Linton gives qualified support to protocol for rewarding of former leaders

Linton

Opposition Leader, Lennox Linton, has given qualified support to a proposal by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit to recognize and reward former prime ministers of Dominica.

Skerrit said during his 2018 Independence Day address that he intended to set up a bi-partisan committee to come up with measures for due recognition and reward to former prime ministers of Dominica who are alive.

He said he would write to the leader of the opposition the following day, seeking his support for the formation of a bipartisan committee of parliament to make recommendations for the enactment of a past leaders protocol that would set out “the manner in which we acknowledge and reward the contributions of those who have served at the highest level.”

Linton said in an interview on Q95 FM on Wednesday, that he had not yet received the letter but he expressed his support for the initiative and made clear his own views on some of the things that the committee, if it materializes, should consider.

“There is a legitimate need to look at the pension arrangements and the pension quantums for former leaders and we’ll be happy to sit down and to discuss those with Mr. Skerrit in his bi-partisan committee he proposes,” Linton stated. “Since he has indicated what he wants for himself, what he would like to see for himself, I’m now putting on the table because I will take this to the committee if the committee is ever formed, that this matter of compensation for former leaders has to be retroactive to the day when they left office.”

Linton said there are some details to be worked out which will be done in committee.

“But in principle, in principle,” he stressed, “when Mr. Skerrit leaves, to the extent that this protocol will be engaged before he leaves office, when he leaves office, he will be benefiting from day one from this arrangement. The former leaders have been struggling and I have think it is reasonable, it is fair, it is equitable for whatever remuneration has been agreed on for them, to be made retroactive to the date that they left office.”

Linton said he will also put on the table the extent to which past leaders have benefitted from public office.

“There are leaders in the case of which, there is no evidence at all that they have benefited materially or in any way from being in public office but that cannot be said for all leaders,” Linton noted. “So, when we come now to reward leaders who have served, I think there has to be an assessment of where you were before you started and where you are now materially in terms of your wealth creation, the status of your wealth because you will find there’s great disparity between these leaders.”

Linton argued that as the ones who will be footing the bill, the people of Dominica want to be sure that they are not rewarding people who use their time in office to benefit over and above what they were entitled from the public purse.

“And then you come back and you reward them for life with a prime minister’s pension. There has to be some other considerations that come into determining who is eligible for what level of remuneration and we would be very happy to discuss those in committee and to take it forward as expeditiously as possible,” the opposition leader declared.

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37 Comments

  1. Negmawon
    November 8, 2018

    A nice gesture and well intended. Let me be the bad guy and say this. Dominica and Dominicans cannot afford retroactive pay based on proposed increases. This can change in the future, but with totally collapsed infrastructure and a non-existent economic growth amplified by total lack of credible industry investment on the island, this is criminal.

  2. November 8, 2018

    It is shamefull and downright disgraceful for any past Prime Minister to be struggling. These men were elected to this high office after making promises to lead this nation out of poverty, unfortunately poverty is much too common in Dominica. These men went into office only to satisfy their ambitions, if they were so smart and could fix all the ills of Dominica as they told us why didn’t they invest some of their income to benefit them in their twilight years. The leader of the opposition can quickly condem the payment of $300. to people over 70 who did not contribute to social security, but gives qualified support to a measure in which he stands to benefit if his ambitions come to fruition and he is elected PM. For me I say not one xxxxxx cent for any of them, the tax payers of Dominica owes them nothing!!!!

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      November 8, 2018

      Anon you are a fool, a former Prime Minister in Antigua pension is more than ten ($10,000.00) dollars per month, they started with ten thousand dollars per, right now I am sure Baldwin Spence is getting more than that.

      You talking about poverty, under Patrick John Dominica was much more better off,he made a mistake, and suffered the consequences. Edison had the country  on the move, when people like you and your parents before you believed the lies that were told on the UWP and oust them.

      Since the take over of Roosevelt, live in Dominica has become unbearable!

      Mind you I know James long before politics, I doubt James went into politics for money, he had a sound paying Job, he made more money than Roosevelt made when he was playing teacher! Some people went in to rip off the country rich, John and James are not among them! 

    • Shaka Zulu
      November 9, 2018

      Cannot agree with you more.

  3. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    November 8, 2018

    “The former leaders have been struggling and I have think it is reasonable, it is fair, it is equitable for whatever remuneration has been agreed on for them, to be made retroactive to the date that they left office.”

    “The former leaders have been struggling and I have think it is reasonable, it is fair, it is equitable for whatever remuneration has been agreed on for them, to be made retroactive to the date that they left office.”

