President of the Dominica Tippers Truckers Association, Earl Laudat, is convinced that the government of Dominica is paying no interest to the plight of truckers working on the problem-plagued Melville Hall Road Project.
“People need to understand that truckers are working in Dominica and the government is not interested in us at all,” he lamented to Dominica News Online. “Nobody cares about us, we are just working and work is being done to allow people to drive on nice roads from Melville Hall to Roseau.”
According to Laudat the truckers have stopped working on the project since they have not been paid since January. However, he insisted this is not industrial action.
“There is no industrial action, that story is not true,” he told DNO in response to some media reports which indicated that truckers of the association had taken industrial action. “I am now going to a meeting with the Government so we have no industrial action taking place right now.”
He said after the meeting with the government, the association will discuss what further action will be taken.
According to Laudat truckers received money in early May for work done in November and December 2012 “and continued working in hopes that things would change.”
“The way it works with this project is you work one month, send in your bill you receive payment for the first month you work, however it has not been happening that way,” he noted.
The president also pointed out that no explanations have been received for the delay in salaries.
“Nobody not even the Government has given an explanation about money,” he said. “We are working for Jacques Ghardakhan, he is the contractor on the project but there is an arrangement between truckers, Ghardakhan and government. The foreign agency only pays after the contractor approves everybody’s payment. It is passed on to government and then the government sends it to the various agencies. Government is the person responsible for the project because it is government’s project.”
Laudat noted further that all attempts to reach the government authorities have failed.
He said Ghardakhan has been telling the truckers that there is nothing he can do since he is waiting on the government like everybody else. “Bear in mind that it is not only truckers,” Laudat pointed out. “Everybody rendering a service to the project is facing the same situation. All the suppliers are suffering. We have been asking whether it is because of the alleged black listing of Dominica nobody is giving an answer.”
He said that the association is currently pleading with banks and other agencies to have patience with the members since they are not able to finance their loans.
Laudat pointed out that in the end foreign truckers might be brought in because the local ones are deemed incompetent. “But here it is that we are working and cannot get paid for the work that we are doing,” he stated.
Public Works Minister Rayburn Blackmoore has said the project would have been completed by the end of December 2012.
mr blackmore u say 2012 not even 2014
pay de man dem der money they have der loan 2 pay
when the pm said he was taking them to the next level they didnt ask how high they just jump, now something happening they crying, for what?
All of them so that saying they love there pm.
truckers take allu invoice from december to now and take people to court for compensation and late fee…
Mr laudat.
Hello Mr Laudat. Well according to this article you said you work for the contractor. If so the contractor has to pay you not the Government. We were told that the Government received funds to complete this project and maybe the contractor isn’t submitting his bills in a timely manner. Also don’t we have any construction company in Dominica that can do this type of work. Maybe you need to sue the contractor in Civil Court for back pay .
Maybe all Dominicans in foreign should come back home and set things straight, Man!
Why do you think they left in the first place?
Hello. We don’t need to all come back rather the Government need to reach out to us so we can used our expertise to help our Country move forward.
This government boy! Dominicans wake up! My brother-in-law is not a trucker, but has a private company and worked for the government, and they refuse to pay him! Almost a year now, and he afraid to go public because of the discrimination he might face- he is a supporter at that (well I hope was a supporter by now). And talking to the minister in charge and the PM, they more vex. That’s why I will stay my skin in USA, because those can’t happen and you have to shut your mouth.
The truckers are like Homer who couldn’t get peanut butter cup and chose to smell the breath of people who had the peanut butter cup. These truckers sacrifice not only their labor but their equipment, fuel, equipment maintenance, accumulating bank charges, food on the table . Wow these guys deserve some special recognition . But then again some of the truck drivers and truck owners are intertwined in a conflicting interest web of kick backs, equipment ownership from within. The other service providers are who have not been paid are quiet as well cause they too are too ashamed to talk.
When there is no work at all and there are no alternatives people are reduced to beggars while others are just wishing that they could smell the breath of those who ate the Reese peanut butter cup.
