Marigot residents have embarked on protest action over the lack of a functioning hospital in that community.
The institution was shut down in 2016 due to mold and fungus infestation of the building which housed the facility.
Since then, amidst mounting concern by Marigot residents and their parliamentary representative, Lennox Linton, the government has made several announcements regarding the construction of the facility which has so far not materialized.
Chairman of the Marigot Village Council, Egbert Jeremy, announced on Wednesday morning, that a number of people had gathered in the vicinity of the existing structure in the village, to express their dissatisfaction with the lack of a hospital facility in the community.
Jeremy, who spoke on the Hot Seat on Q95, expressed elation that “the ladies” of Marigot had joined him in this “peaceful” protest close to the abandoned building which formerly housed the Marigot Hospital.
“We know that it is a national issue..the people of Dominica, if they [don’t] want to help Marigot, we are doing it on our own and we have started; we have really started.., Jeremy said. “The thing is, we need this hospital..we need a lot of stuff in Marigot. We need roads, we need bridges, we need every thing in Marigot…and nobody is paying attention to Marigot.”
He pointed out, “Marigot is not Lennox Linton; it’s not Edison James. Marigot is Marigot and it is a part of Dominica…and we’re gonna fight; we’re gonna fight until if they can’t hear us, they’re going to feel us.”
Jeremy indicated that unlike the protests in Roseau, there was no police presence except for a lone officer in regular uniform who was observing from the police station located nearby.
One of the female protesters appealed to other people to support the action which has been taken by the Marigot residents.
“People from the east, north-east, the Marigot Hospital is for all of us Dominicans on a whole. Come and support health and health is a must and that is our priority and our health is our responsibility,” she remarked. “People from the east, north-east, everywhere, step out. This is our life. People are dying because we have lack of the facility at the hospital.”
Health Minister, Kenneth Darroux, said in May 2018, one year after it was announced that the government of Mexico had committed EC$13.5 million for the construction of the hospital, that site clearing for the construction of the facility had begun.
Jeremy told DNO that the site has been cleared but no additional work on the project has since been undertaken.
He said they plan to continue the protest action in two other locations in the village on Thursday and on Friday, they will again assemble at the entrance to the Hospital. On Saturday, he stated, there will be another gathering to which the parliamentary representatives of the constituencies in the area and other stakeholders will be invited.
I agree, health care in Dominica is terrible, if you get a serious injury you cannot get treated in Dominica you have to be lifted out. The ambulance service, basically all you getting is a bus ride to the hospital (Funny enough I heard the prime minister say the say thing, guess he reads my comments, yet he not doing anything about it) , you pass by the fire station and you don’t see the firemen practicing CPR or first aid or whatever, all you see them doing is fixing cars like a bunch of mechanics.
You people clamoring and fighting people for Skerrit Skerrit, if something happens to skerrit right now, in 5 minutes a helicopter can come for him and bring him Martinique, Can you say the same thing about yourself if something happens to you or your child? Or you have to go and sit down financial center on a Wednesday?
Start thinking my people
It is a matter of great urgency for a modern hospital to be built in Marigot. If there are any plans to improve the Airport near by, a functioning Hospital is a must!!! Irrespective of which Government is in power. Marigot needs to rid itself of its present attitude that they are not getting anything done because of whom they vote for, and Lobby the Government on the strategic need for a General hospital.
What you all have to do is protest at the airport at important times, like when you all know of important people visiting the country, or when all you PM MR FLY AROUND leaving or coming in, but again I guess the last suggestion might be a bit difficult because no one knows when he goes and comes.
Those fake protest you are seeing are not fights for social justice. They are part of a political campaign to gather public attention for election. Good move, but the electorate can see right through it. They need to offer more than demonstrations. The public will always remember their non response re Maria etc .
They need to have more to offer than boycott, quiting, fake accusations, insults, press conference and M.I. A. after disasters and calamities. They have contributed nothing at all during the reconstruction but sprue words…..extreme BLA BLA BLA …..YAKITI YAK Patrinots .
