Fellow Citizens
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
John 3:16-17
Christmas is a time of reflection on the foundations of our Christian faith and a celebration of God’s love for us, manifested through the birth of Jesus Christ.
It is a time when we pause to reflect with wonder on the mercies of our Lord and Savior and his infinite love and protection. During this season, we are filled with affection and goodwill for our family and for our fellow men. We express our sentimental feelings with the exchange of gifts, fully aware that God sent us the most precious gift-his only Son.
God’s promise to bless and keep us was fulfilled. Jesus was the fulfillment of that promise.
As we celebrate Christmas this year, I remind you of God’s promise so that you may be imbued with hope and thanksgiving despite the challenges of the times. Excitement for the festive season is usually driven by the prospect of being with family and loved ones; but for a second season our interactions are limited by the presence of the Coronavirus and we are encouraged to socialize within our ‘family bubble.’ Many of us are in mourning due to the passing of loved ones, taken from us this year due to complications of COVID-19. Apprehension over the future is exacerbated by socio-economic impacts being experienced worldwide, such as income loss, business closures and health concerns. New variants of the Coronavirus are causing anxiety about the eventual return of our children to the physical classroom and our ability to work and earn a living in the long-term.
The Government of Dominica has been focused on safeguarding livelihoods and public health through an aggressive pandemic response defined by effective disease surveillance; procurement of equipment and services; and a vaccination programme rollout which ensured citizens had quick and equitable access to life-saving vaccines. We have also cushioned the economic impact of the virus by helping small and medium-sized private sector enterprises continue operations and sustain jobs. In the face of adversity we are responding to the needs of our people with compassion and efficacy to ensure their safety and wellbeing.
We thank those who continue to work diligently on the frontline of this battle to protect the health of our nation. Our healthcare workers and other staff within the government service have distinguished themselves as caregivers and protectors of our collective health in the face of immense and unprecedented pressures. We salute their heroic efforts.
As we look to a New Year filled with hope and expectation, we can take inspiration from the conscientious work of this government to secure prosperous futures for every Dominican citizen. We are proud of advancements in the health sector, particularly the construction of primary healthcare facilities and the acquisition of life-saving, diagnostic equipment; investments in the Digital Economy and education to empower our youth with valuable skills, critical to their professional success; and progress in the areas of infrastructure, housing, agriculture, air access and tourism.
I am grateful for our gains and successes over the past year. I urge you too, to count your gratitude moments. The holiday season presents an opportunity to think about all that is good in our lives, and the possibilities which exist to improve our circumstances as a people and a nation. The challenges we face require a collective response driven by love, respect and loyalty to country and people. Let us draw on our successes, renew our commitment to each other and to country, and build for the future.
My wish for you is that you enjoy this season. Take the time to connect with family, but remember to keep Christ at the center of all you do.
On behalf of my family, the Dominica Labour Party, which I have the honour to lead, and the Government of Dominica, I wish every Dominican a very Merry Christmas, filled with hope, positivity and joy, and a blessed New Year, 2022.
Roosevelt Oh!?
Your message is fake and you are full of it! Quote scriptutres all you want; you are a tyrant and your day WILL come for you to get out of the office. Lucifer, himself, knows the scriptures and continues to deceive mankind. GTHOUH, withyour scriptures.
Honourable…? Sorry, I’m not with you. There is nothing honourable about this individual.
26.000u.s dollars..for your rent..on the tax payers backs…man take your message and shubb it up your….monthly rent….greedy and abusive man
This one man has singlehandedly brought a once thriving Dominica to its knees. A country that was in apex position in agricultural produce; in cricket, football, basketball, netball; in producing scholars; in cultural development, is now a laughing stock and a butt for jokes throughout the Caribbean region.
The once proud, patriotic and smiling Dominicans now walk around with a permanent frown and grimace affixed to their faces.
To regain our pride; to be self-reliant; to be a united people; to be a productive and a smiling people again; to enjoy our future Christmases; we must change this nakedly corrupt Skerrit- led autocracy. It’s sheer madness to retain this amoral, rudderless administration and expect positive outcomes.
Dominicans! You are your own worst enemies by not eradicating this present cancer we have as a government.
@Ibo France…you make a mistake here. It’s not one man who has ditched Dominica on bended knees. This man you are referring to is none other than skecrow. But the police force is in Cahoots with him. Therefore it’s a gang of men and women dressed in uniform and suits that has descended upon our country with a vengeance to steal, kill and destroy. I only hope that all these people will be tried in court and found guilty. They won’t escape. Many of these Hooligans are holders of US Passport which should be revoked by the US Immigration. So it’s not just Skerrit that’s causing us hardship; but these UNEDUCATED Police officers, Crooked lawyers, and the entire judicial system in Dominica. Something must be done, and time is of the essence.
