The Dominican economy has held its own throughout 2011 despite economic challenges, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has said.
It was a very difficult year for governments worldwide, he said in a recorded interview with Mervin Paul of Government Information Service. The message aired on radio on Thursday.
No jobs have been lost here as a result of the financial challenges and “as a matter of fact there has been an increase in employment and employment opportunities during 2011,” Skerrit stated.
Government did not abandon any of its programs and was able to meet obligations to creditors and citizens throughout the year, he added. “All our social programs remained in place in 2011, notwithstanding the global crisis,” the Prime Minister pointed out.
“2011 was in fact a very difficult year for many countries and we are ushering 2012 with basically the same situation,” he said. “Nationally, we have been able to hold our own to a great extent.”
CAN ANY PUBLIC SERVANT SAY THEY RECEIVED THEIR SALARY LATE ? NO
WAS ANY GOVERNMENT WORKER SENT HOME ? NO
ARE JOBS BEING CREATED ? YES
WILL THE PORTSMOUTH/ROSEAU HIGHWAY BE FINISHED IN EARLY 2012 ? YES.
CAN YOU ENJOY A POTHOLE FREE DRIVE FROM ROSEAU TO THE PONDCASE ROUND ABOUT ? YES
WILL FORMER PRIME MINISTER EDDO ENJOY THE RIDE FROM MARIGOT TO ROSEAU ONCE THE ROAD IS FINISHED ? YES
IS WORK ON THE COLLEGE PROGRESSING SATISFACTORILY ? YES
ON COMPLETION WILL THE STATE HOUSE ENHANCE THE AREA ? YES FOR SURE.
IS TEST DRILLING FOR GEO THERMAL ENERGY A REALITY ? YES
WILL WE SEE WORK ON THE NEW HOSPITAL BEGIN SOON ? YES
THE LIST GOES ON
TO CUT A LONG STORY SHORT
GOOD JOB SKERRO
Yes Mr PM you could see it in town this Christmas.People walking with their faces “BOO WAY”, and echoeing the fact that this country is hard. No money to buy anything.
BUT YES YOU AND THE CABAL held up well!
DNO Admin: You folks need to stop being so politically biased and delete comments that do not suit your political views. I will repeat, that if the government is going to use the small amount of resources that came in to waste on dumb frivolous law suits against folks who are simply exercising their freedom of speech to point out what the government may or may not be doing right, then how will the country ever hold it’s own economically? The only person who will gain from this lawsuit is Tony Astaphan who in my opinion is not even a real Dominican.
ADMIN: DNO is not interested in the political orientation of any comment published on this website and as long as a comment does not breach the criteria which have been set for publication, it will be published. All we are trying to do here is to provide some balance regarding the perception that tax payer money is to be used to fund that case by pointing out that Tony Astaphan said at the news conference that PM Skerrit is responsible for meeting his legal fees for the case.
Well done Admin. It really does not matter who side we are all on.
It is about facts. Not conjecture and bad mouthing.
If Skerrit is found to have sold a passport knowingly to terrorists … he goes … but until then … please at least TRY to have a balanced opinion.
DNO I THINK YOU ARE DOING AN EXCELLENT AND UBIASED JOB… EVEN IF YOU FILTERED SOME OF MY COMMENTS…
OD BLESS DNO
IN THE MAIN, YOU ALLOW ALL IDEAS TO CONTEND
I TRIED POSTING ON KAIRI FM AND NOT ONE GOT POTED…HHMM
, I WONDER WHY
If the economy is doing well,why does Government have to distribute sugar and flour to it’s people for christmas.
good point
This piece of writing is much better. It is very easy to follow and comprehend.
Really? Where are the facts?
The UN economic council for Caribbean and Latin America. Is that OK with you?
You did not tell us if the sale of our passports were successful or not.
Yawn.
Good words Mr PM, very good! I find your statements contradict what is happening on the ground. Permit me to ask:
Why is it that many of Government’s creditors have problems/are unable to get payment due to them (for many months) for goods and services obtained?
Why is it that when you fail to pay them what you are owing them, you still expect them to pay VAT? Where will the money come from? The money must be circulated throughout the economy!
I would like to see the true/’uncooked’ figures that show that Dominica held its own. Should I ask the Financial Secretary or the Cabinet Secretary?
By the way the book ‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell is a must read in this era.
