Dominicans have been told that reducing the size of the cabinet of ministers is off the books right now since such a move will not be have any major impact on the country’s financial position.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit at a press conference last week that the matter is not an urgent one.
“I don’t think at this time the reduction of the size of the cabinet is going to make any real impact …” he said. “So I don’t think that it is something that is an urgent matter as now, if down the road it becomes an issue for the government in terms of the government’s ability, then the government will look at it. But it is not a matter on the agenda now for consideration.”
Many calls have been made in the past for governemt to reduce the size of its 18-member cabinet. Some have argued that the island’s economy is too small to support such a large cabinet pointing out that larger islands with better economic situations have smaller cabinets. After the passage of Tropical Storm Erika, the opposition, United Workers Party (UWP) renewed the call, saying in light of the present situation the matter is even more urgent.
But Skerrit is of the opinion that the cabinet is just fine.
“I don’t think it’s too large,” he stated.
He also queried whether the government should reduce the size of the public service or state corporation such as DBS Radio and Dominica Air and Sea Port Authority (DASPA), describing the matter as a ‘low hanging fruit.’
“I mean it is a low hanging fruit, it is a politically low hanging fruit,” he stated. “At this time for example, when there is so much work to be done, I mean I have had ministers who have been at it for the last six weeks with no break whatsoever. They are members of parliament so they are responsible for constituencies in most cases, they have to come to their offices full time as a minister.”
He insisted that he does not have the amount of staff that people think he has and whenever someone is hired, despite that individual’s skills and talents, there is criticisms “in these small islands.”
However, the Prime Minister did not dismiss the idea all together.
“I’m not dismissing it, if that the view of the country to reduce the size of the cabinet and give Roosevelt Skerrit more work to do, then let’s look at it,” he said.
The born again quoting God I bet he is a civil servant serving his master who taught him about the white Jesus calling every body Jackass. I wonder if he is a job creator or waiting when he dyes and in heaven he will get his rewards. He probably was educated by the brothers at the academy quoting shakespear and knowing latin but do not understand math and sicense to work for him self.
Every country has its standard.In the Virgin Islands there is a 15 member Senate. Whether Majority/minority they all play a role .They are assigned to committees and they are well paid.The Governor nominates / Appoint commissioners, administrators.Dominica all elected members should be at work on a daily basis doing the peoples work.To be in politics is a serious agenda that must not be taken lightly.Therefore everyone has a responsibility to perform meaningfully.We must be inclusive and watch the scope of politics and the contribution must always to develop country rather than looking for political points.
At this time is a bad call to give someone a pay rise much less 111%. What does this person do, that warrant such a pay rise. What of all the other workers, no pay rise. People of Domininica wake up. Why are you all afraid to stand up to injustice. Why are you all afraid to face the PM, He is not God. Rulers are made to support the people, by the people. Call the PM into question. “WAKE UP! WAKE UP,” you’re failing your own selves.
Its a shame that the POOREST country in the EASTERN Caribbean with only 65,000 residents has the LARGEST cabinet per capita in the WORLD!
most of the comments i read we are the cause stop giving friends/family and neighbours let them bawl more then they will see the light
Look at the Brazil Olympic Organizers?
Even Photocopying is cut back to save cuts
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/olympics/34450535
The prime minister must listen carefully to good counsel. This government is much to big given the poor economy and more so after the storm.
The statement from the pm just does not make sense due to the fact Dominica needs every penny.
You see perhaps these folks are there to help themselves.
Imagine cash strapped nations trying to lend a helping hand and the boldface pm saying no reduction.
Why don’t he consider cutting there monthly salary or those with salaries.
Caring is by example not by using Facebook n being on news. This is a wreckless and insensitive statement by the pm at this time. Out of timing … the pm most be stressed out or need to rest so as to think n speak well.
Take some rest our good pm.
Ask and you shall receive
why is Dominica being hit by freak storms (erika, omar, dean, christmas eve…)and persistent negative economic growth?
How many innocent have perrished in human trafficking through da?
How often a new youth destroyed by drugs?
whats the size of voters list compared topopulation?
Why no voters id cards ?
I cry to see poor waiting 6-12months on remand for allegedly stealing a tin of food, while major drug bust manslaughter and murder charged out for 5 and more years… cases never called
Dont be like pharoah with a hardened heart
l
If at least a $1M savings per year by reduction of a bloated cabinet and removal of a # of new advisers which really should not have occurred will have no impact, then clearly the PM is telling the world that it is senseless contributing small sums such as $100.00 etc into the Relief bank accounts as clearly such donations will have no impact. This is such a dumb statement as in situations like these every dollar counts and it is better for the gov’t to take the lead by cutting down on wastage. This dead economy can survive with a maximum of 8 ministers.
