Prime minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has said his administration is committed to fiscal prudence and responsibility, which he described as a key characteristic of any government who wants to run the affairs of Dominica.
Speaking at the launch of the Belles Water Project on Monday, the prime minister noted that fiscal prudence has allowed the government to undertake many projects.
“To get these resources to do these kind of projects, to be able to repay, you must manage the affairs of the country in a prudent and responsible manner,” he stated. “And this is why we’ve always told the people of Dominica that that is one of the main and important elements of small island states like ours. You are very open, anything can happen to you by external shocks but you must take hold and charge of the things that you can have control over and fiscal prudence and fiscal responsibility are key characteristics for any government that is willing to run the affairs of Dominica.”
The prime minister described as “foolishness” those who promise to remove certain taxes.
“So when you hear people are saying that they will remove this tax and that tax and those taxes and these taxes, it is foolishness they are talking because you must now tell us if you have $200-million to spend and to pay salaries, you must show in a very clear manner where you will get those $200-million to pay for salaries and services,” he noted.
Skerrit questioned what happens after certain taxes are removed.
“You cannot go and say you will remove this tax just because you want to gain votes,” he stated. “But what happens to the country after that? What happens to our well being? What about our schools? What about our students? How are we going to pay our debts? And people who are giving us money, they have taxes in their country, so how they going to give you money when you have no taxes?”
The prime minister also said when his administration first came to office, six years were spent “to fix an economic and fiscal mess which we inherited.”
“It took us a long time to fix the fiscal challenges, the fiscal gap we had, the high debt we had or the government’s inability to pay salaries on time and to pay the private sector in Dominica for goods and services which were procured.” he said.
I mean, somebody needs to stop this guy. For starters who goes to a function, supposed to be a government product for ALL the people – dressed n blazing red??????????? Who does that? Shouldn’t it be dress/casual or jacket and tie? REDDDDDDD? Was this water project just for Laborites or for UWPites as well???? Whose gonna during the water? Only RED people? tonnere Dominicans Skerrit is JIM JONES. Especially Laborites, pretty soon you guys will be in a Dominican Jonestown, happily drinking the Kool Aid from Daddy Skerro, until the grammazone stick in allu throat”….and that will be the point of no return . He will keep blazing red and blinding you guys, even when he delivers the new toilets. Open allu eyes guys, open allu eyes. THIS IS 2014, NOT 1420!!!!!!!!!!!’
Mr Skeritt with all due respect to you and all you said and I am saying and most dominicans will agree with me that someone else and not you should be controlling the public purse period.
its easy to tell where people’s intentions of education level is at…. based on their comments. their is alot of personally negative, random, illogical comments against the government. Its okay to oppose but be sensible. If the article concerns economics then align your comments based on economic fact. Reading this article, I for one know for a fact that DA was in a financial crisis years ago and state of the roads in 2009 compared to now is totally different, there are high schools in country places where there weren’t any, people who didn’t have direct water supply have that now,. the government is at least addressing the basics of a progressive society by at least making sure that all of the population has access to running water and proper hygiene. the internet is 10 times faster than it was years ago, we have more doctors per capita than any other Caribbean country the job situation in the country is the people own fault, they have gotten lazy and not enterprising enough to take advantage of the information and resources available to make the necessary sacrifices in order to develop their own enterprises and create more jobs in the private sector. Any economist will tell you that governments don’t create jobs that they create the environment for the private sector to grow in order for jobs to be created and taxes levied accordingly. But if people are lazy and unmotivated as is clear by this constant negativity and blaming the government for this and that then there is no hope. In the past when I was a child Dominicans voted for government to represent them on the international stage. they had no expectation for easier methods of farming, or new schools or running water… our expectations were not that high, we wanted a government that wasn’t against us and could represent us. Now people want government to buy them tools and this and that every problem they have they running to their rep… its just laziness. All the people that spewing negativity are the laziest ones… that is why UWP is not a valid or proper future for DA at this time … maybe 5 years from now but not now!! my humble opinion.
I agree with a lot of what you said. You are mostly correct in your assessment. However your interpretation of your assessment is wrong. Its like doing all the right calculations in a calculus problem but for some reason you wrote down the wrong answer. Instead of 6 you put 9.
The PM mentioned one of his reasons for having taxes is so that other countries can give us funds and to pay debt.
Do you consider a government building an ,abatoire, an hotel, creating environment for private sector growth. The pm in his own words during the past budget address says if he has to stop a road construction to fund his walfare system he will. Is that not the factor that cause people to be lazy and loosing determination? The PM is himself creating an atmosphere of dependence and is making no excuses. He could at least said how he will try to grow the economy to release the country from VAT and other austerity measures.
I think you are a smart individual but your reasoning is clouded by love for party/pm and not Dominica. There comes a time when we have to change to get things on better track. Dominica is full of very capable individuals. Now is the time to change. By your comments I know you can do better.
Love your country first.
Lastly, since you quoted economists and not psychologist why not welcome Dr. Fountain back home with open arms and ensure we have a real economist who has actually worked in his field helping struggling economies become the next minister of finance. Don’t be afraid.
