Director of the Dominica Social Security (DSS), Janice Jean-Jacques Thomas, has expressed sadness and hurt after Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit rejected a proposal from the DSS which was intended to assist Dominicans who have lost their jobs due to Covid-19.
Prime Minister Skerrit announced on April 25 that he had approved the use of $8 million from the DSS to assist people who have lost their jobs and the government would add to that a minimum of 9.5 million dollars, in the first instance, to help fund other aspects of its COVID-19 relief measures.
He explained during a phone interview on Kairi FM three days later, on April 28, that the proposal was an initiative of the DSS whose management had made the recommendation to him after seeking advice from their actuary and at his request, had obtained the support of all private sector organizations as well.
However, critics had already pounced on the prime minister’s initial statement, questioning its legality, among other things. Opposition leader, Lennox Linton, referred to the move as a raid on social security funds at a time when he (Skerrit) has “under his private control, in excess of a billion dollars of public money.” One critic threatened to file an injunction against the measure.
The DSS Director explained at a COVID-19 press briefing on April 28, that the proposal was to utilize part of the reserves in the redundancy fund which was established under the Protection of Employment Act and administered by the DSS on behalf of the Ministry of Labour, and part of the reserves of the DSS Employment Injury Branch, to offer income support in the form of a temporary unemployment assistance benefit.
She said then that the DSS was waiting for the requisite legislation to implement the relief measure.
However, Jean-Jacques revealed during a live interview on Q-95FM on April 30, that minutes before going on the air, she had received a letter from Prime Minister Skerrit in which he indicated that he would not be accepting the proposal.
“I must say that I have been saddened lately by the turn out of this thing,” Jean-Jacques Thomas said. “I really thought and I am still convinced that this proposal was doing something to help Dominicans whose lives and their livelihoods have been affected by Covid-19, and to see how it has turned out into a political tool, it hurts my heart.”
Jean-Jacques Thomas was asked if the prime minister gave a reason for his decision in his letter.
“No…I don’t know but I suspect maybe is all the controversy around…he didn’t give a reason,” she responded but said he made it very clear in the letter that he would not be accepting the proposal
Jean-Jacques Thomas said she is not concerned about the criticism that has received from certain members of the public in this matter because she, personally, did not stand to benefit from the money.
“I wasn’t going to benefit from the money but I know it was going to touch lives; make a difference in people’s lives and today for us to be at the point I am really hurt,” she stated.
Meantime, Deputy Director of the DSS, Augustus Etienne, described as “downright regrettable” the level of controversy which he said the issue had generated.
He said that everything that is done at the DSS has to be in accordance with legislation.
“Some have elaborated on the various benefits that the existing Social Security provisions make allowance for,” Etienne noted.
However, he explained that this particular situation that presents itself with Covid-19 is not something that the DSS can currently cater to,
“But as soon as it was looking possible that Covid-19 was going to come our way, we had a management meeting; we discussed what we can do,” Etienne stated. “We realized that with the need for quarantine and everything that goes with Covid-19, there are going to be some people who may not be getting income, but are not sick and therefore unable to present their medical to receive sickness benefit.”
At such a high level position you don’t cry, sad and lament, you should be there for us and think critically of ways that $8 million can be a down payment towards lowering the retirement age so that we don’t have so many OLD, yes old, people in the work force; thus creating job opportunities for our young people. That’s critical thinking. Not this favor-seeking gesture that we all see straight thru. He has the money to invoke a series of stimulus packages. We all know of the ‘housing option’ he boasts that had/has over a billion$. WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO STIMULUS for everyone and the economy by extension.
A bunch of liars, hypocrites, deceivers in top position so none of their stories making sense. It all started with a lie and deception to score political points and every single story they come up is far from the early story they told
Here is my warning for ALL Dominican women against that thing we have in place today that we call government and Prime Minister:
2 Timothy 3:5-7
5 They will go on pretending to be devoted to God, but they will refuse to let that“devotion” change the way they live. Stay away from these people!
