Just Dennis – It’s raining ministers but we need new names

Dennis Joseph
Dennis Joseph

‘The more things change the more they remain the same,’ is a well-known saying.  What I hear on radio today promoted by the talk-show hosts is nothing more than diversionary chatter about the education of a proposed  political leader Lennox Linton.  This I find silly since it is clear that Linton is quite capable of doing this job.  But this is not new. The same thing was said about Edward Leblanc and the Labour Party in the days when I followed the DLP as one of its most ardent fans.  Leblanc from Vielle Case  was called “an uneducated country bookie” who had no university education by the opposition Dominica United People’s Party (DUPP) the mother party that gave birth to the present day dwindling Freedom Party.

Like the 99% of us Leblanc did not attend university but today the whole nation raises monuments to his greatness.  The truth is that all the leaders after Leblanc moved the country forward with just a few ministers.  This present so called educated-with-degrees bunch needs 16 ministers and quite clearly they must have special university degrees in how to run up a national debt of 1 billion dollars in 13 years and equally special degrees in the art of running down a country to zero growth.
just 23,000 people last elections voted for the rulers but all of us are paying this large crew tens of thousands of dollars each month just to come up with zero growth as reported by the Man in his recent budget address?

A batch of 16 heavy men and women called ministers are dancing on the breastbone of our land  enjoying themselves eating much and drinking aplenty and to bleep with how we feel.  It  brings to my mind a pirate song from Robert Louis Stevenson’s book Treasure Island, “16 men on a dead man’s chest Yo, Ho, Ho, and a bottle of rum.”

But it is not just the 16 is it?  It is tons of advisers and advisors with university degrees added on plus  party in power tricksters jumping on, schemers, plunderers loaded with degrees both local and foreign squeezing in on Waitukubuli’s chest.  It is a bane of our politics that after Election Day all those who won seats on the victorious  side expect to be made ministers and then everybody else who supported wants to chew on the orange without waiting to peel the skin.  Ministries are handed out like  rice and ease  for the pleasure of the parliamentary representatives.  The further problem is that  it’s a question mark whether they have the ability yeah even the capability to run anything as big and involved as a government ministry and yet they still have the gall to talk about other people’s inadequacy.  Skerrit himself is minister for finance with a degree  in-wait for it- English and still thinks he can control this unmanageable and bloated mess by pretending his best to be the super minister of all ministries.

When I listen to the Budget Address I hear the same old song in a few different words.  Promises of jobs, of growth, of better days are coming and beating  on the dead man’s chest boasting of marvelous achievements and deeds in the previous twelve months. I then must ask  how did all these  postulations of being better off than other countries end up with a zero growth scorecard?

It may be that we now need new names. There is a growing sense that after 13 years of trying to do it this crew has not done it. Whether we have a beautifully prepared budget or not the implementation of its contents lies in the hands of the 16 ministers who we pay handsome salaries and give all sorts of perks.  If after all these years they can come to  the House, report zero growth and stand one after the other in support of it then the pendulum has stopped and we need new names.  Change is inevitable and is the law of nature.  The dinosaurs must be replaced especially when they eat too much and crap abundantly. Every organization grows to maturity and then dies except new blood is pumped into it. As with corporations, so with country and even more so with politicians.

Quite clearly the DLP parliamentary reps are stonewalling against newness when we observe that the push by a new name to replace the old one in the Cottage constituency is met with pompous response by the incumbent. It may be why the opposition UWP is accelerating right now with new names and a coming new leader  heralding perhaps a new era of UWP politics.    From  reports it appears that there is a palpable excitement coiled in the belly of the body politic.  “Slumber not in the tent of your fathers.  The world is advancing.  Advance with it”(Guiseppe Manzini).

Undoubtedly we are in a serious financial crisis so what comes out of the UWP Castle Bruce convention on September 1 may well be a movement of energy for radical  change in Waitukubuli. As has been said elsewhere sometimes being radical is the only reasonable way out. Jesus the Christ showed this when he appointed Peter an ordinary uneducated fisherman to be the head of his church and people like Mary Magdalene, who the Catholic Church mistakenly once called a whore, to be the ones to go out and teach all nations.

He knew that his leaders must be independent, act and stand firm even to death, speak openly, plainly, frankly; make defeats a lesson, and walk with active faith and courage fearing only God. It is not just about education, its commitment to a right purpose and cause.  That is what made a Martin Luther King, a Mahatma Gandhi, a Marcus Garvey, and Malcolm X. Let us face it Waitikubuli is not going to get out of this economic hole by we the people waving rosaries at heaven rather we must be prepared to make radical change. Its raining  ministers and we have plumb run out of umbrellas-ellas-ellas. We cannot afford a continuing rain of radio bickering and name calling, new rounds of scandals and unresolved issues, secret MOUs and strange ambassadors.  Someone and something must stop the rain and that is why we need new names.

