PM Skerrit urges Dominicans to do what is necessary to prepare for Hurricane Beryl

Skerrit called on everyone to be prepared. File photo

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has urged Dominicans to do what is needed to safeguard themselves in light of the pending passage of Hurricane Beryl.

The Prime Minister spoke to State-owned DBS on Friday night following his return from attending the 39th Heads of Caricom Meeting in Jamaica. He cited the country’s recent experience from Hurricane Maria and said that the National Emergency Organization (NEPO) and the Office of Disaster Management (ODM) will do everything possible to ensure the safety of all the citizens and residents.

“The ODM, they were on tonight and they advised us on a number of things, the NEPO that we should be doing, ought to be doing as individuals, as families, as residents in order to safeguard ourselves. To place ourselves in a safe area if the storm were to visit us,” Skerrit stated.

He said the Cabinet started the planning process long before the hurricane season started and Deputy Prime Minister Reginald Austrie held several meetings on Friday with various stakeholders to ensure that there were systems and preparations in place to “roll out all of the plans we have, the strategies we have in order to prepare the nation for this approaching hurricane.”

The Prime Minister did not offer details of the Cabinet’s plans to deal with the approaching storm but he did speak to the critical issue of the inadequacy of official hurricane shelters as expressed by the Ag. Local Government Commissioner, Glenroy Toussaint.

“ We have been able to identify a number of shelters in many communities and there have been private citizens who have made their homes available as hurricane shelters. At the end of the day, we have to look out for each other and we have to reach out to each other and each of us must ensure that we play our part in the safety of every citizen,”  Skerrit urged. “The State has a role to play but at the end of the day everyone of us – the churches, the NGO’s, the civil societies, the village councils, the various disaster committees in the respective villages, you know, we all have a part to play, the private sector – all have a part to play in placing the country in a safe situation if the storm were to visit.”

Hurricane Beryl, the 2018 season’s first hurricane, according to the 8.00 am forecast from the Met Office, is now packing 75 mph winds and is expected to reach the Lesser Antilles over the weekend and cross the island chain late Sunday or Monday either very near or over Dominica.

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42 Comments

  1. Anthony P. Ismael Minister of Free Pampers
    July 9, 2018

    Welcome to the next level. No hurricane shelters. Keep voting Labor.

  2. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    July 9, 2018

    Dr. Punjab boy, had it been for you alone I would wish a hurricane worst than Maria hit you with all its velocity; and take everything out in Dominica leaving you to rule over nothing, but only yourself!

    But God is not a wicked God as I am a wicked cockroach human eh!

    So, he has protected the poor of the country this time, and spare us all the burden and misery, of having to continue a never ending  process of rebuilding, and dealing with the hunger that follows such catastrophes! 

    You so like oppression, and to oppress the people, you could not wait for the wind to blow; you were quick to decide on declaring curfew, and State of emergency prior to the cause of both condition.

    You only declare a State of emergency after the fact or during a riot: You declare a curfew to prevent people to be out after certain hours after “dark” to prevent them from falling victims humans, and other dangers of harm!

  3. Man bites dogs
    July 8, 2018

    Come on Linton, Open your doors to be a Hurricane shelter, I dear you to if you care about Dominican people as you always say you do, Again I dear you Lennox Linton, If you are a real person or a Robot, I think you are the latter one !!!!

    • %
      July 8, 2018

      @Man bites dogs What about opening your own house? You don’t have? Have DLP made you a vagrant? Are you a useless Dominican?Well shame on you.The DLP evil regime has failed you..

      • Paul Rossnof
        July 10, 2018

        Only a banana shed mister has, but he still loves his bend PM.

    • viewsexpressed
      July 9, 2018

      I “dear ” you………is their some illiteracy blood in you?

      As an open and honest UWP, rightly supporting a very decent politican Hon. Lennox Linton, I dare you to spell Dare properly. Let us see if you will till use the word Dear, eh Dear Man who Mr woof woof who bites dogs and entertains dirty politics. Hon Linton is not your issue, your issue is the blind and dirty labour government your blindly support.
      Woof…oof..

  4. Voice of reasoning
    July 8, 2018

    Once gain we as a people continue to show how daft we are in the wake of yet another natural disaster. We are once again reduced to…wait what we continue to reduce ourselves to…the mere colors that represent the political powers or lack thereof that we follow blindly instead of looking to the One who owns the very breath we breathe. Once again we stand divided…our concern my dear people should be that of ensuring that each of us ..our families and neighbors…friends are safe and out of harm’s way and stop with all the senseless bickering.

  5. Danziger
    July 7, 2018

    Go plonge you all LANGUE in the river of JORDAN 7 TIMES so our LANGUE MAL PARLENT,MAYPRIXANT ET MENTERRE will be made pure agian in JESUS NAME WE PRAY AMEN.