We Thank you Heavenly Father for looking over us in Dominica even the World was going thru a recession. Thank you Father for what you have done for us in 2011 – providing for us and also holding is in your arms to weather the financial crisis storms. We were not the worse in the World. Thank you for what you are going to do for us in 2012. We again pray for our Leaders of this Nation so your peace that surpasseth all understanding will be over our lovely island. To those who will not recognise your hands of mercy over us in Dominica, we ask you to forgive and Lord show them your glory. Indeed we were highly favoured in Dominica. You spared us from death in many natural disasters, we again say thank you.
This is not about politics now, it is being grateful to our Lord and Master who we should give thanks for so many good things in Dominica.
I like when you hypocrites use GOD’S name to suit your evil agendas….You are nothing but wolves in sheep’s clothing…..GOD is only on your lips, but not in your hearts….Matter of fact,HE is far from your evil and black hearts..In the event that you did not know; the “devil” goes to church every Sunday,and he knows much more scriptures than you or I…
“Thank you father for what you have done for us”?…Who really is the “father” you are referring to….the Politician?.
You hypocrites!…You brood of vipers!..You who worship all that is wrong and evil…You who call “wrong” right and right “wrong”..I say to you your time is fast approaching, it is just a matter of “time”..
Time will tell…it always does…
You are part of a few cultist who are hell bent on holding Dominica hostage…It don’t matter to you how bad things are in the Country, or how much suffering the People endure….as long as “our party” and so called Leaders say things are “good”, we will accept and say things are good..Even if in reality, it is quite the contrary..
As long as we keep getting a few scraps and hand-outs; and irrespective of how much suffering and hardships the majority of the People are enduring,it is of no significance to us…
Let me tell you something….I am a LABORITE,but, I am a DOMINICAN first and foremost. I cannot support this “regime”…Never!. This is not the “true” Labor Party…And they do not represent the “true ideologies and principles of the Labor Party.
The LABOR PARTY have been hijacked by these people,and they are making a mockery of its true principles and ideologies….Please stop,think, and look carefully at those who are running the Party now,and you will see and understand what I am talking about…Do you know from whence they originate?,and how they happened to be where they are now?…
It is quite shameful indeed….And for the life of me I simply cannot understand why the “true Laborites” are just sitting on their brains and allowing this to go on….We need to take back our Party.
They came,and they reaped what they did not sow…and they are making a mockery and they dismantled what was build by true “stalwarts” of the Party…
The fact of the matter is; Things are far worst off for most Dominicans than they ever been….It don’t matter whether you look at the glass as half full, or half empty…The true fact is the “glass is NOT full,and it is leaking…..
You have some gull,talking about…”This is not about politics now, it is being grateful to our Lord and Master who we should give thanks for so many good things in Dominica”.
OH YEAH?….Who really is “the lord and master”, that you are referring to?…
You worshipers of man and not the “True and Living GOD”!. Your time is surely approaching…Much sooner than you think.
When you put a kid in a candy store,what do you expect?…
Look what happened to the JLP in Jamaica….
There are lots lessons to be learned here. we had better take heed.
Yes…time WILL tell….it always does.
Profound Peace to all.
HEY HEY HEY!
WHICH GOD ARE YOU PRAYING TO..
I HOPE ITS THE ONE ABOVE…!
hear lies, thats is lies!! end of quote.
Well done PM Skerritt and team. It is refreshing to know that DA was able to hold its own in such a bad world economy. Lets hope 2012 will be as properous and may the Lord bless Dominica.
Bravo!! Great Job PM! Lets get Dominica to the other level..
INSPITE OF THE NEGATIVITY OF SOME DOMINICANS U DID ALOT FOR OUR COUNTRY AND WE AS A PEOPLE NEED TO APPRECIATE AND SAY THE GOODS THINGS U HAV GONE TRUST ME ALL THE HUNGRY PARTY CAN KEEP FIGHTING FOR POWER U WILL STILL B ELECTED IN 2014
HE DID A LOT FOR THE CHINESE AND HINSELF…USING THE SCREDULITY AND STUPIDITY OF DOMINICANS OF COURSE
first
I thank God for the kindness which He has shown my land, I thank him Mr. PM for your service to my land, but more than anything I thank God for my land… the nicest place on planet earth.
God I love this place!
