More than $6 million approved for Dominica national ID scheme

The government in Dominica has approved $6,130,000 of funding for the Electoral Commission to purchase equipment and hire staff as it looks to implement a national identification card system.

In a statement, the election oversight organisation said that the news has been a 30-year goal of successive chief election officers.

“The Commission is pleased to be able to announce, that it finally has at its disposal, the infrastructural means for the introduction of identification cards and the effective verification of the identity of voters and consequently, the sanitation of the list of electors,” said chairman Gerald D Burton.

Recruitment of approximately 15 staff members has begun.

Subject to the passage of the enabling legislation, the recruits will be engaged as enrolment officers, as part of the process of enrolling new electors.

The role will also involve confirming registered electors are eligible to remain on the electors list.

According to a press release, the Electoral Office has worked closely with the Legal Affairs Department for several months on revisions to the House of Assembly Elections Act and the Registration of Elections Act.

This follows several months reviewing the proposed bills by the Electoral Commission “in accordance with its constitutional mandate”.

Exchange of views

The opposition United Workers Party and its leader, Lennox Linton, have not yet responded to emails asking for comment on this story.

Burton added: “The Electoral Commission and the Electoral Office remain committed to improving the electoral process and to working towards the continued delivery of credible elections which meet the highest international standards and the expression of the free will of the Dominica electorate.”

As part of the implementation of the ID card scheme, the Electoral Commission has appointed a new public education officer.

Pearl Fontaine-Butler has been employed as the Commission prepares to commence its public education campaign to inform the Dominican public about the systems, it said.

“Members of the public will have the opportunity to fully appreciate what is being proposed and to air their views in free and open exchanges,” Burton said.

“The Commission looks forward to the participation of all stakeholders.”