Police surround PWC

The police arrived on the compound in the early hours of Monday
The police arrived on the compound in the early hours of Monday

An impasse between the government, Public Works Corporation (PWC) board and workers reached new heights on Wednesday after police surrounded the corporation’s compound in Goodwill.

The workers have been holding protest action for weeks now over a non-payment of salaries and a number of other issues.

DNO understands that police, in combat fatigue, arrived at the building in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

The action of the workers has been deemed ‘illegal’ by Public Works Minister, Ian Pinard.

The board has also said the protest is illegal and met on Tuesday evening to discuss it and put an end to it.

General Secretary of the Dominica Public Services Union (DPSU), which represent the workers, Thomas Letang, said the matter is more than just the non-payment of salaries.

He said about $700,000 owed by the government to Social Security on the behalf of the workers is not being discussed.

An MOU, which was to be signed between the board and workers, is also a point of contention since it has not been signed.

DNO is following this developing story and will publish more information later.

protesters

police pwc1

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59 Comments

  1. June 10, 2015

    Alas we boy the first year after election and look at all this mess……more to come….from the beloved Labour Party……all you do tired get blows……..all you do tired get fooled…….all you do tired get bamboozled………no passport sales more taxes……What a Shame……700,000 social security money You must be Maddd…..labour party milking the country Dry….Dry…..Dry…..

  2. a
    June 10, 2015

    police state…………………………………………that is what the country has come to :( :( :( :( 8-O

  3. June 10, 2015

    Sometimes you have to wonder wether some of these people have the interest of the employees at heart.a company cannot afford to pay it employees for 5 fortnights,owes 700,000 dollars in s.s payments is just plain bankrupt.Any serious trade union leader,if he has the interest of his workers at heart,would sit down with management,to put a recovery plan together,in order to try to bring the company back to profitabily ,so the workers will stay employed.In stead the union have the workers,reporting to work and just idling on the company premises. so that is the solution to the problem,i have already stated my opposition to the company not paying its e employment their wages or s.s. every one have their right to support their political,but we must learn to divorce party politics from workers interest.

  4. Truth truth
    June 10, 2015

    That good for Dominicans. Allu put skerrit back in power after allu see how wicked that man is. Allu suffering now haha. Five more years of begging and protesting. Take that….that’s what u guys wanted .. skerrit well happy :) he was even up here in the states the other day. While allu suffering the man touring

  5. Jane Doe
    June 10, 2015

    I cannot understand the new norms of behaviour and attire of the Dominican police, it seems it has without statutory authority been converted into a military body.

  6. Shameless
    June 10, 2015

    IF I was Mr. Letang I would call all Public/ Civil Servants to a meeting outside the ARAWAK House of culture on Kennedy Avenue tomorrow in support of the good folks at PWC. Leave the PWC guys at PWC and ALL others in the Roseau environs at Kennedy Avenue. At the same time, IF I was Lennox I would rally Wesley and Marigot folks to the Douglas-Charles Airport road intersection in support of PWC and to discuss the corruption going on.

    And IF I was Spaggs at the same time I would call all BAWI people to the EOL-Salisbury highway area and demand the treatment so needed by those tear-gassed by the SSU during the legitimate Salisbury protest.

    Enough IS Enough!!! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

    Assertive, NOT Aggressive! :twisted: :twisted:

    • KID ON THE BLOCK
      June 10, 2015

      If wishes were horses beggers like you would ride! Your damn A..

      • Shameless
        June 10, 2015

        Sorry sir, I hate to disappoint you but I am no bigger :mrgreen: hence the reason why I cannot be bought at the red clinic. :mrgreen: . Put that in your pipe and smoke it! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

        Assertive, NOT Aggressive!

      • Lucia
        June 10, 2015

        that’s what you are kid on the block…..carry on singing, your days of singing are numbered

  7. Anansi
    June 10, 2015

    Everyone who is commenting is essentially saying the same thing. What happened to the police uniform. What I’m seeing now is scary. Even though the SSU/combat clad police are not armed to the teeth, the camouflage wear is psychological for a battle or war. Look, if you want to bring back the defense force, then do it by all means. Constantly cladding the police in military wear impairs their “To Serve and Protect” judgement, and instead instills an “Us Against Them” mentality.