    Lennox, I do not believe in the interim, (the in initial stage of negotiation) one should seek retroactive pay since that might complicate things a bit; considering it will seek to determine an amount to Pay Patrick John the day or month he was no longer prime minister.

    Remember he was overthrown!

    The propriety right now is to ensure that a pension become effective immediately, and after that one can debate whether not they get it retroactively. Remember, the salary Patrick John made while he was prime minister, was less than what James,…

    • BEB
      November 8, 2018

      So we should also pay Patrick John a salary for the time he spent in prison. Any public officer who finds themselves in the confinements of the prison looses their Govt’s benefits
      I have no qualms in paying a pension to the past leaders but not retroactively, in other words the Govt. would have to acquire a very large loan or budget thenselves in order to pay out these pensions. That’s my thought

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        November 9, 2018

        BEB, there is a vast difference in someone such as a common criminal and one who was prosecuted politically, and sent to jail by a ruling party in order to appease their supporters, and gain political mileage. 

        There are lots of people who believe  Patrick John went to jail because the idea is he brought KKK to Dominica to overthrow Eugenia Charles, and Charles Savarin.

        The reality is no KKK ever set foot in Dominica. I was told in reality they sent John to jail for a mega miserable three ($3.00) dollars he could not account for as part of his expense from a trip.

        These days ministers travel with hundreds of thousands, return and no questions about how they spend it?

        So, it is unfair for you to think in terms of John as a common criminal. Ask any Antiguan your age they will tell you George Walters began receiving  his $10,000.00 per month while he was in jail!

  4. Joe
    November 8, 2018

    Lennox you must be joking!!!!! So as PJ Never resigned as PM from what year are you planning on officially declaring him as a past PM??? According to Darius all subsequent PM’s are illegal because according to our constitution (the document you claim to love and protect soo much) PJ was illegally ousted from office… Also why can’t you just move forward??? why is everything for you has to do with Skerrit??? why can’t you just accept a good gesture for the benefit of all past PM’s and move on?? you have no idea how long PM Skerrit have on this earth so you making an ASSumption that he will benefit immediately is a very ASSinine ASSumption from you sir!!!! at your age you should be more positive than that… i am so ashame of you right now!!!!!! you just put me on the electoral fence!!!!

    • LifeandDeath
      November 8, 2018

      you should join a Circus, seeing you want to be on the fence and all..Jokers!!

  5. Expat
    November 8, 2018

    When Skerrit first came out with this initiative I waited patiently to read the responses of certain individuals, the likes of viewsexpressed. % gave a lukewarm response although it is fitting to say they are the same person. Linton must have deliberated over such a proposal and must have realized that he may benefit too if such proposal comes into effect. He may have decided to show some support with conditions so it will look as though he is not in full support but people like I and others can see right through that.

  6. ??
    November 8, 2018

    This is a perfect example why the UWP will never succeed. They are so focused on PM that they just can’t see beyond him. I thought that was a wonderful gesture for the past leaders but now the focus is on what Skerrit will get. What a shame…..keep it up UWP because your obsession with the PM is getting you no where.

  7. Bob Denis
    November 8, 2018

    Can Mr Linton honestly not support this proposal ? are we not suppose to prepare for whenever, whatever ? Dogmatism will leave one skewed if no critical thinking is happening. Mr Linton don’t seem to be all that foolish.

  8. Ibo France
    November 8, 2018

    If I appear to be skeptical about Skerrit’s motives, I am. The PM is a notorious liar and a very conniving person. He most certainly has ulterior motives. He wants to use Mr. Linton strictly for optical purposes. When he brings a halt to divisive and evil practices then I will be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. I judge people by their deeds not by their words. How can you drag someone to court, on trumped up charges, and shamelessly engage that said person , face to face, in serious matters of the State? How can the PM and his surrogates, at every opportunity, choose to engage in character assassination against Mr. Linton, then want to cozy up to him? Look at the barrage of insults and spurious accusations leveled at this one man in parliament by ministers of government.
    Hate cannot drive away hate, only love can. Skerrit, his colleagues and supporters have a deep seated hatred for Mr. Linton. Nothing positive will materialize unless love replaces the bitter hatred.

    • ?????????????????
      November 8, 2018

      You Ibo France and friends are the ones hating a young man named PM Roosevelt Skerrit. Who does the character assassinations? For example here you “he PM is a notorious liar and a very conniving person. He most certainly has ulterior motives. He wants to use Mr. Linton strictly for optical purposes. When he brings a halt to divisive and evil practices then I will be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. I judge people by their deeds not by their words.” Hear you hear you vilifying & calling him names. Your job here is to say whether the protocol for rewarding past PM is a good move.
      I cannot understand you guys – always complaining; looking to say something bad in everything with objectively analyzing. You do have the audacity to talk about hatred. Who is hating but you & your friends who you hate a young man who is trying his best to run a country. Alas Ibo high time you start the love process you spoke about. The blue supporters have a deep hatred for all labourites.