Everyone agrees truckers should get paid for their work, but obviously there is more going on here, since this story raises more questions than it answers.
Why a project for Dec 2012 still going on? – who is at fault for the delay?
If Jacques Ghardakhan can do nothing, what role is he playing, just midlleman taking cut for nothing?
And Laudat don’t seem to be taking much offense to local truckers being called incompetent.
In my experience, pay is usually withheld when deadlines are not meet, or procedures not followed, this article does not give nearly enough information to tell what really going on.
my comment that does take more time to moderate. I come back 4 hours later, 6 new comments have been approved, mine awaiting moderation. Doh press Met Yo nuh
Why allu like to tief people screen name on DNO eh???? How you become Met Yo……Stupes Damn story of West Indian Crabs eh SMDH
but what is that for me nuh. I have been MET YO for almost 2 years now on this site. U just reach the other day you claiming the name. LOL. ASK ADMIN about Met Yo.
Omg what has Dominica come too….
Laughing stock of the Caribbean.
A inexperienced leader at the top..
Lack of vision..a island blessed with so much natural resources…but a lack lustre, evil, jealous and highly ignorant population.
The Power lies in the People..they need to take action that’s how things get resolved…
Not by calling the radio talk shows and letting off steam…
Dominica will always continue to be the poorest and non investor friendly, because the society down there accept everything thrown at them.
Fools Paradise..Crowns the Caribbean island of Dominica…
This is not only occurring to truckers! I speak for myself and many others in the same predicament.
Is anyone listening?
Even if I do not support this Gov’t one bit, I still have problems believing what the Truckers are saying.
Is no way they can survive for so long without getting paid.
The Truckers need to explain their real problems so that we the people can better understand what they are going through.
“Why haven’t you all taken the Gov’t to court?”
“Where is the open protest actions?”
all those truckers have no marbles in their pants……. and when blackmoore and his mini me pass they run to him like is a plate of food they see… look some dottish people
Initially I thought you were sarcastic, but you don’t know what you are talking about.. It is true. Happened to a member of my family – non trucker. Believe it or not.
Sad to say but if u want something done in Dominica on time and properly you have to hire the Chinese.
You might not like it but it is the truth whether u post it or not
when last you check the roseau to portsmouth road, they always patching after heavy rain….chinese give allu a crappy road
The government don’t have money but they won’t tell you that
Look people!! This is my humble opinion!!! From what I have heard over time, persons in public office seem to be using their positions to gain influence and advantage economically and are investing heavily in machinery and heavy equipment. As a result, they are competing with persons who have been established in this area for many years, truckers included. As a consequence of limited work, these new owners, who have in many cases registered their interests in the name of others, are pushing the old guard out by squeezing them on projects such as this one. If they squeeze hard enough, these guys will have no choice but to go out of business and will be replaced by these new owners who hold the power and influence in government. The truckers are remaining silent because they all know that there now exists in Dominica, a culture of intimidation and favouritism based on your political affiliations and they are afraid to speak out for fear of being victimised and loosing the little work which they do have, despite the fact that they have not been paid for so long and have no guarantees of being paid.
Now, Mr. Blackmore I believe deserves special attention! I believe that Mr. Blackmore set up a ‘deal’ with outside ‘subcontractors’ in a very rushed negotiation and that as a result of the pressure which he was under from the expectations of the people, he negotiated to have them do assist with the works, probably discussing payment for them (the contractors) but failing to discuss the same for those considered ‘less important’ in the equation. It was all rushed in order to be able to make a statement considered satisfactory by the general population which was ‘We have resolved the situation, the project will restart next week with the assistance of subcontractors who have been brought in to assist and we hope to see this project completed by the end of the year’. A statement which, if properly worded, could smooth out the situation and avoid a rebellion without actually having resolved the matter of finance…..WHERE WOULD THE EXTRA MONEY COME FROM TO PAY THOSE CONTRACTORS WHO HAVE COME ON BOARD?????
