Prime Minister Rosevelt Skerrit has implored Dominicans living overseas and those who have returned to join hands in building Dominica.
The prime minister addressed the diaspora on Wednesday morning at a meeting under the theme “Deepening Cabinet’s Dialogue with Overseas Based Nationals.”
“Find creative ways to utilize your skills and talents. Be a senator. Join the World Creole Music Festival Committee. Nothing precludes you from making a contribution to the development of Dominica while you live overseas,” he said.
He also urged them to take note of the progress and development taking place in the country. “We are rising gradually to the next level, there is an education revolution going on in Dominica” he stated.
The prime minister noted that the Dominica which many who have migrated left behind has progressed significantly. He pointed to the State House project and night landing as examples of the development being made in Dominica.
Skerrit also added that significant developments have been made with the geothermal project and the 65 room hotel being constructed in Portsmouth.
He encouraged those present to invest in Dominica and to have national pride.
Is Skerrit right in the head???????
Didn’t he just boast about the hotel DLP is building????
So in other words – come diaspora!!! invest your hard earned money in DA so we, the government, will start the same business with all our power and access, and compete with you!!!
UNBELIEVABLE!!!!
Dominicans are talking and other caribbean islands are worse off than Dominica aned still hold a sense of national pride.
Antigua is going through its worst economic hike
Barbados is knocking on IMF door
Grenadas economy is in a bad state investing in foreign airlines in a white elephant international airport.
USA economy is taking a hike causing people to loose their jobs,homes, businesses closing and influencing the worlds economy.
France withholding support to families in need due to economic downturn and the Euro is loosing its value.
Why blame Dominica and its Government are our people soo blind to see that our land still flows with milk and honey? Our resources supplies us with much that food security is not a problem. Our economy is influenced by the failure of the world governments. We cannot blame our PM and the present government for the social ills.
I blame the previous GOVERNMENTS for not setting the FOUNDATION to our FUTURE. When other Governments were building International Airports why couldnt Dominica build one before, remember the Heineken company that Dominica refused? It went to St Lucia. My present Government is building the foundation that the others refused to construct, DLP is trying and we should encourage them. The thing that hurts me is that Skerritt still cares for these ungratefull few.
you dont have to say all this befor you get to the point of leting people know your one of the DOM-IN-CANS thats love to get things without working but just go and pickup RED CASH. you talking about antigua but Dominicans still working and keep coming and find jobs in antigua and 95% of the ones that run back to Dominica after thay got full off about how good Dominica is doing with work are thinking of where next to RUN no one can start you futuer for you its your job to do that but knowing how some of your DOM-IN-CANS dont like to work but want to get things you must love are GM like that
Mr. Prime minister,
thanks for the invite, I for one will return, that’s my dream. Please Mr. Prime minister, can we have some roads to drive on so we don’t wreck our vehicles, esp. in places like Wallhouse? Are you doing something about the stray dogs, esp. at night preventing youfrom getting a good night sleep? or going for a walk in the daytime? What of the cost of electricity? a competitor would be a good idea.
Drugs? crime? Healthcare? Customer service? work attitude?
Here is not a heaven, the grass is not greener. I’mlooking f/ward to return, just make life bearable. Thank you Sir.
[Matt, pls. ensure the prime minister gets this.]
way papa skerro not easy… he think overseas based dominicans parro man… he think we blind… just ask why the labour party take ralph gonzalves advise and upgrade melville hall instead of building an international airport, while gonzalves building his in st. vincent… is stupid we stupid to invest in our country without an international airport…
Tourism in the Caribbean has gone down, so why are we building yet another 65 room hotel in Portsmouth? He is supposed to be marketing what’s already there, especially local guest houses that may have taken a bigger hit w/ the decrease in tourism. I just don’t understand this; while I believe in new development(s), I want to know that there’s a market to occupy those developments, so it can pump money into the economy. And the geothermal project will just benefit abroad countries, and again, Dominicans will lose. Same thing happened in Layou river, where the govt. sold an area for capital gain, and now people in that area can no longer live comfortably, because it floods if a bucket full of rain falls.
To think we live in an age where a man recently jumped from “the edge of space”, smart phone that totally changed the way we communicate and yet we are absolutely giddy about the construction of a road and a bridge. Well whop-ti-dah!!
