The Fiscal Responsibility Bill which was expected to be tabled before Parliament this morning has been withdrawn following what Prime Minister Roosevelt said was a misleading WhatsApp message by the opposition which was circulating online.
The Fiscal Responsibility Bill will guide and anchor the fiscal policy of the government, to establish a transparent and accountable loan-based fiscal responsibility framework in Dominica.
The Prime Minister said through a statement on Monday morning that the WhatsApp message is stating that the government will enact legislation to restrict public officers’ salaries to no more than 2% in any given year if the economy grows by a certain rate, but no more than 1% if it does not. This is for the next 12 years.
But the prime minister has described this interpretation of the legislation as just another “deliberate and malicious” attempt by the opposition to mislead the public and cause confusion.
“We have had telephone discussions, the Ministry of Finance, with the unions and in light of their request we have taken the decision to stand down or withdraw the responsibility framework proposal to allow for further discussions with the unions on this matter, so that whatever confusion has [been] created will give us an opportunity to clarify with those representatives of the public servants,”
He explained that the 2% referred to in the Fiscal Responsibility Bill is in respect to the overall recurrent expenditure and not specifically relating to the wage bill or salary increases or negotiation of salaries.
Skerrit went on to say the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union took a decision earlier this year to move its debt target of 60% of GDP by 2030 to 60% of debt to GDP by 2035.
“The framework that we present to the House indicates that once Dominica’s debt remains above 60% – that is, the target set for 2035, the minister shall take appropriate measures to ensure that the rate of growth of recurrent expenditure does not exceed 2% per year, in years when GDP growth equals or exceeds 2%, but will not be more than 1% when GDP growth is less than 2%,” he indicated.
He further explained that expenditure on wages is only one component of the recurrent expenditure.
“The recurrent expenditure involves a number of government goods and services, debt payment, interest payments,” the Prime Minister stated. “You may increase wages for example, by more than 5% and not see an overall increase in expenditure of 2 %.”
Furthermore, Skerrit said in the Fiscal Responsibility Framework the government has left room to accommodate salary increases.
“We have also made provisions for the ongoing reclassification exercise which we expect to result in an overall increase in public officers’ salaries,” he revealed. “That reclassification is ongoing and we expect there needs to be an increase in salaries for public officers.”
“Skerrit continued, “This week for example, the cabinet will decide on the new structure and salaries for the teaching service…”
He assured public officers that his government will continue to look out for their best interest.
Opposition Leader, Lennox Linton, has since responded to the prime Minister’s comments. We will bring you that story later.
Meantime, Skerrit revealed that his government has set up a Vulnerability Risk Fund at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and $500,000 is being deposited to that fund every month, and now stands at $4.5 million.
“We intend to increase this half a million dollars once we get back to our pre-pandemic revenues, so that in the event of a natural disaster or any external shock we have some monies for rainy days,” he disclosed.
Bills to be tabled during the seventh meeting of the tenth parliament today include, a Bill for an Act to amend the automatic exchange of financial accounting information Act number 6 of 2019 and a Bill for an Act to amend the Companies Act will be introduced as part of our international commitments to open and transparently exchange tax information will also be presented to Parliament according to George.
A Bill for an act to repeal the international business company’s Act Chapter 78:01 will also be introduced.
Also in keeping with the government’s commitment to transform the health sector in Dominica, the Dominica Hospital Authority Bill will be introduced to provide for the establishment of the Dominica Hospital authority, the administration and management of the hospitals and health facilities.
Part of fiscal responsibility is accurate accounting for state funds. Skerrit using this phrase ‘fiscal responsibility’ shows all of what a hypocrite and liar he is. Fiscal responsibility for us but he lives like a king at our expense. We even have to pay for his palace. Fiscal responsibility my rear end…
Roosevelt Skerrit’s name should go down in the Guinness Book of Records as the World’s Greatest Liar. This man lies about Big Things, Small Things and Nothing at all.
And even when nobody ask him question he lying.
@Ibo, BOY I feel very very sorry for you are a sad man no life, no true friends, no women in your sick life, but to write crap on Dno.
Thank you Hon.Crap (Crapo) you Blind politically Old Bat. Wake up and understand the concept of decent, respected Leadership in politics and most of all Good Governance as it relates to our People, our Government and the discipline of our States Cabinet, Finances. Get the hell rid of buying Fake Loyalty from our People through that weird Questionable Red Clinic Bobol CASH Given to our Suffering people for fame and Loyalty.
