PM wants second look at job of Mayor

Mayor Irene John after her inauguration
Mayor Irene John after her inauguration

The position of the Mayor of Roseau as a part time occupation should be given a second look, according to prime minister, Roosevelt Skerrit.

Skerrit has noted that the role is one with many responsibilities and there should be someone dedicated solely to the task.

He said the time was ripe for them to look seriously at the office of mayor and to question whether or not the position should still remain part time.

“My submission would be for us to consider having the mayor of the city of Roseau as a full time post, and not as a part time responsibility, with the appropriate remuneration,” he said.

Skerrit made his position known during the 11th inaugural meeting of the Roseau City Council at the Arawak House of Culture on Friday.

He also vowed to work with the council on some programs and projects that he would like to undertake for the betterment of the city and its populace.

“I would also like to solicit you to partner with the government in its efforts towards the reconstruction of the sidewalks and drains in the city, and also with the housing revolution so that we can continue to address the needs of the residents of the city who I know have a very serious housing challenge,” he said.

The Prime Minister also cautioned the new mayor, Irene John, to be prepared for the work ahead, since she will be encountering a team of persons with different ideas, personalities, thinking and approaches.

“At the end of the day you, as a leader, must ensure that you provide the leadership and guidance for the whole of the council and the city,” he said. “Leadership is not easy, because at the end of the day the bucks stops with you, and when things are going okay, it is everybody else. When things go bad, it’s the leader, so you have to understand that.”

He said he had no doubts that Mayor John has what it takes to take the city to newer heights, and thanked the outgoing mayor and his team for a job well done.

The prime minister also mentioned that one can point to a number of achievements which the former mayor, Cecil Joseph, was able to accomplish.

“But one of the very important areas of focus of former mayor Joseph was that of education, not only at the primary level and the secondary level with the provision of scholarships, but the mayor was able to establish a strong and fruitful relationship with Monroe College, where a number of students were able to benefit from full scholarships and also partial scholarships,” he noted.

Skerrit also urged the new mayor to create new links and strengthen those existing links that the former mayor was able to create.

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38 Comments

  1. Distured
    December 17, 2013

    Skerrit… why does it sound like u now have control over your own strings… puppet? I hope flying auto pilot for so long doesn’t affect u negatively in old age.

    This idea of yours is one of the few i can shake your hands on; however, like all the others before it, it is fatally flawed.

    Irene can do this request of yours, this im sure, but remember to leave the neutrals as neutrals. Don’t bring more of your death practices (politics) into this.

    And readers, pls pls pls understand, i am against your government and your lust for colors. This system is a fail, like all the others before it. I rather raise a Jolly Roger than any of your pathetic flags.

    Only God can select a true ruler, for only God can judge man.

    That’s why we fail.

    To Mayor Irene, don’t fall prey to their foolishness, and keep your head strong like I know you can. Don’t let them taint your spirit!

    Leadership is an allowed position by the masses.

  2. yard fowl
    December 17, 2013

    Madam mayor i like the color of your dress…lol.
    change is a must- not an option!

  3. December 17, 2013

    Was about time dey make d post of Mayor fulltime. D mayor will keep an eye on d ceo who does nothing for council. Never see a ceo that doh have administrate skills. no ethics, but what I no jah doh like fornicatos. Man just like d former mayor. Go Mayor Irene, clean dat city council office once and for all.

  4. Plan Dominque
    December 16, 2013

    Only now the PM realise that the people of Roseau have housing challeng. The labour party has a housing revolution ongoing for more than ten years, yet right under the nose of the PM and his cabinet the people of Pond live in such poor housing condition. Could it be that the majority are voting UWP why attention has never been paid to them? Just asking Mr PM.

  5. SHELLOCH HOMES
    December 16, 2013

    every body show concern.we all have Roseau at heart but to be mayor of a town is very daunted job,staff clients,public etc.Mr Cecil should have suggested a full time job and not PM.About time they do the job on written communication and not by phone,write reports,answer queries,and take action to remedy the situation

  6. forreal
    December 16, 2013

    well i see your hair black and nice,my dear the amount of black dye you have to buy to keep them from showing white,you need a full time job,all the same,do your best,first thing all who oweing property taxes,collect from agressively,because you will need that money,and do not think that they will not comment and lamblast you right here, right now on DNO,they boldface like that,so make them pay,is money that making jumby dance,while they will say,oh cecil was this,cecil was that,them same sets of bitches,was oweing and not paying,but what in darkness,came to light,wicked dominicans how they get their mouth fix to say roseau smell,when all that time,the city council, hurting for funding,that they oweing,well sa

  7. Love I
    December 16, 2013

    The Government has to give the Councils money for them to operate…who is the Minister in charge of these affairs????

