JUST DENNIS: Of international airports and geothermal and either, or

Dennis Joseph
Dennis Joseph

What the UWP Team Dominica led by Lennox Linton is doing is tantamount to opening a Pandora’s Box. There is no doubt that the team has a hugely articulate leader to deliver the message and in so doing they will find resistance from those who have believed in the Dominica Labour Party(DLP) for so long though not necessarily in the election candidates of the DLP.

Let us face it the DLP is the oldest political party here in Waitukubuli and has been our rulers in government for a total so far of 34 years starting in 1961 with a break for the Freedom Party in 1980 that ruled for 15 years and the new UWP in 1995 governing for less than 5 years.

It simply means that many people have known the DLP far longer than any other party and would have developed sentimental feelings about it. When Lennox Linton in his radio talk show programs began to show corruption in the Labour government’s dealings he was interfering with a belief and not just a political party.

The problem you encounter when attacking a belief is that those who have believed will have their head under water and think they are still breathing (adapted from John Legend, All of Me) and for so long that they cannot bring themselves to peek inside the Pandora’s Box for fear the truth will jump out at them so instead they simply shout out against the bearer of truth just two words, “You lie.” It was so in the time of Jesus the Christ and it is so now. People hate to hear unflattering reviews of the things they love and react in sometimes even violent ways against the messenger.

However, ‘Action speaks louder than words’ is a known slogan. While the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) may have placed in their election manifesto that the DLP is committed to building an international airport actions prove otherwise. In January 2000, The Labour Party won the elections and met on their plate the hundreds of acres of land already purchased for an international airport by the UWP at tens of millions of dollars cost to the taxpayer and simply allowed the land away to all and sundry claiming they wanted to locate the airport somewhere else. However, nothing happened. In the 2005 elections, again, the Labour Party promised an international airport and again nothing happened.

Then the Labour Party proceeded to do all through words and action to discourage we the people about an international airport and in particular by extending the Melville Hall Airport at a cost of nearly half a billion dollars which is stark ‘in your face’ proof that they had no intention of pursuing such a venture. When the Labour Party during their 50th Anniversary celebrations brought in Prime Minister Gonsalves of St Vincent to say to us that we do not need one, it was further evidence that the Labour government had no use for that kind of project.

The PM said that the UWP was just throwing pie in the sky. Now who is laughing as he joins the club? We were given the impression that the UWP politicians were a bunch of lunatics to suggest that they were determined to build one and the Labour crowd cheered. Then with no mea culpa, he hastily leaves for China in search of an international airport and again the Labourites cheer. Which way are you cheering Labourites? Should we not know where is that airport to be located, what investigative work has been done towards ensuring the takeoff and landing safety of the site, who are the people involved in the negotiations, how much is the real cost to we the people, what is the agreement with the builders and what is to happen to the newly renovated Melville Hall Airport and the Canefield Airport and on or is this just another election gimmick like the last ones? How many more times do we have to hear about an international airport before we actually see one. We the people should step out and say, “Either you build the bleeping thing or stop playing with our minds”.

Now let us take a peek at the geothermal matter that seriously has my attention more so because I have just read that there has been an increase in earthquake activity in the region during the month of April. The Prime Minister at his Labour Day show-rally in St Joseph made little mention of the geothermal project, which we were once told, would be like oil is to the Arabs. By now, some of us may have forgotten the “geo” thing having other things to do but the residents of the Roseau Valley where the drilling is ongoing sleep with one eye open. In the time of the four blood moons they might want to sing, “I see bad moon rising” (Creedence Clear Water Revival)

The earth is a living organism and we are an intimate part of it so it is unwise to tinker with large sources of energy without having provisions for a worst-case scenario. You do not test a gun to your head with only one bullet somewhere in the chamber and pull the trigger without preparing for what might happen.

The Labourites at their recent Labour Party show-rally preferred to hear about who liked “cow meat” and so the geothermal matter took a backseat in the bus as far as the Labour Party rally speakers were concerned. We keep taking this geothermal matter lightly substituting its seriousness with stand-up comedy about trivialities but that is how nations are hit hard by what they call “suddenly” because they never want to see the signs coming preferring as in the time of the Biblical Noah to have a field day with denials and trivia.

While some of us live miles away figuring, “We not in dat” be reminded that Mt Pelee in Martinique was 4 miles away from the village of St Pierre as the crow flies and it took seconds for the volcanic eruption to destroy the whole place including 20,000 people leaving only one man in a prison dungeon and a child hiding in a cave to survive Nature’s fury. For political reasons of an imminent elections poll and the desire to keep voters in the village for the polling day the people were told that there was no danger and the authorities sent in a group of so called experts who climbed the mountain and pronounced that ‘all is well’ just five days before hell was released on them.

God made man and we made politics but political war is mostly a rich man’s war and a poor man’s fight in which the poor people are made to destroy each other. It is amazing how poor people revel in the verbal slaughtering of one another on behalf of those who become rich while they benefit nothing but hopes of handouts. Yet as in the words of Abraham Lincoln ‘God must love the common people; he made so many of them.”

