COVID-19: Skerrit says economic assistance will come; focus now on management and containment

PM Skerrit wearing a mask during the special radio programme

Prime minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has said that COVID-19 has had a tremendous impact on the economy and productivity is not at the level that it should be.

“The impact of the economy is tremendous and it will certainly be extended for several months to come,” the prime minister said during a special radio programme earlier this week.

Skerrit also stated that the revenue of the state has been severely impaired.

“International trade has dropped dramatically. The hotels are empty, which means no revenue coming from the tourism industry into the treasury and the pocket of our citizens,” he said.

He acknowledged that people whose jobs who have been negatively affected, will be anxious, impacted, however, he urged people not to lose hope.

“We are fighting a war; let us fight this war together,” the prime minister said. “At the end of the day, let us all stand together to ensure that life will be assured; opportunities will be assured for all of us…”

He indicated that his government will come forward with a regime of incentives that will assist the nation in cushioning the impact.

“But everything has to be taken in stages,” the prime minister cautioned. “So our preoccupation now is to keep Dominicans alive and to ensure that the numbers don’t grow.”

The government, he said, is now seeking to manage and contain the spread of the virus in Dominica.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

40 Comments

  1. viewsexpressed
    April 7, 2020

    “COVID-19: Skerrit says economic assistance will come; focus now on management and containment.” One can “focus on management and containment.”, but what dose it mean. Has this been practiced under this failed Labour government over the past 20years? No! It`s ok to have some nice words to attract we the people that “something” is happening, when it is obvious that there is “nothing” of substance happening in the economy of our country.
    “”focus on management and containment.”, but what dose his really mean?” For one to commit themselves to undertake some activity that it`s direct to development of a people and country. This is suppose to be a well defined activity, with strong discipline guidelines, a well designed socio-economic Development Plan (that Skerrite knows not of) and to address the matter fully understanding the past years in office. Is there a Plan of Action that says in Ten (10) years time this is where we need or will to be.Skerrit is past 20yrs & failed,…

  2. viewsexpressed
    April 7, 2020

    COVID-19: “Skerrit says economic assistance will come; focus now on management and containment.” What on earth is Skerrit talking about? The past 20yrs we have the same rumour, deception, corruption, deceitfulness, illiterate thoughts from this obvious failed Prime (Odd) Minister, who has failed our people over the years.
    We at the Financial Centre have known that this Skerrit is obviously not at the level of socio-economic development. It`s all about fanfare Skerrit and his blind loyalist followers, who to this day are still crying out for their children and families whereas some major top politican has their children happily located in the USA, while our people and our villages are in poverty, under-developed, no more agriculture, where Skerrit and his weird labour government are now in the business of selling our passports. We now know that our suffering people and villages remain in deep poverty and suffering while the Odd Man flies out here there and everyone and returns…

  3. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    April 6, 2020

    “Skerrit says economic assistance will come.”

    From whence does doctor Punjab anticipate economic assistance?

    This man is wearied; he speaks as if he has some special source hanging in the sky to fall to his rescue; he looks forward to disasters such as this and hurricanes each year to do damage to the country, in order to be a recipient of donor handouts from the every country around the world!

    Roosevelt your dependency on the world is not going to be the same as a hurricane; every country in the universe is experiencing the same thing; the difference is these nations do have a real economy that will return to production and trade.

    Ours is a sale of passports economy; our nation economy is based on the sale of passports, we do not have a single industry in the country creating jobs, and exporting of any type of manufacturing products.

    What will you do now; little boy Roosevelt Skerrit!

    Hahahahahahahahahahaha.

    You might have to manufacture your HIFU machines and…

  4. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    April 6, 2020

    Roosevelt you would have an excuse if we truly had an economy  as describe:
    A nation economy is an area of  production, distribution and trade, as well as consumption of goods and services by different countries.
    So, my first question is what did Dominica trade prior to the corona crisis?
    The nation economy is defined as a social domain that emphasize the practices, discourses, and material expressions associated with the production, use, and management of resources.
    Economic agents can be individuals, businesses, organizations, or governments. Economic transactions occur when two groups or parties agree to the value or price of the transacted good or service, commonly expressed in a certain currency.
    Nevertheless; monetary transactions only account for a small part of the economic domain!
    Economic activity is spurred by production which uses natural resources, labor and capital.
    It has changed over time due to technology automation, accelerator of process, reduction…

  5. Truth Be Told
    April 5, 2020

    You, PM Skerrit, never built an economy for Dominica. Somebody owe you economic assistance? What have you done to build this country’s economy? What is Dominica’s economy? I remember calypso king, Choke Choke, asking Dame Eugenia Charles, what is the economy in his song, and that was during a time when we had an economy built on agriculture, tourism, agro-processing and light manufacturing. Now I ask you PM Skerrit, what’s the economy of Dominica?

    • viewsexpressed
      April 7, 2020

      My People follow this link below truthfully and openly and be aware: This man is dangerous. Here goes from “Truth Be Told”. Great Statement.
      “You, PM Skerrit, never built an economy for Dominica. Somebody owe you economic assistance? What have you done to build this country’s economy? What is Dominica’s economy?
      The Answer is: A resounding NO!? Skerrit has failed us. He comes across like the inept dictators in South Africa and South America who has fleeced the economy of the state of their people and these leaders go flying all over the world with the use of our tax money to pay to develop our people and our country. There has been no meaningful development in Dominica under failed Skerrit and his incompetent corrupt Labour government over 19yrs. Too much roro, abuse of our states funds, for example “Red Clinic, where the Ministry of Social services has been by-passed where our professionals assess those in need and respond accordingly. We now see Skerrit`s Red Bobol Clinic…

  6. Bob Denis
    April 5, 2020

    The Word is out, that the continuing P.M of Dominica must be looked at in a different light. From Natural Disaster set backs to International Pandemic, de Dude continue to show a level of resilience that has thrown a lot of DUST in some faces. Rosie is looking on with a smile on his Spiritual face, at the way Mr Skerrit has handle the challenges that has come on his Door Steps, the Brothers
    Energy seems to be flowing from a Pure source. We need to evaluate from the ANAHATA CHAKRA, and give this young Leader his PROPs, he surely deserves all thats there to be given. The God’/Goddess’ of our Ancestors have circle Mr Skerrit with the White FIRE of Upliftment. PEACE OUT.

    • Ralphie
      April 6, 2020

      Clearly you have the bright red version of corona. I sometimes wonder how one can be so blind and ignorant.

  7. viewsexpressed
    April 4, 2020

    This is a list of obvious failure & incompetence of Skerrit and his failed Government.
    1. “Prime minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has said that COVID-19 has had a tremendous impact on the economy and productivity is not at the level that it should be.”
    Response: Because You have failed us Skerrit. Yu are a fake & waste of time.
    2.“The impact of the economy is tremendous and it will certainly be extended for several months to come,” the prime minister said during a special radio programme earlier this week.
    Response: Skerrit has created the impact of our economy. To say extended for months means you have no plans and knowledge of what to do. You`re incompetent.
    3. Skerrit also stated that the revenue of the state has been severely impaired.
    “International trade has dropped dramatically. The hotels are empty, which means no revenue coming from the tourism industry into the treasury and the pocket of our citizens,” he said.
    Response: Our revenue has been abused & Mis-managed by…

  8. viewsexpressed
    April 4, 2020

    Skerrit, this is Bull…. Political Talk. Man Wake Up and not be this immature politician. Its over 19 years now and you`re still in kindergarten childhood mentality.
    COVID-19: Skerrit says economic assistance will come; focus now on management and containment: Let`s go Through This: There will be no “Economic Assistance”, you have fleeced our economy, now you begging for outside money. Man get the hell out! You have failed, and mismanaged our government.
    “Skerrit also stated that the revenue of the state has been severely impaired. Sure, you did it! You have caused “International trade has dropped dramatically on us. Our hotels are empty, which means no revenue coming from the tourism industry into the treasury and the pocket of our citizens, which is what YOU have created”.
    Economic Assistance, Containment, Management, that you have killed.
    Yes failed Skerrit, under your failed leadership. You abandoned our resources and went out selling our passports. Where is our money,…

  9. Red Bridge
    April 4, 2020

    Listen, Mister is talking his talk again. Whatever ‘assistance’ there might be it will only be for his supporters. It has always been like that in the past.

  10. dissident
    April 3, 2020

    No mention of CBI at all?
    Montreal management can’t help us either?
    De hotels on de North empty like de apartments that the Ross University students once occupied….that income transformed the lives of the Picard residents and Portsmouth in general.
    De new University you once boasted would replace Ross University is like dust in the wind.

    Right now you hoping that poor people will pay up their taxes to bring some revenue….. and what are de millionaires contribution?

    You don’t deserve a lollipop…… Peter pepper described you accurately

    • Batibou River
      April 6, 2020

      Only now all you realise that he sold you pie in the sky again. When do all you learn? When Skerrit has destroyed the country completely?

  11. John Charlton
    April 3, 2020

    It’s a WAR against a VIRUS? Well good luck with that!
    This is more than a war on a virus. It’s a war on who created the virus.
    BTW you look ridiculous in that mask.
    And the State of Emergency…well DLP politics just reared its ugly head.

  12. LANGSAL
    April 3, 2020

    Sweet angel of death take me now. When I listen to skerrit after that plane ride I suspect I may call on death. This man is really a mad man. Never prepared the country’s health system, security system and financial system. But now he will come with some mad incentives but you have to be red to qualify. Just wait and see.

  13. My mouth
    April 3, 2020

    Skerrit doh come.and blame it on corona. Alas corona poor you. You are de scapegoat. Skerrot happy he have a scapegoat. The economy was already like this so stop your bull cr%p. Smdh

    • My mouth
      April 3, 2020

      And yup containing it is key..that unseen enemy is no joke praying that the number 12 remain as is and they recover fully. Forward we go but doh blame corona sir..we put de past behind we moving by Gods grace.

  14. Big Mamma
    April 3, 2020

    Why have they stopped reporting the number of cases?

  15. Lin clown
    April 3, 2020

    Economic Assistance was mentioned by the Prime Minister a long time ago.Posted late on DNO,better LATE than NEVER.Some people only listen to the Fake news radio station.OSTRICH.

    • viewsexpressed
      April 7, 2020

      Yes Lin Clown, this represents you: “Some people only listen to the Fake news radio station. OSTRICH. Lin, get that head and intelligence of yours from beneath the ground, where Skerrit`s failed thoughts are buried. Rise to the level of being intellectual and not a blind supporter to a failed Odd MINISTER. Leave it to the OSTRICH. Your leader need to go bury his head, he has been that failure to our people and our Dominica.

  16. April 3, 2020

    Mr p.m u thinking dat u fooling d.a people again?…the people on island are tired wit u as u said dominican have a culture of entering backdoor and am seeing dat you are a backdoor p.m which entered backdoor…by d way..u give big labourite kool out well then dominica’s children need a dam kool in…thou wickid blind man

  17. Toto
    April 3, 2020

    Eh bene, I see mister wearing face mask. Is it one of the 10,000 he allegedly sent to China?

  18. My Bad
    April 3, 2020

    Since the PM talked a lot but said nothing, let me ask him a little question. PM, how do you feel about Trump in the midst of the coronavirus charging your friend Nicholas Maduro for drug trafficking and other stuff? I personally feel he should live that alone for now and just work on trying to manage the coronavirus that killing so many of his people in the US. I don’t know if he trying to send a message to other leaders

  19. Ibo Francer
    April 3, 2020

    This Coronavirus situation has further exposed Mr. Skerrit’s monumental incompetence. He is totally clueless as how to get the ‘under-the-water’ economy afloat. Mr. Skerrit, protecting the people’s health and creating an economic stimulus to grow the country’s economy are not mutually exclusive. You win elections but you don’t know how to govern. Now Dominicans will get exactly what they deserve for putting you and your pathetic disciples back in office -( hunger, malnutrition, flatulence, mounting mendicancy, mushrooming vagrancy, exponential joblessness, crumbling infrastructure, escalating crimes, shortage of critically essential medication, a dilapidated medical system). You,the citizens, were duly warned and now you must pay for your recalcitrance and lack of discernment.

  20. Man bites dogs
    April 3, 2020

    If you guys think Covid-19 is bad, State of Emergency is bad this is nothing compared to the Jehovah Witness turning up at your doors this weekend, they know you will be in!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

  21. L C Matthew
    April 3, 2020

    “International trade has dropped dramatically.” How much that has affected our export of goods? Tell me Mr. PM. Give me some figures. Example Dominica export revenue has dropped from 200 million to 50 million. What percentage of global trade revenue has Dominica been contributing. You have gotten yet another excuse to hide your mis management of the country. Why wait to announce stimulus package? You should already know what budget country dealing with. Is it because you have no clue Where TF we getting money and just waiting to see who will throw the dog a bone? The pre occupation of the state of health is the responsibility of the MOH and health professionals. Are you telling me the gov cannot plan ahead? And can only perform one national task at a time? Where is the vision? So i guess no plan for hurricane season? Rural communities should be ramping up planting of staple crops like dasheen, yams, tania. That is not rocket science. How much has tourism been contributing to Treasury…

    • L C Matthew
      April 3, 2020

      How much has tourism been contributing to the Treasury before this global crisis? I thought passport sales was what was keeping Dominica afloat. The main government owned hotel has been in existence for less than 6 months and i know could not be running at full capacity. Since maria most of the hotels have been recovering so why all of a sudden it is tourism drop that is preventing money from coming i to people pockets. Our airport never had capacity for direct international flights. Skerrit deception cannot bring people together. I have seen you lied time and time again to the population. As much as you want to run the place like an emperor it will never bring the desired growth we need. Stop fooling yourself. This labour party has been in power since i was 21 years old. Btw 21 and 45 is the most productive years of a mans life. Many folks in Dominica of my generation have not been able to buy land, build a home, have a savings more than 10k on there own. Many have left.

      • L C Matthew
        April 3, 2020

        Those who stayed still depend on their parents , maybe living at home, or in a relationship of convenience to make a reasonable future. I am so sick and tired of your excuses and rants to be honest it is better to be sick and dead from the virus than to live an endure another decade of this lies and deception. With our productive human resources either leaving or underemployed here is some wisdom. Social security is unsustainable, more elderly are going to be poor and on welfare, our banks are already suffering because you had to give aid bank 20 million stimulus, resilience will be a dream cause our people cannot afford. I could go on. Our nurses are leaving because of socioeconomic reasons. Its over 200 years Haiti has not yet recovered and if we continue that trend we will be in there shoes. You know who i am and for those defending your BS need to snap out of this stupor. After God is the earth. Love yall country and stop devaluing yall self and intelligence.

        • Batibou River
          April 6, 2020

          Asking Skerrit for figured? You might as well ask a wall. All you will ever get from this man is lies, rethoric and ongoing propaganda. The man is useless like an ashtray on a motorbike!

        • Gary
          April 6, 2020

          Why make such ludicrous statements “I am so sick and tired of your excuses and rants to be honest it is better to be sick and dead from the virus than to live an endure another decade of this lies and deception.” Did you ever think before you wrote such thing about your self, such statement is the reflection of someone being reckless with words saying things about themselves and not knowing the repercussion. Do you think making such statement is having an effect on Roosevelt Skerrit.The feelings you expressed is from your mind, it’s a sad use of your mind expressing such feeling about your self, the only deception I see, is you deceiving yourself. As to the rest of your comment nothing is of substantial facts, but cheap talk.

    • Gary
      April 6, 2020

      What an irrational mode of thinking. The PM said “International trade has dropped dramatically.” is this not a fact, do you think, asking for numbers or a percentage in the drop of revenue is going change the reality of the fact International trade has dropped dramatically. Why are you accusing The PM of an excuse to hide the mismanagement of the country by making such statement. How do you arrive at such a ludicrous accusation, wow. When I read the rest of your comment it is same silly pattern, talk is cheap, being a critic is easy. Facts are stubborn things, your comment based on accusations, criticism and partisan political beliefs cannot alter the state of facts, at the end of the day it is just
      your opinion.

      • NoNo
        April 6, 2020

        Look it, Mary who is Skerrit Chief Apologist is trying to sell us red propaganda again.

