COMMENTARY: The beginning of the demise of the Village Council System in Dominica     

A National Village Council Convention in Salisbury in 1967 (Photo:  the late Charles Gregoire’s archives)

Local Government was introduced in Dominica over 100 years ago as part of a system of political decentralization used by the British Colonial Administration. From its  origins in the late 19th Century with two municipal boards, the Roseau Town Board in 1869 and the Portsmouth Town Board, either in the late 1800’s or the early 1900’s, Local Authorities  have evolved today to a be vibrant  and effective system and movement. The proliferation of the village council system coincided with Premier Edward LeBlanc’s rural road projects. The more roads he cut into the hinterland the more village councils were formed.

The first village council was formed in Marigot in the 1933. In 1963 there were ten (10) Councils, twenty (20) in 1968, thirty (30) in 1975 and thirty-seven (37) in 2002. Today in addition to the    three (3) municipal Councils; the Roseau City Council, the Portsmouth Town Council, the Canefield Urban Council and the Kalinago Council, there are about forty-one (41) Village Councils in Dominica.

These Local Government bodies which  function under Chapter 190 of the 1961 revised laws of Dominica are popularly elected bodies ‘empowered by law’ to regulate and administer affairs in their respective areas. It is a system of institutionalized political decentralization which is designed to foster local autonomy, popular bi-partisan and inclusive participation in the life and development of demarcated areas. The entities are funded by government grants for requested projects and from local house and land taxes.

This semi-autonomous Local Government authority has a long and noble tradition and is and has been by far the best form of democratic governance and government for and by rural folks to manage their local affairs.  It was the true and honest government and representation of the peasantry (Mal-ea- way) in remote communities which are spread through-out the valleys and mountains of Dominica. The Village Councils are responsible for key strategic decisions in the development of their villages and hamlets. It was designed to be the most “grass-roots” and bi- partisan arm of government within a democratic system. It has survived several domestic political changes, as well as social and economic transformations at home and abroad during the colonial and post-independence periods.

But today, the system is facing insurmountable challenges which if the trajectory continues will surely lead to its total demise. The politics of big money and national political meddling have invaded, infected and in some cases corrupted some Councils. The La Plaine Village Council once a vanguard of a highly effective and cohesive council, has become a paralyzed, unfortunate and shameful causality of this unethical and probably illegal and corrupt public policy.

Historically the La Plaine village Council in spite of the elected members’ political differences and affiliations has been responsible for this village being one of the beacons of  the  island. The progressive leadership always  fostered a clear and strong message through ‘Colmays’, village picnics, meetings and social gatherings, that everyone is responsible for the village’s development in spite of little of  no monetary government funding.

Furthermore, Dominica’ current ruling Labour government has since abolished the Ministry of Community Development which was responsible for Local Government and replaced it with the Ministry for Constituency Empowerment. Observers allege that this new portfolio is nothing more than a conduit through which funds and resources are passed to the Councils to do the ruling government’s political work.

Consequently, these Local Government entitles have fallen prey to big money and are viewed as political footballs embroiled in a bigger game they don’t understand. The Current PM presents himself at Village Councils’ inaugurations and acts like Santa Claus delivering checks with promises of more later. The monetary rewards each council gets depends if they are ‘naughty or nice’- on their level of loyalty, support and the amount of ‘pirating’ it does for the ‘red’ party and him.

One poignant and blatant example is; after announcing the June 7th, 2016 date of the bi-election in the Soufriere constituency in April, 2016, the PM presented a $597,000 check  to the Soufriere/ Scotts Head/Gallion Village Council for community projects in front of  bright cameras and ‘of course’ Face Book. The check was given to the council in a well-timed manner before the bi-election in which his party won convincingly in that coastal southern constituency.

Did any of these Councils which received huge grant awards formally requested in writing with specific goals, details and time lines the need for project funds as required by law? On what basis does the government determine the rational and timing of the awards? Are proper and legal procurement protocols followed and adhered to, or these are just exercises in political expediency? How and what formula if any was used to determine the amount of the grant awards? These are vexing questions that lead to more questions than answers. What does the Public Procurement and Contract Administration Act No.11 of 2012 stipulate?

This alleged blatant abuse of power means that public accountability of government’s funds opens the door to massive fraud, abuse and corruption. If no written formal requests were made with progress reporting time lines with expense reports, then no one can and should be held responsible. That being the case, then Labour party stalwarts in the Councils will not and cannot be held responsible or accountable to the government or courts for their performance or lack there-of in the use of these public funds.