I think it is because God wanted to spread common sense everywhere, but the common people do not always use that gift. When it is not the pastors and priests it is the turn of the politicians to take boldfaced advantage of ordinary folk. However, the ordinary folk must look after their interests and one such is the preservation of our natural environment, their homes and the sanctity of the life God has given us. There are investors not bothered about the people’s travails over the geothermal project except if it begins to hamper their agenda for milking the cow. There are those even in government who do not care two bleeps about the poor villagers in the surroundings but just the possible big money that would come to them win or lose or draw in that venture.

Yet the poor people have the liberty of voting which is a way in a democracy to stop all undesirable things in governance. This is not the age when God sent a prophet to anoint leaders but by our own ink stained finger, we do it ourselves so we have the option to say to those in government ‘either, or”.

It is time for the residents of the Roseau Valley to stand up and demand that an evacuation and rescue plan is put in place and that they are thoroughly informed of what this project means and how their lives could be impacted and not just call talk shows but say directly to their representatives, “Come talk to us because this time its either, or.”

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81 Comments

  1. .
    May 23, 2014

    Mr Joseph, what are your views on the Thomson Fontaine transfergate and landgate affairs? Tell us do you think that the best way to run a political campaign is to go all over the world and denigrate your country? You have to address the woeful shortcoming of your party if you want to appear to be fair, balanced and unbiased, but then again you never claimed to be. Saying country first is not enough: we need to actually put country first.

  2. Francisco Telemaque
    May 23, 2014

    “gimic was taking place in the woodford hill and Wesley area paying people for their lands for building Airport and to still have them cultivating on the lands,then during that same time the same roads that they said would be”

    You do not have a clue of what you are talking about. So, let me ask you the new Secondary School that was built in Wesley, where was it located prior to its present location? Why was it moved to the present location. Why, there was an issue in Court while Pierre Charles was prime minister over monies owed to the Trinidad government spent on the same project.

    Why did the labor party case the contractors out of Dominica?

    I am from Wesley, okay, and I have more than one relative who’s property was declared public domain, they received some of the money, however to this day the remainder is not yet paid. And for your information Rosie Douglas is the one who told people they should re-take possession of their land because his government was not going to build any International Airport, because it was too expensive to build.

    Besides Athie Martin contended that the eland was valuable land much more suitable for the growing of avocados. I do not know how much you were paid to come here and talk this nonsense, some of us knows the facts of the matter. Rosie Douglas even gave a thug from Woodford Hill half the Londonderry Estate, for what the thug calm was his pound of Beef for money he claimed he gave Rosie while he campaigned.

    Athie, is still alive ask him why was the same thug from Woodford Hill went into action chopping down hundreds of years old Mangroves, on the river bank in the area called Broad Road, when the police was called to arrest the culprit, a phone call went to the police from Rosie Douglas preventing the arrest of that thug who continued to threatened and harassed the people of Wesley.

    Finally, if they have not told you: be informed that the government of Trinidad & Tobago was undertaking 80% of the cost of the construction, while contribution of money was made by the PRC, and also Tiwan, so just hush you do not know what you are talking about.

    Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

    • rosebud
      June 6, 2014

      Arthie cannot give anyone advice on anything. Ask Arthie about his hotel/guest house and how well it is doing. Ask Arthie about his water project that has not come off the ground after two or more years? The present prime minister did not negotiate or take land from the people of Wesley. You all want things to be done that are not being done. Then when a positive plan is put forward to do what you all want you get vex and cry foul. What do you really want? Maybe some of us are suffering from the syndrome of “Don’t do it, but let me do it’?

  3. Rule
    May 22, 2014

    These laborrats are in such denial it’s scary. The country is at it’s worse in terms of economic prosperity. Our GDP has dropped tremendously, unemployment is at an all time high, more people are leaving or trying to leave the country because of unemployment. But yet still they think when their shepherd pays a bill for them from his RED CLINIC handouts, this is all. They have no concept of financial independence rather thinking that the RED CLINIC will solve their problem. Shouldn’t we as a people demand better.

    • rosebud
      June 6, 2014

      I bet you must be wearing a wooden pair of glasses.

    • rosebud
      June 6, 2014

      People have ben migrating from time immemorial not only from Dominica but all over the world. They migrate for many different reasons one of them is for employment. Dominicans migrated to Cayenne, England, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Canada, Trinidad, Barbados, US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, St. Kitts, Antigua, USA and many more. This has been happening long before many, many of us were born. So learn your country’s history

  4. May 21, 2014

    Democracy works Dominicans should be proud as a people , one man one vote , may the best man wins, we as Dominicans have to admit progress has been made, since the British left under this Government, there are still more good things to come, after election let us all work together, for the common good of the island.

  5. Watcher
    May 21, 2014

    Never thought I would criticize DNO for not publishing my comment. I was not slanderous or libelous. All I said was that Denis Joseph was and is perhaps still an avoid acolyte of Patrick John. The world knows why Patrick John was catapaulted out of office. His record in defending democracy was atrocious. In fact he took steps to stifle free expression. All that time Denis was at his side as his chief spokesperson. In 980/81 Denis Joseph was in co with Patrick John to subvert the will of the people following the results of the 1980 general elections. They were in co inviting the KKK to overthrow the duly elected government of Dominica. That is what I said. That is part of our history. Denis cannot now come and pretend he was always an altar boy in church. He served in the engine room of the Labour Party under Patrick John between 1975 and 1979.

