General Secretary of the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) Thomas Letang says his union will no longer be meeting with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Dominica Air & Seaport Authority (DASPA) Benoit Bardouille and vowed to embark on further protest action if their demands are not met after meeting with the DASPA Board next week.
DASPA staff staged protest action on Friday morning demanding that salary negotiation dating back to 2014 be resolved.
“We are not meeting Mr. Bardouille, it’s too late, from now on it’s the union and the Board,” he told the workers on Friday morning. “The general manager has failed us since 2016. He has had our proposals and I don’t believe that he has made sufficient effort to bring our information to the attention of the Board so, therefore; where he has failed we will do it ourselves.”
According to him, the union will be meeting with the Board of DASPA on Wednesday, March 21, 2018, and soon after that meeting, they want to meet with DASPA staff because if that matter is not resolved, “it’s not going to be one day, but instead it’s going to be indefinite strike action.”
“As a result of the commitment of meeting the Board next week Wednesday, March 21, 2018, we are advising you to go back to work immediately. People will do all that they can to distract you but don’t worry they can get lost,” he told the workers.
The workers were advised to return on Thursday, March 22, 2018, at 4:00 pm at the conference of the DPSU for a meeting.
“We have lots of things to discuss,” he stated. “I can’t see when a staff member makes a little mistake, why you should have such a high level of disciplinary hearing for any little thing. People have to ask you if you are guilty or not as if you are in a court of law. We are saying that from now, those things have to be handled by a Human Resource Manager and let the CEO get involved into more serious things of the DASPA.”
He added, “My advice to you…don’t be fearful and don’t let anyone discourage you and tell you about essential services or none essential services…everything is essential including you.”
The workers have since returned to work.
Earlier on Friday, in an address to the nation, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit described the protest action by the workers as illegal and selfish.
He said the government and DASPA will not negotiate with them while they are on strike.
Bardouille has and does let down everybody, customers, small investors, innovative investors (as DDA/IDA board member), all the customers who is pratically everybody in DA, and of course all the port workers. Eventhough my next shipment will most probably be affected by your actions I encourage you port workers to keep going. Badwill has to go like Skerrit and so many more!
Stand strong Mr. Letang. We all have our democratic right to demonstrate and the Union stands with all.
I hope Mr.Letang don’t belittle himself and respond to Tony As—– it’s time that DOMINICANS ignore that man he has and have help destroy the Island and we as Dominicans have paid him enough money we cannot pay or should pay any more. Tony and Skerrit must go for the Island to move forward.
We stand with all the hard working port workers. Stop giving people who don’t want to work money and pay people for their hard work.
frog ppl yall does nor learn dominica is after haiti in poorness
that y all where dominican go they call dem pooe instead they help build that mountainious country and river they rather bashing each other smh .roseau is a ghost town no nite life ppl eh even want to overnite in that country there like some lil poor place in africa
Thank Skerrit for it. But mark my works it will get worse if Skerrit remains PM of Dominica.
What irks me is when someone seek a job and getting it after begging for so long,and up front they are told how much the job pays they accepts the condition then suddenly the money is to small, the conditions are too bad.Now the union is involved and trying to get more and more, you guys should realize by now that’s
been going from the beginning of time no one will ever be satisfied with their salary. it all comes down to money management which we are all lacking wanting to fly before we can walk etc,etc..Now when more money is paid out what happens cost go up and what we are in the same boat all over again.
Your explanation is nonsensical if you live in the diaspora you know better because after 3 months on the job and your performances your wages goes up so stop speaking foolishly, the same method should and must be the same all over the amount will never be the same nevertheless the person is entitle to it.
And how long the workers have been fighting with the GOVERNMENT for what they should be getting, so don’t talk foolishly and tell me you agree to the PM and his mouth piece Tony As—- to be using Hurricane Maria as justification for their failure of doing what is correct and just.
And why is Dominicans so afraid of demonstrations and strikes actions, it’s everyone legal rights.
Wicked you all wicked!? Later will tell!