Garçon allyou have everyting there to make a difference,,,
Turn Belfast back into Production as oppose to having a foreign entity run it as their Distribution Hub,,,
Give Companies like Gabriel Josephine & Co Ltd incentives to start Bottling local Juices as oppose to that Artificial Crap they Importing,,,
Revamp BELLO garçon and make their pricing more competitive with all that Imported artificial flavored and Genetically Modified crap,,,
Nationalize them Quarries, all you have D French Parnder running making all his money and den taking it to Guada,,,
Allyou have another Pardner taking all the sand in Layou river for free and I wonder what’s the markup on dat when it hit the regional market,,,
Revitalize Public Works Department and stop Contracting out the Public’s work to allyou friends Ma Sons,,,
Consume Domlec nuh!!! you have 8 million to give Liat and your peoples is at the Mercy of some foreign entity for basic needs???
Garçon stop begging and start looking around all the answers are right there,,, what if the whole world collapses around Dominica and it was left Standing what would allyou do???
Thats how you should tink Pardner before you aks dem people to come invest,,,
Any Invest in What!!!
By the way basic Economics 101 in a nutshell states that: Economies that don’t have natural resources to create furnished goods, imports raw materials and manufactures furnished goods that’s how they survive,,,
Pardner if you doh hear noffin Marn say already you should listen to this one yeh:
“Feed a Man a fish you feed him for a day, Teach a Man to fish you feed him for a lifetime”
And you will also have to know HOW to fish!
Because you can teef money doenst mean you know how to make the money!
my friend you need to know how this game is beening played in this you should not teach a man how to stand on his one you needs to hold him up at all time so if your not on his side he cant move lol so dont wait on the fishing line just go to there office every day there will be are fish for you for the 365 days and all the rest that dont love to work had for what thay want lol have are bless day
Dominicans complain too much. Anywhere in the world you are you can always find something to complain about. I know because I have been to quite a few places. We need to concentrate more on the positives.Is the present government perfect? Hell no! In fact there are quite a few decisions that they have made that I do’t agree with. In terms of the overall development of Dominica I have to admit that during my lifetime they have taken Dominica further than any other.
The government should seriously adress issues like criminality and unsecurity first, before diaspora people or foreigners would want to invest in DA.
Also, the fact that DA became a communist country, with allies like Chavez or other leftist dictators, does terrify any invester.
the nightlanding was unusefull, just like a 65 rooms hotel ; DA has plenty empty rooms already.
Geothermal is a good and necessary project ; I’m not sure that a State house is so vital ; perhaps yes! I don’t want to be too negative.
But, as far as I am concerned, before I invest a dollar in DA, another Miss Charles would have to be elected first !
I would love to help build dominica and i made some recommemndations which i think the dominican ppl should read about, but for some reason dno wouldnt post it on their news commentary or letter to the editor
Call Matt
As someone who lives overseas, I would love to come back and help build Dominica. This is something I have been thinking of for sometime because of my love for this country. I have the skills and some cash so why not? But when I think of giving up my life here to come to Dominica to do business – the risk involved far outweighs the good sadly. Sometimes I think its best if I continue to contribute from a far although I would prefer to be based in DA.
First, Dominica’s legal system needs serious revamping. Times have changed and continue to change yet the legal system is stagnant and depressing. You kill today; you are out tomorrow on bail to continue illegal activities. Some of the officers are totally corrupt including some government so-call officials and some needs serious training. Mr. PM, show some changes in that area to help me make that move!
Secondly, everything moves like a snail in Dominica – especially government offices. You want information; apply for approval on something and it takes forever. However, if you know someone or have a Dominican “so-called famous” last name things will suddenly move. How sad!
Furthermore, some Dominicans don’t like to support their own. However, if it is a foreigner, whoosh mama they will be all over it. Sometimes I wonder why we can’t be happy and supportive of each other. Maybe then things might be different.
I will not even start on the TAX situation because again what is the point in trying to do business when the tax rate is so high. Customs alone kills your investment.
How do you expect to attract investors with limited incentives and with the same ancient way of thinking? It is great to give a nice speech to make everyone feel nice when in reality there are no real good incentives for doing business in Dominica because your business will be over and done within a year or two – again what is the point? Give me something concrete to work with!
In all honesty, despite all the petty politics that goes on I have seen some development in Dominica which I appreciate. But alas the legal system, the laissez faire attitudes and zero incentive scares me to de bone.
You you are 1000% correct on everything you said and i mean everything. I own a very sucessful company in NY where i employ over 250 workers and i was just discussing the exact same thing with one of my staff when he ask why dont we have a branch in Dominica. Sad i must say
bro thats all this people do after dominicans have all there fun and geting ready to go back to there big jobs out side of dominica this people keep what i see as are lest fun time with the PM and the boys lets take some pictures and thanks for coming see you next coming year for one week the most you know thay cane stay away from there jobs to long
What about giving the Dominican diasporas a one time duty free, vat exemtion when they come home with there containers, they have build there houses creating jobs buying materials from the stores, employeeing people , a one time break wont hurt mr skerrit?. what about that, i wish i knew about the meeting becouse i am in dominica building my house , I to had some questions. you have done a great job building the island , but if you want us to come home, please give us the incentive , easy up on the vat, for just one time.
