ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada– The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called for a fixed election date in Grenada as it criticized the operations of the Parliamentary Elections Office (PEO) and the decision by the authorities to provide a 24 –hour window for the registration of voters ahead of the June 23 general election.
NDC leader, Dickon Mitchell, appearing on a social media program hosted by the party on Sunday, said the announcement last Saturday night by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell disclosing the election date giving voters just one day to ensure that they are registered, undermines democracy on the island.
Prime Minister Mitchell told supporters of his ruling New National Party (NNP) that he had already asked Governor-General Dame Cécile La Grenade to dissolve the Parliament on Monday, May 16, and issue the writ for the polls on Tuesday.
NDC leader Dickon Mitchell, as he appeared on the party’s social media program (CMC Photo)
“In other words, only one day you have to try to register if you ain’t register yet. I warned you already, I warned you, I warned you,” he said, adding that the publication of the writs would be made on Wednesday, May 18, with Nomination Day being Wednesday, June 1.
But Mitchell, an attorney leading the NDC into a general election for the first time, told the program, “an election is a severe issue; it determines the shape of the country often not just for five years but for generations to come.
“It is a little unfortunate that only 24 hours, essentially in terms of a working day, have been given to citizens who have not yet registered to be registered, and I am sure they are displeased about that, given that the election date is June 23.
“I certainly think that some more time could have been afforded to citizens who are not registered to be registered. It probably speaks to the mindset of the incumbent. Democracy, the rule of law, the right to participate in elections should be something that should be amplified, and our citizens should be given as many opportunities as possible to be able to take part in it,” Mitchell said.
“That is part of the reason why we have championed things like you need to have fixed dates for elections so that citizens are well aware in advance what the likely date is going to be when the cut-off period for registration is to be etc. rather than playing games and engaging in suspense and often putting citizens at a disadvantage.”
Mitchell said that the NDC, which governed the island from 2008 to 2013 and previously from 1990 to 1995, had also been critical of the PEO, saying “it has not functioned properly and at the standard citizens of Grenada deserve.”
He said many people had taken time off from their jobs and traveled to the registration offices, only to find it closed or the technology did not function to allow them to complete their registration.
“And against that backdrop, given only Monday for persons who are not registered to be registered in my view is rather unfortunate…(but) we know the vast majority of Grenadians are written, I want to call and urge our citizens to make use of that very sacred and fundamental right to vote.
“That is a right that has been fought for. It is a right that has been won. We are an independent nation; there are many people today who do not have the right to elect, “he added.
Meanwhile, in an open letter to the Supervisor of Elections, Elvis Morain, the NDC expressed its “ongoing concerns with the management of the electoral process in Grenada, particularly the functioning of sub-offices in some Constituencies.
“These concerns have been repeatedly brought to your attention, directly in meetings between representatives of the NDC, you and your staff, in writing by several of our intended candidates, and by reports in the media by party members and the public.”
The NDC warned that “if these concerns are not immediately addressed, it will not be possible to hold free and fair elections in the future because the electoral process will be compromised.
“As you know, free and fair elections are the bedrock of our democratic system and can only occur if the electoral process is transparent by the law and there is public trust and confidence in it.
“You are aware of the important role that Registration Officers and their staff at the sub-offices play in the electoral process, from registration of voters and maintenance of accurate, sanitized electoral lists to conducting the poll on election day,” the NDC said, adding that despite repeatedly bringing these It said among the concerns are that names of voters that were objected to and the objections upheld, “have not been purged” from the electoral list.
“Many of these concerns and systemic deficiencies, including the failure to process claims and objections, the registration of people who are not entitled to be registered, assisted by Justices of the Peace, and the absence of an accurate, sanitized, updated consolidated list were flagged in the report of the OAS Election Observer Mission dated 14th March 2018. Unfortunately, another election is upon us, and they have not been remedied.
“Being at the core of our democratic system, the electoral process must be such that there is public trust and confidence in it. As it stands now, this required public trust is undermined because these persistent deficiencies and flaws are not being addressed. In its letter, it is your responsibility to fix these flaws,” the NDC said.
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