Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has warned private sector businesses of requesting tax waivers after the passage of Tropical Storm Erika since, he said, the government “cannot make blood out of stone.”
He made that statement during an address to the nation on Tuesday night, where he provided a thorough update on the current situation on the island one month Post Tropical Storm Erika.
According to Skerrit government’s revenue streams are down and the country cannot afford to give tax breaks and waivers to the private sector.
“I wish to appeal to private sector leaders in particular to be realistic with the demands on Government over the course of the next few weeks, months and even years,” he said. “I am already in receipt of some mind-boggling request for tax waivers and concessions that were they to be granted would effectively bankrupt and shutdown this economy of Dominica.”
PM Skerrit mentioned that if production and by extension revenues are down, “then the Government cannot realistically be in a position to grant across the board tax and duty waivers to all and sundry.”
“If the Government of Dominica is soliciting support, ultimately from taxpayers in other countries, then it cannot be seen to be granting tax waivers and concessions willy nilly,” he stated.
Skerrit indicated that the government understands the impact of the storm on all sectors and “as a government we will try, however possible to assist those hardest hit as well as those with the potential and capacity to, in turn, rebuild and rebound to generate much needed revenue for the country”.
“But we cannot at this time just do away with taxes and impositions on key sectors, because we still have to find $1.2 billion to restore this country to its pristine beauty,” he noted. “We also cannot open the floodgates on duty waivers and concessions.”
He applauds to all Dominicans for their great efforts and enormous strides that the country has made as a people over the last four weeks in restoring Dominica to a functional state.
“The road ahead is long and indeed blinded, but I am not daunted,” he said.
Is Crazy that sing “In time to come”. Well I am saying “The time will come” when all Dominicans will ask “Why did I”
Does the P.M. seriously believe that anyone in their right mind would want to invest in Dominica without incentives, especially now? You have a whole dept. just for that, the Invest Dominica Authority. Are you going to make all these people redundant now?
St. Maarten is a duty free port. We advertise it proudly to the world, and as a result we get foreign investments. Stop doing it as a special favor. Adopt it as a law!
That is right. St. Maarten has no raw material;s, hardly any agriculture and a shortage of water but it is prospering more than Dominica. Go figure mr. Skerrit.
finally , the PM hold to his word, he really bring us to the next level!!
before we use to talk in Millions but now , we can talk in BILLIONS.
unfortunately this is not Billions of Revenue, but Billions in Damages and tears.
But is willy nilly you have been granting tax waivers and concessions all along. What about all the vehicles you granted duty free during the election campaign. what about the $90,000.00 duty free you granted on that black infinity. you think we forget!
ourwhat about all the wiavers you give to your friends?
Then we built a 27 million dollar state house …… ah what a waste of money
It is still standing isn’t it? So what is your problem?
This is a reality check for a Dominicans. We now have to go back to the drawing board and rethink our numbers. If the stories about the millions of $$$$ the government collects from the sale of passport is true, then we should not have a problem. All we have to do is to intensify the sale of passports so that we could finance a loan of $1.3 billion. But the billion $ question is are people really interested in getting a Dominican passport so this venture could be sustainable?
All the people he gave these favors to should repay now that the country is in trouble. That is why rules and regulations should be followed. When one man is operating all the govt. agencies that what happens. Shame Shame…
It is unfair to attack the private sector who is making a contribution, whereas many of the Prime Minister’s friends and close ones have received waivers, concessions over the years, when they didn’t have no Erika to deal with. Many allegations have been made publicly on radio concerning his girlfriend now his wife, who it is reported received concessions when she brought a very expensive car to Dominica. It is alleged, a very popular Radio CEO, also received concessions for his car and business, therefore why tag the business sector at this time. They have lost thousands of dollars because of Erika. Just recently a pastor almost called him Jesus. Many allegations have been made against the very same pastor concerning the granting of concessions. I believe it is to late to talk about waiver, concessions especially to the private sector which is now suffering.
Tell that to your friends, is you that signing it for them, and they do not even qualify. People who need the ease not getting but people who can pay getting for luxury vehicles. Enough talk and act stupes you is jack of all trades so talk to yourself. I am your biggest fan so its not any workers people talking here, just one of your friends pissed at some of the things you do wrong.
