Attorney General (AG) Levi Peter is trashing suggestions that amendments to the Registration of Electors Act will allow Dominicans naturalized through the island's Citizenship by Investment Program (CBI) to vote in General Elections.
The amendments are expected to go to parliament soon but they have raised some eyebrows.
Of particular concern is a section of the amendments for the confirmation for voting of Dominicans living overseas.
Some are concerned that these overseas registration offices could be used by CBI citizens to register to vote.
But Peter said the matter is being misunderstood.
He described that notion as 'nonsense' since according to law, citizens must live in Dominica for a period of time before they are eligible to register to vote.
He explained that one has to live in the relevant polling district in which they are registered for at least three months prior to registration.
He also stated that those on the current electors' list may not meet the criteria to vote in the next general election. He pointed out that it is being said all those on the current list will be confirmed to vote.
He said it is the Electoral Commission, not the government, that will determine various sites out of Dominica that will be used for the purpose of registering people to vote.
So this amendment is requiring that people registered overseas be registered like they are in Dominica when they are not but why make this requirement? The time period of residency prior to being able to be registered as a voter is being disrespected through this requirement. This amendment needs to go back to the drawing board. Someone residing overseas should not and ought not be treated like they're residing in Dominica when the law is clear about the residency criteria for registration as a voter.
We must not allow this regime to pull wool over our eyes again. This is too important an issue and no doubt would give Skerrit an unfair advantage. I urge the UWP and DFP to watch the situation very carefully. Skerrit, Astaphan, and Peter can not be trusted.
What is utter Rubbish and nonsensical is: for what reason allyou want to change the electoral process???
Don't you have some kinna British Citizenship Levi???
Thank you Mr. Rastaman, that is the concept I keep talking about; the way Levi and that corrupted boy Roosevelt is trying to set it up is nothing more than cynical ploy that will give them every advantage over the oppositions!
Note: the absentee Ballet in the United States are not utilized by only military personnel serving in other countries; it is for any and every American Citizen living (residing permanently) in country.
If I return to live permanently in Wesley, that is in Dominica, all I have to do before I leave America is to ensure I register as an absentee, giving my address to where I wish the Ballet sent to and unless I change the address, or return back to the U . S; each and every Federal, and local Election a Ballet will be made available to me.
U.K. citizens are Commonwealth citizens. They can both vote in our elections if they meet the qualifying criteria with regard to residency and absence from Dominica.They can also stand for parliament.
You have forgotten that Dominica is an Independent Republic; we have our president, though a joke, is indeed our head of State. When a law is passed in the country, without Savarin signature; that law cannot be implemented.
Elizabeth of England has no power to sign into law anything in Dominica, the power belongs to Charles Savarin, like it or not!
The British no longer have any political nor economic interest in Dominica; we are a sovereign nation, any British Citizen who are able to vote in a Dominica Election must be registered as having permanent resident in Dominica!
Dominica may be a member of the British Commonwealth; that does not give any British Citizen the right to vote in a Dominica election; if that was true; all of the independent Caribbean island citizens would have the right to go to any island in the Caribbean, and England and vote!
Whosoever put that nonsense in your head has missed informed you!
At the risk of sounding superficial I will say this. A picture is with a thousand words–take a good look at Levi—this guys does not look happy or convinced about what this set up. He looks very old-fashioned, looks like he is stock in the 40s and out of touch with reality…he does not look good plus he uses words like rubbish for a high office as the AG when talking about the right opposition to the madness bill.
That was my take-away from his entire statement.
Someone that's NEVER been to Dominica pays a fee and becomes a Citizen of Dominica?
And despite that look how many of you have still managed to get US citizenship eh!
More to the point though, if you are truly interested in the answer to the question you posed, read section 8(2)(c) of the Citizenship Act, Chap. 1:10, and while doing so take note that that section was inserted into the Act by the Freedom Party Government in 1993 and NOT by Skeritt and the Labour Government! CBI was in Dominica long before Skeritt.
