ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says he is likely to delay naming a new Cabinet until after the Christmas holidays.
Speaking to the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) following his Dominica Labour Party’s (DLP) resounding 18-3 victory in Friday’s general election, Skerrit acknowledged that he was spoilt for choice as to who to include in his ministerial team. However, he was in no mood to rush to a decision.
“That will be dealt with at the appropriate time. I’m hoping after Christmas to announce a Cabinet…but we started formulating what it may look like or should look like,” the Prime Minister said.
“We’ll continue the discussion and the dialogue and I am sure that everybody will understand that not everybody can be a minister of government – 18 ministers really wouldn’t cut it because we have to be mindful of the implications for the Treasury,” he told CMC.
The DLP increased its margin in Parliament compared to after the 2005 general election when it won 12 of the 21 seats, which was later increased to 14 when an independent candidate and an opposition legislator joined forces with the government.
With that in mind, Skerrit assured there would be no rancour among members of his team over who should be given ministerial portfolios and who should sit as backbenchers.
“I believe by and large our candidates came on board knowing that they will be elected first as Members of Parliament and that the Prime Minister has the authority under the Constitution to advise His Excellency, the President, to appoint them as ministers.”
Preliminary results showed the DLP winning 17 seats compared to four for the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) but the ruling party gained the La Plaine constituency when its candidate, Petter Saint-Jean, was awarded the seat by two votes after a recount on Saturday thus condemning the UWP leader Ron Green to the parliamentary sidelines.
Green has since told CMC that he was not ready to concede defeat to his rival, opting to pursue legal options available to him in order to challenge the outcome.
“Monday morning we will file a case and see when it is heard…I think there is a strong case there that any fair judge looking at the rejected ballots will end up selecting me as the Member of Parliament for this area but let’s see what the courts say,” he said.
While he admitted that he expected to challenge the result in the rural constituency, Skerrit viewed the national outcome as evidence that the country was pleased with his stewardship over the past six years.
“It really tells you that the people of Dominica were determined to return the Dominica Labour Party into government and of course with a very large mandate.”
However, the Prime Minister said measures were being developed at the party level to ensure that MPs would not lose focus on their constituents and to keep both successful and losing candidates in check.
“We recognise that and we’ll put systems in place to protect that large mandate and to ensure that the men and women who have been elected by the people keep in touch with the people because what is often the problem in Caribbean politics, Dominica included, is once people have been elected they become disconnected from their constituents and that can create problems for the party at the time of (the next) elections.
“So the party leadership will put systems in lace to ensure that candidates and Members of Parliament remain connected with the people every step of the way,” he said.
With both Green and deputy UWP leader Claudius Sanford losing their seats, the most senior member of the parliamentary opposition is Edison James, who served as prime minister of a UWP administration from 1995-2000.
The Dominica Freedom Party, (DFP) which served for three terms as the government from 1980-1995, was shut out for the second successive poll, with none of its 11 candidates registering any considerable support from voters.
Tags: Election 2009
where are the voices of righteousness that speak up for moral aptitude and ethics in leadership? Where are the principles of integrity that makes a country great? Isn’t it still true that righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people?
Where then are the voices of the Godly men? Have they been silenced by the bribery ?? have they sold the birthright for a morsel of meat?
Our nation is becoming destitute for good christian leaders; men and women who refuses to align themselves with corrupt politician who refuses to be accountable to the those who invested in them the responsibility of governance.
I caution, power in the hands of the arrogant will lead to self destruction.
Let’s pray for God’s mercy for our nation………. and that God would give us pastors after his own heart.
Besides that I do not have an opinion
congrats dominica .now your country is like mine ,if i was still alive i would pay you a visit but its just a pity .any way i will be will you in ghost
Ok. Lets move on people. I Did favour the UWP. But when i really think about it they are very WEAK. They are no match for Skerrit. I don’t even believe that UWP should continue to contest any elections. Obviously, The People really HATE UWP. I Personally Believe that it is a waste of resources to go against Skerrit. The Labour party Did not win the elections. Skerrit won the elections. 18 – 3 seats! Naw, Don’t waste you Deposits, leave the country to Skerrit. It’s what The People want. No need for elections.
I AM ASKING THE UWP MINISTERS AND THIER GOVERNMENT TO GET 21 CANDIDATES AND CHALLENGE MR ROSEVELT SKERRIT NEXT ELECTIONSSSSSSSSSSS THEN WE CAN CHAT
we win get over all you selves.. Dominica was ready to move forward.. reighn Skero Reighn…. its out time. People seem to forget when we only had two seats in parliament, When something is nice you do it twice or thrice.
