Dominica is about to enter a new era of electoral modernisation. Prime Minister Roosevelt has vowed to advance the process; this commitment is a response to a report presented by Sir Dennis Byron, former President of the Caribbean Court of Justice, in December 2020. Sir Dennis was appointed as the sole commissioner to review Dominica’s electoral process and make reform recommendations.
The Prime Minister has consulted with Sir Dennis on three occasions since the report was presented. He has also engaged the services of a legal expert to draft the legislation for electoral reform, which will form part of the submission for parliamentary approval. The Prime Minister is eager to see the final report from Sir Dennis ahead of the convening of stakeholder consultations so that the implementation process can begin immediately after that.
The Prime Minister is committed to engaging in this matter with the highest standards of transparency. He has emphasised that the Dominican people must be consulted on this crucial matter; moreover, consultation with any politician is not the final step in the consultation process. The Prime Minister has urged people to treat the situation seriously, maturely, and transparently and to avoid casting a bad light on the procedure to the rest of the world.
Despite the Prime Minister’s commitment, some still do not want electoral modernisation to occur in Dominica. The Prime Minister has been firm in his stance, stating that some say they want it, but do not want it because they want to continue to give the international community the impression that the government does not wish for electoral modernisation.
The Prime Minister’s declaration of “I want it, and I want it now!” clearly indicates his determination to bring about electoral modernisation in Dominica. The Prime Minister’s commitment to transparency, engagement with the people of Dominica, and his determination to see the process through, despite opposition, is a positive step towards a brighter future for the country. The Prime Minister’s declaration of “I want it, and I want it now!” is a rallying call for all citizens of Dominica to support this important initiative and help to bring about a brighter future for their country.
