Prime Minister agrees office for opposition leader is viable

PM Skerrit, Hon. John

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says his Government is not opposed to suggestions of an office for the opposition leader in Dominica.

Opposition leader Hector John said at a press conference last week his party intends to push for an office for that purpose. The establishment of an office for opposition leaders was one of the issues discussed at the 35th Annual Conference of Regional Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in Trinidad which John attended.

President of the United Workers Party (UWP) Edison James also said that Dominica is the only country that provisions are not made for an opposition leader.

However Prime Minister Skerrit agrees that an office for the leader of the opposition is significant.

“We recognize the need to have a physical office space and we believe that this is something that’s viable. When Parliament appointed the committee to look at the terms and conditions of Parliament and the report indicated that a special allowance should be attached for the leader of the opposition. That allowance was approved. If Parliament believes that we need to move to have an office space for the leader of the Opposition, then we have to revisit the issue of a special allowance given to him,” he said.

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37 Comments

  1. Grand Bayrian
    August 15, 2010

    I thought the Prime Minister spoke about the Opposition leader needing to have his office during his swearing in ceremony after the last election?.. These guys forget what they are talking about or what?…

    • hypocrisy, not democracy
      December 16, 2010

      how very true and astute of you to remember and remind the ppl. …..that skerrit is primarily a liard, and a shameless one at that, spineless and faceless. the man is bloody charlatan, and shud be removed from his position. merry go round this, boycott that business this…..misleading the ppl night and day, most of them never understandiing what they see or hear from these so called honorable this and that. the MOU with china most likely stipulates that teh chinese must have unfettered access to the market place, with reduced or no taxation for their second rate umbrellas and dog food they serve in their restaurants. how do you say skerit in chinese, king lee ahh

  2. STAY TUNED
    August 12, 2010

    @Salop:

    Keep your ears on the ground my sister….

    the 24 hour clock is ticking on the corrupt politicians that you give blind support to.

  3. STAY TUNED
    August 12, 2010

    @king ghetto:

    Keep your ears on the ground bro….

  4. francis francis chicago il
    August 12, 2010

    lasavanne the saw is a dangerous weapon watch your head .idiot

  5. Oh yeah
    August 12, 2010

    Oh my God is this the young man Skerrit? what is wrong with his face that guy look so old and beat up, Mr Hector John looking so refine and fresh compare to him, Dominican cry that on Skerrit like that waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

  6. Oh yeah
    August 12, 2010

    i mean Funntface26

  7. Oh yeah
    August 12, 2010

    unnyface26: i would really like to know, so please find out and post it on there so i can see

  8. NATURE LOVER
    August 12, 2010

    All elected parl reps will be gettingm around $2000 for office rent etc, so the opposition leader can use that to set up his own, they crying that things are sooo bad ,economy down yet they want to milk the cow more–real contradiction,,Sionce 2000, the opposition is just yapping,yapping and not doing the constitutional-designated duties of ensuring that the PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE, is functional..no meeting has been held ,so i suggest less yapping and more real actiion to uplift not to destabilise

  9. Chief
    August 12, 2010

    And plenty people saying the PM don’t listen to anyone and has a “one state” mentality.

    Now the opposition can have a permanent place for their “people’s parliament.” lol lol

    Anyway, all jokes aside, it is a good move. It was only in 2008 that the leader of the opposition got her own government financed office in Jamaica.

    So now Eddie is talking about the government making provision for the leader of the opposition. He was PM for five years, why didn’t he think of that back then?

  10. June
    August 11, 2010

    Well done Roosie

  11. salisbury
    August 11, 2010

    @salisbury….is a good thing the opposition leader have his house already…so stop talking crap

  12. LASAVANNE
    August 11, 2010

    @francis francis chicago il: joker we are going forward not back.it is time to make history .if u don’t have anything productive to say stand back.

  13. August 11, 2010

    @STAY TUNED: You got G.P your party not in power,Playing teacher on D.N.O.get a life and enjoy great development in D.A and also play your role as the country progress and stop crying.

  14. August 11, 2010

    Pa ba yo ayen….office 2 talk sort…Nada .no.. nop..

  15. August 11, 2010

    @STAY TUNED: My paper is long…I sleep like a baby…my party doing a great job…what left to say just asking…if I was educated eh…..s…k….r.

  16. JoshD
    August 11, 2010

    Isn’t it so revealing. You can never light a fire and do not expect smoke. All I see now is smoke in the face of the opposition. They tried sticking on and selling the corruption label to ther electorate during the last general elections – nobody bought it. Then they said the elections were not free and fair and it was loaded with bribery and corruption and they refused to go to the house of assembly. Under the same rules and absolutely no electoral reform they won their seats in the bi-elections. Bribery and corruption only occured where the UWP lost. “Who do you think you’re fooling” Thery have not yet gone to the house under their new constituency mandate but they are asking for staffed office space for the leader of the opposition. They are yet to say a word on how they will use that office for the good of the country and their constituents. And they should also tell us which one should get priority; voter ID cards or the office for the leader of the opposition? The government has appointed a minister responsible for constituency empowerment and has budgeted moneies for an office for every elected representative, government and opposition. Can anyone find a better way to effectively represent their people at that level? If I were John and his party I would not even raise the issue of office for the leader of the opposition and I would work out of my constituency office to give the best representation ever. UWP “smoke but no cigars”.

  17. Stupse
    August 11, 2010

    Why does the UWP come about as me, me, me, me? And what I want, I want, and I want,,and what people doing me????

