As Dominicans remember the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria one year ago, Parliamentary Representative of the Roseau South Constituency, Joshua Francis is calling on citizens to be less divided.
He was speaking to Dominica News Online (DNO) following an Opposition United Workers Party (UWP) Praise and Thanksgiving ceremony on the 1st Anniversary of Hurricane Maria held at the Prevo Cinemall on Tuesday.
Francis said Dominica has made some progress since the monster hurricane but unity is needed to rebuild the country.
“Dominica has made some progress in terms of the repairing of a few buildings, some business places, private dwelling houses, some have also been repaired,” he said. “There are a significant number of Dominicans who are under tarpaulin, some are still in hurricane shelters and others have been out of work because of the structural changes.”
In that light, he added, “As the MP for the Roseau South Constituency I am calling on all my constituents, and Dominicans by extension, to be less divided, to come together, let us build a country block-by-block, brick-by-brick, respect each other’s contribution in whatever capacity it is.”
He said that Dominica is still scarred by the storm and there should be an identity of togetherness.
“We have to learn and grow as a nation, we have to develop an identity of togetherness,” he remarked.“We are too divided and we are too much into self-promotion and political party promotion as opposed to people’s promotion.”
He encouraged Dominicans to stop being “political gladiators.”
“I think that we are at a juncture where we need to remove our political gloves and stop being political gladiators and speak country first, speak love first because natural disasters have been around and they are going to be around until such time,” he said.
Francis said that although some progress has been made, the country still has a long way to go.
“We were already limping with certain challenges, the hurricane came and brought us unto our knees and we have gotten off our knees but we still have a very long way to go in the journey,” he said.
He called on Dominicans to become more God-fearing and to “turn our faces to God and not only be sayers but doers.”
“If we put our spirit in the proper place and we do the work, Dominica would be a better place,” he noted.
He stated that Dominicans are grateful to all the donors and volunteers from all different parts of the world, who did a wonderful job after Maria “but ultimately our progress hinges on we the people.”
Meantime, he indicated that the UWP will hold a meeting on the Independence Street in Roseau on Tuesday evening to reflect on where the country is as a nation since Hurricane Maria, “and where we can go if we put our minds together.”
“The meeting is a celebration of life, a reflection, and commemoration of Hurricane Maria, and a declaration of a roadmap on the way forward,” he explained.
The meeting is expected to begin from 7:30 pm.
I wish I could listen to the UWP meeting on Tuesday. I would like to know what the UWP did to help the people during Erica, Mathew and Maria. What are they doing now or plan to do soon. What did Francis do for the people in his constituency. What is he planning to do soon.
Tomorrow at the the House will he be tabling some positive suggestions of what he or is party wiil be doing or will it be obstruction activities as usual.
You cannot speak of uniting a country when it’s always your way or the highway. To unite you must be able to work with people even if there is disagreement. The UWP was invited to work with the Skeritt administration after Erica but this experiment failed as the UWP pulled out and went on the road shouting Skeritt must go. So Mr. Francis must stop talking rubbish for he knows very well which party is fighting against unity.
No country can be truly successful without love for country and unity of purpose. The motto to keep in mind is ‘One People, One Nation’. What the country needs more than ever is political cohesion, working together, despite political differences, to build a Dominica where every man’s worth is valued. All contributions should be cherished whether from the doctors or the garbage collectors, from the judges and the magistrates or the farmers and the fisher folks, the adults or the children. It gives me no pleasure to say this but the words of Mr. Francis will fall on deaf ears of the ruling politicians. They have practised political divisiveness even after the most destructive event to hit Dominica. This benefits them but destroys the country as they put self above country. There is a great need for a paradigm shift where all, especially the politicians, will put country first and all other things after. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
You’re asking for something that the world, of which Dominica is a part of, can’t help itself too. It’s a great speech but the world does not know how to LOVE, nor does it know how to live in PEACE, if anything the situation is only going to get worst instead of better. It’s only when folks seek JEHOVAH (GOD) and HIS kingdom honestly only then will the fruit of his HOLY SPIRIT come upon them; HIS shalom (peace),HIS joy,HIS gentleness,HIS long suffering etc etc etc.Out side of HIM,HIS SON and HIS HOLY SPIRIT ,it’s just not happening,no way,no how.
