No cash handouts, and the process is a transparent one where proper accountability is practiced.
These are two of the key points being made by Director of Audit Clarence Christian about the Public Support Programme dubbed RED CLINIC by its critics.
Christian has issued a statement following a DNO story that focused on a letter to the editor of the Sun Newspaper and a Sun back page article on that financial support programme initiated by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.
“The Office of the Director of Audit wishes to state that no cash is being disbursed in the Office of the Prime Minister or packaged in envelopes by the Office of the Prime Minister for delivery,” Christian emphasized in his statement.
He has explained that all disbursements under the Programme “are effected on the Smart Stream Accounting System by the Votes Clerk in the said Office upon instructions by the Secretary to the Cabinet after the Honourable Prime Minister has approved the amount to be disbursed to individuals, groups or organisations who have made representation to the Hon Prime Minister for such assistance”.
The Sun newspaper reported in its May 21 Edition that “the prime minister has vowed to continue the weekly practice of giving cash handouts directly to the Dominican people from his office”.
That back page claim was backed by a page six letter to the editor by someone who identified himself/herself as OBSERVER.
The writer alleged that what is dished out at the Wednesday RED CLINIC is “money (dry cash), also upon request monies or cash of up to $2,000.00, sometimes $5,000.00 well packaged in envelopes and escorted to the source by a special courier delivered to party and PM loyalists”.
According to Director of Audit Christian that is completely untrue.
“At no time do individuals receive cash in hand or in packaged envelopes. The Office of the Prime Minister does not handle cash for disbursement under the Public Support Programme,” the Director of Audit stressed in his statement to DNO.
“All payments are effected upon the presentation of proper and valid invoices from the provider of the services to be rendered and in most cases payments are made directly to the service provider by the Accountant General,” Christian said.
He has also addressed concerns about an alleged lack of transparency and accountability.
“The Office of the Director of Audit wishes to confirm that the Public Support Programme is being administered in compliance with Financial Regulations and Funds allocated by Parliament for the said Programme are properly and adequately accounted for by the Office of the Prime Minister”.
Christian also confirmed that “the funds allocated are audited by the Office of the Director of Audit yearly and reported in the Director of Audit Report to Parliament”.
Critics of the programme insist it is a vote buying exercise being under taken weekly by Prime Minister Skerrit.
“OBSERVER” has labeled the process “abusive”, contending that people who should be encouraged to study or seek better paying jobs spend more time “queuing up now in great numbers at the entrance hall of the Financial Centre in Roseau for handouts from the scarce resources of the state controlled by one man under the disguise of helping the poor”.
The Director of Audit says the support programme focuses on a range of areas.
“Generally, payments under this Programme are made for health, education, funeral assistance, housing, cultural activities, etc” he explained.
HERE IS THE FULL STATEMENT ISSUED BY DIRECTOR OF AUDIT CLARENCE CHRISTIAN:
Statement From The Office of the Director of Audit on the Public Support Programme
The Public Support Programme administered by the Office of the Prime Minister was established by direct policy decision of the Cabinet of the Government of Dominica in 2007.
This Programme is designed to fast track assistance to persons, groups and organizations in need, who have made direct representation to the Honourable Prime Minister for such assistance.
The Office of the Director of Audit does not have the privilege to comment on the merit or demerit of Policy Decisions but has the Constitutional responsibility to audit the implementation of such Policy and to ensure that the implementation is in conformity with Financial Laws and Regulations and that funds are adequately accounted for in a transparent manner.
The Office of the Director of Audit wishes to confirm that the Public Support Programme is being administered in compliance with Financial Regulations and Funds allocated by Parliament for the said Programme are properly and adequately accounted for by the Office of the Prime Minister. This programme operates under Head # D30 M100 M11 3406 P0722 111 406.
The Funds allocated are audited by the Office of the Director of Audit yearly and reported in the Director of Audit Report to Parliament. Such reports would be found on the Government Website at www.dominica.gov.dm.
The Office of the Director of Audit wishes to state that no cash is being disbursed in the Office of the Prime Minister or packaged in envelopes by the Office of the Prime Minister for delivery.
All disbursements under the Programme are effected on the Smart Stream Accounting System by the Votes Clerk in the said Office upon instructions by the Secretary to the Cabinet after the Honourable Prime Minister has approved the amount to be disbursed to individuals, groups or organisations who have made representation to the Hon Prime Minister for such assistance.
All payments are effected upon the presentation of proper and valid invoices from the provider of the services to be rendered and in most cases payments are made directly to the service provider by the Accountant General.
Generally, payments under this Programme are made for health, education, funeral assistance, housing, cultural activities, etc. Requests for health related matters must be supported by a medical practitioner and for overseas medical treatment by a Specialist.
At no time, do individuals receive cash in hand or in packaged envelopes. The Office of the Prime Minister does not handle cash for disbursement under the Public Support Programme.
Clarence V. Christian
Director of Audit
Mr. Director of Audit,…have u gogt any evidence in what yo are saying. I am tellng you and cnfirming that there are women who di ot want to be sen at the Finacial Centres and have their momey for payment of essentials bills delivered to them in envelops by corrier..it is a fact…the names will be revealed at some stage….you see what happening to Assad in Syria, where is \\gahddafi, where is Saddam, where is Charles Taylor…and all tose who help them cover up their crimes and abuse of the countrys resoeurcs have paid….the Time for DA this corrupt govrment will come to.
arliament has a Public Accounts Committee which should have the capacity to confirm the Director of Audit statement. The Chairman of the Accounts Committee is the Leader of the opposition. I expect the proper protocol would be recognized before a statement to the public
We “not blue vex” we just want the opportunity to work for our living and do not want hand outs Is something wrong with that. Dominicans is that the rule you live by . I was born and raised in D.A. and i was taught to take pride in hard work. come on my people is that the way you all are .Shame Shame….
