UWP ready for next general election but electoral commission is not, says Linton

Linton on campaign trail in 2014

Leader of the Opposition United Workers Party (UWP), Lennox Linton has said that his party is ready for the next general election even if the Prime Minister calls it now.

Linton told Dominica News Online (DNO) during an interview on Friday that his party will field candidates in all 21 constituencies.

“The opposition is ready,” he said. “The opposition may well be even more ready than the government.”

However he said the country needs free and fair elections.

Over the years, the UWP has been advocating for electoral reform to ensure free and fair elections in Dominica

“We need the government to make available to the electoral commission the funds that are required for verifying the list of electors and moving ahead with all the procedural work to have ID cards issued for voting,” he stated.

He continued, “We are the most ready party but from what we can see, clearly, the electoral commission is not ready to conduct such elections.”

According to Linton, the electoral commission needs to put certain things in place for their machinery to deliver free and fair elections.

“Our readiness is one thing and of course we are ready. The question is, more important than our readiness, is the body that is constitutionally required and mandated to deliver to ensure free and fair elections in Dominica, are they ready for free and fair elections?” he asked. 

“For now the answer is no,” Linton maintains,”and that question needs to be answered sooner rather than later.”

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43 Comments

  1. Camem
    February 11, 2019

    I voted yep last time but this time is labour all the way.The development is unprecedented.

    • Neville
      February 12, 2019

      You must have had a big envelope at the last Red Clinic.

  2. Jonathan Y St Jean
    February 11, 2019

    I don’t sense the disgust and urgency that should be coming out from Mr. Linton and the opposition. He has to lay down the gauntlet and let the government, its surrogates, including the electoral commission, hear and know that the opposition will not accept elections without electoral reform in no uncertain terms. The opposition has to let the government hear that the country will be made ungovernable if it attempts to call elections without electoral reform to include clean voters list, voter id cards, the absence of treating and bribery. Time to stop playing nice with Skerritt when he continues to violate the foundations and precedents of our Democracy. I know that there is a bogus trial against Mr. Linton however leadership requires standing up for something.

  3. St. Joe
    February 10, 2019

    I am a laborite but will be voting for UWP this time around. I just can’t see my country falling apart anymore. Can anyone tell me where the ministers are getting all this money they have sharing in their constituiencies? These are among the reasons why I am changing my vote.

    • RandyX
      February 11, 2019

      This and other questions need to be asked and the citizens of our country need to be persistent about it. The squandering of public funds, aid money and CBI income has to stop. These funds and monies don’t belong to Skerrit, his Ministers or the DLP but to the state of Dominica. We need to ask questions and we need to stop these pirates before they ruin the country completely.

    • GilliG
      February 12, 2019

      We need more people to open up their eyes. I am no longer standing for this nonsense going on. The country continues to go down. I’ve benefited from money sharing but right now I need a good job and I ant to see my country do much better. I may not have a university degree but i have an Associates Degree and I am intelligent. However I cannot get a good job. I have to settle for job paying $1200. I cannot even go to UWI on that salary. After Maria I had the opportunity to travel outside of Dominica for the first time and this was such an eye opener for me. I’ve travelled to two Caribbean islands and couldn’t believe how behind we are. I will not be voting DLP this time. I feel so brainwashed by what my Palrep and the PM have been saying. Ive started to be more open minded about politics and realize that a lot of us labourites are seeing one side of the coin.

  4. Massacre
    February 10, 2019

    I am alsoo ready for change!
    It is undemocratic to have any party in office for more than 15 years. Skerrro is tired, Austrie is tired, Vince is tired, Dr. Rats in de valley is tired, Ian is tired , Issac have more degrees than a university but he can’t get anthing right , there are still open drains in Roseau, and the rest of followers in the parliament have no idea how to keep an engine running. Go away DLP and give Dominica a chance to catch-up with our sisiter islands.

  5. February 10, 2019

    I don’t know about UWP ready for general elections; but i sure know that the country is ready for a “Political Revolution”; in the absence of total and comprehensible electoral reform, free and fair elections; there should be civil disobedience until this recalcitrant “chavesmo” administration gets the heaven out; plain and simple they have outlived their usefulness.

    • Joseph John
      February 11, 2019

      Yes Sir “take them out” like was tried on D-Day. That is the new democracy, a real educative positive move. Just like the practice of Latin America in the 50’s with take out and retake out repeatedly with all their instability. That was so progressive and democratic. So go ahead start your revolution. If you find that is the best way step right up, lead the way.
      I use to think that opposition forces had a reasonable issue, had a point. But now I see that its only an excuse, a gimmick to make trouble. They are incapable of being reasonable. Their commonsense have vanished. Their D-Day activities, and their M.I.A attitude ,and their crashing and invading a HEADS of government meeting are only two of the cases in point.

