The deputy US Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States has expressed concern about the decision of the Dominica government to hold elections without implementing electoral reforms.
Alexis F. Ludwig, in an address at the OAS on Wednesday, November 20, stated, “We are well aware that the OAS has been very busy working on regional democratic issues, but we feel that it is important to raise concerns that we have heard about the upcoming elections in Dominica to the Permanent Council.”
The US diplomat lamented the fact that few of the recommendations that have been made by the many OAS electoral observer missions that have been sent to Dominica over the years have been implemented and highlighted the joint special mission by CARICOM, the Commonwealth, and the OAS to Dominica last August.
“The August joint report identified three main areas of concern the government needs to address to ensure that elections are fair, free, and transparent: 1) Removal of deceased persons and ineligible voters from the current electoral list; 2) Issuance of photo identification cards to electors to facilitate more accurate identification at the polls; and 3) Removal from the current electoral list of all diaspora voters who are ineligible to vote by virtue of being out of the country for more than five years,” Ludwig pointed out.
“Sadly,” he continued, “the Government of Dominica rejected all of these recommendations.”
Referring to the set date of December 6th, 2019 for a general election in Dominica without electoral reform as recommended in the joint commission report issued in September 2019, the US official stated, “We recognize that Prime Minister Skerrit has the constitutional right to call elections at any time. However, we believe that implementing the recommendations would have contributed significantly to the fairness and transparency of the elections that all Dominicans seek, but also reaffirm the OAS’ and international community’s confidence that Dominica wants to ensure that its elections meets the standards of the OAS Democratic Charter and the international norms for organizing and holding elections..”
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has in the first instance, accused the United Workers Party (UWP) and other advocates such as the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) of stymying electoral reform by opposing legislation which he attempted to take to parliament. However, the electoral reform proponents have insisted that their opposition targetted amendments that attempted to legitimize certain unlawful aspects of the existing legislation. More recently, Skerrit has downplayed the need for electoral reform, pointing out, that elections are being held under the same laws that have governed the democratic process in Dominica since Dominica attained its independence.
“Both the current Labour government and the UWP opposition have been elected through this exact process and under the same laws and conditions,” Skerrit reiterated in an address to the nation on Tuesday. “It is this same process and those same laws that saw the United Workers Party increase its seat count in the last general elections in Dominica.”
The US Deputy Representative to the OAS also bemoaned the decision by Dominica not to invite the OAS to send an Electoral Observation Mission for the upcoming election.
“As we know,” he noted, “the OAS Electoral Observation Missions are the gold standard in ensuring free and fair elections.”
He went on to say that the situation in Dominica is growing worrisome, adding, ” There have been numerous demonstrations throughout the year to raise concerns about the fairness and transparency of elections, and unfortunately, there was an outbreak of clashes this week in Dominica.”
Ludwig welcomed “the attention of the OAS member states to appreciate the tense political situation in Dominica surrounding the December 6 elections, and the decision of the Government of Dominica to hold these elections without implementing electoral reforms.”
Read entire address of US Deputy Representative to OAS Permanent Council.
I saw the video UWP supporters behavior at the OAS its a shame. If you see DANGLE, the angel GABO and gang of HYPOCRITES SCREAM out PM must go its a shame. Why all that noise inside and outside of OAS, sacré tonneh zor materre.
FINALLY ,
The world has began to notice the bull…. going on in Dominica and the credibility of this administrations is finally being questioned . Dominica is being dragged through the mud by its leaders, now our name will be dragged by the international observers… I wish other organizations begin to put pressure on Skerrit .
We need to start sharing information to our friends who work at Reuters, AP, NYT, UN and anybody who will help spread the truth about the ill minded, corrupt government
The US have absolutely no credibility, why don’t they have concern about all the voter suppression that is going on here in the US. They turned thier back on the Caribbean now they want to talk.
“accused the United Workers Party (UWP) and other advocates such as the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) of stymying electoral reform by opposing legislation which he attempted to take to parliament.” This and then Rioting for it. Sum Ting Wong.
My concern, I know of some people who will be going to Dominica just to vote because there are incentives people that does NOT live on island. To me this is dishonesty and wickedness for they are not the ones who will suffer the consequences..
‘This is a must”
Removal from the current electoral list of all diaspora voters who are ineligible to vote by virtue of being out of the country for more than five years,” Ludwig pointed out.