  6. Francisco Telemaque
    May 21, 2014

    Anonymous May 21, 2014
    “I would reply to this comment but i can’t because you just told the world that 90% of Dominicans live in OUTRAGEOUS POVERTY. What else is there to say. Typical UWP propaganda. Your post speaks for itself. A lie by any other name is still a lie.”

    Let me give you an example of poverty in our country; working class people lives below the poverty line: i e. sometime last year, or the year, before a teacher at the DGS was beaten viciously by an student, he need to have some X-ray done on his head, the cost of that service in our hospital amount to four ($400.00) hundred dollars, if you do not wish to be bias, you will remember the man did not have four hundred measly dollars to pay to save his own life. If memory serves me correctly, people donated money to accommodate the hospital bill.

    This man is a Secondary School Teacher, who could not pay for an X-ray! What would you say is the cause of that, could it be because he is a working rich man, absolutely not;he is a working poor, and part of the 90% in Dominica who exists below the poverty level. Poverty covers a range from extreme want of mere necessities to an absence of material comforts. So, all the people who live in houses in Dominica utilizing the pit hole as toilets are indeed living way below the poverty level, and the people who still lives in shacks, and 16 X 12 huts are all living below the poverty level.

    Want and destitution imply extreme poverty that threatens life itself through starvation, there are people in Dominica in a perpetual state of want. All the destitute people you see in the streets of Roseau, and in some villages they exist in total poverty. While you hide behind your fictitious name the poor and destitute of our nation are quite visible, and if you believe I just exposed the truth to the world, I am very happy to do it, because I have relatives in Dominica suffering also.

    When we speak of the poverty line, we are talking the level of personal, or family income below which one is classified as poor according to government standards, also known as poverty level, there is plenty of that in Dominica, check the salary rate in Dominica, and you will discover that all of our civil servants are actually existing in poverty, that’s a fact! You can push it under the rug if you wish, but I will expose the dirty lining whenever, and where I find it. And this thing about UWP, you can continue to fool yourself, I am nonpartisan, and let me give you the meaning of that:

    I am free from party affiliation, bias, or designation. You cannot say that because if you do, your handlers will find out and your gravy spoon will be snatched out of your mouth oui!

    My only concern is Dominica, and not Red,Blue or Green like you, who dressed up in Red even when you are in bed sleeping. You cannot comment as you said, because there is no spin you can put on the truth that will change it, call me a liar if you wish, that changes nothing, and surely you cannot shut me up okay;you may have opened the Pandora’s box.

    Hahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahhaahahah!

    Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

    • me
      May 22, 2014

      I guess reputable organizations like the IMF and World Bank do not agree with you. Read their reports. Also the majority of Dominicans definitely do not agree with you.

      • Francisco Telemaque
        May 23, 2014

        The world bank is not feeling what the poor in Dominica suffers you know. Since you know so much about the World Bank, and I suppose the IMF, I expect you also know how many times their advise has cause nations to fail economically.

        Have you ever heard that before?

        Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

      • rosebud
        June 6, 2014

        I totally agree with you. This Mr. Dodds as you must be aware is just writing HIS views without even thinking whether what he writes make sense. But you never know, he might be an expert on such things and better qualified than people working at the IMF and World Bank. If so, then as a patriotic and participative citizen he should do hi duty to his country and advise us about the way we should go to enjoy prosperity.

    • rosebud
      June 6, 2014

      A secondary school teacher who did not have $400.00 to pay his hospital bill should be ashamed of himself. What was he doing with his money at the end of the month? Each and everyone should live according to their means. He needs to make sure he balances his budget well. I am sure the teacher did not tell you so. Many teachers and other Dominicans pay for insurances to take care of them when they are sick and you must know that. Make some sense.

    • rosebud
      June 6, 2014

      I believe you must be the only one making up that 90% you are talking about. Get your facts straight sir. What you are saying although it is your view but it is QUITE LAUGHABLE. Give your readers the facts from your RELIABLE sources.

  7. De Caribbean Change
    May 21, 2014

    Hey Dennis, i think you would do better on “the top of the morning show” with your jingles, rather than pump in all that oxygen about lennox mishak linton who doe not have the slightest idea of what he really wants to do for his country. This is the new DLP, Dennis, former freedomites under MAMO, AND YOU JUST CANNOT STAND THEM. That is your biggest problem. PJ was the biggest bobol man back in the days and you served his interest very well. First, manager of DBS, and, then, Director of Public Broadcasting.

  8. Patat
    May 21, 2014

    What time is it? Supper time!!!! Sing man sing man sing.

  9. Mem Pwel
    May 21, 2014

    Disgusting and hypocritical and bias article. The writer sounds like a stooge of UWP hoping one day to get in power to eat the crumbs from the table, like he did in the days of PJ. Sorrowful man….. But time catching up with him. Bye bye Dennis!

