Opposition Leader, Lennox Linton, has expressed hope that a government-organized consultation held at the Goodwill Parish Hall on Monday will signal a ‘new beginning’ in the attitude towards the opposition.
He was invited to address the consultation and in his speech, he said he has consistently called for unity after the passage of Hurricane Maria in September 2017.
“I stand before you today as the Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition in the Commonwealth of Dominica,” he said. “As someone who has consistently since the passage of Hurricane Maria call for unity of purpose, called for inclusion, called for joining hands, joining hearts in the cause of the rebuilding of Dominica.”
According to Linton, there were times when his call was misunderstood and misrepresented.
“That is why I am pleased today to be here at this consultation in the hope and with the prayer that it is, in fact, a new beginning, it, in fact, represents a new beginning along the lines of the unity of purpose, along the lines of the joining hearts, joining hands and doing this together for our Commonwealth of Dominica,” he stated.
He remarked that he welcomed the comments of Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit when he said that making Dominica the first climate resilient country in the world is a job the government cannot do alone.
“I have heard them before, I welcome them again that nothing about this is going to be achieved by the government working alone, it is going to take all of us,” he said.
Meanwhile, Linton said the climate resilient challenge is not new to Dominica and Prime Minister Skerrit had said because of the lack of resources Dominica did not go as far as it could have gone.
“That I suggest to you is a matter for serious debate,” he said. “We have been pursuing a low carbon climate resilient development strategy since 2012 with support from climate financed donors and development cooperation partners. This consultation deserves to hear how much money exactly did we collect or attract into Dominica under the banner of that low carbon climate resilient strategy and what exactly did we accomplish.”
Linton stated that the strategy envisioned specific resilience-enhancing deliverables in renewable energy, protection of carbon syncs, land use planning, natural ecosystems, forestry, slope stabilization, sea and river defenses, water resources, food security among others.
“Even so in 2015 Tropical Storm Erika flooded away damages in excess of 100 percent of GDP and in 2017 226 percent of our GDP went south in devastating winds and flood waters of Hurricane Maria,” he noted. “Ladies and gentlemen, let today’s consultation discuss, focus on what happened to the resilience we expected but which did not materialize and ask whether or not it did not materialize because the climate resilient initiative had no philosophical or cultural moorings, no people consensus, no youth buying and through it all the foundation principles of democratic governments were excluded from the leadership and management of national affairs. No inclusiveness, no unity of purpose, instead we further divided what was not united. No elections of integrity, no fairness, no equity, no equal treatment of all of God’s children, no respect for the constitutional rule of law, no parliamentary oversight for the operation of government, no acts of parliament to articulate and enforce climate resilient behaviors, no transparency, no accountability … to strategic initiatives.”
“People like you Francisco will come back to this heaven on earth which will be created immediately that Skerrit… “(Barbara Saunders).
Barbara, I doubt any reasonable person who is manager of their own house; ‘head of household’ who knows how difficult it is to take care of a family and other responsibilities, and dealing with life atrocities know there can never be “heaven on earth” until the New Heaven and Earth spoken of in the book of Revelation descends out of Heaven by the power of God.
So, one should not anticipate that the removal of Roosevelt from office will quoting Skerrit: “transform or take Dominica to the next level” within a month, or one year, after a new government replace his regime. Nevertheless, that is not say there should be no change in government.
The longer Roosevelt Skerrit remains in power is the further the country goes backwards. Every one of us have our limitations; there is only so much a human can do. Roosevelt has peaked, he has long…
Continue:
Roosevelt has peaked, he has long become politically bankrupt of ideas. This means he is unable to do anything significant to influence or bring anything to fruition in the country.
There is a time when I favored Roosevelt, he was I thought being a young man he may have a vision for the country as most youths would. The man had the power in his hand where he could actually transform the country; instead he became a self centered person looking out for self and his friends. Building a bridge, and a state house is not a reason to keep Roosevelt messing up the country.
In his almost twenty years in power Mr. Skerrit as prime minister has not attracted one single industry, or an industrial investor into the country; however we see the few which operated there left! Ross Medical School the last to leave: Harris Paint the oldest left!
But Francisco
You didn’t read my post man. I am agreeing with you that Mr. Skerrit has served his time. If we agree that he has done so as you seem to, I am saying in effect, Dominica is no longer about him, we now have to analyse, inspect, examine, review, the actions and utterances of the one who hopes to take his place.
I hope that we do not intend to jump from frying pan into fire? I am merely outlining some of the characteristics and behaviours of the “wannabe” and asking indirectly what Dominica will be like.
You seem to have still stayed stuck on Skerrit instead of joining me to look closely at the alternative. When this man goes what are some of you going to do from day to day? Every topic and conversation seems to come back to him. I wonder why?
Okay, I did not quite get it, until today the 3rd/03/2018, don’t know if you might see this!