Talk for yourself and forget the “we”. There are some people who are not able to find the money to do essentials and the government finds it fit to assist them, does that make them evil? Perhaps you would prefer for us to be in the situation of some people of the world today (in all countries) who with otherwise able bodies are dying of starvation or falling through the cracks. Everything that the government does right or wrong you plaster as wrong, so who is hateful and biased? Remember this, your time will come and the people are watching. According to Daniel the wicked will act wickedly.
So you proud to be lazy and dependent on hand outs from politicians for your survival?
lol…even quoting bible too we
WELL SAID MY BROTHER.
In this day and age, instead of some Dominicans moving forward, being self employed selling ice cream, pop corn etc they are moving eighteen steps backward, some think that this is such a good thing and enjoying it, this is laziness and dictatorship sorry for us in DA, wondering what will be the outcome when the free B is over/come to an end
Sorry for you people what a lifestyle,
WAY PA PA ALL YOU ON MY CASE TODAY WEEE.
A LITTLE POEM I WRITE WEEE.
WHAT ALL YOU WANT nah? A POEM ON ALL U BLUE HAPPY?
COMING SOON
this was not the issue you all had in the fisrt place,now that you all got straightend out,you find a shamefull lame excuse,you all dominicans are really shark familly,fameh wachen,you sound of like you never in your life recieved red cross asistance,or the nuns them never give you bulgar and cleam for familly,chow fake patriot,bury your foolish pride,the red clinic is same as recieving scholarships and every other social asistance,which of course poor people just can’t afford in this trying economic hard times.
Who’s stopping you?
Director of Audit, please continue to state the facts as they are although some people are not interested in the facts. These people prefer to repeat lies for their own selfish reasons. But the majority will be happy for your explanations.
Mr Maynard once said that a lie remains a lie no matter how many times you repeat it. Some people tried to crucify him but they could not touch his good name. A good name is neither bought nor obtained by trying to destroy someone’s character.
Some people still do not realise the number of enemies they make for themselves and their party when they attack others good name. When will they learn. In politics you try to attract people not push them away. Those who understand that will triumph.
DNO, this will be my last posting as “Observer” to avoid confusion, since other persons are also posting as “Observer”. However I will continue to make my observations as appropriate. Thank you.
As I previously stated, I have no problem with those in need getting help. My problem is that if its the same ones week in week out then they should be turned away. Also, why should there be a line waiting to see the P.M., surely he has other things to do.
If he is personally seeing everyone in line, naturally people will think that its all down to him who gets what, and his motives will be questioned.
The debate regarding the method(s) of how the monies are received will always be there, as there are some who are adamant that cash is being handed out. Make it clear to ALL that if their call for help is heard, that only cheques will be handed out made payable to the relevant establishment. If the need for help is food shopping, make arrangements with the cheapest supermarket and issue food stamps (no free advertising, we all know which one. Yes I shop there).
Encourage the people to start helping themselves. After all, the P.M. is the leader of the people, not the parent/guardian/provider/personal banker/financial adviser.
The PM should be applauded for pretending to use this clinic to help those in need. Mr. Christian’s statement, however, creates more doubts than it clears. This ought not to be a debate about the form in which cash may or not be handed out. The issue is not limited to the narrow and myopic definition of transparency as applied by Mr. Christian to the use of public funds. Transparency has friends like integrity, objectivity, fairness, merit and due process especially when dealing with public funds as opposed to private funds. Concerned citizens should focus on the absence of criteria for selection and the potential abuse of discretionary authority of a public official. It is not whether helping others is a good or bad idea. It should be about the responsible and prudent use of public fund- whether we are red, green or blue, we should all ask why is the PM the sole evaluator of requests, the sole approving official and the face of the disbursements if this is a government initiative? The idea of assisti.ng the needy is right but the methodology of the PM in executing the programme for political gain, personal popularity and party loyalty among the poor is wrong. Such a practice cannot stand the level of scrutiny that it requires when the use of public funds is involved
mon dieu wey papa !!! well DA have story !!!!! papa miseeee
i ahve gotten money from this red clinic before , cash handout
Just go by the rum shop upper TR to hear from them guys how much money they received and who received money and how much they received
Also the five unfinished houses in TR, them guys received over thousands of dollars, going to the Red Clinic and still waiting for the completion of their houses as promised during the election
In Tr city Freedom, UWP and Labour supporters received thousands of dollars
There is a woman in TR strong UWP supporter, she received nine thousand dollars to renovate her roof, what this woman did she took the money, uncover one of her son’s house put the old galvanize on it, renovate her son’s bakery and then put it up for sale, had it not for the thousands of dollars TR people received the PR would never win the election in TR, hope they have more money, gas etc to give us come next election
Win,or draw the red clinic all the way to the next election. I IN THAT!
Yes DOMINICANS beff country continue until December 31st 2012 then start on January 1st 2013 until. GOOD luck. I have work to do in these hard time I am going to search my children school bags to see if they are HONEST with the time.
PROF WIKILEAKS IS THAT YOU WAITING FOR SKERRIT CHEESE STANDING WITH THE BLACK BAG HANGING OF THE SHOULDER?
You call that the lazy man’s syndrome… That’s Dominica in 2012. Young and strong men and women stretching their hands while on their knees and saying Thank you PM. LAZINESS GALORE! Some refer to him as God!
Mr Christian report should clear up all the doubts,after all the PM is human,there still be people who would want to see him face to face, perhaphs to even ask for more.it was a good idea but PEOPLE turn it ugly.We people always like and want to see the ‘boss’ we never like dealing with the person or persons at the front.
Why is it that this PM must be handled by the PM?? Isn’t there a welfare dept and social services?? The mere fact that this is handled directly by the PM is questionable.
Ok I finish read…weh weh weh weh….hear Christian garcon…
Boss I have a padna that’s a poto labour and I already park downstairs by arawak, mr go upstairs in the clinic, came out with about 450 and we go straight by garage to buy beers and hot wings.
