DNO POLL: Majority believes minister’s boycott call on OD Brisbane was wrong

Businessman Jerry Brisbane (left) with his lawyer and a member of the Special Services Unit (SSU) in the background, shortly after Brisbane and his delegation presented the petition to the President.

Out of the 1,093 persons who voted in Dominica News Online’s latest poll, which asked viewers to state whether they believed the Minister for National Security, Immigration and Labour Charles Savarin or OB Brisbane’s proprietor Jerry Brisbane was wrong regarding their recent controversial statements, 52 percent or 569 voters believed that Charles Savarin was wrong.

Although 21 percent or 270 of participants believed that Brisbane was wrong, a larger majority – 25 percent or 232 voters – voted that both men were wrong for their actions.

Two percent or 22 persons voted that none of them were wrong.

The poll is not a scientific poll.

On a radio program in November, hosted by Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphans with Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit joining in via the telephone, Savarin called on Dominicans to “boycott” Jerry Brisbane’s business, Brizees Mart.

The minister’s comments came in response to Brisbane’s publication of two letters he (Brisbane) sent to donor countries and organisations raising concern over what he said was government’s decision to take a $27 million loan to build an “unnecessary” new luxury State House during times of financial crisis. Another of these letters spoke against “poor tendering practices” by the government on important infrastructural projects.

Brisbane’s letters were first published in response to a previous statement from the prime minister who had accused some Dominicans of writing to donor countries asking them to stop providing funds for developmental projects around the country.

Brisbane had sought to clear his name by posting the two letters in the media. The businessman stated that none of the letters stated that donor countries should withdraw monetary assistance from Dominica.

Brisbane, since then started a petition requesting Savarin’s resignation for calling on Dominicans to boycott Brisbane’s business Brizees Mart.

A delegation led by the businessman presented the petition document containing nearly 4,000 signatures to President Nicholas Liverpool in Morne Bruce and then to the prime minister’s secretary at the Financial Centre in Roseau on December 10,2010.

Savarin has not resigned.

The current poll states: Should Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit resign over the dual citizenship developments?

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57 Comments

  1. continued development
    December 23, 2010

    BRISBANE IF YOU CANT TAKE BLOWS DON’T THROW STONE. STOP EXPLOITING YOUR WORKERS

  2. T. Winston
    December 23, 2010

    Put it aside already

  3. DA
    December 23, 2010

    I dont live in DA anymore and all this stuff that’s going on with Brisbane and Savarin could be avoided but i must say Savarin has no right to ask ppl to boycott this company……..if that happens do u know how many D/cans will be jobless and then What?

    • Jojo
      December 23, 2010

      Mr Brisbane should have thought of how many people would be jobless when he went and tried to discourage outsiders from giving money to the country! Do so don’t like so!

  4. Beholder
    December 23, 2010

    I agree with Fed Up—this partisan bickering is useless. Mr. Brisbane has a point. Anytime the Prime Minister (the chief executive of the country) is also the Minister of Finance (the chief financial officer of the country) you have the potential for non transparency in government projects financed by loans from the EU, USAID, World Bank, IMF, etc. But if he disagreed with which projects got funded and for how much, he needed to petition the government and go to the people through the media first. Mr. Savarin has a point in that writing letters to funding organizations casts a shadow of doubt on the priorities of the government and their ability to choose investments wisely. But Mr. Savarin should not have called for a boycott of a viable business on the island because he disagrees with Mr. Brisbane’s tactics. Perhaps we should go to a referendum system where the entire populace votes on funding projects. But that would require that the people get educated, get the facts, and make rational decisions based on merit not patronage. Oh well, one can still hope.

  5. Princess
    December 23, 2010

    it is high time we put all these things aside and work towards the betterment of Dominica and Dominicians, Mr Jerry’s father was one of the best buisnessman we had in Dominica i remember as a child he would help those who could not help themsleves, and Jerry is a son of the soil so leave him
    alone,

    • seneca
      December 28, 2010

      He is not DOMINICAN

  6. mama oy!!!
    December 23, 2010

    as if dominicans just cannot think clearly for themselves and SEE THE LESSER OF TWO NEGATIVES!!!!!

  7. stupessssssss
    December 23, 2010

    well domnitchen SORT!…. Isn’t brisbane the first to ask for party1 to boycott party2????? what is all u point in saying the minister was wrong after brisbane did it??? so all u trying to say brisbane right? ahben domnique ni le moune papa!!!

