Minister for National Security, Immigration and Labour, Charles Savarin, has said that Dominica is being seriously challenged by the demanding battle against the illegal drug trade.
“This battle is being fought on land and at sea and while we’ve had some successes the challenges remain urgent and demanding,” he stated during the opening of a new police station in Grand Bay on Tuesday.
Savarin noted that the demand, supply and use of drugs and the ancillary factors associated with the drug trade, such as illegal firearms, violent behaviour and money laundering are the most daunting challenges confronting the security forces in Dominica.
However, he pointed out that his ministry remains committed to the peace, security and safety of the nation.
“In that endeavour we will continue to strengthen our collaborations with our neighbouring islands through the RSS and with our development partners,” Savarin said.
The security minister also appealed to police officers to take care of the equipment given to them, especially vehicles. He said that every police station is equipped with a police vehicle to assist officers in performing their duties efficiently and to avoid telling the public, “we have no vehicle.”
Meanwhile Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has described the new police station as a sign of his administration’s determination to continue fighting crime in the country.
“This police station is a clear manifestation of the government’s commitment in ensuring that we have a peaceful society. This country should remain as peaceful as it ought to be. Therefore, security is important and we shall continue making that investment,” the prime minister stated.
The new police station can house twenty police officers and was constructed by R & L Construction at a cost of $3.7 million. The previous police station was housed in a private dwelling house since 1998 at a cost of $6,500 monthly.
Its not just about drugs. What about protection of our local industries? Illegal migrants are being given jobs before citizens and nothing is done about this, seems like this minister has neglected his work and allowing for the marginalisation of Dominica. There are no jobs for the youngsters but they too need to make a living. What about all those illegal entries into the island? White collar crimes? Why do we even pay tax, when there is clearly nothing in return. How do you mr savarin plan on tactling those issues? I have not ever heard of people going to jail for white collar crimes here. Is it that our administrators are perfect? Who facilitates what? People speak like drugs it the only criminal offense here. Take a look at the name of your ministry.
doesn’t savarin know some of them? those in possie, shawford, roseau… they sponsoring his adopted party… lol mi kalabeff
Again and again we ( talk ) about the drug problem!
But no one wants to actually do anything to the people who are controlling the shipments of drugs into and out of D.
Three years ago our airport was a stop over for a flight that landed at five o’clock every Thursday morning.
Yes, loaded with drugs and guns for the Carribean and the US. Finally the US arrested a dozen US Customs Agents in Puerto Rico when (they) were unloading the plane.
The US is not stupid to what is going on in D and who is involved. Why do you think we get shunned by the US.
Why do you think some corrupt Leaders in SA give us handouts …. Because they want their shipments to safely pass threw D.
Yes, we get money via police supplies and training from the US to combat drugs but the US is never ever going to trust certain Givernment Leaders in the Caribbean.
So if you look out to sea on a raining and see a boat moving fast, it’s not there for fishing ! And if you still hear the hum of an airplane real early in the morning, it’s not picking up tourist.
…. Makes you wonder … Who is getting the money ??
You listen to these guys talk and you have to shake your head. You want to fight the drug trade in 70 thousand people in Dominica? Go to the villages and speak to the people, where you have smoke you have fire. First thing you will hear, how Mr Joe build this big house and he don’t even have a job. To fight the drug trade you must treat everyone the same. You must take a stance and you must deploy honest police officers. You cannot have your pal rep hanging out with a known drug dealer
All u need a better hospital with equipment. The Princess margaret hospital i knew as a child is no more. At this time it should be much better than many years ago. Gov’t build a proper hospital with the necessities that we need to take care our people. This is so sad…,
if they stopped fighting america and europes war on drug imagine the money that would be available for other things. the demand for drugs in america and europe is too great to ever stop the drug game
One Million, One Hundred and seventy thousand dollars (1998 – 2013 = 15 years) (15 years = 180 months) ($6,500.00 per month = $1,170,000.00) for rent for one property in 15 years of rent. Consider the manyother properties tht government is and has been renting for big money. Does that make good economic sense, ministry of Finance money wizzards? I am no monetary management person. But that sounds ridiculus. Couldn’ the rent money go towards a government owned facility?
“However, he pointed out that his ministry remains committed to the peace, security and safety of the nation…” There will be none of these unless we have JUSTICE AND FREEDOM!
the drug trade will always be a challenge since the authorities are attacking the “small men” on the street with two joints but are turning a blind eye to the “big boys”; the ones in big positions who have the drug trade in hand, getting rich and killing poor people’s children.
you see they can’t attack the bigger drug lords because as far as i know there are people in the highest of offices in the state involved with those drug lords, so attacking the drug lords would also mean exposing those who hold these offices and also messing up their business and lifestyles
I say, EXPOSE THEM.
Well said, no lie here!
The government purchased a piece of property at pte michel to build a fire station and a police station on the same lot , which is good, however it has been years since this property has been sitting there, while they pay rent to some one els renting there building as a police station, , the amount of money the government is paying rent to some one in pte michele could build a hundred police station , and fire house, when is some one gonna wake up and smell the coffee, pte michel is an entry pointe on the war on drugs, it is nice for grand bay to have a new station, but build us a new station with the land that the tax payers has already payed for, dont let it sit there .
But wait nuh if allyou wanted to stop dat Crap from hitting the distribution point allyou could/would stop that since days of Mamo so doh come trying to make a case now,,,
On another note How can people Trust a Man who never won an election seat but always got a Political appointment no matter what administration gets to administer Dominica’s Affairs,,,
Last time Marn read about Mista wasn’t he ambassador to Sweden???
What the heck did dominica need an Ambassador in Sweden for???
Garçon there is one simple way allyou can stop d Trade, Tell allyou associates and assigns, subordinates and delegates to stop d trade from the highest level of political office both foreign and domestic!!!
Dey say if One is not part of the solution then that One must be part of the Problem!!!
MR Savaren it is reported in the news that your government closed the police station to the extreme north of the island it is close as i write the note why is that SIR
the north of DOminica is where all the DRUGs enter do it make sense?
and what about the vensuelaian speed boat intercepted by the DOMINICAN COAST GUARD whom did not stop at first keep droping packages into the sea, the had moneys worth millions on board. lennox lawrance was their in court