I personally know that dry dry dry cash is handed out upstairs there. YES, there are cases where there is some approval after the people speak to Nanton, they have to bring documents and stuff and then they get a check. BUT, little 200..300..400…them ting there is dry cash.
Doooh try that Mr. Christian. Pah try saaah…
A set of them people on here commenting, how u think their internet paying for them to be on dno talking all that none sense? lol
you should be ashamed…..@Met Yo….you just as guilty of abuse when some people are genuinely in need of the help.
call me what you want, the man told me park there and wait for him and he said “watch that eh, I going and get a money”…and boom within 45 minutes…he was back with money. How i guilty? I wanted to get my proof before I ran my mouth and I got it. So deal with it! It is a fact, that dry cash is dished out upstairs there just to get political support. I know about it, the people getting the cash know about it, You just got to accept it.
ALL OF US KNOW THAT. They can no longer FOOL THE PEOPLE.
Mr. Christian is a card paying member of the Dominica Labour Party. I say no more for now till I ready in full later. LOL
You know, everything that the Auditor has said in his statement was said before. Those who repeat the untruths are simply mischievous and should be ignored .
Thank you Mr, Christian.
But that serious man , And i there thinking that is talk.Up to 5gs ! That can block a hole , I IN THAT ! I DIE NA !
I have never voted Labour and I have gotten assistance from that programme.
It is a general lie that the only ones benefiting are labourites. I know many UWP people who go there. They will not admit it, but they do.
My thing is you know, is why are we distinguishing ourselves as labourites and UWPites….we are all Dominicans and sometimes we need help because not all of us are fortunate as many.
We all fall down sometimes and we need a help. I benefited from the programme once and I was able to help myself and now I am on my feet again. I know there might be people who might be exploiting it but what is wrong with assisting Dominicans in need?
NOTHINH WRONG WITH HELPING DOMINICANS IN NEED!
But should mr. Skerrit personally play God and be the arbiter of who is deserving or not? That’s what’s WRONG with it! If he gives help out of his own pocket, fine, but let him do so in his own time and without the circus we have now.
i agree with you it should be Dominicans benefitting and not just labourites we are all poor and need help
I don’t know what to do or where to go for help. I have helped so many people, and now I need help getting on with my life. I have a 80 year old Father who will let me stay with him if I can get to him.I have no money and no way of getting any at this point. I am able to work and willing to do so. I have put in for unemployment,that will help when or if that happens.I am looking for a job and I belive one is out there for me, but until that happens I need somewhere to live. I have a car for now. My husband of 22 years walked out on me leaving me with nothing.My daughter has allowed me to stay with her for the last week but now her husband has said to her your mother needs to find somewhere to go. I’m not mad I understand, thats why I ask my Father to help me. I am now in Joliet,Il but I need to get to Yazoo City,Ms. Hopefuly my car can get me there if I can get some money for gas and get my oil changed. Who can help me, the people that I know don’t have money to give. I can’t ask for a loan because I don’t know how or if I can pay them back,I just need a helping hand from some one. Life is good and I want to do good in it again, I just need help now.If there is someone out here who can help me, maybe there is some way I can help them or some else. I have been a caregiver for a few years now I need someone to care for me until I can do better for myself. Thank you in advance.
UWP go there. During the last election the labour party, came to my house knowing that i am not a labour supporter,i was offered nine thousand dollars to replace my roof, yes i took it but did not vote labour. i did not sell my vote
I know of people going all over with their Red T-shirt and as some of them keep saying, it’s all about the free B,
When Dominica received all them Galvanize after Hurricane David in the days of OJ, too many freedom supporters flip flop turn labour cause they wanted piece of the pie too
So if they going around giving handout, no matter what party affiliation i will surely take whatever the red clinic is offering
If the Money being spend by the Red Clinic is state money , me as a none supporter of labour is entitle to the handout too
you’re so right. I know many self proclaimes uwp supporters who have gotten LPO for materials and blasting Skerrit. their excuse is “well they giving so you doe expect me to take?”
@Malgraysa, Have u been to the program? Have you seen how it works? Have you seen its inner mechanism? Or you just depending on what other people feed you with?
Whether the sytem is corrupt or not – it is simply wrong.
It gives an image of the Prime Minister as financial saviour, These payments are designed to promote Mr Skerritt himself. Unfortunetely the money does not go the the most needy or deserving, it goes to those who turn up and shout loudest. My neighbour is almost 70 and has glaocoma but he cannot afford his drops and could go blind. He also has half a house – the Housing Revolution stopped halfway through for him. But he lives north of Portsmouth, The PM’s office is not around the corner. He doesn’t shout and he doesn’t get any financial support.
Who is going to shout for the most deserving so they can be heard in Roseau?
Has anyone on this site personally received money from the pm – or went into his office with someone and was an EYE WITNESS, first hand viewer, has direct knowledge that the PM hands out doles of cash?
these dlp supporters not tired of begging? no shame? no dignity? no pride?
u al dlp supporters ain’t tired of acting like vagrants? beg for this beg for that, beg, beg, beg! and when ya children go beg and dem get used and abused all u vex!!! keep on begging! go beg ya master skerrit! d longest rope may not have an end in this case!!!! enjoy….
blah! No one fooling me..
For those who are ignorant of the Tresury Department’s payment procedures or those who just want to be malicious, if they receive cash as they claim it is not from the Consolidated Fund – Public Support Programe. That’s just what the man is saying.
Since you know so much about treasury procedures and I presume are in Dominica, answer this simple question. Have you ever seen any of those people leave the Financial centre and head to the bank or treasury after receiving their envelope from skerritt?
Even if Jesus Christ comes out of the heavens with all his angels at his side and say what Mr. Christian said is right, the blues and their few rabid followers would not believe him.
So no matter what is said and done, they won’t believe it….so I doh even worrying about them and all their blabbering…..