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77 Comments

  1. GoBeckMore
    August 20, 2013

    Dumb question. What qualifies Lennox to be a leader of a country. What body of work you work use to justify this. Skerritt turns out to be a bad leader and has not learned in all this time. Please do not repeat the error. We need a strong, experienced, educated leader.

  2. Anonymous
    August 19, 2013

    I’m just happy that Denise Joseph stop attaching his pic to the article. PHEWWWWW… Now I can read in peace. Great article!

  3. August 19, 2013

    By the way talking about passport has the government investigated on the pass government about passport I heard most of that money was spend on their minister sending their children to us to study. Can this government recocver the money we need it. Our country need it now. To make gods

  4. Shameless
    August 18, 2013

    Very well written Mr. Joseph.

    I smell your excitement and like you I am 100000000000% committed to the coming change. Thank you for recognizing……”Change Must Come”

    Assertive, NOT at all Aggressive!

  5. hope for the better
    August 18, 2013

    We really need change, but we hope is not six of one, and half a dozen of the other. There is no doubt that our country have been deeply wounded. But we hope Linton and the other new bloods that want to run the county is not all talk now, and when they get in is the same old, same old. ‘GOD FORBID’.

    Lenox should start leading by example, by getting married with his children mama, to set an example to the young me. He also need to tell the ‘preacher farmer’, to get off politics and go treat his children right, and go preach the gospel. Because he is giving on the prime minister, but he is no better. Marrying a woman who is 30 years younger than him, exactly one year after his wife of 53 years death. We must take out the mote in our eyes, before we could point a finger at others. Lead by example.

    • Doc. Love
      August 18, 2013

      You must be referring to Lennox Lawrence. Mr. Lennox Linton is married to a lady called Shirley, daughter of Mr.amd Mrs Fred Abraham of Pottersville. Mr. Linton has two children with his wife Shirley.

      • FRENZ
        August 19, 2013

        No need to answer this idiot.

    • Shameless
      August 18, 2013

      STOP being so personal. This not the forum for such personal attacks under the guise on politics.

      “Change Must Come”
      Assertive, NOT Agressive!

    • Hmmmmmmmmmmm
      August 19, 2013

      Dear HOPE FOR THE BETTER…..I just cannot understand what it is that you are trying to get at!Hmmmmm…..One word!!! UTTER RUBBISH!!!!!! You say that Lennox should lead by example and marry the mother of his child…..Lennox has been married for years and has two children and seems to be living quite happily with his wife and children to this day. As a matter of fact, his wife has displayed strength of character and grace throughout these years of marriage as she does not come out in public and react to all that has been said about her husband but instead quietly supports him in the best way possible, as a wife and a mother to their children. Then you are attacking the gentleman farmer, Mr. Louise (hope that i have spelt his name correctly). For goodness sake, his wife died of natural causes and he apparently was devoted to her throughout their years of marriage. Now that she has gone on to meet her maker, what is your problem if the gentleman has met another woman who he apparently loves enough to want to marry her? That is his right and more power to him sir!!! If his family, his loved ones, his children have no problem with that, why do you?? You should aspire to be like the gentleman……..when I get to his age, if I can find a beautiful woman thirty years younger than me who is willing to marry me because she loves me, I will be so proud of that achievement!! Leading by example!!! That is exactly what he is doing……..congratulations Mr. Louise sir!!!! Enjoy your married life to the max!!!

  6. Anonymous
    August 18, 2013

    Denis cannot forget the analogy about the Carpenter and the Surgeon. It was hon. Edison James who in his attempt to present himself more academically qualified than Pierro to lead the country described Dominica as a very sick patient needing “open heart surgery”. He asked the question of the public. Who do you trust the most in a situation like that? Would you allow a carpenter to attempt the surgery or would reason’t reason demand that a specialist in the field open heart surgery undertake this very sensitive life threatening procedure? Mr. James’ only motivation for saying such is that PM Pierre Charles did not have the qualification that he (Eddy James)has in management and so unable to grasp the deal with the many issues that confronted and continue to confront Dominica. Academic qualification was the centre point there. He had the academic qualifications that Pierre Charles did not have. Remember the 1995 and 2000 manifestoes of the UWP? they boasted about how many degreed people were in their line up as against others. The DFP will remember the fire and brimestone showers of criticisms that the UWP in its hey day landed on them when Mamo chose Alleyne Carbon to succeed her as party leader. Alleyne Carbon did not even have a proper secondary education. The UWP pounced on that, totally ignoring the fact that carbon had fifteen years of solid and successful management experience as minister of government.

    Lennox does not have the ministerial experience that Alleyne Carbon had. Nor does he have the academic qualification that Roosevelt Skerrit has. But Denis Joseph et all wants us to forget what he party stood for not so long ago and close our eyes to what they preached. lack of degreed education ought not to be that ultimate determining factor in deciding on someone for leadership of a country. After all John major of Britain did not have a university degree when he served as Prime minister of the U.K. We can identify many other very successful leaders. But the UWP had a position/policy on what level of education one needs to lead a country. If that position has changed to suit the founders long-term vision for his party, his estate so be it. there are some among us who have been following the UWP from positions as third force, official opposition, shortest lived government since Independence, official opposition again and now almost in an obsolete state. Denis knows that. but then his writings in recent times are never meant to sing Dominica’s praises. It is always an anti-government piece. It is his right nevertheless

    • John Paul
      August 19, 2013

      And You are anti-opposition?

