Former Roseau North parliamentary representative and United Workers Party candidate Daniel Lugay has rejected Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit's claim that UWP supporters were discouraged from participating in the national voter confirmation exercise, instead holding the Electoral Office responsible for the difficulties experienced in the Roseau North constituency.
Speaking in response to comments made by the Prime Minister at a Wednesday press conference, Lugay dismissed the suggestion that opposition supporters had been kept away from the exercise by any campaign of discouragement. He said the problems in Roseau North were administrative in nature and stemmed from the operations of the Electoral Office rather than from any political interference or voter apathy.
The national voter confirmation exercise is a key part of the electoral process in the Commonwealth of Dominica, requiring registered voters to confirm their details ahead of the next general election. Difficulties in Roseau North have drawn public attention, with the constituency being one of the more closely watched in the country.
Lugay, who previously represented Roseau North in the House of Assembly, is contesting the seat again for the UWP. His rejection of the Prime Minister's account sets up a direct political dispute over the conduct of the confirmation process and the reasons some residents have struggled to complete it.
The Prime Minister's remarks at the Wednesday press conference had sought to explain the low or problematic participation in the exercise by pointing to discouragement among UWP supporters. Lugay's response turns that argument back on the government, arguing that the Electoral Office, which is responsible for running the exercise, must answer for the difficulties voters have faced.
The exchange highlights the sensitivity surrounding voter registration and confirmation in Dominica, where the integrity of the electoral roll is a recurring point of contention between the governing Dominica Labour Party and the opposition. Both sides have an interest in how the process is perceived ahead of any future poll.
Lugay's statement did not dispute the existence of difficulties in Roseau North. Rather, he disputed their cause, placing the burden on the institution charged with administering the exercise rather than on the political behaviour of voters or campaigners.
The Electoral Office has yet to respond publicly to Lugay's characterisation of its role. The confirmation exercise continues across the island, and officials have encouraged eligible voters to complete the process so that their registration remains valid.
For residents of Roseau North, the practical effect of the dispute is that questions remain about why some voters have had trouble confirming their details and what steps will be taken to resolve them. Lugay's intervention keeps public attention on those questions as the exercise moves forward.
The Prime Minister has not yet responded to Lugay's rejection of his claims. The issue is likely to remain part of the wider political debate over electoral administration in Dominica in the period ahead.