    • Hamilton Joseph
      May 22, 2014

      Nice one can you all also remember Dennis use to say on the Radio oh I am the man with the MASTER PLAN when he was a cohort of Patrick John not the Labor Party because Laborites don’t change overnight like Dennis ,but up till now his plan cannot be brought to the draughts men for csrutiny and approval.You see these guys cannot get to milk out Skerrit like how they did to Patrick John so they must be against him.
      But I must also remind dennis Joseph that if he was a Laborite he would have always known that the first Party to bring the thoughts of an International Airport to Dominicans was the Labor Party .The first location was at Bantridge the second was I believe Castle Bruce ,and the last location that was under observation was Crompton Point stretching from Eden Estate all the way to the Old Tarrish pit just over the WoodFordHill Estate over the beach.So the Labor Party always had thoughts of an International Airport Dennis never brought up those items in his so called nonsensical Bible

      • rosebud
        June 6, 2014

        Dennis is still planning his master plan. Maybe one day the plan will come through. But Dennis has to wait another few years. I believe he has the patience to do so.

  10. Browne,C (Rastafari)
    May 21, 2014

    From reading Dennis’ article, then reading ALL the comments thus far, I deduce from that, that majority of Dominicans are not thinkers. Dominicans operate on political party loyalty, rather than the hard facts. Personal feelings, sentiments and emotions get the best of ust…the truth is the truth, whether it comes from Dennis, Sheila, or Kelvin. Dennis’ article cites logical examples of failed governmental strategies. Action, or the lack of it has plagued this nation for way too long – then stalwarts come along to try and lighten the burden – we throw stones and cry wolf in the process. It behooves us as a nation to take pride in our collective future, not party allegiance. Dennis does not take sides here, he is merely telling you ignorant jacks that we’re in for one more round of ass whooping from the current admin and their communist body guards, if we’re not careful, that’s all. Good luck, Dominica.

    • tell
      May 21, 2014

      “Dennis does not take sides here, he is merely telling you ignorant jacks that we’re in for one more round of ass whooping from the current admin and their communist body guards, if we’re not careful, that’s all. Good luck, Dominica.” ….@Browne,C (Rastafari), perhaps you did not read the article but it is fully in support of the UWP position on the airport
      and the geothermal project, a very bias article I must say.

      • rosebud
        June 6, 2014

        Have a little respect. You can make your point without being so rude.

    • %
      May 21, 2014

      WELL SAID.
      I LOVE HIS ARTICLES.

    • Neutral
      May 22, 2014

      Dennis was associated with Patrick John, some of the worst time in Dominica, now UWP who also gave us a bad time when they controlled the country for 4 years, you cannot trust that man, looks and reads like someone singing for their supper.

  11. LATITUDED810
    May 21, 2014

    dominica he is back, he has nothing to say about the recent uwp meeting in st.thomas and all the negativity that was said about the country,but he has advice about geothermal and international airport.NO WONDER LABOUR WILL CONTINUE TO RULE.

    • >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
      May 21, 2014

      @LATITUDED810 Well i listened to the meeting and it was a gem. These eloquent speakers lev by Linton, the learned Sr Fontaine Isaac Baptise and others, seem to be bringing the msessage to Dominicans the world over.They are bringing the message of how evil and corrupt the Labour Party is. This seem to be widely accepted by the majority of Dominicans abroad. I highly commend Team Dominica (UWP) for this effort. These men have really exposed the wickedness of this Skerrit led government, and MORE AND MORE I THINK THAT CHANGE IS COMING! This election is about taking back Dominica from the evil ones, and bringing it to good hands and proper leadership.
      I LOVE TEAM DOMINICA. They speak the truth since they believe in the truth.
      I LOVE THEM
      IREALLY LOVE THEM
      I REALLY REALLY LOVE THEM.

  12. The Following
    May 21, 2014

    I would love to know where this rumour that UWP sent a letter to someone in the USA informing that we do not need and airport……I just find it a bit contradicting as UWP had gone ahead an purchase land for the construction of an airport and this we know is a fact as there is PROOF of this…..BUT WHERE IS THE PROOF THAT THEY SENT A LETTER TO THE USA INDICATING WE DO NOT NEED AN airport. All this propaganda needs to stop and if you want to debate or put a point forward let there be facts behind what you are presenting. SMH….. Just like DLP administration spreading that UWP are going to privatize the PMH if they get into gov.

    • Neutral
      May 22, 2014

      You must be very young or Ive been leaving in Mars

  13. mango
    May 21, 2014

    Mr James. Never stop an airport because miss Charles said that she never promised Dominican that she going to build an airport.

    • will
      May 21, 2014

      the letter by Mr. James to the US Embassy asking the US not to assist Dominica with the building of an international airport as it would be meddling in the affairs of dominica. Is proof that the DFP had plans for an international. It is time to rally and defend a lie.

  14. T
    May 21, 2014

    REALLY BRILLIANT ARTICLE. I always look forward to reading them. GREAT PIECE!!!!