  7. De-greaser
    August 17, 2013

    Remember the Rubbish Bin Bobol? the fertilizer bobol as well? Who was involved? People’s money was taken from the Treasury, unknowing to them, and secretly used in the purchase of Rubbish bins. Prices were inflated to make a profit for whom? Was it those with Phd and degree?

    The degreed people denied at first, but it was the stark, truthful evidence of Lennox Linton that forced the Cabal to admit and run and pay back some money to the Treasury.

    Who selling our Dominica passports? Degreed people or not? Selling our sovereignty. Accountability and transparency thrown out of the window.

    Degreed people took loan from China, but awarded contract to the Chinese to build State Palace, even though local construction firms and workers could do the job.

    Degreed people who came up with plans to invade Iraq, Afghanistan. Degreed people who involve in Money-laundering, and all sorts of Corruption, kick-backs and disrespect for our Constitution.

    Is it those without degrees that are reluctant to implement Electoral Reform? Who is refusing to obey the Constitution and allow the electoral Commission to produce Voter ID Cards as that same body requested money for from Govt, people with degree? No electoral reform, so no Free and Fair elections. Thanks to those with degrees.

    Is those without degree that are involved in the planning and execution of the firebombing of two innocent, ageable citizens? What about the 42 charges of fraud filed? who was it filed against? somebody with or without degree?
    Who are defending, protecting, stalling such abominations or criminal acts? Those with or without degrees?

    Who has the economy spiraling downwards with a billion dollar debt on citizens chest? Who fooled Dominicans about Petro Caribe bringing cheaper light and fuel bills?

    It must be about character, good moral and ethical standings, respect for Constitution, Law and Order and putting people first. It should not be about a few quickly getting wealthy, while the majority are drowning in lower standards of living. Change is a must not an option.

  8. T mama
    August 17, 2013

    Dennis you hit the TARGET!!!!!!

  9. real thing
    August 17, 2013

    Lennox have done a great job as a journalist doesn’t qualify him as a leader. Further more, the leader will be elected at the delegates conference and he will not be elected. This won’t be a wise move by the party. Lennox is to contreversal and the Dominican public will not stand for that. He is welcome as a member, not at the helm. He have more politcing to do, not journalism. Lol!

    There are members of the party that have the ability to lead the party forward. Like I’ve said before, Sanford will lead the way forward. Just remeber history. He have all that it takes to move waitikubuli in the right direction. So lennox pull-up, pull-up and isidore cool-out, cool-out let kalinago move-up, move-up… Don’t take me to HEART because its the truth.

    • Shameless
      August 18, 2013

      You are just a scared DLP Cabal supporter. Why are you all so scared of the name LENNOX LINTON? Is it because those who took advantage of Ma Dominique finances know they are about to be investigated and prosecuted if the evidence points to wrong doing? Dont come here trying to divide the UWP Camp. Rest assured that “if” LENNOX receives the nod at the delegates conference he will have the support of 1000000000% of the UWP supporters. Yes, even those who ran agains him. Just keep in mind…”Change Must Come”

      Assertive, NOT Agressive!

  10. Doc. Love
    August 17, 2013

    Hi, Dennis,I have read many of your commentaries over the years, in my opinion, this piece is the best you have written.I know you to be an honest writter,however, you must brace yourself for the barrage of mapuis that is expected to come from the gang on the animal show. Excellent job, change is a MUST, it is time the Skerrit Labor Party Government knows it isn’t any damn option.

  11. birdy
    August 17, 2013

    let me sat it again Lenox so one in the Labor Party cannot cannot win a debate with Lenox when that man talks its like Obama not cha ha ddoo rrriiii wwhatt words to understand Go Lenox go

  12. One Love
    August 17, 2013

    How did we get here trying to compare Lenox with Martin Luther King, E.O LeBlanc and the other great leaders? Linton is in his 50s and now we are recognizing him as a leader? Common guys. Remember he is only recognize as such because it is felt that the other members of the UWP are not capable, though I do not support that notion. I believe that there is a couple that would better served in that position. Now if there is a debate as to Linton being a great leader I have no information of such, so please help us by telling us what he has managed in the past and how successful he was. I think that would go a long way in putting the education qualification to rest. In the absence of reliable evidence of his leadership capabilities after 50 years, then I must agree that he has to show some other form of qualification since it is being said that he is qualified for the position. Remember it was the UWP who first questioned other people’s educational qualification.

