Residents of St Joseph is to benefit from funds amounting to over $400,000 to be made available by the government of Dominica which will go towards construction of washroom facilities, a footbridge, and fertilizers for a young farmers group, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has announced.
He made that announcement at the 21st inaugural meeting of the St Joseph Village Council on Wednesday afternoon.
“I can say to you by the end of next week, God’s willing, you will receive a cheque of over $278,000 to effect washrooms for the people of St Joseph,” Skerrit said. “I am giving a commitment to the farmers’ group in anticipation that you forming yourself into a group, a commitment of an initial cheque of $15,000 that will go towards the purchase of fertilizer for the distribution to the farmers of St Joseph.”
Additionally, he stated, a footbridge will be constructed in the community.
“And in respect to the footbridge, I know that it has been a concern and the Parl Rep has raised his concerns,” he remarked. “There was a delay because we had to do the design of the footbridge for this particular part of St Joseph, and it will cost the government over $113,000 to build this footbridge…”
Skerrit said the government will be asking the village council to get the contract going and get the work done.
He told the new village council that it is important for everyone in St Joseph to play their part in order to achieve positive things for the community.
“So if the drain is blocked, we should not be calling on the chairman of the council or the Parl Rep to come and unblock the drains,” he stated. “It is our responsibility to get together as residents to unblock the drains because, at the end of the day when the roads get washed away, every one of us will be driving and walking on bad roads.”
He urged residents to take ownership of the community, “recognizing that if the community is doing well, we will all do well, if the community is doing badly, we will be affected a negative way…”
“My urge to you is to work together with the council as they seek to improve the way of life of this beautiful village of St Joseph,” Skerrit stated.
Meantime Acting Minister for Social Services, Roslyn Paul said councilors must see themselves as local partners of central government and as such they must work with central government for the development of their communities and the nation by extension.
“They are expected to demonstrate sound leadership and to work in close collaboration with residents as well as stakeholder agencies which can assist in achieving their development goals,” she said.
She noted further that government remains committed to providing opportunities through which communities can empower themselves.
“Your council, like all councils around the island, is a critical arm of government with respect to the empowerment of communities,” Paul stated.
She advised the newly sworn council to work in collaboration with the local government division of the Ministry of Social Services, Family and Gender Affairs which boast of a well-structured system, “designed to oversee, assist and regulate the activities of all local authorities around the country.”
A boat which was constructed during a Boat Building & Repair Apprenticeship Program conducted recently in St Joseph was handed over to the council during the ceremony.
In February 2016, MP for St. Joseph, Kelver Darroux announced that government had approved $2-million for the construction of a boulevard in the community.
Boss before you give fix the Farm roads. I never come across a PM that keep putting the cart before the horse. I was in Dominica and the roads are a mess . Dominica is a lovely place make it more attractive.
St. Joseph to get four ($400,000.00) hundred thousand dollars: Big deal; to some people that will sound like a large amount of money, especially to those who are living in St. Joseph, and Dominica in general penniless!
That to some of us is “peanut change!”
Roosevelt gave five hundred thousand dollars to his ……..bishop to install a roof on his Roman Catholic building, if it cost five hundred thousand dollars to facilitate that, which might include material, and professional services. To what purpose that peanut change is going to serve the village of St. Joseph?
In the first place the government is responsible for the development of the nations infrastructure, so if that peanut change is needed to do anything in the village, it should not be used to spread political propaganda. This is a case of saying, if you support that labor, you will be rewarded.
That’s what is in simply terms, and that is why Dominicans should revolt against Skerrit, for the man…
…and the dilapidated roads…how are the farmers going to transport and use fertilizer, when they cannot travel the roads to their farms? Papa mete, well look tori!
I visited St Joe not too long ago and boy, there’s no possible way to access farms and mister talking about giving people fertilizer? 
Easy, they putting the fertilizer on the roads to make them grow. That is why Skerrit is the wisest man in the Caribbean according to the preacher man of God.