Has Skeritt ever, at any time, taken advice from anyone? Skeritt has no commonsense. None. It’s China and (who knows who) that’s running the Country. Skeritt is just a puppet on a communist string. It will soon be done. When all is send and done; Dominica will have the biggest celebration EVERRRRRRRRRRRR.
Sacrifices, sacrifices, all for the fools and the poor to do. After all when you have all what you have already sacrifice for what. Let the dumb dumbs take care of that.
Why reduce cabinet mr linton? To make another individual unemployed? No way!!! Is not everything you ask for Lenox you can have. You’re not the leader of the country and you won’t ever be. Never!!!! To savage. Labour!!!! Whether thunder lightning sun or rain we voting Labour again!!?, Labour!!!!
For DA a country with such a huge deficit and a small population it is ridiculous to have so many ministers.
E.O Leblanc must be turning in his grave and ask what are you doing since the population has remained relatively stagnant while the Government bureaacracy has bloated especially with the technological ge. It should be shrinking ! I am all for rewarding political cronies but such a large payroll is going to put DA that means us in further debt . Some of those ministries should be consolidated . A gradual reduction is imperative !
Boss, Why you want RS to fire his ministers and in de same equation make you minister of reconstruction and then PM? There are so many victims of Erika, yet LL cannot rally his groupies to raise funds for reconstruction, he cannot fix roads to the homes of his ‘patriotic’ supporters, he cannot find homes and shelter for his die hard supporters, he cannot even give dem a meal every Sunday to help dem to survive. He made all his rejected ballots senators and they just dere eating de state money and providing no representation in parliament. LL doh worry with RS, worry about when you become PM and you tell your groupies is only eight of dem you want for minister, then you will see dog eat dog.
So are you and the rest of the minsters the fruit at the top the tree . They have the most sunlight but the longest drop .
If the Prime Minster I don’t think “the reduction of the size of the cabinet is going to make any real impact …” I don’t think a donation of $2000 to the relief efforts will have a real impact. Mr. PM every dollar counts towards the rebuilding of the country. If you the government is not willing to contribute how can they expect the outside word to help us.
Hawkeye shows that faced with a brilliant political delivery (the appeal to reduce cabinet size) you played a bad shot completing missing the ball (your response of tangent) as is evident in suggesting that “I don’t think at this time the reduction of the size of the cabinet is going to make any real impact …” The opposition proposed EC $2.2 million saving per year, what was the Govt. projections on table.. hot geothermal steam blown out. To further suggest that “So I don’t think……..if down the road it becomes an issue for the government in terms of the government’s ability, then the government will look at it. But it is not a matter on the agenda now for consideration.” A classical looney tune. Things are bad NOW and no cabinet cuts but on the road to recovery and when things get better might (or for the worse based on futuristic financial ability to transact that same ability which was left unqualified) the Govt. will look at it.. that response not coherent and borders on…
Linton needs to cut piece of his tongue instead.
We are inneed of two more ministers, one for Reconstruction and one for Public Relations. You get it ha, ha ha .
I am going to give all Dominicans and Linton a few tips in how to change the course of History. A good bus i Ness man or women must have nose for business, once your eyes , brains, heart, are trained on business you sniff business opportunities every where. Why are Dominicans waking up forming corporations living your comfort zone where ever you are take some risks go back home and apply for the jobs . You have been talking since the British left , there is practaly no change since you left ? Ask your self why, you did not learn how to control and orginized any business whats so ever , when are you going to do it. All you do all day is engaged in fantasy on the radio station. Get rid of all the stupid gadgets and all your bad friends , take the risks and go into a business that does not have much competition and succeed
Why does he always refer to himself like that? In the third person. Hmmm.
What does success means to most Dominicans? After 400 hundred of mind control we are not thinking of what is at hand now. Dominica got damaged by a storm , the damage is over $1 billion how much of that money thats going to go to Dominicans , do we have what it takes to do the job ahead, do we have teams of smart entrepreneur to keep 90 percent of the money home. Linton thinks like a civil servant asking an worrying about crumbs. Why dont Linton study past history, what seperate the good from the great is that the great not only learn from their own mistakes , but also the mistakes from others.? Who is going to rebuild Dominica , thats the only question we should be asking our selves, when are we going to understand and use our brains to think and do for self.
Sir perhaps if you had tried you would not speak with such casting aspersions.
Govt over taxes flight ticket into da over pricing potential tourist.
tax policy penalize you for reinvesting profits to prevent growth.
taxed for having children in wedlock but rewards you for having outside children.
aid bank policy of granting loans based on high color, friendship….not on merit or sound business plan.cost of $higher than profit margin of most businesses in small population .
