There is sufficient time for electoral reform says Levi Peter

Attorney General Levi Peter. File photo

Attorney General Levi Peter has said that he believes that there is sufficient time for electoral reform providing that the necessary amendments are made with haste.

He made the statement while speaking as a guest on the Q-95 Hot Seat Programme on Wednesday.

On May 22nd, Chairman of the Electoral Commission in Dominica, Gerald Burton during a panel discussion, said that the political will to facilitate the process of electoral reform in Dominica, is lacking.

He said for two years, the Commission has had available to it, the equipment, the technology and the draft legislation which will make it possible to introduce ID cards as part of the voting process and assist in verifying the accuracy of the list of electors which will go a long way in modernizing Dominica’s electoral system in keeping with international standards.

However, Burton added that throughout the discussions on the voter identification system, both at the Commission and in public discourse, he has made his views clear that unless there is sufficient time to introduce the new system and to “satisfy ourselves through proper testing that it is fully operational, I would not recommend that it be used in any upcoming elections.”

“I maintain this position,” Burton insisted.

But attorney general, Levi Peter has a different point of view.

“My personal view is that there is sufficient time provided the necessary legislative amendments are made with haste,” Peter told Hot Seat host, Matt Peltier. “I would imagine that would require additional resources, because for example when the Electoral Commission declared that they would utilize 10 months, that was some time ago. I would imagine that it would require additional personnel to be engaged to enable us to do what’s necessary in the shortest possible time.”

He continued, “They have to get people to understand for the change to be effective, you don’t want a change which ends up with chaos…”

Peter stated further that, “What is preventing us from getting that reform is that we are not yet or it doesn’t appear to be an open agreement as to how those reforms are to be effective.”

He rejected the notion that the lack of finance is one of the factors impeding progress towards electoral reform.

“That is incorrect,” the attorney general insisted.

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20 Comments

  1. Bwa-Banday
    June 9, 2019

    “Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive”.

    Levi STOP being a propagandist for the DLP and do the job you were appointed to do which is Attorney General of the Comm. Of Dca. Do you really believe that ONLY you Levi Peter can formulate legislation? Wheel and come again because you sir may very well find yourself spending some much deserved vacation time in Stocky in the near future. Careful sir, be very careful that Skerrit don’t take you down with him. Electoral reform as requested by the PEOPLE must be delivered or else some of you will regret not listening.

  2. viewsexpressed
    June 9, 2019

    “Attorney General Levi Peter has said that he believes that there is sufficient time for electoral reform providing that the necessary amendments are made with haste.” Levi, for your blind information, We don`t have sufficient time to wonder what is wrong with Clown AG. Has he lost his credentials able to focus in managing our states resources promptly and efficiently and that nonsense script below by this blind AG is too ridiculous for us to comprehend. These clowns of Skerrit’s are in denial and are not working in the interested of Dominicans and our independent nation Dominica. We are sick and fed up with this on-going script story “A ring a ring of roses, a pocket full of corrupt red roses, diwee sho` diwee sho all of failed incompetent Skerrit and his failed blind loyalists, all has fallen down in the abys of lies, deception, Bobol, deceitfulness and these failed bunch of lazy weird incompetent Labour Government must Go. Get Lost ASAP. “Go get to hell, Go to Hell, leave us…

  3. Omg
    June 8, 2019

    All opposition parties should not take part in the next generation election without voter ID cards. Let Labour party go up by themself, so that the international community don’t recognize them and place sanction on the Island. So this is the only way these people will understand that we need to do the right thing.

    • Gary
      June 9, 2019

      Do you really think that the international community would put sanctions on Dominica if elections were held without voters ID card. What is the difference, The Government wants a National ID card which is multipurpose, can be used as a voter ID card, The Opposition wants Voter ID cards, is this something that our country should be divided about.

    • viewsexpressed
      June 11, 2019

      I instinctively agree with you, but it a long hectic process. I strongly suggest that we become one and rally with the existing Opposition Party, the UWP, credible and honest, to have that force that we come together to get failed Skerrit and this corrupt failed Labour Government out of office. They have reduced us to deep poverty. Lets all rally, one unity and promote, support the UWP, with a strong committed Leader and positive focussed team. We cannot have Skerrit and this corrupt Labour government and failed PM Skerrit ruin and run our country again. They ust go, just cant take one day of them and their blind loyalists and failed, incompetent petty, Odd Minister Skerrit.
      Skerrit and failed corrupt Labour Government must Go. Get Lost…Get Out…Go away

  4. NKRUMAH KWAME
    June 7, 2019

    I listened to the presentation of the AG with Matt yesterday on Q95. My concern is about “disenfranchisement”. If the Electoral Commission wishes to go to CERTAIN places where Dominicans reside, and not ALL places, then “disenfranchisement” will occur. The only solution to this challenge to go to ALL overseas jurisdictions or to NONE. This way, all will be on a level playing field.
    HOTEP!