  13. One Love
    August 17, 2013

    A batch of 16 heavy men and women called ministers are dancing on the breastbone of our land enjoying themselves eating much and drinking aplenty and to bleep with how we feel. It brings to my mind a pirate song from Robert Louis Stevenson’s book Treasure Island, “16 men on a dead man’s chest Yo, Ho, Ho, and a bottle of rum.”Yo, Ho, Ho, and a bottle of rum.”Yo, Ho, Ho, and a bottle of rum.”Yo, Ho, Ho, and a bottle of rum.”Yo, Ho, Ho, and a bottle of rum.”

  14. One Love
    August 17, 2013

    8-O The dinosaurs must be replaced especially when they eat too much and crap abundantly.

  15. Anonymous
    August 17, 2013

    Say what all you want, curse me, call me all sorts of names, give me all thumbs down, I could care less, but I giving this government 2-3 more terms in office because I don’t wish to be fooled again into thinking that politicians who outside talking going to come in and do any better. The present government have made many mistakes but atleast they have the experience. Therefore a new party would simply come and have to make too many more mistakes before they can gain the experience to do better. In an island as difficult as Dominica to develop I believe a government needs alot of time to do work. Countries like the US and Uk have had their democracies for a very long time so hence the country is strong so they can afford to change government more often but we need time. The UWP is now rather a new party so there is no guarantee that they can just pick up the ball and run with it and who can’t see that must be living in dreamland, where that is. It has never happened in the past and certainly won’t happen now if you were to follow the history of Dominica you would notice under every government people cried out about poverty and so to migrated.

    • Shameless
      August 18, 2013

      You need serious psychological help my fellowman/ woman. Only a mad man does the same thing over and over again and expects different results. Be reminded though for the good of all….”Change Must come”

      Assertive, NOT at all Aggressive!

  16. Toomatoe Tomato
    August 16, 2013

    The article at another time could be said by some to be a well written one but anyone with commonsense who reads it quickly realize it is in a wrong forum and wrong topic reference because it seems that the writer omitted deliberately the most significant piece of information.

    Which is, did the writer tell his readers who was the person who criticized others for their lack of formal education and had plenty to say about others he believed had none? And why?

    This is the only reason we are learning and debating about this now. Who would have guessed the person the writer wants to put on a pedestal was in the same boat or even worse than those he tried to ridiculed. If there is a lesson there, shouldn’t the writer tell us what it is.

    Can the writer tell us whether this story was made up by others or is it indeed a fact. If the writer cannot or will not tie all the pieces of information together the story in the article makes no sense.

  17. kuba.
    August 16, 2013

    we seem to forget that lenox was on Colgate Palmolive managerial staff in the 90 s i can remember being interviewed by him when i applied for a job and during my time at this firm i had the out-most respect for him because of his brilliance and intelligence.over the years lenox has shown his high level of intelligence in several fields and ways of life

  18. Not a herd follower
    August 16, 2013

    E.O. LeBlanc, Patrick John, Oliver Seraphine and Pierre Charles led governments and did not have degrees and all came from the Labour Party. The Constitution does not mandate that the leader of the government or a Member of Parliament must hold a degree. So, the argument of Aaron, Lennox Lawrence and the other Labour Party hacks and hangers-on that Lennox Linton is not qualified to lead a government or lead a political party because he does not hold a university degree is silly and irrelevant. Is that the their most potent fusillade against the Man of the Year Lennox Linton?

    Lennox Linton’s executive management positions at Dominica’s leading manufacturing enterprise and with a transnational corporation belies this nonsensical argument by his less than worthwhile opponents.

  19. ?????????????
    August 16, 2013

    Zero growth is much better than negative growth. The last administration gave us negative growth.

    Only people who are politically blinded will fail to see that.

    What’s your angle Dennis, do you stil have political aspirations or do you just have an axe to grind?

    • ?????????????
      August 17, 2013

      still awaiting moderation.

  20. Doc. Love
    August 16, 2013

    I salute you Mr. Dennis Joseph. In my opinion, this is the best commentary you have produced for a very long time. In fact, I thought that you had lost the magic of expression you once possess. Please understand that this honest commentary will not go unnoticed by the gang on the Saturday Night Animal Show. I must warn you, my brother, those guys are going to be well armed with tons of mapuis which are going to be hurled at you from all directions.

  21. August 16, 2013

    We can’t run or hide from the truth, we must stand and face it, whether we like it or not.
    13 years and yet nothing new, it is only fair that if people want change :-D

    • me
      August 19, 2013

      I am convinced that you are not living in Dominica or have been there for a number of years or, as a matter of fact, just politically BLIND.