Way to go Marigot it is about time. When the PM was in Canada in October he had a meeting with us Dominican and one of the thing he said was the Marigot hospital will be stating soon. Please Mr. PM keep you word
PM is a notorious liar! Wake up and smell the coffee.
The protest must be nearing an end now,still waiting to hear if Skerrit goons dressed in fatigue and robotic can gears teargassed the protesters …
Keep protesting people,till your demands are met.It’s your right in a democratic country.
Skerrit Must Go
Skerrit Must Go
Lazy Skerrit Must Go Now
i just want to leave this there for anyone who remotely thinks this is a marigot people problem because some of us obviously to young to know or have purposely forgotten that a plane crashe is possible in dominica https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/accidents-tragedy/remembering-dominicas-worst-air-disaster-18-years-after/
This government is just useless. They are going to wait till a travel advisory is issued on Dominica and finally kill what is left of the tourism sector. It clearly shows that this government does not care about the well being of the people of this country. We are going to wait till ROSS happens again before they take action/
The Marigot hospital because of the proximity to our airport is a grave NATIONAL ISSUE and has to be address immediately .
This has major economical impact on the Tourism product if we have a crash airline and are unable to provide proper healthcare. This leaves the biggest agricultural production area unhealthy which exposes their survival.
So with the tourism product been impacted and no INTL agricultural markets then our unhealthy farmers are selling much less products and are becoming beggars….DIE our People will DIE!!!!
These balls less ministers of Health , Agriculture and Tourism need to stand up to the PM because a failure of their department means a FAILED minister.
This about people life.P M and these Ministers have been on radio meetings Mexico is gonna build a new hospital for Marigot,The government has the money why waiting on Mexico.
Great..I support these protesters 110 percent over the hospital,This government rely to much on foreign countries where they could’ve taken quick action to rebuild the hospital in Marigot,And we need more protests for other projects this administration has promised,a lot of talks no action.
When marigot people protest dats there business, ,wen they tired they must stop,,ormwhen they finish killing each other,,all young people leaving marigot an go portsmouth ,,so just dem older illiterate sitting by d road ,,so who,cares
This has to go down as one of the most foolish statements made on DNO. Go learn when to use commas @ info wars you don’t know anything about marigot people. I wonder How would you feel if one of your family members was involved in a plane crash like in 1998 and there was no hospital within the vicinity of the airport because obviously you feel this is a marigot people issue. We only like to cry in Dominica when our house on fire but paid no mind to our neighbor house on fire
So very dumb. no common sense. Then again that is very present in Dominica!
Look at Portsmouth and look at marigot, please tell me which one is cleaner and provide a much healthier lifestyle. Its certainty not the second town of Portsmouth. 60 years of voting labour more dirty drains and sand fly. Tell me who has the most illiterate people. Marigot people have vote labour,freedom and upw . We vote the party that is best for the village and the nation. Stick with the Douglases. The national bank will soon be knocking on the doors for their money. The douglases will pay off the loans for the apartments building
ROSS IS GONE UNDER LABOUR. WAIT FOR THE HAND OUT.
With semi literate supporters like this may God help Roosevelt Skerrit.
Alas!! And you’re calling others illiterate with that drivel you just typed?
Well done people of Marigot. I salute you. We need to keep putting pressure on this dictator. He is useless and corrupt and he has to go!!
Yes I agree that we have a right to demonstrate. Let it be peaceful while you get your point across. Choose your words wisely, speak facts, and stay strong!
You all need to put videos and pictures on social media and share to the news media around the world to see the dirty deeds of this LABOUR PARTY REGIME.SKERRIT DAYS ARE COMING TO AND END.
more arrests coming…….
Carbon no permission .Let’s see how much teargas is used .
Things are nearing the breaking point in this country. Most residents are immensely dissatisfied and acutely disgusted with the substandard living conditions that they have to endure. People just can take it no more. Despite threats of being tear gassed, brutalized and arrested, these things pale in comparison to the daily insufferable hardships. The threat of intimidation and the terroristic actions of the grossly underperforming Police Force are no match for a determined people who want freedom from the shackles of Skerrit’s tyranny and suffocating policies.
