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Dominica VOTED today

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#Dominica, December 6, 2022 – Approximately 81,000 citizens of the Commonwealth of Dominica were registered to vote for a new government today in the country’s general election.   A total of 45 candidates were on the ballots across the 21 constituencies.

The Dominica Labour Party (DLP) had a six-seat lead in the National Assembly as they were unopposed in six constituencies. The DLP, Team Unity Dominica and several independent candidates competed in the elections.

However, the country’s main opposition parties, the United Workers Party and Dominica Freedom Party, boycotted the elections. Neither of the parties had a candidate contesting in the elections. Polls closed at 5 pm. The country is now waiting to see who will be announced as its leader.

(CARICOM) sent Election Observation Mission to oversee Dominica’s election

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has sent the CARICOM Election Observation Mission (CEOM) to monitor Dominica’s General Elections on Tuesday, December 6.

The nine-member Mission is headed by the Chief Election Officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Elections and Boundaries Commission, Ms. Fern Narcis-Scope.

The CARICOM Election Observation Mission proposes to meet with leaders of political parties, the electoral officials and other stakeholders of Dominica and will monitor the voting process, including the opening of the poll, the casting of votes, the closing of the poll and the counting of the ballots.

The Team arrived in Dominica between December 2-3 and will depart on December 8.

Leader of the Dominica Labour Party (DLP), Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, last month announced a snap election two years before the constitutional deadline.

The snap poll has received backlash from opposition parties who have announced that they will boycott the elections.

The opposition parties have also been calling on supporters to protest the polls and the international community to not recognise the government that emerges after this Tuesday’s election.

OAS Election Observers also welcomed in Dominica ahead of national poll

Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Dr. Roosevelt Skerrit, welcomed the representatives of the Organization of American States (OAS) election observer mission for a courtesy call at the Office of the Prime Minister on Saturday, December 3, 2022.

Former Prime Minister of Bahamas Perry Christie, the chief of the Electoral Mission of OAS in Dominica, met with OAS specialists to discuss the current status of the electoral organization, technology & justice, political finance & women’s participation in the electoral process.

Furthermore, Perry Christie heard the perspectives of the members of the Electoral Reform Coalition on the electoral process in Dominica.

He met with others to listen to their concerns about the upcoming snap general elections.  The Chief of the Electoral Mission of the OAS in Dominica met with the Political Leader of Team Unity Dominica, Carlos Charles, to hear his impressions regarding the General Elections.

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Montego Bay to Benefit from Hosting CARICOM Metting

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Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon

Montego Bay(JIS) – Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, says the city stands to benefit significantly from hosting the 49th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), slated for July 6 to 8 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James.

The meeting will bring together regional leaders to engage in high-level policy discussions on a range of issues, including regional security, climate change and trade.

In an interview with JIS News, Mayor Vernon said Montego Bay’s selection as host city, solidifies its position as a leading Caribbean destination for events of this magnitude.

“It places [Montego Bay] not only as a strategic location, but a viable option across the Caribbean for events of this nature. We are indeed setting ourselves apart as that place to host high-level regional discussions,” he said.

Highlighting the city’s track record, Mayor Vernon noted that Montego Bay has hosted several CARICOM events in the past, including the landmark 2003 meeting where the Rose Hall Declaration on Regional Governance and Integrated Development was adopted.

“[It] tells a story. It positions us as a key meeting place for important regional policy discussions,” the Mayor said.                                                                                                                                                                           He added that the upcoming conference is expected to tackle critical matters such as transportation, telecommunications, digitalization of the tourism industry, regional security, climate financing, food and nutrition security, external trade negotiations, and Haiti.

“Montego Bay is positioned to facilitate these discussions within its space, and that is also key for Jamaica as we look to expand in these areas,” Councillor Vernon outlined.

The Mayor also underscored the importance of regional integration.

“We hope that these discussions will deepen the integration process, because we can indeed benefit from regionalism, especially in light of what is happening globally,” he stated.

Referencing his earlier proposal for a regional disaster response hub, Councillor Vernon said the discussions around climate change and public safety could further promote coordinated approaches among CARICOM member states.

He also expressed confidence in the city’s readiness to host the event.

“We are putting all the necessary things in place to ensure that we not only have a safe event, but a great experience for our visitors,” he assured.

Mayor Vernon also took the opportunity to congratulate Prime Minister Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, who will assume chairmanship of CARICOM on July 1.

The CARICOM conference will be held under the theme ‘People, Partnerships, Prosperity: Promoting a Secure and Sustainable Future’.

CONTACT: SERENA GRANT

JIS MONTEGO BAY

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President Ali signs proclamation dissolving parliament

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Guyana, July 4, 2025 – President Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday signed the proclamation to dissolve the Parliament of Guyana, making way for the general and regional elections on September 1, 2025.

