Dominica government proposes sweeping electoral reform legislation

The Government of Dominica has taken significant steps towards electoral modernization by submitting proposed legislation to the Electoral Commission (EC).

This move comes after extensive public debates, consultations, and written recommendations, demonstrating a commitment to inclusive reform.

The proposed legislation, including the Registration of Electors Act and Regulations 2024, the House of Assembly (Elections) Act and Regulations 2024, and the Electoral Commission Act 2024, has been provided to the EC and President Sylvanie Burton.

Additionally, copies will be made available to the public on government platforms and shared with regional and international partners such as the Organization of American States (OAS), the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), CARICOM, and the Commonwealth Secretariat.

“We intend to have this finalized in June so that all the necessary budgetary allocations can be made in the upcoming financial estimates to give the electoral commission not only the legislative mandate but also the financial resources required to advance the implementation of the electoral reform process,” said Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.

“We have committed and we have kept that commitment. I hope that we will appreciate that the draft bills address the fundamental concerns raised by certain sections of the public and also, we have taken note of the observations and recommendations of our international partners,” he added.

The government said it is confident that the proposed drafts address the principal areas of immediate concern and will set Dominica on a firm path to a comprehensive modernisation of the electoral process.

In June last year, the former president of the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Dennis Byron, submitted a report on electoral reform to the Dominica government.

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 last general election.

The boycott led to the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) securing 19 of the 21 seats, with the remainder going to independent candidates.

The opposition parties had been calling for electoral reform, including a clean voters list and identification cards.

During the public consultation process following Dennis’s report, Opposition Leader, Jesma Paul Victor, said that there were several issues of concern including the transportation of Dominicans living overseas for the purpose of voting in a general election.

She said she believes it is also “manifestly unfair” for Dominicans who have made the decision to reside overseas, being given the opportunity to visit the island during a five-year period so as to maintain their right to vote in a general election

“With respect to campaign finance reform, my view is not that the proposed legislation does not go far enough. There should be a limit as to the amount of money political parties can spend…during the election campaign.

However, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business, Trade and Energy., Dr Vince Henderson told the consultation that on the issue of transporting individuals into the country during an election, has not been deemed illegal.

Quoting from the report by Dennis, he said the prominent jurist discussed the issue and that the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) “is guided by the judgements of the highest elections court of the Commonwealth of Dominica that the provision of transportation for voting is acceptable once it is not procured by bribery, treating and undue influence.

Prime Minister Skerrit told the consultation that ‘with the greatest sense of sincerity” he would like to see the issue of electoral reform “come to a conclusion and we move forward with other things.

“But for us to arrive at a conclusion through this consultation, we must not come and read poetry and prose…but the reality is we have documents before us,” he said, urging every stakeholder to take the matter seriously.