Concerned Citizens write to Electoral Commission Chairman about the paralysis regarding Electoral Reform

​The Concerned Citizens Movement of Dominica is referencing the observation that Electoral Observer Missions of the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Commonwealth Secretariat, made recommendations to the Government of Dominica and the Electoral Commission since 2014, and that to this day, no tangible action has been taken towards implementing these recommendations, to achieve comprehensive electoral reform.
 
To that end, the Concerned Citizens Movement has written to the Chairman of the Electoral Commission about the paralysis that exists in the Electoral Commission regarding electoral reform. The letter said that It is noteworthy that the OAS Electoral Observer Mission made its first recommendation for electoral reform in 2009, following the general elections held that year.
 
The letter is calling on the Commission to inform the Concern Citizens Movement of the steps it will be taking in 2018, to effect electoral reform, and assure the Commission of the Movement’s readiness to have an exchange of views with them, as regards an updated voters list, voter identification cards, campaign finance reform, and gender equity as it pertains to candidates seeking national political office. The Movement also expressed the wishe that the process towards comprehensive electoral reform be guided by the recommendations of the OAS and the Commonwealth Secretariat.
 
The letter is copied to President of Dominica, H E Charles Savarin, Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition, Hon. Lennox Linton, Mr. Kent Vital, Leader of the Dominica Freedom Party, the Secretary-General of the OAS, H E Mr Juan Almagro, the Secretary- General of the Commonwealth Secretariat, H E Baroness Patricia Scotland, and the Chief Executive Officer of The Carter Center, Ambassador Mary Ann Peters.
 
The Concerned Citizens Movement says, 9n 2018, it will be focused on active advocacy for comprehensive electoral reform before the next general election, and plans on the implementation of a number of activities in that regard, including building awareness about electoral reform in communities across Dominica, and building partnerships and awareness in the international community about the indispensable value of electoral reform which is long overdue in Dominica.
 
Concern Citizens Movement President Loftus Durand, has stated that their 2018 program will include very strong advocacy, as “the implementation of complete electoral reform has been on the cards for some time now, and therefore we see the need to give this aspect of our electoral process the necessary publicity that it truly deserves; in that once implemented, the citizenry of Dominica will now be able to enjoy the benefits of being part of a true democracy.”