You go skero
Shirley Allan,
Why are you so full of hate? Are you truly Dominican? If you are, then something must have shaped that vile ego! Get to know what it is and start a life of love and peace within. But knowing you as I do, that won’t happen. Just remember that pride goes before a fall. Is it too much to ask you to respect Dominica and Dominicans? OOOPS sorry! You are now American!
Shut … bunny u was there man when they were namin de cabinet
can i be a minister as well? i said after that so election alot of lawyers will be making a fast buck or two! anyway all those that got a free ticket allu head back to america already?
Big up to the Foreign Massive who came down to vote.
Thanks alot!! How come allu run back already. Stay awhile and enjoy the good time allu put there.
Cowards!!!
Thanks for nothing!!!
WE LOVE OUR PRIME MINISTER……FORWARD WE GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL!!! DOMINICA IS BLESSED AND NO ONE CAN TAKE THAT AWAY FROM US!!!
To u sugar puss so sorry to read your comment,just to let u know that ambrose is a bless man and the more all u say bad things on him he more votes he get .no vodou clean vote .
Tell me how come there are still so many Dominicans with little faith in a Government that has done nothing but bring the country up to what it is now compared to the pieces it was left in between 1995 – 2000.
And after so many years out of Government, the opposition still could not come up with a better plan of administration for their country. Why can’t the MINORITY of Dominican’s who voted for that party see that UWP has no better plan for their country? NONE.
Again, let me emphasise that the MINORITY of Dominican’s who are still angry will always be just the supporters of UWP. The Government that will never be able to come up with 21 candidates, let alone a plan for Dominica. Skerrit is not a God or anything close, but he is the Leader that will take Dominica to the next level.
I CHARGE UWP to come up with a plan by the next general elections. If there is any.
The Labour Party can remain in government for as long as they wish. We need no other elections if they keep Dominica going forward. Just as they were voted in, they can be voted out. But First we have to see which party can do better. That’s why I CHARGE the UWP or any other party for that matter.
Peter St. Jean is now only mentioning God in all his time maligning, and spewing remaks that shame the Name of God he professess to stand for. I do not want to be associated with pentecostals in Dominica. How can both good and bad come out of the heart of someone who claims christianity as THE RELIGION to join. I want no part of them. There was a time pentecostals in Dominica meant something serious, now all of the pastors are in the pockets of politicians, bringing shame to their ministries. Well I guess is either migrate to the USA or become a politician groupie, either way show me the money is the motto of these “men of God’.. I know better and none of you can convince me to become a pentecostal. I look on you with disgust. Go speak in your false foreign tongue, and try to convince yourselves the God you claim to reperesent is really the Christ, because you sure are NOT convincing me. Not after your behaviour during the election. This has nothing to do with party. If God be God serve Him. Stop making a mock of the name of Jesus, you evil wicked generation of Hypocrite pastors. now go back to your congregations and quote a scripture that will justify your behaviour, maybe you can tell them ” God establishes government”, LOL you are full of blasphemy, and false prophecy. No body is asking for perfection we are far from it, our righteousnes is like filthy rags God says, but come on man, Pastors in Dominca have LOST their way, wrapped up in politics. I am sick and tired of it. Politics is necessary yes, but where do pastors draw the line? Pastors youstill have a responsibility FIRST to LEAD the Nation to GOD! Sackcloth and ASHES SACKCLOTH AND ASHES.!!!!! Dominica will not be judged based on Mr. Skerritts actions, I warn you, Dominica will be Judged and condemned because of the PASTORS who have gone astray led by politicians. You cannot blame the politicians, Pastors should know better!!!!!!
To Bay:
Its clear that you are disgruntled and very angry. You THINK that you are bright but even a fool can see what a sinister criminal you are at heart. The Dominican people deserve credit for being decisive . We also demonstrated to the world that we are a democratic country in every sense.We embrace democracy even with it’s flaws. We deserve a progressive and hard working Government. We deserve a leader with a plan of action to take us to the next level in the development of our country. And yes, we got it. Blinded by personal interests , people like you , seek to destabilize governments. I am not afraid because I know Dominicans know how to uproot the weeds when needed . We have earned our respect, now we demand it. Stop deceiving yourself in believing that Dominicans are fools. Remember, we outwitted you.