Check the Director of Audit Report for 2009
The word Jesus Christ is use loosely by those who are not worthy to express their lack of conscience therfore I would suggest that his name not be misused If one have good education and a firm common sense will know that that report have much holes thru it I am not a support of either parties but when one cant seperate their political befiefs to ask themselves what is going on or take the time to read and digest for themselves what is going on around them it is sad and the people of D’ICA will always be look upon and being backward.
It wouild be good for you to take some time out and start doing some reading and more over listen to all the media outlets see if you can understand and then analyse for yourself that dont mean you would be betraying your party you would be able to think for yourself, Those persons regardless which parties they belong too show demand from their GOVT JOBS JOBS JOBS instead of hand out regadless in what form it is given MR.Chritian cannot say anythig different because I know persons who got cash. I do believe the PM should close down the RED CLINIC all together,
Mr. Christian provided a clear and concise explanation of the programme. What more do the naysayers want? The “Red Clinic” opperates within set guidelines and provides assistance to people with genuine and immediate needs.
It seems no amount of explaination will help the UWPites understand, they just want to be negative and bring down our beloved country. They are just blinded by hate and confused by their party’s propaganda.
HEAR IS ANOTHER STUPID COMMENT i AM NOT A SUPPORTER OF THE UWP OR FREEDOM PARTIES AND I KNOW THAT REPORT IS FAULT REGARDLESS WHAT CHRISTIAN HAVE TO SAY CASH HAVE BEEN GIVEN OUT.
ANOTHER THING THEIR ARE PERSONS ON THE ISLAND THAT CAN FIGURE OUT THINGS FOR THEMSELVES THEY DONT DEPEND ON POLITIANS THEY ARE WELL EDUCATED AND HAVE A VAS ENOUGH OF KNOWLEDGE AND NO ONE HATE ANY ONE BECAUSE THE COMMONWEALTH OF DOMINICA DO NOT BELONG TO ANY ONE THEREFORE YOU ARE THE ONE WITH THE NEGATIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS DOMINICA.
I am in full support of your Statement Mr. Director of Audit.
I just wonder. Do recipients of any such cash gifts have to declare them to Inland Revenue as “unearned income”?
OK… so I am to believe that the PM keeps a cashier’s till under his desk? And he uses that cash to pay people’s groceries and light bills? Hmm.
This is what I think might be happening:
– People go in to see the PM and he helps them with small sums of money (depending on their request). This is no different for other sitting representative; on a daily basis many of these men and women provide constituents with petty cash to do their day-in-day-out business. While this might be unethical and unsustainable, it has become the norm in Dominica… and is not exclusive to the PM’s office.
– People also go in to see the PM with larger requests (medical expenses, study expenses, etc). These requests typically are accompanied by documentation from schools, doctors, colleagues or priests and the like. I believe that these requests go through the process described by Mr. Christian, due in part to their larger sums requested and the nature of the issue at hand.
There may be other variations occurring, but I wouldn’t know… I’m only speculating. And, I don’t know from what budgets these two variations are deducted. But to those who ask “why isn’t this process handled by Social Services or Welfare Division”, I will tell you why – the bureaucracy of these public offices significantly limits their effectiveness as problem solvers. This much I know from first-hand experience. Many government departments do not return phone calls, do not return emails, and do not return letters.
If the PM is able to get his hands on a particular request for funding/aid and he approves it, you KNOW that a check will be disbursed in short time. So essentially, the Red Clinic cuts out the ineffective, uncaring middleman. I too would prefer transparency, but let’s not deny the benefit of the current set up.
THATS A REAL POOR EXPLANATION FOR THE JUSTIFICATION OF THE RED CLINIC. IT SAYS TO ME THAT THE SYSTEMS OF INEFFICIENCIES IN GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE TAKEN OVER BY MINISTERS OR PRIME MINISTERS RATHER THAN MAKING THEM MORE EFFICIENT WHAT OUTER NONSENSE- JUST NOW THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY WILL BE JUSTIFIED IN ISSUING PASSPORTS BECAUSE THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IS TO SLOW- PLEASE! GIVE ME A BREAK!!
IF THE PM PAYS CASH IS FROM HIS POCKET – So what!!!
For all of you bashing the Director of Audit, the monies that you all claim that were given to persons in the form of cash, since you all seem to have all evidence, please provide the evidence that it was moneys from the Consolidated Fund: Public Support Programme. Some of you are so ignorant about the functioning of the payment system of the Treasury Department or you just try to be malicious.
Christian batting with bat close to pad. Just like jimmy Adams.
“The Sun newspaper reported in its May 21 Edition that “the prime minister has vowed to continue the weekly practice of giving cash handouts directly to the Dominican people from his office”.( DNO).
Whereas I have no difficulty’s understanding that there is a need for the handouts all due to the fact that may well be the only source the recipients may have to get a few dollars from in order to effectively survive; I do not believe that one should dress in a certain colors to receive this assistance.
When an individual is poor every penny she/he finds in the streets counts, it matters because that single penny is more than they had before. Nevertheless I see a danger here when the prospective recipients dressed up in a party color, and lined up for the take.
If the Red Clinic was developed to assisted the poor there is no doubt in my mind every poor native should be allowed to participate in the program, assuming that it is a legally instituted government program!
Unfortunately; I have not seen a single person wearing Blue, or Green standing in line; nor have I seen a single person wearing a yellow or black or even dressed in any other color besides red. In that case one does not have to assume that the program is designed to serve none other than a political purpose; so that gives me the impression that the program if it is a legitimate government program, the nations poor population is not benefiting from the it.
If it becomes the business of the government to help the poor in our country, I think that all of us as Dominicans should welcome that, however, whereas it may seem politically correct to allow a few diehard to benefit from the program I think it is divisive, and can create an atmosphere of disharmony among people in the country.
