Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has announced plans to meet with Sir Dennis Byron today to hold further discussions on electoral modernization for Dominica.
He made the announcement while delivering remarks during the First Meeting of the First Session of the Eleventh Parliament today.
Byron was tasked by the Government of Dominica to be the sole commissioner to advance efforts towards electoral reform in Dominica.
“I want to say to the parliament Mr. Speaker, that since the engagement of Sir Dennis Byron and the submission of his first draft report which was submitted in December, I have met with Sir Dennis for this year on two occasions to discuss his recommendations in the draft report,” Skerrit indicated. “There would have been a third meeting yesterday at 3 PM with Sir Dennis Byron and Sir Dennis Byron requested a postponement of that meeting.”
He continued, “Because of the importance which myself and this government [play] on electoral reform I indicated to Sir Dennis Byron that I am prepared to meet with him today, February 7, at 1:30 PM…”
The prime minister added, “So I shall meet with Sir Dennis Byron today at 1:30 PM and my hope is that this will be the final meeting that we will have before he submits his final report.”
He also told parliament and the people of Dominica that in terms of references to the engagement of Sir Byron, the drafting of legislation was not part of it.
“At the request of Sir Dennis Byron and the Chairman of the Electoral Commission I authorized the engagement of a legal draft expert to draft all of the legislation to form part of the submission on electoral reform,” the prime minister revealed.
As minister of finance, the prime minister said he provided all of the resources to pay for the legal consultant to draft the legislation.
“I have said to Sir Dennis Byron and I will say to the parliament of Dominica and the people of Dominica that this matter is the matter that I wish to put to rest, once and for all in our country,” he remarked. “And I wish to come to the parliament to seek parliamentary approval of the new legislation by April of this year so that the process of implementation can begin immediately thereafter.”
Furthermore, Prime Minister Skerrit said he would like to see this process come to an end at the earliest time.
“And I am hoping that we can come to parliament just for one matter, we will convene parliament just for one matter Mr. Speaker and if that day can be a Saturday or Sunday then let it be, just to pass the legislation dealing with electoral reform,” he stated. “So I am saying to all those who are listening to me that if you are serious about electoral reform let it happen. But I will say this to those who do not want it to happen that you can jump high, jump low there will be electoral modernization in Dominica.”
Skerrit argued that there are some who say they want electoral modernization, “but do not want it.”
“Because they want to continue to give the international community the impression that this government doesn’t want electoral modernization or electoral reform in Dominica,” he remarked.
He added, “So I am saying to all that I want it and I want it now and we will put all of the resources to ensure that it happens in the likeness and image of the Dominican people.”
The house was suspended until 3:00 PM this afternoon.
I agree with Mr,Putin 100%.It is a fact that these people do not read the constitution,if they do they deliberately lie to a handful of people listening to them.According to the constitution Skerrit cannot make any one President,he can make a recommendation.Read Sec.18-28 pages 32-37.Skerrit cannot even make himself Prime Minister.The majority of Dominicans are smart,that is why UWP continue to stay in the yard.The PEOPLE know the one’s who accuse Skerrit of lying are the biggest and most dangerous liars.
Mr Clown didn’t Putin, your teacher told you that the island of Dominica belongs to the People of Dominica and NOT the Dominica Labour Party, led by King Liar Roosvelt Skerrit?
