PM Roosevelt Skerrit has disclosed his plans to present new legislation on electoral reform by April 2023. The prime minister told parliamentarians on Tuesday that he met with the sole commissioner contracted for electoral reform in Dominica, Sir Dennis Byron, and that the eminent jurist will be delivering his final report in the coming weeks.
Since the engagement of Sir Dennis Byron and the submission of his draft report, which was submitted in December, I have met with Sir Dennis in this year on two occasions to discuss his recommendations. There would have been a third meeting yesterday at 3 pm but Sir Dennis Byron requested a postponement of that meeting. So I shall meet with him today at 1:30 pm and my hope is that this will be the final meeting that we will have before he submits his final report.”
Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica
Skerrit said the new legislation to be presented by April will overhaul the electoral infrastructure of Dominica and modernize it to the standards of first-world countries. He said he might meet with Byron one last time before the report is submitted and then presented to lawmakers. Although Byron suggested his final submission for June, Skerrit confirmed it should be ready by April.
I also want to say to the Parliament that in the terms of references for the engagement of Sir Byron, the drafting of legislation was not part of it. And by the request of Byron and the chairman of the electoral commission, I authorized the engagement of a drafts expert to draft all of the legislation to form part of the final report. And as minister of finance, I provided all of the resources to pay for the legal consultancy to draft those legislation.
I have said to Sir Byron and I have said to the Parliament that this matter is a matter I wish to put to rest once and for all in our country. And I wish to come to the Parliament to seek parliamentary approval of the new legislation by April of this year so that the process of implementation can begin immediately thereafter.
Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica
This article is copyright © 2023 DOM767