Those living oversees and think Dominica is paradise, i say to them just live in our so called paradise for at least six months to a year
Dominica will always remain a Paradise but sad to say ALL employers in Dominica need to follow an incentive program like ALL other countries. IF EMPLOYEES MALICIOUS REFUSE TO PRODUCE, YOU DEMOTE AND FUSTRATE them, AND THEY WILL VOLUNTEERINGLY FIRE THEMSELVES making space for others who really wants to work Without abolishing this lazy attitudes, Dominica will never move forward. The PM alone cannot make Dominica remain a Paradise.
A 65 ROOM HOTEL??? WOIEEEEEEE DIS IS WHAT U BOASTING About..lol lol boiiiiiiiiii dat making me laugh wee……Wat i coming for? To eat road n bridges man?? chupesssssssss
And some of dem Da people so foolish they doh know what is development so wen dey see road n bridges dey frighten….so they tink is development….tehbeh…..jobs man jobs..u following Chavez buh he creating jobs buh u making you people become beggars any blind man can see is a political strategy dat…dominicans must travel..to see what is development….chupessssssssssss
As I know there will be no thumbs down for my comment, here is what I have to say. I left D/ca in my early teens, and God knows, how sick I was to have left my beautiful,loving island. I am looking forward to coming home and very soon. Sir, I’m very pleased to see and hear what you are doing for D/ca!The State House is very beautiful, and I’m pleased about it. Don’t forget to put a basin with jets of water, lighted at nights with different colours. Appeasing for tired visitors, especially those harrassed by their fellowmen. People like being near water.
Night landing definitely is a real coup for Skerrit. Yup! Give him his props there!
The road network is an accomplishment. Not absolutely necessary but its done and driving around DA has become far less hair raisiing. The bridge at the market and that back road and even the Laudat road all good stuff. Edison wasnt able to do that probably too busy focusing on selling off Dominica’s assets and encouraging copper mining. Although what happens when its time to do maintenance? Already the Laudat road is caving in big time on the cliff side not sure what happened there but have to say it’s not the scary trek it used to be!
However fail to see how State House is a sign of progress. The state palace will forever be a symbol of gross excess and plain unfairness to use Dominica’s tax dollars to put in a conference room for a private company that shall remain nameless.
Until the geothermal plant is up and running and energy costs to the CONSUMER has been significantly REDUCED he can’t use that as anything because for now its just hot air. No pun intended
REPORT CARD
Overall his grade is F because he has not provided in any way a reasonable environment in which Dominicans feel secure enough to go to the banks, put up their inheritances for collateral to borrow money to invest.
The night landing and roads saved him from a Z.
But he does get:
A+ for successfully bringing Dominica to her knees.
A+ for impoverishing the fledging industries that were to provide some level of independence
A+ for driving up costs of living
A+ for zero creation in jobs
A+ for driving up the debt to shocking levels while leaving Dominicans broker than ever
A+ for ensuring no opportunity for the next generation unless they aspire to holding up the STOP/GO signs on road building projects.
A+ for successfully creating an environment of gross levels of corruption
A+ for enriching himself and his like-minded cronies
So who want to listen to his flowery words and take their hard earned money to invest do so at your own peril.
You can’t be serious so is the PM that raise the cost of living. Are you not au courant with the World news. Are you not au courant with harsh measures that certain countries had to take for saving their economies. Give me a break .. please educate yourself on what is happenning world wide and the economics before you criticise. We have so much to be thankful for. Praise the Lord and the Father does not like ungrateful people. Stop looking for the negatives and count the many blessings.
So because we have so much to be thankful for, should I not talk of the ills that are inflicted on me? I Praise the Lord and yes the Father does not like ungrateful people, but the Lord also hate corrupt, wicked, criminal men posing as role models and leaders. So help me point them out, and publicised their wicked ways, but more importantly, lets stop them in their tracks.
Yes he raise the cost of living you liar, when u pay more taxes u have less money to spend in the economy, who put the 15% Vat not skerro, u fellas to biased man.
Could not have said it better, thank you very much!!
If you are blaming the government or any small island government for those things, you are truly in this world but not of this world. Check your daily international news and see how it impacts on micro-neo-states like Dominica.