The contractors would have signed paperwork and so feel assured that they will be paid, come what may. They are also more able to wait for payment and more able to fight in court to get payment and so are not asking the question on behalf of the persons outside of their contracts……THE TRUCKERS!!!! So, there you go!!! The truckers have been left out on a limb and they are going to have to fight for themselves. However, I believe that they are divided on how to go forward as they all have different responsibilities, family concerns and political loyalties and so have to find a way to unify using the common ground affecting them in order to defend their rights. Let us hope that they find a way to do so!!!!!!!! And soon!!!!!!!
Almost exactly one year ago, on 22 june 2012 Roosevelt Skerrit signed an agreement with the French embassador Michel Prom for and additional $12.6 million loan to help complete the road and said that:”…we will deliver on this project”. (DNO report of 22/6/12). Mr. Blackmoore made also big noises, not ony saying that the road would be complete by 31 Dec. of last year but threatening the contractor with penalties in case did did not happen. Well, one year later we find ourselves in the situation were workers have not been paid, the road is still far from complete, the contractor has not been fined and there is absolute silence from Mr. Blackmoore. And yet, the P.M. is boasting about his financial sagesse in managing the finances of the country. It just does not add up. Can anyone from Govt. address the problems with this road and give us a frank and full explanation. Please!
very backward country,tony runs dominica and you poor truckers has no one on your behalf.
Perhaps I am missing something; but are only the truck drivers that seem to be this predicament. A cycle of work, late payment, no payment. I am beginning to think that the truckers need some help with their billing and bookkeeping practices.
Mr. Blackmore, where are you nuh? A project of such national significance requires hands-on management. If you are too busy to provide due diligence, then you should appointment someone with project management experience.
C’est tout
I doh even worry with them truckers there. Allu doh want allu money yet. Big truck allu driving we. Every time they doh pay allu…go on Matt..go on DNO and complain and doh never USE ALLU BIG TRUCKS to make a statement. zeh zeh
How can the goverment give money to people who are not working through the RED CLINIC yet the people who are working are not getting paid. Then again it came to mind. Are they getting paid in advance for a lobour vote. WELL WELL WELL
Fear rules the truckers or they would have done something to force attention to their plight. How can the bank sympathise with them when they do nothing but cry to us that its not industrial action. In fact it is no action atall but waiting and crying.
Call it want you want but if you stop working because you have not been paid that is industrial action. There is nothing wrong with that so don’t be ashamed of it.And if the contractor threatens to bring in blacklegs to undermine you and take the bread out of your mouth, stop them! I only understand one thing, when you work you are entitled to pay, on time, period!
I would like to know when this project eill be complete,Mr. Blackmore had said last year December 2012,now we’re June 2013 ,Dominica aleays behind with everything ,but not in bobol.
It has no real deadline. That is the problem. It is pass the buck time, all the time.
People lets us put partisan politics aside and ask ourselves is it fair that truckers have been working from January until now and have not receive any payment for their work. Come on people these truckers have commitments and bills like everyone. What could be the reason why the truckers have not been paid we need answers and action to pay the truckers. This cannot be right.
Because their ‘Daddy’ Shavez has passed. “Who’s your Daddy now?”
lol
But WHY I ASK WHY the truckers are not paid????
Alas dem truckers I feel allu plight…. I travel on that road @ least once a week and I know these fellers work in some harsh conditions…loans have to be paid …diesel have to buy….tires have to buy amoug other needs for the vehicle ..plus these guys have there family to take care of ..a fair days work equals a fair days pay and the government needs to step up and pay the truckers on the project and not only the truckers but the contractors on the project ….sigh* but as some of us know the government is dead broke jumpin from loan tto loan and still mis-using the loaned monies … We have not duck the recession we’ve always been in it and we goin deeper daily … We have loans to pay back to foreign agencies and our work force in dominica is getting smaller ..vat pays the goverment wage bill for now but if the working population continues to decrease due to migration and jobloss then this country in deep sh*t…..( Ppl we need to wise up..#fedupofkeepingsilent
To Still Waters……….My dear fellow Dominican, I am really happy that you have finally gotten to the point where you are ‘fed up of keeping silent’!!!!!This is an honourable and admirable position to be in, waking up to the realities on the ground and voicing your opinion openly as is your right AND RESPONSIBILITY as a Dominican citizen!!!!! May others learn from and be encouraged by you and speak out as a result, in defence of our nation before it is too late!!!!!! I commend you for speaking out!!!! Please continue to voice your opinion and make your contribution boldly and fearlessly!!!!! Peace!!!!!!!!!!