This dangerous reality of the allege appearance of the ‘purchasing’ and dismantling of the traditional model of Local Government is one with far reaching consequences for a long time for Dominica. The historical success that the Local Government system has had in improving the quality of governance, delivering services in a more cost effective, transparent and legally responsible manner has been clearly documented. This writer bears witness to this fact growing up in the south eastern rural village of La Plaine a few decades ago.

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29 Comments

  1. Village Councils mash up
    April 24, 2019

    In this 21st. century and under the watch of Skerritt and his DLP Gov’t, Village councils and the Local Gov’t Dept. have allowed themselves to be heavily influenced by political operatives.

    Dominicans witnessed the fiasco in LaPlaine and the disrespect and outright no regard for the democratic process. The DLP Gov’t refuse to acknowledge the winner after he won twice. Stay woke people.

    It is utterly illegal almost criminal for any Parl. Rep to be handing out cheques of hundreds of thousands, even millions of $$$$$$ to any Village Council.. The money should be channeled through the Local Govt dept. or the Ministry responsible and then the councils could submit their projects and access those funds legit. No project proposals are submitted, no budget for the projects, but millions dishing out to the various councils. No accountability. no transparency….

    Didn’t Skerritt dish out $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ to the Soufriere/Scotts Head Village Council during the…

  2. MR DOMINICA
    April 24, 2019

    As a former member of a village council up to the day I left Dominica in the early 1970s I was shocked and disappointed at what the council has come to . there were election where five members were elected then they met to nominate three members this was done in the presence of local government officer who at that was Sylvester Joseph ,and politics had no place in this ,NOW as I understand those three nominated are chosen by someone in the ministry and even if the elected members recommend a person he or she is likely to be rejected by the government . then there was the cash drawn from the treasure by vouchers and over drafts or shortages were reffered to Mr joseph who would always use these words YOU ARE IN THE RED

    • viewsexpressed
      June 9, 2019

      Mr Dominica, you are so right to be uptight. Skerrit and his incompetent Corrupt Labour government has crippled, undermined, annoyed and disrespected the Local Authorities (village, Carib, City, Urban, Town) around the island. This man has intervened and destroyed of all things Dominican for over 19 years and now and he must go, he has overstayed his welcome.
      Skerrit must Go. ….and for heavens sake and Dominica’s sake.
      This man and his worthless Labour Government must go. Its overtime now. The whistle has blown.

  3. Nacinimod
    April 24, 2019

    Very well written essay. And thank you for that civics lesson Dr. Finn. It is a thought piece that should be required reading for middle and high school students.

  4. Rebecca V. Musgrave
    April 24, 2019

    I will be home soon
    With Father
    With Son
    With Holy Spirits
    With Holy Ghosts

  5. April 23, 2019

    The beginning of the demise of the Village Council System in Dominica is being followed by the demise of village identity by way of the current “one size fits all” government housing program.

    I doubt if villagers have had a say on the apartment blocks and housing estates that are transforming their lifestyle and environment for generations to come.

  6. Joseph John
    April 23, 2019

    Commentary on Local Government attract anti-government postings ? Why don’t the learnt Doctor explain that local government takes its legitimacy from delegated legislation ie they have no power of their own, but operate under the authority of the central government.
    The theme of this piece is “the demise of the local government ” But how come growing from 2 town councils to 41 local government bodies can be called a “demise” . Where is the logic ?
    Premier Edward Le Blanc organize local government to a much higher level than the vision of the colonial office. He united 3 concept of social work. Local government, community activities and law enforcement. He introduce the idea of self help as a community motivator. He appointed a Local Government Commissioner to head a Local Government Department. This model was his own vision which impressed the Ministry of Overseas development when their officials visited the island. His efforts were rewarded with increase in financial aid…

    • Ibo France
      April 24, 2019

      Mr. Joseph John, you asked, “But how come growing from 2 town councils to 41 local government bodies can be called a demise. Where is the logic?” Quality, most times, is better than quantity. The 41 community councils are politically compromised and rendered useless. They are utterly and completely dysfunctional and that is putting it lightly. The two original town councils functioned expertly well but the present 41 are not even a shadow of the original two. Don’t stay relentlessly daft.