  22. Filem Debatem
    August 16, 2013

    Usually I do not join the political fray but this argument about ‘who’s a better leader than who else’ hits close to home. Since I grew up in a political storm in the time of Edward LeBlanc when the argument then was ‘who is a town boy and who is a country boy’ which affected me directly as a student at St. Mary’s Academy and being referred to as a “country bookie”. Now as an elder in my community having traveled and attended quite some institutions of learning, in retrospect I came to realize that not all elected persons are leaders and not all leaders are elected. So in the name of GENERATIVITY, which is to leave a trail of knowledge and understanding for the young- I have reproduced some of the characteristics of leadership from the publication “The Leadership Challenge” by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner:
    A leader searches for challenging opportunities to change, grow, innovate and improve.
    A leader experiments, takes risks and learn from accompanying mistakes.
    A leader envisions an uplifting and ennobling future.
    A leader fosters collaboration by promoting cooperative goals and building trust.
    And most important of all, a leader sets examples for others by behaving in ways that are consistent with his/her stated values.
    I hope this will help folks in making the critical decision in choosing a leader.

  23. anonymous
    August 16, 2013

    Dennis you can be long an boring sometimes but this time you were spot on. This is your best work….

  24. Filem Debatem
    August 16, 2013

    Usually I do not join the political fray but this argument about ‘who’s a better leader than who else’ hits close to home. Since I grew up in a political storm in the time of Edward LeBlanc when the argument then was ‘who is a town boy and who is a country boy’ which affected me directly as a student at St. Mary’s Academy and being referred to as a “country bookie”. Now as an elder in my community having traveled and attended quite some institutions of learning, in retrospect I came to realize that not all elected persons are leaders and not all leaders are elected. So in the name of GENERATIVITY, which is to leave a trail of knowledge and understanding for the young- I have reproduced some of the characteristics of leadership from the publication “The Leadership Challenge” by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner:
    A leader searches for challenging opportunities to change, grow, innovate and improve.
    A leader experiments, takes risks and learn from accompanying mistakes.
    A leader envisions an uplifting and enabling future.
    A leader fosters collaboration by promoting cooperative goals and building trust.
    And most important of all, a leader sets examples for others by behaving in ways that are consistent with his/her stated values.
    I hope this will help folks in making the critical decision in choosing a leader.

  25. Civil Servant
    August 16, 2013

    Democracy is alive in Dominica. Dennis Joseph the man who had the Master Plan has every right to speak. It is his constitutional right and I will defend him on that right.
    That having been said, Dennis must remember it is the UWP who has brought in qualification into the political landscape in Dominica. One will remember how Pierro of blessed memory was chastised for not being able to apply for the Manager Job at the Grand Bay Credit Union by none other but Lennox Linton and his brother Brian. This is UWP policy that someone without a University Degree should not hold the Office of Prime Minister. When was that policy changed? And are we going to have an apology to the family of deceased Pierro?
    As a public Officer I would advise Dennis to obtain a copy of the 1999 Director of Audit report and he will see the state in which his preferred party had left the country. It is clear he is biased in his writings but again that’s his right to so do

  26. Solo
    August 16, 2013

    Dennis get real! Lennox repeatedly questioned the qualifications of the current and former members of the DLP government as it relates to whether they had degrees or not. He’s the one who made this an issue to Dominicans so now that he’s being asked the same question let’s not promote double standards and allow him to get away with it. Personally, I’m extremely disappointed that this man who proposes to be an expert on every subject under the sun wasn’t disciplined enough to complete HIGH SCHOOL! Is this really the type of example we want to set for our children?

    I get that there were great leaders in the past, local and foreign, who didn’t attain tertiary education, but the difference between these people and Lennox is that they were humble and could relate to the people. Can you HONESTLY see Lennox doing this? I see this man telling the elderly lady or sweaty mechanic don`t touch him because he doesn`t want his clothes dirty. Yes, I believe he`s that pompous!

    I applaud the UWP`s efforts to revamp the party, I really do, it was about time. But with Lennox at the helm their efforts will be short lived. It`s one thing to run your mouth on the radio and something completely different to debate national issues (not Skerrit issues) in a mature, informative and educated manner. Isaac Joseph for instance shows a much higher level of readiness for the political arena. This man speaks to the issues and is mature enough to support the government when they do something good or chastise them when they mess up!

    The long and short is that Lennox should be given a chance to learn to follow before he can lead.

  27. debate lennox nuh
    August 16, 2013

    and if those laba say lennox not qyalify then tell the qualified p.m to bring on a debate. bring it on .

  28. malick
    August 16, 2013

    Then it is NEW NAMES…NEW NAMES

    Thanks God All mighty..the People of Dominica still have the means…the Democratic means to select new names…

  29. Nkrumah Kwame
    August 16, 2013

    Let me say from the start that this entire issue of “degree, qualification, training, etc. etc.” was introduced by the UWP when Pierro, my eternal friend became PM of DA. They laboured so intensely the point that any REASONABLE individual would conclude that having a University degree was “indispensable” for holding the position of PM. It is obvious that this was a myopic vision/statement and this has come back to haunt the UWP. My grandma always said to us as children that we should NEVER “spit” upwards but rather “sideways” as the upwards saliva might fall back in your face. So today Lennox Linton is castigated for not having a university degree. And he should, UNTIL he retracts his position as regards Pierro and any other Dominican and admits that his posturings were incorrectly premised.
    That said, though, I wish to put this issue to rest by stating the situation “philosophically” and “statistically” thus: a degree is a necessary but insufficient condition for efficient leadership. HOTEP!