Rather than have such a program serve some and not all of the people, I suggest it would be better to set up a welfare system run by the state, where the unfortunate can go to and apply for some government assistant if and when that hardship strikes, and becomes necessary to get public assistance without having to prove to anyone that someone is a supporter of a particular government or political party!
There are such welfare system in most countries of the world, even in the more developed nations such as the England, Canada, and the United States.
I have been a recipient of welfare here in the United States: I went from an $75,000.00 dollar paid electronic engineer per year, to $209.00 cash, and $109.00 in food stamps when I got sick and lost my job, I survived, all because there is a system in place which allowed me to survive without having to prove my loyalty to any political party.
The if we are going to engage in a welfare hands, we need to set it up in a way where all the poor in the country should be able to participate in it.
My opinion here is not intended to be political, it about fairness: Ours is to much of a small country to implement programs where ” many are called but few are chosen!”
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Atleast don hav summing positive posted bout our country an government..finally …every why can England europ America has dat program .its called social welfare ,asistance social,,being enjoyed by its citizen an in Dominica it is a problem..tanks to skeritt..tanks to skerit..
Sort sort sort
No welfare program is run in the places that you mentioned as it is done here. Get your facts stright. If they want to run such a program assign the monies to the relevant ministry and not handled by the PM, as if is his personal money. You know well that’s not the correct way. The tax payers of this country come from all political parties.
but this is not welfare, welfare should be handled by the social department not from skeritt office, and from the way they dress it must be labourites only getting reward for their vote
Since mouth open and tory start jumping out, I want to ask Mr. Christian; Is it true or are you aware that EC$100,000.00 given to the former nurse for allegedly paying medical school fees? Can you please tell us if this money has been accounted for! While it is alleged that this happened 3 years ago I am told that it can still be proven because a check was used and cashed at a certain bank on island. Do you have any records of this transaction?
JOAN HOUSE LEAKING SHE GET MONEY TO FIX DE ROOF
ALL YOU BLUE VEX
FRANKLYN GET A SCHOLARSHIP TO GO AND STUDY
ALL YOU BLUE VEX
PAM GET MONEY FOR HER OPERATION IN GUADELOUPE
ALL YOU BLUE VEX
SUSAN GET MONEY TO BUY SCHOOL BOOKS FOR HER CHILD
ALL YOU BLUE VEX
DE OLD MAN GET MONEY TO BUILD A FRONT STEP
ALL YOU BLUE VEX
WINSTON GET MONEY TO BUY FERTILIZER
ALL YOU BLUE VEX
DOE GIVE
ALL YOU BLUE VEX
GIVE
ALL YOU BLUE VEX
TAKE 18 GIVE YOU 3
ALL YOU BLUE VEX
SA POU FAIT
ALL YOU BLUE VEX
NEXT ELECTION TAKE 20 GIVE YOU 1
ALL YOU BLUE DEAD
This is funny as hell
Patriot I smiled at your humor although I don’t think that this Red Clinic affair is doing the people of Dominica any good. This is just the same old slave master mentality that the politicians are perpetuating. It is sad – UWP had similar programs maybe not as glaring and dispicable as the Red clinic.
Yes my Boy….i like that
@ patriot.. Why did you forget to mention yourself….How much have you gotten? Your dirty deals are exposed.
OK YOU ON PROBATION,ONE MORE AND YOU ARE FIRED
Mr. Christian can talk all his b… if he wants but that is just not the case. I personally know of someone whose mother (from Vielle Case) died and they could afford and paid for all their expenses and the pm gave them a refund of the full amount. It would be interesting to hear the views of the Minister for Community Development which administers the country’s social welfare programme. Why can’t the pm direct those people to that Ministry? I guess they fall in the % that parry spoke off and are too incompetent to handle it so he has to do it himself
I agree with your point. The ministries are rife with inefficiencies. It would have been months down the line before that family got their refund check.
My dear Splendour!!
If what you say is TRUE, why don’t you name the person to whom you make reference?
To those who believe, no evidence is necessary; to those who disbelieve, no evidence is sufficient.
Do have yourself a most splendid day!!
so whats d big deal? U vex too! go & ask for yours too
!
DOES THE TREASRY DISBUST FORIEGN CURRENCY? BECAUSE TO MY KNOWLEDGE THAT IS WHAT IS GIVEN FROM THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE. I KNOW OF PEOPLE WHO RECIEVED SUCH MONIES.
Well my friend the point is: it did not come from the Consolidated Fund Public Support Programme.
what chinese money?
A leader of a political party, has children in the UK/USA getting free transport/free milk etc.is that hand-out or RC.
Thank you Director Christian for the best laugh all week. Laughing so hard tears are running down my leg.
Are you sure it’s tears?
“AS I SEE IT # 1”
YOU ARE NOT LYING. I KNOW OF THIS SITUATION. THE FUNERAL WAS IN SOUFRIERE. HE DID GAVE THE FAMILY DRY CASH FOR FUNERAL EXPENSES AND HAPPY HOUR…..
HAD A FEW BEERS TOO
And you are sure it’s Red Clinic money?
And you too enjoyed the benefits of the red clinic – the free beer!
@ Original Eagle-Eye no one is making any misrepresentations. Why would a government need to buy votes, when they are already in power? Any why is it that no one who has posted on this site can say they have received money? Where are all those that have received money? Stop complaining people – your country is moving forward for the first time since Independence. Celebrate that. Do you want to be part of the “third world” forever? Still shaking my head…
So the PM has time to approve money for lipstick, sanitary pad, toiletries , KFC chicken, baby powder, pampers, root canal, cricket money , creole festival money. With a PM like that who needs a government. Next Level !!!!!!!
