Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Roosevelt Skerrit has announced that a large chunk of the over $400-million 2016/2017 budget will go towards the tourism sector.
He made that announcement while speaking as a guest on “The Real Talk” Program on Kairi Fm on Wednesday night.
The Prime Minister will present the 2016/2017 on Tuesday, July 26.
“You will see about $15-million going towards hotels, assisting in improving the rooms, buying news beds, buying air condition units, improving the kitchen, improving the washrooms, improving the restaurant areas,” he said.
He explained that the money is just part of the contributions to the tourism sector.
“That is just a part of it…just for one intervention,” he stated.
He revealed that the government is expected to sign an agreement with the AID Bank and the monies will be available to the hoteliers a day after the budget is delivered.
He pointed out that other areas the government will be focusing heavily on are agriculture and infrastructure and other main priorities of the country.
“We should expect in the Budget that government will be mindful of the challenges that are faced in the country,” he said.
In reaching out to the tourism sector, Skerrit indicated that he will be having a consultation with hoteliers on Thursday (today).
I hope there is something good for the teachers. We are suffering silently. It is so sad to work for an entire school year and you can’t save $1. Alas! It hurts to see that the prime minister was a teacher and plus the minister of education was also a teacher. Please increase our salaries, appoint us, take care of us.
PM – If those examples you quote are your idea of what is needed in the tourism sector then you may as well just take all that cash and flush it down the toilet. You really have absolutely no idea, do you ?
The function of the Government in regards to tourism should be marketing the product internationally and ensuring that Government services and policies are in line with the image you are projecting. Also their job is to work with airlines to ensure that once potential visitors have heard of Dominica they can get here in one day and for a reasonable price. Lastly they should create an enabling environment for the private sector tourism to grow.
Some hotels have a crap product, bad service and don’t market themselves, new beds won’t help. The rooms will still be empty with Skerrit beds and AC.
The nature of the private sector is that well run businesses who know what they are doing can thrive and employ people while badly run ones will fail. If Government does its JOB in attracting more people and creating a friendly business environment this is all that is needed.
But I guess buying beds and AC units is supposed to buy votes?
$10 million for agriculture!!
$15 million for tourism!!!!!!!!!!!!
your lollipop ready!!
Kempinski, silver beach, etc etc……
$15 million eh!!!!!!!!
so now the government buying beds for hotels? even air condition and kitchen supplies??? hay hayyyyyy well let me go and build a hotel tan.
skerrit u out of it wi pal.
I’m not anti government. I’m just saying that is not the function of government.
so you change your mind about the international airport.we need uwp back in power next election boy.
Ho w do improve the tourism sector and you cannot get to the island? Incidently our agriculture based economy worked before why not redevelop it? The business people in Roseau how much fridge they are going to sell when the country people sell their wares in the Dawbiney market and their bananas.
“You will see about $15-million going towards hotels, assisting in improving the rooms, buying news beds, buying air condition units, improving the kitchen, improving the washrooms, improving the restaurant areas,” he said.
so the state will be paying for the renovation private hotels? why? since when is the state responsible for private sector investments? This is so strange! but them its Dominica
I thouhgt hotels and quest houses were private businesses which were not supose to be fed from the public taxes and must pay their fair share in taxes . Skerrit is turning the place into a welfear state with the next general election in mind .no wonder when he said he was raising taxes on sugar which the same people to whom he gives galvanize plywood and toilet need to feed their children one quest house owner said on D N O that he danced with joy .
Who is going to control the money to make sure it is spent wisely?
What tourism it’s a joke
Agriculture is really last caca-rat.
Skerrit and Co still dont get, the large chunk should go to agriculture, it will give a faster result
Square pegs in round hole..Skerrit will have 5 tourist on his back,Reggie 12, Johno15, Darroux4,Stuttering Blackmore8,Justina 3,Ambruise Pwen Couwe 16 .Even better you will shuttle them from abroad to Dominica..YOU ALL GANG OF EMPTY BARRELS!!!Go ask PM Chastenet about tourism in StLucia..Then the tourist on the center of the street in Roseau,competing with transport..Sidewalk narrow,dirty and sometimes non existent…
Roseau was much more pleasant and welcoming in 2000 than it is now…Dominica has seen a billion times more money over the past 16 years than anytime in its existence.It’s a doggone shame and disgrace to see how those dummies and scarecrows in this gang have abandoned Roseau…TOURISM MY FOOT!!!
What about the airport?
What nonsense is this, to buy new beds, improve kitchens and air-condition units.dummy this is not a function for the govt. Why don’t u just leave the peoples island alone and agmit u cannot do your job.
what about EDUCATION?? Every year you guys do not put enough emphasis on education… the best way to develop a nation is through education of the people!
Meanwhile air access isn’t improved at all.. good luck with that