Christian council comments on electoral reform report

DOMINICA 

The series of consultations to review the electoral reform report submitted by Sir Dennis Byron wrapped up Monday, August 28 with a meeting between State officials and Dominicans residing in the Caribbean and other regions.

The consultations, spearheaded by the government, sought the views from a broad cross-section of Dominican society, namely, the legal fraternity, political parties, professionals and academia, groups and associations, community members, and Dominicans living overseas.

The Sun newspaper reported among the recommendations put forth and persistently disputed by various associations and individuals are a fixed date for general elections, monitoring of campaign financing, allowing Dominicans who live abroad to vote on the island and a voter ID card versus a national identification card.

The online news source stated the Church voiced its view of the electoral reform report. Fr Nigel Karam, who represented the Dominica Christian Council (DCC), which consists of Methodist, Catholic, and Anglican members, agreed in most parts with the suggestions proposed in the report but expressed concerns over sections of the document.

“Members of the Dominica Christian Council recognise the financial dilemma of whether to issue a multipurpose national ID or specific voter ID for purposes of elections,” Fr Karam stated. “The members agree that the option for a specific voter ID card would be more beneficial and better ensure one person, one vote.”

The DCC also firmly believed the Electoral Commission should have had greater oversight of the consultations and be a more recognisable and effective body during the election season.

“Members further agreed and supported the mechanism suggested to facilitate confirmation of ineligible electors on the register of electors for its cleansing. The Electoral Commission will then enable civil society and Church members to monitor this process more closely,” Fr Karam said. “The proposal for the expanded electoral commission will then be able to more closely monitor this process.”

The sourcing and expenditure of funds during the election season have consistently been a matter of contention for many. In this regard, Fr Karam shared, “On the issue of campaign financing, the Council agrees there should be monitoring and auditing of the finances used during political campaigns.”

The DCC representative clarified, “Limits should be imposed on how much any one donor can give, and there should be no funding from foreign sources. There should be a declaration of sources of funding and campaign expenditure.”

Additionally, the Christian Council recommended the retention of a five-year term and the current parliamentary definition of absence from Dominica exceeding five years as a basis for deleting an elector’s name from the register.

“This is in keeping with the constitutional position of our country whereby the predominant constitutional criteria for voting is not citizenship but domicile and residence within the Commonwealth of Dominica,” Fr Karam said.