Tropical storm Erica has affected the whole of Dominica, especially the elderly and less fortunate, many are still mourning their losses, others are still recovering from the devastation and pain but my article is focus on Delice and Boetica plight at this time.
The saying “Wise men came from the east” is an understatement when understood not in the context of fathomable, qualitative, individual or collective education but in terms of patience, mental strength, god fearing, empathy and consideration, but enough is enough and that “patience” should not be understood as innocuousness.
It would seem fitting if Boetica and Delice would declare themselves independent from Dominica in a referendum and elect their own government to oversee the affairs, but that would only make sense in a larger country such as Canada, Australia or the United States to name a few.
Would that not be the best scenario, considering our isolation since the passage of Tropical Storm Erica on August 27th? It is now December 17th and the people of these two villages seem to be forgotten by those elected to serve them and take action to bring life back to normalcy in time of disasters. The people appears to be an indigenous, primitive tribe trading with the rest of Dominica, crossing a Gorge by primitive zip line which would not pass an inspection anywhere in the world. Most of the citizens have not left the villages since august, mothers with children, the elderly the sick and the disabled. Can you now appreciate the case for independence? Can you understand if patience have run aground?
The people understood after the storm that they had to wait because others needed more urgent attention (empathy) they understood that the damage to the Gorge was extensive and extra engineering work was required (patience) they understood that they had to make do with primitive ways of life in the interim (mental strength) and they understood that the repair work would cost money that needed to be sourced (considerate) but now we are beginning to understand that we are seen as innocuous.
It’s now Christmas and there are no gifts of comfort to move freely from country to town, to buy food and drinks, gifts and treats, what we do see is political games by those elected to serve us, lack of cohesiveness among the legislative and administrative branches of government, problems with the delegation of duties, governments refusal to consult the experts like the Joint Consultative Committee on the Construction Sector (JCCCS) and ignoring the suggestion of a fellow Delice citizen, whose idea seem plausible but was not explored. Is it simply because he is not a qualified engineer or he does not wear certain colors? I will suggest that those responsible did not want to take ideas from a simple “country” wise man who holds no position of authority, qualifications or stature.
Since the storm we have seen events taking place that make us feel even more isolated and forgotten, these include the extensive travels of those elected to govern the country in time of crisis. The travels have been doubt beneficial to the future economic development of the country (questionable transactions by those of us who have some sense). Most recently we saw an expensive undertaking of hosting the Secretary General elect of the Commonwealth Nations; I am in no way saying that we should not celebrate the achievement of a fellow Dominican but what I am alluding to is that there is an opportune time for everything and the timing was wrong.
I would ask what she has given back to Dominica since she left at age two, but I will leave that question for another more appropriate article. That money however could have been used for proper engineering consultation and mobilization on fixing the Delice- Boetica problem in a timelier and efficient manner, one of many urgent projects it could have gone to. Simply put; the celebration could have waited for a more favorable climate, the Secretary General elect is not going anywhere!
The simple point to be made here is that the people of Delice and Boetica are suffering, and the impact will be long-term, it will be a psychological impact, a health impact and a social and economic impact. It is not simply installing a bridge after six months and all our problems will go away. Delice and Boetica are farming communities therefore crops are depleting for lack of agricultural supplies and trade opportunities, therefore income are near zero, the diet of the people are now reduced to tin stuff and other processed and simple sugars and carbohydrates, there we will see an increase in obesity, diabetes, cancer, hypertension to name a few. Bills and debts will not be paid and that will derail psychological health, leading to disruption in the proper functioning of the family. All these reasons and others that I have not mentioned can lead to a breakdown in societal norms and beliefs which leads to crime, drug problems, violence, mental issues and societal degradation which are already on the rise in the country.
When a Corporation has a CEO, she/he must take responsibility for any breakdown in the proper and efficient functioning of the Corporation, usually she/he resigns. Should we therefore ask for the resignation of the CEO of the Country? Let’s ponder on the idea. Have you seen the work that is taking place in the Boetica gorge; it is unorganized it lacks innovative thinking and it’s an insult to the intelligence of a people.
The people of Boetica and Delice are suffering, the pain is physical, mental, economic and social and it cannot be measured, it’s not tangible and cannot be quantified in a statistical equation but its present and it’s serious and going to linger long after a bridge is erected. We are therefore calling on those at the helm of the Union, to either resign and give the job to more capable individuals or stop the politicking the razzle-dazzle, and the unprofessionalism which presently exist and do the right thing, that which could have been achieved in October 2015. The men and women of Delice-Boetica would have already achieved better if given the opportunity. What we are now experiencing says allot about an administration and a CEO, Give us a reason to be wrong in our assumptions. We are asking not begging.
I believe that the Delice –Boetica people are a resilient, patient and empathetic people who are committed to the growth and development of their communities and Dominica by extension but enough is enough.
