ERC Press Release
Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica: Since the release of the Press Statement
on Thursday 12th December 2024 demanding the release of the Electoral Reform Bill the Government of Dominica intends to present to parliament on Monday 16th December 2024, the Electoral Reform Coalition (ERC) has obtained a copy of “The Bills to be Tabled at Parliament – Government of Dominica Web Portal” and the ERC is extremely disappointed that Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has decided to go to parliament with Bills that ignore many of the critical concerns and recommendations of Sir Dennis Byron, the Organization of American States, Caricom, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the citizens of the Commonwealth of Dominica.
Having done a preliminary review of the Electoral Reform Bills to be tabled at Parliament the Electoral Reform Coalition (ERC) would like to state that the Bills do not meet the demands of a broad cross-section of the population and the critical recommendations and concerns of those who contributed to the consultative process.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit continues to insult the intelligence of the Dominican people which was further manifested in his most recent press conference on Friday 13th December 2024, when he stated that all stakeholders were consulted in the review process; a blatant falsehood, since the Prime Minister ignored and, on some occasions, ridiculed the requests of the ERC to discuss his draft, Bill.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and his Dominica Labour Party have a nineteen to two parliamentary majority and have the authority to approve the Bills in one, two, or three sittings of parliament with the same result. Therefore, it is ridiculous for the Prime Minister to attempt to comfort the population by offering to table the Bill only for the first reading on December 16th, 2024, to allow for amendments from his parliamentarians who have already approved the legislation.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit is aware that the Bills to be tabled at Parliament on Monday 16th December are deficient and betray the trust of the Dominican people.
The ERC is therefore appealing to all Dominicans at home and abroad, Caricom, the OECS, OAS, and The Commonwealth Secretariat to advise Roosevelt Skerrit to withdraw the Electoral Reform Bills to be tabled at parliament to allow for negotiations on the critical concerns and recommendations that were omitted from the Bills.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Reform Coalition (ERC) is encouraging all concerned Dominicans to make their presence felt in a peaceful and disciplined manner at Parliament on Monday 16th December 2024.
Roosevelt Skerrit must respect the Dominican people and must understand that after twenty-five years of Labour rule and fraudulent elections “We The People” of the Commonwealth of Dominica demand our right to genuine electoral reform which should lead to Free and Fair Elections.