It is not like the old days. “Dose days gone.” Nowadays we do not seem to worry about our image and national self respect. Our government omits to pay our membership dues to the United Nations, a mere US$7000 and then our ambassador to the UN dismisses it by telling us in other words, ‘is not we alone dat owe so what.’
The affairs of State over the last five years seem like a bad stew and a veritable witches brew, ‘Like a hell-broth boil and bubble, double, double toil and trouble.(Shakespeare-Macbeth) It has been one scandalous issue after another with seemingly no end in sight. It is the first time in our history that we have seen our government so embroiled in all kinds of ‘zess.’. The thing is that our officials get seduced by their own excuses and genuinely believe that they are making complete sense when no one else except fanatics thinks so.
Is this the type of governance we hoped for in this 21st century? We need purposeful leadership that uses all available talent for the clean advancement of our nation and not this brutally partisan nonsense. But then how can our Prime Minister truly lead us out of this situation when he vigorously promotes this partisan nonsense just to win elections? He seems to be spending most of his time overseas and when he is here he is in court all the time. He is in the court defending his legality to be Prime Minister and sit in the House of Assembly and that horror movie is still continuing and was he not just not too long ago in another case in the BVI court? He has been in court suing Mat Peltier for reporting in his now defunct Times newspaper, about his land deals and then despite the almost savage bristle directed at Mat he settled the matter out of court in a secret agreement unknown to us even today. He is now in court suing Thomson Fontaine for defamation and he is going to court again to try to avoid the investigation of the Integrity in Public Office into his financial activities and we hear from his lawyers that this matter could be in the court system for a very long time.
Now when we expect the Head of State to give some integrity to the ship of state the court virus spreads like a bad flu to our Mr. President Williams who now has to be defended in court against allegations of being illegally appointed. Daddy Miller the calypsonian, adds humour to the whole thing with his song requesting that if so many higher-ups are illegally appointed then he too can be an illegal calypso king. And while the court flu virus seems unstoppable and not even heated grapefruit juice and honey can stop its march we have to hold our breath awaiting the next passport sales scandal, strange ambassadors scandal as they come in like restless waves pounding down our senses and defeating reason.
In most other places a situation like this would send the population ballistic and no amount of diversionary tactics with positive messages of development from the administration could dilute the public outrage. The thing is all of these could have been avoided. If the government would just come clean and do things right. If the President was properly appointed there would be no issue with that today or if the proper land fees were paid or if both Petter St Jean and Roosevelt Skerrit had nominated themselves according to law rather than openly defy the constitution, “No Law not even the constitution can prevent me Roosevelt Skerrit,” or if the treasury simply pays its commitments to the UN on time we would not be embarrassed today.
In other words if this administration would pay genuine attention to matters of concern to the people we would have better days. If the PM would simply talk to us and tell us the truth about these matters and admit his mistakes then he is loved enough to have been forgiven and we all would sing, “Lovely Dominica.” But the administrators believe that public apathy will cover all their doings and that because the people show little interest in government activities except to, “see what handouts they can get,” then they very likely will get away with beating them soundly and sending them to bed.
In Waitikubuli our people have very little knowledge of the workings of governments. Without trusted governments we do not have true freedom or a fair society. We might as well be living in a dictatorship. It is the duty of those who we elected to let us know the truth and stop hiding behind lawyers and legalities. Why can’t the PM simply stand before the IPO and explain his financial affairs which are of concern to we the people? If the cashier in your department store who was broke before you employed him would 2 years later be able to buy a car fully paid would you not wonder where the money came from?
In our land the people laugh at everything. They will laugh when you fall or when you fail. It might be useful if our TV stations introduce a local comedy hour to promote a ‘laugh industry.’ What in other lands is taken seriously we simply laugh away. The shadow of corruption in government, makes us just laugh as if it is all family entertainment.
I may hear you ask indignantly, “Who me? When did I ever laugh at these things?” and I will reply, “If you see these things happening and you stand aside never adding your little or considerable influence or just your voice towards any effort to right these wrongs, then you laughed and you are laughing still.
I am looking for a good person in Dominica, where can i find one ? please can some one help me? oh forget it, i have found one and its no one els but my self.
Just some corrections to what I posted under the name: Anonymous.__ That too was a misstep since I always use my name. The word ‘to’ should been left out before would-be writers; and opposed instead of oppose as well as demonstration should be plural.
by: ignus thomas
DNO why did you reject my post? Was it too powerful? Do you have alterior motive?
Hi Mr. Joseph, yours is a well-written piece. Well written as far as your grammar, style of writing is goes. Oh, there’s much to would-be writers can learn from you. Nevertheless, I don’t think that your accusatory finger is point in the right direction.
It’s true that the PM is caught up in a lot of legal issues; but to MR. Skerrit’s credit, most of those issues are the result of a witch hunt by members/supporters of the opposing parties. Again, it is said that if something is said loud enough and long enough, most of the people will believe it, even though it’s a lie(Goebels).__I’m not certain if I spelled the name correctly.__ And it appears to me that a lot of the opposition persue this route.