  6. Man bites dogs
    February 9, 2019

    Linton, If you are ready for election as you pretending too, we labour supporters are over ready to kick youraxx right out of it at anytime.

    • viewsexpressed
      February 10, 2019

      That is the situating with these failed Labour Blind followers. No respect, lacks decency, lacks decorum, all taken from the behaviour of tier failed Pm Skerrit, immature to be Prie Minister in our country. What an Odd Mininister a failed prime Minister. The country is in a state, reduced to poverty, unemployment and you people with weird names, for example “man Bites Dog”….you see the distraction and blindness of these failed Lamour followers. Once a person out there biting dogs, one knows who is wagging the tail and barking rubbish woof-woof of our Domininca.
      My dear people, these blind labourites and Skerrit are lost in the wilderness as there is no Develpoment taking place in Dominica. Dominica and its people have been doomed in a failed Domininca created by Skerrit and his failed waste of time 18 ministers What a waste of money and stats resources?
      We need Skerrit and useless failed incompetent failed Labour government never back in office for 100 years. Skerrit Get Lost.

    • Joseph John
      February 10, 2019

      Man bites dog, that picture posted above have a header dated 5 years ago . They looked ready then, but hey were not. Now then are saying they are ready but they were not. They were not ready for Erica, Mathew and Maria. You can look ready, and say you are ready , but that does not make you ready to win. What have they won recently to show a winning tract record. This one term party won one election by default. They are not going any where in a hurry. My prediction is that they will all loss their deposit.

  7. Ready!!
    February 9, 2019

    tiway yo! washay yo!

  8. Mani Cou
    February 9, 2019

    There are people who have been out of Dominica for forty years and are still on the voters list. I am talking about what I know, not what I hear. This is totally unacceptable and should be rectified before the next election.

    • Joseph John
      February 10, 2019

      If you are a citizen of Dominica you have a right to vote. Being out of Dominica is not a disqualification. According to international law If you are a citizen of any country you have a right to vote in any election in that country. It is a legal right, a constitutional right, a democratic right and a human right.
      I am talking about what I know. This is practice that is acceptable internationally . I know I a 100% right.

      So Mr Mani Cou do some research and inform yourself. Do not let people misguide you any more.
      Read the relevant part o the Dominica constitution, check the net, and talk to some constitutional lawyers.

      • Jonathan Y St Jean
        February 11, 2019

        @Joseph John, you are right that people have a right to vote, and no one is attempting to take away that right. However, there are certain conditions which must be met to make these people eligible to vote in any election. It’s just like saying any citizen can drive a vehicle but there are certain conditions to do with age, physical ability, and have a valid( not expired) drivers license.

      • Joseph John
        February 11, 2019

        When one compares right to vote with right to drive we have a problem. I would normally drop the mike on a person with that point of view and put their comment on the amusement shelf. But Sir the right I am talking about is like the right to life, the equal right to a fair trial, innocent until proven guilty.
        The conditions you and your fellow opposition gang members (a small minority) refuse to accept already exist and they are available to all….EQUALLY: freely , fairly and equally. And everyone knows that.

  9. L power
    February 8, 2019

    Ready or not it’s time for change. i will not be voting lobour again.

    • Paul Rossnof
      February 9, 2019

      I guess a fair number of citizens will think the way you are. Unfortunately too many people like the Red Clinic and that is where Skerrit buys most of the votes at the countries expense. The other problem of course is the voting register that requires urgent updating and as such at present prevents fair elections. We need to open our eyes because we are 2 minutes before a fully fledged dictatorship. Even the most seasoned red clinic members can’t be voting in favour of that. For once let’s put the country first, we owe it to our battered island!

      • Joseph John
        February 11, 2019

        You sound like one of those white Americans who like to mislead black people and condition them into negative thinking. For what ever reason , for whatever hidden motive you are leading a wagon to sow dessention in Dominica.
        Since when do we have Dictatorship in Dominica. If you want a portrait of TWO dictators hang a picture of Trump on your living room wall then hang a full length mirror next to it, then look at it. If Dominica had a dictatorship you would not be writing that coshonie you keep pelting around.
        If we had a dictatorship there would be no opposition in the House.
        There would be no DNO for you to post for relieving your stress. There would be one media outlet, not even social media would exist.
        The five parties or more and the independent candidates lining up for next election would not exist.
        I have observe election in the USA and hvenever seen agents of the contesting parties t the polling stations monitoring voters activities. In your USA there can onl

