PM Skerrit wants quicker response to climate change by international community

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has called on the international community to provide a quicker response to small island developing states which are affected by climate change.

He was speaking at a press conference held at the Financial Centre earlier this week.

“Dominica signed and ratified the climate Paris Accord and we have been strong advocates of getting this agreement concluded because the international community has been kicking this proverbial can down the road at every COP summit, fortunately we were able to get an agreement in Paris with the leadership of the President of China, with the leadership of the then President of the United States of America and the leadership of the then President of France and other world leaders,” he stated.

He stated that for the Paris Accord to make sense to states such as Dominica, which suffer from climate change “the mechanism for getting the resources to us to build resilience is critical.”

“We cannot subject the resources that have been pledged, the $100-billion that have been pledged to protracted bureaucratic procedures,” he stated.

Skerrit went on to say that disasters associated with climate change are not going to wait for “us” to put things in place.

“And I keep saying if 15 years ago, 20 years ago anybody would tell us Dominica could flood, we would just laugh at them because rain would fall for weeks, it would flow in our dry ravines, in our rivers and go to the ocean but now in many parts of Dominica, from the time it rains, we get anxious because we are fearful of flooding,” Skerrit added. “Christmas time its supposed to be chilly and nice but we saw what happened a few years ago with the Christmas trough.”

He stated that these disasters come in all shapes, forms, and types.

“The Hurricane Irma was beyond a Category 5 and they only have Category 5 hurricanes,” he stated. “The only way we can mitigate against damage and destruction and loss of life and property is by building a more resilient society.”

 

 

 

 

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30 Comments

  1. FORKIT
    September 15, 2017

    just blame everything on climate change and doh read allu bible. perilous times ahead… because of godlessness, immorality, stubbornness, vanity, unrighteousness and all those anti god stuff we as people love doing so much, a woman taking out her virgina and put a penis and de man doing vise versa, then kings of the earth allow them to be married and even adopt children… kings of the earth are extremely corrupt and prey on the poor like out god like PM. priest and pastors dont do god;s work but the work of man for social and political standing in society, man hating man because their skin tone are different from others. people doing devil worship regularly like the cross road in pond casse is theirs…
    so climate change not all to blame but we have to look at how selfish and evil we become.

  2. Derrick Tamblin, Climate Change Specialist
    September 15, 2017

    According to the UN, human activity cases 100% of greenhouse gas emissions. There are 7.5 billion of us on earth. Unless our numbers go done, the problem will get worse and worse. All global leaders agree that our numbers need to be reduced from 7.5 billion to 500M asap. We in Dominica can help that process immediately by – a) accepting for all of us to live beyond 50 years is damaging to the planet; b) for those of us who are seriously, or terminally ill and a drain on earth’s resources, euthanasia should be legalised and encouraged; c) both men and women in Dominica should accept sterilisation; d) to curb energy use, electricity and gas costs MUST immediately go up by at least 50, or 100%; e) all forms of travel using machines must be severely restricted; d) all worldwide poverty alleviation programs must be stopped (let nature take its course). Finally, we should appoint a Minister for Sustainability who will be responsible for the depopulation program in Dominica.

    • viewsexpressed
      September 15, 2017

      We need a change of government, with professionals, honest, dedicated people. WE know who they are, the UWP, ready to govern and develop with support from we the people of Dominica, it is time.
      Get rid of Skerrit, he must go. We need disciplined, clean and accounatable government, a phrase Skerrit and his cronies do not know of.

  3. John Bertrand, MSc., DPhil
    September 14, 2017

    The PM is right. Climate change MUST be tackled now, or we will all perish by ignoring its effect.

    According the IPCC a branch of the UN greenhouse gases (gases emitted as a result of human activity) have caused the planet to warm up many times higher than normal over the past 50 years. There are 7.5 billion of us on the globe and by 2018 and this number is set to increase to 8 billion. It is clear that the only solution to the problem is a dramatic reduction of human population on the globe. We need to get the planet down to at least 500,000 million. This figure is recommended by Bill Gates and other leading thinkers. We in the Caribbean must take a lead in this. We need to start encouraging the elderly to end their lives early and and with dignity; stop giving aid to anyone in need and stop healthcare for the seriously ill; dramatically increase the price of healthcare, food and anything to do with energy; enable abortions to occur up to 5 months of pregnancy and…..

