I am obligated to ask what is the motive of the comments of Mr. Anthony Leblanc in the Chronicle Newspaper edition of February 4, 2011 regarding the non-appointment of the Board of Engineering?
His main comments which seek to call on Government to stop wasting time and move to reinstate the Board make it appear like full responsibility for the functioning of the Board of Engineering resides fully and solely on the shoulders of the Ministry of Public Works, Energy and Ports.
What is even more frightening is the fact that Mr. Leblanc is fully aware of Government’s effort to do just that, by seeking to resuscitate the interest and the goodwill of key persons involved in the past Board of Engineering as well as the Dominica Association of Professional Engineers.
In fact at a meeting which was convened on January 10, 2011 involving some Senior Practicing Engineers from the Private Sector and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Works, Energy and Ports, the engineers were reminded of the pivotal role of an active Dominica Association of Professional Engineers body in ensuring that the services of the Board of Engineering is not compromised in anyway. He also reiterated the urgent need for them to ensure that the Association is quickly revamped so that the Board could be duly reinstated and to allow for satisfying the conditions as laid down in the Engineering Professional Act No. 22 of 2002.
An outcome of this meeting was for the senior members to quickly initiate the necessary measures for reactivating the Association. Pending the feedback of that outcome the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Works, Energy and Ports followed up by letter of January 28, 2011 addressed to the past President of the Dominica Profession of Engineers, Mr. Joseph Floissac further advising him of the terms and conditions of the Engineering Profession Act No. 22 of 2002.
The letter also sought to remind the immediate past President that the terms of office of the Board of Engineering expired since March 31, 2009 and that this situation poses serious legal and professional challenges to the practice of Engineers in Dominica. It went on further to reiterate that in an attempt to have the situation redressed promptly and appropriately, it requires that four (4) senior members of the Dominica Association of Professional Engineers be nominated to serve on the Board of Engineering.
Furthermore, the letter highlighted the extreme importance therefore of getting the Dominica Association of Professional Engineers functioning so that the practice of Engineering in Dominica is executed in strict accordance with the law of the country.
This seemingly emotional behavior of Mr. Leblanc should receive widespread condemnation from the Senior Engineering professionals particularly since they are fully aware that Mr. Leblanc is fully cognizant of the role of an active Association in the functioning of the Board of Engineering and moreover he is very knowledgeable of the efforts being made by the Ministry of Public Works, Energy and Ports in seeking to have the situation regularized and redressed as soon as possible.
What was even more disturbing to those Senior Engineering professionals is the fact that Mr. Leblanc was shown the correspondence of January 28, 2011 from the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Works, Energy and Ports to the Dominica Association of Professional Engineers.
For him to go ahead of this concerted effort then and to make such reckless remarks which seek purely to bring some attention unto himself as if to say that he is the one that is revealing the need for reinstating the Board of Engineering is really troubling.
What is even more amusing is the fact that he has made no mention in his pronouncement of the critical role of the Dominica Association of Professional Engineers in the entire scheme of things. It is interesting to note that Section 4 (2) of the Engineering Profession Act No. 22 of 2002 states that a member of the Board shall be appointed by the Honorable Minister and shall consist of:
(a) Four (4) registered engineers nominated and holding senior membership in the association;
(b) Public officers registered or eligible to be registered as a registered engineer; and
(c) Two (2) persons appointed to represent the public interest
So for Mr. Leblanc who has been a one-time participating member of the Dominica Association of Professional Engineers to seek to divorce his own ethical, moral and professional responsibility in ensuring that the fabric of the structure and organization of which he proclaims to be duly and wholly part of is really worrying to say the least.
One cannot help therefore to seriously ask what is or has been his motive to seek to paint an apparent gloomy picture of the integrity of the state for which he has seemingly orchestrated by his inaction in getting the association active.
If Mr. Leblanc is therefore really interested in reactivating of the affairs of the Board of Engineering then he would have given attention to where it is truly deserving which is in getting the association alive and kicking again so that the interest of his clients to whom he is morally and professionally committed would not be infringed in anyway or form.