“Free and fair elections are the lifeblood of a democratic state.  The upcoming elections represent our country’s commitment to renewing the democratic covenant between its citizens and government,” the President said in a live broadcast on his Facebook page.

In accordance with Article 70 (2) of the Constitution, Proclamation No.1 of 2025 officially dissolved the 12th Parliament of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.  Additionally, the proclamation will also dissolve the Regional Democratic Councils, in accordance with Article 73 (2) of the Constitution.

The President urged all Guyanese to participate fully in the elections process, as is their democratic right, emphasising their critical role in the decision-making process of electing a government that represents their interests.  Eyes will now be on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in the run-up to September 1 as the elections body will oversee the preparation and execution of the voting process.

The president reiterated his support for GECOM, noting, “I remain confident in its ability to hold, free, fair, and credible elections. I urge all Guyanese to support the work of GECOM.”

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Caribbean Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies Chart Bold Path Forward  

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PRESS RELEASE

FROM THE INTEGRITY COMMISSION

BEGINS

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Thursday, 2 July 2025: The 11th Annual Conference of the Commonwealth Caribbean Association of Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies (CCAICACB), concluded Friday 6th June at The Landings Resort & Spa, after rallying attendees under the theme “Recommitting to Fighting Corruption Effectively and Sustainably in the Caribbean.” Over five impactful days, delegates tackled corruption’s entrenched challenges with renewed commitment to unity, innovation, and leadership.

Artificial Intelligence                                                                                                                                                                                         An impactful demonstration was provided by His Excellency, Professor Luis Franceschi  Assistant Secretary General of the Commonwealth, on the benefits and drawbacks of the use of Artificial Intelligence. Anti-Corruption Bodies were encouraged to start getting familiar with the technology to better understand how it can be leveraged in the fight against corruption.

Country Updates Reflect Shared Progress and Challenges

Reports from member organisations highlighted major strides in public education, asset declaration, and investigative framework. Yet, countries also reported ongoing constraints, including human resource limitations, political resistance, and inadequate statutory framework.

SWOT & Synergy: Regional Blueprint for Collective Action

Dr. Roger Koranteng of the Commonwealth Secretariat led a comprehensive SWOT analysis session, providing a candid assessment of operational realities. He concluded with strong calls for enhanced synergy among member bodies and for adopting a unified voice in policy advocacy, resource mobilisation, and legal reform. The Ghanaian experience offers a valuable comparative model.

Leadership: Courage, Vision & Transformation Needed

With corruption becoming more normalised globally, presenters—including leaders from the Turks and Caicos Islands, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, and Trinidad and Tobago—challenged the attending institutions to embrace transformational leadership. Recommendations included institutional resilience training, succession planning, and performance benchmarking.

United Front: Call to the Wider Caribbean and Beyond

The conference recognised the benefits of extending the membership of the Association beyond the original constituents of English-Speaking Commonwealth Caribbean Countries and signified its willingness to accept and encourage membership of Integrity Commissions and anti-corruption bodies of the wider Caribbean countries.  “Corruption knows no language barriers—our fight must be collective,” stated Lady Anande Trotman-Joseph, Chairperson of the CCAICACB.

Digital Transformation: VLEX Software Considered

The conference marked a major step forward with the agreement to further investigate the benefits of the VLEX Legal Database-driven AI system, designed to strengthen legal research, asset recovery, and case management initiatives. The Commonwealth Secretariat, CARICOM IMPACS, and UNODC, received the presentation well, however the rest of the association would communicate their interest to the Turks and Caicos Islands Commission, which was taking the lead in investigating the possibilities.

Key Recommendations Going Forward to consider:

  • Region-wide adoption of technology integration
  • Legislative reforms to streamline access to declarant information
  • Youth-centred anti-corruption education campaigns
  • Institutional collaboration and peer reviews across commissions
  • To explore extending invitations of membership to CCAICACB to other Caribbean countries
  • An introduction to the idea of an International Corruption Court

The conference closed with a stirring call to recommit—not just in words, but in action—to building a future rooted in transparency, justice, and ethical leadership across the Commonwealth Caribbean and beyond.

Media Contact: TCI Integrity Commission Emailinfo@integritycommission.tc  Website: www.integritycommission.tc

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

Header: TCI Integrity Commission Team (left to right)- Jovan Flemming (IT Specialist Security Manager),Tanya Lobban Jackson (Chair), Wendal Swann (Commissioner) and Imterniza McCartney (Public Education Officer).

1st insert: Imterniza McCartney (Public Education Officer)

2nd insert: Justice Tanya Lobban Jackson – Chair

3rd insert: (left to right): Justice Tanya Lobban Jackson (Chair), Lady Anande Trotman-Joseph(Chair CCAICACB) and   Charna Pompier (Director Integrity Commission, St. Maarten).

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