You are absolutely right. BUT only since Skerrit came to power our passports ended up in the hands of criminals, worse even not ordinary passports but diplomatic passport!!!
Power House; that is easy!
By now I am sure you know that the selling of Dominica's passport is nothing more than a corrupted fraud. It is a get rich quick scam for the ruling politicians. It is a scam which allows criminals who need a Dominica diplomatic to buy one to travel the world committing crimes!
Citizenship By Investment Originate in Ireland around 1961/62. That developed to attract foreign investment into economically depressed places in Ireland providing employment to the unemployed: The companies had to deposit certain amount in millions in a bank. When they up a business employing no less than twenty-five people, citizenship is granted.
It has nothing to do with the selling of passports. America adapted the principal; maintaining a CBI program.
So, here is the conclusion!
CBI means' one becomes a citizen of a country by investing into a business with the notion to employ the native people, be it in America, Ireland where it originates and elsewhere.
Can you imagine if every crook who bought a Dominica passport invested in a business in the country employing at least five people what would happen?
According to the amount of votes cast in the last general election we see less than thirty thousand people voted; so it would not be a ridiculous question if I ask where were the other forty thousand people? My friend it is estimated that there are more foreign people with Dominica passports than Dominican born.
The island now belongs to crooked foreigners!
The title of the article is misleading. He is quoted as saying "One of them, the basic one, which means a CBI citizen who has not lived in Dominica cannot, repeat cannot, and double underline, cannot be registered to vote." So a CBI citizen CAN vote if they are resident in Dominica. I can see this being misconstrued and making an issue. PLEASE read what is said.
Levi who you fooling,i have evidence of Skerrit regime persons registering people to vote in the US.
Furthermore, it undermines his argument because many of those folks have NOT lived in Dominica for quite some time.
I have relatives that's lived away for decades that continue to vote in local elections.
That's wrong and should be illegal!
Moreover if the law requires that a citizen must reside 3 months prior to registration and or voting then why must we need to have registration offices overseas? When this would be a clear violation of the law, hence there is no need for overseas registration offices. This man clearly states there is no need for such office so why amend the law for something which is unwarranted and could lead to having illegal voters in the country?
I would like to know how are the citizens from the CBI program distinguished from the average citizens if we all carry the same passports and other IDs from Dominica? This makes absolutely no sense, since there is no way of differentiating between who is CBI or naturalized citizens.
d) has resided in that polling district for a continuous period of at least three months immediately proceeding the date of registration…..
The point is that s.5(1)(a) stands on its own and is not conditional on any other requirements as s.5(1) b), c) and d) are. Therefore, a Citizen of the Commonwealth of Dominica (CBI or otherwise) will be entitled to vote.
Darren, you are a barrister with close ties to the Skerrit regime. I do not read the legislation as you do. First of all, it pertains to the right of registration, not the right to vote itself. If you are precluded from registering you can not vote.
Dear UK Dominican, I have no "close ties to the Skerrit regime".
Pursuant to s.5(1)(a), one is qualified to be registered as an elector if he is a citizen of the Commonwealth of Dominica. The simple point is that the s.5(1)(d) requirement of residing in a polling district for three months immediately preceeding the date of registration does not apply to citizens as they can apply under s.8(1) of the Act.
Why is s.5(1)(a) standing on its own and not conditional on any other requirements, when it is part of the subset of s.5(1)?
Levi, you can talk as much as you want. I don't trust you and more to the point I don't trust Skerrit. The truth of the matter is very simple: yet again you have been been found out…!!
The electoral system is at the heart of any democracy. There needs transparency with the financing of political campaigns. The bribing of voters, especially, the free plane rides for overseas electors should cease. A set date for election should be established. No prime minister should walk around with the election date in his pocket. This gives one side too much of an advantage. All registrations should be done in Dominica. Overseas registration is susceptible to corruption. It's the overseas votes that keep this nakedly corrupt, unprincipled and fraudulent administration in power. The people are much too passive and nothing a corrupt government likes more than the passivity and apathy of the citizens. Wake up people and take back your country from these rogues parading as honorable men and women. Deplorable, they are.