The Ministry therefore wishes to reassure the general public that the Government will continue to give total and complete attention to the interest and well being of all its citizens and not be perturbed or distracted in anyway by those individuals whose sole purpose is to seek to distort, exaggerate and nullify the prospects of good intention and action of the Government.
This seemingly unprofessional behavior by Mr. Leblanc should be very disconcerting to members of the Dominica Association of Professional Engineers and there are certain sentiments among the Engineering profession that measures may have to be taken to seek to curb and control such acts of indiscretion by members who deliberately go out of the way to try to embarrass their colleagues and to bring the good name of the profession in disrupt.
We also wish to inform the general public that the matters raised concerning certain amendments to the Engineering Profession Act No. 22 of 2002 have already been receiving Government’s attention from since April 2007.
They concern the following areas:
1. Amendments to enhance the Board’s ability to regulate the practice of Engineering as required under the act;
2. Amendments to meet new and additional requirements as laid down in a new CARICOM Draft Model Profession Bill developed by the Secretariat and the CARICOM Legislative Drafting Facility (CLDF) in 2004;
3. Amendments to remove conflict/confusion between the Trade and Professional License Act and the Engineering Profession Act.
A Government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
continue the good job you are doing!
OK OK OK. I HAVE SAFELY COME TO A CONCLUSION……..HE NEEDS TO GO AROUND AND DO SOME REAL WORK INSTEAD OF GOING AROUND ACKING LIKE A LIL SCHOOL GIRL…PPL ARE ENTITLED TO TALK BALCKMORE, AND TONY IS ONLY SPEAKING THE TRUTH..AFTER ALL, THE TRUTH HURTS!!
WOW. Mr. Anthony Leblanc I am sorry for you. By reading this I am convinced you committed a cardinal sin. LOL. You must have really pissed Mr. Blackmore off. I see he is turning all professional Engineers against you and trying to make sure you get punished for your actions.
Lesson learned: Be careful when criticizing the Gov. or any Ministry because the wrath will come down on you and we will turn your colleagues against you.
Why so angry?
Rayburn should be more articulate when he speaks. take your time to talk.
Okay, he needs to stop already. He responds to everything. Someone put a muzzle on him. I am tempted to believe that he may be the one divulging confidental information. He talks too much about nothing.
I DAMN SICK AND TIRED OF BLACKMOORE. HE NEED SOME DAMN WORK TO DO. WHAT HE NEED TO CHECK IS ALL THEM PEOPLE @ PUBLIC WORKS THEY DOESNT PAY AND HOW THEY HAVE HE HAVE THESE POOR MEN THAT HAVE FAMILIES COMING TO WORK @ 8 IN THE MORNING AND SOMETIMES LEAVING ALL AFTER 11 @ NIGHT. NOT PAYING THEM NO OVERTIME. THINGS LIKE THAT U NEED TO CHECK FIRST. I’M A LABOURITE BUTI FED UP WITH MR IN PARTICULAR.
thank u sir, i would like to know just how long dominicans going to put up with that rubbish, ur response is dated feburary 11 2011 and look all now the 8th of july 2011 and is the same garbage with mister. while he enjoying tax payers employment as a minister, with all it perks. the little fish is public works yard cannot even get a little hire purchase by astaphans again…. cuz public works dont have money, that we paying mister for nuh????
It would be great if the Ministers took the same time and interest in educating the nation on all the non transparent issues that they have been involved in over the past decade.
i wonder why the investigative journalist did not tell you all about the last transoarency international report.
check the link below,
http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2010/results
view the 2010 results and comment.
Its amazing grace. Greed envy and jealousy that’s what all you about so continue fighting among all you selves.$
Rayburn Blackmore cannot deal with the real issue of Govt. not being TRANSPARENT especially when it regards tendering for National Projects. How comes he refuses to touch that matter? It is a FACT that Govt., instead of OPEN TENDERING for those projects, they select their friends and Dominicans are aware what happens as a result.