    • Jojo
      December 23, 2010

      Well said!

  8. prissy
    December 23, 2010

    YOU MEAN DOMINICA HAS OVER 65, OOO PEOPLE AND THAT ‘S ALL THE VOTES JERRY COULD MUSTER?
    DOMINICANS I HAD A DREAM THAT IF THE INTERNATIONAL DONORS STOP GIVING AID TO DOMINICA JERRY BRISBANE AND FAMILY WILL BE THE FIRST TO EMPTY THEIR BANK ACCOUNTS AND RUN.

  9. FuturePolitician
    December 22, 2010

    I am glad that the majority spoke in favor of Mr. Brisbane.. It is wrong to ask a country to boycott a business specially one in one of the most important economical sectors of Dominica the private industry.. The taxes gained from the private industry aids in the country’s cash flow and can then better our economy.. Mr. Savarin was wrong and as a once Trade Unionist who rallied for equal pay and better conditions should apologize… It seems he is forgetting his roots..

  10. True Dominican
    December 22, 2010

    GOODNITE DA. SLEEP WELL…Wake 2moro with a new begining

  11. True Dominican
    December 22, 2010

    Who is a minister…Savrin…I thought he was a SENATOR. big difference

  12. simple mind
    December 22, 2010

    The poll was not in favour of Brisebane na,charlo was da..am wrong.

  13. concerned
    December 22, 2010

    when a certain businessman made the statement to boycott kairi and astaphans during the election why didn’t people make the same fuss that they are making for Brisbane. what good for one set is good for all.
    don’t you think so?????????? lets be realistic

  14. FED UP DOMINICAN
    December 22, 2010

    So, the on line pole was in favour of Mr Brisbane.

    Well I would have thought that the results would have showed that both were wrong. Both were/are out of order. Will it teach them a lesson , no, they will still continue to behave like school boys.

    I would like to think that this is the end of it all, but I feel that there is more to come. When people are self motivated, arrogant and are prepared to hide behind others they do not give in so easily. They tend to think that they are untouchable.

    Mr Brisbane must be gloating that he won the pole and he received an award from The Sun newspaper. Mr Savarin must think he is of the hook because the PM has not slapped him on the wrist for voicing his thoughts and that the DLP have publicly endorsed his actions.

    Well boys will be boys.

    • desie
      December 22, 2010

      just want you to know i voted cause they were wrong but i’ll still give them my vote at the polls

    • grumpy
      December 24, 2010

      fed up dominican, the correct spelling is poll, and not pole as in north pole.

  15. Is that so?
    December 22, 2010

    Hey let’s put that sorry nonsensical episode to rest eh and start afresh in the new year.

    Although I understand that the Businessman intends to continue with the saga by writing to other international institutions and I would therefore expect similar retaliatory statements and actions from the government side on behalf of the State.

    So it would seem that unfortunately these ridiculous back and forth political football will contine whereby real issues are swept under the carpet.

    I hope that DNO takes the higherground in the New Year and do not become a political footstool for either side but rather maintain its objectivity and try its best to put forth much more positive sories and items on Dominica, since there are quite a bit of them. We only need to take the time to search.

    Peace and God’s blessings to all

  16. get real
    December 22, 2010

    i am a supporter of the present government, but i do believe Mr. Brisbane acted as a private citizen and regardless of his reasons and motives for writing his letter then that was his choice. however on the other hand Mr. Savarin made his statement as a member of government and especially in his postion as minister of Labour which meant to the ministry that secures and developes the creation of jobs in Dominica.

    • Anonymous
      December 23, 2010

      Get real, u really need to GET REAL!!!

      Savarin is minister of LABOUR? jeez!

  17. Devoted Dominican.
    December 22, 2010

    DOMINICANS,

    HERE WE GO AGAIN PROVING TO THE WORLD HOW DUMB, ILLITERATE, AND INHUMAN YOU ALL CAN BE. CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT OUT OF 1093 PEOPLE INTERVIEWED 569 AGREED TO CRUCIFY THEIR OWN COUNTRY MAN? SAVARIN IS YOUR OWN HOME SON, WHEREAS BRISBANE IS AN OUTSIDE CREATURE WHO IS HERE WITH THE SOLE PURPOSE OF DIVIDING THE COUNTRY. HOW STUPID CAN YOU ALL BE OF NOT REALIZING THAT THIS IS BRISBANE’S MISSION, AND THAT IS TO CREATE DEVISION BETWEEN THE PEOPLE OF DOMINICA. NEVER FORGET THAT THE EVIL THAT MEN DO ALWAYS LIVE AFTER THEM.