Dear Dominican, i understand your frustration. i’m going to make it even worst.
you call him ” a friend” but remember that a friend who abuse of you, or lie to you, can not remain your friend
cannot make blood out of a stone??? wahou you should ask some of your minister how they can build castle out of 5000 ec$ monthly salary…..
Mr PM: the gov’t should never have been granting concessions to all and sundry as there are clear guidelines. Had you been following those guidelines, all and sundry would not have been getting millions of dollars in duty free concessions when they do not qualify. You need to be held accountable for the millions of dollars given to your family, friends and supporters. That money could have built homes for the evacuees.
Read the fourth paragraph ” I wish to appeal to the PRIVATE SECTOR…………..” What about the individuals, will they receive tax waivers?
This is the problem, Governments provide tax waivers for their friends under many disguises.
I suppose the Government would say the amount of tax waivers given to friends are insignificant compared to the $1.2 billion required to bring the county back to pre Erika. However, every cent given to friends in tax waivers adds up to revenue.
I am surprised that the Prime Minister says that he has received requests for tax waivers. It seems the civil servants are working real quick boy. I know when one applies for tax waivers, it takes a while. Should we congratulate the civil servants or is it the usual, the business houses by pass the civil servants and go direct to the Prime Minister? Say no more. Food for thought
There is no virtue in compulsory government charity, and there is no virtue in advocating it. A politician who portrays himself as “caring” and “sensitive” because he wants to expand the government’s charitable programs is merely saying that he’s willing to try to do good with other people’s money. Well who isn’t? And a voter who takes pride in supporting such programs is telling us that he’ll do good with his own money – if a gun is held to his head.
“Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has warned private sector businesses of requesting tax waivers after the passage of Tropical Storm Erika since, he said, the government “cannot make blood out of stone.”(Roosevelt Skerrit).
Shucking, just shucking, is it not? If you cannot make blood out of stone, what did you use to turn into thirty plus million dollars to bribe and people to vote for you?
Add this $30, 000,000.00 + $500,000.00 =$30,500,000.00 (dollars). we perhaps should add the cost of all the expensive USV you all are driving, and all the fee waivers your colleagues receive to get their commodities free out of the custom.
In any event; now you need approximately ninety-one million dollars to relocate some villagers: Calculate this: $91,000,000.00 – $30,500,000.00 =$60,500,000.00 (dollars).
Roosevelt you see how our corrupt ways usually comes back and bite us?
do you mean shucking, as in “shucking and jiving”? or shocking as is in “amazement”?
Not surprised my foot: the term could actually be shocking which describes something extremely startling, distressing, or offensive.
Shucking on the other hand implies “a bad habit, or bad habits;” hence we arrive at term sucker! So what are you so surprised about? In everything there are variables, even in the English language.
Both words has several different means, and can be applied in any context we wish, and that’s unless we are perusing a degree in linguists!
FRANCISCO, why the Government should pay 30millon+ec to buy votes when there are enough labour voters in Dominica to beat you suckers hands down population apx.71000 yoour lot 17000 labour 54000 think of it suckers ………….
Well then Mr/Miss Drosophila; I know there are more than 800 species of your kind and the species scaptomyza in certain areas of the world: i.e., in the Hawaiian islands. I do not know from which species you evolved; nevertheless, if you believe that Skerrit did not spend a single dime to bribe people to vote for him.
Kindly explain the number of truck loads of building of material distributed to people on the North of the island, and all the other villages across Dominica. Explain to me where each of the candidates obtained at least one and a half million dollars from to give away to people: If that does not spell bribe, then you deserve to be fly! For your information Miss/Mr Scaptomyza: How do you account for some candidates who “thief” almost all of that $1.5 million dollars, and have it in banks in the names of relatives, such as cousins!
Guy I know insects such as fly’s have a special way to navigate their way, you had better open you fly eyes and try to see what is…
Probably the PM should simply request of all those whose coffers increased greatly during the last General Election to return the funds. The State is in dire need right now.
