While the current global economic crisis continue to result in massive jobs cuts and forced austerity measures in countries the world over, Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has said Dominica continues to manage its finances in the most cost effective manner.
The Prime Minister made reference to international countries currently grappling with their economies when he addressed a town hall meeting in Penville last week.
“We watch the news every day, we have relatives and friends and family living in other parts of the world in the United States, England, Canada, St. Martin and they tell us how difficult life is in these parts,” Skerrit observed. “Countries that are more affluent than Dominica, like the United States where they have injected several hundreds of billions of dollars in the economy, yet still they have not been able to overcome their economic challenges. The United Kingdom continues to make serious cuts in their budget, they sent home four thousand five hundred soldiers (4500) in the British Army because the Government cannot afford to pay them.”
The Prime Minister added that while Dominica’s financial situation is not the best, his Government has been able to maintain employment levels within the public service.
“Police officers are going home, teachers, nurses are being sent home in England but in Dominica we are increasing the police force, the number of nurses we have at our hospitals and we are increasing the number of teachers making them available to our students at a time when the world is going through a difficult time,” the PM remarked.
The Prime Minister noted further that he has and will continue to make several attempts to curtail the effect of the global financial crisis on Dominica’s economy.
He said Dominica has been able to remain afloat largely due to financial aid sought from friendly donor countries.
He used the opportunity to make reference to a recent request made to one such donor for an additional EC $45-million which he says will be made available to Dominica shortly.
“There’s another country I asked for $45 million at a time when the world is going through some real challenges and because of the relationship which I have with them, and they have with Dominica, they have said to me, Roosevelt Skerrit that this money will be made available to you and the Government and people of Dominica in a short period of time,” Skerrit stated.
He did not name the country.
“Ladies and gentlemen in this difficult period it is who you know and who knows you and it’s the type of friendships that Dominica has been able to develop over the years that continue to see us through,” the prime minister concluded.
Somebody pllllleeeeeeaaaaaaassssssseeeee tell Skerrits that employment in the Civil Service is NOT a barometer of a country’s economic health. This man needs to it n an Economics 101 class. And then he needs to do a Finance Course. Then Management. But even much more, use common sense. The public servants carry out the plan of government. In other words, they are the supporting cast. They do not produce. Their taxes are taken out by the government. The engine for economic growth IS, HAS BEEN, ALWAYS WILL BE the private sector. The US is awash with Colle students starting their multi-million dollar innovations from THER dorm rooms. My 15-yr old son is building apps and making model helicopters in 10th Grade. Wht s he doing to encourage the kids at ome to innovate?????? To help them go to College?????? To get them formulate the engines of economic growth in their generation????? To encourage the bright minds and achieves vers to come home and spark his dead economy??? I mean, the mn as no vision. A civil service going around in circles and not contributing to economic growth is ht the man is asking about. Skerrits s the ONLY employer. Bam bam hamming on his chest. The DEAR LEADER.!!!!!!!! the rest of poor, gullible Dominicans will be t the Red Clinic every Thursday begging for crumbs from his Multimillions. An economy of beggars, with the public service s the engine of economic growth. This is beyond laughable but yet so sad. Dominica is not slipping away anymore. It is sliding like an avalanche towards an abyss. Please wake up my people. You are being railroaded by Skerrits. Wake up!!!!!!!!!!!!
I normally don’t comment but…
“He said Dominica had been able to remain afloat largely due to financial aid sought from friendly donor countries”
Assuming this statement is an accurate reflection of the PM’s statement, I think he needs to rethink his definition of managing finances effectively. Seeking financial aid, be it in loan or gift form (and questionable whether the concept of a “gift” between sovereign entities actually exists practically speaking) is not representative of effective management of finances. It simply means that DA still has access to “rescue” funding when our own economy cannot sustain itself. Arguably this makes DA incrementally more susceptible to the impact of external shocks. The fact that larger countries referenced above have the ability inject cash into their economies does not make them any worse off than DA. One can argue that DA”s need to seek external assistance is no different than the growing sovereign debt issue that the US faces, if there is a view that at some point in the future, DA will need to repay the “kindness ” of other countries in some form (and likely at a time when it’s inopportune).
I don’t think DA is in dire straits, but to say we are not exposed to the impact of external shocks is a myopic statement and directly contradictory to the stated rationale for making that statement
If you Guys can manage the country better than the PM or the opposition step up.All you guys are good for is to throw mapwee
Go dey Skerro. I truly believe that Dominica is managing their finances. The word of God says be BOlD and take a brave step do not walla in negativity it brings very bad luck . PM we in London is hundred percent behind you I am taking the BOLD step with you.
All you even the state college electricity was cut for nonpayment of electricity bills. Oh yeh fool us with your immature foolishness Tell us which government that layoff civil servants. if we are doing better than many why it is that we are no where close to the level of performance of that of the rest of the Eastern Caribbean. We are so very last that no one is waiting for us at the finish line. Everyone has gone home.
Dominicans keep buying that nonsense and we shall remain in this growing pain and poverty.
