Leader of the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), Kent Vital, believes there were a few positives in the 2018-2019 budget but he is of the view that that budget is not coherently linked to a proper national vision or an adequate medium term development strategy.
The $978,101,625 budget was presented by Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Roosevelt Skerrit last week.
“Furthermore, though there is an attempt to begin to use the appropriate language, it is clear to me that government’s long-term vision and visioning process and their medium term plan that should be related to the long-term vision is deficient, or inadequate or is not properly conceptualized,” Vital remarked during a statement in which he outlined his party’s position on the budget which was approved in Parliament on Tuesday.
He described the budget as being very much like past “scattershot budgets”, except that this time, he said, the government pretends that this budget will be in support of its intention to make Dominica a climate resilient country, “which in any event is ill-conceived.”
He charges the government with the intent to deceive the people of Dominica in the budget and criticized their plans as being unsustainable and lacking creativity.
“First, one would note that the government is using Maria as an excuse for non-performance, they are perhaps happy to have that excuse,” he stated. “The government always seem to find a convenient reason why the country is not doing well, or why the country has been set back…”
Vital said it is more appropriate to say Hurricane Maria made things worse than they already were, rather than to give the impression that Maria destroyed something great.
“So yes, on top of our struggles due to the lack of sound leadership by the current administration, our homes got ripped apart from the passage of Maria, more bridges got washed away and damaged in addition to what Tropical Storm Erika had already done, our fledgling business sector got further squeezed and in general, our lives were disrupted, and yes we were severely impacted,” he explained.
Vital also criticized the budget as being too dependent on revenues generated from the CBI programme.
“If you look at these figures carefully you will see that the government is depending on the CBI [Citizenship By Investment] resources, not only to cover the bulk of the capital expenditure, but also a good portion of its recurrent expenditure,” he argued.
The DFP leader warned that Dominica will be in great trouble if the CBI resources do not come through as the government expects.
“Not only will the government not [be] able to meet project expenses, they will not be able to meet recurrent expenses such as wages and salaries and supplies at the hospital,” he declared. “So the big question is, will government be able to meet its CBI projections for the budget period 2018 and 2019? Will they be able to continue to obtain the kind of resources from CBI to fund the intervention for building a resilient country?”
He added, “The answer is likely no, not to the extent that they are estimating.”
This is the real Francisco one of the nastiest evil person ever to walk this planet, Francisco my question to you what are you afaird off or is it because you know DFP will be in opposition and so-called workers if any third-party???
Man bite Dog; how do you know that the DFP will be in opposition?
The last man standing was Charles Savarin, the DFP became so toxic Savarin could not anybody to vote for him, so for the past twenty-three years they the labor party kept giving him appointment against the people’s will.
When he and Roosevelt discover he reached the end of his rope, they ensured he became president which is nothing more than a ceremonial position with no power or authority.
All he does is sign his name on any bit of paper with garbage written on it. The only sure thing, by the time he is out of there, he will make close to fife million dollars which if he even put two million in a bank on the interest alone he can survive, and tart is assuming they still gives 8% interest on savings in Dominica as they did in the 1960’s
Lucky for him; in America, on a regular savings account we only get 1%.
Glad I nasty!
Kent, you need to shut up and get lost!
Dominicans would have to be crazy to vote for someone as nasty looking like you! If you were the last person in Dominica alive to oppose Roosevelt in a n Election, I would chose Roosevelt though corrupt over you!
You are a damn joke: Assuming you were elected Prime Minister, how many foreign government, presidents, and prime ministers you believe would appreciate siting next to you with that pile of garbage you have on your head?
It is idiots, and waste of time people like which causes so much backwardness in the country; man go and clean yourself, look presentable; right now your appearance is disgusting!
Alas…you are obviously an idiot….I feel sorry for you
This is the real Francisco one of the nastiest evil person ever to walk this planet, Francisco my question to you what are you afaird off or is it because you know DFP will be in opposition and so-called workers if any third-party???