No wonder they ostracize Parry Bellot when he said that the Civil Service is unproductive – when these accountants have to follow “ SIGNED INVOICES BY THE PM “ for lipstick and Shampoo, depends etc- this is time consuming. There is also the problem of imbalance accounting because you money given out through “ INVOICES” and cash given out through “ VOICES “- read between the lines
Dominica government continues campaign for Dr. Carissa Etienne
The campaign continues by the current administration to seek support for the candidacy of Dr. Carissa Etienne to hold the position of Director at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO
http://www.dominica.gov.dm/cms/files/audit_report_june_30_2009.pdf
Office of Director of Audit Report of the DIRECTOR OF AUDIT on the AUDIT OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS
For the Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2009
PUBLIC SUPPORT PROGRAMME
“3.19 The office of Director of Audit wishes to express the view that some level of monitoring
and evaluation should have been instituted for disbursements to small business and house
repairs so as to ensure that that the monies disbursed were utilized for the purpose granted.
This would provide greater accountability for monies disbursed for that aspect of the
programme.”
Mr Christian, why did you raised these concerns in your report? How can you find it in your heart as an employee of the STATE to be defending Policy Makers?
You should behave like a trained professional and bring your ethical principles in defense of Dominica’s purse.
Is it because you just spent about 20 days auditing the Dominican Embassies in New York and Washington DC at the FULL expense of the State?
It would have been cheaper to hire a firm in the US to do it.
3 yrs letter – could it be that the call was answered and thus he can now report that the system is working better?
Or do you think that the above quote for the 2009 fiscal year, almost 4 fiscal yrs later…cannot result in a change of heart.
If you are going to quote stuff – bring recent – get last years fiscal report and talk – don’t come with these 1 sided things.
This is the MOST recent Report from the Director of Audit, Clarance Christian.
Can you provide us with more recent information?
Christian knows better than to mislead people like you… Read the report and educate yourself.
Hmmm guide lines and government regulations are meant to be followed by ALL. Government procedures are not and should not be conducted on a Change of Heart basis. If that is your argument I suggest that you remain quiet.
Mr Christian is obviously the fiddler on the roof.
Mr. Christian’s response has opened a brand new can of worms. If Mr. Christian is right about that (I know he is not speaking the truth), and all payments for disbursement have to go through the programe clerk, then I am left with the following questions:
1.Is there another similar program ochestrated by the PM that Mr. Christian does not know about?
2.If Mr Christian is correct that monies under the said program are accounted for, and go through the proper government channel, then am I to conclude that Mr. Skerrite himself has money and is disbursing monies that cannot be accounted for?
3.That being the case, then where is that money coming from?
I raise these questions because I know an individual who lost her mom recently, and she just went to the PM’s office, and 45min. later she came out with $2,500.00 cash. Was this one accounted for Mr. Christian? Just asking Ok
Again fabrication….that didn’t happen. If you can provide the dead person’s name I can confirm.
Do you really want me to provide the name of the dead person? Are you the PM to confirm? If you are not the PM, then instead of asking me why don’t you ask hime to provide the name of the dead? Oh! I guess he has done that so many times that he really might need the name of that person to confirm the amount? Ask your grandmother (you know what I mean) because she only leaves two blocks from you
Thanks Mr. Director of Audit. Now we have some credible material to sink our teeth in.
All the other talk about the program is just hearsay or rumors spread by the blues. No one has EVIDENCE of any of the rumors they are spreading.
I challenge anyone to bring forth some evidence of all what is being said. Unless I see evidence I am not believing anything.
Keep the program running. lol
I am not here to tell beff or to willfully discredit the auditor’s statement but I am close to a few people who have received cash from the PM’s office. In fact I know of a certain person who back in 2007 received $10 K in cash as a gift from “ and from this time unwards I became suspicious and totally resented the behavior of the administration. Why should one have to go directly to the PM for social welfare programs – there is every thing wrong with this practice. To be blunt just another act of corruption and dictatorship. How can 21 century people allow one man to do what he wants with tax payer money- this is absurd.
The director of audit is playing Pontius Pilate and at the same playing C.Y.A games. Every one knows about the two women and a baby story Mr editor. Many Laborite have openly admitted going up to the PM’s office to receive cash. To state that the disbursement of funds is done through proper invoicing is a bold face lie – everybody knows that. The PM and his cabal have spoken about it on political platforms admitting to giving out money to people – remember the PM’s speech “ What do I do when people come for help”- I always thought the correct answer to that question is – Empower the people , create avenues for self reliance and independence. Instead the PM criticize the opposition for pointing out the obvious abuse of public funds and the demeaning gesture of handouts.
You are no ex-laborite (by the way that doesn’t exist).
You are a mere political hit man…just check your tone
The Caribbean lacks a social welfare program, and I’ve always wanted to see one implemented. Often times, when the working poor is unemployed, or face a catastrophic situation they have no resources or no one to turn to. However, the plan should be well thought out. Social welfare should not be demeaning; after all, it would be created to temporatily assist those in need. There should be a 9 – 12 month cut off period, which would coincide with the job training program. Instead of cash, maybe a debit card could be used for food and necessities, and an employment program with job skills training, and computer literacy programs, which will in turn empower the people. Offer small businesses loans with low interest rates and do the same for up and coming entrepreneurs, which will foster self reliance and independence, and subsequently, create jobs.
Mr. Christian you are not in his office…were you there when he gave my niece $500 when she wanted to come up to St. Maarten to visit?
HEY
IN THE SAME WAY YOU COULD SAY $500.00
I COULD SAY $1000.00
TOM COULD SAY $2000.OO
HARRY COULD SAY $3000.00
PAMELLA COULD SAY $4000.00
GROOVY BAT COULD SAY $50,000.00…….
HEY WHAT WE NEED IS PROOF AND I KNOW YOU DON’T HAVE ANY.
HEY
THE SAME WAY YOU COULD SAY $500.00
I COULD SAY $1000.00
MAGRETTE COULD SAY $2000.00
PARMELA COULD SAY $3000.00
HARRY COULD SAY $4000.00
EDDISON COULD SAY $40,000.00
LENNOXX COULD SAY $4000,000.00
YOU NEED TO SHOW PROOF AND I KNOW YOU DON’T HAVE ANY SO THE BEST THING YOU SHOULD DO IS……….