,
6 Some of them go into homes and get control over weak women, whose lives are full of sin—women who are led into sin by all the things they want. 7 These women always want to leletsarn something new, but they are never able to fully understand the truth.
STAY AWAY FROM THESE PEOPLE!!!
“I must say that I have been saddened lately by the turn out of this thing,” Jean-Jacques Thomas said.
Lady you making me laugh in French.
Just shut up and “take it like a real woman would”
. Squeeze your eyes and groan 
. People like you doh tired make Mr.Gavitate take allu for Weezib? He doh owe you no darn explanation? Who are you? Just a subject of king and Princess Gravitate…Period! You see, daddy did tell me when you see rouges and vagabonds fall out just men get their rewards so take it like a real woman and doh cry. Who beat you? 
? How dare you make behind the scenes deal with people money that have been collecting for 40 years without public consultation? So is your money to borrow then? 
. But, take it easy because Mr.Graviate just start poopooing on allu you. More to come soon.
70 Million spent a few months ago to win an election would have been very handy now. But real development is not important, winning elections is.
You mean stealing elections
The DSS director should advise the PM to use other multiple sources of funding available to the government as was suggested by others on this forum. Contributors to Social Security want to ensure that the fund is solvent when they retire or become incapacitated by illness or injury. As I have commented previously, unemployment is high and steadily rising so automatically the Social Security scheme receives fewer contributions. Therefore, it should be guarded with reverence. The CBI programme that has raked in billions of dollars should be used to rescue the needy. Where is all that money? The government often boasted that Dominica’s CBI programme was #1 in the Caribbean. Again, where is all that money which could easily fund a vibrant economic package at this most critical and crucial time? Fellow Dominicans, LEADERSHIP MATTERS!!!
Janice Jean-jacques just confirmed that she is a true worshipper of Skerrit, who worships Roosevelt Skerrit in spirit and in truth. So don’t be surprised next election Skerrit rewards her by making her the DLP candidate for Roseau Central. Mrs. Jean-jacques it’s clear you already have Skerrit your heart and soul like Ian Douglas, but please DON’T give him our money because it’s not yours!!!
@Ibo Rance, what is your point in this response?
Did you not read the headline? It says she is sad because the Prime Minister did not accept the offer, which means she would be glad if he did.
So what is your thing about: “The DSS director should advise the PM to use other multiple sources of funding available to the government as was suggested by others on this forum”?
And what this forum are you speaking about? People like you? It is a good thing that PM would also reject that advice from her–good Lord!
If the DSS director had a mind of her own she would have advised Skerrit to use money from his secret stash.
Brilliant Mr. PM .The only people who don’t borrow are dead people. You have three more years in office, we are not going to contest the Election. We had Guiste industries providing jobs for the people, they ran them out. Vene, the uk, and now CHINA helping so very well ,they critizise. All the colleges you gave them, they learn nothing,.they dont learn they have to respect the chair you hold and not the person. Never the PM OR MISTER,Always SKERRIT,skerrit. The best paid job is farming,two hours work for $40.00 dollars. When you act nice,they think you are a cake and always want to eat you up.accountability that;s the key.
Oh well…it is regrettable indeed. Sad that everything has to be looked at in a political light. I guess Skerritt figure too much going on to have to deal with the stress of justifying why the DSS should want to contribute, as noble as it may be. Sad for the people who would lose the assistance.
It’s time we start to be honest and God fearing in this once Christian nation of Dominica.
The Director and Deputy of DSS, went to the Q95 radio station with a prep story to satisfy the EGO, of the PM.
They lied about they making proposal to the PM, this is a Major Lie. It is time to come clean with the nation.
The Director’s are just part of the usual cover up for the incompetence of the PM.
