Truckers and Public Work employees unite
Dominica News Online - Friday, July 15th, 2011 at 7:23 AM
The Tipper Truckers Association of Dominica has cast its support behind Public Works employees and expressed their desire to stand in solidarity with those who have come under severe pressure due to financial struggles at the institution.
The statement from the Assocition after an incident, earlier this year, where 16 Public Works employees were made redundant by then Chairperson of Public Works Corporation (PWC) Gloria Tavenier, only to be re-hired a few days later after the Dominica Public Service Union negotiated on their behalf.
The corporation had been facing significant financial difficulties and continues to do so, even as plans have reportedly reached the Minister for Public Works Rayburn Blackmoore in an attempt to remedy the situation.
In a letter to the General Secretary of the PSU Thomas Letang, the Association, through President H.E Laudat, made it known that they were prepared to stand alongside the workers, whom they called comrades, having worked with them for a number of years.
The Truckers cite as injustices claims that C.O Williams has secured over $20-million in projects, without any of these having gone to the PWC. Additionally, they spoke of the US$3-million asphalt plant, owned by the Corporation, that currently sits dormant while “Garddakhan” is responsible for furnishing both major road projects, currently underway, with asphalt.
They also urged Letang to “call a day of solidarity with Public Works employees. Let them bring their wives, children, grandmothers, cousins and uncles.”
The letter continues, “The merciless men will send soldiers and SSU with machine guns and bullets and grenades, they will tell the police to ticket our trucks, as usual, but evil cannot be allowed to prosper in Dominica like that. Let us show Public Works employees that they are not alone; that somebody cares.”
Laudat ends the letter, “Solidarity for ever.”
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38 Comments
we all have trying times in life and need to stand by each other .unity is strength.
The truth of the matter is if u keep the children hungry the drug trade will increase
and their will be more like telemacque, so stop the hypocricsy and help these peole get some attention.
Food is a basic need.
I am one who gives the truckers blows for their dishonesty and overcharging people like me for tranportation of materials and always know that one day they would suffer the consequences like any other will for wrong doings.But i must say that i stand in solidarity with both them and the PWC workers even if they too have rob the country by their dishonest days’ work.Don’t u all guys think the revolution time is now?Take your trucks and heavy equipments and start blocking the entrance of the worksite at the state malice construction,chase those Chinese away with sticks,rocks,metal bars and beat them up like the Trinidadians did to them some time ago until they had to leave.U all should not be fearful of what the evil government may do,they can’t destroy a populace,this will make it easier for the international community to intervene and cause their downfall when a few of us will be killed by these murderers.
DNO YOU REALLY STARTING TO DISGUST ME TOO.
so how i should refer to those people, say dog do that and cyat to this?????? stop protecting those people. you just want the popularity we giving allu, but allu dont want people to liberate themselves from what is going on then??? stop censoring me…..if i say something here, is me that should be liable not you. I HATE DOMINICA, SHOOT WE HAVE TO START SHOOT PEOPLE BECAUSE WE CANNOT EVEN TALK THE TRUTH?????
DNO I posted a comment regarding a cover up not revealed by talk shows and I guess you found my contribution unsuitable and maybe incriminating. Although you don’t owe me an explanation as to why you choose not to post my blog I would appreciate an explanation as to where I went wron. Surely I did not mention names nor did I give any direct information .Please let me know. I am truly disgusted by the events which I know or a fact happened.
ADMIN: Please repost. Sometimes comments slip through the cracks.
Apreciate it
it is bread and butter issues. First time that so many dominicans have been fired by Government who’s jod is to find emplyment for them
Whilst having sympathy for the PWC employees they have a lot to answer for themselves. Why go ahead with an expensive asphalt plant with excess capacity and for which they lacked the finances, at the same time when Gaddarkhan was installing his own. I do not approve at all of the location and manner in which that plant was installed but the fact is that the Govt. did not stop it and it is operating. This plant at Layou has enough capacity to
cover Dominica’s needs and at a lower cost than PWC’s. Like Gaddarkhan’s plant the PWC’s too is in the wrong location, directly on the shore an also was started without the appropriate planning approval or EIA being in place. Asphalt plants are not only eyesores but a potential health- and environment hazard so why do we need two when one can meet all our requirements as is proven now? What made PWC think they would not have to face competition from a third party in this field? Wishful thinking or not coming to terms with the fact that as a corporation they would be required to be, at least self-sufficient and no longer reliant on the Govt. treasury? The results are there for all to see and, sadly for its employees to feel.
