Minister for Public Works, Miriam Blanchard, has fired back at Member of Parliament for the Roseau North Constituency, Danny Lugay, for his claim that the Minister had neglected the very constituency she lives in.
He made the claim when speaking at the House of Parliament on Wednesday May 24th 2017.
He advised the Minister of Public Works to “do better” with regards to responding to letters of concern about development in the Roseau North.
“You must respect as a constituent, you need to do better than that for the people of Roseau North. You need to ensure that when the cake is sharing, that Roseau North gets its fair slice of the cake,” he remarked.
But in a fiery response, Blanchard highlighted a number of projects taking place within the constituency, saying that these projects are worth “millions of dollars” in investments.
She informed the House that a total of $3.17-million will be spent to rehabilitate the Stock Farm road leading up to the Dominica state College, which is in the Roseau North Constituency.
“…And Madam Speaker that is not all for the Stock Farm area, in Roseau North. Also on the cards, very soon a contract will be signed for the design of a multi-purpose indoor sporting facility, Madam Speaker. This is going to cost us millions of dollars in the Roseau North. It begs the question once more, why is the honorable member (Lugay) not being honorable in addressing this House, Madam Speaker?” she said.
Blanchard also highlighted government’s assistance to the youth in 2016 with a grant of $50,000 to the Lindo Park Development Committee which, according to her, is a sign of the caring nature of the government.
“Do we care about the young people, Madam Speaker? What do you think? I say we do, based on the statistics I have presented thus far,” she stated.
During part of her presentation, Lugay left the House and returned later, something which Blanchard did not let go unnoticed.
“I think it is important to set the record straight. It is also important to note, Madam Speaker that in spite of all his (Lugay) jabs to me during his presentation, when I am given the opportunity to speak after much prompting from him, he is unable to sit here and be educated with the information that I am submitting to this Honorable House,” she said.
Upon his return to the House, Blanchard welcomed him back.
“Welcome back Mr. Lugay, I have been waiting for you. I was just saying to this Honorable House that while some constituencies can boast of getting three hundred thousand dollars, in the constituency of Roseau North, and to use your words, while you ‘were not looking or aware,’ millions of dollars are being pledged and projects being executed in the Roseau North constituency,” she said.
Another Project that is set to take place, according to Blanchard, is the rehabilitation of Charles Avenue, financed by the Highway Maintenance Levy.
“…And where is Charles Avenue, Madam Speaker in Roseau North. This is yet another project in excess of three million dollars Madam Speaker. $3.05-million dollars is what this project is going to cost us,” Blanchard stated.
Blanchard said that Lugay is leading the people of the Roseau North into thinking things that are not factual.
She enlisted a number of other projects to be done in the Roseau North, in an effort to prove wrong the statement made by Lugay.
With regards to the Supplementary Appropriation Bill, Blanchard has stated that she is in full support of it.
“I rise to support the Supplementary Appropriation Bill before this Honorable House,” she remarked.
Give the lady a break
The factional political practices atmosphere practiced and encourage by the P.M. Is the cause of destruction. The P.M. Should loudly apologize and practice 101 should be the order of the day
Oh dear Lord, we are all politicians now! Are there any impartial and objective professionals left in Dominica? You in that comess too Hon. Miriam Blanchard?
miss Blanchard, can you tell us about the brand new netball stadium, that money was spent and built by Loreen Bannis and the Labour party. So far one set of games were played and to my observation this is now dead , can it be re-organised for the basketballers or brand new netballers?
what happened to it?
Helast, get your facts straight! The Netball stadium was built by the UWP when Lorraine Bannis Roberts represented the Castle Bruce seat under the reigns of the UWP
She is just like her father please don’t come to us in the getto, you have never been and you don’t know what it’s like, so stay up on the hill. You are to prideful to represent us. get off your high horse. and if you are so good get a husband…….
I am not a UWP or labor supporter, but what does getting a husband have to do with doing good for your country and constituency? Because she is a woman she must do like so many women here and search and chase and wait for a man? or base her existence around man? in order to feel like you are a competent human and well serving? Ms. Blanchard’s personal life should be an issue here as to whether she has a man or whose man is anyone’s she is involved with. the issue is progress for Roseau North. She is from Goodwill, just like Danny both from respectable families. to end, i will say that even our late great Dame Mary Eugenia Charles wasnt concerned with men. her focus was Dominica. Apart from all the other politics, your statement about getting a husband is the most ignorant and indicative of what is priority to you.
I am wondering what can be so honourable of this Ms. Blanchand knowingly supporting dishonourable governance in this country. She ought to know as a former employee of ECCB and CDB that this government is not adhering to prudent and fiscal financial management. How can a government under every budgetary head approved by parliament for the fiscal year 2016- 17 over spend on average over 150 percent of the approved allocations. in some instances by 700 percent and you mean to say as former employee/economist of ECCB and CDB she seats in parliament to support that blatant mismanagement of the budgetary process. And not only that she is so proud and arrogant about it ! I never in my wildest dreams coming from this young lady. Then I was informed of her history……………. But What a shame eh garcon!
I watched, and listened to that foolish woman spoke in the house earlier this week, …………… talking a pile of nonsense, which makes sense only to the Labor Party supporters, and her clones in the cabal!
When a government minister boast of spending a meager two hundred thousand plus dollars on a road, that speaks volumes, she seems very excited, as if it is not the responsibility of the government to develop and maintain the infrastructure of the country.
Her mentality, her persona, is like this: we have done you people a favor, there you need to be happy and glad for what we have done. It is one thing to sell passports, to get a few dollars to spread concrete on a road, but how many industries came to the country in the almost twenty years, they; the members of the government are getting wealthy, on the blood of the people who do not have any place of employment.