  6. free
    July 7, 2018

    Poor poor governance. Failed Dominica badly. No shelters are equipped not even with water. Why not give it to Red Cross to take care off. Time to vote them out

    • %
      July 7, 2018

      @free Don’t talk about houses with no roofs,especially in opposition held constituencies…This type of governance where one is innocently punished because of his political colour is new to Dominica.zzI hadten to say that it is evil and comes from the pit of hell.

    • July 8, 2018

      This is amazing check the news before this one no one comment most of the news no one comment but once you say skerrit or government all little crab crawl out and get on their computer and start bad mouthing their fellow country men that’s a shame the world is watching .

      • viewsexpressed
        July 9, 2018

        Thanks crab Wallace from whence you came this crab hole of ours for your entertainment of your corrupt labour government and failed prime (odd) Minister.
        We will always mention and including yourself in this corrupt band wagon, fleecing the country`s economy
        Skerrit must go…he has failed us. Go get something to talk about.

        There is no way you can compare or place Skerrit is the shoes and intellectual of on Linton. The corrupt practices Hon Linton has discovered of your corrupt government is haunting and will haunt your corrupt leader and corrupt labour for years

  7. A,g
    July 7, 2018

    So the hurricane is the government fault now is it. Domoinicans you should listen to yourself I can’t believe that we have so many brainless people in Dominica.

    • Man bites dogs
      July 7, 2018

      A,g they are not all brainless donkeys like their leader Linton they’re very wicket and spiteful !!!

      • July 8, 2018

        And that’s why you will never move forward because the PM should insist that you and others should get work to do and stop depending on him for hand out. PM should take a stand because he needs the money to rebuild up the Island he just haven got more to hand out. The companies and people out side the Island they are listening to what is happening in DA.. Another thing why everything is about leader Linton how is it you all are so afraid of this man when he speaks truth to power I have been listening to him lately and what is going on in the house and I’m so amazed Linton is a no nonsense individual and he love his home Dominica regardless if he makes it to PM or not, what happened in the House last week should give you some concern, when Skerrit gave the impression we don’t need the opposition party well all hell would brake thru in Dominica.

      • viewsexpressed
        July 9, 2018

        There is nothing of intellectual you expect to read form Man Bites Dogs, You see, that is his dictionary, hat is what he reads from, that’s the kevel of his political bias and he will be Man Bites Dogs for years as his corrupt labour government will ne and are the perpertraitors.

    • Ibo France
      July 8, 2018

      Ag. your comments are so silly. Not one person has accused the government of being responsible for Beryl predictably striking Dominica. So stop with this nonsense. It’s the government’s duty to provide leadership to mitigate against the loss of life and property before, during and after a storm. If this current regime were performing well, there would be fewer complaints, the country would have been more advanced and the citizenry would be much more optimistic about their future. Most critics are dutifully bound to pinpoint the blatant mistakes, flaws, shortcomings and monumental incompetence of the Skerrit’s maladministration.

    • viewsexpressed
      July 9, 2018

      Mr Brainless A,G, thanks for letting us know your name. To have that name you must be associated with Skerrit and his corrupt Labour government. Go clean your backyard first and becareful when you point a finger at person, there is four more pointing at you . Run away from Skerrit`s dirty corrupt polities and you will be a better person.

  8. Man bites dogs
    July 7, 2018

    Can someone please explain to me where the hell is that guy Lennox Linton ? Again and again this goes into hiding somewhere in the USA whenever we have an Emergency in Dominica by telling Dr.Skerrit prime minister, It’s his duties on his own to look after Dominicans, Ok maybe so Lennox Linton, Next general election you and your gangs of scavengers will never again get a job In Dominica wait and see!!

    • viewsexpressed
      July 9, 2018

      Man, go bite your dogs, woof woof… and got find out where Skerrit disappear to with our passport, as Canada has now invoked visa restrictions on us. They have tightened recently. You will have to bark and go Trinindad to get that visa. Hon Linton s not your issue, go Bark at and bit Skerrit. Be that flea as you are under is hair and skin

  9. Ibo France
    July 7, 2018

    People have to fend for themselves to protect limb, life and property. Many of the government shelters are not in a state of readiness. One of the government ‘s main focus, post Maria, should have been getting as many shelters restored to livable conditions. Only an uncaring and an incompetent administration would repeatedly expose their people to the mercy of Mother Nature when it could be prevented. When will Dominicans come to the realization that this current regime is a real, present and continuous danger to their lives? Let’s all hope that no lives will be lost during the passage of the Beryl. Do everything humanly possible to keep safe my people. Hoping to see all on the other side of the storm.