      • Ibo France
        November 8, 2018

        Public figures, the likes of the PM, affect people’s daily lives by the decisions they make. They should face the fierce scrutiny of the public because of the power they wield. I only speak the truth and people think it is hell. If Skerrit and the DLP were fair-minded, honest, competent and people oriented, he and his party would have gotten my unwavering support. The proposals he offers are nothing more than election gimmicks.
        If you want to know whether a government is sincere or not, just observe what it does just after general elections. His recent rhetoric is to bamboozle the electorate. I stubbornly refuse to fall for it. This movie has been played too many times.

      • Shaka Zulu
        November 8, 2018

        The labourites have a hatred for themselves for they choose to be mislead and be dependent. Ibo France is very correct. The PM is a pathological liar and only governs by deception. Where the constitution requires him to consult with leader of opposition on the selection of President and police commisioner he tries evert dirty trick to make autocratic decisions. That is a fact. All of a sudden to seem like he needs imput from linton he makes this proclamations to give the impression that it is in good faith. Some of you make a choice to be fools and burt yall head in sand. There are 18 years of evidence to see the lies. In his idependence speech he said CBI is striving. Why did he not give a summary of amount sold revenues gained. Where they were used and its longterm impact? Why did we not get a breakdown on where our fellow passport citizens hail so they coul celebrate thier 40th independence. Skerrit is a self serving two face crook who would stab linton in back any chance he gets.

  9. Shaka Zulu
    November 8, 2018

    Mr. Linton it is a bad idea and should never be supported. There are pension plans and social security for civil servants already. If tbat gets screwed in the future it is all because the politicians especially the Prime ministers have messed up so they to should feel the pain like everyone else. Hard working dominicans have to suffer in thier future while the ones who are currently screwing that up want to live large. I could never support this self serving deceitful idea and Lennox i think you wrong in even entertaining Skerrit because you know as well as everyone else nothing that guy says is intended for Dominica.

  10. Shaka Zulu
    November 8, 2018

    All i need to do is be prime minister for a week. Thats service.. And i will demand a pension for life. This is the most self serving idea from a man who enriched himself and wants to maintain his status for life on the backs of the people. What has skerrit done to get off the 15% VAT and off the foreign purse? Absolutely nothing. What about the other ministers of goverment whoes service is just as important? This tells me who really loves themselves not Dominica. Why would i just want to be a minister when i could be prime minister for 5 years and be set for life. I tell you what, when the next party win they should rotate PM every year so if they spend 2 terms that would make 10 people who served s prime minister so they to will be set for life. What we should focus on is election of competent people who have displayed some work and experience in thier private life so when they are done with public service thier reward is the success of the people and they will be fine

  11. HAHAHAHAAAA
    November 8, 2018

    PM Skerro Setting Himself Up For When He Loses Next Election…

  12. Expat
    November 8, 2018

    It is a great initiative that Prime Minister Skerrit has brought about; one that Linton has no choice but to support. He knows that this initiative would benefit him if ever he becomes prime minister which incidentally is unattainable.

    • Roger
      November 8, 2018

      REALLY? No choice but to support? Skeritt has been listening to Q and the people of the opposition that is why this proposition was made. Have you noticed that talk comes out on Q today and the next day “Skeritt comes up with the same topic and try to put a positive spin on it to benefit him?

    • DA Fails
      November 8, 2018

      Incidentally unattainable? You sound like a laborat bro, Linton won his sit, That’s why I always tell Dumbnicans don’t call Skerrit name as if is him that is the labor party, but attack the labor party as one entity, it’s made up by countless ministers and supporters, not one man. The only way you defeating skerrit is to defeat the DLP, and get majority of those slackers out of there! :roll: :roll: :idea:

  13. Justice
    November 8, 2018

    Finally Mr. Linton you are back on track. That’s the way I expect you to deal with Skerritt. This is a brilliant suggestion. We all know that skerritt is only concerned about himself. The sad thing is since you’ve made your brilliant suggestion public there will no longer be a bipartisan commitee. That’s how you oppose. Nuff kudos to you.

