report.Linton is no longer leader of UWP and,he is no longer leader of the opposition.SEC.66 (4)(a) page 64 of the constitution.When the report is ready Skerrit will consult with we the PEOPLE,and we will decide what to accept and what not to accept.In the meantime we voting Labour again.The Clown is always on the winning side,just like the majority of Dominicans.Losers are of the DEVIL.We Labourites built Dominica after hurricane Maria and we will decide what we want,when we want,how we want and who we want for Dominica.WE the PEOPLE.In the meantime all crooks,traitors and liars should scratch their itching bodies
All you Labourites built are houses of straw. Welcome to the 3 little pigs…
You wish you had one. Welcome to 3 little rats
This is my problem with your reporting. You and your journalist know that Roosevelt’s statement are patently false. There is empirical evidence of this. Still you publish his utterances verbatim, no critical analysis, just as if they are true. This is one of the worst form of journalism – lazy and unhelpful.
When news sites just repeat what is said by known dishonest politicians, especially those in power, this does the country and citizenry no good.
Journalism in Dominica is as good as dead.
ADMIN: We can support the idea that there is room for improvement and recognize that includes us. However it is notable that you do not complain when we use this style of reporting to report what the opposition has to say.
Pandering to individual views through opinion laden reporting has only sewn division and destroyed trust in journalism in our country and around the globe.
We refuse to commit to this practice but this does not make us “lazy”.
Reporting accurately what occurred or what was said without telling you what to think is not “unhelpful”.
We believe that such practices have unfortunately become widespread in media.
This situation creates false expectations in some such that if news outlets attempt to be objective or neutral and do not pander to viewers opinions then, somehow, that is perceived as false news or bad reporting – this could not be further from the truth.
Choosing to follow such practices is what would really lead to the death of journalism that truly adds value and meaning.
DNO, facts matter. Good journalism demands thorough research, unearthing of the facts, objectivity, and enlightening the public. I also believe that news should not only inform but stimulate thought.
My appeals to you to improve your level of journalism, in my opinion, seem to be misconstrued. You seem to be more focused on excoriating me than to improve your delivery of information to the public.
Let me disabuse of your fallacious notion that I want your outlet to eviscerate the government. Instead of just repeating word for word from written or oral presentations, give some sort of analysis of the articles you present for public consumption.
At one time you would present editorials from your staff. I enjoyed those as they stimulated the mind. Why did you discontinue this? Do you have any intention to resume at least once weekly?
I have no ill-will against your outlet. Give your readers some thought for food at times without being biased.
ADMIN: We do agree that we can improve but we don’t agree that following your suggestions would be an improvement.
You have repeatedly asked us to actively ignore or not publish certain news about the government or prime minister which is hardly a neutral or objective position to take – that is an example of a biased position.
We strive to move away from bias in our articles and to abstain from opinionated news reporting.
This is why we do not publish editorials of our own which are essentially opinion pieces written and endorsed by our staff.
Instead we open our forum to virtually everyone to make up their own minds and publish their own full length commentaries if they wish to do so.
You have chosen not to submit any commentaries and we respect your right to do so, as we expect you to respect our own right to choice in the matter.
This will be our final response in this thread. as we have repeatedly answered this question from you and similar questions in a myriad of ways over the years.
No cash donations in 6 constituencies, little or none whatsoever in Portsouth and the rest of the cabal seats, and plenty cash in marigot, sulsbury, and roseau north. In marigot we saying no way that is workers city and we will not be bought, in Salisbury is only spaggs we know and roseau north we not voting. So we taking what we get and…. choo pool…
Dominican’s you all give skerrit a job he messing the country up and you all listening to that!!!!! you paying his salary every month you paying his house rent you paying his wife salary and he is controlling you all!!!!!! man that’s unbelievable ,that guy have to go, you are skerrit boss you give him a job fire that SOB. You have that power.
That guy is such a LIAR he is lying so much he is lying on himself and Dominicans, and you all letting him get a way with that BS ? time for action shut down the country savarin did it for 47days Covid shut it down so it won’t be the first time, let’s do it , it’s our time.
NO REFORM NO ELECTION
“We shall make the needed changes to the manner in which voting is done in Dominica, but I want to say that we vote in Dominica today how we voted 20 years ago and how we voted 27 years ago when the United Workers Party won the government.” That is the most asinine statement that you could otter in this instance. With time technology and society changes so it is only natural that changes are made in societies to remain functional. Are you campaigning the same way you did 20 years ago? Are you still riding the bicycle that was loaned to you, 20 years ago to get around? Are you using the same rotary phone you used 20 years ago to make calls? Man stop insulting the intelligence of Dominicans. You are the epitome of a dictator want to be, just like every other dictator who neglects the development of the citizenry you neglect Dominicans especially those who do not support you. You are a coward and know all too well that you would not have won another election which is why we’re here
So wait you goin to make sure u get a fresh 5 years on our backs and then do reform after????? Boss move ther eh… my boy now want reform to vote u out of office!! 5 years u know how long that be boss..boy u mad man…
A promise is a comfort to a fool and Skerrit has been practicing this for over 20 years now. But guess what, there are still thousands of Dominicans who act the fool. Sad country!