  15. Dominican by birth
    May 21, 2014
    • WHO VEX VEX
      May 22, 2014

      put it so the can see

      A Live Science analysis of U.S. Geological Survey data finds that April’s first three weeks were the busiest stretch for earthquakes going back to at least the beginning of last year. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said April was a record month for warnings from the Alaska-based center.

      How about May? There were 17 magnitude-6 or larger earthquakes globally between May 1 and May 20, following a busy April that saw 26 temblors in that same magnitude range. By comparison, there were only six earthquakes this big in February, eight in January and just two in December.

  16. %
    May 21, 2014

    I have read many of your articles, and you have extreme abilities as a writer. You have written this article with such loud clarity that i would grade you with “A+”. But really what is going on with Sklerrit presently is that he is failing, fading, wilting and cowering under LINTON’S pressure, and that of Team Dominica (UWP). Before the advent of Linton he used to pound his 8inches chest and pretend to be a warrior, but the man was NOTHING MORE THAN A COWARD. Thank you Linton and Team Dominica (UWP) for this EFFECTIVE AND FORMIDABLE OPPOSITION, THAT IS BEING MADE TO BEAR UPON this wicked, desperate, unconscionable and corrupt Labour Party. THEY SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE A RESPONSE.
    You can actually feel that CHANGE IS IN THE AIR. Change that is aimed at liberating thousands of Dominica from the wicked clutches of a gang that have impoverished most Dominicans and convert them to beggars.
    Keep on lacerating the backs of those incompetent and lazy leaders in this corrupt Labour Party, while i continue to listen.
    Skerrit is on the defensive and has no reply. That is how he hides, stammers, stutters and even insults when he meet brilliant minds like those in the UWP!
    BRILLIANT ARTICLE INDEED!
    HOW LONG?
    NOT LONG!

  17. Francisco Telemaque
    May 21, 2014

    “Then the Labor Party proceeded to do all through words and action to discourage we the people about an international airport and in particular by extending the Melville Hall Airport at a cost of nearly half a billion dollars which is stark ‘in your face’ proof that they had no intention of pursuing such a venture. When the Labor Party during their 50th Anniversary celebrations brought in Prime Minister Gonsalves of St Vincent to say to us that we do not need one, it was further evidence that the Labour government had no use for that kind of project.”(Denis Joseph).

    You know, I thought I was crazy now I am convinced that there are people in the Labor Party who are much more crazy than me. It is amazing that people are so, dumb that they have spent half billion dollars: which is five hundred ($500,000,000.00) dollars to add a few feet of runway to the old airport, and installed landing lights which have yet to serve any useful purpose.

    These people are so ignorant, the International Airport the UWP was building cost just a little over three hundred ($300,000,000.00) million dollars. The Labor Party made the argument that they could have got one built for a fraction of what the UWP intended to spend, we are shocked to learn that they wasted two hundred million dollars more on the old municipal airport on the advise of Ralph Gonzalez when they could have built a new International Airport for less!

    That is stupidity in its highest form.

    If Dominicans go to the poles next election, and vote for these clowns, it will be all over for Dominica, and the people who vote for this Labor Party will deserve what they get! Half a Billion dollars, to just over three hundred million: this is unconscionable we have the most ignorant bunch of people in our government.

    Note: $500,000,000.00 – $300,000,000.00 = $200,000,000.00; two hundred million dollars could have done lots of other things in the country, I cannot understand the mentality of the people we have in government, they are a bunch of ignorant dunce people!

    Anybody who wish to hate me for this comment, are free to hate me,. In any event the taste of the pudding is in the eating, the facts are presented, only that the supporters of the Labor Party will find a way to down play let it be known the Labor Party has no intentions of building an International Airport, because if they intended, that five billion they wasted could have built an International Airport and two hundred million dollars would be left over.

    Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

    • May 21, 2014

      Garcon, you always amaze me with your writing and reasoning. How did you arrive at five billion from five million? The fact of the matter is Dominica does not need an International airport – we simply cannot afford one period end of story. There is no industry, nor the occasional carnival, WCF & Jazz Festivals that can support an airport , which according to chatter could cost upwards of one BILLION dollars.

      • Francisco Telemaque
        May 21, 2014

        You see what I mean?

        It appears as if you cannot even read, and understand; either that, or you are nothing more than a dunce idiot. Denis sated Half a billion dollars. Note: 1/2 indicates one half which 1/2 = .500. Half a of a billion must be five hundred million. I wrote in figures 500, 000,000.00 which is half of one billion. you are a are dunce. On million is written in figures like this 1,000,000 you must have six zeroes in a million the two last as .00 in the amount has no value. So if you need to write five hundred million it can only be write thus: 500,000,000.

        A billion is ten hundred million dollars; so what are you babbling about you fool? I am tired of whipping my feet in the faces of idiots like you! Again I reiterate a computer cannot educate one who is a fool, who never excel in school, if you are a jackass an computer will do nothing besides expose your stupidity.

        Garbage in garbage, that what it does!

