Politicians discuss electoral reform in Dominica

 CMC – Opposition politicians have expressed concerns over the report on electoral reform undertaken by prominent international jurist, Sir Dennis Byron, even as Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit urged them to put aside their differences and work towards what’s best for Dominica.

“I want you to leave here tonight with the understanding and appreciation in a factual and sincere manner that we are here to engage you, constructively, earnestly, honestly, transparently as we seek to bring this vexing matter of electoral reform to an end in Dominica (and) to the benefit of all people in Dominica,” Prime Minister Skerrit told the public consultation on Tuesday night that brought together political parties and politicians to debate the report.

Sir Dennis, the former president of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and the sole commissioner advancing Dominica’s efforts towards electoral reform, said the recommendations contained in his final report to the authorities here were “made in good faith and with the objective of developing the best electoral system for Dominica”.

He said he is hoping that the recommendations would help formulate an electoral system “that could potentially set standards for other countries in our region to follow”..

In June, Sir Dennis had written to both Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and the president of the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP), Lennox Linton, indicating that he had “completed my review of the electoral legislation, systems and processes in the Commonwealth of Dominica.

He had been appointed as the sole commissioner advancing the efforts towards electoral reform, a major issue in Dominica with the opposition parties, the UWP and the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) boycotting the last general election.

But in her presentation on Tuesday night, Opposition Leader, Jesma Paul Victor, said that there were several issues of concern including the transportation of Dominicans living overseas for the purpose of voting in a general election.

“I was surprised that Sir Dennis in his report did not state explicitly that the transportation of voters from overseas to Dominica…constituted bribery and treating and therefore a crime under our electoral laws”.

She said she believes it is also “manifestly unfair” for Dominicans who have made the decision to reside overseas, being given the opportunity to visit the island during a five year period so as to maintain their right to vote in a general election.

“With respect to campaign finance reform, my view is not that the proposed legislation does not go far enough. There should be a limit as to the amount of money political parties can spend…during the election campaign.

“Sir Dennis Byron is proposing a limit of five million EC dollars (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents), which in a small economy like Dominica, a small population, seems very excessive,” she said, adding that foreign governments, businesses’ and individuals” should be barred from contributing to the election campaign of any candidate, any political party, whatsoever”.

However, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vince Henderson told the consultation that on the issue of transporting individuals into the country during an election, has not been deemed illegal.

Quoting from the report by Sir Dennis, he said  the prominent jurist discussed the issue and that the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) “is guided by the judgements of the highest elections court of the Commonwealth of Dominica that the provision of transportation for voting is acceptable once it is not procured by bribery, treating and undue influence.

“Essentially giving your neighbour a ride to the polling station is not illegal, neither is offering a ride to a friend who lives in New York to come to Dominica to vote without come criminal intent, without undue influence, without bribery or treating as defined by law…,” Henderson added.

UWP general secretary, Nicholas George, said there should be a “total re-registration of voters and provisions cleansing of the voters list annually”.

He said the current legislation allows for that to take place and that “only those persons who are resident in Dominica . and those who are no longer ordinarily resident in Dominica for less than five years should be eligible to vote in our elections”.

He said that there should be a specific voter identification card  issued to all voters with biometric data, including facial recognition.

“There should be no overseas registration of voters and no overseas confirmation of registration of voters,” he said, adding “this is an exercise in re-establishing trust, ethics, integrity, responsibility, accountability in government”.

Prime Minister Skerrit told the consultation that ‘with the greatest sense of sincerity” he would like to see the issue of electoral reform “come to a conclusion and we move forward with other things.

“But for us to arrive at a conclusion through this consultation, we must not come and read poetry and prose…but the reality is we have documents before us,” he said, urging every stakeholder to take the matter seriously.

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