People must start suing these PEOPLE for stealing their stuff from their barrel and container on the ports.
Are you gonna sue your PM as well??? I didn’t think so but you want to sue the port workers. You are a wicked and corrupt soul yourself.
Me that the PM, I would entertain you all cry then boss you all …. with taxes!( Just a pity Peter would be paying for Paul).
You are on blind sick puppy…
I feel compelled to comment on the Security Forces show of force. The police officers in Dominica are well equipped and in a haste to intimidate and arrest innocent citizens for the slightest form of civil disobedience even when their cause is justified. When inept and corrupt leaders begin to lose their grip on power, they use the military might of the State to subdue their citizens. The police are no longer there to serve and protect the people but are used to frustrate and quash the aspirations and will of citizens whose only endeavor is to agitate for a livable wage to live a more comfortable life. A galloping dictatorship is fast taking root in Dominica. This is what happens when one leader or one political party overstays his/its time in power. The leader becomes so obsessed with power that the plight of the majority of citizens becomes of little or no concern. Retaining power, at any cost, becomes his/her mantra. CITIZENS WISE UP!
Maria did not teach you all not a thing Lord, what is wrong with these people. No body is perfect some you all are the devil’s advocate. PM you will be ok .
Pm will be ok he needs to damn go,this has nothing to do with Maria,Skerrit is a multi millionaire and these people continue to suffer,so please dont come with your damn politics,Dominica needs a damn change from this regime.
What is Maria supposed to have taught us? That your PM is not corrupt, that he is not a dictator or that he is not a liar… You see Nature only teaches us things that are true. Sorry to tell you Nature doesn’t support your bright red fantasies either. Have I burst your red bubble now? What is with all you and that man???????
But MINE aren’t you and your families are in the very same situation like all the other remember when you a in glass house you don’t throw stones, think before you speak.
We are a bunch of idiots here in Dominica,
Your salaries is not the problem is the cost of living that’s the problem. They could give allu $1000.00 a day and 1lbs of rice is $100.00 u will still complain, I know it can happen the other way around but it’s less likely seeing is only rising in prices we see around the world.
If we protest against the high port duty, the cost of living will drop then all that price negotiations with government will ease.
These people are not wicked if yoy knew Dominica history on strike ask the President of Dominica Charles Savarin who was the CSA secretary when Patrick John was in office. When you history is lost we make the same mistake. These leaders have grown accustom of civil servsnt taking that high level of disrespect when the Prime Minister can say to the people who have elected him I am not giving you my time its because he does not think much of them.
Dominican when skerrit leave dominica fall see venesula shavez die and everyting die with him yall will hear .
You mean Dominica not dead already under Skerrit? You know the place sucked dry already. No salt left even for his baroness friend.
Zee Zee….Dominica has already fallen, and 18 years ago. Where have you, have you not aged…or are you in denial?
Wake up and smell the rotten, outdated coffee. For your information Chavez killed Venezuela and brought it to poverty and broken when he was alive running here there and everywhere promoting ALBA, a failed scheme that has corrupted islands and countries like Dominica who benefited from this corrupt scheme. Venezuela`s money and resources were seriously abused and it killed their economy, just like we allowed this inept Skerrit and is corrupt Labour government to abuse our money and recourses for personal gain. Our poor people were abused and rather invest in them Skerrit created the Red Clinic where he abused and gave endless of money out to able-body people who were not in need and were available for jobs. Skerrit is not a job creator, he hands out money used to buy people and keep them poor.
Skerrit Must Go
Skerrit must Go
True
Isreal cry for a king and they regret it
No one can do it like him
The best dominica has seen
Great leader
Weh Weh Weh strike looming
just when we had started sleeping a bit more soundly in our beds again .
I have a question i want to ask , I hate to ask it though . WAS THAT WHAT WAS MEANT BY SOOSAY SEL ?
another question , when Maria hit, who soosay sel then ? All of us not so ? some more than others but we all did and still soosaying .
That’s why I say,hand on heart,without fear of conviction,THE PRIME MINISTER don’t really love us Dominicans .To this day I haven’t heard any inclination of him condemning that woman’s comment. He was the one who invited her .
