Category Archives: Caribbean News

PART XV: RESPONSE OF SC ANTHONY ASTAPHAN TO THE REPORT OF THE ELECTORAL REFORM GROUP COMPRISING CHURCH, BUSINESS AND CIVIL SOCIETY

In this series of articles on electoral reform efforts in Dominica, we have so far discussed the unaccepted, rejected and/or unimplemented recommendations of several regional and international election observers contained in separate and in joint special-mission reports of the OAS, Commonwealth and CARICOM dating back from 2009.  We also discussed the tremendous work of the […]

Roosevelt “Rosie” Douglas – Co-Chair of the 1968 Congress of Black Writers in Montreal Canada

By Gabriel J. Christian, Esq A prophet has no honor in his own country (The Holy Bible John 4;44) Moving Against the System – The book on the 1968 Congress of Black Writers at McGill University Montreal, Canada– Co-Chaired by Rosie Douglas of Dominica; it was the largest gathering of Black writers in the 20th […]

WHILE DOMINICA PAYS I/2 $MILLION TO A RETIRED KITTIAN JUDGE FOR MORE LEGAL REVIEWS, ST.KITTS & NEVIS TAKES ON ELECTORAL REFORM IN EARNEST BY PASSING THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS (AMENDMENT)BILL, 2020

The Parliament of the Federation of St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Nevis is continuing its effort to ensure free and fair elections in the Federation. This week, debate continued in the Parliament on the amendment of a few pieces of legislation including the National Assembly Elections (Amendment) Bill), 2020, which sought to provide for the […]

ST.KITTS AND NEVIS MOVES TO AMEND ITS CONSTITUTION AND CITIZENSHIP ACT WHILE IN DOMINICA AN SR&O SUFFICES

The Parliament of the Federation of St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Nevis will soon debate an Amendment to the Federation’s Constitution as well as a few other pieces of legislation including the Saint Christopher and Nevis Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2020. These Amendments aim to reduce the number of years of residency that would qualify a […]

PART XIV: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ELECTORAL REFORM IN DOMINICA BY THE MUTI-SECTORAL CIVIC/RELIGIOUS/BUSINESS GROUP FOR CONSIDERATION OF SIR BYRON

In the last two articles of this series, we examined the report and recommendations of the Joint CARICOM-COMMONWEALTH-OAS Special Mission for electoral reform in Dominica and the immediate categorical rejection of the same by the Attorney-General on behalf of the DLP government. In light of the above and considering the tremendous concerns of Dominicans actively […]

VICTORY FOR THE RULING ANTIGUAN LABOUR PARTY GOVERNMENT ON THE POWERS OF THE PRIME MINISTER TO APPOINT MEMBERS OF HIS CABINET

Both the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) and the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party were victorious in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) system today.  At the High Court in Dominica, Justice Glasgow sided with the Applicants (the DLP) to strike out all 10 petitions filed by the opposition United Workers Party (UWP), while at […]

PART XIII: AG’S RESPONSE TO THE SPECIAL JOINT OAS, CARICOM AND COMMONWEALTH MISSION ON ELECTORAL REFORM

The DLP government invited a Joint CARICOM-COMMONWEALTH-OAS Special Mission to review and to make recommendations on reforming the electoral system in Dominica. The Special Mission submitted its report to the DLP government on 26 August 2020. The contents of the 19 page report were examined in PART XII of this series. To recap, the report indicated that […]

PART-II: THE DOMINICAN DEMOCRATIC CONSTRUCT UNDER SCRUTINY

The nature of democracy in Dominica was discussed in Part-I of this series. The grim theory of Thomas Hobbs was referenced in concluding that Dominicans may well have become wicked to themselves in giving support to an anti-democratic style of governance and unwittingly accepting the rule of a simpering Leviathan as Prime Minister. The observation […]

PART XI: 2014 & 2019 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ELECTORAL REFORM IN DOMINICA BY COMMONWEALTH OBSERVER MISSIONS FOR CONSIDERATION OF SIR BYRON

In 2014, the Commonwealth Observer Mission to Dominica noted that elections were conducted in a peaceful manner and met several key democratic benchmarks, including freedom of association, expression, assembly and movement, as well as equal and universal suffrage and the right to vote. The high percentage of women who participated and won their seats was […]

PART X: REPORTS OF COMMONWEALTH OBSERVER MISSIONS ON 2014 & 2019 ELECTIONS IN DOMINICA–THE POTENTIAL SEED FOR HIRING OF SIR BYRON.

The Prime Minister of Dominica advised the nation that retired Chief Justice, Sir Denis Byron will not necessarily be serving as a “Sole Commissioner” to review and to make legislative proposals for electoral reform in Dominica, contrary to his initial declaration. Although Sir Byron has already commenced his work, he will be ably assisted in compiling […]