Just live the requests on the desk and/or put them on file. We will deal with them 2020 election year.
leave
If you and others are alive and if Dominica and the world in general are still standing. You should think of it as tomorrow was promised to no one.
Now Skerrit know that??
Country down ? Not cancel all you want to cancel everything na.,what you expect . chewpsssss
I doh even read the whole article.
Mr. PM the private sector can ask for whatever they want.
It is you that have to tell them NO. The truth is that you opened the flood gates and just there dishing out concessions like what. I guess it had to take Erika to open your eyes.
lets hope that duty free concessions will not be given willy nilly as before… we need the money more than ever
all them people that get duty free transport what about them!
Hence one of the many reasons socialism does not work. Too much dependency on government. Recently Mr. PM said Dominica was fearing better than the US in the last recession. Mark you unemployment only went to about 15% which would be a great number for Dominica on a good day. Keeping taxes high means higher prices at stores and supermarkets. This means less disposable income from already low stagnant wages. High public sector low private sector employment is a problem. 15 years and millions of investment by foreign entities either went right back to where it came from and did not trickle down to local economy. A government that spends more on social enterprises without adequate investment in production is doom for misery and failure. Mr Skerrit when will you and your block headed followers realise the reality. I am just keeping it real. You know why? Because I have nothing to gain and I am not running for office. You need to remove yourself from managing finaces of the country.
“Hence one of the many reasons socialism does not work. Too much dependency on government. Recently Mr. PM said Dominica was fearing better than the US in the last recession.”
You know why Dominica has not gotten more in our time of need?
It is because of the disgusting pile of garbage that comes out of that man Skerrit mouth! Our situation in Dominica whether one wish to believe it or not, the country is bankrupt. The United States of America, gives away each and every year, hundreds of Billions of dollars to Egypt, Israel, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and other nations.
Skerrit cannot repair a single road in Dominica without begging for money to do it yet the man is comparing Dominica to America, which has the largest economy in the world. I live in the State of California, which economy is the seventh largest in the world, depending on where you get the statistics. There are people in California on welfare, who are much better off than many working people in Dominica…
The through is, the cabinet is too large, with too many ministers and advisers Cutting off a few ministers and advisers, would do a great deal to the island, the salary paying them would help to block a hole some where. I am a strong Labour Party supporter, I’m against that inflated cabinet . In order to do this,rearrange the boundaries of the constituencies, we can do with at least 15 constituencies, not 21. In the olden days DA was separated by 11 constituencies, now how much bigger have we grown
BEB, if that’s you, I am surprised and shocked!
Nevertheless, I will be generous, and assume that there are fifty thousand people in Dominica. If we are correct if we divide fifty thousand, that is: 50,000/ 21 = 2,380.952, or approximately 2,381 people to one minister, if we lower the population at 30,000 people the ratio would be lower hence, 30,000/21 = 1,428.571 or approximately 1,429 people for each minister to governed.
Obama has less 21 operatives in his cabinet in a country as large as the United States. That is why Skerrit told Dominicans that Dominica is better off than America! That boy is very sick, anybody who takes Skerrit seriously is out of their mind!
Deb changing from 21 to 15 does not solve the problem. Even after raising the salary additional positions were created for friends. We had Charlie jong, wickham guy, ambassadors here and there. The problem is jobs and productivity. Take for example a constituency I am very familiar with in the north east. It has one on the biggest estates lying idle while the minister for agriculture who is from that constituency did nothing. The St.Andrews parish had been the strong hold for banana production back in the day. It has the most abundant arable land. What has happened in last 15 years? The ministers should all take pay cuts that would show they committed to country. We gave five of the top ten black sand beaches in Dominica. Two in Hampstead. All that was going on there is robbery rape and kidnapping. I am not making this up. I do not support party and I have not taken any vow to follow no matter what. We need real solutions and stop allowing ourselves to be dragged by selfish ideology.
I would say the opposite, that Dominicans would be better off with proportional representation rather than continuing with single member districts, and that the number of parl reps should be larger rather than smaller.
So DNO I checked out the official gazette and I see names of people who got duty free and I marvel wiii. One cricket guy with passport privileges brought in a bus and a Land Cruiser.