    • John Bertrand, MSc., DPhil
      September 14, 2017

      ….. give children in care and all disabled persons, the option to end their lives with dignity at at early stage of their lives so as to not become a burden on the earth. We need to act NOW before it’s too late.

      We must act now before it is too late!

    • viewsexpressed
      September 15, 2017

      John Bertrand
      The PM is right. Climate change together with political bobol, corruption, questionable CBI funds MUST be tackled now, or we will all perish by ignoring its effect. You must be intelligent to recognise this. That beast is already before us.
      That effect is already before us. A very corrupt Labour government and inept inexperience PM have killed Dominica`s social-economic growth
      Skerrit must GO
      “We must act now before it is too late”

  4. analy thomas
    September 14, 2017

    I do not expect to be liked or my comments to be accepted however, i expect you to search the reasoning of the words that i speak and ponder on them. I am not here to be politically correct or to mix the profane with the truth. We are missing the point and i am so sorry that this is happening. We keep talking, but when do we listen?
    There is scientific evidence of the great flood, the dinosaurs of very old, (Siberian exhibit), sulphur, residues between sediments in the exact location of Sodom, the foundation of the tower of Babel….. Muslims and Jews believe that Jesus existed in flesh at a given time… Every account of the bible is becoming evident including the western wall in Jerusalem.
    the bible predicts every event to the most precise time and location, yet we reject the word of God.
    Times and seasons are predicted and they will continue as long as humanity does not repent! I know so because God says so!
    Put your house in order! Redemption draweth nigh!

  5. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    September 14, 2017

    You see DNO sometimes you are quick to omit or censor peoples comments, I do not know why. Nevertheless, one should be allowed to counter nonsense when they read it, Skerrit is running off his mouth about International Community, and doesn’t even know the meaning of the word. As I said if he want quicker response he should demand that the Chines who holds his loyalty stop polluting the world!

    What is meant by International Community?

    The international community is a phrase used in international relations in reference to themselves by the United States of America and its allies in the widest sense.

    It does not refer literally to all peoples, cultures and governments of the world.

    The term is used to imply the existence of common duties and obligations between them. Activists, politicians and commentators often use the term, in the context of calls for action to be taken against political repression and to protect human rights.

  6. anonymous2
    September 14, 2017

    It’s called GEOENGINEERING Mr. Skerrit. Maybe your banker friends have told you about it. However, they want you to call it “climate change.” They are involved in manipulating the weather at the expense of the lives of many people.

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      September 14, 2017

      Anonymous, nobody alive is capable of manipulate the weather, only God is capable of doing that!
      The problem is stated in the following:
      The greenhouse effect causes the atmosphere to retain heat
      When sunlight reaches Earth’s surface, it can either be reflected back into space or absorbed by Earth. Once absorbed, the planet releases some of the energy back into the atmosphere as heat (also called infrared radiation). Greenhouse gases like water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4) absorb energy, slowing or preventing the loss of heat to space. In this way, GHGs act like a blanket, making Earth warmer than it would otherwise be. This process is commonly known as the “greenhouse effect.”

      The role of the greenhouse effect in the past
      Over the last several hundred thousand years, CO2 levels varied in tandem with the glacial cycles. During warm “interglacial” periods, CO2 levels were higher. During cool “glacial” periods, CO2 levels were lower. The heating or…

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        September 15, 2017

        You see I did not trouble Mr. Dog eater?

        I left a message to you about the way you spell a certain word “tippecal” (DNO out it out eh); perhaps next time you can try typical, that is the correct way typical is spelt eh!