Be careful Patriot. People have been convicted of murder before now without a body having been produced. Circumstantial evidence can be powerful too. It would be hard to dismiss all these allegations of cash payments from the P.M. as mere collusion, an orchestrated plot to undermine him. I believe that his ego is his own worst enemy and may well prove be his downfall.
to finish your sentence. “Shut up”
PATRIOT – Congratulations your are the dumbest blogger of the week.Go to the financial center to pick up your winning price – ask for the Red Clinic and your prize will be hand delivered to you. Make sure you get their early cause WIKILEAKs will take the prize to Portsmouth and hide it
And what does that make you and your family? Leaches for feeding off the system – you know its wrong and you guys still enjoyed the benefits!
In every system – there are going to be the deserving and undeserving – i guess in this case, you guys may have fallen under the undeservin.
Going to beg for money for a vacation! And sine you are claiming that she got cash to go SM i am thinking that it was free undeserved money
I don’t know what he is being defensive about when the same PM admitted to seeing people in his office and giving them aid directly. Lauren Bannis Roberts defended the PM decision to do that when she was pressed live on air saying sometimes people prefer to see the PM directly and he uses his discretion and avoids the red tape. Somebody get the tapes from DBS & Q and play it for Clarence.
I don’t know if is in bundle or envelope they are getting it, or voucher but many people have recieved money directly from the PM and some of them DO NOT NEED THE HELP. This program is well intended but it is abused by some greedy dishonest people.
THE PROGRAM IS WELL INTENDED TO BUY LOYALTY AND VOTES.
Please, mr. Christian only covering his wicket, as most people would do. He does not want to be contaminated by any possible foul smelling fall-out that is not of his making.
Thank you very much sir for confirming that it really is a vote buying exercise.
Wether or not cash is handed in envelopes or otherwise, the fact that it is the pm that people go to personally and he then decides who and how much is given amounts to the same thing.
My understanding is we have a social security department with a budget and rules for assessing one’s need for assistance and dispensing assistance so why is this process bypassed, is it not fit for purpose? if not the pm should make it so and remove his fingers from the till.
Thank you DNO for posting this story and statement from the Director of Audit. Now we have a credible source with first hand knowledge of how the PSP operates giving one side of the story.
The people who are opposed to the PSP and claim that there are cash handouts should refrain from hiding behind ridiculous names like OBSERVER and prove themself credible by truly stating who they are and in what capacity they would have acquired proof of cash handouts….otherwise these people should be quiet and stop trying to create division in our beloved country!
I accept mr. Christian’s statement that all payments under the Public Support Programme are
accounted for and are never disbursed to the ultimate beneficiary in cash. However,that still leaves a number of questions I would like to see answered.
– Can mr. Christian please tell us from which Govt. budget these funds emanate.
– Mr. Christian’s statement does not obviate the possibility that Mr. Skerrit may disburse cash directly to claimants from other sources, bypassing the official Public Support Programme
A clarifiying statement on both points would help to ease any lingering suspicions.
The man works for a government agency and does not want to be victimized. If what he has said is true and the “Red Clinic” is geared at truly assisting people with dire constraints then what is the issue?
Why the lies regarding Skerrit putting money in envelope for others of his “clan?”
My only issue with this program, if it is exploited it really leaves a legacy of mental dependency.
Mr. Christian, with all due respect, this statement is very contradicting and make no sense. You are not telling the truth but most importantly why is the Prime Minister the one approving the request for financial assistance? Don’t you think that his approval will be skewed towards the supporters of his party? Don’t you think that this can’t be ethical as it looks like he is buying the people votes? How can you sit here and say to the people that this process is in compliance with Financial Regulations.
You realise the Prime Minister is also the Minister of Finance right? Who do you want to approve it?
The appropriate department
Who must approve the funding is the office of social services. The seem to be controlling all the ministries thus the reason why the constituent body of the DLP is in disarray.
This is exactly what dictators do. The same PM who is so busy is finding time to monitor every $100 note as handout.
“You realise the Prime Minister is also the Minister of Finance right?
That’s just another dumb comment from one of our sad to say DUMMY NI CANs….You must have gone to school but never educated…Mr. Skerrit is the Minister of finance so alll civil servants must go knock in his door to receive their monthly salary..ok yes a welfare program is always welcome but NOT from any PRESIDENT, PRIME MINISTER OR KING..let the right departments handle this…someone stated that if it is handled by the welafare department only children will benefit….people I FEEL SOOOOO SORRRY FOR YOU….U GUYS MAKE ALLL SORTS OF EXCUSES in the book…I left dominica about ten years agao…and it’s sad that soooo many still have that backward mentality…your eyes are shut and some of you cant seem to figure out things for yourselves…maybe you all are slow or plain out backward.
Heres what if the Prim minister is so Genuine tel you what…I take a break from my job I return to Dominica for one year to continue to work on the distribution of monies on the government behalf…I have no political ties….I will do it for free…..I will call next week and send in my application…the government of dominica will not have to pay me….I’m sure he wont agree but I will write to him..I’m very serious about this
Yes I do and he should be involve in allocating funds, budgeting, forecasting, revenue generating in the aggregate.
There should be a panel independent of the PM’s Office reviewing applications for financial assistance. These applications should meet certain criterias before it is approved. The PM should not be involved in this process.
So that is why they increase the age of retirement to 60 to suit you Sir? Tell us how much your trip to Washington and New York to audit the work of the office will cost.
Sometimes I wonder if we looking for truth or we just looking for “beff”.
I wonder this because when is beff we say “is true, is well true”.
But when someone claims otherwise we say “is lie he lying. he singing for his supper”
So are we really in search of truth or do we just want more “beff”.
Off course its beff…have you ever listened to DA talk shows?
