No cement tarish or steel from Gov’t for Community Day of Service

PM Skerrit. *file photo

Starting this year, the government of Dominica will not be issuing cement, tarish or steel for National Day of Community Service projects for the next three years.

This is according to Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, who said that this is a policy decision made by cabinet recently.

In an interview aired on Marpin 2k4 Evening News on Monday evening, Prime Minister Skerrit said that Community Day of Service should instead be reserved for clean up and beautification projects in respective communities as opposed to the usual road rehabilitation and infrastructural projects which can be done at anytime during the year.

“Nobody would be authorised to use any money for Community Day of Service to buy cement. So any… village council, any group that’s waiting for cement and tarish from the government of Dominica on National Day of Community Service, I am saying to you do not wait for it… We have to get the local truckers; they always making noise for jobs and so forth. It’s a time to give back some of what you owe and to play your part in dumping the waste for village and the communities.

“So for the next three years we’re not gonna be giving Community Day of Service, any cement, any tarish, any steel. That can be done during the year, anytime during the year but on particular time we will not be delivering this thing for the next three years and that’s a policy decision of the government in respect to Community Day of Service,” he stated.

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69 Comments

  1. @JUST GIVING MY 2 CENTS:

    Oh no; it is not my intention to demean, or belittle anyone. We are all human, nonetheless, our people seem to bring out the worst in most of us.

    Someone may not be an eloquent speaker, or writer: however, when we encounter such persons they are easily recognized.

    That I can deal with, nonetheless, when one commences a sentence and the second word makes no sense one begin to question the ability of the person understanding, and speaking of the English language properly.

    Here is another example in the body of the message, in the case where some person vandalized the van!

    The owner asks the question, ” what the bus do you.” People need to understand that Dominican’s are not the only people reading DNO, thus, I believe that we as a nation will be judged by the way we present ourselves in writing, and perhaps we all need to take our time and express ourselves, in manner that those who are foreign to us may understand.

    I am yours truly,

    The idiot:

    Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

    Haahahahahahahahahahahahhaahahah!!

  2. @English Teacher:

    Well, since I am not a linguistic major I anticipate I’ll err too, but; must definitely, I do not express myself in the crappy way that you, yes, you express yourself.

    So, just shut up!

    English teacher my foot.

  3. JUST GIVING MY 2 CENTS
    September 8, 2010

    @Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

    I do get your point, but no man is above any other man. Not everyone had the opportuinites you had so to “SIT” at your computer and try to demean or degrade others, does not make you a better person. Having a condesending attitude, does not make you a better man.

    Humility is an admirable trait. It is far better to educate and help a fellow man, than to make yourself look better by bringing that man down.

    There are many laymen and many of them may be uneducated, but have more common sense than a lot of educated fools.

    Not everyone who has a high school diploma, college diploma, bachelor degree, masters degree, phd – is considered smart. Trust me, i know a few dumb ass lawyers… so you see… being book smart and not people smart has a disadvantage.

    I too lament at the way my fellow Dominicans speak. I too have complained that persons should carry themselves with dignity, respect, etc… and so to, if i were trying to prove that i am above and beyond others… then i too would need to come off my high horse…. so i say to you, be humble… be proud of your education, but never use it to disrespect or make someone else feel inferior…..

  4. Calm Down -PM
    September 8, 2010

    The Tone of the PM was quite aggressive and abusive. I listened to his statement on Sunday evening on DBS radio and could not believe this was coming from the Prime Minister. It seemed that he was talking down to some enemies – that tone does not auger well for him or the people of the country. It spells lack of respect; especially when he said “the truckers who always making noise for jobs.” Is that the way you approach people who you wish to come together to volunteer? What result are you going to get. The PM said he is a psychologist – but I am thinking twice about his course of studies. THink of what you say before you talk PM – this is my advise to you.

  5. BEST INTEREST
    September 8, 2010

    @Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque: I applaud your efforts at correcting some of our short comings. It would be wise to live by your own rules. Your tone is indicative of a person sitting on a pedestal and looking down on less fortunate folk. As a human being prone to human error, let me correct your statement ‘…….since am aware that some lesser specimens will try to prove me an idiot’. It should read ‘…since I am aware…….’ or ‘….since I’m aware………’. And oh, I hope there are not too many ‘lesser specimens’ in your life.

  6. YES I
    September 8, 2010

    @365 Rivers: you cannot spell so dont even come and attack the pm i am 100% SURE he can spell much MORE BETTER THAN YOUUUUUUUUUUUU….SO LEARN TO SPELL THEN COME BACK AGAINNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!

