PM Skerrit says "Dominica’s electoral reforms strengthened, not weakened, democracy"

Dominica: Prime Minister Dr Roosevelt Skerrit has rejected all claims suggesting that the electoral reform laws in Dominica have led to confusion or weakened democracy.

Skerrit made these remarks during a press conference on Wednesday, just one day after the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) managed to retain the Roseau North constituency seat through Ashma McDougall.

According to PM Skerrit, the allegations that Parliament had passed the electoral reform laws despite knowing that the Electoral Commission was unprepared to implement those laws are “false and politically motivated.”

He also defended the Electoral Commission, while opposing its earlier decision to suspend continuous registration of voters. “I do not direct the Commission. It is not under my control. But I do not believe that the Commission’s error resulted in any compromise of our democracy,” added the Prime Minister.

The claims were made as Dominica adjusted to its new electoral system with voter verification and voter identification being some of the requirements. The Electoral Office had been working through several administrative issues during the implementation of the reforms, including the distribution of the voter ID.

PM Skerrit said that the delay in introducing the voter ID system was an administrative failure and had nothing to do with the integrity of the election process. He also refuted any claims that lower numbers of confirmed voters equated to voter suppression.

The election held in Roseau North was the first real test of the new electoral system. McDougall defeated the candidate from the United Workers Party, Daniel “Danny” Lugay, and the independent candidate Sherman Boston.

Official results showed that McDougall had secured 1,473 votes, while Lugay got 998 and Boston received 49 votes. A total of 2,520 from 2,566 voters were recorded, with voter turnout at 32.5 percent. McDougall won by 475 votes.

Prime Minister Skerrit described the result as evidence of a major change in political support in Roseau North.

McDougall’s victory followed the resignation of the previous Roseau North parliamentary representative, Miriam Blanchard in June. The by-election was held on September 7, with the final count completed the next day.