The Government of Dominica has announced that it is currently in contact with a group of vessel operators to determine all the issues needed to be considered in acquiring a vessel primarily for transporting Dominica’s agricultural commodities.
Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, told a press conference on Monday, October 21st, that the availability of a cargo vessel will enable hucksters and companies involved in the trade of agricultural goods to take advantage of markets in the south of the Caribbean.
“As it is now the transportation south of Dominica is highly compromised and we are unable to take advantage of the markets in Barbados, in Trinidad and other countries because of the inadequacies of the transportation to the south,” he said. “We are in discussion with private sector boat owners, and the intention is that the Government will purchase this boat and enter into a management contract with a Dominican who will be able to manage and operate this boat”.
The Prime Minister emphasized that Government’s real interest is “the facilitation of export and trade” which will no doubt bring immense opportunities as far as job creation is concerned.
In recent times, the Dominica Export Import Agency, (DEXIA) and Dominica Agricultural Producers and Exporters Limited,(DAPEX) have had difficulty in taking advantage of export opportunities available to them because of their inability to secure transportation when needed and at rates which are economically viable.
The Government of Dominica is hoping that the private sector will express interest in partnering with Government in this enterprise.
Now that skerro is preparing to call election he promising everything.
But we are not going to drink any more of his cool-aid
Why not assist a local person in the venture, provide a loan or concession that will allow someone to open a business where they have a vessel that transports the produce, in turn they hire a few locals. Then they’re able to make a profit and expand. BUT NOO>>> in dominica goverment is the largest employer, and who pays for all this mess this stupid tax payers.
mr pm you lie so much we dont even know when you talking the truth
When he is talking the truth is the time that he is lying.
WRONG …. the 2009 election campaign promised TWO boats: One for trade NORTH of DA and the other for trade SOUTH of DA. Can anyone recall.
well done linton u stated it first now skerro moving.. now i know that u r a force to recon with.. when u talk ple listen… thx linton.
Is this a government subsidy to the farmers? The way I see it is, if this (the boat) was a viable and self-supporting venture business, why isn’t the private sector filling the void?
What we need is an Agricultural and Development Board with the goal of developing the private sector. Recruit people ,educate them in forming companies or cooperatives, equip and finance them for one year.
Now wait a minute .Don’t we still have those Geest boats plying to England and Europe.We already have the boats and a guaranteed market.So why don’t we use it.We can even ship bottled watter to Europe……Just thinkling.What happened to the bananas and coconuts we use to sheep to England .It is a good market for all kinds of tropical agricultural and manufactured goods.All of Europe is our open market because of our special relationship wit the EEC.Forget the dollar let us go EURO.Let us use what we have.
Good move skerrit, if u do some ground breaking for an international airport before the election u will win all 21 seats.
The economics has to be sustainable, is it. If it is, then why has the private sector been so reluctant in moving in this direction. Running a business in not the same as maintaining a police force or primary health care system where taxes are the primary source of funding. When donors and lenders( a significant source of government funding) expect even the water company to be viewed as a viable business, it is doubtful that they will be a long term founding supplement for this proposed concern. I hope this is a well thought out plan and not not some whimsical idea to attract votes, much like the road from Rosalie to Petit Soufiere.
Good Move,this Government is the hardest working Government in the history of Dominica and theyve been working from inception. I dont want a change in Government.UWP was there and they never never thought of that but it took DLP the courage to rise above all dirty criticisms from uncaring , wicked, currupted and blind people who support the UNITED WICKED PIGS to continue working for the people. PM GOD BLESS YOU, GOD BLESS OUR PEOPLE, GOD BLESS DOMINICA.
I concur.