Lin Clown comment claiming how great Dr Dr Ayatollah Skerrit is incoming in 5…4…3…2……
No Surprises here! Blame someone else
Roosevelt Skerrit thoughts and behavior are driven by mythomania. He is always out to appear as the hero or to portray himself as the victim of other persons’ actions or circumstances; he is never responsible for his actions. He executes an unfavorable action, like calling elections without electoral reform (contrary his prior commitment) and blames the opposition for the public blow back. Things are not going well for most Dominicans, he blames TS Erica, Hurricane Maria, COVID-19 pandemic, the world; never mind that DLP has been governing for more than 22 years and he and his cronies have done extremely well over said period. In the past 2 decades, under the DLP administration, life in Dominica has been transformed into a phantasmagoria of misery that is masked by handouts and concessions to followers and sympathetic individuals/businesses. Its no wonder, many are blinded to the country’s misery. His new push – electoral reform don’t…
““They are talking about voter ID cards, but in the United States of America or Great Britain there are no voter ID Cards, yet people vote,” the Prime Minister argued”
But many in the US are fighting to get voter ID reforms as well and Democrats are trying to prevent those reforms from going through because they know it will make it more difficult for them to cheat. So case in point
Let me simply in part quote Terry Pratchett Sourcery:
“Other thieves merely stole things that were not nailed down or unguarded but this thief stole the nails as well. This thief, as has become apparent, is a special type of thief. This thief is an artist of theft and deceit.
Yours truly the baby Trump dictator has been promising a lot of things for 20 years, his word does not mean a thing. Just like his steam powered power plant on the mountain that has been blowing hot steam for 20 years and still no electricity at great expense. His marvelous new airport will go the same way after they destroy prime real estate and property. Yours truly is full of hot air and steam. Dominica is now under a dictatorship and the rest of the Caribbean islands can see that. Time for the United Nations to send a delegation to find out what is going on with his dictatorship
The portents are there, reminiscences of Nikola Ceaucescu and his wife Elena. As the leader of the Communist Party of Romania he ruled that country as a dictator and ultimately as President, for 24 years, in partnership with his wife. After his security forces shot a number of protestors they tried to flee the country but were caught, sentenced and immediately executed by their own armed forces on Christmas Day, 25 Dec., 1989 on the steps of their State Palace.
Romania is today a democratic country, a member of the EU and NATO.
you not man enough for dat skerrit
that’s alot of talk ……..you are a fraud!!!!!!
i remember the missing airport funds!
king liar!!!!
if you thought dat electoral reform would cause you to gain 21 seats you would have done it already.
you have de electoral commission hostage………they have no power really
money and prestige have to much influence on some weak minds
After 3 years UWP should be ready.They wasted their time listening to prodigal sons who know nothing about Dominica.Now Hector John,Danny Lugay and Lennox Linton have joined the unemployed gang,with the compliments of their supporters.
We will do it now that we have successfully dismantled UWP.Skerrit will do what the people want when the people want after consultation with the people.If Skerrit accepts any electoral reform that does not give every Dominican the right to vote, whether in or out of Dominica,we are voting him out.So far we are satisfied,and will give all 21 candidates five years.
This pm promised to implement electoral reform within 100 days after the 2019 election. This pm hired Bryon and paid him half a million dollars to come up with recommendations for electoral reform and promosed to take it straight to parliment and implement them before the next election. Before Byrons report is even out this Pm is calling snap elections. Now hes is saying he will implement them after the next election. Cant Dominicans see that he is just playing games with you all? Look at all the lies he has told already?
just like you promised in last election ??
So why didn’t he wait for the recommended reforms to be implemented instead of announcing his snap elections? There is still more than 2 years remaining before the elections were constitutionally due in 2024/2025.
Didn’t he make similar pronouncements following the 2019 elections?
Something…..something is just not right with that man. SERIOUSLY!!!
Mister is lower the maggot feces. That POS claims to care about Dominicans and Dominica, yet he chose to demonstrate that affinity by announcing a snap election, in the middle of a weather disturbance during which life was lost, and people lost their homes; while there is was a shortage of toilet paper, sugar, flour, on the island, and gas was being rationed. How do you claim to care about Dominicans, yet you neglect and punish senior citizens, who are the treasures of the country? How do you care when you refuse to give certain seniors the $300 monthly stipend, you made law, because they don’t support you? When Ross left Dominica you claimed there were five universities/colleges ready to come to D/ca – where are they?! Every election year you tout International Airport. I hope Dominicans open there eyes and vote you sorry excuse for a leader out! Dominica and Dominicans deserve better.