        And in the event you are wondering how to divide one by two, or the lessor, by the greator, you can only accomplish that by doing it exponentially in the negative, or simply by adding zeros as such 100/2 = 50.000, you move the point to the left of the five, and drop two of the zeros, by then you will arrived at 1/2 = .500.

        Understand what you read before you tackle people who can kick your Butt, and make you stick you foot in your mouth. I hope you are more amazed now!

        Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

    • May 21, 2014

      “Anybody who wish to hate me for this comment, are free to hate me,. In any event the taste of the pudding is in the eating, the facts are presented, only that the supporters of the Labor Party will find a way to down play let it be known the Labor Party has no intentions of building an International Airport, because if they intended, that five billion they wasted could have built an International Airport and two hundred million dollars would be left over.”

      Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

      Your very own written words. Look, again and you will see where YOU WROTE FIVE BILLION.

      • Francisco Telemaque
        May 23, 2014

        Well, then if you see I error, it would be much better if you pointed the error out to me, I am human also you know; to error is to be very much human. I am not God, nor a god!

        My whole argument is based on half a billion, five hundred million is equal to one half billion dollars.

        Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

    • Lonesome
      May 22, 2014

      In the second to last line of your last paragraph you did make an error by saying “that five billion they wasted could have built an international airport”. Apologies in order

      • Francisco Telemaque
        May 23, 2014

        Okay got it, thanks: appreciated!

        FET

  18. Mahaut
    May 21, 2014

    Dennis, as a disciple of former PM Patrick John, you should just go into oblivion. The younger generation might not know about PJ and his cohorts but I surely do remember.

  19. ?
    May 21, 2014

    thank you so much Mr. Joseph
    some DLP supporters can be so negative……if you were to tell one of dem happy birthday they would throw words back at you
    All de talk of international airport…UWP is de ONLY party to actually make a serious move on it
    someone mentioned free airport from US that was turned down bY UWP in 1998………YET……..they were still able to put work on de ground through their own efforts
    DLP coming into office did not continue de efforts even though it is suggested that US wanted to assist
    if de US see it as being feasible
    UWP makes a move to bring it to reality
    DLP let de idea rot in de bush
    China couldnt help
    venezuela coundnt help
    Remember some say de US wanted to help eh
    we in 2014 and DLP spreading toilets around
    no highlight of Geothermal at St. Joe
    so de next pie in de sky is an international airport
    Go figure

    • T
      May 21, 2014

      @? These guys (Skerrites) are desperate, as they realise that the carpet is being pulled from under thir two feet.
      Now this article is a WONDERFUL PIECE.

    • Neutral
      May 22, 2014

      ? mark ask yourself a question.

  20. Anonymous
    May 21, 2014

    How can Dominicans forget two things: 1. The UWP had actually bought land for an international airport, and 2. Was 11 million dollars in the construction of a better stadium…Do have to be in a party to know that?

    • Anonymous
      May 21, 2014

      How can Dominicans forget that the uwp had no money. Civil servants could not get pay. Dominica was on the brink of economic collapse. How can we forget.

  21. sensefromnonsense
    May 21, 2014

    Well said Mr Joseph and for those who spitefully choose to lack comprehension all because of what Mr Joseph wrote and that is belief I feel bad for u a man who got two ears and one mouth talks more than he listens is called a labourite be wise people choose right seek and go for the truth for the truth is right in this article.

  22. me
    May 21, 2014

    Mr. Joseph! You know as well as I do that the uwp has no right to talk about an International Airport. Edison James the then leader of the uwp prevented us from having one when he wrote to the Americans and asked them do not interfere in our Domestic affairs when they promised to do the land work for the International Airport for us for free. Now whose head is under water! The proposed International airport by the uwp was serious flawed and was advised by a couple International expert bodies that they should not continue with it because Dominica would become the laughing stock of the Caribbean by having built such a flawed airport. You, Mr Joseph, should know that or are you just in denial?

    Mr Joseph, I am going to pretend that you did not raise the questions you are raising about the geothermal project because you are only jumping on Athie’s bandwagon because you all see this a a way of stunting the government’s, and by extension the country’s progress in a pathetic attempt to gain political power. Surely you endorse all the misinformation that is being spread all over the world by your party. Dragging your country into the mud but still trying to say you love your country. The truth is that all the concerns you have about the project have been and are still being addressed. It has been endorsed by various worldwide experts and reputable organizations who have nothing to gain by lying to our people. So yes Mr Joseph continue your political bias and keep your head buried in the sand.

    • Francisco Telemaque
      May 21, 2014

      me May 21, 2014
      Mr. Joseph! You know as well as I do that the uwp has no right to talk about an International Airport.

      Me; you know foolishness has it limits, you are contented with the way the Labor Party has kept the country down, and as a result more than 90% of the people of Dominica exists in outrageous poverty, and below the poverty line.

      If you read Denis carefully, you will remember where he spoke about the head below the water, and breathing, or something to that effect. That is the same syndrome which have captivated you, now, do not take that as an insult, because I have been reading you, and I am not convinced that you are by any means ignorant. However, the statement you made above in the quote renders you more bias than Denis can ever be; he has defiantly analyze the situation and spoke the truth, only that because of your biasness, and political attitude you will never be able to accept his concept which is the truth.