They only did all this investigation after the announcement of the PM saying he was going to use the funds
Why would this lady allow a government to take the people’s money that was place there to give back the workers when they can no longer work. Especially during a pandemic that we have no idea when it will end.
It’s like we are going to eat the horse and after pull the cart ourselves.
We all know jean jacque is a skerritite but she needs to manage he office and not be managed by politicians
Dominica has more than 8 million problems and only one solution. The solution is easy you know, yet if we don’t take this one action this year, we can as well kiss Dominica good bye. Here is the only peaceful solution and I hope DNO Post it:
Police commissioner Daniel Carbon simply needs to go to the Financial Center and occupy the seat of PM Skerrit, while members of the police force securely escorts PM Skerrit into the office of Daniel Carbon. Charles Savarin is to be brought to the financial Center to meet Carbon and together they install an interim PM, maybe
Dr. McIntyre, to prepare Dominica for fresh election. Once McIntyre is installed, Carbon should meet with the US so they could give PM a very comfortable ride to the US and, have the US to bring down enough soldiers to ensure our Chinese embassy and all Chinese be on island are protected and safe. Our airport is already closed so the US should help us keep it safe and closed until we become ONE Dominica again.
Okay, so DNO posted it, you should feel grateful. It is just at this you have 5 for you and 4 against you; I hope the “against” figure will continue rising.
Are you forgetting that the majority of Dominicans are following Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit? He also has the Divine guidance–do you know from whom that guidance comes?
So give up this feeble idea of your mind, or else you will be fighting a losing battle
Skerrit has the Divine guidance??? Wow, I’ve heard it all now. How can somebody broadcast nonsense like that and to top it all expect Dominicans to swallow it?!!!
My lady the amount of cbi funds that around the place and our retirement money you want to play with? You must be crazy!
The country as a whole has benefited very very little from the CBI. However, some people have benefited massively, trusted Labour supporters, Skerrits personal friends, the DLP election campaign, Skerrits favourite Hoteliers and of course last but definitely not least el Supremo himself.
So Skerrit went on kairi fm and announced to the world that he approved $8 million dollars from DSS. Ten minutes before Mrs. jean-jacques appears on Matt Talk on the block program according to Ms. Jean-jacques, Skerrit sent her letter to say he no longer interested in the deal? Mrs Jean,- says her reason for being late is because she was sad and hurt after reading the letter? Oh but Mrs. Jean-jacques does not know why Skerrit rejected the deal but thinks is because Skerrit does not like the politics of it? Oh better yet, Mrs Jean-jacques somehow left the letter that she said she got 10 minutes b4 she came to talk on the block?
So that’s like an illegal drug deal that fell through man, my this I mean an illegal deal man?
Skerrit did not have a choice. He lied. How would the approval look on his part? Saying that he approved it and then going to parliament to seek changes to the act to allow him to approve what he said he approved in the first place. That ship has sunk. He will find another way to rob us as is customary. Cheerios!
I am sorry the lady felt hurt and sorry the deal fell through but let’s be real people. It was PM Skerrit that announced on kairi, during a political program that he approved $8 million dollars from the social security. He didn’t anything about DSS made him an offer. So if Ms. Thomas is speaking the truth it is clear that Skerrit lied. The other thing is maybe they both conspired to lie just as Annaias and Sapphire lied in Acts 5 and found themselves having to tell other lies to get out of the original lie but the more they lie the more they expóse themselves. By the way I didn’t use Annaias and Sapphire, who were husband and wife to imply that Skerrit and Ms. Thomas who I know and respect have a husband/wife relationship. I used them to highlight the conspiracy to fool us.
I am sorry the lady felt hurt and sorry the deal fell through but let’s be real people. It was PM Skerrit that announced on kairi, during a political program that he approved $8 million dollars from the social security. He didn’t anything about DSS made him an offer. So if Ms. Thomas is speaking the truth it is clear that Skerrit lied. The other thing is maybe they both conspired to lie just as Annaias and Sapphire lied in Acts 5 and found themselves having to tell other lies to get out of the original lie but the more they lie the more they expóse themselves. By the way I didn’t use Annaias and Sapphire, who were husband and wife to imply that Skerrit and Ms. Thomas who I know and respect have a husband/wife relationship. I used them to highlight the conspiracy to fool us.