Connect your tongue to your brain before you speak. Your character makes you somebody worthwhile not your hair style. Having dreadlocks should not be an obstacle to any position in society. Most foolish!
lbo, I do not know if the connect your tongue to your brain is in reference to me okay!
But one of the reason why Dominica has not received any significant financial assistance from an major power, is because of the sort of people of people Dominicans elect to represent them.
Are so low and backwards that we are reduced to the level of a raster man to represent our country? You know the appearance of one representing a nation means everything; anybody who would vote for that guy will have to be a fool!
Nevertheless, it is said Dominica is a fools paradise, so I suspect anything, and everything goes, we are the first in everything anyway!
Look at this a man from Portsmouth sale a boat into the port with a few people aboard, Tongue, minister is overwhelm, and tells Dominicans that is going to bring more visitors, I suppose tourist to the the country, failing to face the truth that an International Airport is the resolve!
Francisco, I usually welcome your comments for most of the times you speak truth to power. At times, you can be overly harsh but to each his own. There is no doubt that you are insightful, intelligent and very analytical.
We, as a black race of people, have a tendency to besmirch, ridicule and repudiate almost all things that are associated with our race and our culture, most particularly our hair and hairstyles. I personally will never grow locks but I’ll defend a person, with my life , to have the right to do so. You see, for me, it’s not about the locks, more importantly , it’s about the content of your character. Some men with low haircuts, jacket and tie, are the biggest criminals. I have seen people with tattoos on every inch of their bodies. Some of them are the kindest people that I have ever interacted with.
I’m not a fan of Mr. Vital’s party but I support his right to sport his dreadlocks. If all of us did the same thing, the world would be a boring place.
are you brainless or just stupid? this man has represented the ECCB on multiple occasions with his dreadlocks. that is the bank of the Caribbean on and international scale? if this man can represent the Caribbean Bank why not our country? even in New Zealand they had a member of Parliament with dreadlocks. are you so backward that you do not realize it is just a style? his hair isn’t loud or even unkempt so why the big fuss? you sir sound to me like the most backward person here.
it’s time we judge people on their actual character and not their looks. also it is Rasta not raster… fool
next time you decide to spout out some nonsense please educate yourself.
think before you speak
–thinking idiot
Honestly lob that man need to go and get cleaned-up man!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
I hope if you in Dominica, you do not go and vote for that guy with his nasty looking head, because if DFP win, nobody in government in a foreign country will want to deal with that guy.
Dominica would be jumping out of the frying skillet (frying pan) into the fire!
So what are you proposing Mr vital
Daham,
What is your point or question?
Are you still leaving like it’s 1825?
Dominica needs a leader who manage the country resources well and the person don’t have to be a white man or woman nor some one with a fancy hair cut.
That’s is so true skerrit must go the boat sinking
Jamaica is the mother land of Rastafairians,I havent seen a politician leader in Jamaican,If you seen one in Jamaica inform me.
Once he does not like,steal and chest, to me he can be a leader .What we must detest and dump in Dominica are leaders who are lying,stealing and cheating.
Where The Wicked Rule The People MOURN
This DLP is a Wicked and Evil Party
Oopssss!!!! Once he does not LIE……..
Jamaica is the mother land of Rastafairians I never seen a politician leader with locks in Jamaica ,If someone seen one before in Jamaica send me a message.
Shut up with your retarded self. What’s the point in criticizing someone because of the hair on his/her head. I’m sure your big head is nappy but that’s not the issue.. Like we’ve been taught, better to be silent and be thought of as a fool or open your mouth and remove all doubt.. Your fingers and keypad just sold you out. I guess the locks on his head represents the wisdom you wished you had.
You sound just like a fool an idiot with no agenda
An idiot with no agenda,My statement doesnt criticise anyone,Here comes a fool cant understand when he reads.