You are just being a “hypocrite”…If you really “love” this Land,Dominica, you would be very concerned with its state of affairs and the direction in which it is heading…or lack thereof and try to do something about it….You have no clue……Hypocrite!
You are coming across as one of the cultists that are holding Dominica hostage…..No matter what…its party politics and politicians before People, their interests and Country……
Service?…what service?…When persons are serving themselves more than Country,and when they themselves are much better off than the People and the Country?…..
SERVICE?
Boy, I’ll tell you something; the more things change in Dominica, is more they remain the same….
For the life of me, I cannot believe the PM can make such an outrageous statement…..
Why not just come clean with the Dominican People?…My GOD……Why all this mendacity?…..
You guys will never learn….
We are not producing the means of our subsistence.We keep borrowing,and borrowing, and begging our way thru…We cannot sustain our economy….And you are talking about ” our economy held its own in 2011″?…How can you say that when we are looking to someone else for our subsistence?…Eh?…The problem is, when we borrow money, we do not use the money to set up industries for sustained economic growth…
See,if you had any respect for the Dominican People, and if you had their interests at heart, these outrageous statements would not have been made.
Let me tell you something see, one of these days, the People are going to wake up,and wise up..They are going to stop seating on their brains….See what happened to the JLP in Jamaica?…you had better take heed……
The year is about to come to an end…I would strongly suggest that you guys stop the foolishness. Out with the old and in with the new(truth, accountability, and transparency)for this New Year 2012.
You cannot keep fooling People continuously…when they themselves are really feeling the pinch,and the pain…they are suffering…..Things are really bad for a whole lot of folk in Dominica,lets not fool ourselves here.
“No jobs have been lost here as a result of the financial challenges and “as a matter of fact there has been an increase in employment and employment opportunities during 2011,” Skerrit stated…..Really?
Are you serious?….
Who really,is that person who conducted that interview?, what kinds of questions that were asked?, were the questions scripted, and; does that person work for the Government?……Why wasn’t it in the form of a press conference so that there could have been different questions from various Media people?…
With all due respect, I am of the opinion that you guys are pathologically mendacious…..
Time will time…it always does.
All the best to you….and…Happy New Year to all.
Peace Profound.
REBEL!!!.
p.s. Boy every time I swore to myself,that I will not make another comment pertaining to politics on DNO again…here comes outrageous statements like that one, which makes me made as hell, and I get sucked into this mess….LORD knows I’m fighting hard to resist….
Will Dominicans ever learn?…We need a total metamorphosis and an intellectual revolution….May GOD help us.
I feel your pain.
Just because you don’t like to see the PM in a good light … you cannot refute the facts … the economy has grown in a huge international financial crisis.
I don’t care who side he on … whoever did that deserves a LOT of respect.
allyu really retarded man or are u even living in dca? so much growth happening in dca? where? allyu really pathetic at this point man. if u really love your leader then honesty is the best policy. if it hurting say so so he can make it better. oops i forgot u probably one of the beneficiaries that not feeling the pinch so it easy to shrug off people suffering and like marie attoniete of the french revolution said when the poor people were crying for bread “let them eat cake” so while everybody crying say things so good we in milk and honey still!!!
Economy?…what economy?….grown?….
You must be one of their propagandist!……Yeah,go right ahead and keep fooling yourself…But not me pal….
“I don’t like to see the PM in a good light”?.
You’re kidding me,right?.
Let me ask you a question…Is he in any good light?…
Have you ever heard any other PM’s name; in Dominica prior to this one, or even in the Eastern Caribbean, be in so much mess. So many controversies and so many accusations,and scandals?,or involved in so many questionable acts;some even illegal?…..I need an honest answer…What?…I see what you mean.
Then again,what am I talking about..”honest”…There is no such thing in you guys “repertoire”….”We will do, and say, what ever it takes”…Isn’t that right?.
Have you ever heard,that where there is smoke, there must be fire?….No?…
I didn’t think so…
Oopps..that should have been..”Time will tell…it always does”…
Sorry about that.
that is why town was so dread for x mas smh
OK papa…
Good job done actually. Align ourselves with the right countries (the ones on the ‘up’ not ‘down’) and keep our independence.
A lot of the world is in total and utter crisis. I don’t think some here appreciate this … and that we have come through unscathed.
That is a job well done in anyone’s eyes.
Well done Dominica.
He is simply the best!!!!!!!