      • Joseph John
        February 11, 2019

        In your USA there can only be two parties. Last election Hilary won by 3 million votes but did not
        become President. Gore had a similar experience.
        If you want to talk about dictatorship use the USA as a model, use Trump and you will see what true dictatorship is. You will see fake democracy at work. Our PM can never promise to build a wall that an other country will pay for. Our PM can NEVER SHUT DOWN Dominica. He can never say no election. When opposition forces say “no election without electoral reform” its just scamming because the PM MUST call elections within the prescribed time. Elections is due by Jan,2020 , he cannot call it after that.
        We have been having elections for over 50 yeas that have always been free and fair. Skerrit has not changed any procedure any laws any practice.
        All those activities that you guys think will give the DLP an advantage are equally available to all. Its a level political field. That is why I will be contesting as an independent…

      • Paul Rossnof
        February 11, 2019

        Joseph John, if you believe for only one second that I would engage in a conversation with a nut case like you you are even dumber than I thought initially. Hold conversation with the likes of you and don’t try to go pissing with the big dogs. YOU can’t lift your leg high enough!!

    • Man bites dogs
      February 10, 2019

      And who the hell needs you, bloody crayfish.

      • Joseph John
        February 12, 2019

        Man bites dogs. Do not put yourself at his low level. He is more like a scavenging aborelaw. Just ignore it, not worth the effort.

  10. Omg
    February 8, 2019

    Let the DLP go up by themself if there is no free n fair election in Dominica so that the international community don’t recognised them.
    This is the only time they will feel the pressure the outside.

  11. KIP
    February 8, 2019

    Its not far fetch that Linton and the Prime minister are in complicity. Bare me out befor you go bunkers.How does a party claim electoral reform when:
    1) His party doubles the number of seats in his first general election
    2) He got four times more of the new voters vote in the last election
    3) You came close at seven marginal seats
    4) When you don’t discuss issues that affecting most of the population.

    Linton you and the PM must be laughing at us. dejavu 2014.Its like the mans man purpose in life is to be the opposition leader. Stop fooling the people man and give another person a chance befor the next election.

    • Bwa-Banday
      February 8, 2019

      “I hate people saying anything stupid. I don’t really suffer fools very well at all. When people are acting like idiots, not that I’m not guilty of doing the odd idiotic thing myself from time to time, but when people say stupid things, it stresses me out.”….. Joshua Jackson Quote.

      KIP please get a hold of yourself. Whatever you drank before writing this is NOT good for your sanity. :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

      • KIP
        February 9, 2019

        “Sometimes, and those times are many, wisdom demands that we remain silent. This is such a time.” – PLO Lumumba

    • Joseph John
      February 11, 2019

      So you are saying that there was free and fair election that enabled the UWP team to be so successful in the last election. That Lennox Linton was very successful for his first attempt as a leader of the party..

  12. KID ON THE BLOCK
    February 8, 2019

    Uncle, didn’t you hear or know that the government gave the commission millions of dollars to do just what you are asking?
    You must be readdy because you got PLENTY MONEY.

  13. Dr Clayton Shillingford
    February 8, 2019

    Quote Lennox Linton of the UWP

    “Our readiness is one thing and of course we are ready. The question is, more important than our readiness, is the body that is constitutionally required and mandated to deliver to ensure free and fair elections in Dominica, are they ready for free and fair elections?” he asked.”

    Why are we still talking publicly about electoral reform and voter identification cards after this long time..I assume the opposition UWP and DFP have people/organization in each constituency What is to prevent these constituency organizations from getting the electoral lists and cleaning them up and submitting these revised lists to the electoral commission for corrective action?? Seek the support of OAS etc

    • February 8, 2019

      Clayton, I personally agree with you on this one.

    • wimston warrington
      February 9, 2019

      This is the only rational solution that would lay the issue to rest.

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      February 9, 2019

      “Why are we still talking publicly about electoral reform and voter identification cards after this long time..”(Clayton Shillingford).

      Clayton, you as well, as I, and every intelligent person participating in Dominica politics  knows the answer to your question!

      The UWP with all due respect must continue to talk publicly about election reform and identification cards as long as Roosevelt Skerrit is blocking the implementation of such reforms! Rather than questioning the  UWP motive of continued speaking out, which you ultimately have done.

      It would have been much more imperative if you came out and demand that Roosevelt Skerrit who is the obstacle in the way of such progress do what is right and implement the identification cards at least! This crap being talked about for more than five years!