A businessman in Portsmouth brought in 5 vehicles all duty free.
I live in Canada……… Now I am being asked to send money to Dominica. I am from Viellecase but I am not going to continue being bias
send a copy of the gazette!!
That Gazette is available right here in Dominica for those who want to use their eyes and learn. It has all government business printed in it by law and is printed by the govt. own print shop. Ask your parl rep where you can buy a copy and if she/her does not know they have no business being your parl rep.
Buy your own or pay your subscription and read for yourself
I figured you were from villecase with your blind support from skeritt. So you admitting you have been bias. Thats good. Confession is good for the soul. Lets pray our dear leader start confessing his sins. 1.2 billion in debt and now 1.29 billion in reconstruction cost. So in a week our debt doubled. The worst is yet to come. I see more taxes and no increase salary for the next 20yrs if we maintain the status quo
@real facts, continue to find excuses not to help. Duty free concessions are given across the board based on existing law. I know of many people who get duty free concession regardless of party affiliation. The Portsmouth businessman did you find out how many people he employs, while you sit in Canada thinking only about yourself.
Doc, tell me which existing law allows a private individual to purchase or import a car duty free or receive concessions when they bring in their goods? We need to stop encouraging wrongdoing and you know very well that those special sweetheart deals over the past years were only available to a select group, not across the board. Only in DA.
Doc: In my earlier response, I am not referring to returning nationals here who are eligible once their claim falls within the established timeframe. I am referring to those who never left DA except on short trips, have no business employing the required # of persons for granting of concessions and do not fall into any of the categories established by Law.
It appears from your comment that you may very well be one of those who deprived the country of much needed income. I am of the view that every cent of those millions of dollars gifted to those who were not entitled to it should be returned to the treasury. We just need to check the gazette for the last 5 or 10 years to find the offenders.
Madam Facts, Kid On Block, and all the other names under which you write, I shocked that you have seen the corruption that is going on in Dominica, Skerrit is the most controversial Prime Minister Dominica has ever had. The man is corrupt!
You are beginning to see the true nature of the man. It took me a very long time to figure him out, what opened my eye was when he lied to me personally! That guy must go, either his own efforts, or my force of the people.
Some are going to say “Francisco Telemaque hate Skerrit” let me say here I do not hate anyone, never mind Skerrit, however, we are finding out Skerrit is not capable of governing Dominica.
He pretends, he lie about the economy of the country, now anybody with commonsense can understand that our country has long been bankrupt financially under Skerrit’s rule! Very soon Facts, you will discover more, the same as I and others has discovered!
Mr. Know-all you are so funny. I love reading your scrappy writings. A little knowledge can be quite detrimental to a fool. Boy I cannot wait to read what you going to write next. Boss you can beat a man, torture him, kill him, but you cannot change his ideals. Only you can rearrange your mental faculty, don’t expect we Dominicans at home to change it for you. Your nonsense only brings humour, yet we try to understand your long reincarnated Master Symbot episodes on the serious side. We love Skerrit and we will continue voting him back to office. You cannot change our thinking neither can we change your thinking. DLP and Skerro is there to stay. As for you, you will continue riding on DNO and trying to label intelligent Dominicans as fools.
Chief nobody, what can be expected from a fool like you? If you think I am a clown as you think. Be a man or a woman, and disclose your true name and your educational background, your talent, state where you are from so that I research you and know for fact you are who you say you are.
And it does not matter you are I can unleash a private detective on you to see if you are real: I challenge you!
I think I know who you are, but one thing I know is that in your suffering you will never get out of it to be like me!
You already know my name, however I will state my educational, background and talents to compare with yours, and if I find you to be better academically educated than I am, I will submit to your garbage!
I have told the garbage kind like you in the past you have the nothing to tell me: in the first place you are repetitive with that same pile of garbage, you threw that at me as an insult before, that tells me that you are less than an ounce of fart, lower than a…
I respond to you already, but reading you back, I must say praise God Jehovah for opening your eye, I appreciate your truth, and I believe you are now very sincere, If you are from Skerrit’s village I see why you support him.