      To suggest that the UWP has no right to talk about International Airport is foolishness on your part; because assuming that Edison James wrote to anybody in the United States regarding the building of an International Airport or not, which I do not believe anyway; the facts are they the UWP, literally commenced construction on an International Airport in the country, even if you are fifteen years old you will remember The engineers and contractors from Trinidad were in Dominica working on the project which included the Secondary School in Wesley, when Athie Martin, the late Rosie Douglas, Ambrose George, the late Pierre Charles, and other members of the Labor Party chased them out of the country, and shut down the building of the International Airport, the same one the UWP, under the leadership of Edison James was building.

      Skerrit may not have anything to do with it then since he was a mere boy, a junior member of the party, I blame him however for listening to the crap, and brainwashing he received from Ralph Gonzalez which has prevented him from going all out to build the airport, even after the Chines government told his administration, the only way Dominica will begin to make some progress, is when we build an International Airport. Another thing if you have documented proof of Edison writing to anybody telling them Dominica should not have an international airport, I suggest you make copy’s of that letter available to DNO so that they can publish it to prove your argument is correct, unless you can do that, it must be recorded as a another lie perpetrated by the Labor Party.

      Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

      • Anonymous
        May 21, 2014

        I would reply to this comment but I can’t because you just told the world that 90% of Dominicans live in OUTRAGEOUS POVERTY. What else is there to say. Typical UWP propaganda. Your post speaks for itself. A lie by any other name is still a lie.

      • Hamilton Joseph
        May 21, 2014

        Bunch of jokers,whom do you all want to even believe that UWP was going to build Airport.Let me say this first and foremost it was also just before Elections that this gimic was taking place in the woodford hill and Wesley area paying people for their lands for building Airport and to still have them cultivating on the lands,then during that same time the same roads that they said would be relocated and diverted Thousands of Dollars were being spent on re-habilitating those Roads in Woodfordhill and Wesley .Now with the conditions of the Roads between Pond Case and Melville at that time was in now able to accommodate the vast movement between these areas for any mobilization of any heavy equipment to move to and from,with the comparison of the Roads today one can admit that this is more suitable to move this pieces of Heavy Equipment and that should make Dominica ready to the construction of an International Airport.So with all this talk of UWP building Airport was just a smoke screen.If I may recall the DLP never declined to the construction of the Airport I have always been hearing that the country cannot afford it at the time ,so if now is the time let it be.There are now better infrastructure in place to accommodate it ,there is an alternative route via the EOL recently reconstructed highway,the reconstructed Canefield to Pond Case and then to MelvilleHall roads,the Roads between BoisDiable to Hatten Garden Via the Carib Reserve ,and especially all of the single lane Bridges between pond Case and Melville Hall by then will accommodate two lanes even the Deux Branch Bridge which is over Sixty-Four years old is being re-constructed to accommodate two lanes and the MelvilleHall Bridge that was in the eyes of the Parl. Rep. is now being re-constructed in to two lane bridge.So now these infrastructure are in place we should be ready for the International Airport

      • Neutral
        May 22, 2014

        As I told you before find some other hobby and stop writing long long crap.

  23. New yorker
    May 21, 2014

    Dominican by Birth, Didn you not hear Mathew Walters diatribe about Jesus Christ refering to Skerrit and Barabass refering to Eddison James, you seem to be one of those who have short memory too i guess, may i remind you it was December 2009

  24. Oh Yes
    May 21, 2014

    Mr. Joseph thanks again. A lot of us depend on you to express what we can’t express in the way you do. Hard-headed people learn the hard way. Unfortunately, there are times when the innocent suffers through ignorance. Closed-minded people are difficult to understand and have the greater difficulty in accepting positive change. The opportunity is now available for those of us who care to make things right when that ink stains our fingers. We appreciate the enlightenment.

  25. DCA Next Opposition
    May 21, 2014

    Dennis can be the landing strip, if you know what I mean.

    Dennis we could have had this international airport since 1998 free from the US and your UWP wrote the US and stopped it

    Why is Dennis even involved in this UWP crap

    • Anonymous
      May 21, 2014

      So a simple letter stopped such a major project! How stupidly credulous or mischeivous…

    • Anonymous
      May 21, 2014

      If it’s true that Up wrote to the Americans and they stopped their funding of the airport, that tells me the Americans clearly saw good reason in the Uwp’s letter to stop their funding, afterall the Americans were at that time clear allies of the Freedom Party.

      That old chestnut just does not bring forth any truths in my opinion.

      • Anonymous
        May 22, 2014

        It is just proper protocol not to meddle in a country’s internal affairs. Mr James knew that and took advantage of this fact to the detriment of this country.

    • Anonymous
      May 21, 2014

      Sour grapes!

  26. Anonymous
    May 21, 2014

    he only talks about election that man

  27. st joe
    May 21, 2014

    What do yo think this man will say?

