Dominica Labour Party issues new statement on electoral reform and protest action which took place outside Parliament on March 19

The Dominica Labour Party has issued a new statement on electoral reform and protest action which took place outside Parliament on March 19.

On Wednesday March 19 the Parliament of Dominica passed three bills aimed at strengthening and modernizing the electoral process in Dominica.

The Bills are the Registration of Electors Bill 2024, House of Assembly Election Bill and the Electoral Commission Bill.

The Party says it wishes to congratulate the Government for leading the process noting with pride that the bills were all unanimously approved by Parliament.

The Party stated that the process for this reform has been a long and arduous one, which started well over a decade ago and included many consultations throughout the length and breadth of Dominica.

The statement added there were consultations with various regional and international organizations, including the Commonwealth and Organization of American States.

The former President of the Caribbean Court of Justice Sir Dennis Byron was engaged in the process and drafted the laws.

The Dominica Labour Party in the statement said it is important to note that while some persons demonstrated outside of Parliament, all the members both on the Government side and the opposition voted in favour of the bills.

Even the members of the opposition who demonstrated outside Parliament all publicly agreed that the bills represent major improvements on what previously existed.

The Party added that all persons did not get all they wanted, stating that the DLP for instance was firmly of the view that a national ID card would have more value than just a voter ID card, but compromised in a give and take situation.

Similarly, it was of the view of the DLP that the Electoral Office should send officers to major cities overseas where large numbers of Dominicans reside to undertake the confirmation process there.

However, the Party compromised and agreed that all confirmations should take place in Dominica.

The DLP statement praised the efforts of the police for their handling of the demonstration outside of Parliament.

The statement said the police valiantly stood by their barricades for hours and protected the Parliament while some protesters tried to enter Parliament, including trying to seize the barricades and pelting the police with stones and bottles.

The Party said it remains committed to the advancement and development of Dominica.