Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit has said at least ten people were arrested for disobeying a curfew which was imposed before and during the passage of Tropical Storm Isaac.
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday evening, he said the majority of Dominicans behave themselves while the storm was affecting the island.
“The last number I have, I was told is 10, that was earlier this afternoon,” he stated. “I was advised that earlier in the afternoon is 10, but certainly the Chief of Police is in a better position to give you that information.”
He added, “By and large, with the exception of a few arrests in a couple communities, the majority of Dominicans behaved themselves and respected the order.”
He stated that respecting the curfew order was very important.
“The police can do what they should do and can do but if we as citizens do not respect the laws, do not respect the orders of the police, then we can create a problem,” the Prime Minister stated. “The more you respect it the better we are able to secure your properties and secure yourselves as human beings.”
A State of Emergency and curfew were imposed on the island on Wednesday, September 12th ahead of the expected arrival of Tropical Storm Isaac. Initially, they were expected to last until noon on Friday, however, they were lifted on Thursday evening at 9:00.
I wonder if the majority of people arrested were homeless vagrants to begin with.
What caused the looting? Is it because of the low morals the same reason that cause the crime rate to increase
What caused the looting? It it because of the increased in wanting that the people cannot provide the funds to get a decent standard of living
What caused the looting?
We have to answer the question first before we try to find a solution.
What we doing not working we need a change in the way we do things curfew not going to solve our problems
We need to clean up our mess our country and our church if we as a Christian nation act like it will be on our way to change
A lot of us Dominicans are just out for mischievous behavior with criminal minds…want what’s not ours…barricade when its for the safety of our Country and its people…Curfew PLEASE….
Mr. Skerrit are you going to ask your ‘good’ police chief to launch an investigation on the alleged lumber yard at the private home in the Roseau Valley? The chief knows best about these matters I suppose. That would be a very good thing. Your honest answer is highly appreciated. Thanks in advance Sir.
The people behaved themselves……We have become a nation of children
By the way,half of you will not understand,but those of u who do….
Wake up.
They damn well knew what THEY were doing. They were following the directives of their arrogant and ignorant leader. Remember he said to them the Police cannot tell THEM what to do and what not to do. The Police can not stop them and tell THEM when to start and when to end THEIR meeting. So what you expect. Let Them know who is in control. Make them pay.
The curfew was a very good thing to have in place in such an emergency. Evaluate those who were held for disobeying the rules and treat them accordingly. Some of them may have very good reason for breaking the curfew, some may not.
Good job everyone, and please remain safe.
Good job PM keep up the good work
But Carolinas have curfew to “Keep those who want to do bad things”.But it is dictatorship here.Boy look idle minds who do not know what to say.
The answer is simple. If there was no looting ,stealing, thieving there would be no need for a curfew, or is that what the people want to make their country even poorer.
Ok, but can you answer two simple questions: who were the looters a year ago? Has one of them been arrested? I rest my case. That is the true reason why people are upset about Skerrit pappy show!
@Paul, What are you trying to say there was no looting? Workers supporters always in denials well done Labour administration Dr.Skerrit you are the boss and you knows best, because i for one didn’t want to download my gun on my fellow citizens.
Dictator how ?
The people calling the. PM a dictator for applying the curphew have amnesia or what ? …..they forget what happened less than a year ago. Maria struck, there was a curphew, the police did not enforce it….and as a result there was widespread looting and lawlessness until foreign police arrived and started shooting people.
Some businesses have even shut down permanently due to the looting. Whitchurch supermarket almost went completely because of the looting.
We have a real slave mentality here you know ! Is Dominicans that cause ourselves to need this curphew !!!
Now the police have no choice but to be harsh …because DOMINICANS DON’T LEARN !!!!
Nothing can please you all.. be proactive, you complain..do nothing, you still complain
I feel we just love to oppose everything, but a decision was made so just respect it and move on…
Skerrit treating Dominicans fools and the media like trained parrots that are only trained to carry his propaganda. People in this modern day don’t tell me you guys don’t watch CNN, fox, ABC, NBC and others, so you guys could do kearn to be professionals. All you guys are saying is “Skerrit said” as if Skerrit is God and without him there is no Dominica. Why that one man show? Why is the police commissioner present to deal with police matters as if police is now political. In a state of emergency we should see and get reports from the police, chief Metrologist, fire chief, medical chief, chairperson of town/ village council and not just from Skerrit, a politician. All that corrupt man doing is try to use a storm to score . The man should be telling us about what he did, and the media should press him for answers. We need Skerrit to tell us what an an Egyptian with a criminal record doing with our passport. He needs to tell us why we didn’t get US Visa waiver.
chip political…
This is an abuse of powers. There is no need for curfew, restricting movement of people is the same as imprisoning us. If the police want to add extra security/ patrols in Roseau and reduce traffic in the city for emergency or possible evacuation purposes, that’s one thing. Banning the free movement of people is another.
