ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC—Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says he favors state entities providing coverage to all political parties and independent candidates as the main opposition party, the United Workers Party (UWP), continues to raise concerns over electoral reform in Dominica.
Skerrit, speaking at a public forum, said he is supportive of the electoral reform proposals. The issue of state media providing equal access to political parties has been widely discussed in the country.
“We agreed that the state-owned entities shall cover all political parties, including independent candidates, and allow them to spread their words, to say who they are and what they are offering the country, and provide that time equal to what the party in government would receive.
“We agreed to that, and I think that is fair. We must not let partisanship or misinformation derail the progress we are making. This is the time for unity, a moment to demonstrate collective commitment to the process that serves the interest of all Dominicans regardless of our political affiliation.”
Skerrit said that the country should be mindful that electoral reform requires collaboration, understanding, and compromise.
“In addressing this issue of electoral reform, we have to acknowledge that no single side will achieve all of its desires, outcomes, or interests. Instead, everyone involved must make compromises so that the final decision is fair and puts the common good above individual preferences.”
Last December, the government tabled legislation allowing for “the effective operation of the Electoral Commission” and a bill making new provisions for elector registration.
Skerrit presented legislation for a first reading only to provide for the election of members to the House of Assembly.
In May, the government said it had provided the Electoral Commission (EC) with copies of the proposed electoral modernization legislation as part of the electoral reform process.
It said that the submission to the Electoral Commission follows extensive public debates, discussions, written recommendations from individuals and entities, and prolonged government-initiated electoral reform consultation.
The government said that copies of the proposed legislation have also been provided to President Sylvanie Burton and will be published on the government website and other media platforms for public review.
But speaking at a news conference, UWP leader Dr. Thompson Fontaine said he had written to Prime Minister Skerrit raising concerns over three electoral reform bills, which are to be passed in Parliament in the first quarter of this year.
“We wrote to the Honourable Prime Minister on the 13th of January, outlining the shortcomings we saw in the legislation and making some very positive recommendations to fix those deficiencies. “
In the letter, Fontaine said that the party had reviewed the bills for the Electoral Commission Act, the Revised House of Assembly Election Act, and the revised Registration of Electors Act and that the UWP “believes that the reforms to be facilitated by the proposed election laws are inadequate and do not go far enough in ensuring fair, free, and credible elections in Dominica.
“We are therefore requesting an urgent meeting with you at your earliest convenience to discuss our concerns and to present formally our recommendations to amend the proposed laws in the interest of ensuring that they effectively meet the heightened public expectation of genuine electoral reform,” Fontaine said, announcing that the UWP will embark on a series of electoral reform meetings starting next week.
“Let me assure the Dominican public that we will not stand idly by and see this particular piece of legislation go unopposed as a party. We will continue to do what is necessary and what we think is important to ensure that this is done.
“So while we will not disclose at this point what we plan to do in the future, just be assured, we will not rest, we will not relent, until and unless this legislation is corrected,” Fontaine said, adding, “this is a struggle that must be waged…and this is a battle that must be won”.
In June 2023, 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 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.
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