Members of the United Workers Party (UWP) welcome the move by Government to include the Opposition in the restoration of Dominica in the wake of Tropical Storm Erika.
Erika dumped rain on Dominica on August 27, causing loss of lives and severe infrastructural damage from flooding and landslides.
The Prime Minister convened a meeting with all 21 elected Members of Parliament this morning to discuss plans to deal with the aftermath of Tropical Storm Erika.
Parliamentary Representative for Salisbury, Hector John, described the meeting as timely, noting that it means Government and the Opposition will sit at one table to ensure Dominica moves forward in a positive way in the aftermath of the storm.
John said the situation is one that has to be handled properly with all hands on deck from both sides of the political divide.
He said the Opposition Leader Lennox Linton had already made it clear that there is no green, red or blue (colours representative of the three political parties) in Dominica right now.
“We are all in this boat together and have to put our hands on deck on both sides of the political isle and show that we are united so that the people can follow suit and the people would be willing to make that contribution to make that effort to clearing Dominica, that effort to getting things back to normal,” John said.
Parliamentary Representative for the Roseau Central Constituency, Joseph Isaac, described the meeting as fruitful, noting that it was timely and critical.
He said he welcomes the initiative and endorses the efforts for unification at this time.
Isaac said the Prime Minister briefed everyone on the situation in the constituencies from which information has been sparse.
Each Member of Parliament gave an update on their individual Constituency and everyone agreed that they will work to bring Dominica back on track as quickly as possible.
Isaac said the Prime Minister also gave an update on his communication with international and regional organisations.
The meetings between Cabinet and the Opposition Members of Parliament will be held every three days and Isaac said Parliamentary Representatives will be on the ground, leading their Constituencies in the efforts to rebuild the island.
Also, the Opposition MPs will participate in various committees in the different Constituencies to ensure that relief is given to those who need it.
the almighty God is all seeing and watching they and them will say differently.
This is the best move ever, let us forget red, blue, green and come together to rebuild Dominica. We must put aside all political issues and work as one team.
Good get down to work ! No time for politics ! The Most High GOD always work in mysterious ways..
Like the old folks use to say: a bad sometimes happen for a good….
Workin together to rebuild Dominica….may God bless you all.
When New Jersy got destryoed by the storm a few years ago, the nation saw Governor Chris Christie, a Republican, flying through out the state with president Obama, a Democrat. That was good to behold. Skerrit has done the opposite and wants to score political score. Where are the Americans that helped us a day after hurricane David in 1979 with food and rescue? We have dozens of people that can’t be accounted for and the Americans that are well equipped to help are out? The opposition better becareful because Skerrit is just trying to shut them up. Team UWP is well equipped to help Dominica at this time and persons like Fontaine, Baptist, Felix Thomas, Ronald Charles, Mr. George and others, should all be on board to ensure that all of our talents are used to help Dominica. To have all his 21 members on board and ONLY elected Parliamentarians of UWP clearly shows the man is not serious about unity
I know now is not the time for politics but I don’t when will be the time? While I would like to see us come together to rebuild our nation, I feel Skerrit has put the opposition in a position where he will silence their critics and be seen as a hero. Just go back to his speech and see how many times he used the word “I” in his opening address before he said one thing about the destruction. If Mr Skerrit was serious about unity he would have done the following: 1. Since Mr Linton accompanied Mr. Blackmoore on DBS and asked the nation to put away political color, upon his arrival to Dominica Mr. Skerrit should have ensured that Linton jumped on the helicopter with him and together tour the nation. Mr. Linton should be sitting next to him during his address to the nation. 3. Just inviting elected members is not good since we need all to come onboard and therefore Dr. Fontaine is now needed on board more than ever, and so to is a man like Mr. Baptist of Castle Bruce as an engineer.
I think that Prime Minister Skerritt has a lot on his mind. I can only conclude that it was an oversight on his part that’s why he forgot to include the leader of the opposition to witness the extent of damage cause by Erica. It’s still early days. Maybe he might have a change of mind and heart to include Mr Linton to have an aerial view for himself in the effort to rebuild Dominica. Together we stand!
Same old same old
No, in my view the PM did even better, he gave Mr. Linton the opportunity to do a real practice run at leadership in crisis to go on the ground in his constituency and other areas of Dominica to mobilise and fraternise and get a feel of the pulse of his people and their brothers and sisters.
Explain to me what prevents Dr. Fontaine and Isaac Baptiste like all other Dominicans from making their contributions in this crisis? Why do they have to be sitting in the Cabinet room or on a helicopter to do that? If what Doctor Fontaine has had to offer so far is what is needed now, Dominica can do without it. All this man has been doing is talking down Dominica at home and abroad and ranking it the lowest by all standards of human development.
Tell me why exactly he is needed now unless to give us a miracle mouth solution as usual for the post-disaster economy?
Look at what cost all you decide to come together. ill continue praying for Dominica but it is said that there is no evil from which good doesn’t come from
This picture shows only members of the LabourParty.?At this time we should be seeing pictures of National Unity
Admin: We’re not sure what your concern is. This is a picture of the entire group.
It’s about damn time…we had to literally b divided for us to come together as one nation…historic moment