Churches maintain non-partisan stance in election campaign

President of the Dominica Christian Council (DCC) Bishop Gabriel Malzaire says his organisation has no jurisdiction to deal with allegations of corruption in government as campaigning continues for the December 18 general election, according to a report on www.cananews.net.



In a joint statement issued by the DCC and the Dominica Association of Evangelical Churches (DAEC), Bishop Malzaire said such concerns are better directed to the law enforcement authorities.



“Other groups have called on the leaders of the churches to join forces with them in addressing allegations of corruption or other perceived irregularities in the general election process,” he said.



The Bishop of Roseau stated at a meeting held last week between the DCC and the DAEC “those concerned were discussed and we agreed that it is the duty of the churches to provide guidance that is objective, non-partisan and impartial to the nation.



The clergyman said while the churches recognised that a “wrong is a wrong regardless of who commits it”, they were insisting “that it must be brought before those who are qualified to interpret them and appropriate action taken if, when and where necessary”.



He said that an election code issued by the churches “adequately addresses the concerns raised during the campaign.



Opposition parties have accused the Roosevelt Skerrit government of corruption, an allegation that has been strenuously denied by the Prime Minister and the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP).