Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit could soon be announcing an economic stimulus package for the Dominica economy which has been affected by the rampaging coronavirus (COVID-19).
In an address to the nation on Saturday, April 11, the prime minister said, “In respect of those who have lost their jobs and whose businesses have been affected as a result of COVID-19, we are nearing the finalization of a package of measures and it is my hope, that very soon, I will be in a position to make an announcement to the nation.”
Skerrit’s announcement comes about a week after an emergency sitting of parliament, on April 6, where he criticised the proponents of an economic stimulus package as part of measures to combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that the timing was not right.
Although he did not specifically mention it, the prime minister appeared to be referring to recommendations for a stimulus package which the opposition United Workers Party had published earlier, to deal with the economic fallout from the dreaded COVID pandemic.
Skerrit made it clear, in his presentation at that sitting of parliament, that while his government is committed to assist every single citizen who will need help to ensure the survival of their businesses and to provide for themselves and their families, a stimulus package was not, at that point, a priority in the fight against the deadly virus. Saving lives, he said, was what mattered.
“There are some who will come and talk about a stimulus package and that is fine; that is great, but that is not our preoccupation now,” the prime minister stressed. “Our preoccupation now is about fighting this virus because what, as one economist says, what benefit is economic stimulus if none of us are alive to benefit from it?”
Skerrit did indicate that his government had been “doing things behind the scenes” including meetings with the IMF, the World Bank and the ECCB Monetary Council in order to mobilize resources, and speaking with the European Union in trying to redirect existing resources to assist persons who will be directly impacted financially and economically by this disease.
However, Leader of the Opposition, Lennox Linton, in response, insisted that a stimulus package is necessary to assist businesses and other vulnerable Dominican citizens who have been affected by the economic impact of the COVID pandemic.
He told parliament, “We have to come to the stage where we understand that there is a necessity for emergency public support that is going to maintain the livelihoods of people, maintain their employment income, delay mortgage payments, delay rent payments, provide groceries and medical and other necessary expenses.”
He cited, as an example, the reduced numbers of passengers on the buses (because of social distancing measures) which he said is going to affect the income of bus drivers and taxi operators.
“The question is, where is the compensation to them going to come from because they going to suffer loss” he pointed out.”The people who are losing their jobs because the operations where they work are no longer functioning or are at reduced hours, what is there to subsist their income? So, we have to be thinking, Mr. Speaker, in our role as parliamentarians, we have to be thinking in the best interest of the people. And that is why, we need to come to this parliament and we can do that tomorrow, to discuss a package of relief, recovery and economic stimulation.”
UWP senator, Ernie Jno Finn, who also addressed parliament, underscored her party’s position by encouraging the government to follow the footsteps of the other Caribbean islands “and prepare something for our people” to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 contagion.
“You have to do it urgently,” she stated.
Jno Finn agreed that people should stay indoors and respect the curfew, “but we have people who will be struggling,” she argued. “Single mothers with children who are locked in, what are they going to do? Stay inside, but how are you going to survive?
“Government should tell them because they need to know and when they know, maybe they will feel a little better,” Jno Finn suggested.
Prime Minister Skerrit also mentioned his intention regarding the stimulus package at a meeting with major economic stakeholders on Thursday 9th April to discuss fiscal measures needed to stimulate the economy.
The president of the Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce (DAIC) Kenny Green said on Wednesday, at a Ministry of Health briefing on COVID-19, that the DAIC endorses the government’s health-first approach to dealing with the coronavirus crisis.
“This is challenging for all of us. We recognize that every day we are being contacted by businesses who are looking for avenues of flexibility with regards to the current conditions they operate under,” he said.”However, as has been identified by Dr. Ahmed (national epidemiologist), we are making progress in terms of the health-first approach and the sooner that we can achieve the health goals and get to the level where we can open up domestically, the better for the entire economy and the general public.”
In normal times, the Skerrit-led government has been found wanting of ideas and leadership. This is unchartered waters. If a pilot has profound problems steering the shop in calm waters, do you expect that same pilot to guide the ship skillfully in very rough seas? Putting back this 20 year old failed Administration in power was a serious error in judgment on the part of the electorate. China has now become Dominica’s savior. It’s a most debilitating and nightmarish thought.
Skerritt has brought Dominica to a beggars paradise full off unskilled young people who could have been taught technical skills and be professionals by now, building their country that is what real leaders do.Fidel did it under embargo to save his country but Skerrit think that is someone else’s job so he could beg for help people get sick send them Guadalupe need a Dr call Cuba.Skerrit your lazy … Should build Institutions for the people like other nations do for their citizens.
All this talk, to me, says one thing. Dominica is broke and can not afford a stimulus package. It is very clear that had they been able to do so, these lengthy, flowery speeches would be unnecessary.
For the past fifteen (15) years at the helm of political power in Dominica, Mr. Skerrit has only stimulated economic disaster and impoverished the country. His promises are as useless like an empty bag of coal dust. At this point in time, only the very gullible, the profoundly daft would have any confidence in Skerrit’s pronouncements . In times such as these, Dominica needs an astute, proactive, discerning, insightful leader to maneuver the Ship of State safely through these turbulent waters. The Captain and his docile Crew are clueless.
Dominica can walk and chew gum at the same time. The remarkable recovery after Hurricane Maria demonstrated the government’s ability to multi-task. Skerrit needs to get that economic assistance to Dominicans immediately, even yesterday.
Hope every house hold in Dominica benefit from the package with no exception because everyone got affected by the virus. we are awaiting patiently.
Beware of a thief that comes bearing gifts.
BATIBOU,I hope you and yours know STIMULUS does not mean GIVING CASH,MONEY TO PEOPLE.
You and your red friends, no doubt, will be queuing twice and no doubt you’ll get. After all that’s your only motivation to run after Skerrit like little puppy dogs with wagging tales. I pity you!
Mr Prime minister with respect to you i know that you are a kind hearted caring and generous person, but I know for a fact there are many people in Dominica who do not contribute a penny to our national insurance or taxes and are self employed bus drivers taxi drivers and many others these people hopefully shouldn’t be allowed to to receive a penny from the state money we are a small country not an industrial country such as USA, UK, or Europe we cannot afford to pay even the opposition party is looking for money it must not happen some people is taking the biscuits or having a laugh 😂
Yours truly does not need to borrow money from the IMF in order to help the people he has at least 100 million of Chinese money in his personal overseas bank account drawing interest. He can use that. He needs to make a withdrawal ASAP.
Kidnapped Parrottttt,you are right go in his account take out 999,000,000 and give it to PARROS and DRUNKARDS like you.You DOE EVEN KNOW WHAT STIMULUS MEAN.You are a real parrot.Stimulus,stimulus,stimulus stimulus………
Let’s all be brutally honest. The country’s economy has been in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) for an extended period of time. The economy has been badly mismanaged. It was very challenging before now, with the onset of Covid-19 expect an economic nightmare. Once again, Dominicans are at the mercy of China, Russia, Venezuela and other friendly donor countries and lending international and regional financial organizations. Dominica was once a bread basket in the sub-region now it’s a very sad basket case. The economic stimulus package, for hurting Dominicans, and to resurrect the ever ailing economy, should have been in place already like most of the sister islands. To deal with the people’s health and the economic conditions of the beleaguered population is not mutually exclusive. Deal with both simultaneously.
Isaiah 48:22 says, “There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.” Isaiah
57:20 says, “But the wicked are like the tossing sea, For it cannot be quiet, And its waters toss up refuse and mud.”
Psalm 1:4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Proverbs 29:2 “When the righteous are in authority , the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”
Take a look at the above scriptures and tell me if we are under a righteous government or a very, very very Evil government
After 15 years as PM has Skerrit ever came up with a plan to stimulate the economy? So why DNO and Matt so excited about his fake stimulus package? Let’s be honest my fellow Dominicans: how many can really say that they are better and happier today than they were 15 years ago? I know some got a house and maybe 2, without having to take a loan but are you living in more fair now or more peaceful? Look Erika, Maria, hurricane Skerrit that got rid of Ross University, our banana industry, and everything we once depended on for a living, now Covid-19 that destroyed on the economy of all those that use to help us, plus an above average hurricane season that is less than 45 days away. Can you all not see that we are being led by a cursed man and as long as he is our PM we cannot go anywhere? My friends the truth is, even if Skerrit would give each of us $25k, it would mean nothing because right now we are like a bucket without a bottom. We don’t like to hear that but we know it’s true.
All you can let Skerrit fool all you eh boy. What economic stimulus package Skerrit can bring? All you forgot election was just four months ago man and yet hís stimulus package was for foreign artists a handful of his friends and Barbadians. I really don’t understand what it take to make us understand that Skerrit is a cursed man and no matter what he does or how much he gives Dominica cannot prosper under him! Do you all not understand that God does not reward Evil? I don’t get it because we claim to believe the bible, yet I just can’t understand how is that we don’t believe Psalm 37:1-2 ‘Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.” And verse 7 “fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” No doubt Skerrit can his wicked devices to pass, but that’s not prosperity and won’t…
“There are some who will come and talk about a stimulus package and that is fine; that is great, but that is not our preoccupation now,” the prime minister stressed. “Our preoccupation now is about fighting this virus because what, as one economist says, what benefit is economic stimulus if none of us are alive to benefit from it?”
Skerrit and his failed government have no plans of substance or value or even to focus on the destruction that they have done to our Dominica over 19 failed years, and the poverty of our people who are still in crisis. It therefore means that this Labour Government is despicable, immature, destructive, abused our states resources. For example the sales of our passports and the abusive Red Clinic Bobol reducing our suffering people as beggars. And there is more damage that this failed Labour government has done to our suffering people and our Dominica they have reduced to poverty and begging while they fly sky high to nice places and our people in poverty.
A party in power for 19 years, just had a landslide victory in the national election yet they are referred to as a failed government. Does not add up!
Someone please share some enlightenment!
Think of Donald Trump. Is that enlightenment?
Man up Skerrit stop running the country as a one man show ; you did with the CBI program , you did so during Erika , you did so again with MARIA and now you are doing it again with COVID 19 – but you get away with that kind of governance because our public service managers from PS down are weak, the watch dog institutions are weak., so you are getting away with gross poor governance practices and then come around as a hero in the end, however the time is coming when all that will fall apart.
Is the business of the person that brought corona to Dominica going to benefit from the ‘stimulus’ or does he have to pay into the business?
…pay into the stimulus scheme?
Considering that said business man is a member of the cabal he’ll probably be getting double the amount.
world governments must share a script…. that explains a lot.
skerrit i dont even know how to describe you,because when it was to send for those artist during elections it happened really quickly now ppl loose their jobs and businesses u slow to act,trust me if ppl eyes wasnt open it open now u killing our ppl you are selfish and dont care about ppl,dont worry a rope has an end!
It’s for tax payers not sick Tom and Harry like how you just giving out money and the hard working Dominicans can barely eat bread on what they getting paid