That God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time. Skerrit and his military rogues cannot stop free speech, try as they may.
And we wonder why UWP and their branches are not taken seriously. Protest action everywhere for everything, every time. I starting to think that is the only thing that they can do. They cannot write a project proposal, organize a community development programme, nothing proactive. They’re reactive to everything. I thought they would try to prove people wrong everytime this is said but they are just too arrogant. Protest still protest and let us see how far you all will get. And now election around the corner, phew, is not we will see protest.
So because it’s the Labour Party that’s at fault they should just sit and accept the bull…. . Back in the day every demonstration was lead by the now president he demonstrated for pettier things . Look at what’s going on in France the people are dissatisfied they are protesting for weeks now / only in Dominica you all want people to keep quiet but you all are the same ones that compilation behind closed doors.
Again do you see anybody saying don’t protest? And protest not important? The difference between the president and the opposition is that Savarin and them use to actually care and be there and work with and for the people. How often the current opposition doing that? They were absent after Erica, Absent after Maria, You heard them for Dean? What did they say good about resiliency and being environmentally friendly? Which other leaders ever go to a country with their own citizen by investment programme thriving from Chinese and other middle eastern investment and bring don their own country? Which other leaders ever try to stop investments and aid from coming to the country (couldn’t even make the effort to at least have it come through him). The difference is that the others cared about where DOMINICA going whereas UWP has always been a party that cares about where they are going from day 1. UWP protests are nothing but to bring Dominica down.
Check history fool,protesting brings change,fools like you are getting the benefits of Skerrit,this hospital should be of high priority,stop being so arrogant,the islands main airport is located close by,stop being so blind,Skerrit is not God and he will not stay in power forever,God is in control and will free Dominica soon from all this corruption and lies.
RandyX or Jamie. Nobody saying Skerrit is God. A matter a fact, everytime I come on here, it’s people like you that hyoe him up under every article like he is some sort of superhuman. Nobody not saying people should protest or it doesn’t bring change but there comes a time when protesting becomes overused especially when those who are protesting are not looking to do or be anything good for the country. Just to show off, show up and cause problem. That goes to show you what their efforts un public would be like REACTIVE NEVER PROACTIVE.
And for some reason, you people can never talk without insulting somebody, keep up that negative energy, it will take you all far far far.
Why do the Opposition has to write development programme? What your Labour Party Government here for? to wait for the Oppositon to write programme and then pretend it’s theirs? Get out of there! Tell the your party to do it’s job. They have been in government for 18 long years and what do they really have to offer? Dependency
Have other opposition party write plans?
AND for your information the Opposition always write proposals, giving out ideas for the development of Dominica and people like you just pretend you can’t read or hear. However, when the government comes to say the same thing the Opposition says , you ready to kiss the government ….
Numerous time the Opposition has tried to solve issues by other means, even going to court but because your corrupt judial system existing justice wasn’t serve!
Just Saying, You just help me point out the problem of the opposition and help me push my point further. The opposition’s agenda is only about DLP and not about Dominica. What DLP is about, what they’re doing, what they will do. I take it their job is to oppose but nowhere on their agenda is Dominica and the people included. It should be about DOMINICA, not DLP.
I never say some of the things they SAY are not correct but they only OPEN THEIR MOUTHS AND SAY and they only do so when it is to REBUT something the ruling party does. I am talking about actual footwork. What have they done? It is all well to say and write but what have they done. Plus, you mean to say if UWP put some supplies together for a school, organize a training programme or do a fundraiser to send a child to university it will pass off as DLP? Give me a break. Quit making excuses. DLP not perfect, but UWP not any better.
@don2fresh whomever you are boo! where you are living?Are to death or blind?
Um, do you ever listen to the Opposition? Clearly not!
and still I say to you boo and booooooooo!
deaf not death.