  7. vway den
    April 23, 2019

    most village council clerks are very biased individuals. i think that the clerk for each village council should be from another village. it is very hard when you have to deal with a small minded clerk who is vex with you aunty or nenen and paweh and passing her stress on you or having all your business to share to others. or preventing you from getting thru with certain things because of your religion or political affiliation or if your brother was the police who arrested them or their family. they can be so inhospitable and think that they own the institution as they sit there all their lives. they need to be rotated as often as possible or they should not be from the same village.
    i am so tired of their attitudes.

    • viewsexpressed
      June 9, 2019

      vway den, I totally and fully disagree with you that most village council clerks are very biased individuals, and that “I think that the clerk for each village council should be from another village.” It is very hard when you have to deal with a small minded clerk who is vex with your aunty or nenen and paweh and passing her stress on you.”
      I also disagree to that statement of yours. It is sad reading it.” Please address concerns with your Chairman or chairperson, also invite your local government officer (DDO or CDA) to address this matter. If fails call up the Local Government Commissioner. But these matters can be resolved at your level, as long each one is prepared to listen and recognised the bigger picture to move forward. Good Luck

  8. Bwa-Banday
    April 23, 2019

    lol even the window drapes in this pic are RED :mrgreen: :mrgreen: . You can tell the effort put into pre planing/ staging this pic smmfh

  9. Ibo France
    April 23, 2019

    Everything, no exception, that Mr. Skerrit does, is with the intention to curry favor with the electorate with the hope of maintaining a stranglehold on political power. The man has besmirched every public institution in Dominica, with his polluted politics, which leads me to conclude that he was ill-prepared and unsuited for the job he presently holds. There is now a culture of dishonesty , lies, corruption, fear, divisiveness and mendicancy that has coincided with his ascension to the apex of government in Dominica. Every time he is questioned about the terminally ill economy, the underdeveloped and impoverished state of the country, he retreats to lies. Telling falsehoods have so far worked out well for him and his immediate family. Next general election, he has to GO!

    • KID ON THE BLOCK
      April 23, 2019

      Ibo MALAPROP France, Jealousy is a terrible sickness!
      Get well soon before the up coming general election!

      • viewsexpressed
        June 9, 2019

        You Kid on the Bock, to be honest, we are feed up with your childish, uninformed illiterate views that makes no sense for debate. Please go away, you are a failed political nuisance with nothing substantial to offer. Do you think you recognise and comprehend what I have said.
        “Jealousy is a terrible sickness!” You need to see your doctor (..and not your failed, incompetent, politically failed ductored…), yo advice you accordingly. I hope that you are able to comprehend what I just said to you. Go for it and stop making a fool of yourself on social media.
        Skerrit is ok, dont waste your mind. Skerrit is out there minding his Funky Business, go find yours and grow up not being a boom boom fly after Skerrit. As we comprehend on the fifth floor, we need change in Domininca ASAP so you wake up. We see too much nonsense up here on the fifth floor going on that will kill our country even more. Would you like to be beggar waiting on Skerrit for the rest of your life? NO…! I though so.

  10. Looking
    April 23, 2019

    The same can be said for the churches as well, many received checks just before elections . It’s sad that many of this current generation are not aware of how things were, Once-Upon-a-time. Dominica was once a beautiful place when politics knew its place during and ONLY during elections. Now Santa goes around buying, from captain down to cook, while the society gradually erodes away and the economy crumbles because there are no incentives to work to achieve. Why should we strive when everything is given free? Election is coming once again, inundate the island with millions, let the people drown in parties and sewo while forgetting their pains. Blind them with these carefully doctored photos. Bring in Machel make them one big Famalaay. Show all ministers as demi-Gods on Facebook sharing goodies. Dominica will rise one day to become the once beautiful place it once was, where everyone lived in harmony and strived to achieve, to be proud respected citizens.

    • JBaptiste
      April 23, 2019

      We have allowed this. Seems the only road to success in Dominica is in public office. If you have failed at everything else then why not salvage the rest of your life in politics. It is such that you can take an illiterate and present him to the public on a political ticket and he suddenly becomes an economist,engineer , doctor or priest.

    • Ibo France
      April 23, 2019

      @Looking
      Lots of food for thought. Skerrit uses poverty as a political strategy. He deliberately keeps people poor so they will come running, hands outstretched, to the RED CLINIC for sustenance where he can play God and Saviour. Without poor people, which is a large percentage of Dominicans, the DLP’s support will be negligible. Look for many more goodies this election season. If, by a miracle, they retain power, back for a next 4 1/2 years of drought and starvation.

