Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has said that Hurricane Maria has battered and bruised Dominica but Dominicans remain unbroken.
Presenting the 2018-2019 National Budget in Parliament on Wednesday, he said Dominicans are scarred like the mountains that surround them but they are still standing.
“On the evening of 18th September, a merciless Maria passed over Dominica as a Category 5 hurricane, striking us with winds in excess of 175 miles per hour and an intensity, which thank God, is rarely seen by members of the human family,” he said. “Much as we wished her to leave, Maria stayed the whole night. In the wake of her departure, she left what a shocked, international media described with terms such as, “the denuding of the landscape”, “the devastation of the infrastructure”, “the disappearance or death of loved ones” and “the despair of those remaining behind, who had lost everything for which they had worked and who were now forced to survive on an island where there was little to eat, no fresh water, and no electrical power, only fear, darkness and an uncertain future.”
He said devastating hurricane was like a nighmare and reality show “except that no one could shake us awake; nor could we turn
the television off, because this was our unexpected and painful reality.”
“Those of us who survived that terrible night and the weeks immediately following, will forever remember the ferocity of the winds, the raging rivers, the power of the floods, the rolling rocks, the brilliance of the lightning and the pounding of thunder so loud that it shook the very insides of our bodies,” he stated. “We will also never forget the cries of terror of our children, our families, our friends and neighbours. Nor can we erase from our memories, the scenes and appearance of a war zone, when we were able to venture back outside for the first time.”
He said within a few hours, the powerful hurricane which packed winds in excess of 265 miles per hour, wiped out the equivalent of EC$3.51 billion dollars, or some 226% of the island’s GDP.
“She reduced to ‘rocks, rubble and ruins,’ houses, structures, infrastructure, landscapes, livelihoods and lives,” he stated.
The Prime Minister said everyone was touched by the hurricane including members of Parliament.
“Like our citizens, members of this Government also suffered loss and damage,” he stated. “Neither the Prime Minister nor Members of Parliament escaped the hurricane unscathed. Perhaps there would have been some level of empathy had our Government allowed the maelstrom that was Maria, to traumatise, overwhelm or paralyse us and our efforts.”
He noted that despite all this, Dominicans remained uncrushed.
“We have all been severely challenged, but we are not crushed. Many of us have been demoralised and depressed, but we are not defeated. Dominica has been bruised and battered, but Dominicans are not broken. Like the mountains that surround us, we are
scarred, but we are still standing,” he stated.
He remarked that Dominica has actually made progress since the hurricane.
“Let us be frank, Madam Speaker, our Government and people have made tremendous progress since last September,” he said. “The Caribbean and international community have expressed their amazement at what we have been able to accomplish and are singing our praises. The Government and the citizens of this country have much of which we can be proud.”
Skerrit pointed to several things done since Maria.
“In what has been a relatively short time, extensive clearing has been done, roofs have been repaired; electricity, water and internet have been restored; our communities are accessible and in the majority of instances, we can once again drive relatively comfortably on several of our country’s roads,” he stated. “We did all this in an international climate in which the number and extent of last year’s hurricanes caused damage requiring reconstruction from the Eastern Caribbean to the North American mainland. In consequence, building materials were costly and difficult to obtain and the condition of our air and seaports made it difficult to land or to easily and speedily distribute such materials.”
“Alica Pinard >>.I am so glad people like yourself was not born during the time we fight for independence from our slave masters. “(Real)
Alica Pinard is a proven idiot, but a lie is a lie, and I must exposed it!
So, I need to inform good as your intentions may be; you not told the truth, and therefore if it is not the truth it is a lie!
Not one single person in Dominica in our nation history fight, fought, wrestle, battled,in combat or struggled for any form independence or from any slave master! Slavery was abolished, more than two hundred years ago, nobody in Dominica played any part in that.
None of the British colonies in the Caribbean from Guyana in the South to Jamaica in the North of the Caribbean fight nor fought for Independence.
The British decide to first force us into State Hood for five years, after they told us ready or not for independence, they would let us go, and that they did!
Real!!!!
I never mix my mind on slavery. U no why black people was always wicked and still is.
They sold there own people to slavery, so stop the pity party.
It’s time we grow up and make our own lives better. Stop blaming people/gouvernment for our faileurs
Wé are responsible for our lives. We always want to use slavery as an escape goat.