As a result we are hoping that these people who were bought to walk in up to an the Fifth Floor to shout “We Love Our PM WI!” Meaning That these poor unemployed people will be paid or by receive cash that they will vote for you out of our government.
This is a Pappyshow Shameful Behaviour from a weak incompetent Questionable Immature so called Prime Odd MINISTER. This is s shameful behaviour abusing Our States Funds for Loyalty and have them shout Out “We Love PM WI”. Love PM my Foot. After Failed years as PM, Dominica is still struggling. Skerrit OUT! DA IS…
One word that should not come from the mouth of the double doctorate dude is “responsibility”. He told us that he was putting money into a fund for construction of the airport and when we expected there to be millions in the account, Skerritt reports that there was less than $300.00. He comes from a visit to Venezuela, a high Covid-19 country and he doesn’t quarantine as he attends a funeral on the following day, where is the responsibility. Skerritt has proven over and over again that he’s a rogue and believes that he’s the law. If the information on WhatsApp is false why does he have to withdraw a bill? Remember the bus driver’s strike? He said no one would hold a gun to his head but he caved soon afterwards and offered money to the drivers. When Skerritt said that the country doesn’t need an opposition party he was saying loud and clear that it’s a dictatorship he wants in the country. Once again Thomas Letang has Skerritt by the balls. Liar, liar your pants are on fire.
This professional liar is an embarrassment and a liability to our country. Which country on this globe could afford something like this as head of government. Ok, forget about Russia, North Korea, Venezuela, China…
A politician is a liar and a cheat. when he not lieing he is stealing your children’s candy.
SHAMEFUL
This just goes to show Dominicans must never ever relax and take parliament proceedings for granted. Skerritt is up to something. This outrageous bill is just a smokescreen for something much worse. Skerritt is showing us what is in his left hand, but his right hand has a long sharp knife to stab us (figuratively) in the back. Mark my words. I Amarossa told you guys first.
The boiling frog is a fable describing a frog being slowly boiled alive. The premise is that if a frog is put suddenly into boiling water, it will jump out, but if the frog is put in tepid water which is then brought to a boil slowly, it will not perceive the danger and will be cooked to death. The story is often used as a metaphor for the inability or unwillingness of people to react to or be aware of sinister threats that arise gradually rather than suddenly. The resistance i have seen to this is a perfect example. This guy has been in government for over 20 years when i was 21 years old. There has been no real salary increase. Another 12 years i will be in my 50s. What people fail to realize is the last 20 years they have been gradually made poor and begging so 12 years is just a continuation of the misery and decline that has already happened. This is just the temperature raised suddenly on a dead frog. I feel for those who had to stay in this era of mediocrity.
DNO i should put part of the above on the boiling frog syndrome in quotes since it did not come from me. My bad!!!
So while Skerrit sending those of us coming from coming from abroad to quarantine for a minimum of 2 days if we are vaccinated and 7 days if not vaccinated, under very strict and costly rules, he can come straight from Venezuela to parliament? Who knows how many infected people he came in contact with? We have to pay a minimum of US120 a night, plus we must travel on a certified taxi from the airport to our hotel and another fee from the hotel to take our PCR test even if we have friends with a car or we have our own car, but none of the above applies to Skerrit!? Can he not infect those police officers that must travel with him? Can he not infect those parliamentarians? But some will say all you have money because all you living in luxury abroad. But don’t they realize that some of the people that have to pay these fees are poor Dominicans that had to go abroad to bury a love one or some struggling people that are forced to come bury a loved one here? What a hatless man we have
My people, you remember it was after the 40 days of fasting, Satan came after Jesus with all those temptations? But people I want you to pay special attention to this verse of the temperature; Like 4: 13 “When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.”
My people, this time remember it was Satan that put us on a weekend fast because he knew what he was going to put us and the hypocrite who used God’s during the temptations of Christ, also used God’s word today expecting us to be in a holy mood so he could do his evil he has come to do which is to steal, kill and destroy! But again remember this verse :13When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.Luke 4:13. People look out for Satan again to come with another lie because he always looks for another opportunity. Look out my people and better yet, let’s plan on getting him out of our lives.
