OPEN LETTER TO PARTY POLITICAL LEADERS
1. Dominica Labour Party
2. United Workers Party (Dominica)
Messrs Roosevelt Skerrit and Lennox Linton
Good day to you gentlemen.
While we all appreciate that the political campaign towards the 2014 general elections has moved into high gear, as the leaders of the two main political parties on the island, we expect to see election manifestos that reflect the national development agenda; manifestos that seek to address the holistic development of all the people through programmes engendering political, governance, social, and, economic development strategies and areas of priority.
The political, governance, social, and, economic development strategies and areas of priority that I would like to see addressed during the 2014 election campaign must include but should not be limited to:
1. A National Growth and Economic Development Programme
2. A National Public Safety and Security Programme
3. A National Human and Social Development Programme
4. A National Infrastructure and Superstructure Development Programme
5. A National Sustainable and Environmental Development Programme
6. A National Youth and Gender Development Programme, and,
7. A National Political and Governance Programme
These development strategies and areas of priority must seek to make Dominica a better place to live, work and do business… I do hope that as leaders of the two main political parties you will consider all or some of the ideas mentioned above…, and hope that when elected you will deliver these programmes in a timely manner to benefit all the people in particular and country in general.
Please note further that I will be addressing each of these development strategies and areas of prioriy mentioned above in more detail over the next few days to the Local Media… I also hope that these suggestions are taken in good spirits
Best regards to the both of you, hoping that this season of political campaign will be free and fair, I wish you both well.
Regards
William Mc Lawrence
Business Development Consultant/ Entrepreneur/ Community Activist
Who cares about a manifesto? Just promises printed by those with funding in a book or texted to people’s phones or saved on the usb flash by those without funding. A debate maybe, which ideas sound better? don’t really know.
The UWP have been campaigning and asking for this election date since forever, so I hope they have a Manifesto for the people of Dominica. If they do not then they deserve to lose the election and lose big.
How about
1. a national pay off national debt program
2. A national securities & exchange commission to prevent financial fraud and strengthen trust in the economy to allow for proper secured investment.
3. national financial and banking regulation program – so we can have credit cards in DA that are accepted worldwide.
4. How about a national economic privacy and reform program just like the Swiss government so we can hold people money in our National banks just like the Cayman Islands and Switzerland while using that money to invest in other securities worldwide.
5. How about a national libraries program to build a sizable library in every Parish.
6. A national kids program establishing public places in every village/town that does not serve alcohol and provides a safe and nurturing atmosphere for youth.
7. A national health program to curb, inform proper diet and promote nutritious locally grown foods to public.
8. A national industry program to build at least one factory in every village to employ locals that are not involved in farming… even a simple tonton factory to powderize n package yampein and dasheen preserving it for sale and export
9. Most importantly a Ministry of Technology to secure government and public data and establish laws concerning data security, guidelines for technological companies such as Lime, Lemon and Grapefruit as well as promote national technological advancements to prevent technology based companies from taking advantage of the lack of Savy in government.
I have plenty more
I think we need better health and dental care.
William…Holistic development of the people surely involves
A National Holistic Health Plan including international health concerns for the people of Dominica like Ebola, Aids Etc etc. And what about a National Sustainable International growth policy that includes Dominica’s interregional and International exposure to e-commerce trade and Global Financial Regimes.
Bill what I would suggest we form a committee to organize a series of debates on the subject areas in both Portsmouth and Roseau and invite the parties to nominate candidates to speak to these issues – we can orgainze between two or three debates between now and the 8th of December- l suggest as possible locations the Arawak House of Culture and at the Cruise Ship Berth facility in Portsmouth- because left to those guys they will not address those issues in any structured way especially on the political platform; It will also give us an opportunity to see who will accept and who will turn down- then we can amke a judgement as to who is serious about the real issues facing the country. One other topic or area of development which should be considered and almost be specific is – The development of Sports and Culture .
Bill I wish I could freely identify who I am. I choose to remain anonymous not because of my personal fears but because of the extended victimization and intimidating threats to family members. The truth is when they cannot buy or silence someone they have no qualms in issuing subtle threats to family members. They would go to family members who they know may be right in the path of their guillotine and they would say to that family member to ask so and so to stop talking against the Labor Party. This is personal experience.
So bill let us just say that I know you very well we grew u together. Bill I have know you to be a Laborite and in my opinion your article here is filled with hypocrisy.