        I do not have to write to Donald Trump, because I have nothing to say to him; but, I do have plenty to say to the Dominica Mountain Chicken Carpaud (crapo) Mentality Sir Knight Dr. Punjab Indian doctor of nothing Roosevelt Skerrit-Doug-las!

        America will deal with Donald Trump next election; we do not accept bribe to vote to keep presidents in power.

        Skerrit bought the majority of Dominica, hence he wins every election. Now he is frightening people telling them don’t return home, because he is afraid if they come, on election day the pendulum will swing in the UWP direction, and the corrupted Skerrit will be out of there oui!

        Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

        All of us in the Diaspora coming home to stay oui!

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      September 14, 2017

      Finally:

      The heating or cooling of Earth’s surface and oceans can cause changes in the natural sources and sinks of these gases, and thus change greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. These changing concentrations are thought to have acted as a positive feedback, amplifying the temperature changes caused by long-term shifts in Earth’s orbit.

      • Man bites Dogs
        September 15, 2017

        @ Francisco, if you know so much about climate change and what you say is true, why cant you write to President Trump, and put your points to him or are you afraid of the white man!

  7. Let The Truth Be Known - Original
    September 13, 2017

    I can only state only God knows all about this climate change and how to retain it.

  8. derp
    September 13, 2017

    Hmm maybe the government should get rid of that stupid import tax on vehicles so we the people can import newer vehicles instead of the second hand models which smoke up the place, even more start to subsidize solar panels for clean energy

    • Anonymous
      September 14, 2017

      How about second -hand and job-lot tires. Even more dangerous and false economy.

  9. Monfared Friend
    September 13, 2017

    But Skerrit you hard headed you know. You really expect the rest of the world to give you money for any project even if climate change is necessary? Gason not even the Chines can trust you with their money now let alone the US, England, Canada, France or any of the big countries. You really not convinced that they markoing every step you take and know how many diplomatic passports are dealt and where monies are? Trust me even if they would want to help Dominica they sure will not do so as long as Roosevelt Skerrit, the w…man is in power. In fact they maybe more interested in getting you out of power so they could do what they’ve been wanted to do even before Aliereza Monfared came to hide in Dominica. So take it from me that they will do NOTHING to keep you in power because they know you are more of a threat to them, to Dominica than climate change

  10. Real truth
    September 13, 2017

    The only change needed in Dominica is the political climate! The only reason Dominica signed the Paris Accord is for the millions of dollars promised to countries who fell for the bribe! Even the dumb know that the Climate change scheme is nothing but a new world order agenda…. The climates been changing for thousands of years…….just ask the dinosaurs!
    Skerrit wants the monies promised him! And he wants it now!!

    • Let The Truth Be Known - Original
      September 14, 2017

      You do not have to debase him. Can you read his mind? There are different ways of communicating amicably and respectfully to put your point across that others could learn something from your comment.

  11. Anonymous
    September 13, 2017

    So you know Dominica flood and yet you allow your partners to build a hotel right by the sea on the beach? Explain that kind of thinking to us brother. I suspect you are just impatient to cash in from the big countries under that small island state programme, that is what all this is about. Moroccan hotel same thing. That is so close to the water all its sewage will flood inside the hotel. Who owns that hotel by the way? Who has title to it?

  12. Roger Burnett
    September 13, 2017

    “And I keep saying if 15 years ago, 20 years ago anybody would tell us Dominica could flood, we would just laugh…”

    But all those years ago we had not significantly modified the landscape for our own convenience and thus neglected nature’s own safeguards. Flawed road construction is a prime example: concrete and tarmacadam are impervious and without adequate drainage water is channelled where it was never channelled before. Rivers need to broaden in their lower reaches rather than to be constrained. No amount of training wall will divert a river in full flood.

    And we do not heed warning signs. At this moment a multi-million dollar facility is being built within a stone’s throw of a major fault line!

    Climate has always changed and always will change, but we can take precautionary measures by giving more consideration as to how we treat the land.

    • Roger Burnett
      September 14, 2017

      As we know, Dominica has always been an island of heavy rainfall. The Dominica Meteorological Service’s records go back to the 1980’s and it is the same data time frame for most islands in the region. I doubt if these records show, on yearly average, any significant change in rainfall.

