Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has said he will be calling on Dominicans to take more responsibility for the development of the nation when he delivers the budget for the new financial year on Friday morning.
The over half a billion dollar budget will delivered in parliament and the Prime Minister said some attention will be place on people’s responsibilities to themselves and to Dominica.
“But also critically, one of the area you will see some attention being placed on is about our own individual responsibility to ourselves and to our country,” he stated. “It is important for us to send a message that each one of us, if we want the country to get a particular point in time, then we have to make our contribution to that endeavour, to that effort.”
He said a call will be made to all that they should take responsibilities for developing the island.
“We will be calling on people to take on certain responsibilities and to make a greater contribution to their own development and the development of the country,” Skerrit remarked.
The budget is over $525,959,000 and a number of programs initiated by the government will remain in place, including social programs.
“The social programs will continue,” the Prime Minister noted. “We believe that they are still needed. It is an important measure, decision or policy to help address issues of poverty. They are important in helping us achieve our Millenium Development Goals.”
He believes government must invest in both the physical and social infrastructure and efforts will be placed on “reaching out to those who cannot take care of themselves.”
The Prime Minister said more money will be allocated to students studying overseas, which he described as a “massive investment” by the government in the citizens of the country.
He said the much talked about new hospital will “feature prominently” in the budget estimates saying “some good advances” have been made in having it constructed.
Skerrit also said plans will be outlined to develop agriculture, tourism and job creation, among others.
I hate to say this, but please stop knocking PM Skerrit. Everyone has to make a living these days and one in politics is not easy. It involves, in most cases, lying, cheating, back and front stabbing, pomposity, doing deals with the devil (constantly) and being excellent at fooling the masses … all the time.
In that regard, PM Skerrit is well on track to being a world-class statesman and has and will continue (by all counts) to do a very good job at keeping Dominica exactly where it belongs in the world whilst making a very good living for himself.
Ask yourself this:-
1) Would Hon. Linton do any better?
2) How many politicians have there been in the past who you voted for and promised the masses what they voted for and then did not deliver?
3. How can a country which has never, ever had a credit balance in its public accounts ever hope to do anything better than go around the world with a begging bowl which is exactly what Mr. Skerrit is doing for us?
Big Man you must lead from the front and by example with your (take responsibility) BULL SHITTT and do the following-: thin out your over-sized Cabinet; fire all the DLP candidates you hired illegally after they lost their seats in the the last general elections and end Bobol and Corruption among your DLP loyalist. And if you TRUE, we go follow you Skerrit.
Those of you many critiques who appear to be such expertise, tell us what have you done for Dominica, to assist in developing the nation and to enhance it? What are your future plans?
No more blames on the world economic slump. US weekly jobless claims reported today is total 255,000 vs. 285,000 est, lowest level since 1973. Jobs, jobs, jobs everywhere. Can you say that for your country after 15years in office PM? Stop the lies and deception, tell the people of the wealth you, your cronies and elected officers have gotten at the expense of the poor Dominicans.
Do you want the government to construct buildings to open businesses to employ nationals?
Dominicans as you are to create jobs for their own benefit and that of Dominica.
Mr. PM lead by example by reducing the size of your cabinet. This will indicate to the people of Dominica that you are you are serious about taking “more responsibility” in national development.
You are in Tampa? What have you ever done for Dominica except to be a critique?
Red Jasper development for more jobs, exports etc. – Ambassador A not willing to help; gov’t blockage
Toilet Paper Project for increased exports – Ambassador cannot help; gov’t blockage
Contributions to PMH – Minister of Health MIA
Redevelop Goodwill Savannah – Gov’t Blockage
Personal responsibility? In other words, don’t look to gov’t to assist with anything, just do it yourself and give us the credit for more votes.
all you just hate the pm thats all
This is true. Whatever they state spew of hatred. This is why other Dominicans must not pay heed to them and their derogatory words especially at election time.
Chicken wings& Back& neck. Cook that every day. No need to buy butter. AND No New Taxes On that. THANKS YOU SIR. THATS WHAT I GREG UP ON!!
Hands up hit dem with de tax. , I hope all of us who shouted Labour power still shouting it? Spider said it best “we going down slowly,….slowly, slowly.
G.T.H. What about the resposibility to apologise. You get my drift.
Action speaks louder than words….just saying
I would really like to see Dominicans look up to the Flag again, taking pride in self and country. Singing the national anthem and reciting the national pledge with their hands on the chest or breast. We have lost this part, are loosing our culture, both traditional and social, and will continue to loose respect for our Island if we do not unite.
Sad to say we have been led by some ministers who care less about people’s wellbeing and strive for greed of wealth! We cannot say that the government did nothing but we can safely say that it has probably ran out of ideas, thus crippling the economy. While it has supported the elderly, the aspiring young business man will eventually succumb to Chinese absolute advantage and government victimization. The question is who are we and how do we make Dominica better? Can everyone present ideas or gain financial and moral support or are we seen as red or blue where red are Dominicans and blue are Outcasts? It is time to co exist with respect ..