When she said we would soosay sel, i saw some laughing , some grinning , some clapping,others smiling .I was chastised for saying she was out of order by some of my friends , as they claimed the words were addressed to the non Labour Party Supporters.
Tell me now then
Was the soosay sell comment,a prophetic acclamation, some relayed information,or a sincere wish on us Dominicans by that woman .I say,Little did the joyous fools, who jeered and celebrated with her, realize that when it rains, it does so over the heads of all ,when storms come ,everyone is affected, so to soosay sel meant everyone will soosay ,supporter or non supporter,the evil wished did not spare any one ,Maria wasn’t selective. I say all that to say, STRIKING will affect each and every one of us,because it was meant for every one of us to soosay sel .That woman’s wishes are coming to pass, we seem to have plenty more sel to soosay.
And you Dominicans in de Foreign,don’t for one minute think, de soosaying of sel will not affect allu.Allu have to go around in the cold or in the snow ,buying, begging and even stealing to pack and send relief for us,as we soosaying our sel .Some of you even soosay snow to help us,for that we will always be grateful to allu…
Fool! Dominica never needed Skerrit and Skerrit needed Dominica only to get rich. And, thanks to fools like you he succeeded.
y’all political hack skerrit eh need to stay there eh.The maria monies have thetre head swell.so they would do anything too touch it..
Kaval
I am trying to understand what you actually want to say .
I am assuming that you mean The funds donated to Dominica, for assistance of Dominicans, because of Maria and Erica makes some ”heads swell as they would do anything to touch it” .
Lets Break that Down ,Not one Donor Country i have heard indicate that their assistance is for Labour party supporters .
Before you even attack me , I dont have colours ( i even get angry when referred to as ”coloured man” .
With me wrong is wrong ,no matter what colour .
Some ignorant ones even say to me,”you all don’t support Skerrit but allu want his money” I say,Monies that are given is for assisting DOMINICANS,not no specific supporter but Dominicans , so it is not right for some to eat and others, shall not get to eat. That’s Wrong and wrong is wrong OK ; Is Government Money for de PEOPLES of THE COMMONWEALTH OF DOMINICA, dow give me no bull sh–.Is de peoples money , all of the people , no selection , no…
I say again
Passports for sale are the property of the Commonwealth of Dominica ,
Therefore,the monies for the passports sold, belong to the Commonwealth of Dominica .
At no stage of the negotiation is it mentioned that the monies are for rewarding any specific set of supporters.”all”, and i say again ,”all” are equally entitled to assistance from the proceeds of the sale of the Commonwealth of Dominica passports .”all” should eat .
That would be the right thing to do .
I called on those who were in receipt of tickets, facilitating them to return to vote, to now demand of the prime minister ,tickets to come down and help rebuild, whether you are a welder or secretary .
Thanks for taking the time in educating the people because it seems that because they get hand outs from PM whatever he says or do they let it slide, so they prefere to suffer in silent because of fair and it’s sad but that’s how our people are living in Dominica.
Dominicans all that you are getting from PM and Government belongs to you take it and at the Poll vote them out for your families sake
Countries and there people have decided to come to your aid after the hurricane so there donations are yours not for politicians to be using to improve on there chances of being elected or to stay in power, that’s was not what the donations were ment to be use for.
Transparency is one of the hallmarks of true democracy. Politicians need to open themselves up to questions from their constituents and the general public. This would help to enhance our democracy. I would like to witness a debate between Messrs. Skerrit and Linton strictly on their short and long term plans and policies for the country. A neutral person would moderate this debate. Let the issues affecting the nation be ventilated. Let’s see who has the better prescriptions for the ills of Dominica. Seriously, we need to encourage meaningful debates to spread light on vexing issues and inform the electors. Can the Private Sector or an NGO entity facilitate such a function?
If you look into every complaint that blames another person, if you dig deep enough, you will realize that its the person complaining that has put themselves in their circumstance.