Mr. Skerrit we have read your motive and intention a long time now. It is clear that you are bent on doing and saying whatever it will take to secure your win at the upcoming general elections. You have a fair idea that you will be voted out of office whenever the next general elections is called. It is because of the mass migration from your party to the alternative and for that you are now losing your mind and sleep hopping from constituency dishing our money, LPO, loans, breaking ground and meeting the people. If you were truly a man of your word you would have dealt with the members of your cabinet who have done little to nothing at all to retain their seats, as you promised in St. Joe some time ago. Then again you can’t touch them because it is you who failed to empower them and made everything about you. You will be well advised to note that pride go before a fall and a haughty spirit before destruction and you exhibit both in huge supply and now that the chickens have come home to roost, the end of your reign is closer than you first believed. The people has had enough of your lies, trickery, disrespect of themselves and their parlreps. You are now becoming over bearingly disgusting with all these catch a vote and remain in power gifts and promises. Just face it, you have failed us all including yourself. If you were truly the leader you fooled both us and you into believing then you would not have to work this had. You are newly married and having baby, go home spend quality time with you family and leave our minds at rest. We are weary of your empty promises, trickery and lies. Now you paging your manifesto to see all the broken promises and like a mad man you are now trying to accomplish in five weeks what you failed to deliver in 9+ years as prime minister. Shame on you brother man. Go to hell, Go to hell it is not our damn business what boat you buy or sell. We doh want you again.
I would like to hear Observer or Gary say that government don’t get involve in building hotels or buying commercial vessels.
I would like to ask Skerrit to point out where we are in the development plan for agriculture, employment etc. Cause I am trying to follow the schedule. dart there hover there now here.
Pit Toilet governance.
Farmers boat promise round number 4.
300, 500 and 400 jobs – smoke screen
$ 400000 donation bribery
Silver Lake housing Joshua Francis instigated
Breaking ground in Newtown Joshua Francis influence
Fridge for Dublanc Pre school- Londonderry scare
LPO flowing like rain
Boy look development , boy look jobs, look progress, boy look foolishness and desperation
Lord have mercy on Dominica. There is no subtlety in the action of this desperate liar. If election is not even on your mind Skerrit why the desperation, why the mad man behavior
He has been doing it all along. You just trying not to see.
Why is the government purchasing a vessel? What happened to the private sector?
They too busy fighting the government and crying that there is no development and no jobs.
Yes mr pm skerrit u good for true wat next hopefully Dominicans will look pass that cloud of smoke and vote u out
That is lennox linton’s plan
IT is a great plan. So what is keeping him from persuing it.
Patrick John had that plan to.Two boats one going north and one going south.The British Development Division was interested to assist.The Carribean Development bank would be a last resort if there was no aid giver.The trade route was already establish with the Monica and the Caribee and then the federal boats and the deep water port was just completed.The old cold storage wherehouse was to be restored…..but….
Wrong. This is a 2009 DLP campaign promise.
2009?? And only now they talking about it??
Patrick was never given a fair opportunity to provide the boats. He was unconstitutionally stoned out of office by Charles Savarin. In his short time as Prime Minister, he was responsible for Dominica’s Independence, ETB, the Canefield Housing Scheme and the now abundant Canefield Sports Stadium.
@Boy skerritt not eas. He never promised to build Rome in a day. It cannot be done.
skerrit minister have no office cause everything is i have , i have…from agriculture to health.. is i get or i have…
I concur, why now after all these years the farmers have been calling on government to provide. This is an election ploy , but after all is said and done the bottom will fall out.
Good job. Keep up the good work.
That’s just talk. He just wake-up after 14 years of serving himself.
Finally! ever since I worked for DEXIA I advocated for Dominica to own our boats to transport our exports to the neighbouring countries, so 15 years late but hope it becomes a reality.Also I would not expect political decisions as to who gets to use the vessel get in the way of national export development.
This is a start and I root for its success and can’t wait for us to add another boat or boats to boost the export sector.
dont count your chickens before they are hatched
Too little too late. Why all the last minute rush and vyki vyki arrangements. For this to be sustainable it has to be done well. Tired fool us nah. We know the deal. Anything for a vote.
Way papa
So wait a while skerrit and his cabal said the very ssame thing just before the last election and now he coming with this again. too little too late you and your goons must go! I for one am fed up! I am of the opinion that you this skerrit need a very long sentence in prison for the various crimes against the Dominican populace and all your lying!
well, you know what they say about opinions.