      In Antigua it took the government less than six months to implement the changes which brought about one of the same electoral reforms changes.  For the past eighteen years…

    • Breathe
      February 11, 2019

      I agree. They need to stop talking and complaining and take action. Talking is not the same as action. Nothing is preventing anyone from identifying names that should be removed from the list and then bringing it to the attention of the relevant authorities.

    • Joseph John
      February 11, 2019

      Dr Shillingford thank you for the objective insight. My conclusion is that opposition forces do not want election reform. They just want to create issues to attract public attention and to have negative emotional connections. How can you have election reform without Constitutional Reform? What about existing election laws ? Which ones need amendment ?
      Opposition forces base their objections on two points
      Sanitization of voters list….Like you ask, why cant they help. Show the way because its your suggestion. You say dead people are on the list…who are they? Point them out. Provide death certificates.
      You talk about ID cards …..Why not a national I D card for all types of transactions. Why insist on such a card now. You never did so when you contested last election, you did not have it on your manifesto, you took your seat in parliament with a smile on your face At every poling station the are agents of all parties who match names to list. They know the people.

    • Joseph John
      February 11, 2019

      Dr Shillingford, besides these agents last election there were foreign observers. This is what opposition forces should be clamouring about. They should be in consultation with the Government and the Electoral Commission on this issue . To endure that there will be observers, neutral and unbias.
      My view is to mantaine the status quo right now.
      The only procedure that should change is the setting of a permanent date for election similar to what obtain in the USA. A date in April May or June seems acceptable . May Day maybe.
      The present situation gives any sitting PM the advantage of surprise.
      Maybe you can be one of my advisors when I become an independent candidate.

  14. Joe Linton
    February 8, 2019

    Lennox we the people of this blessed land is asking for a NATIONAL ID CARD not a card that can only be used for voting what rubbish is that????? Act your age man grow up get some common sense!!!!!!

  15. Bwa-Banday
    February 8, 2019

    Mr.Linton I admire the UWP, DFP, Hilary .S, Wayne. J and CCM efforts to ensure free and fair elections in Dca. However, I am appealing to the unions and churches to join the fight and quit being hypocrites. The DPSU leadership seems to be in support but they have to do more by calling on the general membership to go to the next demonstration to show their disgust.

    To be fair, the unions want to enjoy the fruits of their membership’ hard labor but seems cowardly when they should head to the battle lines head on. I beg of the UWP, DFP, Unions and Churches to join hands and call for a massive protest and continue protesting until the dictator capitulates and give the funds requested or leave office with his cabal. Stand up to Maduro Junior and Chemical Ali for the love of country. God bless Dca

  16. lol
    February 8, 2019

    Linton wait still if is stupid you stupid. don’t prepare yourself for the election and stay there blaming electoral commision. when you get your blows at the poll say election was not free and fare.

    • viewsexpressed
      February 9, 2019

      Hon Lintonand UWP Team are well prepared. Mr. LOL, get yourself prepared and go out and campaign for Domininca. UWP Team are servants of the people, and not masters.. This is a Dominica and thing and we are all suffering under Skerrit. It is o this we go to get rid of Skerrit and his corrupt labour Government. Go out and campaign for a decent safe developing Domininca and t start with, we have to vote Skerrit and his failed Labour corrupt government out. they have failed us. Please stay focus and lets join hands to vote failed immature Skerrit and his lazy corrupt incompetent Labour government out of office, Dominica has potential and richness in many ways, and blind inept Skerrit has not seen the value and resources of Dominica, he and his clown Labour group has abuse Dominica and its people for over 18 years and still no jobs and development . Skerrit must Go and now. Dominicans wake up. People, go help UWP Team to campaign to bring life and security to Dominica. Skerrit go UWP in.

  17. jamie
    February 8, 2019

    Linton,you guys are well prepared,the Labour party has started the distribution of tickets,lets see if the people are ready to get rid of Skerrit,but he buys them with money,God is in control my brother.

  18. %
    February 8, 2019

    The message must be sent all over the globe,to key organisations of the Maduro style governance that lazy Skerrit is subjecting Dominica to…The harrassment of opposition members,the vocalization that the country does not need opposition,the harrassment of opposition members his egregious and blatant lie that the opposition tried to overthrow his corrupt government,the arresting of members that followed,the teargassing of those asking for Electoral Reform, to include children and elderlies…Without reform this will be a flawed election like Maduro had in Venezuela.
    Skerrit and his MISLEADERS need to know that !!
    Skerrit Must Go
    Skerrit Must Go
    LAZY Skerrit Must Go Now

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