Asking for more money while you’re not doing anything more or special or innovative or strategic is just plain stupidity and greed!
You really doh Ready Yet……….you have proved yourself ever time you pen such rubbish.
Dominicans when a leader of a country have to come on a radio station and say he is not negotiating with nobody if they on strick is a full fledge dictator don`t make that scare you all his tone of voice is disgusting ,my people do it for dominica SHUT IT DOWN.
Karms is a B*****. Some of these same workers are the ones who steal our stuff from barrels. Especially after Maria.
Wicked people at a time like this you all are doing this greedy act. You all think you all hurting the PM but you all hurting yourselves. Letang wickedness
Sacwey Laborite
right is right time will tell.
I am getting to think that the looting that took place after Hurricane Maria was by design , in terms of the absence of Police on the ground to protect us the business people. I mean , see how fast SSU and Task-Force were deployed on Friday 16 March 2018! Why wasn’t that quick decision taken after the hurricane when they knew it was arriving?
Is it that the Police has become a Ton Ton Macoute force to prop-up Skerro in times of trouble?
I want to tell the Police that every action is being recorded and their actions will be judged in due time. They will not stop us , we are not afraid .
Skeritt must go!
It is about time some one stand up to this wanna -be bully . This time around we will not back down in our efforts for fair pay for hard work.
All the ministers have cash money handing out and you cowardly asking why it’s now we are demanding pay raise? Weak and lame as usual. These present negotiations are 3 years in the making , so if you had any concern for we the people this protest will not be going on.
Me and my colleagues will continue to demand a pay raise.
Why don’t Skerritt address the rising cost of goods and services in Dominica?
I don’t believe Roosevelt Skeritt wants to bring the port workers situation under control. Had he wanted to avoid any unrest in the country, post Maria, he would have called Mr. Letang to his office in an effort to resolve the matter. Instead, in his arrogant and dictatorial manner, he decided to called the port worker’s strike illegal and further insulted them, by calling them selfish. What Roosevelt wants is the sympathy of the international communities, hopefully they will come to his assistance with more speed. He provoked Lennox Linton, by not calling parliament, despite numerous appeals. He hoped, in anger, he would disturb the peace in the country, that did not work, therefore, he went after the port workers, with his threats and insults.
There is more power in the people than there are people in power. So power to the people! Power to the people right now!
The struggle is very real. The protest must go on if the leaders fall to listen and meet the needs of the people. Not just promise more action, but let your actions show. Lead the people into peaceful protest. If they’re failure to listen causes the country to shut down, that’s their irresponsibility. They must sit, listen and compromise on the people’s demands. The leaders must at least half way with a real promise of things to come.
I’m a revolutionary mindset individual so I’m all about standing up for what you believe in.
Stand up people, stand up, let them know who runs dominica…it isn’t one man, it isn’t the PM.
God bless Dominica
God bless the peaceful protestors.
money sharing left right and center u think port workers not hearing
To think of it many of these port workers are Skerrit supporters who he sent to the CEO to give them jobs. Guess some of them did not take part in the protest. If we are talking of 2016 I have to say the Union has shown an enormous amount of patience. That action should have taken place long before Maria.
Go Mr Latang go if skerrit and his goons can listen they gonna see .Maria is the scape goat .Shut it down if you have too we dominican will support you its about time .
Beautiful Mr Letang.You represent your workers,and even if Skerrits tong is emits fire,this lazy,incompetent,dumb,dunce one man government,should not deter you.Can you imagine after 18years of leadership by HURRICANE DLP,(those VOWAS),Dominica is worse of today than arguably any other country in the Commonwealth?What an evil brutal and wicked regime.
SKERRIT MUST GO
SKERRIT MUST GO
SKERRIT MUSST GO NOW
that’s why you are % da for real
One chip at a time we will dismantle the one man lead DLP. To the Port Workers, all Dominicans are supporting you and I will be there next week to give my presence to the cause.
Skerrit is scared now and he is blowing hot steam
Skerritt must go!
