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Did the weaponising of the confirmation process, to guarantee 21 seats for the Labour Party at the next general elections, simultaneously ensure further division and future insecurity for the Dominican populace?
Inarguably, one of the greatest threats to our future national security is further division of the unsuspecting populace in the interest of maintaining ‘party political’ tribalism. Further division along partisan lines can only undermine our collective response to the looming external threats of recolonisation and increasing loss of our national sovereignty. I submit that the lacklustre approach of the Electoral Commission to the confirmation process risks deepening the existing political polarisation and division in the country. I lament that the expected meaningful public education and awareness campaign, proactive outreach to the elderly, shut-ins, handicapped, rural communities and the economically challenged sections of our society have been practically absent from the confirmation process to date. Furthermore, the associated bureaucracy, missteps, and barriers associated with the process overseen by a glaringly incompetent and emasculated Electoral Commission lead one to conclude or ascribe ulterior motives and sinister objectives.
I ignored my initial concerns and skepticism about this confirmation exercise until I was subjected to the allegations of the registration of non-residents, duplication of names on the list, removal of names, etc… from the Roseau North constituency as they are preparing for their by-election. Should ANY of these allegations prove to be true, my conclusion is that a calculated and diabolical weaponisation of the process is in place to guarantee that the Labour Party wins 21 seats at the next general election, before a vote is even cast! Alarmingly, this exercise in Roseau North was supposed to showcase the so-called improvements in fairness in our electoral system and value for our tax dollars spent.
My skeptical mind keeps hollering, “The Labour Party could easily win the next elections by October 15th, the confirmation deadline”. The only thing left is for them to activate their well-oiled electioneering machinery, including their illicit financial war chest, to ensure that in the closing days of the confirmation process they could legally confirm their perceived supporters at ten times the rate that the opposition forces can. The elections would have been stolen in broad daylight and legitimised by the current leader of the Labour Party with his usual condescending and mocking sneer that the opposition was caught with their pants and panties down while claiming bragging rights to the first landslide election victory in Dominica’s history. Harrowingly, as usual, there would be no concern whatsoever for the collateral damage to our aspiration to greater national unity, the most essential requirement for our survival and future security.
Actually, should any of us dare to raise any such concerns, we will be abusively dismissed with the “go to hell” mantra, totally oblivious that we are already there!! I bet that it will also be accompanied by the hypocritical and nauseating call for national unity after having perpetrated another treasonous act against Ma Dominique.
Prevention is always better than cure. I humbly recommend an IMMEDIATE and URGENT nationwide confirmation drive. This must include prominent civil society leadership and participation to ensure that we will not be caught with our pants down. Secondly, I think the Chief Elections Officer and the members of the Electoral Commission should be held accountable and made to adjust their timetable for the termination of confirmation and address their shortcomings with the required urgency and efficiency. They should also be put on notice that they work on our behalf and that their recurring short-sighted actions that further divide us and compromise our future security will no longer be tolerated. These criminally minded acts will be met with all the resistance and national unity that we can muster.
I say, “come ye forward, sons and daughters, do the right, be firm, be fair.” Let us IMMEDIATELY and URGENTLY CONFIRM ourselves and others – each one, take one- as we start to resist the machinery in place to divide and conquer us by ensuring that we all retain our democratic right to exercise our civic duty, at every point in our future.
We need to stop this recurrent abuse of our civility before it’s too late. It is up to each of us to do what we can, where we can; not the current leader of the Labour Party, nor his appointed staff at the Electoral Commission. Their actions have erased their credibility and labeled them as “not to be trusted”.
Our ancestors have admonished that when the land is in turmoil, and no one knows what will come to pass, and what the future will bring is hidden, and when sight and hearing fail, those who cannot speak will lead. May the spirits of those who have fought and conquered before us continue to guide and protect us all.
Dr. Irving “EIPIGH” Pascal.
Confirmed voter.
Confirmer of voters.