No kidding – Skerrit and this Labor Party is the worse thing to ever happen to Dominica
“Ladies and gentlemen in this difficult period it is who you know and who knows you and it’s the type of friendships that Dominica has been able to develop over the years that continue to see us through,” the prime minister concluded.”
Really??? So, our entire development plan is based on begging and hand outs? I wonder how long we as a people intend to get by just from the kindness of strangers.
I will be voting for the first time ever, and boy, Skerrit, that’s a new vote against you.
me too!
Why do Dominicans just seat down and listen to such crap!! is it becuae we are so shell shocked that Skerrtit has never delivered what he had promised to our kids?
Come on peoole wake-up from your slumba and realize that this DLP wagon train is stock at the station.
So of all “going nowhere.” all countries economies are suffering , so is poor Da that is protected from global shock?? LMAO!!
What he meant to say is that his pockets are protected from financial colapse . So how about the common man’s purse??
This is what we Dominicans should be worried about , instead of minding other peoples bussiness.
Wasn’t the 3-PILLAR projects negotiated by the Govt to include a new hospital among others. If that is true so why then do we need an additional grant to get that pillar started. On a same note has the Dominica Grammar School Project been completed… We were under the impression that a Technical/Vocational wing would have been constructed. Is that the case as we write?
Sorry but I was so shocked by this, that I forgot to mention. I am also watching the daily national news on TV. No mention what so ever to say that
these people are being sent home unpaid. Do you not think for one second that this would be international news if this was truly happening.
My daughter is in the armed forces in the US and not everything is being told.
I know nothing about what the US is doing, but this is NOT happening in the UK. Do you honestly believe that the whole of Europe knows nothing of people being sent home unpaid but PM Skerrit has been given this highly sensitive information.
I am sitting in my daughters kitchen in the U K reading this right now. To say I am STUNNED by the comments of PM Skerrit is an understatement.
I read the national newspapers DAILY not once or twice a week. And at NO TIME HAVE I READ that the government or any employer is sending home Nurses, Soldiers, Doctors, ect,ect, because they cannot pay them. THIS IS A LIE.
i doe see ntn happening in the country for young ppl as yet we still cannot get a job so how is that tings gonna get better i want to knw
What local economy? Man you really taking Dominicans for a ride. Where are the journalists in Dominica who are suppose to educate and enlighten the people? because someone has to stand up for Dominica.
We have been hearing this nonsense for too long. A broken record need to be tossed out.
What did Mr. Hartley Henry say to the Labor Party faithfuls a few weeks ago? Things are bad and victory is not as sure as it looked. The 12K labor supporters are insufficient to give a victory and Dominicans will not be fooled with the promise of MILLIONS again.
So PM you have a serious problem, eleven seats is now looking very difficult much less 21. Your new hope from New Hospital and geothermal looks like a no sell. Get rid of the incompetence now before it’s too late.
hahahahaha…… this is why i am studying so hard to become the next prime minister…… i’m tired of these lies
Is the PM saying that all the grants and loans are given to Dominica because he is the Prime Minister? Is he saying that if he is not the PM we will get no more money from overseas? This is utter lack of respect for the intelligence of the people of Penville. So everything that is there now, schools, roads, etc came to Dominica only when he became Prime Minister. Is he saying that Dame Eugenia who stood side by side with President Reagan did not know people?
change is not an option its a must! lennox better to lead. This man Skirret is just obnoxious right now want to come and lie for us Dominicans. Things is not harder in any other country Dominica has now become a under-developed country in layman terms a poor country all because of you guys bad management and greed driven acts of power!
If you want to compare , compare this
UK UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 7.7%
US UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 7.6%
CANADA UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 7.1%
ST. MARTEEN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 10.9%
DOMINICA UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS 23%
AND YOU WANT TO COMPARE THIS COUNTRIES TO US ! GET YOUR FACTS TOGETHER , CAUSE WE WILL NO LONGER BE FOOLED AND STAND FOR THIS INJUSTICE AND MISUSE OF POWER TO GO ON….
@stupesss PM Skerrit knows what he is saying it’s pure lies but as always, just trying to spread his propaganda to mislead the people & his Sheeple Labourites… That’s how he play his lil mind games with the least informed people.
@stupesss PM Skerrit knows what he is saying it’s pure lies but as always, just trying to spread his propaganda to mislead the people & his Sheeple Labourites… That’s how he play his lil mind games with the least informed people
Mr. PM the British build up its forces to fight the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, so now that the war in Iraq is over and the war in Afghanistan is coming to an end they have to bring the force back to its original number. The US is also doing that. Stop telling the people lies that the British is sending 4500 Soldiers home because they cant pay them.
13 years of Labour Party, 13 years of excuses, poverty, while them guys belly getting big, Who building big house, got big ride ….
..Skerrit have no vision what so ever… “Skerrit expire!!” 
MAN GIVE UP THE JOB. You are expired! Enough crap about Global Financial Crisis.
@??????? He won’t give up on this job, Papa Skerro milking the already megg cow dryyy…It’s time we get ride of him by ballot period!! WE need Ppl with Vision n bold ideas.
