DOWASCO not bound to cut staff – PM

Skerrit

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says water company DOWASCO is not bound to make staff cuts in order to deal with its financial problems.

Skerrit says while he is not ruling out the possibility that DOWASCO may have to take that action, the company must examine its current method of operation.

“There are some departments that were created and should not have been created in the first place and we should have more front line people, people if your pipe gets burst that you will have people to deploy and to fix it in a quick time,” he said.

He continued, “Let us examine all options but we shouldn’t just come to the conclusion that we must increase water rates or we must send people home.”

Skerrit also stated he is sympathetic to the current situation at Dominica’s sole water company.

Government is expected to discuss the matter with DOWASCO when the company puts forwards its written proposals.

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27 Comments

  1. 101
    March 2, 2011

    People, if you benchmark DOWASCO against the other water and sewerage utilities in the OECS, you would realise that it is quite efficient. Yes, there is always room for improvement but it would not provide the kind of savings to bail out DOWASCO.

    DOWASCO’s problem is with the Labour Government. Remenber CWA!. Talk Talk Talk will not solve the problem. Show me a business that has not raised its prices for the last 13 years and you will discover a business that is bankrupt.

    To put DOWASCO back on its feet Gov’t can start buy paying up its bills, and allowing timely increases in tariffs. Sorry, obeah doesn’t work.

    People, one thing that is sure, is that it cost more money to resurrect DOWASCO than it is to allow it to run as a normal business over time. Don’t allow these politicans to play with our emotions.

  2. Yow Yow
    March 1, 2011

    Please review the proposal quick

  3. Jayson
    February 28, 2011

    TOO MANY CHIEFS AND NOT ENOUGH INDIANS…!

  4. Devil's Advocate
    February 28, 2011

    There are several solutions to this problem that many who are against what the Prime Minsiter has said. I do agree that rates do not have to be increased and no one will loose their jobs. Look at the big picture here. perhaps the notion of cutting random costs, such as overtime, uniforms, expense accounts, selling stocks and holding everyone accountable for their bills. That is alot to deal with and start to change, but no one said that this was an overnight change.
    have you nay sayers thought about those types of solutions? Well the majority rules and as far as I am concerned they are the power play here. “closed mouths dont get fed”, so unless you want to eat speak up or let the people do what they were appointed to do. You may not like how they go about it, but the fact remains something is being done about the situation..
    :twisted:

  5. .......
    February 28, 2011

    I do agree with the PM that staf does not need to go home, and rates does not have to increase. I really think that the operation needs to be examined. Wastage needs to stop, useless meetings trips and purchases must end. DOWASCO come on get to the drawing board.

  6. Dominican For Life
    February 28, 2011

    Does that mean the people of who have no water now in some areas will keep suffering?

    • Devil's Advocate
      February 28, 2011

      Did you seriously just ask that ?… NO… the water fairies will deliver a waterfall with a faucet attached where the suffering people can get water as they need…
      Really… serioulsy… I am disapointed by your question :twisted:

  7. Well Well
    February 28, 2011

    What both DOWASCO and the Government are not saying is the hundreds of thousands of dollars Government is owing DOWASCO that has put it in such predicament. That is why Skerrit and the others will come with polished words asking Dowasco to rethink its operations. Pay up and pay your bills on time, and the Comapny will stay afloat. We took like to gloss over things to make it appear that we are all so ever righteous. Please.

    • the devil's advocate
      February 28, 2011

      how much of that is true? You speak as if you know the intricacies of the financial situation at hand with the powers at play… care to elaborate more, as I would like to understand the dynamics of why this happened a bit better rather than lay blame of the government. :twisted:

  8. Really Concerned
    February 28, 2011

    Oh Oh!! Sounds like the PM is telling DAWASCO that it has too many chiefs and not enough Indians!!!
    Replacing 10 chiefs who making let’s say 100 dollars per day, with 15 indians who making 50 dollars per day is about a 25% reduction in your cost and a 50% increase in your manpower/workforce/headcount (not considering admin etc.). Let’s see how this plays out.

  9. Muslim_Always
    February 28, 2011

    ‘All u tinkin skerro playin?’ :lol:

    Good choice of words Mr Skerrit, we hope this situation can be resolved with DOWASCO. It would be sad to send people home or increase the water bill. DOWASCO has the same system for decades now. DOWASCO needs to seriously upgrade it’s system.

  10. the devil's advocate
    February 28, 2011

    Hugo Grotius, did you take the time to read the comments the MAN made? Do you have a better solution to the problem at hand? I am truly appalled by your remark? even better yet, do you have any idea how a buisness works and how a man of such stature makes his decisions?