One time you said you believe you know a Telemaque, or some: you may have met Tall-boy Telemaque, he has a son with a woman name Sophie, if the son is still alive he might be in his late sixties! Facts we can like a person to death, but we have to examine that person characteristics before we go overboard, and all out to support them, because in the final annalist we may find that our support has help them to cause plenty of damage to our people and country.
Do not hesitate to contribute to your relatives, friends, and anybody you know have a need, but to act collectively to support the government with money, that which you send might go directly into some politicians pocket!
Those of you who have given the thumbs up to that comment above; I am sure that you have been fooled once again.
I don’t believe that this message is from “The Real Facts” the same one who is in support of PM Skerrit–this is an impersonator–most definitely.
I hope that Real Facts will see this message and confirm it–whatever is her confirmation.
You are trying to force here to lie, and make the claim as you have done, claiming that I am the one who impersonate her.
You can remain in your solitude, and darkness where it pertains to Skerrit, one day you will burst out of the darkness as many of us has and see the true nature of that man!
Lady Facts, the comment which you wrote stating you will no longer be biased, it would be interesting to note, that the wise little twelve year old teacher; dumb Elizabeth Xavier, accused me of impersonating you and wrote that comment!
For all I know if you did not write that comment, I wonder who wrote it, and something tells me the culprit might be Elizabeth!
The twelve year old little teacher girl is in the habit of sleep walking, and impersonating herself!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
She did that in the past and then accuse I boy Francisco of impersonating her: de woman turn mad oui!
Telemaque you are such a stupid man, you just gave up yourself with that post above.
You went and took ahead so to defend yourself–you are the one who wrote that comment–it is not from “The Real Facts”–you are leaving out the “s” –the response to the other person who asked for a copy of the Gazette is yours too!
See how filthy you are by using my name in your dirty work–you are such a sick individual; sick to the flesh and bond, heart mind and soul; I even believe you need an exorcism, which can only come from God.
Rubbish Elizabeth, nothing more than waste of time garbage you are talking: if you wish I can buy you an portable incinerator in which you can burn garbage when you are overwhelm with trash!
I was told when I was young boy, my grandmother told me to be very careful with a scorned woman, and the Bible that you read warned about a scorned woman.
And so I must reveal I fear you.
I fear for my very life where it pertains to you eh!
The message below is from “The Real Facts” please notice that there is an “s” in Facts, it is written that way for every posts which is her own, compared to the one above which writes: “The Real Fact”–there is no “s” in Facts.
People be careful whom you agree with on this website; there are many younger and humble people who are searching for the truth from their elders–those wicked imposters are not helping; much worst too, that they are men and women in their 70’s
The Real Facts September 30, 2015
With a name as that, this is expected of you.
A warning: Be careful of making jokes about religion, even the word.
God is not amused.
You will receive exactly what you sow.
You are so eagar and anxious to kill me, you are so edgar to assassinate me, send me into oblivion, you did not take the time out to notice nobody gave me a single thumbs up oui!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
Earlier today I read where you called me a stupid man. Now tell me between both of us who seems more stupid? I think you are, unless the colors red and green means numbers to you.
Alleluia!
It has taken Mighty Erika to force the Real Facts to contribute an impartial, factual and sensible comment.
MAYBE, there is hope for Dominica, after all.
DNO, after this unexpected comment from The Real Facts, I think I deserve a cup of tea as I believe I have contracted the vapours!
You dam liar, good try you are a member of the Williams family of Pointe Michele, residing in Pickering Ontario, you are Kid on the block, Simply the truth, Justice and Truth, Kid on the Block, The Real Facts, you keep changing you fake id, but I know who you are , ha ha ha
So, she lied when she said she is from Vieille Case!
I thought something was wrong when I noticed she spelt Vieille Case incorrectly, If indeed she is from that village she would have known how to spell the name of her village correctly!
So, you see Elizabeth you cursed me all night last night talking about how I impersonate Facts and you, and how and I am trying to fool people, who turns out to be a stupid woman. You curse people before I had got a single thumbs up or down: are you not ashamed dumb Elizabeth?
Yes I accept I am a stupid man,I am an idiot, but I am not as dumb as you are eh!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
can’t he just sell a few passports