Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has announced that ALBA (Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas) will be giving about EC$40 million to government, some of which will be used to finance a national employment programme due to begin in December and an initiative aimed at eliminating pit latrines in Dominica.
The Prime Minister said on state-owned DBS on Tuesday, that ALBA has promised US 15 million dollars in grant funds to the country and that eight million dollars have been wired to government’s account “as the first tranche of this commitment.”
“That amount will be used for various activities including part financing of the employment programme which government will launch on the 2nd of December and it will involve also, some of our efforts towards the eradication of pit latrines in the country and other community based projects. This is a grant, grant under the ALBA arrangement,” the prime minister stated during a meeting with residents of Vieille Case on Monday.
Minister responsible for employment, Dr. Collin McIntyre, announced the national employment programme recently and said that it will be engaging over 400 Dominicans in direct employment initiatives.
McIntyre said the employment drive, a key component of which is a mentorship programme, empowers people through on the job training, thus giving them an opportunity to create a better life for themselves and their families.
Prime Minister Skerrit stated in his independence message this year that government would be making available a grant of $4 million for the elimination-of-pit latrines initiative which he had announced sometime earlier.
So alba just giving Dominica 40 million bucks just like that. After knowing we owe Venezuela? how sweet, we’ll take it.
Here they go again with some more Publu Relations and giving the people some more medication to ease their pain, anger and total neglect for the past 14 yrs. This is just a failed PR Papyshow government. This Government has been a government built and formed on the principles of hand outs, and here they go making modern day slaves of Dominicans by just dishing out handouts.
One would like to thing that a government worth its salt would be able to speak of ecomonic growth and a great degree on the importation of good and services. But this government has nothing to show that they have been making local investments and now making profits like Domlec on a annual basis.
All you will forever hear from thing incompetent and childish government is: We received grants and more grants and more grants… a grant is a grant and it will remain just a grant……
One would suspect that now, uncle Chavez is dead this has put a spoke in Dominica”s wheel. And trust me Dominica is not getting any form of assistance from big countries so dog bite did governemnt.
A Government based on grants only will surely take the people for granted.
Where are the grants to fill the bad roads, bad feeder roads, to clean the unsightly parts of roseau, agriculture sector, to clean the country and make it lovely once again….?
This government has brought Dominica 20 yrs behind so its not time to grant them a favour and vote all of them out. Trust me they will not and cannot get 18 sits this round… They are alll panicking now so no wonder they all over going to beg for grant so as to full Dominicans…….
In my book Alba money is Venezuela money. So they taking out what we owing them for fuel first, same way like Austrie said we took what Venezuela owed us in aid money from what we owe Petrocaribe. Two can play the same game. Venezuela so desperate for U.S.dollars you think they are giving us largen chess just so?
Is the $40 million a grant or a loan. You will remember, a few months ago the Venezuelan Government bitterly complained that the Skeritt Labor Administration owed them $25 million and despite submitting eighteen invoices could not recover the payments. In six months the same Venezuelan Government is offering Skeritt a gift of $40 million, something isn’t right.
That ALBA logo looks like a Chinese Flag to me!! Since Venezuela seems to have run up a SUPER DEBT with the Chinese, maybe it is the Chinese who are actually giving us this ‘grant’ under the Venezuelan umbrella! And remember, we apparently owe the Venezuelans money which they have requested repeatedly and have apparently not yet received. So how is it that we are receiving ‘garnts’ from them??? Hmmmmmmm…..I smell a Chinese rat!! ;)
boy you see that muscle in your mouth there;
it is not right to impose,least you will be depose
stop this story telling,
one day you will want to tell the truth
like the lady say.you people are a movie.
you see how all you taking first chance on PM but when he hit all u back i hope all you doh pay $5 to take him to court. all u like like higas and all you feb feb feb. all i know all you cannot sazinay PM because he alone putting all of all you down with a judo lol
that money is to rent two buses for campaign 60in90 days this p;m is a
You make me laugh. And the rest of the money goes in commission of course.
next level kaka latrines vote for your toilet that how skirret put us now use the money to campain and put pain on our table
send for us in barbados…we are pleading
Go take a loan!
Tired beg for money…our country already under a dept which we canot pay…hope this money will be used for education and development and not use for the thief we called god sent
Real PROPER GANDERING going on Election is drawing near !Meantime UWI Students bawling in Barbados
The you give the more they want… n when dey doh have is your fault!
The more you give the more they want… n when dey doh have is your fault!
LMAO.. But all them grants and loans, where does the money actually go? really and truly? confused! cuz as if there’s not enough progress in this country with alllll the grants and loans :/ correct me if i’m wrong
fix the pit latrines the Police live in around Dominica..cant understand the men who protect us suffer that much.It”s a shame.Police stations are homes to rats and other insects.look at Mahaut,Wesley,salybia,Colihaut just to name a few.what has the gov’t did to house officers in the past 10yrs. only vehicles and that’s it.take care of the men who is paid to serve and protect.fence the yard of all police stations pm.we live in the 20th century not the 1960’s.what about a new hospital for Marigot. A home to the main Airport on island my god.Alba money to fix pit latrines.but wa the joke.Are u kidding me.
leave my PM alone;all you letting de man get old befor his time.
we going and get rid of every PIT latrines on island,all you too like to talk s8it.8=h.
