One year after the “Standing Up for Democracy” demonstrations in Dominica, the Electoral Reform Coalition (ERC) has issued a comprehensive assessment of the nation’s ongoing electoral challenges. On March 19, 2025, unarmed citizens gathered outside Parliament to voice opposition to electoral reform legislation that was subsequently enacted despite widespread public dissent.
The protestors had advocated for the implementation of recommendations developed by Sir Dennis Byron, an esteemed legal expert commissioned to modernize Dominica’s electoral framework. His comprehensive proposal aimed to establish transparent voting mechanisms to ensure electoral integrity. However, the ERC contends that Parliament, the Electoral Commission, and Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit’s administration systematically disregarded these expert recommendations.
In what the coalition describes as a concerning development, twenty-five demonstrators faced arrest under the archaic Riot Act of 1897 following apparent directives from Prime Minister Skerrit and National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmore. These individuals endured overnight detention and continue to navigate unresolved judicial proceedings twelve months later, prompting the ERC to declare that “justice delayed is justice denied.”
While acknowledging the recent provision allowing voter registration via birth certificates with authenticated photographs—a measure that expands accessibility—the coalition expresses profound concern regarding the Electoral Commission’s suspension of continuous voter registration. This action allegedly violated both Dominica’s Constitution and Section 17(1) of the Registration of Electors Act #1 of 2025, effectively disenfranchising eligible citizens, particularly youth, for an entire year.
Despite the resumption of registration activities on March 9, 2026, the ERC criticizes insufficient public outreach efforts to facilitate voter confirmation and new registrations. The coalition asserts that after extensive dialogue and legislative action, the Electoral Commission should have demonstrated better preparedness rather than exhibiting partisan tendencies that compromise democratic traditions.
The ERC concludes by urging immediate, effective measures to streamline voter processes, emphasizing that free, fair, and transparent elections constitute the foundation of Dominica’s democratic integrity.
Johnson Boston
Chairman, Electoral Reform Coalition