Out lives are where they are today because of our own choice.
Be bless
Skerrit is not GOD , he is a man with faults and will never be able to please everybody.
Alicia diapora voter stay in the Us dont come and vote in them ppl election cause dominicans doh have the good time all u have . If u toe nail hurt you can go to docter for free in a country which excercise demorcracy
Punjab PhD we had already been battered by “Hurricane Skerrit” and just got buried by Maria; yes we are not broken and will get rid of your disastrous administration.
Waste all u money on party etc…. and after blame the man for u all being brokes.
Life je choice not chance.
No gouvernment is there to fix out personal life. Thats out job. Even if one day Labor goes out of office. Do you all really belive the next gouvernment will do better?
Do you all see the leader of the opposition party?
Where pas he after Maria? How many off u all did he help?
Let us be true to our ownselves . We are reponsible for our lives, kids, and how we sent what we have.
I am not trying to be insultive here. Just speaking truth.
Joke TIME:
P.S Linton was the one who bought Maria to do DOMINICA, maria dont like to see ugly.??
If we can survive Skerrit’s 18 years of incompetence and economic destruction, we can survive Hurricane Maria. We have always been a resilient people, so don’t blame Maria for everything.
Sometimes am amazed by people’s comment how naive they can be in certain situations . Of course the devastation was caused by MARIA that’s part of life. No one can fight Mother Nature all we can do, Have faith in God and he will take care of our lives. The Prime minister is doing his best to improve the country and there are ungrateful people who blames him for everything. What is wrong with humanity. Are you all forgetting that the Prime Minister travelled to many places abroad for assistance? He was at the UN in the states, talking on behalf of Dominicans? See the good in the prime minister and stop blaming him for everything on this planet. Those people trying to win the seat for prime minister are a joke they will bring the island to the ground. Prime minister Skerrit is experience he should continue the job.
the marijuana i waiting for.
As per usual plenty of ahm, ahm, ahm, ahm…but precious little substance. A budget by default is all about figures and explaining them in detail. What we get in Dominica, a few figures, no explanation but instead plenty of rethoric and even more of the usual propaganda. Skerrit needs to go!
PROMISES! PROMISES! PROMISES! and more rehashed promises.
The piper keeps on tootling and his lemmings keep on following. Emperor Pinochio of Dominica truly hath no clothes.
I stand corrected.
Tourism and housing were made mention of but i saw nothing on Ross University. I expected a private sector company with over 19% of the GDP to be made mention of. Quite frankly, a country’s economy is based on a fair balance with both private and public sectors. Private sectors contribute in taxes and employment bringing finance in and public sector circulating it.
Does this mean that Government is now responsible for the 19% and over that we are loosing? If so, how does it make amends with the banks and financial institutions? After all is said and done and utility workers leave, what become of these rooms without a proper tourism boost particularly in the north of the island?
I really feel for them at this point.
I know that all inclusive hotels are being erected but all inclusive means just what it says! How much will trickle down to the people? This is not a political thing but a survival thing. It is reality!
This brings me to the point that we must pray now more than ever because the entire world is getting out of control….. or is causing things a particular way to be in full control. I serve God alone and worship Him alone! We must fast and pray for our government that in everything God receives the honor, glory and praise!
These situations do not lie in the hands of men but in God’s unchanging hands. Men have advised us to borrow from the banks and we end up in economic collapse! Man introduces tolerance and we end up with a criminal and gay society!
Do we see the trend? Daniel prayed for the whole of Israel and his prayer was eventually heard!
We cannot fight evil with evil or spirit with flesh! Let us pray that we are guided by the spirit of God and that we do the right thing. The answer is not in violence or riots, not in hatred or jealousy but by prayer and fasting!
I dare you! try it! May God bless Dominica.
Please Analy, let God do his work,He does not need your or anybody else’s help. Too much religion in Dominica already.
Uncle He does not need my help but I need His! Remember that! Being passive is just as being lukewarm and this is the very problem that we have today! Jesus Christ is the one true religion. How has it come to this?
If you pray, do you ask God for anything? When you ask you should remember others, particularly those who cannot help themselves because praying for yourself and your family alone is selfish!
God cares for everyone!
