Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, said it is not practicable to implement electoral reforms in Dominica before the December 6 general elections. Browne, who is also the Chairman of the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), said he must voice his opinions even though the internal politics of Dominica is the personal concern of stakeholders to solve.
Browne said the constitution of Dominica is clear on how to proceed on election matters as well as necessary reforms. He said the demands of the opposition for electoral reforms before December 6 is not possible unless the election date is postponed to early 2020. He added that it is not possible to postpone election date to next year without provoking a national crisis since this would cause elections to go beyond the five-year period stipulated in the constitution.
“As far as I am concerned that is not a practicable request,” Browne said. “Again, I am not interfering in the affairs but I have to be very pragmatic about these things. Elections are due and let the better party win. Whichever individual emerges I will embrace.”
Given that the parliament in Dominica was dissolved on November 6, the country’s House of Assembly Elections Act – which governs election processes in Dominica – states that an election must hold within 90 days of the parliament dissolution. This means that election date can still be called anytime before February ending.
Several people in Antigua and Barbuda as well as Dominica condemned Browne for interferring in the politics of another country, but the prime minister said this is not the case. He reminded those asking him to mind Antigua’s affairs that he is only voicing his opinions on the state of things in Dominica because a crisis in the country could spread to other Caribbean nations.
“The statement does not in any way support the existing government or the opposition,” he said. “What we are saying to the Dominican people, notwithstanding your difficulties, no matter the justification, burning the country to the ground is not the answer.”
According to the OECS chairman and Antiguan prime minister, nearly 15% of Antigua’s population is Dominican citizens. He said any political problems in Dominica could cause the internal displacement of people, with refugees flocking into Antigua and Barbuda. He said this happened before and may likely happen again if care is not taken. “That has been the precedent, whenever there is any crisis in Dominica they come to Antigua,” he said.
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