Dr. Thomson Fontaine, leader of the United Workers Party (UWP), has launched a scathing critique of Dominica’s Electoral Office, alleging that recent changes to voter confirmation requirements threaten the nation’s democratic integrity. Speaking at a press conference attended by opposition leaders Bernardo Hurtault of the Dominican Freedom Party and Joshua Francis of the United Progressive Party, Fontaine called for urgent reforms to restore public confidence in the electoral system. The controversy stems from Statutory Rules and Orders No. 39 (SRO-39), enacted on October 14, 2025, which mandates government-issued identification—such as passports, social security cards, or driver’s licenses—for voter confirmation. Birth certificates, previously accepted, were abruptly removed from the list of valid documents. Fontaine argued that this change disproportionately impacts impoverished citizens who cannot afford the cost of obtaining such IDs, accusing the ruling Dominican Labour Party of selectively funding passport applications for its supporters. He condemned the move as a violation of Section 17(1) of the Registration of Electors Act 2025, which requires continuous voter registration, and criticized the Electoral Office for halting new registrations and reassigning officers without replacements. Fontaine also highlighted past incidents of political repression, including arrests during electoral reform protests and allegations of police brutality. He described these actions as part of a broader strategy to suppress dissent and maintain the current administration’s power. Fontaine demanded the reinstatement of birth certificates as valid voter identification and the resumption of lawful registration practices, vowing to collaborate with other opposition parties to safeguard free and fair elections in Dominica.
Fontaine condemns ID rule change for voter confirmation; calls for use of birth certificate to be restored