  8. Local Gov. Councilor
    December 16, 2013

    National Local Government Reform must continue… Government must give more attention to this not just making the office of Mayor of Roseau a full time position… Let’s get real people

  9. Not a herd follower
    December 16, 2013

    I agree with the Prime Minister that the position of Mayor should be a full-time job.

  10. SkerritDoThat
    December 16, 2013

    Leadership is not easy, because at the end of the day the bucks stops with you, and when things are going okay, it is everybody else. When things go bad, it’s the leader, so you have to understand that……
    What kinda message skerro sending for Ambrose and dem?

    • Concerned
      December 17, 2013

      Is the Pm now saying that He is not fully responsible for all the wrongs in the Governing of Dominica ? SMH.

  11. POWER HOUSE H
    December 16, 2013

    AS one who has lived in the usa for over 40 years i would like to see the toilet paper in the rest rooms in Roseau placed in dispensers instead of the attendant pulling out 2 inches from a roll to hand to people who paid $1.00 to use the facility.Remember this includes members of the so called tourist a none existing industry

    • Malgraysa
      December 16, 2013

      Partner, it shows that you have been away a long time. First of all, people would steal the toilet paper if it were freely available. It is not that cheap in our island. Secondly, the attendant wants to make sure you give her some money. I know it is a bit backward but is so it is.

  12. Just Saying
    December 16, 2013

    Hopefully there will be time to look at the vagrant issue. I regularly have trouble with vagrants and paros. Yesterday one was even chasing me and trying to pounce on me. My bf had to put his leg up on his chest to stop him as he was so determined (without me having even looked at him or anything). I would have been frightened if I was a tourist and would not have wanted to return to DA.

  13. Red Hot
    December 16, 2013

    Everything is politics in this country, stupes man. A mayor was appointed, it had to turn political way way way Dominicans, let us stop that. Cecil had two terms or more ok is time for someone else to bring in new ideas. And further more, it would be much better for that person to be full time, to get the best results.

    • Papa Dom
      December 17, 2013

      and you really believe that making the mayor full time with a bigger salary will make a difference?

  14. Me again
    December 16, 2013

    I agree with the PM here. The most important word in the article is remuneration. The city needs more management and that will not happen without collecting more city taxes or government assistance. I think the mayor should be a full time job and that position should be supported with a proper staff. Roseau needs it.

  15. Hilarious
    December 16, 2013

    Out of a population of *at most* 70,000 people, we have 21 MPs, 6 Senators, Mayors, Village Councils and Chiefs, and still can’t get certain basics right. I believe I read an article this year by an attorney who concluded we have the most representation than any other Caricom country. And yet, we are still one of the poorest islands. Interesting that we should add one more salary to the public ledger, b/c the 3 MPs for Roseau – perhaps one of the smallest “cities” in the Caribbean – can’t handle vagrancy, street repair and beautification? Come on!

    Dominicans are you really that…daft…to believe you need to spend even more of the already defunct public funds on a new public salary? I know of many people who WORK for the city council making meagre wages and can’t get their salaries at the end of the month. Instead of advocating for them, we can find a way to pay a f/t salary that I’m sure will be more than maybe all the street cleaners’ pay combined!

    • Anthony Ismael
      December 16, 2013

      You are spot on with your analysis.

  16. Diaspora
    December 16, 2013

    This is where the bread-down comes in. When people start showing party allegiance colours in Local Government. Dominica’s Local Government system started as non-partisan now the politicals are bringing their sticking politics and creating a mess.

    • Anthony Ismael
      December 16, 2013

      How about working on legislation to collect unpaid taxes due to the city council. We all know that this is a major issue for the city council.

      • Local
        December 17, 2013

        I agree with you. The laws are there its just a matter of either strengthening them or enforcing them. And while I support we have to pay taxes I want to advocate that we must see what these taxes are doing in our communities. The chairmen and mayors and by extension the councilors must ensure that the taxes are used in the communities and not for their personals.

    • Toomatoe Tomato
      December 16, 2013

      Is that different in the diaspora? Diaspora?

      • Malgraysa
        December 16, 2013

        Don’t worry about that. Let’s concentrate on our own “diasrhea” at home.

