ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC—Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says Caribbean Community (CARICOM) governments have discussed campaign financing reform, even as he acknowledges that the matter is “not a straightforward” situation.
Opposition parties here have been calling for campaign finance reform as part of the overall electoral reform in Dominica, boycotting the last general election in 2022.
“Now, in principle, we support the issue of campaign financing. But when that was discussed at the CARICOM level and the OECS (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States ) level…there was a view by the heads of government in CARICOM, look, this is a matter that should be dealt with from a regional standpoint because of the complexity of it. Listen to audio
“They were of the view that this should be handled at a regional level. There was even a view that we should engage in further consultations on this and see what type of uniform legislation we can bring to the table for consideration by the CARICOM heads of government on the issue of campaign finance”.
Skerrit described the issue as “very complex,” adding, “It is not straightforward.
‘Those who are not involved in politics believe it is straightforward, but not straightforward. This is why even in the United States, where you have such legislation, it gives …the candidates the opportunity to opt out of that arrangement, and they are allowed to raise as much money as they wish to.
“So we are not opposed to it in principle. But what we are saying is that one, that was never part of the original consideration where electoral reform is concerned, and secondly, that would not affect the fundamental points that were raised and are addressed in the bill before the country now,” Skerrit said, adding “but at next rounds of discussion we can look at it, likewise amendments to the constitution.”
Earlier this month, the Electoral Reform Coalition (ERC) called for the implementation of recommendations that it claimed have been omitted from draft legislation the government has released as it moves ahead with its efforts to bring to Parliament before yearend the proposed electoral modernization legislation as part of the electoral reform process in Dominica.
In June last year, Sir Dennis Byron, the former president of the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), submitted a report on electoral reform to the Dominica government.
Sir Dennis had been the sole commissioner advancing the efforts towards electoral reform, a significant issue with the opposition parties, the United Workers Party (UWP) and the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) boycotting the last general election.
The boycott led to the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) securing 19 21 seats, with the remainder going to independent candidates.
ERC executive member Pastor Randy Rodney told a rally that among the recommendations made by Sir Dennis Byron that have been inexplicably deleted from the draft legislation are provisions related to campaign financing. The draft legislation also fails to adequately address residency, voter identification, and registration requirements.
Skerrit said that a commission is to be appointed to begin the constitutional reform process for Dominica and that it could be in place this year.
“Very soon, we will appoint a Commission; once we pass the Electoral Reform Bill, we intend to appoint a Commission that will look at constitutional reform, and we shall use the Telford Georges report and the Dr. Liverpool report as a base for consultation.
‘We are going to use that to start and whatever new elements that we come up to add to what we have because both the Telford Georges and the Dr. Liverpool reports are pretty comprehensive in nature and scope, but we will put it to the public, so the Commissioner who will be appointed will use those two documents to present to the public”.
Skerrit said that the final document will be taken to the public for consideration where constitutional reform is concerned “because we believe that it is important that we have constitutional reform, especially as we are approaching our 50th anniversary of independence”.
Download audio – Dominica PM Roosevelt Skerrit
and then  governments have discussed campaign financing){kind=link}