  30. Observer
    August 16, 2013

    Denis cannot forget the analogy about the Carpenter and the Surgeon. It was hon. Edison James who in his attempt to present himself more academically qualified than Pierro to lead the country described Dominica as a very sick patient needing “open heart surgery”. He asked the question of the public. Who do you trust the most in a situation like that? Would you allow a carpenter to attempt the surgery or would reason’t reason demand that a specialist in the field open heart surgery undertake this very sensitive life threatening procedure? Mr. James’ only motivation for saying such is that PM Pierre Charles did not have the qualification that he (Eddy James)has in management and so unable to grasp the deal with the many issues that confronted and continue to confront Dominica. Academic qualification was the centre point there. He had the academic qualifications that Pierre Charles did not have. Remember the 1995 and 2000 manifestoes of the UWP? they boasted about how many degreed people were in their line up as against others. The DFP will remember the fire and brimestone showers of criticisms that the UWP in its hey day landed on them when Mamo chose Alleyne Carbon to succeed her as party leader. Alleyne Carbon did not even have a proper secondary education. The UWP pounced on that, totally ignoring the fact that carbon had fifteen years of solid and successful management experience as minister of government.

    Lennox does not have the ministerial experience that Alleyne Carbon had. Nor does he have the academic qualification that Roosevelt Skerrit has. But Denis Joseph et all wants us to forget what he party stood for not so long ago and close our eyes to what they preached. lack of degreed education ought not to be that ultimate determining factor in deciding on someone for leadership of a country. After all John major of Britain did not have a university degree when he served as Prime minister of the U.K. We can identify many other very successful leaders. But the UWP had a position/policy on what level of education one needs to lead a country. If that position has changed to suit the founders long-term vision for his party, his estate so be it. there are some among us who have been following the UWP from positions as third force, official opposition, shortest lived government since Independence, official opposition again and now almost in an obsolete state. Denis knows that. but then his writings in recent times are never meant to sing Dominica’s praises. It is always an anti-government piece. It is his right nevertheless.

    • One Eye Man
      August 16, 2013

      Thank you for that part of our political history that Denis Joseph conveniently left out of his piece of UWP Propaganda. Let him now respond to the facts that you have assisted him with.

    • Not a herd follower
      August 16, 2013

      You fail to understand the point Mr.James was making. Although you mention it, you fail to realize the essential point of Mr. James. He was not referring to having degrees; after all Mr. James does not have a medical degree and the relevant training to do open heart surgery. He was referring to the possession of an ability or capacity to manage a country in crisis.

    • Real Porssie
      August 16, 2013

      Observer what a barrel of junk. First of all you base your argument regarding Linton’s possible leadership position on what Eddison James said about Pierre Charles’ qualification when ultimately this is not about Edison. this is about Lennox.
      Let us not forget though that It was not just Edison James who questioned Pierre Charles’ academic qualification but right within the Labor Party Pierro was being denegraded by the likes of Skerrit and others who also claimed that he Pierreo did not have the academic qualification
      What about all that bull about Aaleyne Carbon etc. Dude laborites were making fun of Alkeyne Carbon , they also questioned Charles Saverin’s education. By the way Charles Saverin’s is conveniently a gem to Laborites at this point – shouldn’t we all be laughing.

      But it is laughable that you danced around the vital aspect of the article which is about the miserable performance of the DLP administration. You choose to dwell on an issue that is in my opinion very irrelevant. The country need honest discussion – bread and butter discussion not about qualification and if laborites want to dwell on this , that is asinine because there are much more fingers pointing at the Labor Party when it comes down to who is not academically qualified. Unnecessary distraction it is.
      So observer if you want to show that you are worth the keyboard on your computer start talking about things that matter to people, the economy, jobs, poverty.

      One has to wonder whether or not we are where we are because “qualified people ” are to incapable . Would you like to have this discussion Observer – let me guess !!! Your answer is no.

      • me
        August 19, 2013

        You are wrong-dead wrong. Check your facts and figures and stop listening to roadside gossip. The labour party performance is about the best I have seen in Dominica given the the times and circumstances.

    • Anonymous
      August 18, 2013

      You have shot yourself in the foot my friend, everything you have said defeats the very aguement you are trying to present.

    • babalene
      August 18, 2013

      Dennis expect more comments like this one – thats all the defenders can do is to remind one of things in the past in order to justify inefficiency and mediocrity what a shame- Observer failed meserably to address the real amd substantial issues in the article.

  31. WHAT
    August 16, 2013

    lennox as achived in his life something that none of us have been able to do,he as managed to shake this labour party and for once made it question itself,lennox looked the beast in its eyes and the beast trembled because no one had ever had the guts to do it,for this i bestow onto lennox a MBA,a PHD and any other piece of paper that makes educated fools feel they are so much better than we,you go linton DA on your side and who against you does not love this country.