We Dominicans have accepted this blindly, but this is easily open to abuse. This is not a solution, but a test on Dominicans tolerance. Solutions are removing the Police Chief and his deputy for incompetence, and implementing policies to boost police morale. Weren’t the police out in force post Maria? What happened? What exactly will prevent stationed police from going home or turning a blind eye next time? Are there curfews enforced in other hurricane prone areas- is the USA under current curfew?
Dominicans keep your eyes open.
My eyes are opened. I REMEMBER THAT FOR MANY DAYS AFTER MARIA YOU COULD NOT GET ANYTHING TO EAT BECAUSE OF THE WIDESPREAD LOOTING !!!
IF YOU HAVR A PROBLEM WITH THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE CURPHEW….YOU HAVE ONLY LAAT YEARS LOOTERS TO BLAME.
Yes Ti Garcon, to answer your questions regarding curfew, they have been curfews placed right in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn, USA, withing the past recent years, and none of my friends I spoke with had any feelings of being restricted in their movements, or of imprisonment. There was a clear danger and that was one of the steps to keep things in order at that time when that was needed.
There are times when different security and safety measures are needed, and this was indeed one of those times.
Thanks for your comments Mr. Garcon.
Thanks for your response Badbaje.
My question is the effectiveness of this whole charade. The police were out in ‘force’ pre- Maria, with the police chief boosting of the power of the force. What happened? Why did it happen? What happened was that after Maria the police ran home, or were bothered with the looting. Also what happened was that there was no vehicular traffic, everyone was on foot, but mass looting still occurred. Even post check points, it only ceased AFTER there was nothing else to loot, and in combination of regional security forces arriving.
So the question is is the curfew an effective solution? Wasn’t the same police officers out there pre- Maria? The reality is, that police officers are out there 24hrs straight in the rain before the storm- after the storm what energy will they have to stop anything. History will simply repeat itself. We need to think rationally instead of emotionally.
This curfew came about because of how dominicans behaved after maria . in all my life storms came and went and curfew was never around . Dominicans spoiled their own soup . When people cannot behave you teach them to . Stay inside with your family and keep them company . Play games , talk , socialized . When they curfew was around after maria see how the neighborhoods got together as one instead of going town and look mischief. Until we learn to behave , there will always be a curfew . Look at the days of Hugo and luis . Dominica took such a beating and yet curfew wasn’t there .
… how Dominicans behaved after Maria. You see, you come on here and make your clever statement but you are not man enough to tell us who those ‘Dominicans’ were who miss behaved at the time. Let me help you out, the ‘Dominicans’ that did not behave after Maria were members of the police force and as usual those greedy operatives of the DLP.
Man bite dogs you all in to much politics that’s why the country not moving forward we must work together to go forward
@ Sams, Look who’s talking you lots are a bunch of ………. making false accusations against another persons on radio, DNO, Facebook and Tv telling lies rubbish and Rum shop talking, good bye for now.
?????? boy look jokes
Keep up the great work PM! We love you and will continue praying for you and the entire Government of Dominica.
Forgive them let them go maybe they not on social media
Sams, forgive them for what just because they are workers supporters?they new the law and should be punished real hard.Give them ten lashes each with a bull whip and a minimum of 6months jail that will teach them to obay the law.
Good. Dominicans have changed drastically. They dont obey rules. They dont want to follow lines. They dont dispose garbage properly.
Well if they had arrested me for going to check the same Roseau River that day for say me during Maria too bad.
Thats so true.
Then after skerrit have all kind of names to recive from them.
What exemple to there kids /future kids in there waste.
This man is a real Dictator
Dam right and so he should, l would like to see the prime minister take a much harder stand against people like you lots.
I’m guessing you weren’t around during Hurricane Maria to witness all the looting that was caused… It’s simple precautions.. Simply put, during a storm/hurricane, you have no business being on the street. There would be no curfew if there was no looting.
Are you quite sure you know the meaning of dictator? You are just one blind mice of Lennox.