Including UWP SUPPORTERS. 5 more years, CE SA ZOR PA LAY TAN,
Someone posted that same article on my facebook profile, last night, that person is a long lost facebook friend, she is the sister of a very active UWP supporter, who may be using a fake name on DNO.
Anyway, I was surprised to see that post from that person; I even thought that she had unfriended me, not that I cared, but I simply left it alone.
But as I was searching my newsfeed, an instinct came to my mind, that I should delete that post, because I have a lot of friends who are laborites– I didn’t think that it was appropriate to leave on my profile page. so I decided to go back and delete it.
To my surprise, the post was gone; I was glad that I didn’t have to do the dirty work, I felt quite relieved.
I believe that there are people who are out to completely destroy the whole of Dominica, because of their hatred against one man–how deplorable!
We shouldnt feel threatened by the government and their supporters. wrong is wrong and what Dominica has been going through isnt right.
Stand up for your people and your country and pay no mind to the SS tactics being employed by the government
@ Elizabeth. And what’s the point of your post? Still waiting !!! SMDH.
Lennox, you forgot to tell OAS yr party walked out of the house and the suitcase story etc. You playing smart but REMEMBER the English man modur you,”all what you have will turn into dust”. GO and pay the English man his MONEY, CUZ YOU wrong. Lennox, its too early to cry you too JALOUSY AND HUNGRY FOR POWER.
Why is Alexis F. Ludwig of the OAS try to prevent me as member of the Dominican diaspora from voting in the country of my birth, just because I do not reside within its borders? This is not right and just, He has that right for himself and his family to vote in the USA via the postal voting system without restriction if he resides out of the USA, yet he seeks to deny this to citizens of Dominica living out of the country, this proposal can to not be right and must be challenged and corrected.
In California a USA citizen who has never resided in the USA has the right to vote for the president of the USA, need I say anymore!!!
” Why is Alexis F. Ludwig of the OAS try to prevent me as member of the Dominican diaspora from voting in the country of my birth, just because I do not reside within its borders”
You answered your own question. Your opinion and ideas should be voiced, however YOU DONT LIVE THERE… you dont pay taxes, you are never asked to carry out your civil responsibilities, you not gwiyaing like the malawe’ in DA, then you should have no right to vote.
You never bring flour , or sugar, or stir the batter, or even lick the spoon… yet you want to eat the cake.. ????
Uninformed. If you legally reside outside of Dominica, just like is the same in the U.S. then you don’t have the right to vote in that country. You can vote as you noted via the postal but only if you legally have that right. The question I have for you is, and I assume, you live in the U.S…do you vote in the U.S.? If you do then you don’t and should not have that right to vote in DA. The people who live in the country and have to endure the pain and suffering of everyday life should be the ones to determine their future. You cannot live in the lap of luxury in the U.S. and still want to determine the life for people living in DA
Dominicans need to contact FOX News and Fox and Friends in the morning. Yours truly is a want to be dictator.
Dear Mr. Alexis F. Ludwig,
As a concern citizen and for the love of Dominica, please don’t wait for an invitation to send a mission and soldiers to Dominica to monitor the elections.
This will not come from the selected few.
But on the behalf on the citizenry of the Nature Isle , do what is right and good for our land . And send your guys there for fair, transparent election results.
Please intervene before and not after for the good of our peaceful nation
Thanks in advance
Are you aware that Linton is recommending that there should be no members of the RSS to be at any events leading up to the General Elections, now you are asking for soldiers to come in?
There has never been any recorded or confirmed situations of any irregularities in Dominica elections, even with the presence of independent observers. So yes electoral reform is important but how important is it in our case to warrant all these potential disturbances and violence? Is it the intentions of the persons and organisations in Dominica behind these electoral reform protests and disturbances to get the outside world to interfere in our business? With that said I hope the OAS does a thorough research into that situation, for it is clear that the Government of Dominica has been trying to implement electoral reform for years now. But time and time again the process has been stalled by tactics of these very same persons and organisations. Still I believe the Government/president should arrange a meeting with all parties involved including representatives from CARICOM and even OAS to address the situation as it should not be taken lightly. Everyone should try to be the bigger man.
@David
Your wicked David soul. Which reform do you know the government has been trying to implement for years? Which? In 2008 an e-mail from Anthony Astaphan warned Skerrit that electoral reform will undermine his re-election legacy. From this time Skerrit, Burton ,you and others have denied the Dominican people reform.
