December 29th, 2009 – In response to the unprecedented bribery, lack of access to the state media by opposition voices and the paid movement of large numbers of overseas Dominicans by the Dominica Labour Party which altered the outcome of December 18th General Elections, opposition parties, independent candidates, and other concerned citizens of Dominica have formed an umbrella organization called the “Movement for the Restoration of Democracy” (MRD) to promote the return to the rule of law and representative democracy in Dominica.
The MRD supports the opposition United Workers Party’s principled decision to boycott the Parliament of Dominica as an act of protest against the use of corruption to achieve unchecked power by one political Party.
The MRD recognizes the necessity for a viable opposition party to counter the dominance of the ruling Dominica Labour Party, especially in light of the expanding use of bribery and intimidation to increase their influence.
The MRD is committed to turning back the clock on the new culture of corruption, which is an imminent threat to the moral fabric of Dominican society.
The MRD calls for a new round of free and fair General Elections in 18 months to correct the outcome of the compromised December 18th poll, under the following terms and conditions:
1. Updated voter registration and the implementation of voter ID cards;
2. Fair and equal agreed access to the state media by opposition parties;
3. International supervision of the electoral reform process and elections including;
4. Assurance of the enforcement of bribery laws, including the giving of money and other considerations and the payment for travel of overseas Nationals in exchange for their vote;
The Coordinating Committee of the MRD is: Hon. Norris Prevost, Hon. Hector John, Hon. Edison James, Hon. Ronald Green, Mrs. Judith Pestaina, Mr. Samuel “Sam” Raphael, Atty. Singoalla Blomqvist-Williams, Mr. Nigel Francis and Mr. Washway Douglas.
The MRD will seek to inform Dominicans at home and abroad as well as the international community on the massive acts of bribery and corruption surrounding the December 18, 2009 General Elections as well as other issues of concern related to good governance and the rule of law in Dominica.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
This I have to say is a very positive step forward in every respect, vigilance is the key that opens the door for a proper basis for good governance and also to ensure a general election properly conducted in the time stated, it is an outrage and an affront to Dominica and its people to have witnessed ( by media ) the strategies adopted by the government to ensure unhindered acssess to retain the position they have.
The general talk is "what else did you expect " and the corruption will continue and it is up to the MRD to stop it the outside communities are watching and we wish you well in your endeavours.
MRD I applaud your intensions but you must tell us how you intend to achieve those objectives. Do you intend to stage demonstrations, are you gathering solid and conclusive evidence of mass corruption? I suggested a partial reform in the system of government whereby we should take away the ultimate power from the PM and cabinet. Let us put some key positions on a separate ballot every 3 years; Positions such as Chief of Police, Attorney General, IPO Board, Electoral Board, DBS board of Directors, Office of the president- No party involvement and the basis of a popular vote system..
Now we talking business in Dominica. It is high time to get rid of the Skerrit and his gan of crooks
It seems like Lenox Linton went into hybernation.Lenox I hope you haven't given up the fight.
If u are a listener of lennox show you would know that this is the
usual annual break.. See u next year
oh please is this about lennox or trying to prevent our sweet dominica from becoming a dictatership country?
This is not a personal crusade by Lennox it is rather a group of right minded individuals who care deeply about the affairs of Dominican politics, a one political party country is in effect a dictatorship, and everyone who has ever read any history will understand how dictators fall in every respect, and it is up to the MRD to stop any further damage in every area to ensure that corruption is made so difficult by those who use this method for personal gain until the fair and correct election in 18 months is concluded.
We have to start somewhere and thats a good move by the MRD. Lennox, please take your rest , do not exhaust yourself because Dominicans are too easily bought. Is only GOD will take us out from under this dictartorship. I understand how the opposition party feel . it makes no sense participating in election until we have election reform. To the worshippers of KING SKERRIT, just remember SADAM was that and more and they had to pull him out from a rat hole.