Therein lies the problem with our local business men and women. When a Dominican Government submits a tender invitation for project work they outline all the necessary terms and conditions under which the project is to operate.
Every business man and woman will attach a glorified CV showing all their work experience and academic qualification as well as their passport and birth certificate.
Apart from submitting their status with DSS and Inland Revenue they cannot produce a comfort letter from their banks showing their financial capacity to attract 15 to 25% of the project funding from their banks. These are hand to mouth business men and women parading on television signing contracts with government officials.
At no time do you find the Banks in Dominica do a local syndicated funding with a businessman or woman undertaking a major project with the Government of Dominica. Not one!!!!
Bankers spread the risks, the government of Dominica is not going to run away from Dominica and not pay its debts. How immature is your thinking and that of your regional and international headquarters?
If you bankers change your approach would it not benefit all banks in Dominica? Would you not create additional loans? Would you not generate additional fee based income? Would there not be an arrangement fee? Would you not all comply with the ECCB prudential guidelines and at the same time allow progress in Dominica? When will your Dominica Bankers Association begin to think creatively? When will you bankers utilize some of your retain earnings and reinvest in Dominica and benefit your shareholders? Why are our Banks in Dominica not involved in housing construction and 30 year mortgages? Can’t our Banks in Dominica make a joint application for cheap money from China say at 2% and offer housing solutions for Dominicans instead of the Government having to increase its debt to GDP Ratio?
If the Banks and Bankers in Dominica, both national and foreign administered banks and bankers do not see themselves as part of the Private Sector to take risks then Dominica and Dominicans must begin to see you all as part of the third emerging sector called the Repressive Sector of Dominica. Hence we have in Dominica three sectors: the Public Sector, the Private “buy and sell” Sector, and the Repressive Sector.
This has always been so. Foreign banks play no significant role in the development of the country.
God that was boring, the people want paying not a lecture in banking.
The retail banking sector should not be allowed to take undue risks with people’s deposits.
Why are you bashing the banks? The solution to the problem is for the government to pay its bills on time.
Unless there is an emergency and the government has to act immediately in the interest of public safety, they should seek complete funding for these projects so that they can pay their debtors on time.
I meant pay their creditors on time.
So what is minister blackmoore is saying about that. he is the one directly responsible.
that’s not good for the truck Drivers and the project at all.
That is worst than slavery. In days gone by the slaves did not have to use fuel, tyres, brakes etc. to work have. Most people do not realise how hard it really is to drive the trucks. I mean come on man, somebody should be looking out for the turckers. These people have families to feed, children to send to school, bills and loans to pay. The only blame I give them it that they stay too long working without pay before they do something. 6 months with no pay, that is ridiculous.
What you mean this is worst than slavery? This is such a ridiculous comment. At the end of the day, you, the truckers and I have rights and priviledges that slaves did not have; that some of their decendants did not have. We have the right to vote for the men and women we want to govern the affairs of our state.
I was not talking about right, i was reffering to work wise. OK now, what are you talking about,does those rights pay the bills, put food on the table and take care of your children. Those so called rights have the truckers in the situation they are in right now. It’s because they can VOTE and have people govern THEIR affairs they are in that mess. I would like to see you work for 6 months with no pay, I can bet after the first month you might be crying. why don’t some of you put try to put yourself in people shoes, before you comment.
What good are privileges if your stomach is hurting and you can not look after your family. Go on, explain that. These people are in bondage to their debts because they have not been paid what is rightfully theirs. You call that a privilege? Malgraysa
Mamizoo told you so. The Black list that they try to deny and marginalized was real. Let the crooked government tell those apologist why the project funds are not available. Remember a second tranche of capital was acquired for the project after they blew the original budget. Then Blackmore said that two additional contractors were employed to insure completion by The end of 2012. So the question is why did they not meet the revised schedule? Is the French Agency who actually Black Listed Dominica the very same Agency who approves the funding or the project from yonder? Why it is that the government cannot release the contractor? Is Kadakkan as untouchable?