How comes is only now DOWASCO advertising the 500,000 gallon Water tank project and now requesting proposals from construction firms? Didn’t they invite some local firms to send their proposals for the project then turn around and told those Co. “Sorry, you all are no longer invited to bid, it was a mistake?” Only when Tony and other well qualified local companies brought those irregularities to the public, they advertising for the project as though they so transparent. Dominicans are still awaiting that Press Conference from DOWASCO, a Govt. controlled Body.
BlackMore what about the millions lost due to projects that were not for OPEN TENDER? Up to now you cannot refute Jerry on that.
Compare the Fond St. Jean SEA DEFENSE project constructed on the Atlantic with the project below UWI School of Continuing Studies. Which project entailed more work? Which project cost much more? Dominicans know all the FACTS. I challenge you to show us the documents concerning that project. Jerry Brisbane requested them but was refused. You all were hiding something, NUH? What about those KICKBACKS?
Before any Dominica speaks for their right or express his/ her concern about BAD GOVERNACE, wrong approaches to doing things or CORRUPT PRACTICES, you all are quick to demonise and chastise the person as having an agenda. Of course we Dominicans have an agenda. That is to see an end to all those CORRUPT ACTS taking place in Dominica. That agenda is so different from yours, where you condone wrongdoings and think that is OK. Do you want to tell us that everything is being done correctly? So NO Dominican should express his feelings about all those wrongdoings? TIME WILL TELL. Since when you bigger than anybody else in Dominica? So now you WELL FIX and feel you could just shut people up? TIME IS THE REVELER.
Bro, I couldn’t have said it better. Would have shaken your big toe if I was near you!!!
About 7 months ago I had a conversation with a very good family friend – If I were to mention his name, you all would know who I am talking about. The guy knew I was a labour party supporter so he saw no harm in sharing intimate stuff with me. I listen with amazement, as he went on to tell me that, “any project the government have, he must get at least 40 percent of it”. He told me bid or no bid at least 40 percent of the project has to be his. He went on to tell me about the massive amount of wealth he had acquired. This dude is a very good friend of the PM and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I sat in my car for over an hour with this guy, and from our conversation I knew there was massive corruption in the government. I felt disappointed because I really like Skerrit. I am a Christian and I am not making this up!!!.
Sure there still are good projects being embarked on my government, but as a true Christian I cannot support something I know for a fact is wrong and against God!!! So sad because our opposition is so weak but I am pleading on Dominicans to hold our politicians accountable for their massive corruption. The said thing is that most of us know that there is massive corruption in the government but we just don’t care. Couple weeks ago had a conversation with a top labourite and I had him admit that there is corruption in the government
Has being a christian ever stop anyone from lying? Or what does being a christian have to do with lying? Time to check your memo. Some of these so called christians are the worst liars you’ll find on God’s green earth. The majority of them are the most coniving and deceitful people you’ll find.
Your action tells me you are nothing but a hypocrete and a traitor. With friends like you, who the hell need enemies. If you were a true christian as you claim to be, that private conversation would not be divulged on DNO. As a friend, you should let him know that it is wrong for him to be getting all those special favors when their are others struggling to get by. Who am I kidding? I’d bet you that this converstion probably never took place. Some people just want to be on Dno giving their
two cents, regardless of whom they hurt. This is really getting out of control people.
My people are destroying this beautiful island of ours because of their hate , envy and jealousy. Just becareful what all you wish for because one of these days, all the progress made will not matter anymore because we will be right back to square one.
