Executive member of the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), Michael Astaphan, and executive member of the Dominica Business Forum (DBF), Anthony Leblanc, continue to vent their frustration with the DLP administration. Astaphan alleged the manipulation of the electoral system and Leblanc recommends cleansing the voters list.
In a recent chat, Astaphan accused the Skerrit-led government of having failed Dominicans and said that all the country needs is a good and accountable government. He said the DLP administration does not enjoy the wide support of the people but have chosent to cling to power at all costs. He accused the government of electoral malpractices which include double votes, disregard for ID cards, and harnessing thugs to vote in the elections.
One thing I can tell you: this government understands they do not control the majority of voters in Dominica. That is why they pay people to vote two times in the same constituency; that is why they do not want ID cards; that is why they bring hundreds of thousands of baby thugs to vote for them; so you know the government understands that they don’t have support, so they will steal the support or whichever way they will get it. We need good accountable government and that is what is lacking in Dominica.
Michael Astaphan, Executive member of the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP)
In the same vein, Leblanc said the integrity of the electoral system would be assured if a 5-year amendment system is implemented. The Ace Engineering CEO said voter registration should be worked out within the 5-year amendment on a cyclic basis. According to him, the electoral commission should be alive to its responsibilities by asking questions if voters fail to vote in a general election for two consecutive times. He said this is what happens in the United States and even in Barbados.
The commission ought to ask you a question: Are you alive? Are you living in the place? Are you available to vote? Last year we had a recommendation which we put before the commission; now I read the recommendation: I said ‘an amendment is made either to the existing regulation if possible or to the parent relevant laws that persons who do not present themselves to vote in two consecutive general elections over a period not less than five years shall be removed from the list of eligible voters.
Anthony Leblanc, Executive Member of the Dominica Business Forum (DBF),
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