To get rid of a pit latrine You need pipe borne water, a septic tank and a septic field or soak away!
It is much more than an LPO handed out to a very low income person to pick up the actual toilet bowl!
what pit latrines do all you, i so like to use that,there are other things to put that money too,Dominica like is cattle that leaving here too much bush and grass all over the place. Create the atmosphere in which people can develop them selves so then they can chose to build gold toilet if they want. Shame on me if Government have to build house for me, give little money to put food on my table and still have to come and build toilet for me, I DIE NOH.
please provide adequate amount of this funds for helping university students. the youth = our future. Higher education for all
the dominican labour party have been reactivate rather than proactive .correct me please if i am wrong the uwp have been proactive .how many jobs have been created in the last 5 years ?iuwp have said they will create 5000 jobs in the next 3 years ?its about raising the living standards of every dominica .they need jobs not hand outs .teach them to fish so they will always have
That is convenient timing for such a grant. I wonder if there is a plan in place to use this fund to advance sustainable jobs growth in DA.
Here we go again. AlBA financing its interest. Grants to keep th skeritt regime afloat. Hope every cent is accounted for
I voted Labour last election but never again will they get my vote. Them Fellas to worthless.Greedy politicians and aimless minds cannot run a country. Dominicans must be careful lets not be bought and sold at a low price. Skerrit thinks he can do what so ever he pleases then come an buy our votes. Lets teach them a lesson nest time.
I recommend that we vote UWP now. A better choice to run this country.
In other that I agree with you, you need to tell me on what basis that I should give UWP my vote, tell me also what they will do tht the labor party isn’t doing, tell me how are they goying to do it. at least I know where the present government are getting its funds from, but where is the UWP going to get theirs from. If you know tell me.
Ok. There are two types of development: People development and infrastructural. Under Labour party, people are getting poorer and the middle class is shrinking. Under the UWP administration during 1995 – 2000 we had both kinds. The middle class was increasing. What have you seen under the reign of Labour? Yes, we have seen buildings going up but people are getting poorer. The only ones getting rich are those directly connected to Labour. Ask yourself, Have I become poorer are more prosperous under this government.WE need lasting jobs in the country not crash course for six months. we need to produce through the agricultural sector and tourism. We cannot continue perform like this.
Roosevelt Skerrit is this a loan or a grant? You have not been managing the countries finances well because you have not done anything to grow our economy aftet 14 years in office and that is really sad.
You have jumped on an employment drive in haste just to react and shame the UWP for their plan to address unemployment in this country. Besides even if this money is converted to a grant it still will not have any lasting impact on us because what you all are promoting is not sustainable but merely a ploy to seek to get reelected.
We have been fooled by you and your cabal and we this time CHANGE IS A MUST!!!
And now you and your cabals are tryingto full the people to make them think that you do not know weather or not it’s a grant. stop playing poly: and be real pal.
please spent this money in the productive sector and not elections projects, plzzzz
hmmmmmmmmmmmmm…..you asking for a lot..
First ask this government to account for last election…
Mr. Lennox Linton has said on several occasions that Skeritt does not have a clue as to how to manage this country, but again how can you have a one time school teacher as your Financial Minister. In this hard times how can a small country like Dominica get a gift of $40 million and Skeritt is talking about the eradication of Pit Latrines. A number of Caribbean Countries must be having the biggest laugh and ridicule of the year. They must be saying Dominica’s management of unemployment is the best in the world.The economy must be striving to great proportions. The tourism industry must be the best in the Caribbean. Dominica must have solved its corruption problems. They must be aching to either visit or reside in Dominica. They must be saying if Skeritt does not have a better choice for the use of that money, sent it to them.
Did you notice that the eradication of pit latrines meant providing construction jobs.
Understood. But we are in dia need of sustainable jobs dear!
Are you saying Dominica has three thousand Pit Latrines. Mr. Linton said he can produce 5000 jobs in three years, Skeritt’s counter proposal is to eradicate Pit Latrines.
You are damn right! Construction jobs for more Chinese like the two bustops, E.O Leblanc High and the Windsor Park Stadium.
Don’t you worry ONE DAY DOMINICANS WILL GET RIGHT SHOULD RIGHTFULLY COME TO THEM.
God bless Dominica and we pray for Team Dominica in the efforts to save this country.
At least Skeritt was a teacher. He had a job…..not like those jokers who have not had a job for over 15 years. They have no qualification…..yet they want to be in control….get real!!!!!!
When you are talking about qualification you could not referring to Skeritt. It been six weeks, a talk show host has been asking Skeritt to produce his transcript or any form of documents to prove that he has University Degrees in English and Psychology as reported by Aaron, he has been quite.