She is doing what PM says because he said he is going to take back all the constituencies he lost and even want to take others so you a just doing his biding but no mater what come hell or high water Danny Lugay is the man for us.
Tell mamsel behave they Givin the people the laswestah for our own money our birthright to say wi are dominican now allu selling dat
I was spell bound by your delivery. You articulated the facts so beautifully and what’s more you showed how dishonest these guys are. Fake news again by Spags John in fact one will have a difficult job to identify facts from fiction from the opposition. They just want to appease their supporters
I cant eat concrete. Anyway the hospital road needed that eh. Long time.
murphy lane, princess lane canal lane rose street, as a matter of fact goodwill is a mess. you will surly not get my and my family’s vote…. change you ways pompous woman. you are not your father… overly pompous man
Jealous much? If she was ghetto you would like her
but you are a fool!!! her own lane Monroe Street is a complete mess. Jealous of what? when it rains it rains on everyone. because someone speaks against or corrects all you quick to run with your bad mind jealous talk. nothing to be jealous about. Our roads need urgent attention.
Blanchard knows that what Mr. Lugay was saying had merit to it because she knows that it’s their supporters they take care of, and while doing so hope that they could bribe others a long the way but people are taking control of their lives and that’s a good thing. Every one on the Island should and must be treated equally . The ladies in the DLP should be able to speak to their boss when he’s doing wrong because the people are important.
Mariam ! I feel so sorry for you since I know you for so many years and know that you want to do the right thing but you are on the wrong side of the aisle with the wrong set of people.
You have to realize that that DLP has been selecting a few people to give in the constituencies that did not vote for them. This is nothing to boost about.
When you are the government in power you are to represent the whole of the nation and not just a few.
So come out of the bubble and say what you know are the right things to say.
I fully concur with honourable Lugay,and DO NOT believe ANYTHING that Blanchard has said..MORE VOTES FOR DANNY!
SKERRIT MUST GO!
SKERRIT MUST GO!
SKERRIT MUST GO NOW!!!
What bothers me about the minister, here is a trained Economist who worked at the East Caribbean Central Bank for many years. Someone who traveled and studied abroad and she’s back home in her capacity as a minister of government and there is nothing to write home about. No long term job creation for her constituency. Just look at how much we spent on projects and I have the statistical numbers to prove it. That’s extremely sad.
She needs to take her sorry self back to ECCB. She must tell her gor van ment to give solid waste the money collected for environmental surcharge so that the constituency will not have to suffer because gabbage collection BECOMES DAYS OVERDUE.
SHE KNOW ABOUT BUDGETING AND MUST COME BETTER THAN THAT. ALL THAT MONEY IN UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES?
They must put concrete road because the fire UWP people keep burning on the asphalt road will sink it also
the same way labour burn tyres in roseau for three days in 1993. my mom taught me well; do so – NEVER LIKE SO!!!
In addition I wonder what her colleagues who she worked with at ECCB and tCDB thinks of her now. Iis Miriam really in support and justifying as a former economist a cabinet of 17 minister .As a pass member of ECCB and CDB is she telling us that government is following fiscal discipline with 17 Ministers and the six members of the DLP who lost the election as special advisers to ministries? Is she as a former economist saying to us if not sale of passports what else? Is she saying to us also that the dishing out of money by ministers of government including herself all over the country without parliamentary approval is what she as a former employee of ECCB supports. Is she telling us that her reputation means nothing to her as she seats with this cabal who has appointed not one but at least five notorious characters as diplomats. Miss Blanchard it is said show me your company and I will tell you who you are! Surely you were in better company at the ECCB and CDB.
These concrete roads that are built in Dominica are more dangerous than the vehicles that are on the roads.No drainage; they are built on bare soil or on asphalt .Erosion will take place and the entire road will sink little by little.Why is it that mediocrity is so much appreciated while the population is getting poorer?
that is how they make their money. more concrete that is poured on our streets is the more money they make personally
I have been hearing about a multipurpose sporting facility since I was a student at Grammar School. That facility has yet to materialize. Charles Avenue road rehabilitation: $3,000,000.00. Youth: $50,000.00 and Stock Farm road. While these infrastructural projects are welcome, what about employment or job creation for the constituency? Although Goodwill is a residential area, are there any job creation plans for the future of this constituency? These projects that you highlighted are all short term projects. I would love to hear about long term job creation initiatives for the area.
Where are the jobs are you guys creating?Every thing is the government.
All she speaking about is what they GOING to do. To be honest if the government had allowed the Committee to work with the Australians when they had their assistance i think the playing field would look nicer. I am at all not impressed with the concrete track, it is narrow an dangerous as the edges are sharp. The government tied them up for months with politics then gave then 50,000 which only allowed them to come up with what we have today. I urge the people of roseau North especially Goodwill to reignite its spirit of self. We need to start making our own money as a community to do what we need to do for ourselves instead of relying on government who wants to influence things. They wont allow the people to do for themselves unless they say it is ok. and rightfully so, but dont tie up proceeding out of spite. Now Murium wants to do everything because they now HAVE to spend the CBI money that was hidden for more than a decade. Understand Dominicans, we could have had all that yrs ago.
The concrete track cracks me up laughing…. Why bother?
Whatever the case, it’s clear that communication needs to improve. Maybe Ms Blanchard should spend time working with the parl rep for the constituency instead of working on her own. Team work goes much further than this silly childish exclusion behaviour that Labour is so fond of.
Fairness you living in star wars??? Since when Parl Rep of the constituency will work with anyone???? All they do is oppose and do not give any solution or alternative. Then call out persons to demonstrate. Open your eyes. The Parl Rep not ready.
You really fine that parl rep looking like he can work with anyone but Dr Benjamin.