Based on your comment, English was not your favourite subject.
You made some salient points and observations, but you left out some critical ones as well. The government guaranteed DOMLEC, the sole electricity provider on the island a guaranteed net return on their investment. How do you justify that economically? We are saddled with the highest energy cost in the OECS.
We are last in Foreign Direct Investment. How do you justify that economically?
While I do applaud some of the efforts to assist the needy, the mighty United States realized that the Welfare System was crippling people and hence their economy.
This government has fostered a culture of dependency amongst its citizens.
There have also been several scandals where the public’s monies were misappropriated such as the “Rubbish Bin or Bin Bobol Scandal.”
They spent one hundred million dollars on Melville Hall Airport and flew a plane load of people from Antigua to Dominica, trying to convince us that U.S. registered aircraft would be able to land at Melville Hall at night, when we knew that FAA Regulations states otherwise. How do you account for such blatant lies by this administration?
I think it’s quite easy to fool people who can’t read or who are unaware of the blatant lies being told by this administration and their cohorts. I’m not one of them.
Why does this administration Deceive and Lie to the People of our country. WHY?
So we have to pay back loans to other countries that you decided to lie in bed with. This guy is insane…… What happened to all the money for the eye center?
Mr Skeritt I am a Dominican living abroad are you doing something wrong , as you seem to get so much negative comments against you. Just asking!
“Dominica has unsustainable debt levels, which have largely resulted from inadequate fiscal management………”
source: World Bank report PAD659 of 2 April, 2014.
Heres a question for Dominicans. Does the Dominica labour party have a uniform.? They always seem to be wearing red whenever they are dishing out their peanuts to the people
We should be colour blind when it comes to our votes and the wellbeing of our beloved county. We should be colour blind and the two colours should be right and wrong, which one colour would you vote for?
Haha, that is the zoo keeper’s uniform….feeding peanuts to us monkeys.
Let me ask you. Which country wearing those symbolic red shirts have a healthy economy? Cuba, Venezuela, Dominica? T me that is the colour of blood, sucked from oppressed people. Even the Chinese and Russians now wearing smart western style suits at their conference.
I have a question, does this government even understand the definition of fiscal prudence ?
The facts speak louder than words.
have absolutly no trust in this guy.
Does Skerrit really know the meaning of the word “prudence” please don’t use this word because you are skering me. (this is the new way to spell scaring)
Look a mad fella we
Have you heard of that phrase, ‘Pot calling the kettle black’? I think this aptly adheres to Skerrit’s way of how he MISHANDLED, STOLE AND CORRUPTED Dominica’s economy.
Fiscal prudence? He clearly does not know what these words mean!
time will tell MR SKERRIt…so much for fiscal prudence and u cannot pay for them law students to graduate..you cannot pay public works workers..u cannot give civil servants an increase etc etc..i suspect the fiscal prudence is the way you and your GANG fatten you all pockets…..its foolishness to you to cut down on taxes but its not foolishness on your part to overtax an already burden people…
Amazing hearing a great deceiver like you.. thank God we are more informed than you think and wont be tricked by you..
the UWP reduction of taxies is intended to grow the economy and provide jobs..
the DLP are the only government that implemented 15% vat just for extra money to buy the electorate and to maintain paying advisors and extra ministers (about 6 extra)..
what about the millions in offshore banks?
Skerrit there are words/expressions you need to keep far from such as FISCAL responsibility and PRUDENCE. None of these apply to your management of the economy. You have the FC shaking every time you open your mouth and make pledges because the reality on the books and the treasury are not in keeping with your largesse and need for attention at all turns. You are the very one who simply attended a funeral and met a few folks, asked them to come to see you “first thing Monday morning” and doled out Dominicans hard earned money to people who lived in Gloucester MA for over 38.5 years who only returned to bury their mom. You gave one $5000 EC and the other a retired Engineer with the City of Boston $10,000, for what? the Engineer was so shocked because he thought you wanted his input on street lighting since this is what you all touched on, he returned the cheque!!! The man is still reeling from your behaviour and abuse of public office. You were smitten with his daughter the Urban Planner so you used that hoping she would tag along, however the soon-to-be bride saw NOTHING impressive about you. (making break behind people at their grand-mother funeral) So don’t come here with Fiscal Prudence none-sense. I have more coming for you. I warned you long ago to behave yourself, but no is concert seven days a week and a few knuckle heads always defending as if they even know what you are up too.
he well late what a joke smh
You get rich to Quick!
Well people tebeh, six years to fix the fiscal debt that means that it should have been fixed since 2006. we are in 2014!!!
What a way your nephew clever he should be the next PM. That leaves you brainless.
Did you get a free ticket to come and vote like the other parasites?
Oh please mr Pm. The only way you can speak like this is because of lack of information. The moment Dominican get access to information they wont be foooled anymore. Everything is bush politics. Look at you n mr Darroux foooling poor people. Only foools would believe you all.