  7. Observer
    September 8, 2010

    Mr. Prime Minister, please find the money and support the local communities in their effort to promote community togetherness and pride. As a child I remember this day as one of great excitment, people came together to build our village first bus stop and many other semilar projects. This was possible with the help of our governmet providing the cement, steel ect. local government could not afford such things. If funds are shrort, I suggest limiting the number of pojects.

  8. English Teacher
    September 8, 2010

    @Francisco Etienne-Dodds Telemaque:

    You were critiquing postings by others for poor English, Having read your critique of others,
    your critique was no different, as it too contained grammaticall errors like:

    “Seat is something that people sits on, okay!” (Subject/Verb don’t match)

    “…that impressed on me that the person who wrote that statement comprehension of the English language is very poor” (run-on sentence)

    I was only able to Identify those two, as that I did not read your critique in its entirety.

  9. NICKY BOND
    September 8, 2010

    @Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque: TAKE YOUR PILL BOY, YOU ARE ONE SICK COOKIE.

  10. nature lover
    September 7, 2010

    oh my my- is that how we use the intelligence given by God? CAN WE JUST ADD VALUE AND NOT TWIST EVERYTHING/

  11. nature lover
    September 7, 2010

    Good idea but would suggest the P.M declare the next three years as cleaning and bueatification and environment awareness periods,this policy would encompass a myriad of activities in all spheres,,involving stakehjolders in Tourism,Agriculture,,Achitecture etc, ,External funding is available for environmentally friendly projects so instead of looking at the negatives let us view the opportunities and add value to this Policy. Dominicans must and i mean must focus on each role in the clenliness factor

  12. gwadaman
    September 7, 2010

    If i understand english properly,the pm is precising that its,cement,tarish,and steel that they wouldn,t be giving money for,so money will be given for any other type of material except these mentioned, so no big thing just prepare projects that don,t need these components.

  13. Community elder
    September 7, 2010

    Skerritt fooling the people of Dominica again. The projects proposed by the Village Councils and Community groups and submitted to Local Govt. Department for funding assistance this year for Community Day of Service have been scrapped by Skerritt and his inefficient Govt. He has disrespected the rural and urban communities. He feels people living in the country side cannot think, plan and execute projects for themselves. They have been doing that for years for Community Day of Service. Here comes PM Skerritt in a spontaneous outburst and raging with statements that express arrogance and dictatorship. Skerritt does not understand community development and the importance of people participating fully in their own development.

    The money Skerritt and his Govt. wasted on the Bye election could go a long way in providing funds for community projects this year. The PM should talk the truth and disclose that Govt. is short of funds and so could not provide the $$$$ this year. Stop your spin tactics PM. Stop manipulating the people. You could fool some people sometime, but cannot fool all of the people all of the time. People were beautifying, cleaning up, planting flowers on that day. People were beautifying and enhancing their communities by fixing roads, building roads and walls using cement, and tarish. So Skerritt must come better than that and don’t act as a dictator by throwing things down people’ throat. Let communities decide for themselves their needs and aspirations.

  14. FRANCIS FRANCIS CHICAGO IL
    September 7, 2010

    THERE IS NO MONEY RIGHT NOW CASE CLOSE .

  15. wasein wosh
    September 7, 2010

    @Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque: It’s people like you who has the country in that mess, those who attack the messanger and not the message. Give the person a break. The man has to speak better than than man. Toneeeeeeeh

  16. Grand Bayrian
    September 7, 2010

    The Prime Minister is taking this country to the next level! Community day of Service, should be supported by the Government. Are you telling me that Dominicans should go and buy the tarish, steel, and cement?.. Dominica take what you get. The whole cabinet needs to resign, not one; of the ministers had the balls to challenge the Prime Minister, on something that is so crucial to community day of service? That is a past practiced by all previous administrations going all the way before the Prime Minister himself, was a semen.

  17. YOU
    September 7, 2010

    Be careful Dominicans…..A real dictator in the making….He is a very POOR orator when he isn’t reading,and you could sense the overtones of anger in his voice….WE MUST TAKE WHAT WE GET!!!!!

  18. had cure da
    September 7, 2010

    HA HA HA HA DA FINISH

  19. Wake-up
    September 7, 2010

    I agree with the PM. Dominicans need to focus more on beautifying and cleaning the country to reflect its “nature Isle” status. People yards and surroundings are untidy and full of grass. So everyone should bend their backs and plant flowers, hedges, throw away their derelict vehicles and other old stuff that attract rats and other vermin.

    Stop sitting on your lazy butts and do something to improve your lives you lazy people!!!! Stupessss

  20. hmmm
    September 7, 2010

    Why can’t he be honest and say we don’t have the money for it? Who does this man think he is fooling? Roads can be done at any other time for free? Excuse me but am I missing something here? If we need to focus on beautification why not make it a permanent thing since we can buld road anytime?