    What better solution would you have him come up with?… perhaps make a rash decision to further extenuate the unemployment rates, or allow you to make the decision to help lessen the blow and come up with a better solution… You have got to be kidding me here.
    No matter how you look at it, you dear reap some of the rewards set forth by this political party whether you want to admit it or not. I want to see you as ignorant as you are set foot , come up with a better solution for DWASCO, and present it to the prime minister? NO…??

    Well I’ll tell you what? no matter how much someone tries to do good or push in a direction that will be benefical to everyone, someone one has to be a devils adovocate and lash out against the change. Be it that the party is good or bad, people like you, with negative opinions and no solutions will speak up against it. Change is progressive no matter how big or small, and I am sure you have seen some of the changes.
    Regardless if you want another political figure head, your ignorant opinion will still stand, why? because you will grow wary, and become far more impatient and then you will recongnize that these people mean no harm, when your party is and will be at a stand still because they are unable to move forward with changes that affect everyone.!!!!

    your attitude will not get you far… nor your political mindset or a mind to make important decisions

    • Papa Dom
      February 28, 2011

      Why do you have a problem with the truth? The government allowed and or fostered the very bad management policies which he is now condemning. He was instrumental in awarding his friends contracts without tendering and is responsible for the appointment of the manager of DOWASCO. So what is this none sense about? didn’t he realize that the foolishness he was encouraging in order to get votes and money to fund his party campaign would have long term negative consequences?

      • the devil's advocate
        February 28, 2011

        I do not have a problem with the truth that you speak of. I do not believe that government has not fostered any bad management policies.if you think about the political system, it is continued and built on the foundations of others, case in point the previous political parties. Are you seeriously contemplating that Skeritt is ULTIMSTELY responsible for DWASCO? You dont know any of that man’s personal affiars. I am sure that the appointment of his friends to these contracts is hear say and you have adopted it, driven by hatred and jelousy for which you do not truly understand. we as as society when we do not understand change or a given situationwe rebel against it and adopt a negative attititude spreading propaganda.Regardless of whether they are friends, the situation at hand is preserving the jobs that were created by the company reviewing its policies. Who cares it is obvious you care that they are friends, so I urge you, have you taken a look at the manager of DWASCO’s educational background to see whether or not he was more qualified than the others who applied for the job, and if there were others who applied for the job.( if you can honestly answer this I will be humbed).
        As far as I can see there are two problems here: 1. Skerritt trying to find a solution to the problems that will benefit all, and
        2. you… not understanding the dynamics of the situation insinuating that it is was for political gain and not coming up with a presentable solution to the problem at hand. Since he is INCAPABLE as you were so bold to INCLINE, you come up with the solution. that I want to see :twisted:

        • Papa Dom
          March 1, 2011

          Why persons like yourself look to the legacy of past governments to justify the corrupt practices of this administration baffles me every time. As for this jealousy thing; what is there to be jealous of?
          Yes he is ULTIMSTELY responsible for DWASCO! Firstly, as the “leader” of the government he is and also by virtue of the amount of political interference in every facet of society. Take a look around my dear friend and tell what is hear say. Do we not see his friends in strategic positions? I have not questioned the credentials of the manager or his ability, skerritt did. So, if you are somehow dependent on skerritt for you daily bread, carry on singing. I will say again without fear that this government has fostered bad practices at Dowasco and skerritt is a hypocrite.

    • Hugo Grotius
      February 28, 2011

      If one man can disobey one law without being challenged, then every man has the right to disobey every law without being challenged” – Fr. C.S. Jolly

      • the devil's advocate
        February 28, 2011

        I propose this,
        “If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.”
        – Mary Engelbreit

        • level head
          February 28, 2011

          yay…

        • QUEEN BEE
          March 1, 2011

          with people like you change will be hard to come by , your head is so far up , your nose needs wiping .

  11. ORA -ET-LABORA
    February 28, 2011

    Love that comment from the PM.

  12. mouth of the south
    February 28, 2011

    skerro one ting i giving u licks but i admire ur psychological skillz we boy,,,, awa u is the best even if i cah stand ur skin,,, hate a dog but admit it’s teeth is white

    • Boots
      February 28, 2011

      MOUTH OF THE SORT i canna understand why you would hate a man like that.The only conclusion i have come to is yah,you know the boy hot areadyyy,he must have………your girl eh.Eh doh LIE.

  13. Hugo Grotius
    February 28, 2011

    Bold Face u Bold Face

    • kk
      February 28, 2011

      Ediot you ediot

      • Hugo Grotius
        February 28, 2011

        magee u magee

    • Safe-sexer
      February 28, 2011

      sot Zor sot

      • sadist
        February 28, 2011

        tebe zor tebe

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