“… Janice Jean-Jacques Thomas, has expressed sadness and hurt after Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit rejected a proposal from the DSS which was intended to assist Dominicans who have lost their jobs due to Covid-19.”
Ms. Jean-Jacques we know what caused you to be sad and hurt but WHO caused you to be sad and hurt?
If you intended to help Dominicans who lost their jobs due to Covid-19 and PM Skerrit rejected your proposal then you should just tell workers you tried to help Skerrit with what looks like a very shady offer, after he announced he approved $8 million dollars that raised serious questions he left you in a very dark spot all by yourself. I suggest you should write him a letter and express your feeling to him and copy that letter to Q95, so we could clear you of any fault. But if you are very sad and hurt because people criticized the political statement of Skerrit made on kairi then I have to ask myself if you told us the truth or gave an uncooked broth
So that was like winning a lotto for her…? Was there something personal in it for her? But what the hell I hearing there nou? How in the world can Dominica go forward when we have some low thinking professionals behaving like that? Was she giving Skerrit a loan with 10% interest? Stupes! She needs to go home until she gets healed from her sadness and hurt
She is really sad and hurt because she is damn right unprofessional! Please professional people don’t behave like this on national radio. I guess she is a true worshipper of Skerrit and was sad and hurt like Mary Magdalene was sad and hurt to them crucify our Lord
Having explained all this and having done all this work and networking the Prime Minister should at least have the courtesy and the decency to invite you and your senior management partner to a meeting or discussion to outline the reasons why this sudden change of plans by the government. That I believe would have put you in a better position at least to inform the Board of Directors and the general public. Instead a letter as I understand it, was delivered to you minutes before going on a popular talk show; I am sure the PM would have been aware of since it was shifted from ‘Matt in the morning ‘ to the ‘Talk on the Block’. So my Dear Lady in that respect I feel your hurt and disappointment. Let us agree that this was poorly handle by the PM from the onset; I sense arrogance, disrespect and even a one man show; Sadly, in the eyes of your regional partners it may be seen as you failing to convince your PM of the benefits of the proposal. To God be the honor still!
Let us make no bones about this that the politicization of this was done by the PM. What immature leader says he no longer wants without given a reason after he proclaimed he already approved? You guys should know gov using any money from social security is a very sensitive issue. We still need accountability from this government on passport scheme, airport fund, what was done with US 100 million forgiven by Venezuela, money donated by mexico for Marigot hospital, money donated to kalinago people. We have seen recently chattered airlines and ferry for election & campaign and millions paid to people and communities for votes. How can we do these just a few months ago and now need 8 million from SS funds. If companies cannot pay due to COVID then they should simple furlough employees so they have access to that fund. You cannot set up a fund without laws for access. The PM dishonestly want to get funds do as he pleases. Thats how he has ran MOF and thinks it belongs to labour party.
Janice your motive is strictly political by vending your opinion on Q95. There’s a protocol, you made a suggestion and it was rejected, therefore, you shouldn’t be doing what you’re doing now. The final decision has to be made by the government and not by Janice, thanks.