    Everyday people planting flowers and cleaning their yards and throwing their garbage. Our PM is so pathetic it is just not funny at all.

    Some level we reach there!

  21. @365 Rivers:

    ” I seat here in amazement and feeling sad for Dominica.”

    ” I seat ”

    The above is definitely not a simply typing error, the person wrote as she/he speaks, just as some people in Dominica living in a particular location would write ” I leave;” there is a difference in live, and leave.

    Seat is something that people sits on, okay!

    So when someone emphasizes ” I seat in amassment (amazement),” that impressed on me that the person who wrote that statement comprehension of the English language is very poor.

    What is that, what does; ” I seat in reference to all this individual wrote means?

    Now, now; how can someone who does not know how to spell a simple word such as ” sit” which means someone is sting comes here, criticizing another for not being able to express themselves efficiently in the English language?

    And so , I sit in amazement: reading the nonsense most of these people write, in language so poor, that I personally wonder if the English language has now become secondary to some other language in Dominica!

    Fact is; when someone decides to critique another, that someone must present themselves in a superb manner, they must have something better to offer than the person, or persons they critique.

    I know that I will fall under the wrath of many, for the comments I made, however, it does not matter to me, since am aware that some lesser specimens will try to prove me an idiot.

    I only hope that the world shall not render judgment on all of Dominica, thinking that we are all idiots based on the comments they read in this forum!

    Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

  22. Patat
    September 7, 2010

    Hay Hayyy!! Wow My PM u try and divert topic on radio man!!!! What boy!! Too much pressure from Matt and Lennox everyday about Villas, and bin boboll.

    Is true they concentrating on what they think you have as a person and not much about issues of National Concern like Community Day of Service.

    I like d reverse psychology. And it seems to be working. Because plenty people start to say you behaving like Idi Amin and Gary of old.

    Come on, if you have 18 seats and d opposition have only three seats, it stand to reason that those opposition parties will be on d hunt for good prospective candidates to contest in 2015. The most logical place to look will be for persons in voluntary service in public life already – people that have some experience in campaigning for themselves and know the people in their communities. But these said people must all now so prove themselves in small maters like construction of drains, bus shelters, concrete benches, and pave ways for the elderly.

    If these councilors do that work themselves then the incumbents in a bind. It must be seen at all cost that these developments were initiated by the Parl Rep.

    Boss u does think and you know I doh fraid to let people know that. You can say my head empty I doh care.

  23. Watcher
    September 7, 2010

    @Anonymous: See my just concluded statement.

  24. Watcher
    September 7, 2010

    We need to clean all the beaches islandwide, the Riverside, the roadside, the villages, the public places, schools, bus stops as a result of littering, defacing by the people or persons who insist on doing such things. We need to show love of our environment, country. We need to be aware that littering cause our gutters to block (Styrofoam and plastic) , a haven for mosquitoes to provide dengue virus. We need to dispose of our gabbage properly and not anywhere indisriminately. Have anyone stop to think of what is happenning overseas. What can happen if the gutters are blocked and we get a few more inches of rain than we normally get. Roseau will flood profusely and create havoc. Are we waitng for a catastrophe to happen like a flood? We need to dispose of our gabbage in a smart way – bottles, plastic separately, Biodegradeable also separately. we need to recycle and reuse.

    Stop waitng and criticising the Government for not giving handouts. We need to be responsible citizens and ask what can I contribute to my community in suchan economic crisis timeas now. We always want to receive and never give back. Would anyone of you spend your money in the way you want the government to spend hard earned taxpayers money?

    When we do clean the beaches and the other places, let us put our talents together and beautify the place by planting flowers etc. The Florist and the gardens can donate the plants. We can use some tyres to recycle. Let us put our gabbage at the designated times so the DSWMC trucks can pick up on the days designated. Do not litter and put gabbage anywhere at odd times, Let us not put gabbage in the planters (culverts ) designed to put plants/flowers. Let us not throw kenip skins . seeds, KFC plastics, Styrofoam cups/plates in the gutters after the City Council Employees have swept the gutters.. Let us call on those who litter. Policemen as well do your duty as litter wardens. Call on those who litter when you see them doing the wrong things. Let us repect ourselves and others. Let us do a little less talking and more action.