Honestly speaking Skerrit should not be in parliament. In my opinion he and Mehul Choksi should be in the same place, though to be fair to Choksi he had no reason to be in Dominica. But where they have Mr. Choksi now is exactly where Roosevelt Skerrit should be if Dominica was a real country. But Skerrit was right because he ensured that he removed Dominica from being a real country so he could say that ” Dominica is not a real country” as the sitting prime minister
You withdrew the bill because of a misleading message?
Well if the message was misleading, why didn’t you just put the bill through with the correct message?
This is pathetic!!!
You withdrew the bill because of “misleading Whatsapp message from the opposition”? Was the message sent to you Skerrit?
Want to play de blame game on Linton eh!!!!
Coward!!!
De PSU sent you a very strong letter…. you had no legs to stand on!!!
Someone must have talked some sense into your head!!!
You are basically telling us that very soon you will not be able to boast about growth in GDP.
That’s interesting eh!
Be honest about de true state of Dominica economy…. once and for all!!!!
It seems as though Skerrit’s common sense is receding as rapidly as his hairline.
Lennox Linton occupies a piece of real estate in Mr. Skerrit’s head. The habitual LIAR always resort to blaming the parliamentary Opposition leader for all his mistakes and all that is wrong in the country. I’m sure he’s going to blame him on the next natural disaster that hits Dominica.
PM you TRIED something wi! Lmao!!!
Woyyyeee!!! Mi daybar!
You better wheel and come again, before public officers let you know what time it is. Because right now, plenty of them doh care. You might as well hang a sheep for a lamb. Kordi my British grandpa.
Imagine, i heard about this bill yesterday from a public officer who is a supporter of the Government ruling party. He showed me a copy of the draft, and it was exactly that. It was not anything misleading put out by any opposition.
I think the PM and other laborites need to stop acting like little children or little girls by blaming the opposition everytime something doesnt go their way. Also if the bill was not as “they” said it was, why not explain it in its entirety in parliament have it passed. DLP has the majority of seats in the house anyway, so did that mean that even DLP ministers of parliament went against it? And Lennox and the gang is to blame? I dont know someone please help me here, because it wasnt any uwp supporter that brought this to my attention. And yes he was very concerned and unsatisfied with the bill. i told him, that what he voted for. He looked like he had buyer’s remorse.
What Skerrit says is doable, but it means he would have to find the money from somewhere, or cut other parts of his budget to stay within his target.
he can do better than that.
The trouble with believing that the Fox won’t eat the chicken, even when he says he won’t, is that the Fox has eaten the chicken and as such very likely would again eat the chicken.
It continues to be a struggle for well meaning citizens to believe the PM even when they want to. Ask His-tory
Now, with your Debt to GDP ratio above 60%, one would think that the appropriate Capital injection would be made to favor more than 2% recurrent expenditure growth from one year to the next.
Why all of a sudden, fiscal responsibility has come to the forefront? Are we anticipating a major squeeze in the near future, or probably the need to burrow way more than “above 60%” of our GDP?
Dominicans brace for impact eh!!
Liar Skerrit said we have a Vulnerability Risk Fund at the ECCB, and EC$500 000.00 is being deposited to that fund every month. The liar in chief, Skerrit, also told us we had an Airport Development Fund that should have almost EC$500 000 000.00, by now.Only to hear the liar come one day and say the balance is $239.69 . No one knows how the liar spent the money, or how it disappeared.
This .man is just evil…!!!
the mansion, the wall around the farm, election treating and bribery, gifts for the girls and boys, new Jeep. He said he put it in public infrastructure, maybe some of it went there also. After maria i know we got outside money for national projects too. so show us the real books please.
Skerrit you finally stood down- only the beginning partner.
If rain falls tomorrow blames the opposition as well.- Useless.
This was a terrible bill- and it needed ot be trashed PM, Dr. Dr. Bully- end of story.
@Bre, this isn’t the first time that Skerritt has stood down. He stood down for the bill to legalize bribery and treating when the patriots let him know that this wouldn’t stand. He again stood down for the bus driver’s strike after saying”no one will hold a gun to his head”. Again he stands down. Thomas Letang has got him by the balls. I don’t know about the other toothless unions in the country. They will claim to represent the matters of their membership, as if everything affecting the country doesn’t affect them as well.
A chain is as strong as its weakest link. A government is as good as the people it is comprised of. This gov’t is comprised of QUACKS & VAGABONDS.
Has anyone ever heard of VOODOO mathematics? This is it. The 2% then 1% back to 2% equals 5% .