    • dafriend
      August 17, 2013

      you hit the nail on the head!!

  32. looking from inside
    August 16, 2013

    expatriate the man with the master plan top propagandist and GAYLORDS FUNDS……

    YOU have said absolutely nothing an AASOCIATED STATEHOOD DOMINICA which got tremendous developmental assistance from mother colony ENGLAND is far more different now where we have no preferential treatment,,,its is you who was amongst those who criticized the non degreed pierre Charles as a non elected pm.

  33. Richards
    August 16, 2013

    Lennox is definitely much more eloquent, informed, articulate, refined, morally sound and efficient than any of the Ministers in the labor party. What did Skerrit achieve before becoming prime minister? what has he achieved since then? Other than the degradation of Dominica’s economy and integrity, mass unemployment, unprecedented corruption, massive debt, ill -obtained personal wealth, social disorder, high level of crimes and mind blowing economic strategies and tactics.

    • One Eye Man
      August 16, 2013

      Are you saying that Skerro is responsible for the global financial crisis that has affected so many wealthy nations? Have you any understanding of how small economies are affected by the rumbling stomachs of larger ones, or are you too color blind to understand. Do you think that Dominica can sustain its own development from its own resources? you people need to get real. We as a small nation a peeble in a Ball Park depend on the larger nations for our survival.

    • One Love
      August 17, 2013

      Sure, we have all heard that before. I want to believe you so provide me with the evidence that makes Lenox stand over the rest.

    • E.James
      August 17, 2013

      All the eloquence you speak of is done behind a microphone in a hidden studio. My friend, this is different from having to face the public or in discuss with others. BEING IN POLITICS IS DIFFERENT FROM HIDING BEHIND A RADIO SCREEN.
      I have heard this man on a public platform before and I am not impressed at, I had to wonder whether it was the same man who always had so much to say on radio programmes

      • real possie
        August 18, 2013

        Thank you E james i wonder if they did not hear the airplay when LL tried to talk to the lawyer and all what he was saying was wrong i was raised in the VI so i have alot of Kittian friends those guys call me giving me hells asking me who is this fool that on their radio there?its not so easy when your callers say what they want and all you say is thank u caller.DNO go ahead dont post it again like the last time.I tried not to comment on this one cause dennis to is a big —- i will leave it at that.

  34. Morihei Ueshiba
    August 16, 2013

    how did all these postulations of being better off than other countries end up with a zero growth scorecard? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

  35. DA in Texas
    August 16, 2013

    Well anonymous u seem to know alot about personality when comparing Leblanc with Linton.As far as I’m concern a people’s person is one who puts himself in the forefront to fight and debate issues that are affecting his or her people inspite of the consequence that may come as a result of his actions.and if u have been listening and following what’s going on in this country u would come to realize who’s the people’s person and that’s Mr Lennox Linton.

    • One Love
      August 17, 2013

      Come on, everyone knows who Lenox is. We cannot make him who he is not for he will be a fake. Call a spade a spade and lets move on.

  36. bogoroy
    August 16, 2013

    Hmmm! More ramblings about nothing from a once-mighty broadcaster.

    No, dear Dennis, the utterances about Lennox’ qualifications are not a diversionary tactic. They are meant to unmask the hypocrisy of Mr. Linton and the UWPwee stances on previous DLP leaders. Let me remind you (although i know that you would not want to remember)…Pierre Charles was maligned and severely criticized by certain UWPwee brass and by your dear boy, Lennox, because they thought that without a university degree, he was incompetent to lead. How ironic it is now then that the same UWPwee would want to offer Dominicans an individual who has not even proven that he has completed secondary school as a suitable leader. It is even hypocritical for Linton to now come to Dominicans with the same face and mouth to claim that he somehow is competent even though, like deceased Pierre Charles, he does not have university education.

    This is what the DLP’s focus on Mr. Linton’s pathetic education background does: Unmask the confusion and hypocrisy that characterize the UWPwee.

    Of course, i am sure that you are aware of this, but you are so deep in blue that you cannot bring yourself to call a spade a spade. Alas, Dennis, so you come?

  37. Anonymous
    August 16, 2013

    Is Mr. Dennis Joseph a Lennox Linton online? I must ask that question. Having said this, he brought up some important points particularly the one to do with Mr. Austrie. To me, Mr. Austrie behaved like a child who is afraid of losing his favorite toy and puts up this big defense where in truth and in fact he is shaking in his boots.

  38. LCM
    August 16, 2013

    I agree with you Denise. Having a university degree is not a factor in being a leader. It takes character and personality.
    However, a “good” leader must be wise, intelligent, and must have the interest of the ones they serve at heart. All the guys you mentioned’ MLK, Malcom X etc… were brilliant men who had the capacity for anything and in the case of MLK was a Phd.
    So yes it is not a matter of having a degree (which i think is more important in these day and age) but having that mental capacity to understand and the qualities that comes with being a “great leader”

    • E.James
      August 17, 2013

      Then how is it that Pierro was so heavily criticized for not having a degree? Oh how quickly we forget when it suits us.