    Then when we achieve this milestone and keep our country spic and span, then we can ask for galvanise, steel and cement to do some community project. Remember we can request at any time during the year. We need to create community awareness first and then join hands together to do the “Koud Main” anytime during the year not being community minded only on November 4th alone.
    Finally, we need to rid the city of the less fortunate who roam the street. Perhaps all of us(Truckers. Bus Drivers, Construction Company, Business Houses in Roseau and environs, Landowners (donate a piece of land), Laboures, skilled men and members of the communitiy including their own families and of course the Government) can come together to build a home or place of abode for those persons and do some form of rehab (not forgetting the spiritual part) with them. A social program I mean and probaly have an international car wash (Some already perform this task) and we can see if we can make a difference in their life and who knows maybe some can come back and take their rightful place in society. I know of one particular individual (No Name) who was badly off on drugs, but praise the Lord, he has taken back his rightful place and is presently employed at a major institution here. Let us not give up on those persons. Let us assist where we can. Not shirking our responsibilities and saying this is not my business. We never know when it will hit us right home.

    Then we can say that we are true community minded individuals

  25. Anonymous
    September 7, 2010

    Way 2 Go Mr. SKerrit, no cement and tarish and steel, bcuz we don’t need road, give us donkeys instead, give us the cement in 2015, and de steel too, cuz is around election time people does need them more,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I give up on Dominica

    Big up 2 One- Set

  26. carib
    September 7, 2010

    THATS JUS DA BEGGININ OF WAT IS 2 COME , COMUNITY DAY OF SERVICE EVERY 1 GETS TOGETHER N DO PROJECTS . MEN DOES DA CONSTRUCTION ON DA ROADS WHILE DA WOMAN PLANTS N CLEANS WITH DA HELP OF SOME MEN , WEN NO CEMENT OR TARISH WAT IS DA MEN 2 DO , I WANNA KNOW? THEY KILL AGRICULTURE WHICH WAS OUR MAIN INCOME N MOVE 2 TOURISIM , NOW TOURISIM , NOW LOOK SHIPS HAVE 2 B PULLIN OUT ITS NOT CUZ OF GABBAGE IN TOWN ITS CUZ OF DA FRIENDS N COUNTRIES
    WE ARE ASSOCIATIN OUR SLEVES WITH .

  27. Anonymous
    September 7, 2010

    @Damian:
    EXACTLY

  28. This is a sad day for Dominica
    September 7, 2010

    Well Well Well Have anyone taken the time to listen to the tone of that speech?. Is PM Skerrit addressing the nation? or a bunch of illiterates?.

    Dominica have gone down to a really deep and dark level.

    But then from some of our comments he can do no wrong. We hang on to his every word hoping that some of his saliva will fall on us and bless us…..How pathetic.

    Dominica wake up..before its too late.

  29. alexbighead
    September 7, 2010

    man i love da but i feel sorry for the people .thats no joke

  30. sadDominican
    September 7, 2010

    Skerrit thinks he can fool everybody. He can only fool those who choose to insult their own intelligence by believing what he says. He does not have money to do projects. Just come out and say that.

  31. alexbighead
    September 7, 2010

    @Prophet2: wooden level

  32. Village Councillor
    September 7, 2010

    Does PM Skerritt think first before spewing those ill-conceived statements? The government of Dominica will not be issuing cement, tarish or steel for National Day of Community Service projects for the next three years. This is according to Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, who said that this is a policy decision made by cabinet recently. Who did Skerritt and his DLP Govt. consult with? Was it the Local Govt. Department, the Village Councils, the Community based Orgs.? who? PM Skerritt does not have a clue about community development and participatory approaches to people’s development. Check the dictatorial tone in those statements. It is the community who should decide first and foremost on what is best needed for their communities. Their input and suggestions must be taken on board after discussions with them. Govt. policy is not only for Govt. Therefore it is wise to allow communities to participate fully from the start if any changes are being made to activities On Community day of Service. What backwardness. But that is the style of the present leader and GOVT. of our beloved country. He thinks he knows everything about everything to the detriment of Dominica’s forward movement. Was any evaluation done of past Community Day of Service activities to find out if the projects undertaken were a waste of efforts or money or didn’t benefit the communities? Were the VCs and people of the communities thinking and doing nonsense when they proposed projects to be done in the past? Was the Local Govt. Department wasting time, money and other resources in supporting those community projects of beautification, cleaning up and road rehab proposed and done by the community themselves?

    Prime Minister Skerrit said that Community Day of Service should instead be reserved for clean up and beautification projects in respective communities as opposed to the usual road rehabilitation and infrastructural projects. What entailed during Community Day of Service before? Wasn’t it about beautification and cleaning up? There were different projects in different areas. Some undertook mainly road rehab. Some did mainly cleaning up and beautifying the surroundings, cutlassing, weeding, planting flowers, building retaining walls and so on. Skerritt doesn’t know what he is talking about.