    • Ibo France
      June 7, 2019

      This overseas re-registration lends itself to fraudulent activities. Solution, let everybody who wish to vote in the upcoming election come to Dominica to re-register. It’s just the fair and patriotic thing to do. Mr. Peter doesn’t speak for himself, he’s just adhering to Skerrit’s instructions. In his incoherent manner, Mr. Peter has expressed his desire, in my opinion, to stubbornly resist the call for sensible and fair electoral reforms. He is just a loyal water carrier for the PM.

      • Gary
        June 9, 2019

        You have shifted away from your daily rants of propaganda and twisted facts to instruct Dominicans about Patriotism, do you know how silly you. The idea that has been spoken of and floating around regarding overseas re-registration is part of the agenda used by UWP in their efforts to propagate their mischievous accusations of seeking free and fair elections, and here you are running with such foolishness. To suggest that Mr. Peter has expressed his desire to stubbornly resist the call for sensible and fair electoral reforms
        just shows what your political partisan beliefs has done to your mind, wow.

        • RandyX
          June 12, 2019

          Nothing but Skerrit propaganda again from you, Mary. I wonder if the day will ever come when you see the light?
          I have asked you many times about the CBI accounts and the missing Venezuelan money but in true fashion: no answer. Let me tell you a secret, it’s the answer to those 2 questions that explains why your master can’t afford to loose an election and that’s the reason he opposes electoral reform because that is the secret to his success at the elections. The minute we get a new government Skerrit is finished and will be exposed. Nobody knows this better than Skerrit himself!

  5. Nappy
    June 6, 2019

    Wicked soul. Judgment soon come. Jah nah sleep. Enjoy while it lasts.

  6. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    June 6, 2019

    ” Levi Peter has said that he believes that there is sufficient time for electoral reform providing that the necessary amendments are made with haste. “(Levi Peter).
    So, Levi  if you are satisfied  the necessary amendments should be speedily conducted  in order to facilitate electoral reform; how come you fail to demand that your boss Roosevelt Skerrit who claim to be ” running things in Dominica” order his puppets set a bill in motion to accommodate the amendments, and ramifications that would instantly set  electoral reform in motion!

    You cannot say a word to Roosevelt since you are working for him and not the State.

    An Attorney General should not be part of any administration; you are supposed to remain neutral  out of politics, and serve the people, not the individual prime minister of Dominica.

    You are a labor party politician!

    You need to go; when I was a kid you were Levi Peter; I am fast approaching a hundred, so are you; time to leave retire! 

    Am in…

  7. Ibo France
    June 6, 2019

    This Attorney General has no autonomy. He dances to whatever song Skerrit plays on his flute. The man is not speaking of the kinds of electoral reforms that the masses are requesting. He’s bent on overseas registration, which of course lends itself to bribery and fraud. He wants nothing to do with VOTER’S ID CARDS; he wants National ID Cards. Campaign finance and set date for general elections is not even being given a thought. He is just a deplorable sycophant in Skerrit’s shady electoral system.

  8. Frank N Stein
    June 6, 2019

    How LEvi knows there will not be enough time? Did he get the date of elections? We have up till march so I dont see his point? So he hiding the bell and the pink shoes?

  9. televangelists are false prophets
    June 6, 2019

    just for the reoprms you all want. not the wider consensus of reforms. Like the cards the the purging of the list. Plus, how do you know how much time? Are you privy to the selected date?

  10. foreign observer
    June 6, 2019

    Aren’t you speaking “off script” from the boss, Levi?

    Unless, of course, those “hasty” amendments are one-sided…

  11. Jonathan Y St Jean
    June 6, 2019

    Levi Peter, it’s good to hear you say that there is time for electoral reform before the next general elections. It would be nice to hear you tell that same thing to Gerard Burton and Skerritt. You can solicit the assistance of the Bishop to present that case to these men and their acolytes. If you love your country don’t delay in conveying that message because those calling for the reforms are serious that they must happen before the next election. You said in your discussion on Q95 that it would be unfortunate for some to expose themselves to dangers well bear in mind that sometimes it’s necessary that some brave patriots expose themselves to danger so the county can be released from the grip of the forthcoming dictatorship. I’m sure you gave the story of Nelson Mandela and others who didn’t fear but acted so their country could be free. You need to craft a similar warning to Skerritt. Meanwhile, there is time to go ahead and talk to Skerritt and Burton.

  12. %
    June 6, 2019

    Reality is hitting home Levi!!! Gerald Burton should be ashamed of himself!! The reform belong to us and not the government . Should we be begging for it? It is about10 years of hollering now!!! One thing though, I don’t trust anyone with any connection to DLP to say they are going abroad to confirm, or reconfirm voters. I just don’t trust these DLP cooperatives. This going abroad thing i call it disenfranchisement also!!! This DLP and those that sing for it cannot be trusted ..
    S m g
    S m g
    L S m g n

    • %
      June 6, 2019

      Oops
      Don’t trust those DLP operatives NOT cooperatives!!!

  13. John paul
    June 6, 2019

    Ill motivated Mr. A Gee
    Once Skeritt gets this before Parliament they will do what favours prolonging the winning legacy of Skeritt rather than legislate fairness into these amendments

  14. Neville
    June 6, 2019

    One says A the other one says B and finally the dictator will come and say C. This government is finished they can not even sing from the same hymn sheet anymore!

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