PRESS RELEASE
Roseau, 28th June 2026: The Dominica Business Forum Inc. views the upcoming Roseau North by-election as an opportunity to assess the effectiveness and relevance of the recent electoral legislation passed by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Dominica on 18th March 2025.
Although the by-election cannot be conducted using a new voters’ register because the confirmation process runs until 15th October, with a possible three-month extension, other provisions of the legislation—such as equal access to state media—can still be implemented.
The Electoral Commission has remained notably silent on matters concerning the electoral process, despite repeated requests from prominent businessman Gregor Nassief for an explanation of the nearly year-long suspension of new voter registration.
The Roseau North by-election will take place under unusual circumstances: during a confirmation process, following a prolonged suspension of voter registration, and amid concerns that some sectors of the population lack trust and confidence in the Electoral Commission.
Will persons who have completed confirmation be removed from the old electors list? If so, will their names be placed on a new voters’ list so they can participate in the by-election? The Electoral Commission has a constitutional duty to explain the realities of the current electoral process to the public. Failure to meet these basic obligations would support Gregor Nassief’s call for the Commission’s members to resign or have their appointments revoked.
The Dominica Business Forum Inc. therefore urges the Chairman of the Electoral Commission to immediately inform the nation about the state of the electoral process in the Commonwealth of Dominica and the Commission’s readiness to administer an election under these circumstances. The Forum understands that a by-election must be held within 90 days of a parliamentary vacancy and that a by-election under the old electors list is therefore inevitable.
However, while the Constitution allows the Prime Minister to call a general election at any time, doing so before the completion of the confirmation process would be immoral, unethical, and grossly disrespectful to Dominican citizens.
The international community, particularly the OAS, CARICOM, and the Commonwealth Secretariat, should be alerted if Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit proceeds with such an action. The Dominica Business Forum Inc. invites the by-election candidates to participate in a debate to present their plans for the development of the Roseau North constituency and Dominica as a whole.
The Forum notes with concern that Dominica’s political parties have not participated in a debate for 26 years. The last debate was held in January 2000, when former Prime Minister Eddison James debated opposition leaders Roosevelt Douglas and Charles Savarin. Details of the proposed debate will be provided in a subsequent communication.
The Dominica Business Forum Inc. encourages all existing electors to confirm their registration and all new electors to register, as this is the only viable means of participating in our fragile democracy. The Dominica Business Forum Inc. is a non-partisan, non-governmental business organization that has actively advocated for electoral reform in the Commonwealth of Dominica and is the only private sector organization that has engaged all stakeholders on the electoral reform process.
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