Finally:
Doing the same old thing over and over does not result in anything different, that is the situation with Roosevelt, therefore a change is the alternative; I suppose Roosevelt himself will not find that difficult to understand. What happens if Roosevelt dies tomorrow by natural cause: will his dead body remain in and rule?
Do you really believe Roosevelt is the only person who can be prime minister of Dominica: If Roosevelt himself believe that then he must be an over delusional individual!
If you keep subtracting zero from zero; you answer shall forever be zero, it will never change, that is the same as voting for Skerrit over, and over!
“There is a time when I favored Roosevelt, ”
That should read there was a time when I favored
Roosevelt!
Man bite Dog Dominica is indeed the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, and certainly the world!
Dominica has been for a long time poorer than Haiti. Think in terms of poverty per capita. I am sure such comments might be beyond you, and even your god Roosevelt without a clue of what I am talking about. Haiti has a population of millions of people, whereas Dominica has less than fifty thousand people!
So, whereas Haiti may appear to be poorer than Dominica that is far from the truth. Now before you wrestle trying to figure out what I conveyed let me say unless you know some statistics you wont know: So; note per capita entails equal to each individual per unit population “by or each person.”
It is a Latin term which translate into “by head” meaning per person in a statistical sense. As for you Kid On Block, you are a nobody, far beneath my intelligence the garbage you write my brain is unable to process!
Cont:
Now for you to suggest I hate Dominica’ that is your expressed opinion: I do not have to defend against that; nevertheless, I believe you are one of the people who hate Dominica so much so; you are prepared to keep on voting for Roosevelt so that he can keep Dominica backward, while his personal wealth grows, while the rest of the nation people exists below the worlds poverty level!
There is a world poverty level dictated by institutions as the World Bank; even the UN! If my speaking out about the level of poverty, and backwardness perpetrated by Roosevelt on our nation, and people means I hate the country in which I was born, so be it; but that is not my definition of hate!
And if you believe simply because all of us Dominicans do not sing praises to one known to destroyed the country, one so incompetent that everything he touches in the country turns to ash; I must help remove him out of office!
Yea Francisco
I agree with you. Mr. Skerrit has served his time. I wish you knew how I long to see the other leader in office. No more shooting idle words, no more sitting behind the console in the radio station with no other responsibility but stirring up discontent.
No more Skerrit to give him a reason for waking up every day; lots of expectations of the people whose minds have been poisoned to be fulfilled.
People not having to pay attention to the foolish police because the power is in their hands, not that of the police; demonstrations every day free of disruption because that is democracy.
Having to find money to run the country without such degrading programmes as the mail order CBI; freedom to say we want about anyone without any fetters because the constitution affords freedom of expression then become the victim when people defend themselves.
People like you Francisco will come back to this heaven on earth which will be created immediately that Skerrit…
Thats your hope.
well then only you and those who think like you will be left in de country.
Ha ha ha
This is an improvement from his past negative and salacious comments.
It shows that he has matured politically, although I don’t support him politically, I think its very important that the alternative party have positive and promising leadership that does not divide but seeks to strengthen all Dominicans.
Dominicans should not let politics run their everyday lives, its not healthy.
Skerrit gives Lennox a rope he goes out and hang himself.
Full of double negatives just I like this utterly ridiculous “ know your audience, before you address them” speech.
Mr.Linton…I thought I’d be one of the few Dominicans to give you a chance but as time goes by you keep showing how much of a clown you are.
How can he offer what he doesn’t have? No new ideas, ….., yes we want a leadership that has a clear vision, forward we go. Wa Papa moo.
You may be correct and thats all fine and good but he is actually trying to be positive, which will open doors and minds.
Good presentation, Mr Linton.
Only dummies will not understand.
God bless and protect you,sir.
Is mister real? It is a sin for being desperate, people will do and say anything.
Same political tune. No matter the occasion. Poor boy. Keep on dreaming. How long? Not long! 20 MORE YEARTS!
Boy mista know that national anthem well w.aI have heard it so much from him whenever he talks.That is just to make his talk seem longer.Wat an idiot!!
??????????? boooyyyyy I dying there laughing yea.
Boy look a D.A we boy.
The man can’t help himself to defrenciate political functions from state functions nah boy. Weh weh weh weh.
Where does election fits into this?
I would have ask “why the Hon. Dr. Skerrit and or his government inviting mr I n people productive things for you know. But pm is a strategist and a psychologist and he knows very well when to have Lennox come to humiliate himself publicly.
He probably couldn’t sleep last night. Remember the man himself said he say wat comes in his mind abd after he things but sikiri thinks then speak.
But Lenny boy hmmmm I feeling sorry for you to see wat the old man is doing to you so he can bring up his son S.J of the 21st century back to front. Read my lips.
Eddo smoking his pipe like corpeh Tig in his balcony watching you kill you self. Sac way sot.
You will learn you know boy. But is how long? Hope not long cus I have a dream LENNO ?
