The St. Joseph Village Council has received $200,000 from Government which will go towards small business development in the area.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit made the presentation to the village council at their inaugural meeting in St. Joseph on Wednesday night.
“I have met number of young people who are extremely talented, would like the start up capital to do their small businesses, whether it is in farming, fishing, music development, bakery …all of these people are interested in creating employment for themselves and we would like the council to implement that project on behalf of the government and in collaboration with the small business unit,” he said.
Skerrit said the council will be responsible for managing the resources.
The prime minister is also calling for a one week training to test the readiness of individuals, before the funds are allocated to anyone.
“If you miss one class, you are disqualified. Business is serious and if you are not prepared to come before you get the money, we won’t see you after you get the money,” he said.
very good initiative by the head of government, prime minister roosevelt skerrit. th point is the prime minister recognises the need to support enterprise development in st joseph. further more, he recognises a role for village councils in local economic development(l.e.d.), therefore gives the st. joseph village council an opportunity to develop its capacity to manage l.e.d., a very ingenius move that must be complemented and supported by all. let’s use this initiative in st. joseph as a pilot project for our 42 other local councils. and yes there will be a role for all the support agencies involved in enterprise development but the move to directly engage village councils in l.e.d. is great…congrats on this initiative mr. prime minister…
all i see here is politricks who skerrit trying and fool or bribe so many yrs village council exited i have never heard that grand sum disbursted to stjoseph for any small business y now.simply because under the leadership of Kelver Darroux it is known as the poorest constituency? it is plain politics and bribery. why because the chairman of the village council family is workers so he trying get that family on the red hot labour train. just to fool; them and he smell labour et winning senjoe again because they dont want the sewo parlrep no more.so its just tricks. wait and you all wILL see where that money will go and in who’s pocket it will go.
I hope the money PM Skeritt gave to the Village Council of St. Joseph goes
to cleaning the village of St. Joseph and not in anyone’s pocket. Please,
put people back to work. Haitians are taking over the village of St. Joseph
while the people of St.Joseph sleep, call the radio stations daily to complain.
Stop complaining and get off your butt’s. Stop buying your own stolen food
from Haitians. SHAME ON YOU ST.JOSEPH. You will feel good if you go back
to the basic Work”.
Is one thing i know it not easy to get lazy plp to work cuz they not in de habit of waking up and go to work so plenty of dat money money will end up in a black hole. Those who mean good use it wisely because CHRISTMAS comes only once a year so enjoy xmas in APRIL
who you calling lazy ?
Just before the Last general Election in2009 Skerrit gave the Trafalgar Shawford and Fond cane Village Council $245000 to build a Resource Center Without any plans , no etimate, no design todate there is no building, During the same time he gave the Laudat Village Improvement Committee $145000 to build another Resoursce Center with no plans no estimate and to date there is no resource Center. That is how Skerrit is using the HARD EARNED TAX of the people to PLAY POLITICS.Dominica will continue to remain the laughing cindereiia of the Caribbean
The Voice is going to be in-charge of disbursing funds
And Blessing is his assistance….lol
What kinda stupid psychology PM trying to use on the people of St.Joseph? Whats wrong with the NDFD or the Small Business Support Unit at the financial center? Was it closed to St.joe People all the time. I guest only nowwwwww PM realize that why he is giving V>I>P treatment. Election is nearing. Anyway the other village councils are anticipating their fair share cause they all have young aspiring business men and women who have already been told by the NDFD and the SMSU that their are no funds available. So PM don’t believe that is going to fool the people of that village. we are in 2013, you don’t fool people that easy; especially the young ones
This I got from good source, the last pool conducted by Mr. Hartly Henry, showed the DLP losing St. Joseph, other village councils will get soon.
You must bribe the people in order to win
They said it “Breaking news” “Breaking NEWS”. what happened to the $2,ooo,ooo.oo they received to continue the Pete–Soufriere to Rosalie road??? Waiting for a grand day to play a big game and act like oh look what we giving you all. Dont forget its election time. We cannot wait, we need our road like yesterday.Mr minister what`s the delay??? Only in Dummynica.
wrong wrong wrong it’s sad to give hunry people to share food
lemme go class 2 eh 2 get my money.i hungry and i mal feed me
I expect that many in the farm community and alsewhere will see this as great news. However before we start jumping for joy and shouting ‘God bless the PM’, we need to ask some questions.
Is this the best way to provide assistance to those wanting to start their own businesses? Are there other agencies such as the local credit union that are better equipped to deliver this type of program? Is this another ad hoc program or is it part of a larger development program? What are the respective roles of the Small Business Unit and the St. Joseph Village Council in delivering this program? Is this another form of ‘Red Clinic’ at the village level?
I have every reason to believe that the Village Council will do its best to administer the program fairly and efficiently. Let us give them our best wishes.
Just like that Skerritt hands $200,000.00 to the Village Council. Skerritt makes sure it is he, who is seen handing the money at the inauguration ceremony.