    Pm Skerritt’s approach leaves much to be desired. Haven’t some Village Councils and Community groups submit proposals for that Day already to Local Govt.? Some have planned their projects according to the priority needs of their communities. The rural folks are being cast aside. PM Skerritt and his Govt. are not interested in their input for their own development. So he does not consult, does not discuss with community and just throws his ideas on the community. That approach is far away from allowing the ordinary people to decide for themselves. That approach prevents people to actively participate in community activities because they feel ridiculed and treated with utter contempt because they are not part of the decision taken by Skerritt and his incompetent Govt. Doesn’t Skerritt and the Govt. want the community to participate in full force in projects in the Community on that day? Does he expect maximum participation if they are part and parcel of the decision making process? Where ignorance is bliss ’tis folly to be wise. PM Skerritt’s decision is unfortunately unwise, arrogant, and disrespectful to the people in the communities. Some people sadly like it so. They love their PM for such dictatorial actions in which especially rural folks are taken for a ride. Maybe , he thinks they are too foolish to make meaningful contributions in deciding what is best for their communities. It is all about self-portrayal, self-interest, hinging on absolute power. People do not matter. PM Skerritt and his Govt. has time and time again shown Dominicans that they do not understand that ‘PEOPLE COME FIRST.’ NOT PM, NOT GOVT, NOT PARTY, NOT INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT PEOPLE. They do not have the slightest clue how damaging those unilateral decisions could be. PM Skeriitt, DEVELOPMENT IS ABOUT PEOPLE. DEVELOPMENT is not about how much assets ‘a few in power’ could amass in quick time while in public office especially through questionable means.

  33. Too much stuff
    September 7, 2010

    I agree with the PM. There are many other projects besides roads that the community can do; like cleaning and painting of schools, cleaning up for the elderly, cleaning the rivers, beaches and so on; if we all come together and not look at the negative this thing can work for the betterment of the people. Sometimes it takes three, four years before a road project is completed because of the quantity of material given for that day and most of the time we have people just by standers watching others work; but we can all work on a clean up day!

  34. misquoted
    September 7, 2010

    It is interesting the number deffering views this statement by my comrade has drawn. I ask us please to be OBJECTIVE (from either side of the political spectrum) and look at the statement/s to see what merit if any it/they hold. We should stop the bashing and the opposing for opposing sake, also the party cronnies who feel that “their leader” or party can do NO WRONG; come down from your horses please, only Jesus in infalible. All of these men are mere men and like the rest of us a prone to error. We must encourage our leadersd to be responsible and hold them accountable and demand apologies when they er. This land is way to small for the kind of divison that we perpetuate as no man is an island and we all need each other. “Even our arch enemies have a role to play in our development” for sometimes these very ones with their hate and negativity push us towards our destiny! A word from the wise, “do not try to make it out on your own”

  35. trieeeeeeee
    September 7, 2010

    pure …that, wat happen money finish, this is not being dependent on government, this is tradition and for must villages that may be the only form of assistant that they will receive from government- wat the hell is wrong with these people.

  36. Damian
    September 7, 2010

    that’s a poor move by the PM, hands down, i’m not one to criticize but that’s just not a good move on his Cabinet’s part.

    I dont see the justification in that we can do it at any other time of the year, we can also do beautification projects at any other time of the year too, so what is really the deal?

    Damian

  37. tb
    September 7, 2010

    You see… the man knows that is ‘Stupid’ Dominicans Must be ‘STUPID’ to give him 18 out of 21 seats in the last general elections, so he continuing to treat Dominicans like ‘Stupid!!!’ I mean clearly.. all-you cannot see what the man is up to..??

  38. Prophet2
    September 7, 2010

    Can anyone tell me what level this one is?

  39. Anonymous
    September 7, 2010

    WHOOOOOSSSHHHH LOOK STORY

  40. only
    September 7, 2010

    Next level or 2 down……..already there.
    Wake up people.

  41. 365 Rivers
    September 7, 2010

    I seat here in amazement and feeling sad for Dominica as it relates to who we have elected to compete out there in this world. How can this guy go to any conference and speak with such low level of expressive thoughts?? Dosen’t he have any speech writers or advisers who can make him sound more inteligent?? It can be two things.
    1) The grown men around him do not want to tell him that he speaks wrong, anf is going about the worng way!!
    2) They want him to fail and as such leave him lead his way to the edge of the cliff, then push him over.

    We need more diplomatic speakers like Charles Maynard and Brian Allynne to take this country on the right road.

  42. Uhm....
    September 7, 2010

    Hmmm……LOL! Is that self! Ha ha ha…..

  43. :-)
    September 7, 2010

    GO ON DADDY SKERRIT DO WHAT YOU WANT!! PLEASE CONTINUE TAKING US ON THIS LOVELY JOY RIDE!!

