{"id":342441,"date":"2025-05-30T10:09:30","date_gmt":"2025-05-30T14:09:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/?p=342441"},"modified":"2025-05-30T11:00:15","modified_gmt":"2025-05-30T15:00:15","slug":"erc-issues-statement-on-writes-letter-to-caricom-chair-mia-mottleys-attending-dlp-rally-full-letter-inside","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/homepage\/homepage-carousel\/erc-issues-statement-on-writes-letter-to-caricom-chair-mia-mottleys-attending-dlp-rally-full-letter-inside\/","title":{"rendered":"ERC issues statement; writes letter to CARICOM Chair Mia Mottley on attending DLP rally (full letter inside)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Electoral Reform Coalition (ERC) has issued a formal statement expressing its disapproval of Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s participation in a political rally in Dominica, highlighting concerns about appropriateness and regional implications. According to the ERC, Prime Minister Mottley’s attendance at a Dominica Labour Party rally on June 1st, 2025, was deemed highly inappropriate and insulting to the Dominican people.<\/p>\n

The coalition\u2019s statement underscores that Dominica is still in the process of recovering from a contentious electoral campaign, which concluded with allegations of electoral fraud. The ERC notes that the March 19, 2025, elections were marred by what it describes as fraudulent voting, which was allegedly legitimized by the Roosevelt Skerrit-led administration. The statement further highlights that opposition leaders and other citizens are currently out on bail and face restrictions from participating in public gatherings, circumstances attributed to the heavy-handed actions of the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) administration and police repression.<\/p>\n

The ERC emphasizes that the chairmanship of CARICOM, which rotates every six months among Caribbean heads of government, is a position that requires neutrality and non-partisanship. The coalition pointed out that no sitting CARICOM Chairman should engage in partisan political activities within member states. It considers Mottley’s participation in a political rally in Dublanc as a breach of this convention and criticizes her for misleading Dominicans into believing she could support a political event while holding her regional leadership role.<\/p>\n

The coalition further urges Barbadian citizens to communicate to their Prime Minister that attending a political rally in Dominica while serving as CARICOM Chairman is inappropriate. It also appeals to other CARICOM heads of government to advise Mottley against actions that could tarnish the reputation of the regional organization. The ERC warns that such conduct risks causing irreparable damage to CARICOM\u2019s standing.<\/p>\n

In the event that Prime Minister Mottley wishes to continue participating in political activities in Dominica, the ERC states that she should consider relinquishing her chairmanship of CARICOM. While the coalition supports the principle of political solidarity, it stresses that maintaining the integrity and reputation of CARICOM is paramount.<\/p>\n

The ERC has also sent a formal letter to Prime Minister Mottley, with copies to the CARICOM Secretary-General, urging her to act in the best interest of Caribbean unity. The coalition emphasizes the importance of regional cohesion, especially amid ongoing debates over electoral reform and campaign financing regulations in Dominica, and hopes that leadership actions will reflect a commitment to regional stability and respect for democratic processes.<\/p>\n

See letter to\u00a0 CARICOM Chairperson Mia Mottley:<\/p>\n