  8. Truth be Told
    June 10, 2015

    Welcome to the new normal in the Commonwealth of Dominica, coming straight out of the books of Venezuela!

  9. Francisco Telemaque
    June 10, 2015

    Dominica is the only place on earth where soldiers dressed in battle fatigue are called police officers! The clowns standing there are soldiers, and not police officers!

    They are paramilitary trained by communist China, to be used by Skerrit to intimidate the people of the country.

    Some of them are his body guard. However, history proves that one man can start a revolution; so too can a single four feet little man stop a flank of military machinery; we experienced that on Thiamin Square in China a few years ago. No one knows if the Supreme dictator, leader of China ordered his murder, we do not know if the Tank ran him over.

    Nevertheless, the world witness the strength, and determination of one little China man, united we strand, divided we will fall. A general strike is in order, and should be called, and the entire nation should support it, until we see the back of Skerrit……

    • KID ON THE BLOCK
      June 10, 2015

      Only you and your gang will participate! Idiot.

  10. AA
    June 10, 2015

    It is now time that the protesters take the protest to the homes of the minsters, go in-front of there door and protest make your voices be heard. Cant understand that people are so wicked in this country to have people working for them and not pay them, and not pay social security that is deducted from the salary of these people. This is theft by the government and if it was a private individual they would have taken them to task already even threaten legal action. It is comical that the stewards of the country do not see the wickedness in this.

    I am amazed that the churches in the country do not stand up for injustice no more and the church goers should make their disappointment be felt by not contributing to the collection plates on Sunday. It is wrong in so many ways what is happening with the people at the public works cooperation, but then i say is Dominican fault, the country nice

  11. June 10, 2015

    Hello and good morning my people. Well I look at the three photographs that’s attached to this story and I don’t see any Police in their Police uniform rather I see men in military fatigues. We are a Demacratic country and that does not look good to the out side world. Our people must be able to demonstrate seeking redress from the Government and not to be intimidated by men in military uniform. If there is a demonstration or strike the Police should be in their Police Uniform maintaining the peace and security.

    • Francisco Telemaque
      June 10, 2015

      Tony it is the same thing I said, I wrote about that before reading you!

      But that is the crap people are dealing with in Dominica and Skerrit: he is intimidating the people, breathing fear into the nation, he is ready for war!

      The idea is so stupid, Dominica is a very small place where no one can hide, so what happens to one of those little rats even if they carry a gun home with them? If someone wish to take them out it can be accomplished, together they are a force, but they cant be together always. The gorilla tactics can be utilized to deal with them individually.

      There is no democracy in Dominica. Its all Skerrit, the man operates like a run-away fright train,

      • anonymous2
        June 10, 2015

        It is no longer Skerrit that is doing it. He is taking orders.

  12. mandate 2 mismanage
    June 10, 2015

    What about the Iranian/Malaysian man that SOOOO loves Dominica. Instead of these fake companies being promoted, couldn’t he simply provide relief through a generous grant to SSU on the PWC workers’ behalf? I mean $700K ECD is a drop in the bucket compared to the lavish life these “new Dominicans” are living.

  13. smh
    June 10, 2015

    Smh…. Where were those officers when the Australians we being robbed?workers standing up for their rights poses more threat?only in dca

  14. Trevor Fabien
    June 10, 2015

    It seems to me every time I see any news about Dominica, which pertains to protest action or any noise, I see Police officers dressed in Combat Fatigues.

    I wonder what the senior managers of the Dominica Police Force think when they send the SSU to deal with what seems to be people simply asking for their just dues. Why cant the Police wear the Police uniform which identifies them as not only officers of Dominica but also as the arm of the law. However when they turn up in combat fatigue, this can be seen as being overly aggressive and might escalate an already volatile situation.

    I know some of you might think, what the hell is he talking about but never mind, for I know exactly what I am talking about. There is something called soft and hard posture in military terms and the stance the police is taking by wearing such uniform is called hard posture.

