ROSEAU, Dominica, Dec 13, CMC -Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit Friday said that the government will present three electoral reform bills for the first reading only to Parliament on Monday next week and that no “protest action” will prevent the legislation being debated going forward.
Speaking at the end-of-year news conference, Prime Minister Skerrit told reporters that the content of the bills, namely the Electoral Commission Bill 2024, House of Assembly (Elections) Bill 2024, and Registration of Electors Bill 2024, had been reviewed by the relevant individuals and groups since Sir Dennis Byron, the former president of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), submitted his report on electoral reform on June 12, 2023.
Skerrit said the government held a series of consultations with members of the public service, political parties, trade unions, business associations, youth-based organizations, sports associations, and the media, among other groups. He said international observers from the Organization of American States (OAS), the Commonwealth, and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) participated in these consultations.
“The public was also allowed to review the report and draft legislation on the government of Dominica website and submit written feedback,” Skerrit said, adding that in May this year, the draft legislation was submitted to the Chief Elections Officer for scrutiny and to the Chair of the Electoral Commission in September.
Prime Minister Skerrit said that even now, with the first reading of the bills, parliamentarians, interest groups and members of the public will have another opportunity to familiarize themselves with the content of the legislation and that it was also necessary to have the legislation debated soon because “unless you go to Parliament, the Electoral Commission can’t do anything.
“There are things in the bills I do not support. It is not about me or the Cabinet…at the end, we all must want Parliament to pass the legislation…so that we can put the electoral reform to rest,” said Skerrit, who questioned the sincerity of the opposition in wanting to have the legislation debated and passed.
But the Electoral Reform Coalition (ERC) said it is disappointed that after “almost two decades of demanding electoral reform” the government is proceeding to take to Parliament the electoral reform bills “without proper public notice and scrutiny”.
The ERC said that the recommendations of the Electoral Commission were not made public to allow the population to know whether or not their demands were met and as a result, it is demanding that the Commission makes public “immediately,” the recommendations it sent to the government.
The ERC said it is encouraging constituents to persuade their parliamentary representatives to support the electoral reform process for free and fair elections and is planning a “virtual rally rally” for Saturday “to discuss the volatile situation”
In addition, the ERC said it is “strongly” urging citizens “to make their presence felt outside of Parliament on Monday …to register their concern for genuine electoral reform which will provide for free and fair elections”.
But Skerrit told reporters “ I can say to the country that no protest can prevent the Parliament from debating the bills,” reiterating that the proposed electoral reform legislation has undergone extensive consultations and reviews with all relevant groups in our society.
“ I have consistently stated our commitment to presenting these legislative measures to Parliament, to ensure that our elections remain free and fair.
“In keeping with our commitments on this matter, the electoral reform bills will be taken to the Parliament on Monday for the first reading. What this means is that changes can be made before the bills are tabled for the second and third readings.”
But he insisted “We cannot continue to have consultations in perpetuity, forever. It must come to an end at some point. No law is perfect. That’s why you go to Parliament every so often to amend laws”.
In June last year, Sir Dennis submitted a report on electoral reform to the Dominica government. Sir Dennis had been the sole commissioner advancing the efforts towards electoral reform, a major issue here 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.
Skerrit believes that constitutional reform is the next big project the government should undertake, saying, “because there are a number of things the drafters of the constitution did not envisage at the time.
‘Times have changed and we now have to bring our constitution to a state of modernity, of greater relevance and there are several things we have picked up in the constitution, functional things that we would need to amend,” Skerrit told reporters.
CMC/af/ir/2024