Take as long as you wont to name your cabinet. Or maybe we dont need a cabinet cause we were voting for Skerrit in all the constituencies. We are now faced with men and women who do not have the intellectual capacity to hold ministerial positions and your are caught in a bind. Isnt that interesting. But again Skerrit you are in ,charge , el supremo , OOPS in your victory speech you forgot to make mention of the visiting Dominicas. So on your behalf I wish to thank them for coming in and voting to give you your overwhelming
victory. The majority of them have left and I am sure they will sit back and enjoy your perfprmancce on the political stage.
Big Banan the people of DOminica has spoken. Next time tell workers run a better campaign. They couldn’t tell the people what they were going to do if elected because they had no plans. The labour government was far from perfect but at least we could see progress. Up to this day no manifest has been posted over the internet. The elections is over. The people have spoken. Jump high jump low you still have to wait another five years to either keep or change the ruling party.
Where is Marlon giraudel? Any comments Marlon? or u still in the toilet?
lol lol lol. welcome 2 da next level. COMMUNIST DOMINICA.. now we’re a 1 party state… and look at the other countries who are 1 party states.. CHINA AND CUBA.. hmm. lets wait and see
WHEN THEY ASK FOR A KING GOD GAVE ONE. DOMINICANS ASK FOR ONE AND HAS RECEIVED IT. LORD BLESS THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE OF THE FEW FAITHFUL THAT DOMINI CANS WILL NOT HAVE ANY POLITICAL UNREST. WHY SHOULD LA PLAINE SEAT BE RECOUNTED SO MANY TIMES TO SECURE 18 WHEN MORNE JAUNE ALSO NEED A RECOUNT. EVEN LABORITES BECAME SILENT MUCH LESS FOR THE OPPOSITION
I would like to congratulate the DLP with thier so called victory. However, i wish to proclaim that this whole election is one to question. i think it was just bogus. Also, we need bi-elections in all constituencies to reflect a true dominican picture, since alldominicans who leave over seas who came to vote has left. i also think that the Roseau South seat is also one to question. A lot of the community persons openly said that they were not going to put thier Xs to vote Mr. George back in, but surprisingly, he got more votes than last election. Come on, this man was thrown out of government office a couple of times yet he’s re-elected? Somethings happening for true. Is now we gonna see hardship. we have to pull up our socks bc this election is gonna be our last. All hail yo King Skerrit – one party state. We are noiw gonna be called Commonwealth of Skerrit.
well, well, well, i knew dat was goin to happen!!!! Good luck with dat!!!! Hope some of the parliamentary representatives dont get disappointed especially the young ones!!!! So dat is wat we wanted d 18 seats for then????
God’s Blessings PM
Seems the people in dominica are really passionate about this Skerrit guy. dominica is not doing better or anything.. dominicans sure just love him. Good for you Skerrit. You give the people a penny and take a million. Some day they will Realize how Much you have messed up this country.
Congrats!!! to the DLP and the PM . You must be doing something right. Keep it up.
@ BAY. i see u spent alot of time googling your comment..
if u were a lil smarter u should know and would have known that there is always going to be some form of bribery and underhand deals going on. running a country has become if not the same as running a business.
and a country like dominica sorry to say has to borrow way more than it makes to make it in the near future and only because we need development in the country to take us into the future where there will come a time we can stand on our own two feel and thats exactly what the P.M. is doing.
all this people who come and leave those intelligent questions and comments where are they ? why arent u guys in dominica educating your people and doing something positive in your country to help the country move forward.
most of these people receive government scholarships to go study abroad and instead of returning and assist in the country they use those skills and talents in the benefit of another country
this is what i want; anyone who receives some loan and scholarship from government should sign a contract demanding they return when done if they cant that money should be paid back and if u dont want to pay it back u will be flagged when returning to d/ca or even face penalties
am waiting..let me see whats next
Congrats Mr Prime Minister. You said you wer going to win by land slide and in my humble opinion you did. Once again you have managed to convince our people that you and your party should remain in Power. They believed you, trusted you and those who did not you were able to get by what ever means you saw necessary. once again congrats.
Now to my fellow dominican people, both in Dominica and abroad. I hope we are ready to live by the decision we made. We made our choice now lets live with that for the next 5 years or maybe more.
To all my family that came down to vote……and gone back already……..time will tell
DO NOT BE DECIEVED SO CALLED CHRISTIANS, GOD IS NOT MOCKED. WHAT SO EVER WE SOWETH….THAT WE SHALL REAP
I second bay’s comments! Thanks for the unbiased analysis and satire!
18 on the 18th waay to go skerro. Big up from the dominicans in axa.