Your Inveterate liar! Who are you trying to please? Evil Skerrit?
Skerrit
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money,?
David
Is wicked you wicked. Did you forget how many times the ballots of certain constituencies were counted, recounted and counted again the last elections until they were in the favor of the DLP??? All of you who love to see Dominica in Mizeh will feel it for yourselves.
The current OAS structure only serve as a tool for the Ultra-Right US administration led by racist Donald Trump to impose the ‘Monroe Doctrine’ on small defenseless countries in the region that do not bow to Trump and his whims. As usual, the usual suspects in the region who tried to help him achieve his failed ambitions in Venezuela recently, are at it again. Dominica is a prime target for Trump to impose one of his puppets (we all know who this could be) because of our close link to China, and the fact that we always vote independently at the UN, which means not towing the US line.
Really; Racist Trump. I look back and remember all the rappers singing wanting to be like Trump. Jesse Jackson, Sharpton and the likes all praised him and travelled with him in his helicopter to Atlantic City but because the idiots in the left-wing media says he is a racist, then all the Black people say he is..low information voters. Actually Jesse gave him an award for all the opportunities he opened up for black people, and in Palm Beach, he broke the barrier and opened his resort to blacks and jews. The President brought the HBCS into the WH so they now have direct and more funding; president past the prison sentencing law (second act) releasing many black males (both of these are things black people asked Obama to do and he did not). He created the Opportunity Zones in black communities to develop business yet he is still called a racist…I would say he is a very bad racist. White liberal democrats have always been the most racists…they control the minds of black people!
Why is President Trump a racist? Last I remembered before he became president, almost all the rappers sang about wanting to be like him. Jesse Jackson and Sharpton gave him rewards for his contribution to the Black community and they even flew in his helicopter to Atlantic City, many times. He brought the HBCU’s into the WH so now they have more federal funding. He signed the Second Act law so now many black males are out of prison; he created enterprise zones in black community to spur development and he was the first to open his Palm Spring resorts to Blacks and Jews. Is that a definition of racist? You guys must stop listening to the liberal white democrats who control the media and black people minds… they are the most racists of all! Think for yourself!! Not just because they hate him that means you must too. Think; you gave your votes for decades to Democrats and the Black communities have not improved. Don’t be stupid; why is he a racist…tell me!
Here we go again. US hate other people interfering in their own elections (such as the Russians) but are quite happy to interfere in other sovereign nations elections and internal affairs. Linton and his cronies can run to Trump to try and get him installed as PM but i want to remind him that the Chinese have our backs. Do you remember Trumps attempts to overthrow the Venezuelan government but was thwarted by the Russians and the Chinese?
Dominica is a sovereign nation and will never become a province of the US or any other world powers.
Your mind is muddled with DLP trash..
Dominica is a sovereign nation but you want the Chinese to have your back..
I don’t want China, Russia or the USA to have our back.
What I want is Electoral reform!
Skerrit
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
As a young person I am quite appalled at the way people think in 2019. I have never voted and the reason being last time I didn’t see the reason to as I felt both parties were not prepared the last time however this time around the way people think about simple things like clearings out a voters list or having ID cards are mind boggling l. Like waw! This is 2019 guys, 2019! You come to open an account anywhere and you will be asked a proof of identification and address in a time when there’s so many cases of identity theft it’s amusing to see how we think. Please note saying uwp didn’t have Ids cards 20 years ago makes absolutely no sense! I am quite taken back at how we think and yet want to move forward like the other islands! Waw! I think neither Lennox nor Skerrit will move this country forward if the people themselves are backward thinkers!
Point well taken Youth. But you should ask Lennox Linton, Loftus Duran and co. why they went to court for an injunction to stop the national ID process when the government had already committed funding to get it done? Now suddenly on the eve of election they are demanding ID cards in order to cast votes. Don’t you think at this late stage this would disenfranchise a lot of voters who may not be able to get ID card in time for this election? Do you think it would be fair to them not being able to exercise their democratic rights?
Skerrit is a scam,and soon his demise is coming,he will be exiled out of Dominica,and the United States will not be his safe haven,the patriots need to start sending videos of his regime to the US media as evidence,Skerrit your demise is near.
Small island states don’t involve themselves in elections of the OAS member states so why do you all want to involve yourselves in ours? Stay away from our elections!!! All elections in Dominica in the past have been under the same electoral system. UWP won under the same system.
