PM Skerrit says Dominica spared from effects of Irma; stands ready to assist affected islands

A scene from St. Martin, one of the islands heavily impacted by Irma

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has said that Dominica was spared from suffering the effects of Hurricane Irma and stands ready to assist other islands who felt the full brunt of the powerful storm.

He spoke on Wednesday morning, hours after a Tropical Storm Warning was discontinued for the island and the government gave an all clear signal for residents to return to work.

“As you know, there is no way we could afford any negative impact from Irma,” he stated.

He said there are “one or two” landslides and fallen trees across the island and there is a “slight challenge” at the Douglas Charles Airport, which remains closed.

“Other than that we were spared the ravages of the effects of Irma,” he remarked.

Skerrit said a number of islands to the north of Dominica were not spared.

He said he has spoken to a number of leaders of affected island including the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, the Chief Minister of Anguilla to get updates and has attempted to contact the Prime Minister of St. Martin but it appears the telephone system has been compromised.

He stated that attempts were made to contact Dominicans in St. Martin but that proved futile.

“But we will continue making contact with them,” the Prime Minister said.

He pointed out that Dominica stands ready to assist and support those affected islands “with the little resources that we have” once an assessment is received with an indication of what kind of support is needed.

“One cannot forget the tremendous outpouring of love and solidarity in 2015 following Tropical Storm Erika,” Skerrit said. “So we understand what these islands will be going through. We understand the challenges.”

He stated that expressions of solidarity will help in a huge way as affected islands struggle to cope.

“So our thoughts and prayers, our hope is that there will be no loss of lives in these islands and that the rebuilding process begins immediately after the storm would have passed,” the Prime Minister said.

 

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21 Comments

  1. September 7, 2017

    People stop being petty…that’s not a matter to play politics with..it is serious..lives are disrupted for a long time in some cases forever…Think of your brothers and sisters in Barbuda…that got a beating from Irma ..and another one Jose is set on the same track…appear as if they will get a double beating in a matter of days…
    All I believe you all should be doing right now …is giving thanks to the MOST HIGH GOD ” JEHOVAH ” for having HIS protective mighty hand over Dominica….

  2. September 7, 2017

    While we continue to live wichy washy lives, the natural disasters that we have absolutely no control over, usually puts us back into our proper places. Irregardless of climate change or not, the message is clear the life we live, also have an effect. I am not one to quote Biblical passages, but our ancient mothers and fathers, gave us MAAT and cause and effect , any thing less, is impending disaster. Man today, have refuse to speak out against the injustices committed in the world, and some of us will have to pay the ultimate price, which comes in the form of natural disasters. The message is clear, who have eyes to see, will definitely see. Bob D.

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      September 7, 2017

      “Man today, have refuse to speak out against the injustices committed in the world, and some of us will have to pay the ultimate price, which comes in the form of natural disasters. The message is clea”(Bob Denis).

      Boy, that is one of the stupidest comment I’ve read for a long time; so my question to you is simply this, what does refusing to speak out against injustice in the world have to do with the weather which is a natural phenomenon?

      You say you are not quoting the Bible, but it appears you are contending that God is responsible for the events of the hurricane, if that’s your thoughts God, allowed it; however, he did not allow it because of any injustice anyplace on the planet!

      That’s not the purpose!

  3. Emile Dominique
    September 6, 2017

    A bird told me so, …………………………………

  4. Emile Dominique
    September 6, 2017

    a bird told me so.

  5. Emile Dominique
    September 6, 2017

    That is for…….@…. the bird told me so. Yes a real bad looking bird.

  6. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    September 6, 2017

    Help which island with what Roosevelt? Any of the island in the North Western end of the Caribbean which sustained damage, even Angullia, are a whole lot better of than Dominica economically.
    There is damage in Guadeloupe and Martinique where people killed by the storm, France will take care of their colony’s. St. Croix got hit also. Nevertheless, read the following, and match that if you Mr. Diplomatic Passport salesman can
    Selling you along with Dominica does not worth a billion!
    “House Passes Nearly $8 Billion In Relief Funding For Harvey Victims
    The nearly unanimous vote Wednesday fulfills President Donald Trump’s request for federal aid funding in the wake of the storm that killed more than 50 people.”