One good thing about our dear and beloved Supreme Leader is that whenever he wants to draw attention to himself (which is NOT often) he does so with MONEY!!!! Every time the Red Boss comes out of hiding, steps out of his bullet-proof armored car and escorted by his heavily armed security detail to mingle with common folks you best believe that some money is going to be thrown about! The Supreme Leader is indeed the Labourite Pope, he smiles, waves, hugs old ladies, kisses little children and presents big sums of money to his worshipers. This session of money throwing in St. Joseph is nothing more than a question to loyal Labourites in that village: it asks…am I still your God? Of course, the response in St. Joseph was a resounding “YES” with the sweet taste of two million dollars promised earlier this year sitting on their tongues. We, the unsuspecting public, hear things like Farmer’s Group, foot-bridges and BOULEVARDS and we miss the real picture! The Red Boss rules!
We all know this money will soon find its way into the “intended recipients” pockets real soon. Very little work will be done at “INFLATED” pricing to make it legal and under the raider. One year from now we will all be asking; Where did the $400,00.00 + go?
On another note; where are the Senjo pastors and “bido layglize?” Why are the people answering “amen” to the Indian Duckt-her? Dominicans, this is NOT a joke! This is serious business that needs to STOP forthwith. God is watching and we cannot put any man before god. Erika brough rain and we were almost wiped out but we continue to do the same thing. DLP supporters in Senjo, STOP allowing yourself to be taken advantage of and break that evil spell you are brining to your village. God help us all.
Always Assertive!
Roosevelt Skerrit are you a godfather or a Prime Minister, handing out personally goods and services that should be supplied by your government as a routine. Boy, you really playing godfather but is not your own money garcon! You are pathetic and laughable. Let the depts. of government do their work without your constant interference trying to play God.
Now they will get their “Boulevard.”
Way papa what a mess. I think before we all VENT. Sit back and see what happens. If nothing happens by the time. It was said to be done then YOU VENT Or we all vent. I cannot believe that thete is still a pit toilet in your town and its roach infested. Something needs to be done so people will not get SICK.
When it was time to deliver Skerrit gave a young farmers group from Penville $100K
That cheque was presented to my friend Oscar George, PRESIDENT of the group,. But to promote the Skerrit propaganda, GIS which is Skerrit’s number one propaganda machine, says that cheque was presented to THE VILLAGE COUNCIL http://www.news.gov.dm/index.php/news/3392-pm-endorses-young-farmers-group-with-100k.
Almost two months later neither GIS nor Skerrit corrected that information. Do you know why? After the presentation, Skerrit came under a lot of pressure for just walking up and give people money in the name of group. It was so serious that Regie had to go on DBS to say it was Petro Caribe money. So to make it look legit, GIS through Skerrit stated the money was not given to group but to VILLAGE COUNCIL.
They completed a washroom in Layou over 18 months ago and the water and lights still not connected. So I would not get too excited about washrooms in St> Joe.
Could this money not put to better use such as employment initiatives for the many unemployed youth within the constituecny
Zabocca, in that case you can not say they completed that washroom. If it can not be used it is not complete and just a waste of money. I have seen it myself and koolbwa already eating the door Why they did not use treated wood God only knows.
“I am giving a commitment to the farmers’ group in anticipation that you forming yourself into a group, a commitment of an initial cheque of $15,000 that will go towards the purchase of fertilizer for the distribution to the farmers of St Joseph.”
Now let’s compare this $15K to Penville group.”On Saturday 13 February 2016, Parliamentary Representative for the area, Roosevelt Skerrit presented the group with one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) at the Penville Primary School.
I hate to say what I am about to say but for the sake of education I will say it. My objective is not to offend anyone or bring down any community, but just to point out a truth.
I remember in the 80’s we from Vielle case use to refer to Penville people as Penvillian goats”. I am quite sure many villagers still remember that. Penville people are no longer seen like that. I am now wondering if Skerrit does not treat St Joe people like that
One thing Roosevelt Skerrit is brilliant in bro. and that is division. All the time he does that, playing one against the other, setting one against the other to cause misere and you know what? He is enjoying it like a perversion. Yes Sir, I am convinced he gets pleasure from that.
Foot bridge,what a joke,Skerrit this Bridge must be built with a proper foundation,and please dont tell me the village coucil is part of this,more money being washed down the river,smh.such a joke.a bridge for votes.