FINALLY HIS SHIRT COLOR HAS CHANGE THAT’S NICE… CONGRATS MR. PM ON YOUR VICTORY. MAY GOD’S BLESSINGS BE UPON THE PEOPLE OF DOMINICA..
You wanted a one party state,you have got it.You will not only tell us go to hell,but you will actually bring us to hell,and thousands will follow.
Guess with that mandate,it not possible to do to you what you and Hendo did to Roosie!
To the Government and people of Dominica. Congratulations for seeing it fit to return the deserving party back in power to lead Dominica for another five more years. To Prime MInster Skerritt, you have said that you are the first to admit that the previous government made mistakes and that I hope you will learn from the past mistakes. I do agree with you that no one is perfect but we can move on from the past and look forward to ta better future.
To all the bitter Dominicans aborad and at home, do remember that Dominica is ours to build and not to destroy. Those of us who are US citizens, do remember it is a previledge given to us, but being born in Dominica is an honor. Please do not try to destroy and bring down our beautiful and beloved country because you do not like the government. I would like to ask all those who demoralize the Prime Minister as a person what has he done to you all personally. You all may not support the government but that does not mean that you all has to call him all kinds of names like classifying him to Hitler or Catro and classifying Dominica to Cuba. The people of Dominica has spoken so accept the people’s decision of Government.. He is the Prime Minister of Dominica once again and he is the Prime Minister for all Dominicans those at home and abroad no matter what party you support and what part of the world you reside.
God bless you Mr. Skerritt and all your winning members of Government and especially Ian Douglas the Parliamentary Representative for the Portsmouth Constituency for five more years.
congratulation to the DLP once again the people have chosen you to rule. Let us all unite at home and abroad to make Dominica a better country.A big congratulation to Johnson Drigo of the Castle Bruce constituency, i know he could do it, because he has played an active role in the community for years, supporting the youths as well as the elderly.So good luck to him and please people of Castle Bruce lets unite to help him on his new found political career .
Dominican abroad.
It is the begining of a DICTATORSHIP that we all will regret!! To get the mandate of your people you have to buy their tickets and plane them in? That is the Mandate of the so called DISPORA NOT the LIVE-IN DOMINICANS!!f IT is rediculous!!! We should cry foul!! If we a true Dominicans we should call wrong when it is wrong and call cheating a vicious sin – it is still wrong. I know not many of us would like to contest a race when the rules are to walk but someone else uses a bicycle and wins . Then we jump and say congratulation for winnning you won by far………How many of us would agree the race was fair?
Dominicans, the making of a Dictator is being carefully constructed and we all will feel the pain sooner rather than later.Watch the precedence that have been set —Importation of voters started with Rosie in 2000, Skerrit continued on a bigger scale in 2005 and in 2009 he perfected the illegal act. Not only that, our economy has slide to the gutters just as fast. Can some one tell me what is Dominca economy? what it is we selling/exporting, yet the politicians are richer than ever, massive unemployment(verified with social security) and more crimes than ever. With this new mandate expect WORSE! Expect more crimes, run down communities, more poverty, less investment and richer ministers……..NO OPPOSITION MEDIA and media personnel disappearing – KiLLED!!
Learn from Venezuela, learn from Cuba we are right in there…….I cry for my country because we have just took our long distance hands and put the rope around the necks of our suffering brothers and sisters living in the country. We have seal the CASKET and on our way to HELL!!!!
In the mean time we will stay in North America and enjoy liberty and freedom, enjoy a good life with multiple jobs, enjoy our nice homes (NOT GIVEN BY OBAMA OR ANY OTHER President), enjoy our efficient means of transportation, drink anything we want as much as we want, educate our kids and enjoy a safe neighbourhood and WAIT UNTIL we get the CALL from SKeritt again (if he does not change the constitution to band elections) to come and vote him in again to secure the FIRE of HELL on the people in the country, then we fly OUT of hell to our greener pasture in North America again and so life continues……………..
Yo “BAY”, do you want democracy or because Skeritt win you now don’t?
Sorry:-(
I know God will help u make ur decision in naming ur ministers.I hope they all knw dat all of them cant hold a minister position,and i do think that they will understand dat.God’s blessings and guidiance is upon u and ur cabinet.