Skerrow you lost your scruples man,,,
As though is just yesterday an article come out where Mr Byron lambastéhing Skerrow and Stow for trying to interfere in political reform for the benefit of the DLP,,,
Skerrow garçan people can read wi, is not like dem days when those who didn’t know just didn’t know because dey couldn’t read,,,
Allyou go back and read what the Byron fellow say nuh is like he saying just because Skerrow pay him to come do an audit doesn’t mean he can come manipulate the numbers to favor DLP,,, DeMan even went and say dat Ducan Stow shouldn’t be reelected to that position he holding now,,,
But Notice Skerrow talking about Election modernization and not electoral reform,,,
Mista Lost him mind wi a little more,,,
https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/elections/press-statement-electoral-reform-coalition-erc/
I am trying to understand,who is we the people is it the majority or the minority? For me we the people is the majority and it is a fact that the majority of Dominicans do not care about electoral reform.The majority of Dominicans believe the people who say Skerrit is a liar,are themselves bigger liars than Skerrit.The people do not believe anything coming out of the mouth of the opposition.For example the UWP was kicked out or office after only 4 1/2 years,the believe UWP was corrupt,lazy,lying,greedy and victimizing the people.For 23 years they are not convinced the DLP is the same.One cannot convince the people Skerrit is lying,because his good works for the benefit of the people is everywhere for everyone to see,the opposition does not understand something so simple.The majority of Dominicans believe Skerrit is working in their best interest,that is why DLP will never lose an election in Dominica.Just look at the demonstration for electoral reform.
There is friction in the UWP among members of the very top of its echelon. This is happening at a time when the country needs a strong collective effort to quash the corrupt and devastating misrule of the diseased LIAR.
There should be a concerted and sustained effort by the UWP to engage the popular regional media houses ( since most of the local media houses are in cahoots with the
contemptible regime) on the lawlessness and bad governance in Dominica. Expose the ruling autocracy for precisely what they are. Bunch of rascals and vermin living parasitically on the the backs of the poor tax payers.
Set up a rapid response media team to counteract his daily propaganda and misinformation he disseminates locally and regionally.
Recommendations for electoral modernization and reform.
1. Make the system for overseas residing Dominicans fully transparent with a level playing field. As soon as the Election Writ is signed the Electoral Commission sets up a temporary office in Washington Consulate, British High Commission and OECS Secretariat where a representative of the two leading opposition parties (and two from the govt) gets embedded to receive and count incoming Mail-In Ballots for up to Election Day or thirty days following the Signing of the Writ, whichever is first.
Looking to the future, promote harmonized electoral laws and systems within the OECS, with a standing Committee of Chief Elections Officers of all Member Countries meeting periodically to review the relevant laws, issues, kinks,, best practices in electoral matters for the OECS including thorny issues such as Electoral Boundaries in member states.
If you not living in Dominica for more than 5 years (i not talking about travel for vacation) living and working. you should not be allowed to vote. Thats my 2 cents. Because the factors that affect us here those living abroad do not have to deal with. Yes their grandmother and parents etc who are here are feeling it, but those outside should not be allowed to come in and dictate our fate if they are not the ones feeling the heat. you do not live and work here. you cannot vote. Majority of them dont even know who their parl rep is or their background but all they know is is skerrit they coming to vote for. As if Skerrit is on the ballot of every constituency. We are tired of this. Other countries that are advancing are changing their governments every 5-10 years. But we acting like we have stockholm syndrome or cannot leave and abusive relationship because we think the crumbs we getting is love. and if we make too much noise we wont get anything at all.
This guy’s insecurities are glaring in his insistence on being involve in very aspect of this administration. Why does the PM need to be involved in Electoral Reform discussions? That is an egregious conflict of interest. I wonder if he goes to the Dentist for his Prostrate Cancer screening… Just like the International Airport nothing is going to come of this. This man is the epitome of a mamagayer{SIC}, he has zero credibility with the independent thinkers of Dominica and observers. This man needs to stop taking Dominicans for fools, or rather Dominicans need to let him know that he can no longer pull the wool over their eyes
Oh no Skerrit, it Electoral reform we want, not Electoral modernisation. You think you are so clever! Proper electoral reform we want and that is exactly what we will get. Trust me. You can’t sell us a donkey and tell us it’s an Arabian race horse. Not anymore my friend. A bit of advice, I wouldn’t push my luck too much if I was you.