I am happy that the world has its eyes glued on Dominica and the disgraceful leaders of the DLP!
Skerrit
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
CCM, and ‘We the people’, keep the pressure on. Public servants join the protest. Farmers, fishermen, hoteliers, business people, educated unemplyed, youth this is our fight too. It’s now or never.
All of you know how Trump gets excited when he hears the word, dictator.
I had a feeling this joint mission report would come back to bite Mr. Skerrit in his a**
Lennox, we have the full backing of the OAS and the US by extension. There will be no election this year! It is time we all stood up to Skerrit.
When you say we all you are including me and others whom has a different view.
You are not the majority and if you insist on your course of action, then we the majority will be left with no choice but to come out to contract and show the world that the majority voice and action will be on full display.
So please don’t provoke us to anger.
Allow peace to rain input God bless country Dominica.
I am glad that someone has the intestinal fortitude to state the facts that has caused persons in Dominica to protest the calling of the election without electoral reform. And Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit articulating the archaic ideology of having elections on old outdated system leaves persons to wonder if he has the ability or willingness to engage in transformation for the country’s elevation. If it was up to some people, the world will still be running on Analog instead of Digital; we will still be using vacuum tubes computers that took seemingly forever to heat up, and using rotary phones. For a persons who is asking for five more years, it appears that he is stuck in the 19th century. Prime Minister Skerrit should be man enough to admit that he made a bad decision, and be willing to right a wrong.
Please everyone I urge you to read the report . The report concludes THAT NEW LEGISLATION IS REQUIRED FOR THE ISSUANCE OF VOTER ID CARDS. Which is the governments position. The UWP has to the contrary previously indicated that new legislation is not required. The Government brought the new legislation. The only issue now seems to be the re-registration of voters in the diaspora. ( the constitution grants individuals who are overseas up to five years to be eligible) It seem to me that both parties can come to an agreement as to what evidence is required for that purpose. If both parties need to have observers during the re-registration. The OAS report did not even mention the draft legislation (which questions their intent). The current report does not state the existence of an injunction against the review of the Bill in Parliament. The process of the cleansing of the list is the new legislation because current legislation provides limited capacity for the electoral commission to do so
There is no legislation that is required for issuance of VOTER ID CARDS. The Constitution has made provisions for that.
New legislation is required for the issuance of NATIONAL ID CARDS which according to the Prime Minister in his representation at a meeting with Dominicans in Barbados – The Government is promoting and has provided funding for.
The question then is – Why should the Prime Minister be promoting that which is NOT LEGAL and provide funding for that which is NOT LEGAL?
And that WHILE VOTER ID CARDS ARE THAT WHICH THE CONSTITUTION REGARDS AS LEGAL.
There are many of us who can think for ourselves. So don’t try to convince us that it is the Opposition who are the problem. DO’N’T BE DECEITFUL!!!
To the OSA let me tell you now and I will tell you again. do not miss what I am going to say to you. Dominica is none of your business.Skerrit run things in Dominica. you hear me now? okay. Dominica is not dependant on anyone, it have its own money in the treasury belonging to roosevelt Skerrit, Austrie and the labour party. okay. so if you want to help us, please help us, but leave skerrit alone to run things in dominica okay. thank you so much, do not delay come quickly. we are patiently waiting
labourites: here we go those who see no evil nor hear no evil but see their pockets. its a shame to see how my people can appear before the outside regions as being not smart and allow their taste buds and their belly the choice of their votes. all around them the country falling but they continue to support pie in the sky. Austrie. (Treasury money is Roosevelt skerrit money. labour party money. so we wont allow uwp to get to it)I urge uwp supporter to stand their grounds keep fighting for change. because I believe in change when things not going well I cannot vote but I am supporting uwp and if they start to fail dominica I will support to change them. Labour is so head strong because dominicans do not use their rights to be the boss of the government.I am not against labour party I believe the leader and deputy leader need to be changed. talking about Skerrit and Austrie and labour could have my support.I believe evil is running high among these 2. my opinion
There is hope. Someone us listening. Thanks to Linton, job well done.
Come on Francin Baron! Pull out your pen and let them have it! How Dare they say elections not free and fair!!! Let them know how disappointed you are.
This the same law we been always using for 100 years, why it need to change nuh?
When the world improves and no longer using gasoline vehicles, I hope Dr Resilient doesn’t say “This is the same cars that brought your grand parents to school and brought you to work safely.! it doesn’t need to change!”.