      • Patriot
        April 23, 2019

        @Ibo france

        You hit the nail on the head brother. Well said. It is sad brothers and sister, that this current GOvnmt seeks to take advantage of its ppl with gifts to keep them in check. Leaving ppl with no choice but to never bite the hand that feeds them…an old saying once said. “Give a man a fish and feed him for a day, but teach a man to fish and you feed him for a life time”…I pray that our country will be free from this madness once again.

      • Ibo France
        April 24, 2019

        @Patriot
        My heart truly bleeds for the brothers and sisters who have to sacrifice their dignity on the steps of the RED CLINIC. The fact that so many indigent citizens are at the mercy of Skerrit’s benevolence for a daily meal is a damning indictment of the inefficacy and colossal failure of the current government.

    • Joseph John
      April 23, 2019

      Yes Dominica was like a paradise. The era of political hatred we are experiencing began with the forced departure of Premier LeBlanc followed by the chaos of May 29, 1979 and the violent demise of Patrick John. All this political roro was the intervention of opposition parties led by the Freedom Party.
      Now we are in the Skerrit Era. The first 10 years looked promising, but after the 1914 election all hell broke loose with the Skerrit- must-go movement with a 1979 type of agenda highlighted by the D-Day activities of Feb 17, 1917, led by the opposition UWP.
      Look like we are on the verge of civil war and terrorism . Sorry but I do not see any turning back for the better.

      • Looking
        April 24, 2019

        Mr Joseph i honestly am not seeing the basis of your argument. This is the very rhetoric that is spewed on Kairi on a daily basis. You have not denied what the writer was alluding to, this implies that you know that the commentary holds true. But its all about excuses and excuses like a battered wife in an abusive relationship. She comes to work with a black eye, her excuse, he accidentally bumped me. a Sprained wrist, she fell. There is a time in life we have to draw a line, there is life after Labour and UWP. Change can be scary but it is necessary for growth in life. Enough is enough.

  11. Karl Orndem
    April 23, 2019

    the councils are politically influenced and as a result are worthless. Nothing seems to get done unless a parl rep or a PM says it is ok. The village council is supposed to do what they want within the confines of the law and civil regulations without seeking permission from a parl rep to do so.

    • Shaka zulu
      April 23, 2019

      Would like know the names of the men in first pic. One of them looks like my grandfather. Cannot have pic of all these folks and not have names. Thats what make history important. Knowing where you come from and what role ancestors played. Hopefully someone can get ID on these gentlemen.

      • Josh shaw
        April 23, 2019

        ask your parents if ya grandpa was in the mix. if they have gone beyond then you took too long to find out!

      • Shaka zulu
        April 24, 2019

        Josh he and his brother were in Council at that time. I did ask one parent to confirm dates. Sadly our folks don’t see importance in history. My deceased grandma did mention years ago through conversation the times he was in the council. What interested me was the picture which non of us knew existed and the resemblance of individual to his son in younger days. It would be nice to get a confirmation.

    • Neville
      April 23, 2019

      Skerrit has his sticky fingers in everything in Dominica. But most citizens haven’t realised yet that they are living in a dictatorship.

    • vway den
      April 23, 2019

      may i correct you dear,
      the village councils with laborite clerks are well taken care of and they liase well with the govt
      the councils with workers clerks are totally ignored and everything goes thru the development committee which is headed by a laborite.
      can you imagine our island in 5 more years under skeritt? not labour. skerrit

      • Karl Orndem
        April 24, 2019

        DOminicans are generally cowards. Strength in numbers can overthrow the decision of a committee. You cannot tell me that is an entire constituency whether red or blue or green or yellow want something and the village council recognizes it as a need, and the development committee says NOPE, not something we want to consider, because government was thinking about doing xyz, you are telling me that our people cannot rise up and demand something for themselves, with their resources for their own betterment, the the ruling administration can just totally ignore the people and do what they want? Well then again that is what they did in San Sauver when they put that new school (i even heard it has an elevator) right by the sea side, even when the people of the village came out and physically protested. the people were not opposed to the school just the location as land had previously been set aside by the Freedom Party. Bannis and them got police to move the villagers and DLP insisted is the

    • Mary
      April 24, 2019

      I am from the soufriere. My house was damaged as a result of Maria. Since January 2018 I have been begging Denise Charles for assistance to repair my house. Todate I have not been given any assistance. Hurricane season is approaching.

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