All Dominicans? Skerrit must go? Why Lennox lost the last election then? I’ll get a lot of dislikes because the truth hurts
Skerrit is a corrupt incompetent dictator that will ruin the country. That’s why he has to go. As far as elections is concerned, we all know he bought them. Wake up!
Actually, the last election Lennox gained three seats that were lost by Skerrit. The truth hurts indeed for Skerrit.
We are not amused, your truth does not make sense and not followed the events of the past 6 month, 12 month. Go do some research and analyse properly , then you can tell us.
Lennox won his seat fool. The election was stolen by DLP, NOT lost by UWP,
Assertive like Ma Maria!
Letang STOP pussy footing and hold Skerrit and his goon the Bad -willed guy to account. The mere fact you went back to work today is a darn victory for Skerrit. You all should have stayed on strike so the issue can be quickly resolved. Skerrt and Blackmore broke your back on the PWC issue now they will do the same at the ports. Mark my word, just like he got rid of PWC and brought in “Dominica Strong” while subcontracting the rest of the work to other foreign companies, he is about to hand over the ports operations to a foreign entity. Watch and wait…….
Assertive like Pres. Charlo!
You are right, !! I will mark your words if you take my bet..,…..: I bet for a Chinese operating company!! They are buying Port operation all around the globe. Who is taking the bet ???
Any Mr chairman you come where you come out hugging and handing hands with staff after the protest but remember everything is for a season, you and HR carry on. Mr PM the forefront protesters are all people you gave jobs too, now they saying they have green card they can talk.
Even if Skerro give some one a job , that does not mean he has the right to ill-treat them . Everyone has the right to change his/her mind at any time, and trust me, minds are changing by the leaps and bounds in Dominica today.
SKerritt must go!
The air and sea ports are indispensable for the free flow of people and commerce in and out of a country. A major strike by these workers would render most of the country’s business sector inoperable. The country would lose millions of dollars in a very short space of time. One would think that any prudent PM would engage in sincere and fair negotiations with the workers’ representative(s) to avoid any work stoppage. Instead, this Prime Minister, has taken an iron fist approach, only to exacerbate the already tensed atmosphere. A sensible leader unites not divides. A sensible leaders seeks co-operation not confrontation. A sensible leader shows humility not scornfulness. Mr. Skerrit has shown utter contempt for the workers and their genuine grievances. He handcuffs his inability to solve the country’s problems to Maria. Maria is used as a scapegoat for every thing wrong. Even when these anomalies predate Maria. Poor Maria.
Do you expect decency in politics from Skerrit`s. Do you recall “Go to Hell…Go to Hell…Go to Hell….None of your damn Business”. This is where Skerrit is ,,, this is his language. He has not elevated to the decency in politics….. and he never will. He is not of that standard. Skerrit must Go. A waist of time
Collin, I support you almost 3 weeks ago HR started that nonsense came Marigot and telling staff in their ears about salary increase, all that woman is doing in role and divide. Saying she and PM wife tight and can take pass message. Thanks God we have a good paying job some people have nothing but bills to pay.
Skerrit, the action of the workers is not selfish and most certainly not illegal. What you do on an ongoing basis is selfish and in most instances illegal as well.
To the workers, don’t be afraid of Skerrit. Get all you guys together and put the country to a standstill. What can he do? Force him out of office because if he stays he will treat you even worse in the long run.
Skerrit is only one man. We are many!
Bad will need to be fired Mr can’t run the port
There are so many inept people in high management position in the island. Skerritt hears the complaints of the people day after day and he turns a blind eye. Let me see Badwill, I don’t know why he is still CEO and why he is on other boards, Martin charles a bigger idiot but he is chairman of aid bank and placed on other boards in the country. GM of AID Bank, Mathilda John-Rose another incompetent one that needs to go. Mr. PM, the buck starts with you. Tired put square pegs in round holes please.
Let’s go Letang,get the ball rolling to drive these demons out. Step in the right direction, I’m highly encouraged. Charles crooked Saverin showed us the trick,let’s do it again.
