Dominica’s Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has announced that the 2014-15 national budget will be presented to the nation next week Wednesday at the Parliament building on Victoria Street.
Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the Grotto Home for the Homeless at the Fort Young Hotel on Monday, Skerrit said the week had been “very tight” but he is working on finalizing his budget speech.
“I have to focus on that because it will be delivered next Wednesday in the parliament, on the 23rd,” he said.
According to the prime minister despite the drop in the country’s revenue the social safety nets will remain intact.
“Notwithstanding the fact that our revenue has dropped, like every other country in the world, we are committed to keeping the safety nets intact,” he noted. “And this is why we have not tampered with any of the social safety nets we have instituted in this country. If it means that I have to stop the construction of a road or a piece of infrastructure to finance the social safety net programs, that shall be done.”
Recently he also told GIS that there will no major fiscal cuts in the budget.
“We continue to invest in agriculture, education and health. As a matter of fact our budget for education and health has increased in the last financial year. So we will not see any major cuts in any of those Ministries but you will see us moving ahead with many exciting plans and programs,” Skerrit said.
He said that his Government’s policy of financial prudence will be maintained throughout the next financial year and will be evidenced in the 2014/2015 budget.
Man skerite kill the damn country!! Since the man come in power is mizeh people seeing.Man u r time have expired.give team Dominica a chance to fix up the mess all u make in the country!!
“According to the prime minister despite the drop in the country’s revenue the social safety nets will remain intact.” (The Prime Minister).
Mr. Prime Minister, if according to Ian Douglas, the backbone of our nations economy is the Vat (Value Added Tax) you are referring to as “the social safety nets will remain in tact;” sir, you are not talking about anything significant!
Taxes should be paid, however if some operators: merchants, and party clones believe they earn the right not pay any taxes, hence not even the Internal Revenue can collect from them. What “safety nets” are you talking about? We have nothing major to export from the island, and surly I do not anticipate Venezuela, and China to be your safety nets.
The way I see it, its only a matter of time before the Government of Venezuela will be out there borrowing from some nation, although that nation is an exporter of oil. With the aid of Television we are witnessing the poverty which now engulfs the Venezuelan people, some are poorer than many Dominicans, soon their government will realize they can no longer burden themselves with your problems, and will refuse to provide you with anymore handouts.
As for China, that is something else, the tides are beginning to change in that country; it is going to become more difficult for them to extend handouts to you also. You went to China recently; you claimed to negotiate for the financing of an International Airport, since your return all you told us is that talks are continuing.
That is our usual, that is the norms in Dominica, and for the Labor Party in general. We are always talking; we talk until all our talk simply disappear into oblivion. There was a time when the Chines would have already announced they were giving you such assistance. Could it be Mr. Prime Minister, your efforts to secure a loan from the Chines have failed, and is due to the fact that the Peoples’ Republic of China, more than twenty years ago gave money to the UWP to be used in the construction of an International Airport, the same one which the Labor Party, led by the late Rosie Douglas, Pierre Charles, Arthie Martin, and others while you was supposed to be a junior minister in that same government brazenly shut down the International Airport that was already in its first stage of Development?
Do you really expect the Chines to flush more of their money down the drain as you have done at Melville Hall Airport, based on the advise of Ralph Gonzalez, Hartley and others who has no personal interest in Dominica. What safety nets are you referring to Mr. Prime Minister, when you should know we have none!
Safety is defined as the condition of being safe from undergoing, or causing hurt, or injury, and loss. Net on the other hand has many definitions, I am sure whereas you are an English major, you might be familiar with this one: “net” also means a net amount of profit from the price of something, or shall I say to receive by way of profit, or yield from an investment. Be specific Mr. Prime Minister, because Mitt Romney during the last presidential campaign here in the United States, made a similar statement whiles referring to people on welfare, and that helped him to loose the White House.
Just a thought!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
How many times does He have to tel?l all you he has no money? But his travel expenses and his security detail expenses are rising but zero zero zero for everyone else. Is that the same Skeritt who defended the actions of Charlo when he led a revolution against PM John?For the benefit of those who are too young or have memoire poule,Chatlo was demanding 122% increase in salary for Civil Servants.You mean under PatricknJohn the economy was so much better than it is under Skeritt? Give this some thought People.
Those biggest fans of PM Skerrit who reside in Soufriere are WICKED and Hungry.
Dear Valley Man
I absolutely agree with you.
My fellow constituents are not bothered about the village, as they are happy to be duped with the bits of crap that the P M distributes at election time.
Come election time, the vultures will be landing in Dominica to vote. Some of them have absolutely no affiliation to the village or the island, but are happy to drop in on a free ride!
Sorry DNO ( apologise for saying) that I am contemptuous of my fellow constituents.
So ‘A Valley Man’ let’s say they are hungry and wicked, isn’t it their right to be his fan?
Is this the new DEMOCRACY your team Dummy Ni Ca is offering to the people of Dominica?
Guess you all are Mugabe’s in the making, take out those who is holding back development by supporting Roosevelt Skerrit? Wow!!!!
Mr PM what is wrong with you. You Miami every minute just weekend you were there you even post for photo shoot with the cook/chef for the event/meeting and you saying the week tight. sit t your desk and do your work stop making trips back and forth to miami etc begging and paying for votes.
Concerned Citizen
Action speaks louder than words. The P M is ensuring that when Dominica finally goes under, he will be far, far away from it.
The saps who refuse to acknowledge that we need change will not escape the crisis which is fast approaching.
“I hope that you will give urgent consideration to the village. After all some of your biggest fans reside in Soufriere.”
I know it’s naive to say no matter who is in office, but hopefully someday consideration to which problems are fixed first will be based on need and not where one’s biggest fans reside.
Dear Steve
I am being cynical !
I was trying to raise a few issues as the people from Soufriere are reluctant to do so for fear of upsetting their darling Prime Minister.
They do not want to admit that the Labour Party is not helping Soufriere, because they have their heads stuck up the P M’s …..
Dear Prime Minister
I hope that you will allocate some funds towards the improvement of Soufriere.
The village needs some form of community centre with adequate facilities to allow the community members to learn new skills and to interact with each other. This will be a step up from languishing on the lazy benches!
Also, there is an urgent need for improvement to the Brooklyn grounds.
We also need more adequate street lighting, especially from Cocoyeah to Scott’s Head and Canal to the Brooklyn area.
I hope that you will give urgent consideration to the village. After all some of your biggest fans reside in Soufriere.