Praise Jah, continue doing what you are doing Mr. Prime Minister we have your back!!!!
Dominica is definitely moving up to the NEXT LEVEL!!!!!
When i look around there are many great things you have done for this country and i THANK you for that.Someone has to be rally blind not to see those changes.You have definitely left a mark to seen.
Way to go Mr PM- you call for more open discussion yet you choose to talk to Mervin Paul. Why don’t you make the first step and come answer real questions Mr Pm. Now that the judge’s suspicious decision is in your favor I hope that come next election you will be willing to debate the opposition on the issues of our country.
I realised that Dominica ‘HELD ITS Own’ in 2011, when i saw the numerous sad and in some cases angry faces of Dominicans walking the streets of Roseau this Christmas season. I could really conclude then, that Dominica and Dominicans have been impoverished by this BAD GOVERNMENT. POVERTY GALORE! One thing is certain “Government ministers got their share of the pie”.
I WOULDN,T LIKE TO SEE WHEN DOMINICA IS DOING BAD, MY GOD,THIS MAN HAS NO DAMN SHAME :twisted:FALSE HOPE, LIES,MISLEADING STORIES,JESUS HELP MISTER TO SPEAK THE TRUTH AND STOP FOOLING THE PEOPLE
yes, we are entering the new year with the same corruption, the same bulls**t, the stalled tactics in the courts etc. i can go on and on and write a more educated prose but sometimes thinking of our PM f**k’s up my mentality.
Kudos to Prime Minister Skerrit and his team for keeping the economic ship afloat amidst still raging economic storms worldwide.
It would help a lot if the PM could cite data outlining our real economic fortunes. For example how many jobs were created or maintained during the 2012 period; what is Dominica’s current fiduciary responsibilities to the various lending institutions (locally and internationally); how much did we pay back to each of these institutions respectively, how much do we still owe and what it portends for the Dominican economy, and so on.
Fatefully, those of us anxious to invest in our country are curious to find out from Dominica’s economic overseer what his plans are for, not only keeping the status quo, but for widening Dominica’s economic chances, for increasing investment – and creating jobs – opportunities for our restless youth.
It was an opportune time for the PM to specifically outline some bold vision, plans and projections for setting Dominica’s economy “on fire” in the New Year. And that did not happen with this reflection.
The PM and his team of officials and advisers cannot continue to play it safe and hope that nothing happens to upset their play it close-to-the-vest stance on the economy.
Dominica needs for him to take a bold stand and go where no one else has gone before him. His decision to establish diplomatic ties with China serves as an example of boldness. Let’s see if he declares in his New Year’s greetings to the nation.
thats good news compare to the rest of the world
yessah boy hope u believe it to when he say a dominican land on the moon!! lol
U destroying Dominica
YEAH!
TELL THAT TO THE THOUSANDS OUT OF JOBS AND
AND THE HUNDREDS LEAVING
Amen to that Mr.PM.
Idiot.
Proud of you PM..continue the good work you are doing
I am still trying to understand how are you defined as being handsome or fit within that description. You seem to be aging a lot.
How could the Dominican economy have held its own when we who are living in Dominica were throughout2011 at the recieving end of unprecedented hardship? How did it happen when we are producing less agricultural goods,when the manufacturing sector is sick,When the tourism sector according to the IMF has not emerged as the growth engine we expected it to be? When the rest of the services sector is impotent, when imports are at an astoundingly significant figure?.
Honestly as a Dominican living in Dominics,i believe if we are trying to grow the economy on untruths,lies and trickery, we will do irreparable damage to Waitikubuli, and only God knows how failed a country we will be.
Did the economy held its own due to LOANS and /or Grnat Funding? To be frank this is the only thing i can think off, and it forces me to ask as a consequence, how many Dominicans got employment as a result of the loans/ grant funds.
Many people are still complaining about how incapable they were in providing for themselves the basic necessities of life this past Christmas.I know it, because i live on island.
FACT IS THE DOMINICAN ECONOMY IS STILL THE POOREST IN THE OECS.POOR LEADERSHIP!
By the way PM can you please tell us the National Debt figure?
FROM CuCuM
At what cost Mr PM? I will tell u, mothers can’t feed their children, people prostituting there self especial your supporter, those who have getting more and the list goes on and on.Slavery abolish long time ago so those who comment against me i don’t care a f##k.