    This is totally uncalled for and it causes person to get agitated and the senior officers need to be mindful of that,no mini…

    • June 10, 2015

      To Mr Fabien.

      Hello and good morning my people. I don’t see any Police Officers there rather I see men in military uniform which I could only assume are soldiers. The only way one would know they are Police Officers is if you personally know them. I see a gross reaction by the Government when the workers are asking for their pay and their contribution to Social Security.

    • winston warrington
      June 10, 2015

      Based on your military experience you could assume the police are projecting a serious disposition; but they are unarmed. Look at the protester in blue with cap turned backwards. Is he confrontational or not?

      • Francisco Telemaque
        June 10, 2015

        Warrington, I read you many times in the pass, and wondered if that was really you! However this beats all!

        It takes only a blind person not to see the force which you people call police officers are there for one specific reason, and that is to confront the people voicing their dissatisfaction, about the way they are treated! The soldiers did not walk to that location, the guns and ammunitions could be at arms length!

        I do not know if you ever left Dominica, but the world over people are wearing their cap backwards; both male and female. I have caps which cost more than a hundred dollars each, brands such as “Kangol, and Stacy Adams.” I go to Church wearing them backwards on my head!

        Am I confrontational when I do that?

        People like you and the government you reveres will not stop screwing up people’s life’s until you get a repeat of 1979!

    • Leah Remy
      June 10, 2015

      I totally get what you’re saying.

      It’s like the message the Government (Skerritt and his cabal) is sending seems to me to be “force”.

      The whole camouflage gear and Glocks business is to instill fear in the minds of people.

      Don’t worry Skerritt, one day you will push Dominicans over the edge. Just remember Leah Remy said so.

    • anonymous2
      June 10, 2015

      They are sending you a message. Do you read them?

  15. jonathan st jean
    June 10, 2015

    This is a shameful day when the police are being used to intimidate peaceful Dominicans. Mr. Carbon stop politicizing the police service.What is the need for combat fatigue gear?.You guys are the laughing stock of the free world

    • anonymous2
      June 10, 2015

      There is no free world. You are under a delusion that there are some free countries. Freedom is becoming scarcer and scarcer. Absolute Freedom is no laws or restrictions. Nobody has that these days.

  16. Not Right
    June 10, 2015

    People dont have a right to protest now….illegal???? As far as i know were a democratic country….. Poor those PWC workers….imagine not getting paid for months…how do they live,survive,pay bills….this is crazy

    • anonymous2
      June 10, 2015

      DA is not a democratic country. A democratic country is ‘mob rule[ or majority rule at the expense of the minorities. What it is now is a dictatorship, but the PM is not who is in charge anymore. The IMF is. They funded his campaign.

  17. June 10, 2015

    Not one demonstration from employees have been noted as a legal action by the gov’t…This only happens in countries that are controlled by dictators,,,Do you think that these employees are so insane that they decide to demonstrate knowing that what they see as ethically wrong is not wrong at all? Come on wake up and smell the coffee , we are in the 20th century,people can read better,internet exists,we fly high in the air with and without kerosene now,employees should be loyal to their employer but the employers also should be even more loyal to employees because it is through there hard work that the companies survive ..take time to listen attentively to the people ,see what is wrong and do the best to come to a final resolution,,,employees and employers should respect the rules of the company ,be fear and honest ,,,the longer a strike goes on the bigger the deficit will be at the later end…

    • DollFace
      June 10, 2015

      Actually we’re in the 21st Century. :lol: :lol:

      Just thought I’d give you a reminder.

  18. Doc. Love
    June 10, 2015

    It would appear Skeritt and his team have learnt a lesson from their Salisbury experience. I noticed their are no M16 and tear gas being displayed publicly, however, don’t be fooled and believe the guns are not hidden. You cannot have men dressed in combat uniforms and expect them not to be prepared to use military force. It would have been better to have the police dressed in their police uniforms.