When the PM makes his nonsense comments about the opposition not being fit to provide leadership, the question is do all members of St Joseph village council belong to the Labour party? Do all citizens of the community support the Labour party?This man does not know how to bridge the divide and rise above petty politics and help heal a divided society.Skerritt be a leader for all Dominicans and show that in your words and actions. There will be times and places when you are in the house of assembly or, the political stage where this level of discourse is expected.Divide and rule will only get so much done and no more.The British did it during the era of colonialism and look at the mess left in it’s wake everywhere they left behind for example Africa,Asia and the Middle East.Can you try a new way Sir
So if colonialism s the problem, who do you blame for HAitti ,s. Extreme commess ??????
How does this translate into to long lasting jobs. Jobs are what is needed
Manipulation, further control of local Gov’t institutions by the Skerritt Cabal.
In anticipation of young people in St. Joseph forming a young farmers’ group, Skerritt is giving them $$$$$$$$, fertilizer. but the farmers who were so productive, working hard in the heights of Karholm and so,. are neglected, access to their farm roads pot-holed.
That was never the approach, as exemplified by those who came before us and working to build strong, independent, efficient Village Councils. That dictatorship style, seeming-to-be-father-giver of $$$$$$$$, nothing else is tantamount to all kinds of corruption.
Skerritt has taken upon himself to just handover $$$$$$ to those Councils, without proper project proposals or budget prior to giving of money. Therefore accountability and transparency are left wanting..
Such manipulation and control of Village Councils, using the-dollar-giving-strategy, will never auger well re. village improvement. Continue to be whose fools?
stop being a fool
Little scraps here and there and thats development
He does not care about developments. Its all about votes, votes, votes, so he can claim he was democratically elected, just like Mugabe.
The Red clinic has reopened to full effect!!! Wow, that’s impressive!!! But why is in my village especially mister them want to come and dish out their garbage na? Jobs we want not handouts. You’re creating a lazy society with your failed methods. It’s a great shame that in 2016 we are celebrating the arrival of a footbridge (which will be of poorly constructed), fertilizer (for only a selected RED few), and toilets that have the ability to flush (instead of the pit cockroach infested ones that currently sits at Otro-Bando). There is a saying that whoever wins in St. Joseph wins the election so I guess that’s why suddenly they’re placing so much emphasis on the jobless marijuana smoking backstreet sit down all day village. Maybe those manicou on the back road will fall for your nonsense. Garcon stay out of St. Joseph. St. Joe not RED Red Red like Portsmouth and Penville. Kelva only won there because of your imported voters. Next election I coming and vote him out
All the imported voters own homes and pay taxes, and come back often. What have you done for the betterment of St. Joe. Since you stop drinking the glow caca you think you a high and mighty. There are those of us in St. Joe who have a different prospective than yours. We are RED, RED, RED and yes, we will come back to vote. I WAS ALSO GIVEN A TICKET BY YOUR RETIRED PM, Edison James to come and vote. You are in Florida living in the slums and working 5 jobs to keep a roof over your head now you want to call people Manitou. It takes one to know the other. We love our PM and YES I love my brilliant smart articulate PR, Kleve ! Smoke that! I also love my birthplace St. Joe More Smoke!
All the imported voters own homes and pay taxes, and come back often. What have you done for the betterment of St. Joe. Since you stop drinking the glow caca you think you a high and mighty. There are those of us in St. Joe who have a different prospective than yours. We are RED, RED, RED and yes, we will come back to vote. I WAS ALSO GIVEN A TICKET BY YOUR RETIRED PM, Edison James to come and vote. You are in Florida living in the slums and working 5 jobs to keep a roof over your head now you want to call people Manitou. It takes one to know the other. We love our PM and YES I love my brilliant smart articulate PR, Kleve ! Smoke that! I also love my birthplace St. Joe More Smoke!
UU the truth always hurt,st.joe is the worst of village,most of the young men are crack addicts,please if you love your village accept the truth,Skerrit and Kelvar are 2 waste,this is all for votes,face the facts.
Garcon, you are a real example of a breed of parasites that only know how to take and not give. If Edison James gave you a ticket to vote that was wrong also and even worse for you to accept because it shows you have no morals. You know, I would not vote for UWP for that reason alone if Edison James was still there. The party have changed. It will be more difficult without the corruption but good will win over evil in the end. Keep on sucking the milk from Skerrit’s cow for now.
That is if people like you can even come down Dominica. That alone u people can do, is stay were you all are and talk. What are you doing for your village big mouth.