    • HUH
      December 22, 2010

      Right or wrong has nothing to do with nationality. they both acted like lilttle boys . I dont care who started it. I guess there is a boy in every man and sure they brought out that boy in them. Period. it sure did not went down well.

      • ?????
        December 22, 2010

        You are a racial fool.Nationality Does not factor there at ll..Stop talking crap,and go and do like Jerry..The one creating the division is Skerrit…

        • Lycan
          December 22, 2010

          Brisbane is not Dominican. Brisbane is trying to defame the name of Dominica in the International Arena. When you’ve taken on your own to send discriminiting letters to international donors, you are not a FRIEND of DOMINICA. I will not support Brisbane on that.

    • True Dominican
      December 22, 2010

      Here we go again…..HOSTILITY HOSTILITY HOSTILITY. if you keep printing this amount, why don’t u use it to get Dominica out of the problems it’s in. Channel all that HOSTILITY into some
      thing positive. Dominicans need help and if we keep going on a crooked path will never find a solution. So I’m asking, lets all put our ideas together and create a brighter solution and future 4 DOMINICA. PLEEEAAASSSEEE. The same carp is taking place in St. Vincent. Lets not follow them.

    • Lizavier4Jesus
      December 23, 2010

      To Devoted Dominica

      Okay, you are not happy with the results of the pole; neither am I. Besides, I do not even know when this pole took place. But we are about 70,000 people. the pole is 1093 in number, less than 2% of us. Must you think of more that 98% of us as dumb, illiterate, and inhuman?

      Other terms, for the word INHUMAN, are CRUEL, BRUTAL, RUTHLESS, MERCILESS, and COOL-HEARTED. Please! You are only talking about 500 voters, and I do not believe none of them are like that, but you label all your fellow Dominicans as people who are “INHUMAN” Remember that you are saying to the world as well. Have you wondered what they think about your character?

      Let us practice to use words that will cause others to respect us, as we express our opinions, whether they agree with us or not?

    • Anonymous
      December 23, 2010

      Devoted DumB FOOL!

    • Come on
      December 23, 2010

      FOOL!

    • observer
      December 23, 2010

      blind fool.

    • Beholder
      December 23, 2010

      Is a person who emigrates to Dominica, becomes a citizen, opens a business, employs Dominicans, and pays taxes any less of a citizen of Dominica than someone who is born here? If you say yes, they don’t have the same rights or privileges as one who is a Dominican just by accident of birth, I disagree with you totally.

  18. LAWYER
    December 22, 2010

    JERRY HAS SHOWN STRENGTH IN THE FACE OF TREMENDOUS OPPOSITION. BUT IT WILL ALL PAY OFF IN THE END. TRUE LOVING DOMINICANS ALWAYS ACT IN TIMES OF NATIONAL CHAOS.

    KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK JERRY. JUST REMEMBER THAT MOST OF PEOPLE WHO ARE AGAINST YOU ARE SINGING FOR THEIR SUPPER. THEY ARE NOT EVEN CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR LONG TERM NEEDS, LIKE JOBS AND DOMINICA’S NATIONAL DEBT.

    WE SHOULD NOW BE ASKING ABOUT DOMINICA’S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, THIS WILL TELL US ABOUT THE TRUE MEASURE OF THE DLP’S BOASTING OF PROGRESS.

    BY THE WAY, PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT ARE TOW DIFFERENT ENTITIES.

    1) WHO IS PROGRESSING?? ( TO ME IT IS SOME PEOPLE)

    2) WHAT IS BEING DEVELOPED?? ( NO NEW BUSSINESSES OR FACTORIES) SOME DLP FANS MAY SAY THE ROADS !!?? BUT THIS IS A GIVEN AND HOW MANY LOCALS ARE EMPLOYED IN ANY OF THESE PROJECCTS ??

    WHEN SKERRIT CAN BOAST THAT 500 DOMINICANS WERE EMPLOYED IN A YEAR , THEN WE CAN BE PROUD OF DLP. I AM SO ASHAMED THAT ST.JOE WAS NAMED THE POOREST BIG VILLAGE IN DA.