  19. Shaka zulu
    June 10, 2015

    instead of listening to the people a man who is elected by a small percentage of Dominicans is using a heavy handed approach. Dissenting is illegal now. I cannot wait for the day Skeritt is no longer the prime minister if this beloved country. I hope we don’t get to that point of no return cause it seems we are getting close. Letang I want to see if you are a coward just in a position for years enjoying the spotlight or really can redeem yourself. We need someone with charisma at the helm of the PSU.

    • Dominican
      June 10, 2015

      I wonder where you learned maths esp percentages :mrgreen:

  20. Trilly
    June 10, 2015

    I had the opportunity to get a tour of the public works facility recently and omg I don’t know how people can go to work in a place like that. The roof of the shop facility is basically open -galvanized sheets missing . The wash rooms – totally humiliating. The yard is a grass field. Old abandoned equipment, parts of equipment. This is shameful. This is not the public works garrage that we use to know.
    The saddest thing to me is that the board members of public works are the very same people who were distributing building mare rial on behalf of the Labor Party and even under the pretense of government assistance. The very same board members repaired their parents home and those of their cocubines.
    Dominica need a revolution

    • girl
      June 10, 2015

      @ trilly
      (I had the opportunity to get a tour of the public works facility recently) your words
      in the first place you had no right to enter into the corporation compound unless to conduct business, by your words it was not business, and am sure it was not the GM who give you permission. we would be looking at who gave permission.

    • Shaka zulu
      June 10, 2015

      I concur with you last sentence. That will only happen when people understand and believe the prosperity of the nation and nation future is bigger than them. Revolution is dead when people are convinced the cause is not worth it, in essence when society is dead. Dominicans have no dignity or pride in themselves and their country to have a pm parade around the world categorizing us as poor, weak, helpless, uneducated, and barkwards, in order to get favours. 15 years of it. Say what all you want about Haiti but he would have been hiding in au to long time.

    • DollFace
      June 10, 2015

      Trilly if I could shake your big toe I would.

  21. Bull Crap
    June 10, 2015

    What u expect.. Dominicans don’t stand for anything… Social security is not a joke. people paying that from their salaries as insurance for their future. $700,000 dollars man, you take from them people paycheck and u eh pay social security…signing MOU left right and center and now all of a sudden MOU not needed…Something in this country should be beyond politics..You don’t play with people social security benefits…

    • mandate 2 mismanage
      June 10, 2015

      What is most infuriating…is then you are hearing about $1.5M for this man, how tourists spend $340 Million, etc. Where are all of the taxes from these measures to pay these folks’ benefits?! Further more, they board and government need to explain in detail WHY these funds weren’t deposited regularly to begin with? Why PWC? Is this not happening with other employees?

      Or is this b/c the PM feels the PWC workers aren’t working hard enough? This country is a joke, and clearly the gov’t is PUSHING people to violence so that they can crack down.

      We have money to play police to appear at the wink of an eye, to repay public servants all their back pay, but simply cannot give PWC what they worked hard for?

  22. Oh Yes
    June 10, 2015

    Is this a communist state or what? This is simply stifling freedom at all costs. I fear the levels of anxiety, rage, and resistance will increase. People’s health will begin to deteriorate and reign of terror really begins. How sad that you can no longer stand up for your rights.

  23. MAN KIND
    June 10, 2015

    what a big joke

  24. jah knows
    June 10, 2015

    but how they blaming management and the board alone when the GOVT owes over 700,000 dollars to social security for the PWC staff????

    • anonymous2
      June 10, 2015

      There’s your real police……..the military in their camouflage outfits and gear characterized by the police state. With the bankers take over, it will be interesting to see who gets paid and when.

  25. jah knows
    June 10, 2015

    see the one with the green sign “too many lies”…election time he was at labour’s defence!!! he should have listened when people were speaking. now sorry to see it turn around to kick you

  26. Michael Norris
    June 10, 2015

    Is Dominica becoming a police state? SSU soldiers are sent to every protest even when the protests are peaceful and small. It is becoming apparent every time some group hold a protest at a specific locale or just march around Roseau, the government ministers declare it illegal and the SSU, often with arms, is sent to the protest. Dominicans have the right to protest against what is adversely affecting them. The role of the Police in these situations is to ensure the safety of the protesters and other members of the public.