  28. Dominican by birth
    May 21, 2014

    Opposition will always oppose, Mr. Joseph Do not put God in you politics. Are you saying that Linton is the next Christ.

    • Anonymous
      May 21, 2014

      how comes all you flipping peoples never seem to get the point? are we the most ignorant peoples in the east caribbean or the world?

      • Anonymous
        May 21, 2014

        No, just understanding the messenger’s message. Trying to put fear in the people. Sometime before the drilling we were having several of these earthquake activities going on in DA and the caribbean. Surely it wasn’t the drilling that cause that. With no scientific evidence you are trying to play on our ignorance. Why behave this way? Do we have to sell our souls to the devil to ensure that we win at any cost?

    • You PPL
      May 21, 2014

      Leave it to you ppl to take just a piece of something said and twist it to suit a personal agenda. Reread what this man has written with a clear and unbiased mind and you MIGHT see he did not by any means insinuate that Linton is the next Christ. You ppl need to stop it.

    • Anonymous
      May 21, 2014

      Can you respond to the article on its merit…….rather than being personal. You wrote a lot but said nothing…

      Just like disgusting Austrie insulting women. Its seems like an outdated Labour Party propaganda……empty sayings. disgusting

      • Respect
        May 21, 2014

        The team Dominica came to St. Croix, yes I have it recorded. Mr. Baptiste said, the young women in Dominica have to prostitute themselves because they cannot find work under the Skeritt administration. Yes, Mr. Baptiste called the young women of Dominica Prostitutes’ . Why would team Dominica say that young mothers in DA are waiting with their children where Skettit passes in order to get money. How do you accept such inhuman sexist comments.

      • Anonymous.
        May 21, 2014

        You cannot change my vote.
        I am voting red. :-D

      • St Joe All DE WAY
        May 21, 2014

        YOU THINKING THIS IS A JOKE…….A lot of Dominican women are prostituting themselves………..talk to some of the young girls in St Joe and you will see.

      • .
        May 21, 2014

        @Respect. Why should the truth hurt you so much? Are you a corrupt being? What do you expect under Labour Party?

    • New yorker
      May 21, 2014

      Dominican by Birth, Did you not hear Mathew Walters diatribe about Jesus Christ refering to Skerrit and Barabass refering to Eddison James, you seem to be one of those who have short memory too i guess, may i remind you it was December 2009

    • ^
      May 21, 2014

      @Dominican by birth No. He is saying that Matthew Walter told fools like you at a rally that Skerrit is Jesus Christ, and since you were a Skerrit slave you were clapping. that’s what he is saying.

  29. May 21, 2014

    denis joseph your article don’t mean any thing, birds of same feather flock together. stop all the crying

    • King Lion
      May 21, 2014

      Read and understand.

  30. messenger
    May 21, 2014

    Yes mr. Denise you have knock the nail on the head and i give you maxium support. The truth most be exposed. In Dominica we need more bold people no matter what party we support and move from the ignorant crisis, our politicians most be told of their stupid decisions and keep our heads high up.

  31. Bee
    May 21, 2014

    As usual your articles are always deep and thought provoking Dennis, pity more people don’t read and ponder on your words. The people who know better looking for their money under the table, does who don’t know better, just sing for their supper making no effort to educate themselves. Instead they just limit their source of news to one medium and we know that the majority of these are one sided. Look I just read that Mervin Paul going to head DBS, look is now the DBS faith full will have no clue of what is really going on.

    Back to the issue of lies and promises, Its not only the airport issue they keep promising every elections either.

    In 2000 Ambrose promised the people of Kings Hill a multi- purpose resource center, in 2005 he again promised that it would be a reality, in 2009 he sang the same song and successfully fooled so many people who keep shouting his praises. Guess what? he held a meeting last week in Kings Hill to discuss and promise it again. Fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me.

    I know from listening to persons from other constituencies that they too were promised similar improvements in their communities and are still awaiting them.

    Other than patching potholes after months and months of complaining by community members we are hardly seeing anything done on a community level by this DLP administration. Is high time people open their eyes and stop swearing oaths of allegiance to political parties and take that oath of allegiance to country.

  32. Anonymous
    May 21, 2014

    Poor jab, Dennis! Keep at it! Who knows, you may yet make the Guinness Book of Records as the 1st person who was saved from drowning by clutching at a straw!

    • A A
      May 21, 2014

      A A St Lucians there too man lol lol

  33. will
    May 21, 2014

    Mr. Joseph, thanks for the damage control article. However no amount of damage control can change the fact that the idea for an international airport for Dominica was not the idea of the UWP. To say otherwise would be an outright lie and you know it. If you were honest you would not imply that the DLP was not interested in building an international airport, the simple truth is that Dominica could not financially afford an international airport. The UWP tried and it quickly became a financial disaster even before the first instalment was made, pushing Dominica to the brink of financial chaos. You need to do better at your damage control, ignoring the facts won’t help.

  34. sugar
    May 21, 2014

    Very good article, however, the sad thing about the information which is disseminated is that most of our people do not read so they will not be privy to that wealth of information which will cause them to think and make informed decisions.
    Some of our family and friends have caused party colours to blind us.

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