Dominica – the curious case where the opposition is fighting against the diaspora

For any European political analyst, the current electoral situation in the Commonwealth of Dominica is quite fascinating. The small developing island state in the Caribbean is holding a general election on December 6th, 2019, and this, as with any election, brings out the dirtiest tricks in the artillery. What’s going on? Devastated after Hurricane Maria in 2017, the small island is winning over nature lovers all around the world for the remarkable transformation the country has undergone so fast after Maria, largely thanks to the country’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme, declared the world’s best thanks to its integrity, due diligence, and transparency. This week’s article from the National Geographic praising Dominica and its people for their truly inspiring resilience, was smeared by news of a 200-people “riot” led by the opposition in Dominica who blocked roads and resorted to violence because – wait for it – they want the diaspora excluded from the elections. Local journalists say that, strangely, this is because the diaspora is against them so the more diaspora takes part in the election, the less chance they have of winning. This, in and of itself, is quite the stretch seeing as the opposition failed to win but 6 out of 21 seats in Parliament and lost all the elections for almost the entire past two decades. Furthermore, these guys, for some reason, are questioning the impact that the CBI Programme had on Dominica’s transformation possible, which is also building an entire ecotourism sector from scratch. This, in turn, brings jobs and spending money to make the small country’s economy grow and diversify, and, importantly, motivate Dominicans who left their homes come back and build their future at home, near their families and friends. Why is the diaspora key in elections? Typically, we are used to seeing citizens from developing countries flee abroad in search for a better life, generally resenting their governments for failing to offer them the perspective they search. The rule of thumb when it comes to elections is that the diaspora votes against the government and supports the opposition, at least in sign of protest. Undemocratic governments typically do their best to sabotage the vote of the diaspora, who have access to balanced sources of information and a more educated perspective after seeing how things work their host countries. This is not what is happening on the Nature Isle of the Caribbean. Strangely, in Dominica, it is the opposition that is advocating for stripping the diaspora of their constitutional right to vote. For western diplomacy, this is a sign that, bizarrely, the current government has somehow managed to be in power for so long and still retain the sympathy of the diaspora, driving the opposition to do their best to undermine the diasporic vote instead. It is also a testament to the fact that such a small country is genuinely adhering to democratic values by ensuring all of its citizens (except for their economic citizens) are guaranteed their right to elect and be elected. Simply put, encouraging any eligible citizen to vote, regardless of their option, is part of building a true democracy. Discouraging that, as the opposition violently advocates for, and considering the diaspora as second-class citizens can only be a threat to democracy and its future. OAS diplomacy – or lack thereof Even stranger is how the Organization of American States (OAS), recently blamed for the Bolivia destabilisation, is making highly undiplomatic remarks for any US mission. Mr Alexis F. Ludwig, Deputy US Permanent Representative to the OAS, expressed during the November 21st OAS Permanent Council, his disappointment that the government did not accept the following recommendation before the elections: “Removal from the current electoral list of all diaspora voters who are ineligible to vote by virtue of being out of the country for more than five years.” He also regretted that the government did not invite the OAS Electoral Observation Mission to attend the upcoming general election, which he deemed “the gold standard in ensuring free and fair elections.” Policymakers beg to differ. A paper from the Center for Economic and Policy Research concludes that the OAS’s position on Bolivia’s election results was “unusual” and “had a significant influence on media coverage and therefore on public opinion.” The author commented that the OAS’s position “raise disturbing questions about the organization’s commitment to impartial, professional, electoral observation.” Usually the bastion for democracy, the US seems to be overseeing the OAS’s bizarre chain of destabilizing statements, posing a threat to democracy in countries that need it most. Certainly, this begs for an internal investigation, as democracy NGOs suggest. Get Out The Vote – The Cornerstone of Democratic Elections It is also important to note that many Dominicans left the country after Hurricane Maria in 2017 and Storm Erika in 2015, in search for physical safety. Ever since, to bring them back, the government has been adamant on “building back better” and investing huge amounts of money into durable infrastructure and climate resilient homes, given out for free to entire communities displaced after the two weather disasters. A team from the Financial Times visited the island in September to film a documentary and met with members of the diaspora who returned home recently. Young and full of ideas, the Dominican diaspora returning home can only mean good news for the country’s economy, bringing with them start-ups, jobs, spending money and, importantly, skilled workforce – the backbone of any strong economy. As a tiny country, it is understandable why Dominica does not have the funds to open hundreds of polling stations all around the world to make the diaspora vote easier. Encouraging them to take part in their country’s future is not only welcome, but a duty any responsible government has before its citizens. In every western country, parties across the board may disagree on everything under the sun, except for one thing: the more people vote, the better for the country. Strangely, the opposition in Dominica strongly disagrees. Bizarre, if not insulting and against the interests of the country, is the only way to describe this. If you are a Dominican living abroad, please share your thoughts.

Dominica – the curious case where the opposition is fighting against the diaspora

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