I don’t know how people at home continue to buy your brand of foolishness. To date, you gave more money to repair the roof of the Cathedral, when compared to proper farm access roads. We love music, but musicians need to fend for themselves.
The problem with you and members of the regime is this: You do not want ordinary people to prosper whatsover. If they do it on their own, you will not be able to fool them with cheap rum for votes, come election time. As long as they’re poor and dependant on you and the gang for their “Daily Bread,” all is well.
The only thing that will end your brand of nepotism is more spirited uprising by brothers and sisters who are suffering under your regime. We need more protest like the ones untaken by “Jean Bawi.”
Your “Regime” cannot give a proper account of why the “Lindo Park Project” came to a standstill. When you lamented that you do not know, “Who will hold the keys for Lindo Park,” you look petty and small-minded. So please stop lying to the public.
Your government cannot give a valid reason why someone who invested in a boat in Portsmouth, has the ship laying to waste, because they could not obtain the required government licenses to operate their boat. It’s sad that a Prime Minister has turned into a “Bold-Faced Liar” and the masses still buy your crap.
You want to tell CARICOM residents to buy local when pictures on DNO depticts deplorable farm access roads on the island. How you continue to “Lie” and make empty promises is beyond comprehension.
Our farmers can’t get their crop to market, but here you go again telling people to be independent. Drigo just keeps repeating the same “Garbage” all the time that you approve of. What a joke.
Technology gives us the ability to quickly read and interpret issues in an instant. Gone are the days when head honchos like yourself could fool the masses at will. Therefore, your statement about taking more responsiblity for individual development is nothing more than hog wash! How can you take such a stance, when Shillingford lamented that he held a total of “Fourteen Meetings” with government officials about his dream to turn Dominica’s “Red Jasper” into jewelry and to date, his pleas fell on deaf ears. When he used his own initiative and contacted the Venezuelans, your “Regime” told him that he cannot conduct business with an outside government.
You are playing from the same; petty, greedy,short-sided and nepotism-play book that your forerunners created for you. This speech is nothing more than a sham. It’s simply bluster without substance. Keep on fooling the masses. You’re great at it.
You are a fool all you do is calling people names How do you know that Shillingford is talking the truth.This guy is just playing politics like the rest of you all.
Take the lead sir; stop giving a jack and jacqueline duty free vehicles. The country needs the revenue
I like that..personal responsibility to advance country..every time a Dominican decides to better himself/herself and remain in Dominica..the country moves forward one individual at a time..but on the other hand Gov’t has to listen to Dominicans and not just a selected few. Don’t be dismantling projects because of political inclination..if it’s for the good of the Country cheer it on..When a poor Dominican wants to develop an idea, give him the support all the way regardless of what part of the country he comes from..open up the economy, bring rural development..tell them Bankers to get out their offices and ensure projects work and yield the returns for which they were intended..further develop the major sites to boost visitor expenditure..we have to start investing in development that will bring returns and move on from only the usual sea wall, and monumental buildings etc..wt about the Cruise Village? Dominica has more sites to visit than any other OECS..spend for returns!
This is a highly hypocritical statement, by a man who is clearly out of his depth, and not in touch with reality.Skerrit most Dominicans except those in your cabal love Dominica.Most Dominicans would like to work, in order to contribute to nation building.But
for political expediency DLP
would rather give these people handout,in order to get their votes.
So its DLP that’s insane, not the citizens!BAD,INEPT,CORRUPT and WICKED governance.
Dear Sir how do You expect the Citizens to take responsibility for National Development when You do not maintain the farm roads in an Agricultural Country? When they demonstrate their displeasure they get tear gassed and You turn around and deliver 500,000 Dollars to the Musicians of the Country hoping they will sing on Your behalf .You claim funds are low Yet You gave another 500’000 Dollars to the Catholic Church who then rewarded You by making You a King Pin in their Secret Military Organization.
All previous Governments maintained the farm roads the best they could through one disaster or other yet at the same time You keep singing about the Economic downturn of the world .
According to Blessings “You can talk on either side of Your mouth while whistling down the center but You cannot run a Government at the same time !
John paul, people like you and lennox,+bush doctor fontaine and UWP supporter’s not all but most that is trying to mess Dominica up, But you lot wil not take Dominica to the bad old days, with all that rubbish talk.
They are the ones bringing Dominica down. It is as if they have no interest in it. Their words depict that. In their case, they need to change their overall attitude.
Shoo
PM is the biggest hindrance. Goodwill Savannah
Because if the administration really want to develop the country they would sit down with not only the private sector but also with the OPPOSITION Party to put plans in place so we could see things are moving in the right direction . The PM should know by now he haven got what it takes to turn the ship around, he should stop thinking of himself and put the people and country first.
For God’s sake! People as you are the hindrance. The government needs cooperation from nationals as you; to bear your full responsibilities; not fully the other way around. This is the bottom line which you need to learn and practice.