The Dominica Freedom Party has called on the Electoral Commission to publish a detailed accounting of the EC$6 million and other resources supporting the voter confirmation exercise, arguing that announcements of funding do not by themselves demonstrate that centres were adequately equipped.
Party General Secretary Paul Baron said the public is entitled to know how the money was spent and what it purchased, from equipment and staffing to logistics and public information. He said a headline figure without a breakdown leaves voters unable to judge whether the exercise was properly resourced.
Baron's intervention places the financing of electoral reform at the centre of public debate as the Commission continues its work on the voter confirmation process. The party is not disputing that funds were allocated, but is asking for transparency on how they were used and whether the resources reached the centres where voters were expected to confirm their registration.
The call comes amid wider scrutiny of the electoral reform programme, which is intended to strengthen the accuracy of the voters' list ahead of future elections. The Freedom Party has consistently argued that public confidence in the process depends on openness about costs, contracts and delivery.
Baron said the Commission should publish a line-by-line account covering the EC$6 million and any additional support provided by the Government or international partners. He said such disclosure would allow citizens, the House of Assembly and the media to assess whether the money was spent efficiently and in line with the stated objectives of the reform.
The party also wants clarity on whether the funding covered the full cost of the exercise or whether further sums will be required. Baron said that without a detailed report, it is impossible to know whether the centres had the staffing, technology and materials they needed, or whether gaps remain that could affect the credibility of the confirmation process.
He stressed that the demand is not an attack on the Commission's work but a request for the standard of accountability that taxpayers expect. He said the public has a right to see how public money is used, particularly on a project that touches the integrity of the electoral system.
The Freedom Party has asked the Commission to respond promptly and to make the information available in a form that is accessible to ordinary Dominicans, not only to officials. Baron said that would help rebuild trust and allow voters to participate in the confirmation exercise with confidence.
The Electoral Commission has not yet issued a detailed response to the request. The matter is likely to be raised again as the reform programme moves forward and as political parties prepare for the next electoral cycle.
Dominica 1 will continue to follow the issue and will report any official response from the Commission or the Government as it becomes available.
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