  44. Anonymous
    September 7, 2010

    Most countries lend you money for school/Education then you are given —-6 months to find a job. then after that you have to start repaying them – how else will they get the money to help the next scholar.

    Should we just get that money for school and then it is known as a gift? Then, for the next 50 thousand Scholars leaving school will have to find their own.

  45. One-set
    September 7, 2010

    take what allu get…they create the culture of dependency to get the votes….

    and when they get the mandate..check alllu siiiiiiiiiiiiin….

    18-3….I will come back and give allu freeness in 2014…..then allu will give me 21-0

    lol lol…next level…I will read about allu on de internet…

  46. mannn
    September 7, 2010

    WAT THE PM SAID ABOUT THE TRUCKERS….? VERY RUDE BTW… LIKE HE WASNT MAKING NOISE FOR JOB DURING ELECTION CAMPAIGN…KMDTA!

  47. mannn
    September 7, 2010

    beautifying project instead of community day of service!? I MEAN HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO PICK UP TRASH!? YOU CANT ENCOURAGE PPL TO DEVOTE A DAY TO PICKING UP TRASH N PLANTING FLOWERS! YOU SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING THEM TO DO THIS ALL YEAR ROUND! ITS LIKE YOU ARE TELLING THE YOUNG PEOPLE ITS OK TO THROW GARBAGE ON THE ROAD BECAUSE ON COMMUNITY DAY OF SERVICE…ITS A SPECIAL DAY DEVOTED TO PICKING THOSE SAME RUBBISH YOU SHUDNT HAVE THROWN ON THE GROUND UP!….N WOULDNT IT HAVE BEEN MORE COST EFFECTIVE/ECONOMIC TO ALLOW THE VILLAGERS TO DO WHAT YOU WOULDVE PAID CONTRACTORS TO DO…THEY WOULDVE DONE IT WITH MORE PASSION TOOO! AND IT WOULD BE FINISHED N DONE NICELY BECAUSE ITS THEIR VILLAGE N THEY WOULD NEVER WANT IT TO LOOK TRASHY…KMDT!!! A DAY DEVOTED TO PICKING UP GARBAGE N CLEARING UP…MY GOD! BY NEXT WEEK MORE WEED WILL GROW AND MORE PEOPLE WILL PASS AND DROP GARBAGE ON THE GROUND LOOOOL

  48. .............
    September 7, 2010

    WTF!! ROAD REHABILITATION IS PART OF BEAUTIFYING YOUR COMMUNITY!
    Picture this: On community Day of Service you weed the road sides, cut grass, plant flowers AND YET YOU HAVE MASSIVE CRATERS IN THE ROAD MESSING UP ALL YOUR SHOCKS AND SPLASHING PEOPLE AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS THEY TRY TO RENDER SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITY!!!
    COME ON PM IS LIKE EVERYTHING IN DOMINICA WE HAVE TO BEG YOU FOR!!!!!!

  49. Anonymous
    September 7, 2010

    The whole world is going down slowly, all countries are suffering – there are lay off all over the world – maybe some Governments are promising too much before they see the whole picture – then comes the time there is nothing they can do to fix it and vuala – if that government is no good we will take him out in the next election. (in the meantime do you have a suggestion?) I dont think that there is any Gov. in power that everyone would or will like.

  50. BROTHER RAT
    September 7, 2010

    AS AN ASIDE THE PM NEED TO “EASE UP ON THE PHRASE “ AND SO FORTH”- THE CONTINUOS USE OF THIS PHRASE IS INDICATIVE OF A WEAK VOCABULARY.
    IWITH REGARDS TO THE ISSSUE AT HAND , IT WOULD HAVE BEEN OK IF THE PM CAME OUT CLEARLY AND STATE THAT THE TREASURY DOES NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY DAY PROJECTS. BUT THEN AGAIN THE GOVERNMENT TOLD US THAT THE COUNTRY IS IN GOOD SHAPE. EXPERIENCE DICTATES THAT LIES NEED TO BE SUPPORTED BY LIES. TO USE THE TRUCK DRIVER AS AN EXCUSE IS VERY DISTASTEFUL TO SAY THE LEASE.. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE ARROGANCE OF THE PM AND CABINET.