      • L C Matthew
        April 6, 2020

        Facts are stubborn things” we are both dominicans so in an effort to have a conversation i pull out a line in what you said above that we can both agree upon. No amount of lies nor deception by any leader: be it RS, LL, past leaders or future leaders will change the side effects. No one is disputing the fact that international trade has dropped. The important question that matters is how that affects Dominica. The statement of fact just for speaking is as empty as saying nothing. You of all people complain about being partisan. Gary whoever you are. I honestly think you have the capability to be an intelligent person but i have learned that this is not always a guarantee for good judgement. Like i said stop devaluing your intelligence. I am in alliance with no political party and BS is BS. Right now the person responsible for the stagnation and lack of development of Dominica has 20 years of facts to show. Untill then he will get critic. Insecure like Chinese leaders is quite…

      • viewsexpressed
        April 7, 2020

        Lin, Stop this clown that you are and open your mind and use that intelligence that I bet you have to analyse the bigger picture as to where we are inn 2020 under this fake, corrupt Skerrit`s incompetent Labour Government.
        Everyday we up there in government observe the failure and incompetence of this man He is just this childish person to gain prestige and fame that he has lost and no one believes him or trust him after 20 failed years where he has to take responsibility for the death of our economy, the ongoing Bobols that I will list out to remind you, which are the following: 1.Bin Bobo 2.Fertilizer Bobol, 3.Red Clinic Bobol 4.Passport Bobol and 5.How he and his government has killed our Banana and other agriculture business, and now our farmers are struggling and in poverty.
        Skerrit focus has not been on our people, but only on the so called questionable “Passport Scam” that we need an account for, and clinical investigation of our Passports money. We need answers & Skerrit…

  22. looking
    April 3, 2020

    That being said Honorable PM; there are people who need help now. There are people who live from paycheck to paycheck, some from selling craft to the tourist, some from selling their “little” garden produce to hucksters or at the markets. Please these people need something now, they can’t wait.

  23. viewsexpressed
    April 3, 2020

    COVID-19: Skerrit says economic assistance will come; focus now on management and containment”. What!!!?, This immature Odd Minister Skerrit is sick?
    For over 19years we have been waiting and expecting economic and social development, all we have heard is that you are always out of the damn island flying here there and everywhere and return empty handed. A damn waste of our states funds.
    We guess you are out to meet your friends and collect hard cash from the sales of our passports? Skerrit, we need a debate in The Peoples` Parliament ASAP and you better come clean & be ready because we will kick you out of our government. You have been this damn failure and get the Hell out of our Government. You are immature, lack vision, ignorant of socio-economic development etc. You know to sell our passports and then you fly out to someplace, guess to collect our sales money. Where is it? What have you done with it. We need an urgent Audit, and come clean, you failed Odd Minister. Skerrit…

    • Gary
      April 6, 2020

      Are you not tried of writing nonsense, Lol. You mentioned on previous post you are employed by the Government. Did you not get the double, bauble, the extra income given to you two months after Hurricane Maria, my point, you keep making all these silly accusations about the Government saying “over 19years we have been waiting and expecting economic and social development, all we have heard is that you are always out of the damn island” wow, is this a fact. You sit behind your computer and write such foolishness it is pathetic.You making such comments day in day out is not going to have any effect on the reality of what is happening in Dominica.

      • viewsexpressed
        April 7, 2020

        Gary, no matter what you write, say or do, the matter of failed Skerrit and his obvious, visible corrupt government is well known all over. It`s obvious that our Dominica is gong nowhere because we have no foreign earners coming in. We only have questionable Bobols on gong and “We know that”, only you are in denial and you have put our people last, abandoned them like Skerrit and you have helped Skerrit who has reduced our Dominica to poverty, an island that looks as if a hurricane or tornado has destroyed it. The names of the Hurricane and tornado is “Skerrit”. It is pretty obvious, that is were the poison lies, upon our suffering people.
        So Gary, as Skerrit openly said, I will repeat it for you: “Gary: “Go to Hell, Go to Hell”, its none of your damn business how Skerrit has failed us, but we do know that time will tell to be accounted for”. Just like other despots and Dictators and illiterate Heads of States we will take our nature Isle back. Skerrit has failed us. He Must…

  24. Batibou River
    April 3, 2020

    Skerrit, now is the time to account for the missing CBI and PetroCaribe money. This money could sustain Dominica for a long time to come. So, Skerrit, let’s hear it!

  25. Way the money?
    April 3, 2020

    Yes PM, we know all that already. We know everything has been negatively impacted due to the coronavirus. However, coronavirus did not affect our money you have hiding for us. We know you have $1.2 billion dollars hiding somewhere under a rock for us and really, you told us is $2.2 billion dollars you have hiding. So please Mr. Pm stop talking and instead start sending our envelopes to us.

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available