Patrick John; Eugenia Charles; Edison James as well as Roosevelt Skerrit have all had that privilege. I believe it is the same in several other Caribbean islands.
I actually agree with you sir/madam but I am registering my thoughts here lest someone who doesn't think for himself/herself actually believes from your comments that this is something Mr. Skerrit corruptly engineered for himself alone and that he is doing so illegally.
The main issue there is TRUST,and I agree with everyone who thinks that DLP is NOT worthy of TRUST in anything.
My question is why is it so important to open registration stations outside of Dominica to issue voter ID cards when for 13 years we cannot issue ones to folks at home and we cannot do a simple verification to cleanup voter registration list at home. How are tbe folks going to confirm my residency requirement if i get a voter iD card tomorrow and do not return to dominica for the next eight years. Who is there to ensure that the folks at the registration sites are not working on behalf of a party and not breaking law? If tbe government of Dominica was serious they would have already done all what they had to do to ensure folks in Dominica had ID cards and voter list was clensed. The amendment of law to open registration sites overseas is only a priority because the gov clearly has one intention. All these folks need when they come home to vote is a stamp on passport to see when last they entered and left island if there names on list. And if travel docs cannot confirm no ballot.
But we know nothing stopped DLP operatives from providing tickets to Dominicans residing oversea to come home to vote although they did not returned to Dominica under 5years but their names were still on the list.
So what would stop these same DLP operative from facilitating the people who have becoming citizen through CBI and who did not reside in Dominica from voting???
Garcon Keep your RUBBISH for yourself!!!!!! Is not now you all breaking the Voting LAWS of the land…so don't come and tell us about the LAW.
Lord have mercy on my soul. I swear we getting dumber in Dominica. First of all what are rights of every citizen in a country? Whether by birth, marriage naturalization or through purchase all citizens have the same rights. Voting is one of them. The AG is a retarded because he is indicating that a certain set of citizens cannot vote because they have to meet a residency requirement. This tells me the passport sellig has nothing to do with persons bringing investment to the country but only buying extra id for alternative purpose. Secondly he says the out of country locations are for verification only yet at the end indicated they will be used for registration. Wether someone is away for 10 years if they have not renounces DA citizenship and never take up another why remove them from the list? They are still alive. All one has to do to see if they have been home within 5 years is to check thier passports when they come to vote and dont issue ballot if cannot confirm.
I think that I beg to differ with the Attorney General on this DNO article.
The point is that s.5(1)(a) stands on its own and is not conditional on any other requirements as s.5(1) b), c) and d) are. On my reading of the legislation, a Citizen of the Commonwealth of Dominica (CBI or otherwise) will be entitled to vote.
Levi please stop it. You are a mockery of yourself , our land and people by being the face of this dangerous and backward action. Plus I don't believe you at all.
Mr. AG since the CBI citizens have no interest in residency,what then is the benefit of naturalization? We are not first world.No one leaves the UAE to come to Dominica,unless being pursued. The real scam is now being revealed.These passports have been sold clandestinely to unsavory characters,and it is only fair that the government passport agents demands reciprocity,in this case, a vote in order to keep it going.
Well Levi, you tell Inpector Mills to put that in his pipe and smoke it and stop making a nuisance of himself contradicting what you say. Thank you.
DLP can NEVER,EVER,be trusted to do the right thing .It's not in their DNA .
I don't trust them and I am sure that there are thousands more like me.They know that they are in trouble,they are up to dirtiness again.
That promise cannot even comfort a fool. No law, No constitution!
So haven't the residency Criteria been there for the last few elections? That didn't stop the DLP from nefarious acts of paying tickets to bring ppl down to vote…and many persons vote in polling districts where they don't reside even in Dominica.
So say something else Mr. L.Peter, to allay the fears of well meaning and concerned Dominicans. The trust that is the problem..Many Dominicans don't trust the Gov't to do the right thing..there is so much apprehension for fear that some other thing will fall apart in the country, so go easy on the people and appease the ppl concern with enlightenment..To me, he hasn't quite explained the issue.