DNO here was your golden opportunity to speak truth to power. When you are in a position to speak the truth to pathological LIARS like Roosevelt, and you fail to do so, it’s collusion by silence.
Let your readership know that Lying Roosevelt has repeated this lie umpteen times. He recruited PM Mottley, the OAS, Commonwealth and CARICOM, and most recently,Dennis Byron, assured the country that this would be done before a new election cycle to no avail.
Once again, when the last set of reforms were imminent, he has recycled the BIG LIE. Not one of those CARICOM ‘leaders’ has the courage and honesty to call him out and ostracize him.
Mia Mottley, this self appointed, sanctimonious spokesperson for the Caribbean, who intervenes every thing that supposedly affects the region, has punted on this issue of grave concern. All of them are a shameless, beggarly set of mendicants and crooks.
“Skerrit assures Dominicans that recommended reforms will be instituted”
“There’s a sucker born every minute’ is a famous saying about gullibility. It is attributed to a well known showman P.T. Barnum. Yes, that P.T. Barnum from the Barnum and Bailey circus dubbed “the greatest show on earth.” Now it seems that another showman, with his actions, announcements and pronouncements, is on a brazen and shameless crusade to turn Dominica into the greatest circus on earth. And he has the assurance from his comrade in a neighboring island that “Dominicans will go along with it.” One wonders if Barnum’s famous saying is their morning prayer?
Tintim bwa chehses!!. How many lies has this Judas told the people of Dominca?. Lies about electoral reform, about road construction, about cruise ship ports, about international airport, about rebuilding the public library, about new school of medicine, about accounting for the $1.2 billion shortfall in the budget, about reconstruction of Roseau, and on and on…Why should anyone with a conscience believe compere Tig who couldn’t wait to deliver on this same promise given in 2019 now he’s still promising the same thing? Liar liar your pants caught fire.
“He mentioned that his government retained the pre-eminent legal luminary in the Caribbean to undertake the review of our systems and the review is underway.
“They are talking about voter ID cards, but in the United States of America or Great Britain there are no voter ID Cards, yet people vote,” the Prime Minister argued.”
Just a couple of observations:
1. If recommendations of the “pre-eminent legal luminary” was so important, why then rush into an election. It’s the same as getting an architect to design a house and before he/she presents the drawings, you rush to build your house. Does that make any sense to any right thinking person?
2. I would not look to the US as any example of a bastion of democracy. There are too many schemes that are designed to favor the Republican Party which sometimes wins with a minority of the votes.
3. Skerrit should look at countries like Canada where the Election Commission is independent of the ruling party. They set the rules for…
This man makes a lot of really vexing statements to Dominicans you know!!!! So with two years plus before a constitutionally held election, why the snap election? You say you are popular, what are you afraid of Skerrit?? You think that you are smart, but you are a silly little coward! You did not catch anyone with pants down, you are simply plunging the country into crisis, because as i have said adnauseam, you were not and never shall be Prime Minister material. Some people imposed you upon Dominicans, so the country is now paying the price of your sordid reign in office!!
He said we voted today the same way we voted 20years ago and 27 years ago..I attended school when we had no cellphones, computers, internet, etc….So we should not utilize those things that make us an integral player in international best practices Skerrit? Instead of texting my friend an urgent message, i should write him a letter Skerrit?
When will this man stop insulting his people!!!!
Well, it’s quite obvious that Dominicans do not mind being screwed by Skeritt. Maybe Skeritt has a big long crocodile.
Cut off this nonsense…, the Dictator says. You cut off your nonsense, Skerrit! You are wrong and strong. We will show you who is in charge in DA. Get out of our country!
Only Big mouth all you have. Skeritt flashes a hundred dollar bill and mouth shut. China say they are seeking “world peace.” Ask the Chinese ambassador what he thinks about the snap election. It’s China calling the shots in Dominica.
YOU clearly know how to snatch the dollars. Do not judge us by your standards. There are still a few Dominicans left with character and standards.
No, no, no Skerrit! We want electoral reform before a new election. We don’t believe a word you are saying anymore. Dominicans, just look at the women of Iran and how they protest for their rights. Here in Dominica, men and women hide in the bushes or sit on the fence. All you deserve what all you get. It’s shameful how all you allow that little man run roughshod with all you.
Why don’t you get the English people to decide on whether they want Brexit or not. They don’t seem to know what they want. That is why England is falling apart and, you cannot do anything about it but to lash out at the most fearsome politician Prime Minister in the Caribbean,, the Supreme Leader, the Honourable Dr. Skerrit.
Yet again you prove beyond any doubt that you are not right in your head. I personally knew it all along, since everybody that follows this corrupt Scharlatan and calls him the supreme leader MUST be seriously ill. So long sucker, have another dive in the blocked toilet bowl of your master.