It is also your responsibility to pray for your family and Government! Take up your role! If i pray that my Government performs in a manner that brings glory to God how on earth is this bad?
please answer me…
Why is the same set of persons who look forward to critized. . don’t be the same yesterday. Be better today
Eexcellent budget sir. I listened and I no u always keep your promises.
You are just as sick in your head as your political master. Both of you need to see Dr. Benji.
Dominica was first battered by Hurricane Roosevelt and we didnt give up. Maria came next and we are still not broken.
When the past come knocking, don’t answer. It has nothing new to tell you. This budget is the same old past empty rhetoric like the ones before it. Skerrit , your actions are so loud that I don’t hear you when you speak. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Mr. PM, stop blaming Dominica’s impoverished state on Maria. This is unfair to her. Your exclusionary policies and your profoundly narcissistic attitude are mainly responsible for the apathy and hopelessness hovering over the country. Also, you don’t have the intellectual vigor to think strategically for the betterment of the country. Under the weight of your burdensome stewardship, Dominica is collapsing. Even the bridges are crying foul. The PM listens mostly to himself, he has become bloated by self importance.
I thought you were more inteligent than that. What really is your problem?
Comment on the budget instead of playing your (pu-c) politics.
When something is good say it is good.
Are you unlettered? This prepared script by Skerrit is as worthless as all the previous others that were written for him. The problem is this. For eighteen (18) consecutive years, the DLP led government has been presenting budgets. All eighteen of these budgets have not had any positive effect on the lives of the down trodden. Too many remain penniless, jobless, shelter less and hopeless. Too many go to sleep on a gaseous stomach. Too many children are malnourished. Too many kitchen cupboards are empty. Too many citizens are living below the poverty line. Too many have been pushed to the edge of life. Too many! You asked what’s really is my problem. It’s not one problem, it’s a multiplicity of problems. Go figure.
He is being eaten up by his political partisan beliefs, that he can’t seem to make a distinction between his political partisan beliefs and what is it to be rational, such a terrible way to approach a course to bring about a better future for the Country he envisions.
Gary, every minute opportunity afforded to you, you seize on it to viciously attack me. But, my skin is thick, my shoulders are broad and my self-esteem is unshakable. Mr. Skerrit is the one who opens himself up to criticisms. His dictatorial and exclusionary practices and policies are severely causing unbearable misery on the people and have stained the country’s image regionally and internationally. Stop your futile efforts to eviscerate me in my earnest attempt to bring clarity to those unsuspecting, gullible supporters of this authoritarian , do-little regime.
5 more years for U P.M!!!!! What a man , very courageous, strong, and intelligent.
Your never gave up. U are the boss!!!! As a matter of fact 50 more years to you SIR.
Be Bless.
Some advise to you too. Ask your master to give you a few coins so you can see Dr. Benji. You are clearly not right in your head. The lights are on but nobody is in!
Don’t worry when the bydget finalise i will get mine. To go to the best of the best.
But when i return guess what. Still will be saying 5-50 more years to skerro ?????
Amen to that
Well said
Praise him like he is the creator,you get your bills paid and all that he handsout while others suffer,but more to come and the next one will wipe out all the wicked people like you.Skerrit has to answer to God and in due time.
Well bye bye, it was nice knowing u. ???
More like, D/ca was battered and broken down by Skerrit
It was very obvious before Maria that DLP support base was slipping away,but they drove nails into their coffins after Maria.Food is like a human right.Any party playing politics with food must fall.Any party playing politics with building materials must fall.I am a victim.Cant sleep when it’s windy,can’t sleep when it rains either.Yet still the imposters and MISLEADERS are saying that Dominicans are not broken? Skerrit many Dominicans are broken, because you rule of terror is something new to this country.
Where The Wicked Rule The People Mourn
This DLP is a Wicked and Evil Party
Roosevelt Skerrit has presented 14 budgets as Prime Minister. Why should we put any hope in this one.? The only hope I have is that this will be his final one.
Excellent budget speech in wake of a major natural disaster…
Shut up Roosevelt!
Dominica is indeed broken, and has been broken long prior to Maria under your leadership. You lie so much, you make promises; by the time you are finished lying, you believe your lies, as you fixed it in your mind, your speaking words have come to fruition.
You are the only human who delivers whatever you promised in the invisible, only you alone see solid material things that others cannot see in the visible! Dominica has long become a failed state under your leadership, you have long peaked, and has become nonfunctional, insignificant,and redundant!