I applaud you for the speech but GOD says otherwise, things are going to get ugly,dark before HE shows up on the scene to then fix and restore mankind and HIS entire creation to what it truly ought to be,that include part of what you’re now asking for…
GOD BLESS…
Oh no Mr. Joshua Francis Skerrit will not stand for peace and will not promote peace, as long as he is PM Skerrit was involved in church and must have read about the Tower of Babel in Gen. 11:1-9, and understood the power of unity. So being a coward as he is, this unity thing will not become a reality under his reign.
Maria not be remembered, move forward guys and stop talk about Maria
But Mr. Francis Satan doesn’t want unity. He takes pleasure in a divided family where husband and wife fighting and children rebelling. Satan is a divider. Remember Satan came to still, kill and destroy and therefore Satan knows very well that if we are United we will catch him, the thief , he will not be able to kill and destroy like he destroyed us during Maria. So Mr. Francis you never read Matthew 12:24 -26 man? Well here is verse 25 read it for yourself : ” But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. ” Off course I am referring to the real Satan of the Bible. Now concerning the subject matter, I don’t believe the PM wants unity because unity is strength and power and the Hon. PM can’t afford to have us united
Awa Joshua Skerrit will not set a trap to bring him down. The man is so powerful that if he wanted to unite us he would have done it longtime. But he knows that would destroy his legacy so the more he can have us to fight each other, the worse for Dominica but better for Skerrit. Gason the man is a doctor of deception and as a deceptive doctor, he can call a married man and tell him to send his wife to his office or anywhere for a 2 hour private meeting and the husband will not only send his wife, but he will even drive her to meet Skerrit and go somewhere to chill or drink a few beers while they having their meeting, no matter what time of day or night the meeting taking place. That’s how divisive and powerful the man is. He divides the family, the communities, churches, divides every damn thing, just to stay in power. So don’t think he will take one step to unite us
Well said Josh but we need to be real. Do you really think or believe Roosevelt Skerrit wants Dominica united? A divided Dominica is what works for Skerrit and the more he can divide us and keep us divided the longer he will use his office to hide. He knows if we are united we will take a united view of the issues and hold a united way of getting out of our mess. But when he has laborites against uwpites he knows very well that we will not come together to solve our political problems and, even when he does wrong laborites will defend him and help him fight workers. Skerrit understands that it was a UNITED Dominica that sent PJ home at a time when 70% of Dominicans were laborites but yet, were able to put the interests of Dominica first. Now he knows Dominica is equally divided and maybe more supporting the opposition, you think the man will do anything to unite us? We always hear “United we stand” but Skerrit sees it as Divided he rules. So let’s be real
Skerrit missed a golden opportunity as a leader to unite Dominicans after Maria,but instead,he widendd the division. Joseph lssac himself (JI who was purchased with 30silver pieces)and Patriot Lugay went to Skerrit sfter Maria pledging their willingness to help… Skerrit refused,but instead gave his caretakers in UWP held constituencies to share food,hoping that they will get votes in return.He went on further to say the country does not need opposition, a blatant violation of our constitution..This man is wicked,evil,and has lead this country down a very slippery slope..His political fortunes has reversed now,so his wish is to go overseas and confirm voters?We must stop the evil idiot…
Good message patriot Francis and Team Dominica UWP….I love you all Patriots!!!
Skerrit Must Go
Skerrit Must Go
Lazy Skerrit Must Go Now
Well said Mr Francis, unity is what is needed in these time regardless of political persuasion.
Together a nation is strong, divided it is weak.
Go forward and build a country to be proud of.
Dominica been under labor rule all it’s life and it’s the least known country on the planet, coincidence? I think not
Allu had decades to build de country and is now we have to build a country to be proud off? 2020 just around de corner we padna we suppose to be sending Dominicans on de moon by now
That’s what is needed to build a country if Skerrit’s goal is to build a country. But please understand that Roosevelt Skerrit is NOT interested in building Dominica. The man is ONLY concerned about using the office of the PM to hide and therefore keeping us divided works better for him and his personal interests. Let’s be real @Socaman if Skerrit wanted us united he would work with the opposition in the interest of Dominica. But what he wants is an opposition that will help hide him. That’s why I like Linton because I know he will not take a buyout from Skerrit or anyone. He is a man of principle that will stand for what is right and in the best interest of Dominica. That’s why next election I will vote for Linton and the UWP for the first time. DA first