    THE GOVERNMENT’S REFUSAL TO PROVIDE SUPPORT ON THE C.D.O.S MEANS THAT SUPPLY STORES SHOULD NOT EXPECT THE BUSINESS THAT THEY’VE BENIFITED FROM FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS. THE MATERIAL SUPPORT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN PROVIDING WAS JUST 20% OF THE PROJECT EVALUATION. NOTE ALSO THAT PEOPLE IN THE VARIOUS COMMUNITIES ALSO CONTRIBUTED TOWARDS THE MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS. THE LABOUR PROVIDED BY THE PEOLE HAD ALWAYS BEEN THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ASPECT OF C.D.O.S. THE COMMUNITY DAY OF SERVICE WAS NOT JUST ABOUT PLANTING FLOWERS AND BEAUJTIFYING COMMUNITIES; MANY WATER DIVERSIONS WERE BUILT(ASK THE GRANDBAY PEOPLE) , PROJECTS SUCH AS COMMUNITY BUILDING EXPANSION AND RENNOVATIONS, BUS STOPS ETC WERE BUILT ON C.D.O.S.

    THE PM AND HIS CABINET MUST COME CLEAN AND TELL US THE TRUTH ; STOP THE LIES. DURING THE LAST ELECTION WE SAW A LAVISH SPENDING TO INCLUDE CHARTED FLIGHTS, FREE AIRLINE TICKETS , ETC. WE ALSO REMEMBER THE RED CLINIC. WHERE DID ALL THAT MONEY COME FROM AND WHER DID IT GO? DID THE PM AND CABINET EVER THOUGHT THAT THE MONEY WASTED WOULD BE NEEDED FOR VIABLE PROJECTS SUCH AS A BUS STOP IN TOUCARI OR COTTAGE OR A WASHROOM ON THE PORT FOR PASSENGERS.

    AS A D/CAN I’M CONCERNED ABOUT THE DIRECTION OUR COUNTRY IS TAKING. THESE GUN SLINGING POLITICIANS WHO ONLY CARE ABOUT THE SIZE OF THEIR BANK ACCOUNTS AND HAVE OUR PEOPLE FOOLED NEED TO BE CONTROLED. U8NTIL WE STAND FOR SOMETHING WE WILL FALL FOR ANYTHING

  51. Silent
    September 7, 2010

    @lisad:

    No, no no. This is a well planned, prepared and presented speech; this is vintage Skerro.

    Time, just give it time and the real BOMB will explode.

  52. One-set
    September 7, 2010

    @lisad:

    haa boy….u doh hear and see nothing yet…

  53. ALASS
    September 7, 2010

    @BEST INTEREST: A LIL LOUDER…

  54. Well Look It
    September 7, 2010

    A Brokes Government trying all they can do save money and trying to make it look like things nice…. IT Going Down Slowly…. slowly slowly….. The Whole Country… slowly slowly…..

    A particular minister said to my friend “during elections mr go promising everybody scholarship and now we cannot pay them schools and them people want their money”

    go for a scholarship… they giving you a form to fill out and sending you to the bank for a loan that they co-signing and authorising for you… 6 months after you finish study you need to start back paying it…. Thats how they helping education now????…

  55. observer
    September 7, 2010

    @Workers:
    EXACTLY !!!

    Trees and flowers are always being planted! Who says that if people do not get cement and tarish and steel that they are going to focus on clean up and planting flowers anyway?

    What do we say to the persons who have planned for a year to work on that stagnating drain in the community on community service day ?

    Are we asking people to forget their regular slave wage jobs and to work for free on other days?

    tsk tsk tsk …..

  56. de caribbean change
    September 7, 2010

    This is the way to go Mr. PM. No cement or tarish or steels. We need to use this important day to clean up our villages and towns and cities of rubbish, trash, and garbage. We need to sweep the streets, clean the gutters and drains, clean our beaches, plant flowers where necessary, put up signs where necessary, install trash cans with lids where necessary, clean up the alleys, the sidewalks, throw junk away from our homes and where-ever else, paint community buildings, clean around the schools and churches in our community, cut down the bushes, mow the grass, all that good stuff. Well said, Mr PM.

  57. My Mother Didn't Raise No Fool
    September 7, 2010

    @I Agree: i have bean part of many community day of service projects where we builts roads in a day, built walls in a day…. money is running low and that is just a way they found to save a few dollars…. dont try to give me that nonsense

  58. Jepter
    September 7, 2010

    While i understand that we have now renamed it to National Beautification Day, one will still understand and agree that these road project cost the government far less when constructed by persons in the community during Community Day of Service, as compared to having the project tendered and awarded to a contractor.

  59. DD
    September 7, 2010

    While agree with the Prime Minister on this decision and quite frankly it was become so uniformed, every year is the same thing for Community Day of Service, people always building some road or improving on some road, personally that is government job and I hope he they keep the promise and fix what needs to be fixed within the communities, as he said, this could be done anytime during the year. However, I did not like the tone in which he said it, Skerrit, take it easy, I am supporter but sometimes I don’t like the way you want to talk to people, you are the one who has encouraged a begging society and it is years now all governments giving out these things for community day of service. You all could have least met with the councils in various communities and spoken to them about it. Great idea but just delivered poorly.