@ Anonymous What you have written is so much filth, that it is not even fit for the computer screen, nor even the toilet.It is sycophantish,garbage,and it comes from one who is far removed fron the year of enlightenment that we are living.
The bad leadership the country has experienced since 2004 has failed you,then it has failed the country,in agriculture,tourism, the sale of our passports,garbage bins, fertilizer sales,the dealing with the rogues regimes,by the high unemployment rate especilly among the youths,by turning the country into one of the poorest in the Caribbean,by the accumulation of wealth that legal income cannot reach, by frittering money into things like state malice, by frittering money into nonesense like the koshonyee at melvillehall, espwecially when all other islands have an international airport,by failing our children in a largely failed educational system, by cursing our constitution, by telling idiots like you “Go to Hell! Go to Hell! Go to Hell! It’s not your dam business where the labour party is getting money.What about villas,the failure to adhere to the constitution and consult with the opposition when he MUST do so? Have you heard of Citizens for a Better Dominica INC? Do your research!By not being able to represent the country abroad especially when being in the presence of educated men/women, by the improper doling doling out of money ,by keeping the poor very poor. Is it intentional? What is the latest with the hotel at Layou? What happen to the man whose millions of dollars cannot be accounted for?
These are just a few… The accoplisshments you alluded to IS A MASSIVE FAILURE for a government who has been in office for 12 years. MASSIVE!
Why is it only the supporters of Skerrit and the labour party can make commentsbut for others they believe their comments are nonsense that’s unfortunate. D’ica will never move forward regardless of their stupid posting, people wake up before it’s to late.
So why is it you a not planning on moving back to D’ica !
% you need to read over the posting. Take your time.
Not me for sure……do not trust this corrupt government…lacks vision, the country is poor and even our renowned World creole festival prices was dropped form EC$120.00 to $50.00 to get people in.. MR PM who is going to pay the difference of $70.00…we the tax payers and you eh have no plans to revamp this country ..it is sinking….we are fed up – go take a hike…..very disappointing. I do not trust you .
I was there, it was great! The Prime Minister delivered an inspirational address as did the Minister for Diaspora Affairs Dr. McIntyre. The informal reception that followed was well organised and the entire cabinet was on hand to meet and discuss issues of importance to the attendees.
I truly enjoyed the opportunity to discuss the development of my homeland with the various minister. A great session, I am encouraged to continue to make a contribution towards building a better Dominica!
You must say it was great. You fill your belly with free food and drink, what else would you say?
LOL! Good one!!!!
Where is the dislike button
And am looking to know what your comeing back to do in Dominica soon dont be like the rest Dominicans that will just say the PM words was nice and he know how to take pictures good. we that live in Dominica knows our PM know just how to do this part of it when you do make up you mind to start business in Dominicas come on DNO and let us know how good it is meeting with this same people your now talking about.after all that i must say to you befor i go one love to you and all the rest Dominicans i must say am doing are business in dominica and if this business has to stay open in Dominica i must stay away from Dominica this banks are just not ready yet or thay has there people to help.the many young people i know out there wanting to come back home and help do business and is not geting the help from the banks in dominica but after having fun thay keep meetings like this to make people think that its all that. you all must stay longer in D/a dont just come for one or two weeks and have fun then run back then you can talk i must say Dominica is bless thank GOD but we need more young people doing business not just the names that we know of from the 1970s and still the same in 2012 we need to have the fishing lines so we can do our fishing our self not just the PM and the rest giving a one day fish when we need to eat
What question did you ask? Did they allow people to challenge their policies? I have been to many of those sessions and I was there when the Dude who came from Denmark ask the questions of the PM.
My friend that is the intent – talk to make you feel good and at the end of it all there is nothing. Sad to say but they serve you like a crack addict; a temporary high and at te end of it you are left to wonder where is the substance.
People come home fr the festival see a few people walking around Roseau. Diasporans ave a few bucks to hang around and some of us diasporans get fooled. As for I come home to Dominica at random time of the year and I can tell you the country is in bad shape. At the end of the festival people have to go inside cause there is no disposable income. The people are broke, the country is broke. Don’t let a resurfaced west coast road fool you. This is pure emptiness.
Stay a little longer and experience LIFE IN DOMINICA. I pray that you don’t get sick and have to go to PMH. Flowery words are easy but the people of old used to say: Come see me is not come live with me!!!
inspirational address??? sounds like TALK to me..
reception??? sounds like more talk and mount gay babble and meet and greet sewo to me….
mwen mem las avec parle…
While you were living it up with the who is who in the skerrit cabal did you for once think about the people living in D’ica how they are really surviving did some of the have anything to eat or drink dont give me that nonsense about improvement on the Island, for you to know what’s going on take a walk with the people hear their stories do you think you can listen to them without thinking about all the good times you had eating what they should be eating can you live with yourself. Soon you will be returning to the diaspora what will you be leaving behind.
just come and live here and you will feel what we who live go through. You are just a visitor.