Amen Jeremy and Joan
Lennox's work remains impeccable and cannot be challenged. Indeed in Dominica we have been blest with a journalist of truly international reputation. Skerrit is so happy that his cohorts are a bunch of fools, who have choosen not to understand and appreciated truth. God never leaves his people in ignorance that is why God have provided Dominica with Lennox and His team for such a time like this. Hats off to all those working together with Lennox behind the scenes. A prosperous new year to you noble gentlemen. Lennox needs a vacation for work well done, as far as I am concerned he has given us enough to work with. For many Laborites it will take years for them to understand what time of day it is. DNO, WHAT IS YOUR CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE GOOD FIGHT THAT LENNOX HAS TAKEN UP FOR YEARS NOW? ARE YOU PREPARED TO HELP HIM CONTINUE THAT FIGHT? EXACTLY WHAT ARE YOU PREPARED TO DO AS FAR AS CONTINUING THE FIGHT IS CONCERNED?
Allow me to ask thiese dumb questions – How did all these imported people get to vote when the Opposing parties was suppose to be represented at every polling station. Doesn't The representative have the right to dispute or question the legitimacy of a voter.
Why didn't the opposition boycot the election on the premise that the voter list was non compliant..
Very good question. The opposition agents did challenge most of the illegal voters especially in the St. Joseph constituency. What happened is that all the Presiding Officers as well as the returning officers in the targeted constituencies where Labor brought in votes are all die-hard laborites. So when objections were duly made these objections were refused and dealt with contempt by the laborite presiding officers at the polling station. The opposition agents were not sufficiently trained to be forceful enough to cause the disruption which was deserved. these opposition agents were intimidated by the police officers as well as the DLP presiding officers and returning officers. I think it will be much different next time around.
The opposition agents were well aware of the law which required illegal voters to take an oath of qualification, where upon taking that oath the voter would have to prove their elligibility to vote by providing some form of documentation to prove that they are citizens who are indeed elligible to vote before they were allowed to vote.
The morning of the election and even weeks and days leading up to the elections we had government operatives on radio telling people that once their names are on the list they must be allowed to vote, completely disregarding the provisions of the oath of qualification.
The fact that DLP presiding officers refused to make illegal voters take the oath when requested by the opposition agents not only allowed for the voting of illegal foreign voters but it also created the perfect environment for Laborites to even vote on the names of dead people. Remember that Tony Astaphan was mad when he found out that the electorial commission was planning to clean up the list so much so that he told the PM that they were doing madness at the electorial office trying to clean up the list and that would spoil his chances of re-election. So the DLP knew long ago that they were going to steal the elections at all cost. If that didn't work we would definitely have been attacked by the four venezuelan war ships which were anchored on the Mero coast the night of elections.
I must agree with you that the opposition should not have participated in an election which was fraud from the word go. All their cries for electorial reform fell on death ears. For me it was difficult to see how Skerrit would allow election to be free and fair when he knows fully well that losing the election would put him straight behind bars. Skerrit is definitely corrupt but he isn't that foolish. He did all in his power to ensure his returning to office so that he would delay his appointment with jail.
The opposition must begin to plan now to make as much trouble as possible on the next election day if there is not comprehensive electorial reform. That boycott must be all about making enough trouble on election day that Skerrit just have to run out of office. There should be no more election in Dominica without electorial reform.
Some questions:
1) Assuming UWP is correct with their numbers; Which seats would they have won to change the outcome of the election? The people have spoken sorry SHOUTED but a minority is of the opinion that they know better.
2) Every Tom, Dick and Harry has a cellphone with a camera, where are the pictures or videos of all the planes landing (in a UWP stronghold) Bus loads of people leaving the terminal, disruptions at the polls?
3) How many people were arrested? How many lost their greencards? If 600 – 4000 came there must have been a case against at least 1.
4) Who selected/voted for the MRD? We just had an election and did not see them. Who do they represent? What is their agenda?
5) Do we advance Dominica by launching a pathetic campaign to discredit, distract, disrupt?
6) How old will these oposition members be in the next 5 yrs? Will running the country be their retirement job?
Joan well said i hope all who laughing now was looking at sadam and remember hedid more than that and look where he ends up, thas t when people are dishornest, cheating, lieing these thing happen to them or by the way did i forget to put greedyyyyyyyyyyyyy , oh oh how could i forget such a word as GREEDYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY. just sit back and watch them fight each other in the fowl house as dice put it he could not have said it best.
tantoe tantoe.
An agents cant stop a voter after the electorial office issued a statement on the morning of the elections. It made ell imported voters elegible to vote without fear of intimidation?