Further, why must the state go through such hoops to have persons living overseas registered, if they aren't even sure these ppl will come home to vote? or is it that the next move will be to have Polling Stations overseas too??
If people want to vote bad enough, they will make their way home to register and then to vote..
The residency requirement being referred to is for registration. I'm glad you mentioned that many persons vote in polling districts where they do not reside. Please do the research. I believe Mr. Skerrit's house in in Vieille Case. He spends time in Roseau to conduct his duties but he is resident in Vieille Case. Find out where he voted.
Do the same exercise for the Leader of the Opposition and a number of Opposition members and their family members during the last election. When you have done so come back on this site and enlighten us.
I have a healthy dislike for partiality particularly when it dishonestly tries to hoodwink the unsuspecting and lazy thinkers. What you all are basically saying is that some of our relatives who are registered voters who left after the hurricane and are now resident overseas cannot vote in our upcoming elections.
I keep encouraging us to take off the blinkers and think for ourselves.
Saunders, you have some twisted views and you are trying your very best to come across as being impartial. Let me tell you something, in my view you are the Chief DLP Spin Doctor.
Apart from that, since you talk about your PM residency. You forgot to mention his main one, you know the one in New York, you know the one he can't afford on PM wages.
I wonder if the disdainful and condescending way in which this man Levi speaks,he expects respect from the public.Is he a public officer? The thing is this DLP government has always had deception up their sleaves.You can't trust anyone sent on a mission by DLP to do things above board election wise.Their forte is to have unfair elections,as the Commonwealth Observer Team told us after the 2014 election "it could have been free,but it was not fair". The actually did lose in 2014.Now those MISLEADERS be are in serious trouble in several constituencies, I expect nothing more that trickery and deception and shenanigans from them.The fact that DLP is not above board,they should have met with a broad cross section of society including representative s of the opposition to decide how this mission should be done and who should go on the mission, to disenfranchise some Dominicans anyway!!
Levi, the matter is not missed understood; the word corrupted; and crooked is written all over it!
When nations such as the United States are dealing with their citizens outside the United States, they retain their right to vote in a Federal, and local election, and they do that via an absentee ballet sent to them even if they are residence in Dominica.
If the amendments are anything less than the absentee ballet, whatever the purpose it is to give the ruling regime an advantage over the oppositions.
I have some advise for you: When and old man like you get yo such old age; you should go home; and rest and make you peace with God: You look tired as if you have one foot into the grave, and the other outside; I am not impressed with the nonsense you are talking, we know what it's all about!
FEDT, YOU ARE VERY INSULTIVE AND RUDE. I think you more deserve the advise you are giving Levi. To begin with you are older than him. Make peace with God for your insults to other human. Your ability to understand good English is slim that's why you can't be impressed with what he says. Shame on you. You think you know it ALL but you are just show off looking for observation.
I think that these old, gray head dinosaurs, should have exited politics a long tome ago. They are living in the sunset phase of their lives and are overly exhausted and senile. Some might argue that they have the requisite experience to offer guidance. Not every experience is good. These guys have experience in corruption, victimization, wealth hoarding, selfishness, lies, manipulation and asininity. They have outlasted their usefulness. They are a grave and present danger to the future of a successful Dominica.
lbo, some of us just don't know when to quit: Levi would rather be removed from his work space in a coffin than to walk out of there with his dignity.
While they are serving the dictator helping him to victimized the nation, they forget when the time comes and they leave, the same bad laws the help implement they have to live with, and returns to bite them.
I guess your hopeful is in the sunrise phase of HIS life even as he is just starting. Very strong words sir and I guess you have the evidence of that for sure! I do wish you all luck with this venom speech that is becoming the norm.
Hope you enjoy your ruling phase if and when that comes. It is very difficult for humans to unlearn behaviours and habits. If we feed them only toxic and poisonous rhetoric it becomes ingrained and they will know no other way of life. Guess who will inherit that?