      • Shameless
        August 18, 2013

        Go ask Skerrit and the cabal that pressured him to death for their own gain. Remember the DLP sectre meeting in St.Joe? I do! But be reminded that…….”Change Must Come”

        Assertive, NOT Agressive!

  39. Anonymous
    August 16, 2013

    Sir, the difference between Leblanc and Linton is that Leblanc was humble and a people’s person. You cannot say so for Linton.

    • forkit
      August 16, 2013

      in what way was leblanc humble and in what way is lennox not a humble person?

  40. be wiser
    August 16, 2013

    Dennis, what better is Lennox and company going to do.You know what you have you dont know what you getting except a proposed leader that has achieved nothing in his life……….NOTHING

    • LCM
      August 16, 2013

      @be wise: with the current negative growth in our economy, even a meager 0.5% increase is an improvement. Additionally the philosophy of being comfortable with an underperforming Government because you know what you have and do not know what you getting is absolute rubbish. It is such mentality that keep people in slavery, subjugation ……… what about searching until you get what you want. I say its time to get another leader and if after 10 yrs they cannot get the country on right track then start new search

    • I REMEMBER
      August 16, 2013

      Dennis…great article as usual…I feel so sorry for individuals like “be wiser” and many others with similar,limited thought mechanisms that the simple ability to understand that if something is not working,try something else,go another route, is beyond their comprehension….then obviously,there is no hope for DA….a failed society and not just economically….Like the saying goes “common sense in not common in DA”…POOR US!!

  41. sunshine
    August 16, 2013

    its amazing how these words cause us to popen our eyes. Dennis, it couldnt be said better. These words are so profound, they cause you to sit and wonder!! strong words Sir, continue to open our eyes!!

    • One Love
      August 17, 2013

      Didn’t realize that you were blind. How did you read this?

  42. Anonymous
    August 16, 2013

    The size of the Cabinet issue must be seriouly confronted by the nation!And, it can only be properly resolved by a constitutional amendment. Section 6 of the Constitution may be amended to provide:”(1)There shall be a Cabinet of Ministers of Dominica which shall consist of the Prime Minister and NOT MORE THAN SIX(6) OTHER MINISTERS”
    and also provide that “Parliament may, by its ordinary legislative process, increase the number to not more than nine(9)other ministers”.

    • Hmmmmmmmmmmm
      August 16, 2013

      Well Anonymous……..I may disagree with you simply with one word in your last line. I would change the wording from “Parliament may, by its ordinary legislative process, increase the number to not more than nine (9) OTHER ministers” to “not more than a total of nine (9) ministers”. I also believe that our parliament must amend the laws to limit the number of terms which any one man may serve in the capacity of PM as our PM has made it clear that he intends to stay for fifty years plus. Sadly, the behaviour of these ‘honourable’ men has suggested that they will do what they like anyhow, irrespective of what they constitution says!! I guess they all agree with the PM as they never rebuked his statement that ‘This country is too free’ and they agree with that statement while they enjoy the freedom to do what they like with the state’s affairs!! But as the PM said, a country gets a government which they allow or words to that effect……..hmmmmmmmmmmm

    • B.E. B.
      August 16, 2013

      When DA was bigger{305 Sqr. miles} we only had 11 constituencies, now DA is much less smaller now we are having 21 constituencies. We should revert back to our 11 constituencies, by this the treasury will beable to have more cash on hand to carry out the nation’s services .

      I can remember the late Mr. C. Manard {may his soul RIP}was responsible for 3 ministries, health, education and sports. {If I’m wrong, can some one please correct me} I think that health deserves a ministry for its own but I think education and sport could go hand in hand I know there’s a few ministries that could be merged.

      .
      I know the present PM got it like that,he might not want to do any changes to the constituencies but I know for sure if a vote should be carried out whether to keep the present 21 constituencies or down size the constituencies. I think downsizing would be leading the votes, could this be in place before the next general election right fully carded for 2015. Could u start working on this Mr. PM ? .

  43. A concern citizen
    August 16, 2013

    Good to go, well said as usual.

  44. Juan Pablo
    August 16, 2013

    Dennis its raining and sometime the words you use to attach people come back and bite you…your subject siad the same thing about Pierre Charles and so many others…..

    Where “does” Dennis get this childish things to say???

    • Toma
      August 16, 2013

      everything that Dennis said is true. It s time to face the facts that dominica has not moved one in forward in thirteen years. If you have the gall prove me wrong.
      I dere you

      • One Love
        August 17, 2013

        Have you been to DA recently? If you are there then you are either blind or a Govt. hater.

      • listener
        August 17, 2013

        You couldn’t have lied better.

  45. mono
    August 16, 2013

    Powerful. well said!

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