Anyway Minster go and “agitate” for us and make it “gravitate” to the OAS.
All kind of Bodies expressing concern
but tell me something ”WHERE IS CHARLES MOO MOO SAVERIN ”/
but what happen to that President’s tongue nuh , can’t he even write anymore ? I wonder if he is even in the country? if he is , could it be he is under house arrest ? or simple under strict instructions from Dr. Dr. Skerrit or some Chinese barboochett ?
Curious minds want to know wee.
ADMIN: The office of the president has indicated that he is and has been in office these last few days when contacted by DNO.
It’s a dam shame!!
Where is the President of Dominica in all of this chaos?
Seems that Dominica is Governed by one man..the PM. He takes absolutely no directives from anyone. It’s so unfortunate that so many people follow this Pm and believes all is well. So sad and a dam shame.
Dominicans are demanding the use of passports and other IDs at the upcoming elections. Neither DLP nor UWP supporters want unrest after Dec 6th. Sign the petition here: http://chng.it/Zg8ckSZk7m
Dr. Skerritt, serious times are coming. I warned you recently that your acts have not gone unnoticed, regionally and internationally. The deputy US Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States said….
Sadly,” he continued, “the Government of Dominica rejected all of these recommendations.”
He went on to say that the situation in Dominica is growing worrisome, adding, He bemoaned the decision by Dominica not to invite the OAS to send an Electoral Observation Mission for the upcoming election.
“As we know,” he noted, “the OAS Electoral Observation Missions are the gold standard in ensuring free and fair elections.”
Dr. Skerritt, you have now bitten off more than you can chew. Remember the wheels of justice grinds slowly but exceedingly fine.
Just yesterday, your friend, Mr. Browne, PM of Antigua, indicated that Caricom was watching. Dr. Skerritt the world now knows, so if you win these elections you will find the world a lot less kind to you. Your days are…
That election is not going to be fair so I am not voting. My friends that are overseas for more than five years say that they are coming from the 6th to the 8th to vote. Free ticket.
Garcon Ludwig
we have a new law in Dominica called ”No Law No Constitution ”
that was passed by this Prime Minister , so all allu fuss and comments mean nothing to him , Sir
The sole purpose by the Government of Roosevelt Skeritt in not implementing the Electorial Reforms recommended is so they can illegally steal the upcoming elections !
The Labour Party in Dominica is corrupt and unethical by every democratic standard in the Western World!
A true Autocracy by an Authoritarian leader and Borat!
The spirit of the Dominican people has been broken and they have been reduced to begging the State for weekly handouts!
The Hugo Chavez Indoctrination has taken hold of the Citizenry!
Without Regional, and or international intervention, the Island Nation will fall deeper into the abyss of the unknown!
@ADMIN: The above link is faulty. Results in: “about:blank#blocked”
ADMIN: Thank you. The link has been updated and works now.
No OAS election observers invited? But most likely the Regional Security Forces will be? Still waiting for the “writing on the wall”?
The current Skerrit led government has given Dominica yet another black eye. Dominica is now internationally considered a rogue country. The authenticity of the results of the upcoming general election can be questionable. A fish rots first at its head. When the government is corrupt, everything becomes corrupt. Presently in Dominica the judiciary, electoral system, parliament, the police department, the public service are corrupt. Corruption breeds instability. Dominica is at the crossroads. A change of the governing political party is inevitable if there are to be stability and good governance. We have a criminal enterprise running the country.
Here we go again. I have to say that this Labour party and its so called intelligent supporters are people with matches box consciences
Only God knows where Skerrit is taking Dominica to. The man is not only operating out of fear of not being able to steal the election but as we can see the man knows what awaits him so right now he is on a mission to destroy the future of Dominica just as he has destroyed his future. Skerrit, do you know of anyone that succeeded in hiding forever? You can try to hide behind political office for a while but be it known to you that time has caught up with you. As for me, the only fear that I have is that of the possibility of corrupt dictators that cannot deal with life in Jail, usually find a way to commit suicide and like Jim Jones, they commit mas suiside of family and friends. I hope we in Dominica never have to deal with this one since dealing with the unfortunate deaths of Rosie and Puerto was not easy.
Skerrit will be Evo Morales #2. He can laugh and say he is safe in V. Case. But he who laughs last laughs the best. Soon he might be crying. Time will tell……