Local craft and retailers killed by oriental state financed retailers
Given that it takes 4 ministers to change a light bulb (one to hold the light bulb and three to twist the ladder around), and given that we need only 7 ministries, be it resolved that the number of ministers should be increased to 28, from 18…… (This is satire, folks)
PM Skerrit, (with respect) demonstrating no effort to cut bureaucratic expenditures at this time sends a bad message. The world is watching us.
Passive Dominicans,
Everywhere else we see citizens holding their leaders feet to the fire and ask them to answer for every penny spent, yet we in Da are not getting involved in our own futre.
We seat by and allow a few to ruin our land,
Where are the proud Dominicnas I once knew??
This is where Mr Letang and the PSU lapsed; they should have tabled a wage freeze on condition that Skerrit reduced his Cabinet.
To some degree Lennox Linton do have a valid point. Dominica with a small population of 70,000 plus, that’s the population of at typical English town, why an earth does every elected member of the government has to be minister, why is it a poor country like ours need to have a permanent secretaries, it’s another case of job for the boys, at the same time Mr Linton when your party was in government no steps were taken to reduce the size of minister’s. A French philosopher once said that you only 5 honest people to run a country, the rest are surplus to requirement!
UWP ran Dominica with 9 ministers, check your facts. Dominica was doing much better than now.
Here is what the PM of Antigua said over the week-end and you can see entire article here: http://www.caribbeannewsnow…
While committing his government’s co-operation in the ongoing investigations by the authorities of the United Nations and the United States, Browne noted that offences may also have been committed in Antigua under the Prevention of Corruption Act, which, he said, would be independently investigated by local law enforcement agencies. He said, however, that should law enforcement agencies, in their own independent determination make a decision to take some form of action, that is their prerogative and there will be no political witch hunt by his government or the political party that he leads.
Will the Hon. Prime Minister of Dominica also give the local law agencies here the same responsibility to conduct an independent investigation about the NG Lap Seng connection with Skerrit, so we could know the truth about the car that was given to the state/ Skerrit?
Nice one. I like it, I really like it.
At it for 6 weeks straight , what about before Erika ????
Why do we always allow Mr. Skerrit to get away with anything he wishes to and continues to fool Dominicans? Ladies and gentlemen here is a statement made by Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit less than two weeks ago:
“He stated that he will soon embark on “a hectic overseas travel and speaking itinerary to drum up support for that effort.” Open this link and read it: https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/general/tropical-storm-erika-price-tab-1-29-billion/
Folks, Mr. Skerrit made this statement on September 29,2015. Here are my questions: 1. How long does it take to know you accepting a third child? Didn’t Skerrit know his third child was on the way the night of Sept. 29,2015, when he told the nation that he would soon be embarking on a hectic trip?
When Matt asked him for an update of the hectic trip, he told the nation at the press conference that he had to cancel his trip because he is expecting his third child. Wow!
Is he running knowing he might soon have a reunion…
Passing Cloud, you are so observant. Unfortunately though the majority of people here can neither hear nor see. I am afraid that by the time they awake from their slumber, this country would have gone to the dogs.
Our Supreme Leader, the ordained Knight of the most holy Roman Catholic Church, the Christ-like Prime Minister, the right and honourable Dr. Roosevelt M. Skerrit, with his superior wisdom and compassion has given positions to top loyal and faithful Labourites for their dedication to the blessed Dominica Labour Party. This is an example of a true leader who does not turn his back on his friends and supporters; which, of course, is the reason why he is so loved and adored by so many at home and abroad. The Supreme Leader will not betray or abandon these men and women, especially during these trying times. The infamous Novice of the Uneducated Wicked People political party wants to push these loyal Labourites out of Government as revenge for his disappointing loss at the polls last December. The “Novice” dislikes Labourites and would love to see each and every one of them out of a job and without money. This will NEVER happen. Our jobs are secure!!!!!
So it’s all well and good that pm asking for assistance to rebuild Dominica but he can’t cut back. It all have to start from the leaders , we as Dominicans need to learn when to put politics aside and put the country first. For example you can’t be asking for help financially and you don’t want to cut back on that expensive shoes or clothes you want to buy . #commonsense
Is this sarcasm?!
Amen
Is everybody else to make sacrifices I guess…. teachers, nurses, firemen, police…… but not our bloated government. What really do all these advisors & ambassadors do? I’m not sure what pill these politicians giving the people of Dominica to drink but boyyyy it’s causing acute blindness among the masses!!!Keep it up Skerro…You are just ensuring that your days are numbered!!
Skeritt doesn’t have to take Hon Lennox Linton’s advice, he never does in any case. However, in time to come, if he really wants the assistance of the IMF, he must follow their instructions and I am positive at least all those hang on and advisors will go, just be patient Mr. Linton.