So the area is a farming community? Then why did you vote for a party that told you time and time again that agriculture had no place in that govt’s plan. Tourism and Services industry, passport selling was the way to go. Yet still places like Delice, Fond St jean, Castle Bruce, Kallinago Territories, St Joseph, Collihaut etc all voted for DLP and Skerrit.
Garcon take what all you get for being so dumb to continue believing those people’s lies. Come next election you all will most probably vote DLP again. You should not commit the crime if you cannot serve the time. No sympathies from me
After all Alex can no longer hide his deep seated partisan persuasion and has come “clean”. No more stern-faced, partisan impartiality. He can no longer stay behind the scenes and manipulate the partisan information that goes out of the engine room of the UWP propaganda machine. His oft repeated public desire for a more loving society where political foes can see national development imperatives with a statesman/woman view is now washed in blue party politics. Alex is not interested in the science of constructing a fully functional bridge/crossing to facilitate the further development of the south east. He is too immersed in his blue party politics. Can somebody truly say that the government is uninterested in bringing a lasting solution to the travails of Boetica and Delices. Nothing wrong is saying the project has taken too long. But to say suggest that government does not care is simply to expose Alex for what he really is – UWP. What other conclusion can an objective person…
I need to see a more recent picture of the site…cannot believe a journalist can be so manipulative. Shame on you.
Alex Bruno the man who pretends with tears that he is politically neutral.
You all said the same thing about Dame Eugenia and Rosie Douglas, she was the beggar maid and Rosie was the jet setter. It was after one of those trips, he died. It’s all them nouveau riche who think they and their cronies should be the ones running the country. The same ones and their progenitors who thought EO was too backwater to run it and PJ had no status and had to be overthrown, that political decisions made by the majority of people in dominica should be renigned on, rescinded because being poor they do not know what is best for the country and therefore, they must have been manipulated. Suddenly, like Bernie Sanders they have become crusaders for the poor and marginalized. These crusaders thrive on dissent, fear, and misfortune. They wake up each day and pray that things will fall apart and when they do not they blow their cover and call for mutiny and protest. This time, you will fight your wars alone or do it under sensay, besides its carnival season, masquerades.
Stupes….
i am ready to take what ever criticism that is level at me, i feel sad to say it but the people of delices and boetica deserves the treatment which the govt. and petter pepper st.jean is giving to them if they cannot stand up for themselves why should sympathy be wasted on them?
Skerrit in my view don’t care about Dominica but is only interested in using the poor people
Now is blood he is looking for from stone!!!!!!!
I reside in the US and it breaks my heart to read this article. I am not sure about your election process, but you must get rid of those in power and elect a new government that will bring forth an education system and modernization to the nature Island of Dominica. People must unite for change and demand the resignation of those leaders who take from the people and give little or nothing in return. You must demand the resignation of those in office now. It is time for a new Dominica to evolve. In fact, it is past time.
Shalom
Delices and Boetica i feel for you, what are the engineers/Peter Pepper Gov:t doing?
Are country is as strong as its people. They are weak and coward
Weak and coward for what Everson???
SHAME ON THEM !
Since 2008 he said that he was going to give Roseau a face lift but the only thing that got a face lift was his well dimpled face. Last year he claimed economic prosperity when in reality the only thing that prospered was his deep pockets. He promised better health care but he gave us Red Clinic while his cabinet of cabals ran to the neighboring islands for medical attention at every chance they got. He claimed to be able to rebuild Dominica but so far his post Erika actions has suggested otherwise. All we see happening is a well-dressed villain squandering tax payers $$$ going on infamous world tours that doesn’t yield any results. His majesty is always claiming that he’s going on a business trip on our behalf but he forever coming back empty handed. This is a political savior with no powers. These empty ghost trips has made the master of the universe Dr. Skeritt look like he brought a new definition to the term UFO (unexplained fraudulent operations).
UFO. Unexplained fraudulent operations…
I will triy that one.
UFO. Unexplained fraudulent operations…
I have to try that one.
I have come to the realization that Dominica is not an independent country. These labor clowns make it look like what happened in 1978 is was a joke. While begging is not a crime, it should not be the order of the day in any country. Similar to a 30 year old child who still lives with his mom, Skeritt has never learned the art of independence and self-sustenance. He plays games all day, never looks for a job, then comes at night expecting the international community to provide him with dinner. As if his umbilical cord is still attached to his mother, he cries out maliciously to the world for help, and when they don’t give him his desired formula, he acts like a spoiled brat and ask to be breast fed. This is the kind of child that grows up to become a vagrant by the roadside with a sign on their chest saying “feed me” because they never learned the true art of independence. This is exactly what the cabal Skeritt has turned Dominica into. A beggar’s paradise with a paranoid leader
A well written piece which conveys my sentiments to the T – every single part of it.
My friend Dominica is doomed,it is going to get worst before we see a light above the moutain,our people continue to suffer.