Well Skerro what about the heavy VAT on the backs of poor Dominicans, what about the rise in crime, and lack of moral values prevalent in our society, what about Govt corruption, what about no law no constitution lawless attitude in our beloved land hmmmmmm, u blind to those eh!
as for you Morihei Ueshiba, you are all a negative man all the time you comment and negative towards the PM. Sometime ago I proposed you for PM. And before you always criticise and say negative things about your country and leader, why don’t you point out the wrong things and provide alternatives? Why not give some suggestions to curb crime etc and all the other ills you perpurt to be happennng here. We have so many things to be thankful for , taking into account what is happenning around the world. Drop your hatred in your heart, Imamcipate yourself from hatred of one man, go into deep meditation with all focus on the Lord to help you cleanse yourself from mental hatred. Then sit down and logically and objectively analyse your homeland problem vis a vis what is happenning out there and then Praise the Lord for having been born in this part of the World. Why .. look at 14 year old Malala shot because she stood for Education for young ones like herself and I can say more and more that is happenning out there. I have a hobby and that is I like to read the news and so I am daily faced with all kind of mad things happenning out there in the World. Then only then can you appreciate your country and instead you would thank God and not be ungrateful that you are in Dominica where we have so much to be thankful for. Let us Praise the Lord.
Morihei Ueshiba by virtue of your name I do hope that you are not one of the muslims who preach death to the infidels even if they are innocent children? Hope you are not so if you are just repent and start being positive. Emancipate your mind and heart from hatred slavery.
I forgot one thing Morihei Ueshiba. Remove the VAT and what other taxable method would you use? Your Homework Morihei Ueshiba? Hope to hear from you soon Morihei Ueshiba.
No Name let me tell you something. Dominica’s economy is fairly horizontal, (meaning, goods do not go through many processing steps in Dominica, if all goods sold only get handled once before being sold to the consumer) there’s no real need to introduce a VAT system, you hear me. It can also be a trap, as it will allow the U.S. to say that if Dominica does not set its import duties equal to the rate of VAT, then it is unfair and disallowed under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
You fellas just jump on politicians because of what u all getting and have no love for country, then when people stand up for the country they love, u all try to silent them by saying they being negative, let me remind you, that if America did not rebel against tyrannical Govt, they would not be as great as they are today, people must take a stand, or else our beloved country will be lost forever!
@ No Name, my luv for skerrit makes me put him on a correct path, corruption is wrong skerro, you cannot build Dominica on handouts skerro, you cannot build a country without production skerro, you cannot play with the legal system in your favor skerro.
Look at Wilkard Vs Philburn opinion 317 US 111 (1942) It is hardly lack of due process for equal protection of the law for Government to regulate that which it subsidizes.
Praise the Lord, are u a christian? If u was you would know that the Bible says “Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God.”
Education revolution!!!!! Show me the education revolution and the impact on our development or the lack thereof. State house and night landing!!!! What has the state house brought us other than Chinese labor? No wonder they refuse to punch in for a political debate cause they have nothing to stand on.
It is so idiotic to be telling returning Dominicans about education revolution when even a significant portion of the diasporans in the audience are Dominicans who went overseas to study and did not return for the obvious reason.
There is an education revolution and The yard fowls of the Labor party are saying that Dominicans are not ready to witness and assess a political debate among our politicians?. Even look contradictions.
You talk about a 65 room hotel disaster project when the existing hotels are on the brink of closing their doors. Who you fooling Mr PM ? Is it the educated ones from the education revolution or is it the dependent red clinic patients?
As for the geothermal project that one will come back and Toffais you just like the Petro Caribe fuel venture that was suppose to ease the pain on Dominicans. Take hid we waiting on this geothermal iniatives just like you promise; ask the Lucian’s about the same geothermal exploration and why the population and consumption is not worth the investment.
Finally aren’t we tired of hearing foolish lies from a bunch of incompetent politicians.
I love, love, love, this Prime Minister!
I love, love, love, this Prime Minister. Good for you. Do us a favour and hold him to yourself because Dominica needs someone else.
Wow! Perfect match! love that sexy dimples Mr. P.M!
Mt PM you are right in saying this. But whenever we try we are being beaten at the ports and customs especially with our vehicles ,building materials , etc.
You need to reduce the duty at the ports
That’s our single biggest problem and sts keeping the island behind