ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC—Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has called on opposition legislator Delbert Paris to publicly state whether or not he made a mistake when he voted in support of three pieces of electoral reform legislation earlier this month.
“Paris took to the public domain to clearly explain his reasons for supporting key aspects of the reform. He never said he made a mistake. In his own words, he acknowledged that while the bill is not perfect, it contains important provisions that step in the right direction, including cleaning the voters’ list and enhancing transparency,” Skerrit said in a nationwide broadcast as he slammed the leader of the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP), Dr. Thomson Fontaine regarding the vote in the Parliament.
Delbert Paris (File Photo)
The Dominica government tabled three bills late last year: the Electoral Commission Bill 2024, the House of Assembly (Elections) Bill 2024, and the Registration of Electors Bill 2024. Parliament met on Wednesday to approve the legislation that the relevant individuals and groups had reviewed since Sir Dennis Byron, the former president of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), submitted his report on electoral reform on June 12, 2023.
The ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) enjoys a 19-2 majority in the Parliament, and bills are always guaranteed to receive parliamentary approval.
The Registration of Electors Act makes provisions for mandatory voter confirmation during a specified period of 12 months, requiring valid documentation for verification. Dominican citizens residing overseas who wish to be reconfirmed on the electors’ list will be required to do so in person in Dominica.
Voter Identification Cards containing key identifying information, including a photograph and advanced security features such as a unique identification number, will be issued. To enhance the Electoral Commission’s autonomy and capacity, the legislation provides for the establishment of the Electoral Commission Fund and other tools to empower the commission to oversee free and fair elections.
The legislation also includes the use of technology in voter registration and record management, the introduction of an electronic voting system, equal access to the media, and increased accessibility for persons with disabilities.
In his broadcast, Skerrit, who was not present during the debate on Match 19, said that “there has been much speculation and misinformation” surrounding the vote in the Parliament and that “it is important to set the record straight.”
He said Fontaine, who “has no elected position or official opposition status” in Dominica, has been making public statements suggesting that the electoral reform bill was rushed through with only two people speaking.
“This is an outright lie. The truth is that several ministers and opposition members contributed to the bill,” Skerrit said, naming those, including Paris himself, who spoke on the measure, adding, “This is a matter of public record. It is available for everyone to see.
“Moreover, Dr. Fontaine has gone as far as to say that Delbert Paris, his deputy leader, made a mistake in voting for the bill. This is a blatant contradiction,” Skerrit said, adding that Paris and the UWP “have consistently advocated for these measures, and his vote was a deliberate and reasoned choice.
“So, I must ask: Did Hon. Delbert Paris make a mistake, as Dr. Thomson Fontaine has stated publicly? Or is Dr. Fontaine so desperate to discredit this process that he would throw his deputy under the bus? Hon. Paris, it is time to be clear: Did you make a mistake? Did you not understand the parliamentary process? Dr. Fontaine has declared to the entire region that you are inexperienced and incompetent.”
Skerrit said that the UWP seems intent on causing division through misinformation and deceit, saying, “They have spent years calling for electoral reform, yet when progress is made, they undermine their representatives and spread falsehoods to create chaos.
“This is not leadership, it is irresponsibility. Dominica deserves better. We are committed to the truth, progress, and securing a future where democracy is respected and strengthened. We will not be distracted by those who seek to destabilize our country for their political gain,” Skerrit told the nation in his broadcast.
Fontaine has not yet responded to the accusations.
Meanwhile, police continue to make arrests following the protest during the parliamentary debate.
Among those arrested and charged are Johnson Boston, a former legislator and member of the Electoral Reform Coalition (ERC); Hector John, a former opposition leader; Daniel “Danny” Lugay, a former opposition legislator; popular blogger Seri “Expose” Defoe; and female taxi operator Paula Celestine.
They have all been charged with “unlawfully, riotously and tumultuously assembly together to the disturbance of the public,” and the police say more arrests are likely.
Except for Samuel Durand, the arrested have all been released on bail ranging from EC$25,000 (One EC dollar = 0.37 cents) to EC$30,000 and are due back in court from July to August. If found guilty, they face a five-year jail term.
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