  14. TI NOM
    November 8, 2018

    very interesting points by mr.linton, never thought about it that way- “But in principle, in principle,” he stressed, “when Mr. Skerrit leaves, to the extent that this protocol will be engaged before he leaves office, when he leaves office, he will be benefiting from day one from this arrangement.

    This leads me to another question, HOW MUCH $ DOES THE P.M of DOMINICA DESERVE TO MAKE?

  15. You
    November 8, 2018

    DNO where’s the news? Tasteless, please wake me up after the episode.

  16. Is So
    November 8, 2018

    Again and again you are proven to be difficult to work with. As you stated, you have not received the letter yet, but you already have a problem and a preconditional notion. Why do you always indulge yourself in the foot in the mouth disease?

    • SMH
      November 8, 2018

      Utter and complete rubbish! So Mr Linton cannot have an opinion on the matter. It was said that he would be involved in the matter. He has applauded the idea, but has given his opinion! For crying out loud, when will our people learn? The man by no means indicated that he has a problem with the idea. He is simply stating how he would like to see it done and giving his opinion. Either he had done it behind closed doors or as he did in this interview he would have still made his opinion known…so why can’t you appreciate that. Stop thinking party colors because such thinking has Dominica progressing at snail speed!

  17. Preacher
    November 8, 2018

    I am happy that Lennox Linton supports the PM idea
    So let me hear what the critics have to say
    Including % and others
    Well done mr Linton

  18. %
    November 8, 2018

    This honourable gentleman,patriot LLL is such a well lettered,brilliant and intellectually sharp and gifted man of the soil,that one is just compelled to read his exquisitely thought provoking writings/comments/addresses or speeches . I don’t believe anything much of what Skerrit says because of his acute proclivity to lying in profusion.It distasteful to all of us, especially the youths.
    I like the penultimate paragraph by honourable patriot Linton,because it certainly should not be a case of people stealing election,having unfair election,according to the Commonwealth Election Observer Mission,and then believing that they will further milk the same country they have impoverishecd because of their long stay in office.
    Skerrit Must Go
    Skerrit Must Go
    LAZY Skerrit Must Go Now

    • Is So
      November 8, 2018

      % get a life lazy Paracite. The only person praising yourself and himself is Lennox Linton, views expressed last but not least is drama King liar % . Poor Pity Honorable PARACITE.

    • DA Fails
      November 8, 2018

      Labor party must go, stop saying skerrit!!! He isn’t a bigger than the party

    • John hope
      November 8, 2018

      LLL= lazy Lenox Linton

  19. Zammm
    November 8, 2018

    Goood morning Dominica,bless up. What Mr Linton is saying makes tremendous sense. Its really a call of justice and prudence on such a delicate matter. Those concerned can research the mater from a Caribbean perspective to find out whether or not such a thing exist. Also the economic position of Dominica has to be considered. Furthermore, one can look at the political system of Dominica as one of serve to the nation being elected by the people. Those who are in government n opposition get paid. That is why coming in to leadership one be financially stable. But really, former leaders need to be recognised re:health care, small allowance n other stuff. But don’t you all dare forget the poor people need such nice treatment too. Before you do anything for the former leaders make sure they are not broke n hiding no big money en.know scores. Pm Skerritt might not need dat he is a young fella. So put pension after a certain age……. Please don’t bring up presidents en cause nothing charlo

  20. Paul Rossnof
    November 8, 2018

    Lennox, he is just using you for this issue which is neither here nor there as far as the future of Dominica is concerned. Did he ask you when he decided to go with the CCJ, did he ask you when he distributed thousand of dollars to farmers and small businesses, did he ask you when he gave CBI money to Sam and the other hotel developments, did he brief you over the departure of Ross, has he informed you of the content of the MOU with China, has he briefed you on the accounts of the CBI program or PetroCaribe??? I guess the answer to all of these question is no because I doubt even his ministers have full knowledge of any of the above. My advise to you, let him go ahead with his proposal and tell him the UWP will implement their own proposals on this issue once your are in government.

    • Expat
      November 8, 2018

      Paul Rossnof, if ever the UWP becomes in power Linton will not be the prime minister because he will be out as leader of the UWP after next election. The UWP will be demanding a change of leadership because after three consecutive elections Linton was unable to bring them to the promised land. I envision people from the UWP who are more educated than Linton; the likes of Fontaine will be in position to take over. It is only then I will give considerable thought to the UWP and I believe they might stand a chance.

    • Neville
      November 8, 2018

      Very well spoken. Skerrit can’t be trusted. The UWP should stay well clear and should not be seen to have any dealings with this man.

  21. Channel 1
    November 8, 2018

    Very good observations & points Mr Linton.

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