I do not care what crap you are talking you are a liar who can’t be trusted, returning you to power will be detrimental to the people of our country. Now you talk about a budget of over nine hundred million dollars. You said last week contract will be signed soon to build International Airport.
Is the money to build your schedule Airport in this budget to start next year?
Shut up you donkey
You do not have no sense at all
Your statements are just rubbish
If I had the power I would ban you from DNO
I wonder if angry Linton could do a better job
Well done Dr R Skerrit prime minister, that was a very good strong budget we will be going from strength to strength red blooded Labour supporters and Dr Skerrit administration we will be getting on with the jobs we set out to do for our country Dominica, please be not afraid of those blue Rattle snakes we will encounter along” the long and Winding Road “Don’t forget red is power red is colour of blood not blue, Tell the Grovelling rattle snakes on Q95 radio head office of Linton and his calamity sidekicks. Go to hell Francisco the lots.
You can call him Doctor if you like. Go for a consultation and take the medicine prescribed. Good luck to you!
I will always call Mr Skerrit by his title Dr.Skerrit if you don’t like it tough Sxxt, It’s better than calling Dr.stickky Fingers dont you think???
Dog Man call Roosevelt Sir Knight too, that is one of the titles he bought!
Guy I know you are a fool, but you should know the difference between a degree earned, and a bit of paper bought from a non-accredited fake university in India.
Ask Roosevelt if he is such a great doctor; in what scientific academical discipline he earned his Ph. D?
Ask him how come he could not graduate as an English major in a certain University in the South Eastern State in the United States?
Remember he went to Dominica with a black graduating robe and hat with no tassel throwing it up over his head and claimed to graduated; nevertheless, when we investigate to find out if your doctor Skerrit did graduate from that University, the information we got is that there has never been a graduating student know to the University as Roosevelt Skerrit!
Hahhahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahaha!
That sucker did not know that in America we can find out anything we want to know about someone!
Skerrit your a broken record,Dominica is behind and was before Maria,your wealthy and keeping sucking Dominica dry,every five years is the same old song,dude your washed up,no more hope for this once thriving island under your regime,but what the hell am not the one suffering under you,the fools that keep on voting you then they continue to beg.Let the suck the salt.
Pm you so wicked not funny that’s all Dominicans open all you eyes skerrit got to go 18 years your are the only one that profit from you is time for you to go let’s make Dominica great again
Skerrit u a joker we who visit Dominica is so ashame to say we from DA u all are bunch of B.
Where can I find the budget address, live or recorded?
admin can u get the budget speech posted please
ADMIN: The budget document has been included in the story.
Lots of empty rhetoric.All Citizens were impacted?So why are you alienating some people?You are tired.I think this is the last budget you are reading, before the electorate put you out.What a failure you and your lazy 17 MISLEADERS have been.Hurricane DLP has destroyed my country.
Where The Wicked Rule The People Mourn
This DLP is a Wicked and Evil Party.
All I can say is that there is nothing that can justify your stay in office Mr.PM, not even if you can raise the dead.
He is three quarters out.Last budget speech before he is voted out.Once you hear “airport”,election is soon.Wha hit a brutal and deceptive,incompetent,lazy set of …………!
Where The Wicked Rule The People Mourn
This DLP is a Wicked and Evil Party
Oops What a brutal and deceptive….
Where The Wicked Rule The People Mourn
This DLP is a Wicked and Evil Party
I giving u 1000$ if he lose .he wining and he wining LARGE.
Labor ka travail.
U all must love you all MM he so cute
Alica Pinard >>.I am so glad people like yourself was not born during the time we fight for independence from our slave masters. Who made us work for free , brutalized us and rape our women while they amass the wealth.
As we would still be en-slaved because folks like yourself would be so caught up in the superficial appearance like the white man skin therefore would refuse to stand up against injustice brought on your race.
Go in peace my friend!!!!!!
It is very sad to find people as dumb, and stupid as you existing in Dominica in the twenty-first century!
From the late 1940’s early 1950’s anybody who’s parents cared saw to it that their children got an education; where was your parent?
“I giving u 1000$ if he lose .he wining and he wining LARGE.
Labor ka travail.
U all must love you all MM he so cute”
What sort of garbage is that; is patios is the only language in which you can express yourself stick to patios, and stop making an idiot out of yourself!
You are a dunce!