My friend stop behaving like a little child. You are a professional and not a cry cry baby! We believe you had the best interest of Dominica AND DSS at hand. But the truth is, Skerrit thought you would just give him a $8 million dollar cheque with no conditions. But when he saw that he had to take it to the parliament he ran from it because frankly, he didn’t want Me. Linton to question him about the missing billions that he has been running away from. So Ms. Jean-jacques it’s not about you or politics but the stumbling block Skerrit saw. Skerrit doesn’t want to go to parliament to talk about money with Hon Linton. That’s what he ran away from! You remember Bob Marley’s song? Ya running and ya running
And ya running away
Ya running and ya running
And ya running away
Ya running and ya running
And ya running away
Ya running and ya running,
But ya can’t run away from yourself
Can’t run away from yourself
Can’t run away from yourself
Can’t run away from yourself
Can’t…
What arrogance and high- handedness!!!!!!!! RS was not comfortable with DSS decision to administer the 8 million dollars, so he rejected their proposal to assist the poor people of Dominica. If that is not wickedness, well what is? The refusal, up to now to put some package to stimulate the economy and help citizens speaks volumes. Gov’t soon after the 2014 elections, went to Parliament to change the Laws re. Cabrits National Park and gave Kempinski 15 acres from our National park but will not amend the Law to allow DSS to use its funds, so citizens could live somewhat from the loss of jobs, salaries and so on.
@Insanity, you decided not to mention that the DSS offering to the government was on a loan arrangement and not a grant. So why should RS agree to this arrangement when it is his administration that would be responsible for paying it back to the DSS? I would use the analogy of you going to the bank for a loan and the bank only agreeing to give you the loan on condition that you have no say on how it is spent. Your only involvement would be to paying back this loan at the rate decided by the bank. I mean, would you sign on the dotted line? You also failed to mention the opposition leader’s role in stirring up the controversy for political reasons. Did you think he had the interest of poor people at heart as well?
These UWP people remind me of a guy in CANADA.The guy buy’s things to take to Dominica,and expect to have the same money.Those hypocrites expect debt forgiveness,of $ 100,000,000 and expect the money not to be used.They believe the government pay’s for NOTHING that is happening in the country,including the $ …,000,000 owed to the DSS by UWP.Wicked,Traitors.Talking about $ 1.2 billion,a topic THE MAJORITY of Dominicans prove to be a LIE.SKERRIT SITTING ON BILLIONS OF DOLLARS,that sound so STUPID.Only a JACK A will talk that BS.I support Skerrit,you contribute to social security you get social security benefits.
Would like to ask these OVEREDUCATED UWP,”the hundreds of millions of dollars spent on the HOUSING REVOLUTION where did it come from?Where is the money coming from to build the NORTH EAST HOSPITAL in Marigot?HYPOCRITES.Expect Skerrit to help people with a FAKE MISSING $ 1.2 BILLION.
There are thousands of Dominicans who are in need of urgent assistance, no doubt about this. The Social Security intake of contributions is at an all time low. It can become insolvent in a few years if not prudently managed. There are other sources of funds the government can dip into, CBI is one of them. Why this stubborn reluctance? This is a most opportune time for Skerrit to put the CBI billions to good use. This is the people’s money and not his personal earnings. This imbecile (Skerrit) has thrown millions of this same money to his well connected friends and diehard supporters to build luxurious hotels and apartments. Now, in a time of real need, he stubbornly refuses to use it to help the least among us. The man is dark, wicked and evil. His final place of abode is firmly secured in the most fiery part of HELL.
Boy you guys have a nerve. The amount of cursing that Mr. Skerrit has got for trying to help the least among us. Everything he did for the least among us was criticised. I did my share of it when beautiful houses were given to people free of charge because I think that no matter how small people should make a contribution.
A lot of that was done with CBI funds. The same CBI that you guys went to the length and breadth of the world to crash, including the CBS 60 minutes programme on the first day of a particular year!
Yea I forgot, you people have absolutely no shame. You have become experts at turning everything on its head and absolving the biggest mischief maker Dominica has ever known of all his misdemeanours including the one associated with the present issue. You all have become experts at destroying people’s reputations and credibility which they have built up over years.
Something tells me though that retribution is on its way, slow but sure!