    • Let The Truth Be Known - Original
      September 7, 2017

      Oh, please Francisco. Do you always have to be negative and contentious? Can you not write something amicable for a change? Your mean heart needs a change. May God change it and soon enough.

  7. Anonymous
    September 6, 2017

    Charity starts at home.

  8. P.I.
    September 6, 2017

    I am not in a position to use any unpleasant words against God creation but you people is suffering from malnutrition. In time of Erika we receive help so it is obvious that we help our neighbours as ourselves. Mr. LIN SHOULD GO AND TAKE aka WITH HIM.

  9. Floridian Diaspora
    September 6, 2017

    Funny how he’s so ready to assist other islands when he cannot assist his own. Look at what the people of Salisbury have to pass on a piece of concrete through a river at macushwi when it rains or else they have to put their trust in an old bridge but here it is that our knight and shinning amor is ready to play like he has so much to give. I thought that charity was supposed to begin at home?

    • Man bites Dogs
      September 7, 2017

      @:DIASPORA crap, How good can you run your own home? I know who you are one day I will tell you what you don’t know.

  10. Let The Truth Be Known - Original
    September 6, 2017

    Hurricanes and storms are no easy matter. They cause much damage and also loss of lives.
    Happy to know that Dominica was spared the worst.
    I have been listening for news about D/ca and the neighboring islands as Antigua and Barbuda.
    This morning I heard on a Toronto local station that Barbuda was badly hit and that their weather forecast system is down, to the effect CNN was surprised as it appears this is the first time this has occurred during a hurricane/storm.
    It was also stated that no one in Barbuda could be contacted at that time. I also heard on that station that the vegetarian area is flattened.
    Poor Barbuda. It is a much smaller island. Consider the damage to this country. We will hear/read more about Barbuda later and thanks to DNO.

  11. %
    September 6, 2017

    What about the affected areas of Coulibistrie and Paradise Valley? Are you referring to them as islands?I thank Q95, Honourable LLL Leader Lennox Linton,Honourable Joshua Francis and Honourable Senator Thompson Fountaine,for a superb job on the BIG STATION last night..Leadership at its best guys.

    • September 6, 2017

      What leadership you talking about they just talking and not nothing they doing

    • Man bites Dogs
      September 7, 2017

      @: Who’s that is that idiot above? Talking crap every day like that, Three good for nothing little boys came on Q 95 talking rubbish and some ahole is trying to tell us this is leadership at its best, that goes to show % You are a door mice and nothing more :mrgreen:

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        September 7, 2017

        How can a dog talk about door mice, when that big old dog simply lies in it belly, with it eyes fixated on the mice to jump and grab at it for a meal of the day.

        You that hungry hound-dog are in no position to talk about rats, mice, mouse or any other kind of rodent, because when you do that; you are talking about all of you labor party people, cause all of you are dogs, and all sorts of animal eh!

        Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!

        And mind you Roosevelt Skerrit is in control of all of you animals, and since you are the boss dog, Skerrit appointed you to lead the rest of his dumb animals to eat hay, and drink salt water: (Ah dat meke ayou so fool).

  12. A bird told me so
    September 6, 2017

    Skerrit sounded very disappointed when he made that announcement as if to suggest he wanted some form of destruction, so he could call a snap election and be able to hide from the feds a little longer. To bad it didn’t quite work for Skerro this time

    • September 6, 2017

      If you have nothing to say just shut up

    • Steve Law
      September 6, 2017

      What an idiot! Seems that UWP’ers love fake news more than Donald Trump! Get a life and get back into reality instead of this fantasy world where only UWP exist

    • Let The Truth Be Known - Original
      September 7, 2017

      What a bad mind who would make such a comment. You placed curses upon yourself.

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