cabinet approved a cheaper plant we, is minister, the general manager at the time and the former chairlady that can answer those questions!!!! i know that for a FACTTTTTTT
purchase from* correction
What is the point of all the roads, bridges, public buildings if our people cannot earn a livelihood during the construction period of those projects. How is it helping our economy for the benefit of All. How do we live up to the slogan “All Shall Eat”.
Yep, and :”SOME SHALL EAT ALL”!
People we need to wake up and see this govt is doing nothing for dominican employment and development..they are building all these things with very little local involvement..so all the money is going out the country…truckers cant get jobs…no investment in agriculture…none in tourism…manufacturing?…nothing to stimulate the economy…wicked
how can u think that speaking out about what going on is only politically motivated. This is exactly what am talking about. Party first. no one in their right mind can honestly tell me that this is right i don’t care which party u support.and like i said its time to stop putting party first. Call wrong for what it is. not because u support some one for u to think that anything said against them is political. right is right wrong is wrong and any one who thinks otherwise will one day get back to reality.
the bidding process is over riden and corrupt, dominicans have their own ashpalt plant they paying for still, so what the HEEEEELLLLLLL WE buying asphalt from gardakan from when we already secure our own plant…… put one and one together and we will understand just what is taking place.
it is saddening what is happening. I have an uncle who works there and he is the soul bread winner for his family and because of this issue they are in serious problems. bank is constantly on his back and his family is starting to struggle. the minister rayburn blackmore needs to do something. these men and women at PWC have families to support.how can the governement be so heartless???
Public Works owes me over $25,000 for tranpsortation from November of last year. I have only been paid $1,000. I am now being harrased for fuel i took on credit, the bank is now threatening to take my vehicle since I cant pay them for six months now. I am not even talking about feeding my wife and children. Can u imagine that?
My boy i know what you feeling…i was in the same boat last year i wasnt owed as much so when i got a little cheque i bought some fuel and went down by Paris and haul for $30 a trip..its not much money and its a lot of work on your truck and tyres but at least at the end of the day you will have a little something to buy fuel,pay your truck loan and hopefully feed your family.
Best of luck to you and hope the bank will be understandable and do not take away your livelihood.
tarish that is supposedly subsidised by tax payers money too
OUR DOMINICAN PEOPLE MUST LEAN TO DO A FAIR DAYS WORK FOR A FAIR DAYS PAY.
HAVE U NOTICED WHEN OUR LOCAL CONTRACTORS ARE CONTRACTED TO DO A PROJECT OUR LONG IT TAKES? IS NOT THAT THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO, THE COME ON THE PROJECT AT 8:30AM, TAKE SNACK AT 9:30AM AND BY THE TIME ITS 1PM THEY ARE DONE SPECIFICALLY DOES MEN WHO WORK ON THE ROAD. THESE MEN HARDLY WANT TO WORK UNDER RAIN AND IF ITS HOT THEY COMPLAIN THEY NEED SHADE.
WE DO NOT REALISE WE HARM OUR OWN SELVES BY OUR LAISSE FAIRE ATTITUDE. THEY MUST REALISE WHEN THE WASTE TIME IS MONEY THEY LOSING IN THE LONG RUN.
@ Anonymous Stupid Stupid stupid. Jack A***, Jack A****, Jack A****, Dumb , Dumb, Dumb. Idiot, idiot, idiot
Just remember that good times dont last for very long though it may seem never ending. the tables always turn, always, according to what history has taught us. GREED is what clouds our mind, from the dangers we create for ourselves, families and others.
the next level
Oh shut you all politically motivated, hypocrital mouths!!! Always looking for somthing to stir up trouble in this peaceful land. Too bad far you guys, because the masses know better and shall never be distracted by your politically motivated charades.
i suspect you bread well butter so this does not matter to you
Idiot.. is the only thing i could say to u. dont worry the table will turn
It seems like you have no family employed at PW, who was sent home….Stop making political affiliations clog your rational thought….