I just hope the government take their time and buy a proper vessel and not those the US put of commission and cannot run the us waters anymore. Also ensure all crew members and captain have basic seaman requirements as these things are needed. If you gonna spend that kind of money you got do it right .
I commend the government for recognizing the problem and thinking of solutions.
I however, don’t believe the government should get into the business of purchasing and owning these vessels. That job should be left to the private sector. Dominica is already way too heavily dependent of government for employment. More private investments are required.
Instead of purchasing these vessels and competing with the locals already providing that service, the government should provide that funding and intellectual support to private individual(s) or shipping cooperatives to move that forward. That way with the combination of private investment and government supported grants/funding we can work toward a more robust private sector.
We certainly require more venture capital type funding on the island so that great ideas regardless of your personal or family resources can blossom into successful ventures. It is a great model utilized by Silicon Valley and is at the root of all the successful tech companies we hear about and utilize on a daily basis.
I agree with you on that point. Our current system of government is not the best for our PM’s Suggestion. More than ever we need to become less dependent on Gov’t, it stagnates the economy.
On another note our agriculture minister is a bit too silent on matters under his portfolio [he needs to start telling the PM the he can handle his business]
Man you should be in a position where the private sector could listen to you.No country can get truly develop if the private sector is dormant. What we need are private companies organized by by us in a free interprise system.The public sector should only facilitate the private sector not replace it. If an airline company is formed the public sector should obtain registration and landing rights and even invest in it but not own it. The Fort Young Hotel is a case in point.
Reflect how J B Charles and E O Leblanc ,two Dominicans with different politics co-operated.The government has preference shares in it.Look at the National bank .It belongs to the People ,but govt has part ownership.
its not the gov its the pm its election sindrum
That would have been a good business partnership opportunity for Hon. James and Hon, Prevost. Stimulating economic development , Job creation and easing the economic hardship and ensuring social stability are also the responsibility of opposition politicians even while out of government. It is unfortunate when it seems that our opposition politicians only feel responsible to help with the creations of jobs when they become the government. Though this venture is a good one and is better later than never I am disappointed that both the Skerrit administration and the opposition United Workers’ Party representative for not collaborating to make this happen earlier. After all both parties have been there for almost three terms.
Good First Step and Just Saying.You have given me hope,that we can be constructive in our thinking. The opportunity existed for a while,but we did not grab if.Dominica has a lot of opportunities but the public administrators are not the ones to grab it.See our stride in media and computer ventures.While the government showed the way with D B S and data processing at the treasure……
General Elections in Dominica should be called every two years because this rapid developments as regards to ground breaking, loans, buying of boats, the alleged giving free cash to Dominicans would not have to wait for five years to see action. With all that freeness that are spreading like wild fire, Skeritt expects Dominicans to be fooled. Dominicans will still vote the Skeritt labour Administration out office, because we have suffered to much and all the allegations of mismanagement and corruption cannot be just thrown into a garbage bin as though nothing happened over the last fourteen years. To little to late.
Promises are falling like rain, but no one is getting soaked. Liars from the pit. They just want to remain in Power. The next promise will be, “Free gasoline.”
Is the Roseau Market going to be covered as promised years ago? Election coming so keep your promises P.M. because we can no longer say if not Skerrit, who? The dream team is hot on your trail.
Oh, btw the Rosalie to Petite Soufriere road ain’t finish yet.
You think the hospital will be completed next year?
finally I can say this government is taking up good initiatives to build the economy. Agriculture is a main avenue Dominica can develop …. good initiative just hope its not an election bobol as elcetion is near
Best news in a long time … Skeritt you doing well. we need 3 boats and lots of insurance. At least one is a start. Hopefully the boat/ship will meet international requirements in case we expand further.
The boat is a good place to hide it.
Good move but that should have been done years ago. Never understood why government neglected agriculture so much. But they was so focused on daughters of agriculture.