I listen very much. It’s kind of hard to ignore a broken record. But, because this comment is very childish, I’ll just refer you to my other comments.
What you want them to do, build the hospital and continue to let the fool prime minister and his puppies use all of the money for their own use?
Anybody asking for them to build hospitals? The development of Dominica is dependant on every citizen and resident of this country, and if someone has to think twice about putting a hand to bring this country on a next level because of who is in office or who they don’t deal with and other nonsense, negative thoughts, then they don’t care about the country at all. If workers come in power today, I will still do what I can, even if it’s to clean a gutter, I will because every little thing is important, everything counts. The tiniest thing can make or break a country.
Stop with the excuses “because they’re not in power and what DLP will do”. Youth groups do more for and in Dominica than the opposition. So spare me.
Brilliant Move!!! .. Excellent Move!!!!Long Over Due .over!!!!!
The entire community and those that the hospital served should be enraged that a wicked government has been treating them with such level of disrespect .. Let’s see if Skerrit’s semi illiterate goons will teargas you all .
Skerrit Must Go
Skerrit Must Go
Lazy Skerrit Go Now
The people from the other nearby communities should join its about time something was done and the hoapital be constructed. So much unfulfilled promises by this current government it’s a shame. Just be on the safe side please don’t allow yourselves to be charged for inciting violence.
Move the protest location to the entrance of the Melville Hall Entrance. Let the world knows what is happening in Marigot. When a government can’t fool a progressive minded people,that very same government will use political victimization to oppress the people. The people of marigot will not settle for plywood and galvanize. For the older folks who lives in marigot please let this government know that the Barclays bank in Portsmouth use to be in marigot.
It was moved to Portsmouth because marigot and wesley people were building houses and buying pickup and land rovers with cash money. Mo loans was needed. After 18 years of oppression marigot is still the damn best village to love in Dominica.
protest for what, all you know a hospital is on its way for marigot all you protesting, o my God man. Edison was PM he did nothing about the hospital, you all stay like dummies and say nothing but now you all know hospital coming all you fine to protest.
Educate yourself before you speak and this is not about politics. If I sell you a house I lived in for 4.5 years and 16 years later you discover termite infestation would you blame me? Who lived in the house longer? What is the probability of termite infestation occurring on my watch as opposed to yours? Sorry to tell you, if you looking for me after 16-18 years to tell me about a house I sold I’d tell you that you are loco! Stop the foolishness! Let’s say Edison did nothing with hospital for 5 years. This administration did nothing with it for 16 years. Stop playing politics and analyze issues properly!
How long ago 20+ years!!! Why would Edison do something about a hospital that was still functioning then. Lock, if you come on here do get your facts right. We don’t buy any stale fish from Skerrits spin doctors and most certainly not from you!
Such a …… Read what you wrote . The hospital was still functioning under Edison James. Termites took it over under labour.
So did they seek permission? Is it an illegal protest? Someone pleaae enlighten me.
Since when is protesting illegal in Dominica?? Read the constitution and don’t believe a word Skerrit tells you. You’ll be ok then, trust me.
If someone have to inform you, that means you are ignorant to what is going in Marigot you are ignorant to the term democracy, and the democratic right of the people; you have no concept of the nation constitution, and right of the people as stated in the constitution.
Didn’t I read some time ago that the government was planning to start construction of a hospital in the area?
It’s hard to believe anything this government says, because they keep making announcement that they know they have no intention of keeping.
Let’s keep an eye on the new airport they plan to start next year. How about the international flights from Miami? When was the inaugural flight supposed to be?
Trumpism at it’s best – lies and more lies.
It’s about time….persons from Calibishie to Carib Territory must join in. The lack of the hospital affects the whole district
People from Calibishie??? Don’t make me laugh, they sell their vote for 2 shots of rum and 2 rotten chicken wings on the day.
They rather sit around all day and go to Roseau on Wednesday to visit the red clinic.
Boy Neill I so agree with that comment. Easiest set of people to buy. They like free nest and then they hate you for what you work hard to have.