  17. Concerned
    December 16, 2013

    I want to support the position of Mayor to be full time, but is interesting that Cecil Joseph worked so hard and never did the PM hinted that it should be full time. Also the Mayor must bring to the table managerial experience and qualifications, not just popularity. I want to see a Mayor who can mange the city funds including managing a staff. Also the Mayor does not have to be a resident of the city. Since it is a salaried job, let people go through the first round of interviews for the position and then you shortlist and let the people vote for that individual. This is my take as someone who has Local Government experience.

    • Not a herd follower
      December 16, 2013

      You are eschewing the fact that the position of Mayor is an elected one.

  18. Patriot # 3
    December 16, 2013

    Because of his insecurity, Skerrit is only comfortable with people who support him. Irene John falls into that mold, so Skerrit goes on and talks this condescending mumbojumbo. The labour party again has found it fit to exact yet another injustice on the people of Dominica, by putting Irene John to manage the affairs of the city of Roseau which is more difficult than running a Mini-Mart

  19. Morihei Ueshiba
    December 16, 2013

    Aye las poor Cecil, u all used to be so close! :cry:

  20. Just Blaze
    December 16, 2013

    Skerrit you have said a lot of rubbish in the media lately but this time I must say that it would be a good idea to look into making the mayor a fulltime position. There is a lot of work involved in running the city council so that added incentive of a fulltime post should give the mayor more time to focus on the task at hand.

    • Hilarious
      December 16, 2013

      Just Blaize…this SEEMS like a good idea b/c when one thinks of a city, you think of a bustling metropolis grappling with the effects of overpopulation, etc. This is not Roseau in 2013/2014. We already have 3 MPs and an entire administration that should be focused on this one area as it is the economic and social hub of the island.

      We need an avid tax collector for all the businesses in Roseau that are not paying their taxes. We need better garbage collection, and to fix the streets. These have all been neglected partly due to a lack of funds, so PRAY tell how/where will we suddenly find the funds for this salary when we can’t find it for the real measures to be undertaken.

      At a time when Dominica’s debt has increased exponentially, we should be looking at smarter more efficient ways of getting things done. How can we talk about building int’l airports when we can’t fix a few sidewalks in a small town?!

  21. Doc. Love
    December 16, 2013

    I am not a supporter of Cecil, but I believe the injustice that has been done to him, in terms of the big cash that is under consideration to be given to a novice, is unfair. Cecil never received the fullest of cooperation from Central Government in terms of finances for the implementation his projects. It would appear, Skeritt and his Government are happy to see him go. The man gave his heart and soul as regards the upliftment of the city over ten years. During his tenure as Mayor, they paid him peanuts for his hard work and no sooner he allowed someone else an opportunity to do the same job he did for years, that someone is going to be compensated with big bucks, magua sa. Their is more to come, Cecil, you have indicated your to willingness to represent the people of the Goodwill Constituency, you might be in for another disappointment.

    • CIA on the Waich
      December 16, 2013

      The Former mayor left the office with Roseau in a disgrace state and smelling

  22. Surething
    December 16, 2013

    Although the former mayor did do a lot for education, that should have been the job of the education ministers. The job of a mayor, surely should be to focus on the whole city where people reside, work and have businesses. Roseau is an eyesore, and needs to be addressed. A bit of paint on some of the buildings and proper sidewalks should be a top priority. Housing should then be next. Lets stop talking, and start actioning!

  23. CIA on the Waich
    December 16, 2013

    Am i to asume the wearing of Red colors by the mayor is to display her political alligence, thought she would be wearing a natursl color at a time when you need unity for the successful operations of the City council

    • Malgraysa
      December 16, 2013

      carcon, i don’t mind what colour she is or what colour she wears., as long as she does her job diligently and make Roseau a place to be proud of. I’ll judge her on that.

  24. Straight Talk
    December 16, 2013

    I totally agree. The job of Mayor should be a full time one. Some mayors have more responsibility and do more work than some of the parliamentary representatives who get paid for a full time job but make only very scant representation on behalf of their constituents.

  25. Malgraysa
    December 16, 2013

    Comrade Skerrit, please stop interfering in peoples’ business like that. You should have done something about improving Roseau when Cecil was there. Wasn’t that in het agreement with China? I’m just waiting for Cecil to tell us now whom he gave the $400,000 to.

    • Concerned
      December 17, 2013

      well little by little UWP teaching Him how to go about running the country and taking it out of the ruing he has brought it into, so yes He learning real fast,Hope He learns to tell the truth

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