Ha! Ha! Ha!
LENNOX FOR PM!.
CHANGE IS NOT OAN OPTION! IT’S A MUST!
Boy Skerrit have jokes. He goes about boasting about how things are not as bad in DOminica as compared to The US, UK, Canada and St. Martin, but in the same breath, he is talking about begging other countries for their money. How does he think those other countries manage their cash? They lay off some of their civil servants to preseve some of that cash.
Skerrit, if you want to boast about financial management, you have to do it by managing your own cash, not by taking other people’s money.
The same man who talks about governments in the developed countries reducing their public service, he would be more than delighted to take their money. This is almost like my son using my credit card to finance his lifestyle and then turning around and lecturing me about financial management.
Seriously people …From what planet is this man from really…geezz!
When will this incompetent leader stop hiding his mismanagement of Dominica’s affairs under, GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS? Let Lennox lead this country for us. Its clear that you can’t.
Global economic crisis had little or no effect/impact on us, because we do not produce a d–,…The country is dead broke, in terms of ideas and in terms of production, in terms of tourism arrival and in terms of off shore fincancial services, in terms of agriculture and in terms of being able to exploit our natural resources to our advantage.
Can a country do well with a leader moving here and there and everywhere with a BEGGING BOWL? IS SO WE COME!
THIS GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO BE DUMPED BY THE ELECTORATE!
CHANGE IS NOT AN OPTION, IT’S A MUST!
He used the same statement last election it worked for him so he trying again,All these countries he mention their economy is bad,their economy are improving slowly,When our country will able to have projects without foreign aids or loans,now we have more revenue before no vat,our revenue missuse from this administration.
Dude PM, really?
“Addressing a UN General Assembly high-level session on inequality, Bárcena said the world economic crisis has had a negative but not a dramatic impact on Latin America and the Caribbean.”
Read more: http://www.caribbean360.com/index.php/business/813355.html#ixzz2Z94Azouf
Mr Prime Minister your point of reference should be the rest of the Caribbean. Can you please tell Dominicans which Caribbean island that we are doing better than!
Haiti, Jamaica, Grenada, Dominican Republic, St Vincent.
$50 dollars for 3 gallons of gas,
I guess Petro Caribe was a big fat lie….he he he he. Allu start to see now….hmmmmmmmm. Skerro bread well buttered!
Assertive, NOT Agressive!
How can a man just lie like this, don’t you have a heart?
Asmall bottle of mouthwash is 35 dollars?
Who’s pocket is that money going into?
is the prime minister serious?? who is giving us that money and at what rate…there is no money called free money..what do we have to give back..what is the interest rate on that money??are we getting fertilizer at cheaper rates for the farmers, will the various industries like our toilet paper factory clothing industry as well as our long overdue juicing factory benefit from this money?? MAN BE SERIOUS WE WENT TO SCHOOL OK
The point is that, he got the money. say thank God that someone is coming to our Aid,
you must be crazy we want money so we can make money ..not money so we will stay begging wtf????
he got the money. where is the transparency ? why cant we be told which country is giving the money and under what terms? in what century are we?
Shame in these countries that they cannot get there financial act together. They should look to our PM for his expertise on financial stability as to how to continue to add Government jobs despite the finacial situation. Friends with benifits economics. That is stuff best sellers are made off. The same attitude trickle down to population so we aint have to work hard and produce. Hopefully we can get some friends who have loose wallets
And civil servants cant get paid on time? Are you living in dominica
smell fresh fish from a far hmmmmmm, why is it so easy for dominica to get all this moneys
Like everything else, connections and relationships are very important in running a country. Something the UWP never had.
so what are you saying….skerrit that have all d connections in the world….so what if he ceases to be pm what happens to dominica…?/ we all die…lol…you must be joking..lol
UWP didn’t have the connections like you claim yet the country was much more prosperous. Arent you an idiot to make such a statement fool.
We should ask ourselves what did we have to give up to get money and how much of DOMINICA still belong to Dominicans and that’s why the PM is fighting so desperately to stay in power.
keep lying Honorable Skirret the global Economy is much better off than Dominica in terms of all economic aspect and stop compare Dominica to others. Things are a lot less harder in other countries. IN THE US THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS 7.6%, IN THE UK ITS 7.7%, ITS 7.1 %IN CANADA , IN ST.MARTEEN ITS 10.9% AND IN DOMINICA ITS 23% . So is you want to compare compare with facts Dominica unemployment rate is triple and double the other countries and these countries are still saying things hard so much less for in Dominica . Your plans for the countries has brought Dominica no where at all so stop trying to fool people, cause educated people like me and the rest of
Dominica will never believe you.It will be my first time voting and I will be voting you out! The youth needs some jobs!
What foolishness? And I cannot feed my children, Cannot pay my bills?
Sakwetoner
Here we go again with more lame excuses.. Mr Skerrit r u not listening ?? My brother Germany,Brazil etc r doing good.. When will D/cans hold those lazy incompetent politicians responsible….All i’m hearing from this man is excuses.