Don't envy you guys at all. It is your short sightedness and air of superiority which will be your downfall, trust me because you all fall woefully short of vision in my book when you actively promote this kind of decay in mindset among the populace. Perhaps you people have somewhere else to live. I don't, so that is why I keep putting in my little two pence now and then to bring to bear another perspective on the doom and gloom.
Kid On Block; I am neither rude nor insulting!
I am simply a grown man who do not mince matters; considering I do not have any affection for young corrupted damaging our island, never mind the old ones who should be at home.There comes a time when all of us the old ones must go and make way for the young.
There is a reason why the colonists had people in the civil service retire at 55 years old. Peters was an old man when I was a kid! I am now an old goat, and he still is an old man playing politics helping Roosevelt to screw up the country. Where in the world a criminal threatens people with a gun, he goes to court and by the time it is over the police return the gun to the criminal, and Roosevelt fire the Magistrate.
Should Levi keep his job after that?
I am not a hypocrite; and so I state it as I perceive it to be!
Help us out a bit. How old is Mr. Peters? How much older is he than the PM in waiting?
I have no issue with the age of either man but when you write the things that you are writing it really irks me. I have lived in Dominica all my life and never knew Mr. Peter until he returned from England and took up the job as the AG. I am not saying it is not possible for you to have known the gentleman but you keep boasting about how long you have been in the USA and how much you have achieved.
Where exactly did you know Mr. Peter as an old man when you were at Wesley? I believe he is from the Portsmouth area. Did you visit there often? Does he have ties to Wesley? Where exactly? I like facts to convince me on any topic. Can you enlighten us?
Francisco, you are a straight shooter. You are brutally frank and withhold no punches. What about giving civility a chance sometimes. One day you will be charged for besting up on a minor (KID).
Barbara, I do not know Lennox direct age, but if I have a need to find out, all I have to do is ask certain of my relatives; remember my late grandmother; my father mother was Lennox late father aunt; hence, my grandmother is also Lennox aunt!
As I said Peters was an old man when I was a kid I am older than Lennox, ( and I doh saying how older eh)!
But I assure you Levi Peter is way older than Lennox. The way I am viewing that old tired specimen Levi; there is no question that man is way past eighty; and Lennox is not near eighty yet!
And I Kid Francisco have a few more years before I hit eighty. Mind you I am going to my hundred plus; I ask God for a hundred plus!
Do not misunderstand me; we all as long as we live, we must age, but there comes a time when we must quit, and go home: Senile people screws up!
I thought that the perennial chorus of the opposition was that once you live outside of Dominica you should not be allowed to vote. Never mind that you were registered and visit Dominica frequently it is immoral for you to vote a government in when you are not there to face the consequences. That being so, your reference to the US absentee ballots does not help the opposition's argument.
They somehow saw nothing wrong with the lady who contested the Paix bouche seat on their ticket, who resided in Antigua at the time and who promptly returned to Antigua following her devastating defeat. Not even sure how she qualified as a candidate. Perhaps the residency requirement which applies to voters does not apply to candidates. They proposed on line voting at one time.
I just wish their message could be more consistent and coherent rather than this convenient and emotive flip-flopping. Wouldn't the amendment apply to all, red, green blue? so mobilize too!
I thought that the perennial chorus of the opposition was that once you live outside of Dominica you should not be allowed to vote. "(Barbara).
Well now Barbara; you are not going to turn me against me cousin eh!
Nevertheless, I do not agree to that philosophy; because I do believe that as long as we are Dominicans living even in the middle of the sky should have a say in that is going on politically in the country, and our legitimate say should come via voting.
Now if it is simply registering to vote, and by the time comes Roosevelt from whatever source he gets his money charters planes only to transport his supporters home to vote when opposition does not have the resources to transport me home to vote UWP that would leave the oppositions at a disadvantage, and Dr. Punjab would always win.
I strongly suggest we deal with that as the American system where one registers and an absentee ballet is provided: Will return to complete.