“Our fight is not even against one individual or individuals; our fight is for a free and liberated Dominica. For all of us.” Those were the words of Opposition Senator Delbert Paris while addressing hundreds of opposition supporters at a peaceful gathering held in Roseau on Sunday.
Paris told supporters that they have to remind themselves what a free and liberated Dominica looks like.
“A free and liberated Dominica looks like a place where young people can work in their own country and get jobs in their own country and don’t feel like they need to run away just for them to be able to feed themselves,” he said. “A free and liberated Dominica looks like a place where people are not afraid to go to the hospital.”
Paris continued, “A free and libertad Dominica looks like a place where NEP [National Employment Program] people get paid on time and when you actually find work in Dominica you can get paid.”
He added, “A free and liberated Dominica looks like a place where all of us can live in peace, pride, and not only one set will get a salary raise, but all public servants will get a raise.”
Furthermore, he went on to state that a free and liberated Dominica is a place where people who have given a lifetime of service in the public service, will not be afraid to retire, “because they feel like they will not get their pension.”
Meanwhile, Opposition leader Jesma Paul-Victor told supporters that if they do not stand for something, they will fall for anything.
“We need to rescue our country from this administration,” she stressed. “We see more businesses closing their doors and new ones are being opened. We need to rescue our country from tax inflation.”
She pointed out that many people visit the grocery stores and just stare at the shelves.
“What is this country becoming when we have an economy where the percentage of our import bill is much greater than our export bill?” Paul-Victor asked. “Look at our country where we have an abundance of so many fruits, yet we see more of them being left to rot than being sold.”
Paul-Victor further stressed that many farmers are still suffering daily due to poor road conditions to get to their farms.
“We need to rescue our country from political victimization,” she remarked. “I know there are so many people who want to be there this afternoon but are afraid of what happens when they go to work tomorrow. What has this country come to?”
She believes that restoration and building Dominica solely depends on, “each one of us and how motivated we are.”
“This country needs me and you. It needs us but we have to be unified in order to achieve our goal,” Paul-Victor noted.
The UWP has once again failed miserably to deliver to the people their manifesto to what they will do differently if given the opportunity to govern. Demands cannot be top on their agenda and expect change. Lennox need to understand incumbent government do not submit to demands from parties especially when no one represents you in the house of assembly. What an opportunity wasted away.
@Len prosper
Unless you are dreaming, UWP did present a 2019 manifesto to the people. Wake up from you slumber and pettiness. Dominica pitiful situation has nothing to do with Lennox, but everything to do with Skerrit. Finally i doubt you even understood what you read.
In 1980 the PEOPLE of Dominica voted DLP out of power after 20 years.In 1995 the PEOPLE of Dominica voted DFP out of power after 15 years.In 2000 the same Dominican PEOPLE kicked UWP out of power after 4 1/2 years,for corruption,victimization,greed and lies.24 years later the mighty DLP is still in power and will remain in power for the next 20 years
.All the overeducated UWP acolytes are not asking themselves the reason for the PEOPLE not voting UWP.For 24 years,all they do is stay with their heads buried in a pit toilet posting crap on DNO.UWP stay like conch,the more they beat them is the more they want blows.A handful of losers.
BLACKOUT,you are just a complete ignorant Jacka.In a population of 72,000,Dominica has more that 39,000 registered vehicles,where do you think the money to buy the vehicles are coming from?Instead of being lazy go around the country and you will see hundreds of $500,000 mansions being built.In the nursing service hundreds of young people are employed.In the police force,fire service and teaching service,thousands of young people employed.Dominica is run by young people,go to the financial institutions,go to the supermarkets,go to the stores,young people employed everywhere.More than 90% of the ministers in parliament are under 55.All the hundreds of small businesses in Dominica are OWNED by young people.If you broke is laziness and stupidness that make you broke.
UWP DID SO MUCH WORST WHEN THEY WERE IN OFFICE.SOME HATING ON THE PM FOR DOMINICA.UWP LEFT DOMINICA IN SO MANY BILLS TO PAY BACK WHEN DLP CAME IN OFFICE.GOD IS GOOD.THE PM IS THERE FOR A REASON.UWP PEOPLE ARE TROUBLEMAKERS. BLUE, WHITE, ORANGE ARE CONFUSE PARTY.THE WHOLE WORLD IS HARD.ALL COUNTRIES HAS Its UP’S AND DOWN’S.DOMINICA IS A BLESSED COUNTRY.
Let me remind Mr Paris,when UWP won the election in 1995 the population of Dominica was 69,000,when they were KICKED out for corruption,victimization,lies and greed in 2000,the population was 68,000.
