At least three teams observing the general election in Dominica in which the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) was returned to power with a greater majority yesterday said the results reflected the will of voters who cast ballots in the election.
The observer teams from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OAS), the Commonwealth and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in separate news conferences said while there had been concerns about pre-election violence, it did not prevent people from peacefully casting their ballots on Friday in support of either the DLP or the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP).
Preliminary results released by the Electoral Commission yesterday gave the DLP victory in 17 of the 21 constituencies, while the remainder went to the UWP.
“The initial assessment of Election Day activities by the CEOM (CARICOM Election Observation Mission (CEOM) is that the voters were able to cast their ballots without intimidation or fear, and that the results of the December 6, 2019 General Elections reflect the will of the people of the Commonwealth of Dominica,” said Belizean Josephine Tami, who headed the 11-member CARICOM mission.
“It is, however, the pre-election day activities which caused some amount of concern to the election process. The level of disruption and violence as acknowledged by the general populace, escalated just days prior to the general election.
“Roads were blocked which limited access to movement of persons. However, by election day, the blockage to areas was discontinued and persons were able to move freely to conduct business and to access the polling stations to cast their vote,” she added.
The Commonwealth Observer team, led by the former Sierra Leone foreign minister, Zainab Hawa Bangura, said the results reflected “the collective will of the people who voted and that the election was conducted in accordance with the laws of Dominica.
“We commend and congratulate all Dominicans who participated peacefully in an important civic exercise,” she said, adding that the Commonwealth team was “particularly impressed by the large number of women and youth who participated in the electoral process, not only as candidates and voters, but also as polling staff, party agents and witnesses and observers”.
Former Bahamas prime minister Hubert Ingraham, who led the 20-member observer team from the OAS, said while they were concerned by the “strong rhetoric and the deterioration in the tone of the campaign in the weeks prior to the elections, the mission noted the results reflected “the will of the people”.
The team made a number of observations ranging from electoral reform electoral technologies, electoral registries, electoral justice as well as campaign financing. (CMC)