“Because of the importance which myself and this government [play] on electoral reform I indicated to Sir Dennis Byron that I am prepared to meet with him today, February 7, at 1:30 PM…””
Skerrit must be delusional to utter these words. This is the same guy who has dragged his feet for years, called an early election on the eve of the submission of the draft report, harassed the opposition party who has been clamoring for reform, and now he has placed great importance on the matter.
Skerrit can fool the poor people he has made dependent on him, but he cannot fool anyone with half a brain.
He IS delusional.
I don’t believe that he is disillusioned, Dominicans have and continue to empower him, and allow him to do as he pleases. Dominicans need to stand up to him. He is only as emboldened as much as we embolden him. This PM is very vulnerable and insecure, and it is time Dominicans start exposing and exploiting his vulnerabilities and insecurities. The PM should under no circumstance be in conference with Sir Byron to discuss Electoral Reform. That is a clear conflict of interest – the perpetrator cannot be the judge. Sir Byron needs to be penalized for this gross breach of ethics. A legal complaint should be made against Sir Byron.
Very well stated!
Lies mostly. Why is only now? After you call another election without instituting any of the recommendations put forward in the last 2-3 elections.
Skerrit, it is not your job to ‘discuss’ issues of electoral reform with Byron. By the time you are finished with discussion, the electoral reform will be in your favour again. The issues regarding electoral reform should be discussed between Byron and all the members of the electoral commission. It’s none of YOUR business, all you are doing again is trying to make fools out of the citizens of Dominica. You haven’t got our confidence no more!
Him again going to meet with Byron again? For what? To hold Byron by the neck and shake him up and compel him to do the reform? “If satan fight against himself, his kingdom cannot stand.” Only in Dominica. We have no more courageous people left on this Island. Period.
What a manipulative instigator, trying to change your position on the matter by blaming others for your past behavior towards electoral reform. I don’t think it’s a matter to be put to rest but rather one to be debated by the Representatives of the people in parliament.
Roosevelt announcing plan to meet with Bryon, as if that is some big deal!
You paid your puppet to write same crap which I suspect you Roosevelt and the puppets, your close lapdogs dictated; you know what is in the bogus report. If there was anything in the future relating to electoral reform; that would already be finish and done with!
The Antiguans saw the need for electoral reform, the called for the change, a system was formulated, of how to accomplish that reform, and within weeks or at six month it was accomplished!
Why should the Dominican taxpayers spend a fortune making Bryon rich?
Roosevelt paid that man to play around more money with this bogus so called thing than he ever worked for on a real job all of his miserable life.
How long will it take Dominicans to wake up, and Rebell against that corrupted crook Roosevelt who’s only reason for living is take from the people making his family rich while the people of the country are the poorest in the western hemisphere?
Dominica media WAKE UP…!!!
The PM has no authority to appoint a Sole Electoral Commissioner under the constitution of Dominica, much less be holding private meetings with him…!!!
Of which Constitution do you speak? You can get a copy of Dominica’s Constitution online…easily available. Have a read on the authority of the PM instead of repeating the foolishness you hear on Q95.
“Roosevelt Skerrit has demonstrated blatant disrespect to the people of the Commonwealth of Dominica and the international community by calling two general elections within three years in defiance of legitimate requests for
electoral reform. His last act of such blatant disrespect was the sham general elections of December 6, 2022, which saw a turnout of only 15,114 voting for the Dominica Labour Party from a bloated electors list of 74,895 voters or 20.18% of the registered voters.
Roosevelt Skerrit must accept the people’s repudiation of his despicable behavior and must stay away from the electoral reform process.”
Not RastarMarn dat saying that nuh go read it for yourself, this is what Sir Byron said in the article that came out yesterday,,,
So if anyone is trying to stop anything is Skerrit himself!!!
This sounds like electoral deform to me. His words and tone seem rather resolute and combative. Significant legislation such as this cannot be done properly in one day. The changes need serious discussion and ventilation.