IN THE END, DOMINICA IS KEPT BACK; JUST BECAUSE MOST OF OUR EFFORT WAS CHANNELED TOWARD THE DEMISE OF ONE MAN. How is that? Because the PM must divert some of his attention to the clearing of his name.
Mr. Joseph, I hope I’ve read you wrong. Also I don’t want to convey the idea that every attack on Mr. Skerrit is unjustified, a witch hunt. Perhaps if he is given credit where/when it’s due, I’ll ‘see things otherwise’.
( Here how to beat Skerrit: Oppose what should be oppose; show that you and the Opposition is capable of doing better is elected; present a MAGNIFICENT manifesto; and, hold fewer demonstration and no boycott of Parliament.)
PERHAPS YOU’LL STAND A CHANCE IN 2019.
“…. oui dennis nous sav ou sa ecrit!”
eantime back at the ranch Skeritt is with His motorcade of security going to and from the Airport and telling us we have to tighten our belts.
Jobs are being lost all over .the aeriel tram 66.Marpin 11,Lime unknown.Wait!Chinese jobs are increasing 60 Families in Roseau,Hundreds on the Statehouse ,College ,roadways and biways.
The Propaganda Machine tellig us things are good but for who?
Oh please Dennis, I will take the non-payment of dues to thed U over the plan by PJ et al to sell my country for one US dollar to de white man; and to encouraging mercenaries to come to DA. You calling people boom boom flies, what were you in PJ days? All dem fancy ideas you are now espousing were not in your head in the late seventies ane early eighties? All you can say is that Dominicans have memoire poule, because man like u should be a living pariah…shame on you; he that is without sin throw the first stone. Remember PJ’s words ” I will never resign!!!!”, what advise did you give PJ back then? You who were riding the milk and honey train?…
Am on the train coming from work, crying thinking what has my home land come to
Dennis My question to you .What are you doing except to write what you write. Where there`s no vision the people perish”. If you`re not part of the solution then you`re part of the problem. Real leaders lead from the front wake up and smell the coffee.”SMFH”.
You are a zeyzeh.He writes what do you do try to write things you’ve heard and quickly rubble them in ur head then on the blog .
IN simple words you are stupid or as we say in DA you stupid.
Talk precedes action!I hope when the action reaches a feverish pitch is not too much for You because the action has already started just look how many times Mr. Skeritt and His administation have been challenged in both the Court of opinion and the other.This is for all those who keep saying People just talking!
At least he took a step to build a brick unlike you who come on here to knock off his brick. I will suggest to you to wake up and build on the first brick that is laid because that’s the only way we can get some where. Stop this partisan nonsense people.
Boy look ignorance in this country.
I advise every person in Dominica who have a computer to listen to Ronald Regans farewell address to the Nation, you will observe much and we the people is the theme, I will comment no more for at present Dominica is a failed state, just listen and learn
And what DA & the US have in common? You sound like the stressed guy above.lol to too stupid.
For a start we peg our E.C. Dollar to the U.S.Dollar, which is happily accepted by our shopkeepers. Do I need to go any further….?
UN ?
I quess the bill will be paid in time to support any vote the chinese, Ruaul, fedel,and the Venezuelans demand from Vince
You forgot Iran and Syria!
Never in our history has Dominica witnessed such lawlessness and disregard for the Constitution. The IPO, the “Independent” Electoral Commission, the Police, the Judiciary, and more have all come under heavy influence by political operatives. Corruption thrives and so the economy is in shambles. The standard of living of most Dominicans have declined considerably. How much more of that corruption could Dominicans take?
Dominicans are experimenting with dictatorship. They have already forgotten the horrible rule of Papa and Baby Doc in Haiti, Batista in Cuba etc., etc., The people will rise up when the greedy, selfish, corrupt cabal least expect. How long? Not long.
Wait and see what will happen when all these institutions are head quartered in the Malice.
Sorry to say but, my instincts tell me that Dominica is not getting rid of Skerrit any time soon.
One day people will wake up and find that fake President put out to pasture and arise president skerrit.
Oh please! Dominican are way to stupid to stand up for themselves. Dominican had that opportunity to do so in 2009 and where are we today!
Oh please the man there already he will stay cause is so Dominicans wanted
Very good one Dennis keep ’em coming.
Will our vote make any dif. UN what UN
Tom Tom, does your existence make any difference? So why bother to even breathe? Man, some of us always want to sit in the front row for ten cents and still complain the seat too hard. Brother, for me the bottle is still half full!
What would Jaime say Malgraysa? Before his heart attack(massive)
that is a very idiotic comment, i suspect coming from a fanatic of that corupt regime.. ….
Well there is no need for Vince at the UN, tell him come home Stop wasting our money
Good job Dennis, keep talking, you get it. Those who really love Dominica, listen and take action.
Yes I, thoughts and more thoughts.
Don’t laugh too hard, it early still.