      Elma Napier (1892-1973), in her book “Black and White Sands”, mentions excessive rainfall: “…my own record has been 12 inches in one day, in which six fell between breakfast and lunch…”

      However, as the PM states, we have experienced an increase in flooding. This brings us back to the factor of land use.

  13. viewsexpressed
    September 13, 2017

    Who is setting up those agendas for Skerrit? What conscious or knowledge does this PM has for climate change? Skerrit it is time to go, here is what we think.
    Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has been called upon the worried people of Dominica and the international community to provide a quicker response to our poor deprived small island of Dominica which continuous to be affected by the dirty climate of corrupt political management created by his poor leadership, and bad governance. We the people say that we need the political climate of Dominica cleaned up and see the exit of this inept PM and the corrupt Labour Government.
    Skerrit Must Go
    Skerrit Must Go….and NOW

    • Let The Truth Be Known - Original
      September 13, 2017

      You are not more intelligent than the PM. It will not benefit you to be unfair and to hate. Haters will never enter God’s Kingdom. Your ungodly words do project that you deny yourself eternal salvation. If you are a Christian you should know that.

      • viewsexpressed
        September 14, 2017

        The truth is you should get lost with your silly childish hypocritical response. It just does not fit in this discussion, but rather among the corrupt gang of this labour government. It is corrupted and not environmentally friendly. Go look about Dominica and you will see the massive poverty and growing bigger everyday. Your allegiance is to this inept Pm and his corrupt labour government. Go get a book and read about good governance, Transparency and accountability in government. and also all these tyrants like Papa Doc and baby Doc who corrupted Haiti and alleged to have stolen money and riches of the state and invested in France etc.
        We in Dominica need an audit of the states finances and to know the truth who stole, abuse it to all Tom Dicks and Harriett’s. That is why Your Skerrit must Go. Go Go Go.

      • viewsexpressed
        September 15, 2017

        “If you are a Christian you should know that”….That message is really for you. That is the truth, it is now known. Stop being blasmemus and leave God out of your dirty linen labour corrupt government business. Stop protecting and promoting corruption and dirty politics. The country is in a bad state with dubious secret CBI dealings taking place and like the bin bobol if it was not Hon Linton we the Dominican tax payers would not have known. Go after Skerrit and his corrupt government and open your eyes to corruption t.
        What comes first to you, Dominica or Skerrit a very much failed prime Mininister, better refer him to as an or this Odd Mininister. We are fed up and sick of this lies.
        If you are a Christian you should know that
        Skerrit Must Go

  14. jaded
    September 13, 2017

    Dominica needs to spend a lot of money to mitigate the effects of climate change. Government should build lots of retaining walls both along the roadways and along certain rivers. That is critical.

    • The Darkness
      September 13, 2017

      Just retaining walls will not cut it… We need a creative drainage system, not those “gutter improvements” we keep getting.

      Also, we should work on our disaster shelters… A category 5 and superior will rip apart your concrete buildings… Something that can assist with breaking down the hurricane, placed across Caribbean islands will do the trick… (It is not fantasy but a possibility)

      Lastly, and more importantly… a REAL evacuation plan and drill…

      The only people who will be evacuated are… the “Elite”… Not the required for survival, or random, or even ballot…

      What is the use of a leader with no people? … Nothing whatsoever…

      The leaders seat = 3 children… go figure.

      • viewsexpressed
        September 14, 2017

        Skerrit and his corrupt regime has no plans for Dominica when one considers the bigger picture of social economic development that he is unable to comprehend. There are civil servants, good and qualified ones, who are ignored and have Skerrit running this government like a fast food chain. Our country is obese, politically obsessed by this corrupt labour government

    • Let The Truth Be Known - Original
      September 13, 2017

      When a lot of rain fall in the mountains and travel downstream then turn into a flood, can walls prevent the rising water from overflowing? Those walls will have to be extremely high; not only a few feet.

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