A new beginning for the opposition, I have my doubts. When I listened to Roosevelt’s closing remarks, I am not convinced he has any intensions of working together with the opposition. It is about time the opposition comes to the realization, as long as the likes of Lennox Linton and Thomson Fontaine are at the helm of the UWP, Roosevelt aided and abetted by Tony Astaphan will never throw, pelt, deliver in good faith, an olive branch to the opposition.
Linton, are you that easily played? Isn’t that the same thing Skerrit said after TS Erica. Skerrit’s words are meaningless.
If he did not honor the invitation what allyou would say?? smh
It is alright to be hopeful but for Mr. Linton to interpret the public show of Skerrit as “Consultation” and to suggest or hope “that it is, in fact, a new beginning, it, in fact, represents a new beginning…” is laughable. Linton even you falling into Skerrit’s show of pretense, aimed to give foreign donors the impression that there is consultation? Was it Hon. Ian that says Skerrit fooled him more than once? I guess he sure fooled you big time. True consultation is not a 5 minute speech; it is a coming together to have an dialog or exchange of ideas where questions are asked and being answered. I didn’t see any of that. It was the show man having his regular show. Yes, I am happy you attended and happy you spoke but very disappointed that you did not use the opportunity to raise some pertinent questions like the $100 million dollar debt Venezuela said they cancelled. You tried to be seen as a nice boy, which no doubt you are, but that will still not make them like you
“Roosevelt Skerrit when he said that making Dominica the first climate resilient country in the world is a job the government cannot do alone.”
Lennox do not get caught up into any sort of rhetorical nonsensical terminology!
How can any human build a resilient country; it would take a God to do that! Man think of the nonsense “Dominica to become the first resilient country in the world.”
Are you falling for that nonsense man? If the idea is for Dominica to recover quickly from damages caused by hurricanes, I can understand the notion; nevertheless the Dominica idea of resiliency is that a storm will hit and nothing in the country will suffer any damage.
If the idea was possible Dominica the poorest nation on earth would not be the first; I live in America the richest, and most developed nation on the planet, we experience Tornado, floods and fire everyday, nobody however, gets up and talk nonsense about building resilient America!
Don’t be part of the joke like…
You claim to be so smart yet you come on that site and belch such garbage!? Think again of who is speaking nonsense, joker! Is people like you that have the WORLD GOING WRONG.
Yes I agree.. this guy’s talking bout first climate resilient country in the world .. I mean so many rich countries why haven’t none them become the first?? Man that is just foolish talk ..that is not feasible or ISF isn’t is it would take 50 years to accomplish in a poor developing counary like Dominica. .why u think Dominica is termed a “developing state” ? Because these states never get developed. This crap skerite talking bout cannot happen easy like that.. it iseems just a rhetoric to keep him in office to say that he has a plan for Dominica.. 18 years under the same old bloody administration. .. we had enough of these guys man.. call the damn election… fedup with that nonsense labour party.. look at the damn country poor no job .. where is the roseau enhancement project? Whre is the promenade and list continues .. get out of there man….
Francisco, Why do you hate Dominica so much?for going far as saying Dominica is the poorest nation on earth, for years now i have never know to say anything good about Dominica. Anyway you are not Dominican anymore and why on earth do you spent so much time writing crap about Dominica is it because you are jealous of Skerrit, achievement superior ability, and not Linton, accomplishment ?just asking.
Lennox your presentation was awesome! Lots of important points that the govt should take
That presentation was a mess. Lennon was more complain of he wasn’t present at certain functions.
Thats what parliament is for. Use it instead of having supplementary budget debate to figure out how to pay for indiscretionary spending to further labour party crap and spend a whole week talking about how pit toilet is greatest thing in Dominica since courts and inhouse stove. Parliament is where rules and actions become laws. Not in a townhall. This is where the supposedly best minds in our coutry should meet chart path forward. Anything else is aiding and abetting Skerrit skirt the constitution. Climate resilience cannot be enacted or enforced if it is not law signed by President. To do that it has to go through parliament. That is where i want to see action and co operating anywhere else and it will be futile.
Is this guy serious? Please offer a solution and not the same political rhetoric.
Yes Honourable Lennox Linton is serious. Dominica’s true developmental potential cannot be achieved without addressing these issues that affect governance and the rule of law. Without Legislation to govern the approach towards making Dominica a Climate Resilience Country, ALL THE TALK by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit is nothing but TALK. Therefore Lennox Linton’s presentation was very relevant and critical in moving the processs towards Climate Resiliency forward.
Your …fool … workers taking all seats next election!! Workerssssssssssss!!!
Sure
I would really like them to do so. Let the games begin. I cannot wait to be entertained.
Country to fix; young people with poisoned minds to put back on the right path; lazy people waiting for a disaster to loot to get back some sense in their heads; divided families and communities to be repaired; money to be raised by the billions; anger and malice to be eradicated.
I cannot wait to see the spectacle!