Dis country reminds me of old colonial britain where the massas in charge running the estate with the slaves doing all the work. The slaves pay all the taxes, the slaves take cut for stabilization levy now the slaves taking cut for Erika, de massas never sacrifice, they only live of the slaves.
Yes and no hope of getting any compensation
Skeritt you are reckless with the finances of the country. That is why you feel that giving the old speaker a 111% increase in salary and other benefits at the expense of the state is justifiable. You continue to show your immaturity in the management of the financial affairs of the country. It is always the poor persons that have to make sacrifices, you put tax on us that we have to scrunt to pay whilst you deprive the state of revenue by giving duty free.
Yet other people must make sacrifice. It is a good thing I am not in all that talk about all hands on deck.
Our Honourable Prime Minister has spoken again. Our Cabinet of Ministers will remain since there is a lot of work to be done.
Who am I or you to say otherwise when the Honourable Prime Minister speaks? The Government has the power to do anything within the ambit of the Laws of the land since they have the majority and democratic right so to do.
Whether we agree or disagree with his utterances, his views represents the majority, therefore the Cabinet of Ministers and Advisors will remain as long as this can be possibly accommodated.
Should the Parliamentary Opposition persist with their views? I think they should, it’s their job to be watch dogs and oppose fearlessly and objectively.
Only two people could write such rubbish; the two are Elizabeth, And Facts, using another fictitious name, born again Christian like you are already burning in hell!
Francisco, do you have any brains and common sense? Can you see clearly? What do you drink when you read the comments, write yours and send them? Anyway what has it got to do with you, who wrote the comments? Why speculate and concern yourself with that? You are so small-minded and annoying.
You are constantly accusing and putting Elizabeth and I in your melee. DNO knows who are Born Again Christian and also Kid On The Block, if not personally but their email addresses of all and where the comments originate from.
Will you stop acting as a child? This is not a joke nor a laughing matter. You are not being fair to us. Furthermore you are harassing and persecuting us on this Website.
This Website is solely for comments, not harassment of users. I hope DNO does something about you and those types of comments from you. It is high time you cease such nonsense, childish mannerisms and accusations. Let people live in peace and tranquility.
@Francisco Telemaque October 12, 2015
The only fictitious individual on this blog is you. You try to participate in what we human beings are doing here, but you are not able, unless you speak the evils of a few here, you are completely ignored and ridiculed–I see it for myself everyday–like the last time you had 70 thumbs down which was more that the commentators here.
Right here what you have written is nothing but fiction, you do not know who wrote this, just as the Real Facts, and myself do not know it–you have acknowledged that you do not know there is a force against you, which you can never handle.
Also, even if Real Facts do not know it; I have warned you, and what you do not know is that my warning is already in effect–because you continue to play high and mighty. You are on your way down; and your fall is going to be an incredible had blow; do not forget that I warned you! Stop it with my name in your dirt on this blog!
Hello Mr Francisco Telemaque. You are a very courageous young man, I must admit, but when GOD mad man he put their brains on the head, where did he put yours? I agree that you can comment about some body’s comments but you must not unnecessarily harass other people because of their views. I write many comments on articles posted both in favour of and against both the Government and the Opposition. I comment on other articles that are of interest to me. I do not comment on every article posted, neither do I criticize any one or harass anyone for their comments… well sometimes I do if some one personally attacks me, not necessarily my views… I must admit that I am neither Elizabeth or Facts. They have a right to be annoyed and I will ask both the Evangelist and the Bishop to pray for you to et it right in your blogging career..;
Mr Francisco Telemaque again… when you read, please analyze what you read and make sure you understand what you read before you start commenting… Do you know how to use CRITICAL THOUGHT in your CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS and do you even know what is COMMON SENSE… When I blog it’s because I am also bored or maybe my AUTISM is acting up again. Yes I do display some autistic characteristics some times but I am fine as I have no problem being a Differently Abled Person… I just hate when intelligent people sound like JACK ASSES… Any way smile because GOD loves you
okay wink instead 
or just be vex as usual 
other people getting more THUMBS UP and THUMBS DOWN than you… THAT’S FUN
Facts, you are the queen of fictitious names. What is written in that pile of garbage could have only originate in the mind of someone like you or the other Dominican Canadian muumuu!
I smell fish even when I am five thousand miles away!
“A reduction in the cabinet will have no real impact” according to the PM, however civil servants not taking an increase this year will have a huge impact. Mister must be laughing Dominicans. For someone not so smart to be fooling so many we must be under some spell.
I miss my mentor so much when I read such garbage which we continue to allow.
Mentor: The late Maurice Bishop. Revolution of March 13 th 1979.
Need I say more? My response to such BS we continue to allow.
Well Mr.Pm it is not bad in Dominica as you are making it to be with all the millions you need to repair the country because you don’t see it fit to cut back . Bad judgment