Those who made their beds let them lie in it.What do u expect when we in this country vote for party rather than common sense. Do you honestly thing your gonna get a different result when u do the same thing over and over again.A party dig some whole before election and we go and vote for them and call it government at work. This has been going on for so many years and not just labor but all parties do it. yet we Dominican fall for the same crap each time.everytime i hear about something going on in this country and get the detail is so clear that all this government care about is pleasing china rather than looking out for their own people. and i know its going to have some one that will take offense with that but hey guest what truth hurts and those that wanna continue putting party before their own future and refuse to hear they will feel. that the way things going guest what. they will feel soon.u have one party that care more about what a foreign government think for than their own people. doing everything to please them cause they want hand out and refuse or cannot think for their dam selves to make this country better and then u have an opposition that more a waste of time than anything. in stead of taking on the government as an opposition should, they being a bush of asses looking out for them selves with they peoples parliament crap. let face it none of these people care about dominica, but yet we foolishly every time voote for the same A*** and expect a different result. one day we will grow up or at list get some common sense. lets just hope its not to late when that happen
Shut your mouth! Its better to be thought of a fool than open your mouth and say it.. and.. and your fingers for butchering the queen’s english.
The definition of insanity is ” doing the same thing over and over and expecting a better result…
Dominicans will learn one day
@ whatever- I do hope you can have a sensible discussion
Where do you draw the line? What do you consider more expensive and how do you evaluate cost benefit? Assuming that in the total cost analysis that PWC is 1.5 million dollars more. A government for the people would take the following things into consideration. PWC has more people on the payroll which means that more Dominicans are employed- more positive dynamics for the economy ; more taxes more revenue to government. It seems logical that this 1.5 million dollars excess would bring more money to the government. On the other hand that 1.5 million dollars does not come from the government pocket but from the pocket of the general contractor. How can the government allow Kadakan to undercut the government (PWC) bid when Kadakan a foreign company is using our raw materials to do so. Smart administrators would insure that rain or shine PWC would get that contract. This is a no brainer. For starters what is happening in D/ca could not happen in Guadeloupe or Martinique.
It is sad that Dominicans are prepared to burry our own local enterprises and the wealthfare of families just to support a political party. Hypocrites cry for unity and implore full support of our country and when it comes to supporting our own we choose to demoralize the very entities who are suppose to be working to build Dominica; we cry down the truck drivers and call then greedy; now we are denigrating PWC and their workers just to support a foreign businessman who is a facilitator of the party in power. I guarantee you that this would never happen in Barbados- The Barbadian advisor to the PM can attest to that.
A few months ago the government , Parry and supporters lashed out at our local construction companies; we called them hopeless and unworthy only to give a job to a Barbados company. While our government and supporters are busy diminishing our very own we are calling for unity – What a blatant contradiction, brashness and hubris on the part of our people.
public works cannot give government officials money under the table,it will be too visble but u can bribe private companies and launder and transfer money or simply let the company buy your raw materials for your house.we have to learn to follow the money . or call theFBI
The most blatant an obvious betrayal of of our people in the history of Dominica. The government boast of projects on the ground yet Dominicans are not working.Public workers are being released and for the last 18 months public workers had not been paid on time.Truckers are begging for jobs.
Oh Lord this letter brought tears to my eyes … i cannot believe that is how a government treats its own people!!!
It’s high time we unite against this nonsense…this is bigger than political parties … my people have a right work in their country …….time to stand up
solidarity forever
ITS FINALLY BEGINING TO BITE…AS I PREDICTED
We must pray..
please keep me infrom please.
Mr. Blackmore don’t you all have a heart a conscious don’t you all feel sorry for your own or is it that you just have to please China to keep getting hand outs alas our people are in need although they knew what was to come and still voted foolishly. hear their cry
Heart? Conscience? Those are things in humans, but what we are dealing with is far from human or humane……There are so many people suffering in this dear land, it is no longer funny, it is serious and very real! But do a check on the cabal and ministers, all doing very well, all building or renovating their homes, having business, traveling, life is good for some. It is a shame!!
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