Dominica: en un clima de gran tensión, el primer ministro afirma que mañana «habrán elecciones justas y transparentes”
Primer ministro de Dominica garantiza tranquilidad en comicios
El candidato y actual primer ministro de Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit, expresó que el dirigente opositor por el Partido Unido de los Trabajadores (UWP, siglas en inglés), Lennox Linton, ha provocado acciones violentas contra la población por su desesperación ante una posible derrota electoral el próximo viernes.
«Todo empezó con la quema y bloqueos de carreteras (…) El hermano de Lennox está dirigendo esas acciones. Es claro que la oposición está desesperada por las elecciones», indicó Skerrit.
Asimismo, reafirmó que dichas prácticas violentas han golpeado económicamente a la isla, especialmente a los trabajadores, «la actuación está dañando la imagen de Dominica, la población está sintiendo las repercusiones (…) los cruceros no han podido ingresar, afectando a los vendedores, artistas, turistas y restaurantes», agregó.
#AHORA | Dominica ha pasado años desarrollando una reputación para el turismo y el ecoturismo, lo que está siendo destruido en pocos días por un pequeño grupo, dice el primer ministro Roosevelt Skerrit ➡️ https://t.co/tqMKHfl0b4
— teleSUR TV (@teleSURtv) December 4, 2019
«Hemos trabajado demasiado para tener una reputación fuerte y la quieren destruir (…) es mi deber informar que nuestros peores temores están realizado, todas la visitas de cruceros están canceladas y continuarán después del período electoral cuando esperamos que esta locura termine», afirmó el actual primer ministro.
Skerrit instó a la población a la tranquilidad a pesar de los embates hostiles, se comprometió a garantizar la paz y tranquilidad en la isla, «doy mi palavra que el vandalismo se acabará después de las elecciones. Hemos recibido el apoyo de la fuerza del sistema regional de seguridad para proteger a la población», añadió.
«Habrán elecciones justas y transparentes este viernes. Él pueblo podrá ejercer su soberanía y derecho democrático en tranquilidad y paz», concluyó Skerrit.
Los dominiqués acudirán a las urnas el próximo seis de diciembre, donde elegirán los asambleistas, quienes a su vez escogerán al próximo jefe de Estado.
Caricom confirma envío de misión para supervisar elecciones en Dominica
La Comunidad del Caribe (Caricom) anunció el pasado martes que enviará una Misión de Observación Electoral para supervisar las elecciones generales en la Mancomunidad de Dominica, previstas para este viernes.
A la cabeza de la misión estará Josephine Tamai, quien en agosto de 2019 se desempeñó como miembro de la Misión Conjunta de Reforma Electoral de la entidad caribeña ante la Mancomunidad, señaló un comunicado oficial.
Asimismo, la comitiva la conforman otros expertos en Administración Electoral de Antigua y Barbuda, Las Bahamas, Barbados, Belice, Jamaica, Santa Lucía, San Vicente y las Granadinas y Surinam.
Durante la jornada electoral, el 6 de diciembre, los enviados supervisarán el proceso electoral, incluida la apertura de la encuesta, el proceso de votación, el cierre de la consulta en urnas y el recuento de las papeletas.
La misión y el personal de apoyo de la Secretaría de Caricom permanecerán en la Mancomunidad de Dominica hasta el día 9. Durante su estancia, sostendrán encuentros con funcionarios electorales, líderes de los partidos políticos y otras partes interesadas en el proceso comicial de Dominica.
Esta misión emitirá una Declaración Preliminar basada en sus observaciones y hallazgos, al tiempo que preparará un informe de las elecciones generales que deben presentar al secretario general de la Comunidad del Caribe.
La misión electoral de Caricom es una plataforma encaminada a apoyar las tradiciones democráticas existentes en los Estados miembros del organismo regional.
CARICOM Election Observation Mission on the ground in Dominica
The observer mission that CARICOM has mounted for elections in Dominica on Friday is already on the ground and has met Prime Minister, the Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, members of his Cabinet and other key officials.
Ms. Josephine Tamai, Chief Elections Officer of the Elections and Boundaries Department of Belize, heads the 11-member CARICOM Election Observation Mission (CEOM). Ms. Tamai and support staff from the CARICOM Secretariat arrived in Roseau on 2 December. The other members of the team will arrive on Wednesday.
The role of the CEOM is to observe the electoral process, collect qualitative and quantitative information regarding the voting process and the results to facilitate the preparation of an Independent Final Report on the General Elections of The Commonwealth of Dominica.
Please see the CEOM’s Arrival Statement:
ARRIVAL STATEMENT
CARICOM ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION
TO THE GENERAL ELECTIONS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF DOMINICA
06 DECEMBER 2019
In a letter dated 6 November 2019, the Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, wrote to the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), His Excellency Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, inviting CARICOM to field a CARICOM Election Observation Mission (CEOM) to observe the conduct of the General Elections which will be held in the Commonwealth of Dominica on 6 December 2019. In response to the invitation, the Caribbean Community mounted an eleven-member Election Observation Mission (CEOM) to observe the General Elections.