There was no Clear harbor in Dominica before Skerrit became Prime Minister.There was no NEP.
There was no yes we care.
There was no FREE $250,000, $300,000 and $400,000 houses
There was no $300 monthly for senior citizens.
There was no FREE medical for senior citizens.
There was no FREE school bus service.
The minimum wage under UWP was $4.50 an hour.Skerrit increased the minimum wage to $7.50.
There was no emergency medical fund before Skerrit.
There was no FREE secondary school before Skerrit.And DNO,the country the opposition can BUMP their GUMS today was built by Roosevelt Skerrit and Labourites
The country where crooks and traitors can freely and shamelessly run their …………. freely,was built by Roosevelt Skerrit and Labourites.
@Lin Clown
Stop exposing your clownish stupudity.If that’s Skerrits achievements after 24 years as a parliamentarian, and 20 years as Prime Minister, he is the world’s biggest failure. There were many many many many houses more than $250 000 when Skerrit took office, your clown. And in Dominica in 2024, EC$250 000.00 cant give anyone with children a proper house. $300 can hardly buy anything to anyone for 2 days in Dominica. WICKED!. You did not mention the greedy takes EC$ 64 000.00.
Your Clown, stop shooting yourself in the foot.
@Lin clown
Those look like reasons why Skerrit should go.
this list is a huge failure. How long is this lazy guy Skerrit in office?
thats very poor performance. What is the unemployment rate?
What is the average monthly salary?.
you must be sitting on your brain. To me your list shows that Skerrit is lazy, and cannot do what he was elected to do.
Fake, misinformed, unalphabetic statistician-historian. Lie Clown go back underground in your crab hole to hibernate.
The present incumbency which is comprised of abusers, numbskulls, shady characters and scoundrels. They have 99.7% of citizens living on the periphery of life.
Go away, Lie Clown, with your cockeyed story. Perfect nonsense.
just think about passport credit
UK visa free ban
Canada visa free ban
@ clown
The only thing that is 100% correct about you, is that you know that you are a clown.😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄
There was no Clear Habor but there was Ross Medical school also in 2000 Dominica was ahead of Grenada and St Vincent in GDP per capita but alas they have since both passed Dominica, we are now dead last. With all that free stuff labourites with free houses are leaving the free house and heading to Antigua and St Kitts for jobs.
The very noticeable issue here is the lack of young people. Young people are very vocal about how disillusioned they are with the DLP, but these pictures show they do not see the current options as the solution.
Democracy itself has failed us and the youth are recognising that. The system of colonial governance in stealth where Chinese, Europeans and any outsider with enough money can have influence on our governance and benefit economically while the local afro-caribbean youth are excluded to the point where they either sell drugs or migrate is tired.
The youth clearly feel marginalised and that is sowing the seeds of a future revolution. I hope we don’t act surprised when it comes.
@Waiting For Airport
Well there were more young people in this event than customary, but your comment re the young people, is something that i have been echoing for years…The numbers are increasing, but presently it’s not enough.
Good!
Put some speakers on a truck and some rum and you will see the youth come out, remember the snap election the reset, no labour politicians ever spoke just trucks upon trucks with music, sewo and rum and the youth came out.
@Mike
You are correct, i see it, and i often wonder when did we come this way. So you can see the predecament the country is in.
A Dominican can call a radio station and call the PM any derogatory name without the host stopping the caller. A pastor can turn politician use the Bible as an avenue to throw punches at Government officials.
A party can host a rally in the city, make threats, cause harm and injury and then walk free next day week month and year.
A government Is busy building airport, miles of new roads, schools, free housing. health facilities, geothermal etc etc.
so how is the country not free? Citizens can open any business possible. There is freedom to travel within and without the Country. Freedom to associate, worship, trade, congregate. etc etc. What are these guys truly talking about.
After plunging themselves in a dark hole by shooting themselves in the foot by not pat taking in the general elections. They have so much time to reflect on how they can restratigize how best to put a plan together that can convince the population that they are finally ready to show wisdom, & amp;…
@Desmond Benjamin
Stop wasting your doggone time posting unadulterated garbage and puffery, your shameless accessory of evil. You need to openly criticize Skerrit over his evil, venemous and corrupt leadership, which is characterised by………. lying, ……….. and cheating, but your mouth is zipped and vision blinkered.
Your hypocrite!!
The engine of any democratic society is free and fair elections. It has been highjacked since 2008, when Anthony Astaphan in an infamous e-mail, instructed Skerrit that there should be NO ELECTORAL REFORM, because if he implements it, it will undermine his re election legacy.