When was the Needs Assessment Survey conducted in St. Joe, by whom, to find out exactly what are the priority needs of the community? What are the best sustainable enterprises that residents could go into? Shouldn’t feasible projects be first identified by the community, proposals or plans done, presented with a financing component?
NDFD, Basic Needs Trust Fund, Youth Development Trust, Credit Unions, etc. could work with the VC’s to facilitate things. Then the institutions already set up would be funded to deal with those community projects?
What are the competencies or capacities of the Village Councils to manage, implement, assist in training etc. etc. etc.? who would be accountable to whom?
Did Skerrittt meet with the St. Joe Village Council or villagers prior to just giving money? Local Govt or Minister of Community Development or Minister of community Empowerment aware? How did St. Joe, a once thriving community, come so poor under the rule of the DLP Gov’t? Agriculture neglected. The community suffers.
Now Skerritt want to save face. Remember $27,000,000.00 for a State Palace/malice, but peanuts for serious rural development projects. Whose fools are we?
What can an unskilled person learn in one week that would make them a success. To hear Pm Skerrit say that is really an insult to St. Joe people.
The Prime Minister is calling for a one week training in what? to test their readiness in what sense. What about all the Government agencies that have implemented training programmes in the community and did not have the requisite funds for assisting these persons? I am not sure what is happening . We were told at the last budget address to put intervention measures in place for St Joseph and no monies were allocated . Where did the money come from all of a SUDDEN? Are we not duplicating and stretching the meagre resources even further. When will the persons who have been employed to implement Government’s policies get the chance to do our work?
I suspect that is the poverty money in disguise. How long my people will we be taken for a rough ride? Open your eyes St.joe, something is happening
Tgey gave of fais a job to develope small businesses and SKERRIT jump right over his head. Money to creae more poverty and begging in St Joe. Since when village council responsibility is to dish out money for small businesses.
Electioneering tactics. Itis not the responsibility of village councils to provide finance or small businesses. Why the hek did we create a small business development group.
But we all know what’s going to happen to this money – some will filter through thepocketsof council members, friends and families. Other red supporters will get two grand here and there to fix their roof and top up their cell phones. By the time the last cent is gone there will be no accountability and proof that the money created small businesses.
But this the level of accountability that the people allow from government officials red blue or green. .
In my opinion this a demonstration of abuse, petty politics using tax payers money. St Joe became one of the poorest communities and on the eave of election they are providing the people cat food for votes or should I say the poor an stipend e promised St Joe people two years ago. Let us see St Je rise back on their feet on this measly $200 K.
If this is not electioneering why don’t they give the Prtsmouth Tiwn council 3 million fr small business development. But no Portsmouth is a sure vote fr them, Viellecase case too.
From the UWP breaking ground and galvanize sheet distribution to abr red clinic and building materials supply the people still have not gotten out f poverty. So mr politican keep creating dependence and unsustainability and Dominica is bound to end up in the pit f everlasting poverty and backwardness. Take a peek into the actions of our politicians and you will see a people so primitive and ignorant.
Look so call creative tatics lol…
he has made so many promised to many a councils with so many projects lined up and still nothing..
this is just a election arrow to fool the st.joe folks..those monies will be funded for labour folks there..
don’t they have a protocol how funds should be given…that’s how the ultimate rule runs Dominica..what a joke..
Papa…
Small business unit
DYBT
NDFD
WELS
how can you have a small business director when his business in shambles anyway…sigh* …my Dominica
It is also important to know who are the elected members of the village council.
Who are the current members of the St.Joseph village council?
that money already know who it going for…training or not!
I see in my crystal ball, the gereral election call.
We have been hearing alot about small business and unemployment lately, why not channel all that money throught the NDFD.
This is the institution set up since 1981 to deal with those types of funding , and training.
Has the Government forgetten about ndfd?
Where is the NDFD?
What is the board and management doing?
There is too much replication of entities/efforts in such a small island.
Totally agree with you…or there is also the DYBT that provides training etc…Why not give the money to them instead and stipulate at least 70% should be for the St.Joseph/Mero/Layou Community.
Everything is for show, election campaigning start
Our organisations and offices do not work in unity…everyone just looking for themselves and not at the bigger picture.
anyway – at least they got something but its left to be seen in who’s pocket it going?
So I guess other Village Councils will receive the same.
Money for the votes. What business is expected to be generated from a village council?
So you don’t want our St Joe peeps to make it then…Woodwork, Clthing alteration, laudry service, postal/mail order packaging business ….with money come ideas….
Don’t restrict and limit people growth potential
Not everything is politics
Great job PM.
Let’s go St. Joe peeps, this is your time to SHINE!!! Make it happen, DON’T MISS A CLASS!!!
A class without class is no CLass
LMAOOO
serious business d man talking bout! hee hee!
doh miss ur class!