Skeritt I fee; soory for the DOOMinicans you haev fooled.. REMEMBER THIS.. Shirley Allan of Lapliane Dominica grand daughter of Serrant ALLan is ONE person that will never, ever respect you!! I will see you as the .. that you are!!! I may be l maligned, and assulted for it today, But I know that History will prove me right.. Please! Please! Please! keep the records so that5 My grand children and great grand children wiil be able to see what the positionof the grandmothert was when Dominica was going to hell! Mey the following gererations never forgve or forget the culprits!!!!! I will make sure that they know!!! Do me a favour as the recoder.. PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE!! sign your names when you write something like I always do!! I beg you as the record keeper please sign your names!!!
Ali Baba and the communits. May the best thieves win.
Perhaps the biggest problem with Democracy is that people tend to get exactly the government that they deserve.
For example, in many modern-day democracies, the people claim that they want their government to operate under a balanced budget, when in fact this is the farthest thing from the truth. What the people really want, as they repeatedly demonstrate from their voting, is increased taxes and increased government spending — particularly when it comes to government projects which directly benefit themselves. Professional politicians, if by nothing else than by a simple Darwinian processes, are very good at perceiving such things, and give the people exactly want: huge government deficits.
For example, in every present and past democracy, the people always claim that they want politicians who will not accept bribes, when in fact this is the farthest thing from the truth. What the people really want, as they repeatedly demonstrate from the voting, is politicians who will spending huge amounts of money on multi-media campaigns to win votes, who will spend massive amounts of time coming to their towns to speak to the locals (for a fee), and who will spend massive amounts of time influencing legislation to win government contracts for local businesses.
There are, of course, many other problems with democracy.
THE MEDIA: In all known democracies, the media flourishes.
POLLS: One way in which the media attempts to tell people what to think is by attempting to tell them what they are thinking. If you read the previous sentence again, you will understand it. Fortunately, the results of these polls invariably conflict with each other and with reality, so that prolonged exposure builds up immunities.
POLLSTERS: They work for the media.
LITIGATION: People who live in a democracy, since they believe they have some influence over the law, tend to extrapolate this into the belief that the law means whatever they want it to mean. (The media probably plays a role in this, though we are not exactly sure how.) Therefore, they will sue the owner of a dog who left a bone on a sidewalk upon which they stubbed their toe, causing them to spill their coffee on themselves, for the price of a new bathrobe plus $1,000,000 for mental stress.
LAWYERS: They come with litigation. Experiments show that when the population of lawyers reaches certain critical densities, they force society to undergo a phase transition which causes the population of lawyers to grow even faster. Science has not yet found a solution to this problem.
FREE SPEECH: In a democracy, you will incessantly be subjected to hearing the ideas, speculation, and bizarre prognostications of everyone around you. The media multiplies this problem a thousandfold.
TRIAL BY JURY: When one is accused by the state of a crime, the second scariest thought you can have is that you will be tried by a jury of your peers. The only thing scarier than this is to be tried WITHOUT a jury of your peers.
WEAPONRY: The only thing scarier than a democratically elected government which allows its citizens to own sophisticated weaponry is a democratically elected government which does NOT allow its citizens to own sophisticated weaponry.
In a non-democratic society, the ordering of these two concepts is reversed.
ECONOMICS: Because the public thinks it can affect the government’s economic policies, it demands economic information. The media gives it to them. This results in the publishing of page after page of little numbers and letters, graphs of important economic indicators such as the widths of ties and lengths of skirts, degrees in Business Administration, and articles on scandals at Deposit Insurance Corporations entitled “Tricky DICs.”
No solution to any of these problems has yet been found. Many have been tried and suggested: oligarchy, theocracy, dictatorship, and school boards. Most of these begin with some members of the population killing others to show the flaws of the old political structure; they then continue killing others to show that society’s structures are independent of individuals. Such governments usually end with some members of the population killing others to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the executive branch of government, and indeed also the legislative, corporate, and street- cleaning branches. This does not make for a solution to our problems.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratualtions!!!!!!!!! To the DLP and Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit
Keep up the good work. Always put Jehovah God first and take care of our people and our beloved DOMINICA.
ONE LOVE
u all have to fight among each other .
interesting … …….18 ministers will be fine
good luck skerro. hope they dont behave with u the way u behaved with roosie. remember u and vince did not want to be junior ministers.
once again mr.SKERRIT GOD through the people of dominica appointed you to handle and manage the affairs of this blessed country four another term. i am calling on all dominicans at home and abroad to unite in building this little rock we call home and to take it to the next level. And remeber to put GOD first in every thing that you do. IT is very clear that we DOMINICANS love and appriciate your leadership. I want to really congratulate you and your party for winning in a very big big big way. i predicted 17 but thank GOD for 18.
good luck in naming ur minister pm