People talk so much rubbish. People who so not even know mr Blackmore. One thing that I do know is that he is prominent in his constituency and he is in the heart of it where anyone can go to see him at anytime to discuss matters. More than any other politician has done in that constituency. He delivers, he tells the truth and he supports his constituency so I dont see why people who propably never spoke to the man have bad things to say. I like mr Blackmore just for the fact that he seems to be one of us. He not sitting on a high stool and snubbing his people like dno readers seem to portray, although he has made mistakes. But who hasn’t? When julien prevot was in mahaut he couldn’t be seen walking the street no day. Blackmore is at the heart of everything. And this is not a labour supporter speaking yea. I just state facts. The guy is doing well and the only ones that matter to him want him in the position he is, so… Other people opinions don’t really matter to be honest. Think about it
Nobody is against you for liking BlackMore. But if he is among those doing wrong and corrupt things in Public Office and he supporting and condoning wrongdoings why not advise him not to do that? What is BlackMore getting the salary from taxpayers for? You talking about he delivers. Deliver what? Has the people especially the youth advanced anywhere? There is now more unemployed people, more crimes being committed, more drug dealings that any other time in that once productive and peaceful community. Deliver what? The closing in of the main road in Mahaut with that stupid thing called sidewalks, a total waste of money? The youth cannot make use of the playing field for the longest while now. Mahaut people all know of what took place with that project. Did Petro Caribe donate $10,000.00 to that project? Three years had passed and no work had started? Why? So come again. You did not hear about that? You were not in Mahaut? Was it used or not? After 4 years they cannot finish a simple rehabilitation of that playing field. You ever visit the Daybas at Rodney’s Rock? The 1*2 little structures they call bars? By the time one person enter the bar there is no more space to put drinks or other things to sell. What about the Human Resource development? Has there been any movement in the last ten years with regards to training for more skilled young men and women in the community? You must be seeing on one side only.
You know how many kids families in mahau have land and sell drugs rather than go and do
Something positive? I’m from mahaut and live overseas. When I come home for my little two weeks how come I get a job? Why can’t they? I think you should just shut up because u all are lazy and just want big money and fast. Everytime and anytime I come home I make legal money. Allu jus lazy and waiting for handouts. Wait still
u never consider that u get the job because of who u know, stop come here and talk rubbish yer. after people children go and spend money to get education is in dirt allu want to send them, where agriculture going to pay off that massive student loan i have there. uhh JA@KA^^???????????
Blackmoore don’t have work to do. Ministers have to reply to every single thing in the media? When the hell you getting time to do your work if you partaking in all beff. Yes lord.
Let the truth be told. Anthony Le Blanc’s grouse with the government is simple. It is a family feud between two Veille Case families that is going on. To compound matters, Roosevelt Skerrit as Prime Minister Skerrit did not or rather was unable to assist a brother of Anthony with a land matter settlement matter in which the Le Blanc family was claiming a sizeable sum of money from government for alleged damage to their family land during the construction of the main road leading to Veille Case.
Tony, let the truth be told. Even though you and your brother are not always on the best of terms but you have a chip on your shoulder over the matter. To make matters worst, Roosevelt Skerrit from Veille Case is Prime Minister abd he did not help.
You pretend to but you do not know the facts….any how somebody has an opposing view,is because dey don get,hope what you get ,will never finish.
I do not wish to be on any Public Board since I do now wish to declare my assets every year.
stop speculating of the motive of mr leblanc’s article. be a man. confront him in chambers and discuss the issues as men. your long statement is grossly irrelevant. be a man and not a mouse. stop being angry at everyone who expresses their opinion(s).
Did Mr.Leblanc confront the Minister as a man in chambers or did he go to the news papers?
All you too BOBOLIST you see that’s why nobody wants to be on all you Board.
We all know his motives: playing dirty politics that’s all!
who u tlkin bout
? cannot b tony
DNO, it’s sort of hard to make and informed judgment or analysis of the Minister’s statement without some background information on the subject. In that light, is it at all possible to post the statement from the Chronicle to which the Minister seems to be replying? If not, might a summary of the article/letter be possible?
If DNO can not do it, can someone locate the home of the Chronicle online?
Thanks a bunch.
Admin: Chronicle doesn’t have a home page.
Thank u Mr. Blackmoore..i got paid today.
Continue the good work
cake change i bet you the pay check finish you owe too much credit , continue to work for cake change
Anonymous – Thats a underhand comment.
You dont know the personal/financial situation of the writer.
don’t bring d man up he jus a wanna b skerrit!!!!