@Volleh Volley
Thanks for your explanation. However, Roosevelt Skerrit uses the country’s purse and all its resources to exercise undue influence over the entire public service, private enterprises and foreign entities. He has said it himself – “I run things!”
I have to place most of the blame for Skerrit’s overbearing power and longevity in power on the lazy, cowardly media, the indolent, gullible, unlettered citizens , the unscrupulous pastors and business people.
Anytime a leader over-stays his time in power he becomes corrupt and dictatorial. This is precisely what obtains in Dominica. Consequently, the country becomes underdeveloped and poverty widespread. Compare Dominica to the rest countries in the Caribbean in terms of development. It’s evident.
Considering your strong language against the PM, how do you explain the results of the last election in which Dominicans handed him and his party 18 of the 21 seats available? Don’t forget that he has been PM since 2004, giving Dominicans numerous opportunities to judge him and they chose him on each occasion, so clearly your position is not adding up.
@Imckoy
The answer to your question about winning elections in Dominica is quite conspicuous – CORRUPTION. Dominica has the most corrupt electoral system in the English, French,Spanish and Dutch Caribbean.
Belarus had election recently. Its president was returned to power by 90+% of the votes. This happened although 90% of the citizens want him out of power. This is exactly what corruption does and what obtained last election and before in Dominica.
If Dominica electoral system offered each political party a level playing field, Skerrit would have been a political corpse many moons ago. The present electoral system has more loop holes for corrupt practices than a fishnet. Even a brain dead political neophyte like Melissa won a seat in parliament. Unbelievably ridiculous!
By the way Ibo, we haven’t heard a ping from Sir Byron. Has he just made of with the money the PM paid him, or was it just a matter again of one for you and one for me. I guess it’s yet again good bye to electoral reform but to be fair I never expected anything sensible to come out of this charade in the first place! Just another one of those famous smoke screens initiated by your truly.
@imckoy could you tell us how many dead people who were on the ballots? There are crystal clear evidence of corruption by your party in stealing every election. So come clean if you are even able to. We Dominicans are not stupid. We know that has been happening. But your party has a long rope and the end of this rope is nearing.
DNO you attempted to show a nice image but no matter what image is shown it can be seen of a being full of mischief, full of animosity, a fake, a phony and a fraud with a tongue packed of lies.
Hi greedy SA papa…I mean hi very curse and greedy p.m…the tax payers of Dominica are paying 26,000 u s dollars for rent for you…but you cannot show a spoon you inherited from your ancestors but seems to want every ting on the backs of Dominican…you are hungry in your d.n.a, very much…heartless p.m….as for you d.n.o…my statement has not threat or insult please let my thoughts flow even am not your mother nephew nor your mother man…thank you
” Christmas is a time of reflection on the foundations of our Christian faith and a celebration of God’s love for us, manifested through the birth of Jesus Christ.”
Roosevelt Skerrit, just because you quoted a few scriptures does not mean the garbage you are speaking has anything to do with God. In the first place in the Bible, and I do not care which one you read, there is nothing written about ” Christmas!”
We know it speaks about the birth of Jesus, but keep in mind that there are no Biblical scriptures which teaches that Jesus Christ was born on the 25th day of December; Jesus never told anybody to celebrate his birth day; how can you celebrate a birth day when you do not know when the person was born?
Dr. Punjab I know you bought many Ph. D’s so by now you may know that Christmas is indeed a pagan holiday, which in modern times have become commercialized.
It matters not what religion say:
So yes, it matters not what religion say, and how much garbage they talk Christmas, is a pagan holiday that has nothing to do with Christianity!
Another thing; you keep running off your mouth talking about “faith:” I often hear about “the Roman Catholic faith.”
That is baloney, that is another philosophy of man, instigated by Satan!
The word of God said: ” Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen!” Guy, the only thing Jesus command that we celebrate is the Passover: ” And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying. This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. (Luke 22.19.
People want to celebrate Christmas, that’s their pleasure, but all of the hoopla does not have anything to do with God!
I am roasting a chicken today; I still maintain the inherited tradition from the British Boxing Day I going to cook soup: Not an American holiday!
This is the EMBARRASSMENT IN CHIEF. This Skeritt guy. His heart is not towards Dominica. But Dominica is in his pocket. America will help Dominica recoup some of the stolen money. I know they are working on that. Be