Bill your questions are fair questions although very repetitive. also I am not sure what you meant by “A National Sustainable and Environmental Development Program”
I do have some concerns Bill. Why not an evaluation of the current administration (15 years in office) on the bullet points that you have presented. What was or is the success rate on the matters presented. After all it is only the right thing to do we gave them the mandate and they must show us the results. It is from there that you formulate the questions in a fair manner that both political Parties can answer the questions. Please everyone take note that this is not the first time that Bill has written on the same topic.
But Bill we live in a district /town where anything that is coming from the Labor Party is good for Portsmouth whether it is corruption, unemployment, lies, deceit, propaganda, fire bombing etc. So I understand why you ask the questions Bill – this is pretend that you tow the balance line. But you know and I know that you would dare not be objective whether it is during a group discussion at the Borough square, Benjamin’s Park, on the Beach. To be objective would mean that you would have to criticize many of the policies of the Labor Party Government. Your objectivity would also include an honest assessment of our Parl Rep and the performance of a DLP government regarding Portsmouth as a anchor hold of the DLP.
So Bill I applaud your less than sincere attempt. As for me an enlightened and independent mind from Portsmouth I can say without a doubt that the UWP has indeed elaborated on the issues and matters that bill has presented . I can only assumed that he has not been listening – note there is a difference between listening and hearing.
I am also saddened by the fact that even as bill awaits the contents of a manifesto. bill is fully aware that 90% of the Dominican voters will not even read the manifesto particularly my people in Portsmouth. In fact what Bill and most of us with an independent mind know is that manifestos without a debate between the two political parties is jus seasonal routine- no significance. isn’t only logical that both parties on a public stage should be able to analyze and criticize ( constructively and destructively)each others manifesto. But nooo educated and enlightened people in Portsmouth like Bill, the dentists, teachers, lawyers, engineers, ambassadors etc would rather take the low and deceptive road and tell us that we Dominicans are not ready for debate; that the people are too dependent on handouts to even crtic the politicians in power.
I believe that I have said enough and I know that that which i said wil not and does not change a darn thing in Portsmouth because enlightened minds like Bill’s are way to embedded in a foolish Portsmouth culture of ” Labor nous Labor”
My god you can be Labor but when our parents sacrifice for our education they were not expecting that our level of discourse would remain on the level of a Boat House type argument or discussion by the bay where pure ignorance and biasness abode.
Sorry readers for my extended comment
Though I support Linton in this election, yea…Lennox, that long monotone you just spew makes no sense except that you are bitter and know Jarra to be a labor supporter. So what? He can still wish ‘both’ guys well, make positive suggestions, knowing that he only supports just ‘one’ of them…duh. I think you would be more effective to make positive rebuttal in favor of the party you support than sound so bitter about his political leanings. Who doesn’t have a leaning and would like to see manifestos reflect something? Although I do not think manifestos are a big deal anyway. Just win an election….. and doe cry and tell me they won’t let you win. lol
Portsmouth Resident, while reading Bills letter I was thinking like you. I must say you have so eloquently articulated Bills hypocritical correspondence that it leaves no space to make any addition.
I have sat in several fora organised by Bill to address these areas and there has been no change. Bill in my opinion is disrespecting the people of Portsmouth.
I like these ideas my brother Bill. If they were to promise and follow through by dissecting some of these broad platforms we would see a transformed Dominica. Holistic approach being the operative. Thanks for your input. We need idealist like you on an advisory board.
All political strategists always talk about GROWTH, has anyone heard Skeritt talk about growing the economy, whether in parliament or at political meetings. Since Mr. Linton took up the leadership of the UWP, the most popular word used in terms of politics, besides the name, Lennox Linton, is the word growth. Political new comers like Mr. Thompson Fontaine, Mr. Joseph Isaac and Mr. Joshua Francis have spent a number of hours, no only mentioning the word, but going at length explaining what growth is all about. Case in point, focus on the economy show. As far as Skeritt is concerned, the economical growth on the nation does not matter. We have heard him on several occasions criticizing . Mr. Lennox Linton and UWP Team Dominica who have said they will grow the economy by 5%.
Mr Mc Lawrence that’s not new for the Labour party. The Labour Party always presenst a properly planned manifesto. Dr Christmas distributed his manifesto and it has addressed all the issues of our community. I am very proud.
You are just showing the United workers party how to present their manifesto.
Mclawrence …….that is for college grads we illiterates just want freeness and Sewo
So funny, having a belly laugh.