Joseph Isaac targets opposition over electoral reforms criticism

Minister of Climate Resilience and Urban Renewal Joseph Isaac is lending his voice to those who believe that electoral reforms are not an urgent requirement for free and fair elections in Dominica.

Using a medium of radio, Minister said that focus on government and development that political parties in Dominica have won elections in a system which has served the country well. Asserting that there is always space for the improvements, Minister said, “While there may be room for improvements in anything that the country does, I believe that the topic of electoral reform is simply a red herring for the opposition and they’re grabbing at straws.”

“UWP leader Joshua Francis said to the opposition, that is not a big agenda for him. He won his seat without electoral reform. I, myself, won my sear without electoral reform. And even the government have changed for many years without electoral reform that opposition is asking for,” he added.

Isaac noted out that not only the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) but the United Workers Party (UWP) and Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) have all won elections without electoral reforms. “Freedom party came in, they won the same electoral laws, the same thing. Labour came in and they won. Workers won some seats that they did not have without the same electoral reform they are talking about, so they are just looking for something to talk about that all.”

He is not of the view that the voters and the people in the country are not concerned about what the opposition is asking for. “when you talk to voters and people in the country, they are not too concerned about what opposition is making an issue of it. So, if all parties could win with the same laws in place, the last election they won seats and took it from the labour party, so what are they talking about,” Isaac pointed out question.

The Minister said that all the amendments to the election laws were taken to the parliament, but it was the opposition who did not show and interest in debating the amendments.