  60. Workers
    September 7, 2010

    I think it is a good idea for us to concentrate on beautifying our country and cleaning up the rubbish that lies on our seashores!!!
    How many communities actually use the tarish, sand and cement on Community Day of Service? Majority of them leave it so that they can use on their personal projects….
    Why can’t we ever see good in anything that is not our opinion or that of our party?
    Uwp has not stopped campaigning since December 2009 elections…yet the PM makes one statement about cleaning the country and changing the community day of service project and he is accused of planning early for the next election…sad so damn sad….
    I will participate as i normally do every year in the Community Day of Service Project….think about it, the PM should not have to TELL US TO PLANT FLOWERS AND CLEAN OUR YARDS!!!

  61. I Agree
    September 7, 2010

    We did it some three or four years ago (broke from tradition) and cleaned up the place instead and we were better for it. One cannot build a road in a day.We can do it during the tear. Go for it Skerro!!!!!!

  62. Keen Observer
    September 7, 2010

    Is this the next level or what?
    Some time in the summer an announcement came over the radio {DBS} asking communities to submit projects for approval for Community Day of Service and a deadline was given. This deadline has come and gone and projects were submitted. It’s annoynig to now hear from the Prime Minister that no cement etc will be given out for projects. You can plant and beautify as much as you wish until dooms day, however if the roads along which these trees/flowers are planted continues to be ignored and be in a bad state then the area will only look worse. Just look at the amount of potholes on the streets, drivers making their own roads on the sidewalks to avoid them.
    The government and the ministers need to come clean with the people. If there is no money come up front and say so, your supporters will understand and respect you more, instead of preying on their ignorance.
    But again, this is the next level right!

  63. observer
    September 7, 2010

    This is such B.S
    Deadlines were set for persons to submit projects to the local govt dept. , projects have been received and projects approved including materials such as cement and steel!

    Three weeks ago the Minister of Community Development along with the Permanent Secretary and Local Govt Commissioner met with several of the local govt authorities and discussed projects for community service day.

    I know central govt does not operate with a plan , are they asking the local authorities to do the same ?

    Why cant every project be assessed on it’s own merit ?

    Draconian gun laws !
    Draconian govt policy ?

    Is Skerrit now ruling by decree ?

  64. lisad
    September 7, 2010

    The Prime Minister must take his time to carefully plan his speeches before he speaks to the public.His statement sound very arrogant and insensitive to the truckers.

  65. lisad
    September 7, 2010

    Is it because there is no money? Or maybe three years from now we will be closer to another election?

  66. Is dat self!
    September 7, 2010

    Just for the next 3 years? So that means it will resume when you all are ready to campaign again? Pathetic!

  67. SUM FING WONG
    September 7, 2010

    I AGREE WITH THIS NEW POLICY .

  68. BEST INTEREST
    September 7, 2010

    Hahahahaha! Ok, I will stop laughing for just a little while so I can give my ten cents. I just wish people would wipe politics away from their eyes and see things for what it really is. Let us break this down:-

    1. The Prime Minister said Cabinet has taken a decision which will essentially break a tradition which has been alive for decades. We made such an issue about changing the dates for carnival. This is no different. We are breaking a tradition.

    2. The Prime Minister said he will not be authorizing any purchase of cement, steel or tarish for that day. Oh no! He will not give it to communities for community day of service. He may give it to some other people some other time during the year.

    3. The Prime Minister said he will be holding that back for the next three years. The man is already planning his campaign strategy. Leave them without for three years and then just before elections, hand outs, cement, steel, tarish, make your community nice, see what I have done, vote for me!!!

    4. We see democracy in the statement, “Nobody would be authorised to use any money for Community Day of Service to buy cement”

    5. “We have to get the local truckers; they always making noise for jobs and so forth”. Am I the only one who took this statement wrong? What does the Prime Minister mean by that? You mean the local truckers should not want jobs? Should it have to go as far as ‘making noise’? Are you serious? So when truckers see chinese and french people on projects in Dominica and they cannot get a share of it, the should not talk? Democracy!! Alive and kicking.

    6. I may have missed something but exactly what do the truckers owe? “It’s a time to give back some of what you owe and to play your part in dumping the waste for village and the communities.” Did the truckers get handouts that we are not aware of? Besides owing the bank for their trucks what do the truckers owe? You mean because you gave them jobs they owe you?

    Dominican’s if you want to settle for mediocrity because it is your party and you not saying anything against it that is your choice. It is so clear. I am not advising anyone to change party. All I want you to do is to see the light. You voted for it, you have a right to speak up. If this is the direction Dominica is headed we are doomed.

  69. One-set
    September 7, 2010

    lol…..next level

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