    • Roxy
      July 7, 2018

      Me son, stop complaining and whining like a baby. Visit the BVI and you will see the state that we are in. Schools are taking place in warehouses and tents, Emergency shelters have not been repaired, the roads are deplorable, the Government main Administration building has not been repaired, The police Headquarters, Police stations, Fire Stations, Customs and immigration building are being housed in tents. There are so many roofless houses, Hardlry any hotel rooms as IRMA destroyed all our livelihood and we realise that our Govt, is in no position to help. We are on our own, with the help of our Insurance payments. (those of us who were insured). Our only help is coming from the UK who has offered to guarantee a loan of $400 mill.which has to be paid back, but we thank God everyday for sparing our lives. You need to tell yourself that there are people out there who are worse off than those in DA.

  10. Paul Rossnof
    July 7, 2018

    Thank you Skerrit for stating the obvious. Just make sure that your police force is well locked away so that we don’t have any looting after the storm pasted. This government has to go, they are no use to Dominica.

  11. Sowestay
    July 7, 2018

    We need to get rid of this governement ASAP – Even God is mad at these guys and the people who have become sheep and not fighting for themselves – the DLP can no longer manage Dominica

    • Precher
      July 7, 2018

      You are just a fooi
      A donkey has more sense than you

      • Ibo France
        July 7, 2018

        Contrary to popular belief, a donkey is one of the smartest animals. Donkeys have been unfairly stigmatized. Take a donkey in an unfamiliar location, far from home. That animal will be able to take you back safely home. Don’t underestimate donkeys. Stop the discrimination.

      • viewsexpressed
        July 10, 2018

        Precher, how do you know that this Donkey, also known and referred to as Jack*** has sense. We are studying and concerned about humans suffering and your talk is about a Donkey. You have been politically hanging about to much with those Bobol JA`s that surround your corrupt Labour government. Go read a book f decency in Politics and government. Your hopeless Skerrit has failed us Dominicans, we are in deep poverty

    • Hotcold
      July 7, 2018

      It always amazes me how you brain washed people would say that we’re being hit by hurricanes due to the government and god’s punishment. No! We are being hit because we live in the path of the Atlantic hurricanes and now because of global warming. I can understand you dislike the government, but saying we are being punished by god because of the government is stupid on all levels.

      • DA fails
        July 7, 2018

        @Hotcold, You talkin bout we in the path way of Atlantic hurricanes? I thought religous people ignored science, I know is not god that telling allu hurricane coming. :lol: :lol:

    • wendy
      July 7, 2018

      Hush your Damm mouth. What are your plans for your safety and others safety? Everything is politicks for you people

    • %
      July 7, 2018

      @Soestsy.. I fully concur.Wicked,evil, incompetent men and women.One leader and 17 misleaders.

    • One of a kind
      July 7, 2018

      Man you’re one of the biggest a******* ever…go manage Doninica yourself

      • viewsexpressed
        July 9, 2018

        This clown is One of a Kind. He has just enlightened us n is name and wat he stands for ….Nothing…with Skerrit about he is lst

  12. %
    July 7, 2018

    Shame on you and your 17 other incompetent misleaders that so many homes are still with tarpaulin.My parl rep on the opposition side would have served everyone on all sides of the political divide,instead of your fake caretaker clown who serves colour.We will deal this person a heavy defeat next election.Its an abomination to use food or building materials to ingratiate oneself to an electorate or to buy votes!Where the wicked rule,the people mourn.DLP is a wicked regime!!!

  13. Uncle
    July 7, 2018

    Why a file photo again? Is there anything wrong with seeing our P.M. pictyure as he looks today? Please.

    • viewsexpressed
      July 9, 2018

      We are not interested in seeing Skerrit. Go to Hell…Ho to Hell…its none of our damn business…Go o hell
      Skerrit is a failed PM… he has killed Domininca and turned people into beggars. Shame on Skerrit. waste of time.

  14. Concerned
    July 7, 2018

    The State House would make a good shelter for all those who are still without a roof. Human lives are more important than the status of a building – a building that belongs to the people in any case.

    • Man bites dogs
      July 8, 2018

      Concerned, Why not at your house if you have any where ever you are maybe under a bridge in the US.

      • viewsexpressed
        July 9, 2018

        Man bite dogs…go sit in a corner………..no one concerns in what you have to say, because it is BS, utter rubbish, No intellectual sense….you are just Bla,,,,,bla,,,,bla,, oppps sorry…barking woof woof…woof. Waste of time

    • viewsexpressed
      July 9, 2018

      Concerned, tell that mad man who bite Dog s, to go to hell …..go to hell….go to hell… You see he has nothing of substance to tell us the people of Dominica. He is a boom boom fly preying on his corrupt mentor PM, blind like a bat, but continues to b ite the dirty fleas out of the Dog.

  15. Ally
    July 7, 2018

    If the PM and Minister for Financial would have used the reliefs and spendings from around the world, people would have have had current not one month ago (!), repaired homes and roofs #realitycheck

    • July 8, 2018

      Well the reliefs were for the people and not to be stored away to be use for election votes, now God have moved on us is a difference area thank God it’s not going to be as the last hurricane but we just have to move safely Families are moving to other families and some move to the shelters.

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