The more these idiots lie is the more they come across as the rejects in the pack of cards. What a disgraceful government.
AA! Earl, Skerritt vex with you now man? Not you dat was getting all the jobs before nah?? Like on the airport?
“The Government is the person responsible.” Nice name for a person. “Government.”
Ask the Truck drivers what they feeling!!! de plunt of it.
The Truckers Association cannot be serious. They are complaining that all efforts to meet the Government authories have failed, but no industrial actions. I wonder why, maybe they too love their Prime Minister and not their pockets.If they really want the Government to take notice,it is very simple.Assemble as many trucks as they can, just drive through the streets of Roseau during the lunch period, by the next day all monies will be paid.
Well not Labour Party everybody want nuh? Look they Labouring in vein.
All of them was saying give the young man a chance so look it.
Boss, how is it that it is being suggested here that ‘in the end foreign truckers might be brought in because the local ones are deemed incompetent’? This would be absolute madness!!! The local truckers are saying that they are doing the work. The problem is payment of that which is owed to them!!! So if foreign truckers are brought in, it would be because they would be cutting the price accepted or negotiated for providing the same service which is being provided by the locals. Yow, you guys would be really crazy to allow that to happen. This would mean that once again foreigners would be undercutting your prices, taking your work, getting paid, taking that money overseas, possibly not paying income tax and social security and you guys would be left jobless , awaiting funds which are instead being paid to the foreign drivers and left with your debts for your trucks, bills to pay, hungry bellies and families to feed!!! What a situation….what a life. I saw it coming eh! When they said that the government had negotiated to get other contractors subcontracted to continue and assist with this work but they never mentioned how they were going to fund those extra workers or how much more it would cost, I SMELT A DEAD RAT, AND A BIG ONE TOO!!!!!! Wake up Dominicans or it will get too late!! Demand accountability of those in authority or demand that they leave or it will only get worse!! They will keep coming with the ‘soft loans’ to pull the wool over your eyes by spending it all on infrastructure which impresses but is not priority and the cost of every bit of that infrastructure is mounting with interest, to be paid back by you and your children!! Remember, all it is is quick money to enable them to impress but at a cost to be paid back long-term with interest! I saw a program today where the people of Bosnia are rising up and telling their government ‘No more lies, no more political division in order to continue suppressing the people’. It took a little baby’s passing to wake them up but they are realising that this child could have been Bosnian, Croat or Serb. As a result, they are saying to the politicians who have used the continued political division as a means by which to enrich themselves, ‘No more!!!’ They are realising that they are all one people who have been fooled and abused and indoctrinated for too long and that all that is necessary is ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!Time to wake up people!!!!!!!!
fight for your right Earl
How do these guys put diesel in their trucks.
my little toe is hurting
Well, if de shoes squuezing you, then just take it out
im guessing Gov gives them diesel from Local Purchase Orders. but mahgwesah, things already soooo hard. how do u expect them to eat to come to work? how do they send their kids to school? how do they feed their kids? and how in heavens name do they pay their bills. this is madness.
@ Neutral…..They put the nozzle in the hole at the top of the tank and squeeze the trigger. That start the flow of fuel.
en beh look it… that place will blow up eh
But. wait? I heard the Prime Minister singing sweet song, a melody pure and true, singing how sweet things are in Dominica. How people getting paid on time. he must have forgotten the truck drivers man
For the Government ministers salary meets salary, so they must be thinking it’s the same for everyone else.
You just confirmed that those ministers don’t live in the real world. Did you know that “politician” is the one job in the world for whch you need no qualifications, not even a school leaving certificate.
I thought dominica was doing sooooo well that we hav eshares in liat and boasting we didnt get hit by brunt of recession
Dont forget the Palace that provided how many jobs to Chinese workers
It is a shame.New form of slavery.