In DA we prefer the beff because it’s more exciting and keeps us talking. The truth tends to shut people up. I’m reading some of these posts and people are just plain out lying just to make a point and keep the beff alive. We need hard facts. The people who know of family and friends who received cash should get them to bring out the FACTS because there is too much hearsay in this place. We need to hear it from the recipients.
IF u hear it from them u will still deny it
I guess you join the choir boy…. sing some opera to your, lord Skerrit
Well I got my cash in hand and went straight to Save -a-Lot and went home with all my groceries, paid Marpin, Domlec, LIME & DOWASCO.Also obtained something from Shine Union!!! So what???
Lets see how the spin doctors twist this 1
DNO, I am glad that you vidicated yourself. But in the future, just dont post anonymous stories from news papers as Gospel Truth.
Now that sounds more like it. I don;t think someone at the PM level would just give someone money in envelope. We know how Q95 and its many foot soldiers are looking to trap this man in all their schemes. He would never.
That man too smart.
PROFF WIKILEAKS
U ALWAYS MISSING THE BIG PICTURE. THE BIG PICTURE IS THAT THE PM IS THE ONE WHO DECIDES WHO QUALIFY FOR BENEFITS UNDER THIS PROGRAM .
THIS INDICATES THAT DLP SUPPORTERS WILL ALWAYS BE GIVEN THE PREFRENCE OVER uwp SUPPORTERS.
BOTH PARTY SUPPORTERS PAY THEIR TAXES . SO ANY SOCIAL PROGRAM FUNDED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED FUND AS INDICATED BY THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT SHOULD BENEFIT ALL DOMINICANS ( THAT QUALIFY FOR SUCH BENEFITS) REGARDLESS OF COLOUR.
CAN YOU SAY THAT’S THE CASE WITH THIS SO CALLED RED CLINIC. ARE THE PM THE BEST INDIVIDUAL TO DETERMINED WHO NEEDS TO BE UNDER THIS SOCIAL PROGRAM.
ARE BEST PRACTICES BEING FOLLOWED.
YOU LABOUR SUPPORTERS NEED TO GET REAL AND PUT COUNTRY FIRST.
CLEAN THAT RED EYES PLEASE.
The funny thing about what you said, the same ones that are against are the ones benefitting…whats up Ted Lewis?
“You can fool some people sometimes, but you cant fool all the people all the time”.
Find another excuse but dont come here lying bold face like that! What is wrong with these people? Mr. Christian forget that Labor will not be in power forever and what is being hidden today will come to light tomorrow. He has lost all my respect in this regard because I for one know better.
Mr Christian ,you should let the people who benefit defend the polocy .
When rich countries give assistance to poor countries is it called “CASH HANDOUTS”?
Are the recepiants “BEGERS”
We krow the opposition people are up to no good.All they can do is to promote mischief
singing for your soopaaa
Sir,
Best you had stayed silent because I have solid proof that cash is hand out. One person was given ticket money to travel out of Dominica with the person four children..
Provide the evidence…. u saying that happen is concrete evidence… I sure all what the man saying is documented and can be proven to be correct
For the first time in its history Dominica has established a social program to provide assistance to the less fortunate – like Welfare, Food Stamps, Workfare, etc., readily available in developed countries. And yet still, Dominicans complain. Please people educate yourselves, become leaders and not followers and formulate your own opinions. Lift your country up and and stop pulling it down with ignorance. Shaking my head…
I don’t believe in welfare, but I do believe in helping people who can;’t help themselves. I am not going to help an able body
best statement i read on DNO in a long time.. give young girls money to buy hair products and to pay the duty on these products, building house for you able and strong people. this is not assitance for the unfortunate, this is buying votes
@ FED UP once more you are deliberately misreprensting like Mr Christian the facts. NO ONE is sick enough to be against NEEDY PEOPLE getting help. SO stop being MALICIOUS! There is a Welfare Division to oversee this program and many Dominicans have been benefiting from it, however as you know but choose to pretend the PM himself has admitted on the record he sees people in his office and gives them financial help DIRECTLY and that is the issue. There are many able bodied and even working Dominicans in great paying job milking the system this way. The former PRO of Labour called into talk shows several times and admitted to the PM giving people money from his office, the PM himself said the money is not from the treasury that is why he was asked where is he taking the money to give out if not treasury? T
people getting money to buy things from gas cylinders, to pay Marpin and Courts right to paying BAD CHECKS for which they were before the court and bench warrant was issued for their arrest so stop the hypochrisy!
Correction! Dominica has done no such thing. A program is just what the word says a program. What are the policies, procedures and rules for the RC, do you or the Dominican public know? What structures are in place to aadminister this “program” can you or clarence tell us? what budget provision is made on an annual basis for funding this, do you know? Again, will clarence tell us what is different now to what he reported to the public the last time?
‘leaders’ on ‘food stamps’? give me a break!
For the first time in its history Dominica has established a social program to provide assistance to the less fortunate – like Welfare, Food Stamps, Workfare, etc., readily available in developed countries. And yet still, Dominicans complain. Please people educate yourselves, become leaders and not followers and formulate your own opinions. Lift your country up and and stop pulling down with ignorance. Shaking my head…
eh beh all you modarah … social program for the less fortunate? like the woman in potters ville that get money for her sick mother who had no hospital bills to pay as a senior citizen?
like that same woman who is gainfully employed and whose whole roof was redone?
what about creating employment for those who are unemployed or creating the environment so they can be employed…
we too wicked in this country!!!!
What is wrong with this guy? If the situation has changed from what it was when he last reported on the RC, then say so but don’t come and tell us that everything is above board because this is not so.
Papa Dom if you know something is wrong with the R C let us know please .
Your saying so does not make it so
Did you read what I wrote? clarence gave a report on the the RC some time ago. Please ask DNO if they have it to print it out so you can read for yourself what he said then.
stupes!!!!