    This sounds like some sort of low self-esteem.

  18. francis francis chicago il
    August 11, 2010

    what happen in 1980-1995 1995 – 2000 so that time no opposition leader ? dont, get it that time no office?

  19. STAY TUNED
    August 11, 2010

    @Salop:

    Just your use of the word “sector” which is clearly out of context shows your intelligence level.

    Enough said.

  20. Prophet2
    August 11, 2010

    The ‘Prime Deceiver’ is losing ground cuz people are starting to see right through him and some already have buyer’s remorse. All the twisting of the tongue will not help anymore, it has been an illusion.

  21. The Third Side
    August 11, 2010

    Please give them the opposition and have them sign a contract that they will attend parliament, not walk out of the house for silly stuff.

    If the tax payers are footing this bill for opposition space, these men, I mean girls better act responsible.

  22. alss
    August 11, 2010

    @Salop: saloppppppp

  23. Salisbury
    August 11, 2010

    When Mr James was Prime Minister there was no need for an Office for the Opposition Leader, but today they desperate for an office. It is needed today more than ever before. I hope the telephone bill wil not be full of cell calls only and they doh forget is not on there home phone they are. Next, ask for an expensive ride for the Opposition leader to be paid by the state. Next , a house with swimming pool, maid service and security.

  24. francis francis chicago il
    August 11, 2010

    mr.hec you got the office whats, next baby milk good so you will stop the crying.

  25. Woy Oh
    August 11, 2010

    Why the debate? The leader of the opposition is an elected official. Give the man an office, period!!!

  26. liberalone
    August 11, 2010

    I quite frankly agree that the leader of the opposition requires an office.

    But shouldn’t it have come at a time when the economy was booming and doing so great as the UWP has so often boasted of the state of the economy under their leadership? I mean compared to the present madness in the world economy that is adversely affecting all countries, I would think that they would have been a little more considerate. I mean you have a car for years, drive it, never pay attention to its upkeep or what was necessary to make it function optimally. Then as soon as you sell that car to someone else you feel you are now in the position to criticize them for not taking care of the car and neglecting to provide for it properly when you were in the position to do so (even in a better financial position according to you).

    You see this politics things I am so grateful that I am wise enough not to stake too much of my confidences in any politician lololol

  27. August 11, 2010

    Giving them an office will make them act more Like boys than ever.invest this money in another sector

  28. ZERO
    August 11, 2010

    An office for the leader of the opposition is not a favour,it’s something that happens in most countries in the democratic world.Staff and computer should also be provided..THIS IS NOT A FAVOUR,AND MAYBE WE ARE THE LAST TO RECOGNIZE HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS TO THE THIS COUNTRY….

    • upset.
      December 16, 2010

      my boy , i support this comment 200%Scare it believe Dominica is his private estate and that as massa we have to cow tow to his royal just to eat. don’t forget how his Daddy Cocaine send a plane full of third rate rations for all the hungry people that he claims are no longer in the bracket of poor households. this guy is such a liar, he promised this in his election campaign, but he saying is either Spags gets a office or an allowance, but not both. Scare it is one dog. only a dog wud lick its vomit. :twisted: whne will ppl start to remember things and lies and false promises this guy makes in his bids for reelection.? I AM SO FED UP WITH THIS GUY!!!!!!!!! DOWN WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

  29. Anonymous
    August 11, 2010

    The opposition should have an office space because the leader of the opposition is an elected official.

  30. laloe
    August 11, 2010

    Some how we all will find a balance with the elected officials in Dominica. Some time ago the PM indicated the need to build a muti story tower downtown, and I said that was a great idea infact I even suggested that the designers include a simulated waterfall at it’s entrace or possible inside as a designated tourist attraction, some in the opposition said no, I think the PM has the concensus now to forge on to build a multi story tower downtown and please be sure that it is equipped with an elevator and a balcony with an elupcious view of the ocean and a resturant, so that the opsition will be fully equipped with all the latest technological tools necessary to carry out their duties. After all we cannot have an opposition in this day and age and they do not have an office in which to function to oppose the goverment. If the multistory story is 24 floors, please be sure that they get the last floor in the atmosphere, because we need our opposition to be very comfortable as they take on the role of the opposition. And that is my take.

  31. PAIN
    August 11, 2010

    The office would serve well for all future Minority Leaders maybe including the present Pm in the near future.
    Hon. John seems to be looking much younger than the PM in those pics.

  32. Vex with them
    August 11, 2010

    Is the leader of the opposition monthly allowance includes a special allowance to assist with office space? Or was it approved but not given?

  33. Critic
    August 11, 2010

    Mr. Skerrit,

    What do you mean that the Parliament must revisit the “special provision”/. Are you sayingthat the special provision is more than what he could benefit from if offices were provided for him? or are you saying that parliament has to give the O.K to provide office space for him. Mr. Skerrit (Chief), just go ahead and provide the space. It makes a lot of politicalsense todo that. If parlaiment has to approve than parliament can do it retroactively.

    Create the space and do no give the “blue meally bugs” any ammunition to come after you, even when you and i know that they will fail and fail miserably at that

  34. DA
    August 11, 2010

    Now We have an opposition Leader I think he do need an office.

  35. funnyface26
    August 11, 2010

    i can’t wait to see the comments on this one. my favorite word there is “revisit”. what exactly are the special allowances granted to the leader of the opposition? can anyone shed some light on that?

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