So much bad governance yet you all talkin so much non sense bout fiscal prudence. All the big mansions built by your government n Labour kabal. Stop foooling poor peps. How many times you guys go to belles? Its just for votes. Loooook at dem in red or this fooolish red
Will someone put a muzzle on this lad. He just parleying pawole anytil
Skerrit favorite words “fiscal prudence”
Father in the name of Jesus I pray that this wicked Government be removed from office lord they are getting richer day by day while the poor is getting poorer father I pray your will be done in heaven and on earth this is the cry and pray of one who is in the wilderness in Jesus name amen
L M A O. Mister doh easy
and he even saying them tings with a straight face wi. Fiscal prudence my big toe
“You cannot go and say….” Is that the level of discourse for a prime minister?????????????
The country have so much bill to pay all u can do it concentrate on finding money to pay them and u don’t have time to better the people living. U maybe blind or just plain out wicked
Mr PM u keep adding taxes and no increse in salary. Where is out spending power. Wat can the money we getting do for us? U not seeing those things. We need more spending power
*sighs* and *shakes head*….PM Skerritt. My 7 year old nephew know more about Fiscal Prudence than you.
Blah Blah Skerrit,Kelvar you look like your under a spell dude,and what are you doing for st.joe before the election.
Hmmm so where was the prudence characteristics over the last 14 years. The money that flying left right and center is being prudent? Why cant public officers benefit with that prudence too.
After election if you are returned to office we will see the prudence. Sarkway martere.
man come out there we doe want u running our country boss ! talking ur marge’ about prudence.14 years u in govment and now u doing project black is green. and u talking bout prudent. call the bloody election. what u think nor.all statement he making he have to add some coshony in it about the opposition. man u failed the people of dominica , u failed the poor people, u failed oir sons and daughrers , u even fail ur own familly. comout there call it call it .
I wish to commend Skeritt for those statements, practical or not. All that mepuis about Mr. Lennox Linton are falling on deaf ears. Dominicans in particular the young people are not interested in all that mepuis about Linton’s CV, his leadership qualities, anger control, if so, should be a plus to you. For the sake of the young voters, what you should do is to have a debate and put the brakes on his popularity.
The PM has already refused to have a debate. For what reasons? I don’t know
what is he really saying this Prime Minister lacks any sort of idea of running a biz period..
Dominican is too highly taxed thus discouraging developers and Investors to Dominican, that’s why we are called the Fools Paradise…When VAT is the main engine growth for your island
How you expect a Biz Person like Sir Richard Branson or Bill Gates to look at you…they would simply say these guys don’t Understand the world of biz..
Thus smarter policy makers in island of St.Kitts St.Lucia to name a few will have more income their islands..
Dominicans have become aggressively foolish under this Labour regime…they are so dull that a red clinic is a formula by their child leader is promoted…
Dominica under Labour is known as out of depth with the rest according the cables to the US State Dept…
that’s how the island if looked upon…VERY FOOLISH in mindset…
Skerrit you really don’t know how to run anything. That talk is really garbage. You cannot develop a country without taking loans and having debt. Our debt at the time could be seen where it used for infrastructure development and preparation for future projects that would bring income to the people of the country. The country present debt is 4X what you got it and nothing to show than a large cabinet and rich ministers. As a result money is a luxury for the common man and every institution has deteriorated or almost extinct. What nonsense you talking about prudence!
I can guarantee you Astaphans would NEVER put you to manage its finances. You would be fired in the first 3 months.
Skerro u never manage a a ripe fig stall and u cannot manage the country. Get out!!
Blaah blaah blaah prudent. Blaah blaah blaah prudent blaah blaah blaah responsible. Blaah blaah blaah taxes.
Skerrit the prudent.
PM has no confident in a country he leads to develop. I can tell your three things that can help reduce taxes. Manufacturing/ agro processing, private sector growth, and cutting size of ministry. Example making the ministry of health services a private function conducted by consultants with a small section of the ministry serving as regulatory oversight.
Mr. Prudent is saying he has no ideas so he will keep taxes and continue begging. Keep speaking PM keep speaking. I just gave you a few ideas.
Geezzzzzzz for once PM when you open your mouth forget UWP nah chhhhhh……………………………you could have done this address with class and speak only about the benefit this project will bring to the people of this community……you could also use the opportunity to tell the people what are your intended plans for the country………YOU NEED AN OLIVIA POPE IN YOUR LIFE to manage your campaign strategy …………………………………..BTW I AM JUST REALIZING THE DLP HAS YET TO TELL THE NATION ITS PLANS FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS>>>>WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR US, PM??…..YOU WANT US TO VOTE YOU BUT WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR OUR COUNTRY IF WE VOTE YOU BACK????????????
I remember in 2009, everyone on the ground was saying UWP dont know what they are about, them fellas have no plans, them fellas jokers….them people doe have plans for the country……now they do and the DLP dont hmmmmm
One thing Lennox Linton have you working hardddddddddddddd boy, take it easy young fellas we don;t want you to die before election, we want you to take what you get.