Saunders yet another cry-cry baby in defense of Skerrit. Space will not allow to list the many bad governance practices Skerrit is known for over the last 20 years. As a junior minister he betrayed Pierre Charles by going to Barbados to engage the Chinese government, Charles Saverin said if he was in PM Charles position he would have disciplined Skerrit. He has brought the office of PM and Ministry of Finance into disrepute many times , the land transfer deal, the Bin and fertilizer boobol , the Susan Oldy diplomatic passport deal, his SC admitted the monies collected was used for DLP campaign rather than going into the treasury, the layou Hotel fiasco in BVI where 50 million dollars of Mr.Chen was in dispute, the appointments of shady diplomats, the My Dominica Trade House scandal with Monfared and others, the 1.2 B admittedly missing from the estimates are BUT just a few. In a true Democratic state Skerrit would be made to resign. But to YOU he is supreme. Time will tell SMDH
Stressfree
He is not supreme for me. No one is except God. Please do not judge me by the standards of yourself and your colleagues. You all are the ones who continue to accept the brass faced deception perpetrated on you by you know who.
What I will not do is join you all in being destructive about everything and in every situation, even to the point of destroying your own country in the hope of bringing down Mr. Skerrit.
No matter how you rant and rave I will not join you in that sir/madam. I will continue to protect my right to free speech and thought and will not be intimidated by you band of cursers and swearers! Desperate lot that you are!
Stressfree
I have been listening to the radio and different clips being played and wonder why I am getting the feeling that the pit which was dug for Mr. Skerrit is going to house the very ones who dug it.
I hear people back tracking and saying at the time they made their comments the whole situation was not clear it was Mr. Skerrit saying he had approved the deal.
Well as it turns out it was not Mr. Skerrit who had asked for the money and people who proposed it and are now running scared because of intimidation are now totally embarassed.
Guess who is now the cause of delay in assisting suffering redundant/laid off employees? Squarely at the feet of the Opposition Leader who got so excited to add another nail in Mr. Skerrit’s coffin. Guys if you do not call a halt to this obsession you all will self destruct!
Your insider supporters are already in revolt mode, do not press your luck.
You are so intellectually dishonest (not just observing from this comment). You blame the opposition for digging the hole but it was Skerrit who lied and claimed the opposition had come out against his plan to use social security when he realized there was a backlash (even among his own supporters) for his ill-timed and ill conceived statement on providing aid – AID he basically refused to provide until he started getting criticism for his in-action.
Linton only responded via radio when Skerrit attempted to blame the UWP when he(Skerrit) sensed there would be a backlash (the savy political deceiver and manipulator that he is). Before that Linton hadn’t even commented but here the bold liar in chief was already blaming him for opposing something he had never commented on. Look, BS, I would agree with if you werent so arrogant and hypocritical about “them ppl” because you have a point about the negativity but you’re just as guilty, and so are labourites…and Dominicans in general
Barbara what I despise about people like you is the way you are so quick to say don’t judge but here you are making all kinds of judgmental statements about the opposition leader. Not even knowing me, addressing Sir/Madame you most judgmental by saying my colleagues and I; who are my colleagues? I addressed some fundamental governance issues that you are yet to comment on. Any we the people express ourselves using the same freedom of speech you alluded to, we are categorized as enemies of the state. What hypocrisy! Here is another question for you on governance. Was the said proposal between Skerrit and Jeanjacques or Gov’t and DSS? Certainly it seem to be the former because Skerrit did not bring the proposal to CABINET and most definitely Jean Jacques could not have brought the letter to her board having received it 10 minutes before going on a talk show where she then discloses its contents. Is this protocol? I hope by so highlighting I am not considered a hater by you
Please point out where am I being destructive to my country? If you want me to withdraw my statement that ‘to you he is supreme’ AND JUST TO BE CLEAR I did not mean that he was God to you it only meant that he cant be sighted for any wrong, however if you took it in a different context then I publicly take it back – but in so doing by highlighting the poor governance over the years of his rain, please tell me where I am being destructive to my country? My Dear Sanders one man is not an island!