Dominicans always want to tell people how to spend their money but they themselves never have any! If the man wants to get rid of poverty and pit latrines = poverty) then so be it, If the man want’s to empower young Dominicans to build a foundation for a brighter future… then so be it! If he spends it on ice cream and ice pops so be it… the truth of the matter is we all just have to hope for the best and if there is anyway we can push this country forward then move your hand out of your pocket and do it!
One things millions fooling Dominicans like peas..lol
Didn’t they speak about the millionsss….lol from China…..lol
what happened..lol Dominica is now confirmed as the Poorest in the Eastern Caribbean…
Sick society Dominica is…
This is just a means of fooling those who can’t understand basic governance issues…
folks that’s just a campaign tool, there is NOTHING SUSTAINABLE with that…
The Government of Dominica has brought about massive Poverty they can’t eliminate it with these pennies.look at roads, housing, where is the high end investment in the island that will create a boom and more monies in citizens pockets..
But Dominicans are noted to be small minded folks so anything they get elated for..
Labour had cursed Dominica to a point of DOOM!
Huh?
The above article indicates that some of the funds will finance government’s employment programme. One component of this programme is a mentorship programme. DNO has reported on this programme. So, you can have a read, if you care to.
Are you saying that there is “NOTHING SUSTAINABLE” in empowering persons to work or to create employment for themselves? Tell that to the many who have already started benefitting from the government’s initiatives.
Lol! Man, Daddy Chess was right: There are more mad people out on the streets than in the hospital. Lay off that blue grass that you have been smoking, Seminole Ave.
You look like you have to smoke something to open your eye, do you know what sustainable is, how many new business can this economy sustain.
That employment programme is just electioneering, paid for by the treasury. Maybe not all Dominicans are educated but they are not stupid.
I hope that money is used wisely. Use that to open a quarry, a juicing plant or some other business that could create long term employment. Don’t take all and train people for jobs that are not available.
election monies
Geez Skerrit where is the vision? In a world of iPad, Apple TV, google chrome cast it is just unbelievable that so long mister is pm he cannot create any initiative to improve the quality of life of Dominicans, seriously Dominica is this the best you can do.
how many jobs have been created in the last 5 years .dominicans have been bauling out for jobs in the last 5 years .the uwp have been the one to tackle this matter.i am just speaking the truth labour party have been reactivate rather than proactive .correct me please if i am wrong
What % of those $$$ are going towards the relection effort Mr. PM? Also what type of reports does ALBA needs as to how the money will be spent? If there are none , then folks in the rural constitences look for bags of $$$$ to flow your way—sewooooo
This fast approach to development and jobs has to stop…..Skerrit, I am not convinced and YOU sound like a very desperate man. Since you came in office 12 years ago you have been promising jobs and launch after launch of failed initiative towards job creation and only to see unemployment and unskilled people more on the list of rising unemployment.
The only people benefitting from this dead economy is Some PM and friends…..villas, nice houses……pool….drive in as the poor people of Dominica are driven to more poverty and unemployment. Where are the jobs, desperate Skerro? Desperate men do desperate things….
Grant to eliminate pit latrines? This is a big joke, shame on Dominicans for tolerating this nonsense
That’s just an excuse for spending the monies. We all know it’s going towards election campain
This is great news! Thanks to all who were involved in securing this sum. Forward we go.
I must commend the Government and the Prime Minister for the rewards that their foreign policy continues to foster. We all stand to benefit collectively from this. In tough economic times our progress and development continues and we are grateful. Granted, there still remains a lot to be done, but I celebrate the current successes under this administration. To be fair some of the things that the Government are addressing now should have been done by Past administrations. However, the needs of the county are being addressed. God will continue to Bless our Country.
and the rest of the money going to red clinic and to fund the imminent general election campaign.
culture of dependency on its best…another week – another grant, interest free loan, donation etc…if you think that foreign aid can increase employment then you are very naive person…actually foreign aid makes you poorer
Yes I Mr. Prime Minister , good move anything good for the country I in that. Y not. I am not bothered with the opposition when they cry down funds coming in to the country because on a recent talk show they indirectly said that they will stick to the funding agencies, so Y not.
Boy oh boy! I am left to wonder what exactly we will have to give in return for all this so called grant. What have we promised in exchange for all this?
Who in ALBA can afford to give a $40 million grant. Venezuela is in crisis, which of the poor ALBA countries is giving us this Christmas gift?
Is it clean money or sanitized through ALBA?
Just questioning, given the economic plight of ALBA members.
the uwp have said the will create 5000 jobs in 3 years .how many jobs have the dominica labour party created in the last 5 years ? raising the living standards of every dominican should be a prioritie ,not just a selected few. dominicans have been bauling out for jobs why has it taken the uwp to raise this ? just asking .
eh he, Venezuela an inflation rate of 54 percent and they can give 40 million….that’s great
Talk now!
Oh boy! …here we go again!!!…*yawn* wake me up when this become a reality.