What the Opposition Won’t Tell You About Dominica’s Electoral Reform

The United Workers Party (UWP) has been vocal in opposing Dominica’s new electoral reform legislation, but there are key truths they avoid sharing with their supporters. Let’s break down what you might not hear from their side.

1. They Asked for Reform—But Oppose It Anyway

For years, the UWP demanded electoral reform to address issues like voter identification and an outdated registry. Now that the government has introduced mandatory voter ID cards and a confirmation exercise to clean up the voter list, the UWP claims these measures are inadequate or unfair. Why oppose reforms they once championed?

2. Overseas Voters: A Convenient Scapegoat

The UWP criticizes provisions requiring overseas voters to confirm their registration in Dominica, claiming it disadvantages expatriates. Yet, this measure ensures transparency by eliminating ghost voters—a problem they’ve previously highlighted[5]. Their opposition seems more about maintaining a narrative than supporting fair elections.

3. Campaign Finance Reform: A Double Standard

The UWP argues that the absence of campaign finance regulations undermines the reforms. However, they fail to acknowledge that such legislation could disproportionately affect smaller parties, including themselves, by limiting resources for campaigning[2][5]. Their silence on this complexity is telling.

4. Protests Turned Violent: Who’s Responsible?

While the UWP rallied protests against the reforms, they avoid discussing how these demonstrations escalated into violence. The government insists police acted with restraint until protestors breached barriers and turned aggressive. This nuance is missing from opposition rhetoric.

5. Public Consultation: A Shared Responsibility

The UWP claims the reforms lacked adequate public input, yet they participated in consultations led by Sir Dennis Byron, a respected jurist. If they felt sidelined, why didn’t they push harder during these discussions?

6. Ignoring International Standards

The reforms align with international best practices for modern elections, as noted by experts like Sir Dennis Byron. The UWP rarely acknowledges this fact, focusing instead on sowing doubt about the government’s motives.

The UWP’s opposition to Dominica’s electoral reform seems less about substance and more about strategy. By omitting these truths, they risk misleading their supporters while undermining progress toward fairer elections.