I have no respect for those who side evil..
Mr Benjamin, you are absolutely correct. I consider myself free as a bird, to do as I want within the confines of the law and to say anything, not libelous with no repercussions, no fear of being arrested. Now that’s freedom. How could anyone offer anything more.
One can argue that a change in government may bring more opportunities, maybe but not additional freedoms. That’s utter nonsense. One is free to cast their vote for any party but that party should demonstrate that they’re deserving of their vote. Don’t expect folks to just vote for you when you’re not prepared to put in the time. It doesn’t work that way.
Those who choose to have politics consume their lives will say the sort of crap that was mentioned regarding freedoms but for the average Joe/Josette, they are like you and I, free as a bird to do as they please. I sometimes wonder whether these so called politicians actually believe some of the things they say. Simply mind boggling.
@Mark
@ Mark
Neither you nor Benjamin understand what freedom in a democracy means. “MEME” is very very correct, and you and Benjamin are dead wrong, even ignorant too. Unless you have freedom to elect a governmrnt in a free and fair way, democracy is absent in this country. It’s the basis of any democracy. The comment hurt you, but he is CORRECT.
Fire and Blackout, I believe I know what freedom is all about since I do not consider myself neither physically or mentally held captive. Examine for a moment what Mr Benjamin said about freedom and what the good Senator Paris said and you tell me who makes the most sense.
Senator Paris spoke about migration, pension, hospitalization etc etc. Is this what he refers to as anti freedom? Puzzling to say the least.
You are being held captive because of your dislike of the current government. Liberate yourself from this mental slavery and you will begin to see clearly that Dominica is as free as a country gets.
Finally, you tell me the restrictions that currently exist on island where freedom is lacking. I’m listening.
Before you accuse other people of not understanding what freedom in a democracy means, you need to be rational and not held bent on your perception. To suggest that
Dominicans’ do not have freedom to elect a government in a free and fair way is somewhat ludicrous and absurd. This accusation has been dealt with in the courts on several occasions and thrown out.
Now, as to electoral reform needed, it does mean that Dominicans’ do not have freedom to elect a government in a free and fair way. Look at the US, and the electoral process aren’t there calls for electoral reform, now would you say that Americans do not have the freedom to elect a government. The electoral reform which the Government embarked was done in a very democratic process, you may not think so, but the record speaks for itself. The opposition
has been malicious, perpetrating this long-drawn-out repeated accusation to no avail, so long
Under this ultra greedy, selfish and corrupt government fairness, unity and good governance vs are not part of this dishonorable regime’s vernacular.
I strongly believe that the majority of Dominicans yearn for their country to be peaceful, prosperous and free from divisiveness and dependency. Those ideals are feasible with honest, fair-minded, insightful men and women at the helm of the government.
The country has always been free and liberated. What is your problem? Are you tired of living off the dole. Go find you a job. You all dumb folks have nothing never better to say but to rehash and reiterate the same …. over and over and over. You all sound like broken records. Skerrit is here to stay and that is a fact. He will not be moved. Ugly Lenny and chicken-box Thomas Fontaine will never be the PM of Dominica, not on this earth, not on the next one. Aren’t you tired of spewing your same s… over and over on DNO? Nobody pays you any mind on election Day. You are an Election Day loser. Your bum. All your mendacious statements have been debunked over and over. What else is new, cry, cry babies? You need more cow’s milk? Stop posting your Bovine Scatology on DNO. Nobody cares about you and Ugly Lenny.
I agree that the country was always free before Lying Roosevelt ascent to the apex of government.
One unalphabetic, conniving, opportunistic fox has himself, his functionally illiterate wife and their entitled children hogging the resources of the state living in unimaginable opulence. All this while thousands of native Dominicans have no clue where their next meal coming from.
Knowing these things to be authentic, only cult-like, unschooled people like you, ds, can give this kleptomaniac their unreserved loyalty.
Well said Jesma Paul…United we stand, divided we fall. Let’s work together to remove Skerrit from office.
Every body BROKES ($$$,€€€,£££) except about 2% of the population that have our passport money, and they are filthy rich.
Just check her posture. She looks like someone with osteoporosis. That is Jesma Paul.
Very very very impressive turn out by Dominicans, across the political spectrum. This needs to be turned into a movement. Just give me the date for the next one.
About 98% of all Dominicans are BROKES ($$$$,€€€€,££££), while a few are filthy rich from the sales of our passbort. In a liberated Dominica, competitive bidding for projects will thrive, and those THIEVES will serve their time.