The CEOM is headed by the Chief of Mission, Ms. Josephine Tamai, Chief Elections Officer of the Elections and Boundaries Department of Belize.
Other members of the CEOM are –
Mr. Anthonyson King – Antigua and Barbuda
Mr. Philip Turner – The Bahamas
Ms. Pauline Morgan – Barbados
Mr. Rohan Porter – Jamaica
Mr. Andrew Smith – Jamaica
Ms. Zita George-Leslie – Saint Lucia
Ms. Dora James – St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Ms. Stephanie Bram – Suriname.
The CEOM is supported by Mr. Jhonson Alexandre and Ms. Helen Marshall of the Foreign and Community Relations Directorate of the CARICOM Secretariat.
The role of the CEOM is to observe the electoral process, collect qualitative and quantitative information regarding the voting process and the results to facilitate the preparation of an Independent Final Report on the General Elections of The Commonwealth of Dominica.
The Chief of Mission and support staff of the CARICOM Secretariat arrived in The Commonwealth of Dominica on 2 December 2019 while the remaining Observers will arrive on 4 December 2019. Since arrival, meetings were held with Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica and Members of the Cabinet, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, the Commissioner of Police, and the Registrar General. Meetings are ongoing and over the next few days, the Mission will meet with the Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition (UWP), the Electoral Commission, the Leader of the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), the Chief Immigration Officer, the Attorney-General, and other stakeholders including representatives of the Concerned Citizens Movement, the Electoral Reform Effort Group and a wide cross-section of Civil Society Organisations. These meetings are being held in an effort to provide the CEOM with an idea of the atmosphere and level of preparedness for the election.
The CEOM will continue to observe the pre-election period and the Election Day activities including the opening of the polls through to the tabulation and announcement of the results.
Following the conclusion of the Election Day activities on 6 December 2019, a Preliminary Statement will be issued outlining the Mission’s initial assessment of the electoral process. The Mission will thereafter prepare a detailed Independent Final Report on the election for submission to His Excellency Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community.
The CEOM is extremely grateful for the warm welcome given to the team by the people of the Commonwealth of Dominica and looks forward to supporting the democratic process in the Commonwealth of Dominica and the CARICOM Region.
Best wishes to the people of the Commonwealth of Dominica as they prepare to go to the polls on Friday 6 December 2019.
JOSEPHINE TAMAI,
CHIEF OF MISSION
4 DECEMBER 2019
ROSEAU, DOMINICA
President Savarin condemns acts of violence on island
President of Dominica His Excellency Charles Savarin has condemned recent acts of violence on the island. He was addressing the nation on Tuesday evening.
“I have seen videos of disruptive behaviour in Marigot,” he said. “I have also seen videos of the Bishop of Roseau being harassed and verbally abused in the most shameful manner by the protesters in Marigot.”
He continued, “The is reprehensible behaviour which I condemn without reservation.”
The President is calling on all church leaders to condemn this lawless behaviour and in particular, to condemn the verbal assault on the Bishop of Roseau.
He further called on the professionals and community-based organizations to similarly add their voices of condemnation and to call for peace and respect for the rights of all to go about their legitimate business.
“In this regard, I command the police high commend and rank and file for their restraint,” Savarin stated.
Meantime, Savarin said all systems are in place for the General Election carded for Friday 6th, December 2019.
He also mentioned that he met with a number of community-based organizations, the church and political parties over the past two weeks to discuss developments ahead of Friday’s poll.
“At these fora the representatives of the various institutions were given the opportunity to express their concerns regarding electoral reform, the current heightened temperature in the period leading up to the general elections and the provision of subsection 19(1)(D) of the House of Assembly Election Act regarding the power assigned to the President to adjourn the holding of the poll to a later date,” he indicated.
He went on to say that that subsection, however, requires the President to be satisfied that the electoral list for all constituencies or for any particular constituency will not be printed before the day appointed under Section 12.
Savarin was referring to the law which clearly indicates the range of dates for when the General Election shall be held. In section 12, it states that the poll shall not be taken less than 15 days or more than 21 days after the day appointed for nomination of candidates.
He went on to urge all Dominicans to conduct themselves in a responsible and respectful manner.
“We all have a responsibility to abide by the provisions of the law and to promote the upkeep of law and order throughout this land that God has blessed us with,” Savarin noted.
Election protests continue in Dominica
Civil unrest in the Commonwealth of Dominica spilt into Wednesday as protestors continued their demands for electoral reform ahead of the December 6 General Elections.
Roads have been blocked in several communities including the North-Eastern area of Marigot, which is represented by Opposition Leader Lennox Linton.
There is a heavy police presence in most areas and their efforts are being aided by members of the Regional Security System (RSS).
In an address to the nation on Tuesday, President Charles Savarin called for peace among Dominicans.
Savarin said: “I have seen videos of disruptive behaviour in Marigot, yesterday. I have also seen videos of the Bishop of Rousseau being harassed and verbally abused in the most shameful manner by the protestors. This is reprehensible behaviour which I condemn without reservation.”
Savarin called on the church and professional bodies to do their part to condemn acts of election violence.