Very unpopular move that warrants no public sympathy at this time when everyone suffered damages. Where is the money? First time I agreen with the government, bad advice poor timing.
Why is it bad timing. Look at CREAD, did you take a look at the salaries that will be paid and PM so quick to implement CREAD. If you use the same reasoning, now is not the right time, then CREAD should wait. Did the PM not just appoint a new ambassador for China? do you know the salary that he will be drawing. Isn’t that bad timing too, couldn’t that wait considering the state of the country. We must be fair, this argument has to be used across the board, not selectively for one set. I say STRIKE on Port Workers.
This might be the appropriate time to call for a general strike, get the private sector involved, and resists until Roosevelt and his clones of so called government ministers collapse. A general strike could be a bloodless revolution.
The people does not even have to demonstrate in the streets; all they have to do is remain at home, don’t shop for anything besides food, and they complied grocery before the commencement of the strike. Roosevelt, and his dictatorship is the problem, but a dictator can only keep people in subjection if they allowing him the power to rule over them!
The power is in the people, and not Roosevelt Skerrit!
Roosevelt works for the people of the country; he is employed by the people of Dominica. The commonwealth Republic of Dominica does not belong to Roosevelt and his friends; Dominica is not Roosevelt Estate, he is not performing, he has long become a failed prime minister, hence he has caused Dominica to become a failed state, hence it is time…
That’s how you all want to get in power but it will not happen ,keep on dreaming.Why won’t you leave where you are in the USA and go to DA to organize what you are suggesting .You are so negative shut up fool.
Most dogs have names, even wild ones are identified by a bread or species to which they belong: you an idiot with no name have nothing to say to me! In the first place though I am retired, I still have more than one source of income, living very happy where I live in “US” where you yearn to see and cannot get here!
You depend on Roosevelt to give you a few pounds of sugar, flour and salt fish, every five years, to kiss his behind. I can afford to be negative, because my negativity makes more sense than any amount of garbage you can ever spew!
I have a question for you; have you ever ask yourself this simple question: ” how come Roosevelt Skerrit is prime minister of Dominica; however, each time it is time for his wife to give birth to his children he brings her into the same US where I live to give birth to his children?”
Has Skerrit told you why is has French Citizenship! Let that be your concern!
All you not easy .it not a year since Dominica was almost wipe out by a hurricane. And that you all attitude.. why strike now
Since 2016 those people trying to get their raise in salary. All you too wicked. People are working hard and pay not enough. Shucks man! Nonesense you talking. Be fair. You woldnt like any body to do you that.
Letang is a waste of time.. Preasure on the government would come from left and right. Learn from the French.
I just can’t wait for the morning I will open DNO webpage and see BREAKING NEWS : Dominica has been delivered from bondage ! The people of Dominica need it and we will celebrate our freedom no matter by what means, whether through act of God or act of the people. We just need to become a free nation
Only idiots like you are not free in Dominica. Your political ignorance will keep you in ignorance.
Anon, you have just described yourself and denigrate yourself with the words and what you wish for the person you refer to.
Anon, would you consider yourself an “idiots”. “Your political ignorance will keep you in ignorance.”
Mr Prime Minister you need to investigate the HR she is underminding the CEO, wait for your turn stop it. You can’t victimize me no more on my way out. Bad people.
Look at them, all of them were sent there by the government now they fighting the same government. Greedy people, never satisfy. Middle management must stop that, the board chairman must stop that, stop fighting the CEO, and you all asking me if I joining, No I will not because you all are too vindictive. I am not putting sin on my children.
When the Man was dismantling PWC to set up his shady companies enough ppl didn’t see the suffering of PWC workers..but I like to see how the fire of intolerance is spreading..the Change will come from the Working Class..this is not a Party vs Party thing..real ppl have real issues. Skerrit has done Dominicans bad over the years..too many ppl suffering and it’s time to stop talk..
If all workers come together and go on an indefinite strike, the country would be paralysed and you could force this rogue government out.
Explain the bad things to us please!!!!!!! You are a wicked soul!!!!!
…and you are just still confused. But you’re still a beautiful soul.