Former Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) President, Sir Dennis Byron, said he is keen to deploy the best technology to modernize the electoral framework of Dominica. Byron, appointed as electoral reform commissioner by PM Roosevelt Skerrit, said the electoral process of Dominica must be completely overhauled since it is so outdated.
He made this revelation during a Zoom conference organized by the Dominica Business Forum (DBF) on Thursday, June 17.
According to the eminent jurist, his job was cut out for him when it became apparent that the electoral framework of the country had become contentious and out-of-date. He revealed that his primary mandate is to overhaul the electoral process and make it technology-driven and inclusive for everyone. He went on to say that it is “critical to leverage the most up-to-date form of technology to achieve the results we seek.”
Highlighting parts of his mandate, Byron said he will review the existing legislation and evaluate the views and opinions expressed by thousands of Dominicans in reworking the country’s electoral laws. He also plans to hold wide consultations with stakeholders and local citizens to find the way forward. He said the consultations will provide a factual backdrop to his mission as electoral reform commissioner.
“I must also understand the mood of the population and its underlying expectations, so I must pay attention and be aware of what has been happening and what is happening now.
Sir Dennis Byron, Former Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) President,
The former jurist and CCJ president also disclosed that the overall objective of the reform exercise is to establish and sustain a legitimate government that reflects the wishes of the electorates in a democratic setting. He said the legitimacy of the electoral process in a democratic environment will further “respect for people and their human, social, and political rights.”
He made it clear that the rights will guarantee political equality and access to democratic processes. He added that people will no longer be discriminated against on account of their political persuasions – and such people will be free to air their political views without fear of retributions. To this extent, people will be free to vote and be voted for in a new Dominica to emerge, Sir Byron revealed.
According to the electoral reform commissioner, voting criteria must be clearly regulated to ensure compliance, and this calls for the updating of the electoral registers to remove errors and update omissions. To this end, he added that everyone must have equal access to voting rights and political opportunities – since these are the values that make voter identification very important.
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