Dominica Electoral Reform Committee presents their final report, suggests amendments for electoral law

The committee set up for electoral reforms in Dominica has presented its final report during a press conference here in the country. Notably, the committee has comprising leaders from Dominica Christian Council (DCC), Dominica Business Forum Inc. (DBF Inc.), the Waterfront and Allied Workers Union (WAWU), the Dominica Bar Association Dominica Association of Evangelical Churches (DAEC), and the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU). Leaders of all respective associations have come together to attain mandatory electoral reform before the Dominica general elections that are due by the year 2020.

The report submitted by the committee has suggested some amendments that are required before the elections. The dignitaries said that their ultimate goal is to attain some reasonable compromise that will facilitate the holding of general elections in a peaceful yet enthusiastic environment through which citizens will also direct their attention towards building nation.

The committee showed their concern towards the probability of unrest in the country during the elections, they said if the outcome did not match the expectations of the majority of eligible voters then civil unrest and disturbance may cause.

The report presented by the committee also suggests that electoral reforms will not bring increasingly detailed provisions to the existing law but their main focus is to fill the loopholes in the respective law and a review of legislation will be undertaken with the aim to clarify and simplify the complex provisions to remove unnecessary repetitions.

The presentation also specifies that an effort is required to harmonize electoral and election-related legislation in the country because the stability of electoral law is crucial credibility of the electoral process.

Recommendations of the report allude that to aware the citizens' public education process must take place to make them understand that apparent majority in the Electoral Commission are not deliberately delaying the process of electoral reforms before the general elections.