The interjection of “Jump high, jump low” in the great LIAR’s presentation indicates he is in total control of whatever goes in the final draft.
Where is the outrage from business community, clergy, trade & labour unions, law fraternity, teachers and the rest of civil society? The outlaw behaves as though Dominica was bequeathed to him by his parents. The man is the personification of Satan.
“The interjection of “Jump high, jump low” in the great LIAR’s presentation indicates he is in total control of whatever goes in the final draft.” What, you were in doubt about that? He is the PM, the leader of the majority in Parliament, and the Chairman of Cabinet (the body that determines the legislative agenda and the direction of spending).
Keep wallowing in your fantasy land.
You will get the “reform” that Labour agrees to grant. It is the rule of the majority.
@Putin.
Either you are a lazy depending on handout or you cant understand what electoral reform is.
Crass nonsense!!
“Handout” is bad when i wait for it but perfectly acceptable when you and your ilk pass a blue box around or wait until Uncle Sam or the French Government sends you a cheque, huh?
Fake Putin, a majority in a country or organisation must never use their numbers to ignore the rights of the minority. That’s a sure recipe for disaster.
When the minority is excluded from decision making and their rights are trampled on, anarchy inevitably cripple that country or organization.
The minority have been exercising their rights on this issue since 2005. You remember? This continues each week and on February 7, 2023. Sure, exercise your rights but you will get what we want you to get. This is the cold facts of a democracy…majority rule.
But not if the majority was bought with cold cash! That’s no majority it’s FRAUD! It’s as simple as that.
The business community, clergy, trade & labour unions, law fraternity, teachers and the rest of civil society too busy getting their cool out to do anything 🤷🏽
This guy needs to return to the mountains where he comes from period!!!! He acts like a man who don’t understand democracy or civil government or governance.
The word “electoral reform” to skerrit is like how holy water is to the devil. What do you mean by electoral modernization skerrit?? . On just the matter of overseas voters, the constitution clearly states that if someone is overseas for more than 5 years and that someone has not return during the 5 year period that someone is ineligible to vote…
Dictators holding snap “elections” do not need electoral reform when they are the ones deciding all elections and rigging the vote then using outside paid “observers” to justify their win.
This LIAR thinks that electoral reform is his thing and he is doing Dominicans a favour, re electoral reform.
He is a deceptive liar, still looking for ways to trick and to politically steal votes.
All this is because of his fear of leaving office..
Tomatay! Tomatay! Tomatay!
took you 10 plus years to say that Skerrit? But…. the people of dominica know you are a complete liar. You lucky i didnt get to see your face when you said that. when you smile when talking, you are lying. another sign is when you put your head down when finishing your sentence.
Clown Country wi boy. Feller what you meeting with MR again for? Skerrit doesnt want to make any changes. It working good for him. He can call elections anytime. days weeks months years after the last one with no heads up. he can fly and boat in as many people as he wants. He can have dead people vote and refuse to purge the list. People living outside of dominica for more than 10 years can just get a free ticket paid for by DLP and come and vote and go back home easy. envelopes of money can pass in broad day light and nothing can happen to him. promises of money and material things will be used to lock voters in, nothing will happen to Skerrit or his people. Why on earth would he change anything? To suit you dominicans who have morals and ethics but no hope for the nation anymore? why would he? At this point Byron needs to clear his conscience and speak his mind. I mean you already got paid, just say it like it is Byron. you made recommendation but nothing as been done. ask him why.
Why is the Prime Minister suddenly talking about electoral modernization? The man is really something else eh
Someone correct me, but is a change in the law a necessary ingredient for modernization?
Is it not what you asked for? All of a sudden you seem to be backing down.. What do you fools really need? Reform, conform, deform or inform. Which one of the four?
We want you to shut up! You have nothing of value contributed to this forum. Only cheap propaganda to keep your lying corrupt hero in power.