ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC -The Authorities of Dominica has expressed disappointment with what it calls “the baseless and unjustifiable” press launch from the Inter-American Fee on Human Rights (IACHR) in regards to the nation’s electoral reform course of.
“This proposed motion and the content material of the press launch represent an astonishing departure from the excessive requirements of equity, justice, and probity which is to be anticipated of a good worldwide physique, particularly one whose raison d’etre espouses guardianship of these noble rules,” the Authorities mentioned in an announcement on Thursday.
The assertion famous that the IACHR disregards rules and the essential rule of pure justice.
It added that the IACHR, “with out first inviting remark or suggestions from the Commonwealth of Dominica, not solely determined that issuance of a press launch. was probably the most applicable and justified plan of action, however, as demonstrated by the content material of the press launch, proceeded to formulate positions and arrive at damning conclusions unfairly opposed to the Authorities.” However, the Authorities considers it important that the details be set out in response to the substantive issues raised within the IACHR’s proposed press launch.
The Authorities mentioned that the IACHR’s press launch is “replete with misrepresentations and inaccuracies, and the Commonwealth of Dominica wholly disputes and rejects the largely unfounded and unfaithful assertions and inferences contained within the mentioned Press Launch.
The assertion mentioned the assertions and inferences embrace, however should not restricted to, the next:
“The Payments debated and handed by Parliament exclude key provisions on the independence of the Electoral Fee and considerably range in content material from the suggestions of Sir Dennis Byron, the Electoral Reform Commissioner.
“That is incorrect. A perusal of the draft Payments submitted by the Electoral Reform Commissioner in contrast with the Payments that the Parliament of Dominica has adopted reveals that the overwhelming majority of the Electoral Reform Commissioner’s suggestions have been absolutely included into and kind a central element of the 2025 electoral Payments which have been debated, unanimously handed and enacted into regulation.”
It added that of the few suggestions the Authorities didn’t absolutely undertake, nearly all have been on the very least partially adopted with comparatively minor modifications the place applicable.
The assertion additionally criticized the IACHR’s assertion that there was no significant session on the Electoral Reform Commissioner’s suggestions.
“Consultations on the draft electoral payments the Authorities proposed included a large cross-section of society, together with opposition events, civil society, the bar affiliation, spiritual teams, and the media, amongst others. These have been live-streamed public consultations, and the movies can be found to evaluation.”
It added, “It’s regrettable that your proposed Press Launch doesn’t point out that the laws adopted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Dominica now supplies for vital key reforms that can considerably improve the electoral course of.”
These embrace introducing voter ID playing cards for use for voting, requiring all registered voters to endure a affirmation course of to have their title stay on the register of electors, strengthening the Electoral Fee, and establishing the Electoral Fee fund.
The Authorities has made clear its place on the problem of marketing campaign financing. It isn’t against this in precept. Nonetheless, funding of elections is such a major factor of the electoral course of that it can’t be entered into with out making certain full and correct consideration and evaluation of any proposal is undertaken. The advice made by the Commissioner successfully mirrors the Jamaica laws in as far as percentages are involved and would lead to EC$50,000.00 particular person and EC$250,000.00 political get together contribution restrict, and a person and political get together expenditure restrict of EC$500,000.00 and EC$5,000,000.00, respectively. Nevertheless, no evaluation or commentary on the effectiveness and workings of the Jamaica expertise, nor the probably impact within the Dominica context, has been offered.
Moreover, it’s noteworthy that the primary opposition political get together, the United Employees Social gathering, espouses an EC$50.00 per constituent expenditure restrict and is silent on the contribution restrict, while a civil society group, the Dominica Enterprise Discussion board, espouses an EC$100.00 expenditure restrict and in addition doesn’t put ahead any restrict on contributions. Way more work is required regarding marketing campaign financing, and the Authorities favors a regional method to this vital and complex subject. The general public has been knowledgeable of this place on a number of events.
The Authorities mentioned the IACHR’s assertion that “state forces obstructed protection by journalists” is inaccurate.
“There was a regrettable incident the place a digital camera individual in a restricted space repeatedly refused to stick to the instructions of a police officer. The officer sought to maneuver that particular person’s digital camera stand by his instructions. The person was not arrested nor prevented from protecting the protest and continued to take action from one other space. This was an remoted incident.”
The Authorities’s assertion added that it’s important to attract consideration to the truth that regardless of the obvious fixation with the Commonwealth of Dominica’s electoral laws and course of, even from a cursory perusal of the electoral laws of the opposite OECS and wider CARICOM international locations, it’s clear that the Commonwealth of Dominica’s electoral laws is substantively in step with that of these international locations.”