  27. amy
    June 10, 2015

    Why is it everything the citizens of DA does against the government is deemed illegal, Is their anything legal for citizens in that crooked administration.
    Skerrit and his goons wrote the book on illegal,selling passports and keeping the money for yourself to build mansions while the citizens go hungry is illegal
    Having people work and then fight for their pay is illegal
    Stealing from the people of DA is illegal
    Selling Dominica land to outsiders and pocket the money is illegal
    Robbing the youths of their heritage is illegal
    Oppressing the poor is illegal
    Telling lies, lies, and more lies to the people that elected you is illegal. And so much more.

  28. Pondera
    June 10, 2015

    Is this real??? A military state??? We have what we deserve. Press along!

    • Fouchette
      June 10, 2015

      But where are their big guns and teargas? It looks like they really had it in for Salisbury because that time they came prepared to kill!!

  29. tt
    June 10, 2015

    How does the PM have money to give out in red clinic every wednesday, but not have money to pay PWC employees i dont understand?

  30. June 10, 2015

    I wonder if the elected officials are working for free. If you want to “put an end to it”, it’s simple….JUST PAY THE PEOPLE WHAT IS RIGHFULLY THEIRS!!!!!

    PROBLEM SOLVED. NOW….wasn’t that simple? : )

  31. original hold dem
    June 10, 2015

    lets see, the public works cooperation was used by politicians to give jobs to supporters regardless if they can do the work. the public works was used to maintain roads, build skips, and any other job as prescribed by the minister in-charge of that ministry.
    now, the jobs the public works should be doing is given to supporters from viellle case, who is alleged to be fronting for politicians, also the public works jobs are also given to Chinese.. so what should we do to help our brothers, I SAY NOTHING, because its those same public works workers that supported that regime… I guess they take BARLEY FOR RICE

  32. King Skerrit
    June 10, 2015

    The people’s cup is full and running over. How much more will Dominicans suffer before the ENTIRE country rises up in revolt.

  33. Penhwasi
    June 10, 2015

    In the interest of peace and stability please pay the people the monies that are owed to them. Every minister of Government have bread on their table and Mr. Pinard and others like him cannot understand nor sympathize with the plight of these workers? A hungry belly is not a joke and to add hungry children to the picture is enough to drive a parent over the edge. Bringing out the police is not the answer. Mr. Pinard see to it that these people are paid first so they can feed their families before you talk nonsense about illegal actions. The bible condemns the withholding of a mans’ wages and considers that type of action as stealing. Pay the people and avoid all this bs. the police have better things to do.

  34. Lang Mama
    June 10, 2015

    $700,000 is less than half of the $1.5 million passport money that came in on the account …..

  35. Bella
    June 10, 2015

    So long that had to end. Go clean under the cliff by the wall, the Roseau River etc, there is work to do. Every day you pass before and when the strike going on they are seating the same way. No work to do.
    Mr. Letang advise you people please, you cnnot hijack your employee.

    • source
      June 10, 2015

      What a stupid comment. Why turn a blind eye to the issues because you not feeling it? I wonder if you were in that position what would be your response.

    • mandate 2 mismanage
      June 10, 2015

      So they should essentially accept enslavement?! Go to work, don’t get paid, don’t get SSU which you earned, and instead of demanding your due…slink away and go clean under a cliff.

      I would tell you want cliff YOU should go clean under…but DNO would censor my post….

      In the mean time I think its allowable to tell you that if YOU have not learned any of your history, the history of Dominica, the history of humans and their constant struggle for equality…feel free to enslave yourself to enrich corrupted men and women conducting criminality under the guise of “leadership.”

    • Francisco Telemaque
      June 10, 2015

      According to source your comment is really stupid, in addition the word is not seating. The word is, “sitting” like when someone is sitting on a bench or a chair!

      If I say to you have a seat, I would be inviting you to sit, on a chair, or bench, or something of that nature.

      “Let us sit at the table.”

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