According to the mendacious prime minister , he consulted with the unions about this bill but a WhatsApp message .circulating on social media has caused him to withdraw the proposed legislation. This explanation defies common sense. Only Gary, E-lie-zabeth, Dog Biter, Anon Lie Clown will believe this WHOPPER..
To put the country’s fiscal house in order these are some prudent suggestions.
+come out the tax funded $64 000 monthly palace
+reduce your 18+ potbelly cabinet
+stop the duty free and other concessions given to cabinet members and the politically well connected
+fair and transparent bidding for government contracts must be strictly enforced
This incumbent government doesn’t know how to govern. Give them the RED CARD.
OMG look another lie from the chief lying minister? People of Dominica since when Skerrit stopping what he intends to do because of the opposition? Didn’t the opposition strongly oppose the signing of the so called international airport? Did Skerrit stop it?
Didn’t the opposition oppose the $65,000 US dollars a month for Skerrit’s house? Did he stop it? There are so many evil things the opposition has opposed and Skerrit paid nobody no mind. So why now the chief lying minister say he stopping a bill because of the opposition WhatsApp? Skerrit boy your day is quickly approaching and I can tell you you will pay for all the lies, the hypocrisies and false pretense of yours. Remember American Airline is back in Dominica come August 1 from Sju to Dom and some strange people will be on one of these planes
If this Government was committed to public consultation like most democracies in the world, then such embarrassment to the Government would be completely avoided. You speak to the unions on telephone is not public consultation! For example in the UK all public consultation on Government policy changes and new laws must be open for public discussion and comments for a minimum of 12 weeks! This Labour party Government needs to engage and publicly consult more with the masses, the general public, have a two way conversation on issues, and not a one sided diktat! Nowadays Prime Minister Rosevelt Skerrit you acting just like Prime Minister Patrick John in the days before we Dominicans overthrow him and got rid of him, led by President of CSA Charles Savarin in the 1970’s!
DNO since the bill was already making it rounds on social media, don’t you think for transparency purposes you should have included it here so those among us with sense will read and interpret it for ourselves?
ADMIN: We agree and we will be putting it up shortly.
if the whatsapp message was misleading why are you withdrawing the bill? is there somethign else hidden in the bill that you dont want us to know? or is it because all the police officers that always do what you say when you say it and harass your opponents are now being openly shown what keeping you in power will do to there wallets and will turn against you?
Mr. Skerrit (Dominica) the WhatsApp message you deemed that was so negative had great effect (agree)? in that you became so disoriented and bamboo zoos to the tune that you had to retreat. Don’t be surprise that one of those days when the effect of the jombie money will exit the brain of the people and the light of a new day will be born- unexpectedly the massive will have you packing. That day is not too distant away. Mark those words.
“and now stands at $4.5 million” Just like the airport fund with how much money he had admitted was in the account? And how much was in there after Linton’s challenge?
“…. just another “deliberate and malicious” attempt by the opposition to mislead the public and cause confusion.”
Okay, okay, just blame the opposition for everything you have done wrong and in the fiscally depressed direction you have taken the country. But can prove that
Linton wrong and just give DNO the relative section of the bill to upload so we can all see the truth for ourselves.
If you the PM refuses to provide the documentation, then Mr. Linton should do the same.
Anything that Skerrit pushing is always bad for the country and always done to serve a nefarious purpose. I challenge anyone to name one thing that Skerrit has done in his 17 years in power that was done in the best interest of Dominica.
I am happy such a oppressive bill was withdrawn, however, this speaks volumes of the quality of leadership in Dominica. This is not the first time that the government was poised to table a bill but had to pull it back at the last minute, because only then they realized that they had not consulted the appropriate groups and/or organizations. Such a shame.
As soon as He gets the 21 seats, there will be zero consultation. Remember he said that the country don’t need no opposition?. #dictatortalk
Here comes the Liar in chief (lying Skerrit)again!!! A man who gets
EC$64 000.00 a month to stay in a house most people believe is allegedly his own, then he wants to cripple public officers by putting a cap on salary increases to public officers.
Skerrit is A WICKED SOUL!!!!
Linton exposed his lies to the entire world!!! That’s a man who wanted 3 days of prayer and fasting then on the 4th day he was prepared to deliver his WICKEDNESS and EVIL on the public servants!!!
Skerrit is a Devilish Soul…!!!
Caught in his lies one more time!!!