  19. Fairplay
    December 22, 2010

    I agree with Charles Saverin 100%; it is a ‘Tit fot Tat’. 8)

    • Come on
      December 23, 2010

      STUPID!

    • observer
      December 23, 2010

      why not? you belong to the foolish camp.

    • get real
      December 23, 2010

      but Savarin is a member of government.. he should see the bigger picture and protect the local jobs…

  20. BOYCOTT BRISBANE
    December 22, 2010

    Like everybody else Minister Savrin have a right to say and ask for what he want done just like Jerry did so why get on Savrin because his plight was more effective than Jerrys? I hope this will teach Brisbane a lesson dat next time he have too much time on his hand and dont know what to do with it he will think first before he act..Jerry you know the fire was hot so why did you go into the kitchen!? I for one support the boycott of Brisbane holdings

    • what a thing
      December 22, 2010

      you make no sense whatsover.

      two wrongs cannot make a right

      • BOYCOTT BRISBANE
        December 22, 2010

        well atleast you read and it made sense cause u came up with an answer..check your brain

    • real possie
      December 22, 2010

      as much as i don’t like what he did i will no agree with u on that mr. savrin hold’s a public possition
      so he should not have said that me personaly would not shop at his store i think it would be a
      sillent move on every one to avoid his store then he wld know y it happend when he wld have
      to close shop so in the future these other guy’s wld think twice

    • ALL U SMART WEE
      December 22, 2010

      check your hot debate. what do u think score . that is to show how wong are u.

    • Looking In again.
      December 22, 2010

      Jerry is not the least bit bothered by what he did.Dominicans should be thanking people like him,because we seem so blinded by concrete and asphalt that we cannot see the unethical things happening around us.Because some are benefiting from the projects,do you feel other peoples pain? It is still baffling IMF,and other donors even give to Dominica,because half of the country looking for HAND OUTS and SEWO.Can you imagine any developed country shutting down for five days straight?Do like Jerry get of you’ll AR$$E and do something for Dominica and stop being critics with nothing to offer.A bunch of losers that’s what you guys are..”Let me go get mine eah freeness wee”.
      Just remember Wrong can Never Be Right.

      • True Dominican
        December 22, 2010

        M w/ u there brotherman. Most of the writers who are against what Mr Brisbane did r the ones who voted the DLP into office in the first place. So they really don’t have any better solution to combat this problem “cause they would LOOSE their handouts from the GOVT.

    • ZERO
      December 22, 2010

      @BOYCOTT BRISBANE Brisbane has risen to the occasion,and he has gotten out of this a stronger man,with more respect,more admiration and a real patriot..He did absolutely nothing wrong.He just did his civic duty as someone who loves Dominica..SO NEXT TIME YOU SEE SKERRIT AND SAVARIN TELL THEM THAT FOR ME…

    • Lizavier4Jesus
      December 22, 2010

      To Boycott Brisbane

      I do not see anything positive in Mr. Brisbane’s actions either, but he has his rights. I believe that Mr. Savarin also had the right to speak about Mr. Brisbane’s action “not ask for what he want done, as you conclude”. For he can ask Dominicans to drink poisoned cool-aid–like Jim Jones in Guyana. But if I were in his place, I would not use the approach he used to do so.

      Why? Because Mr Savarin knew that the financial agencies involved, did not take on Mr. Brisbane’s concern to that extent of seriousness. Mr Savarin must have believed that his idea would have made him a hero, as he knew that the people did not support Mr. Brisbane’s action. But he was wrong again, as I am reading about his past conducts.

      But what do you mean that Mr. Savarin’s plight was more effective?

    • grumpy
      December 24, 2010

      mr brisbane i think you should spend more time taking care of your business. for your calendar has the date for carnival 2001as february 7-9, and we know that is incorrect. carnival falls on 7 -9 march. so leave the politics alone, you carry on as if you’re such a genuine and concerned dominican, and i for one do not believe it, you must have some ulterio motive for you carryon on that excuse for a radio station with the bias host who will only interegate callers with an opposing view to his, but will stay silence no matter what stupid or inaccurate utterance regurgetated by his braying donkeys.

  21. Anonymous
    December 22, 2010

    I am not at all supporting the move by brisbain, though I think no harm was done, but my thing is, It is so unethical for a Minister of Gov’t to ask the public to boycott one of the major businesses in the Country, where so many people are gainfully employed, it is just outrageous…….What was he thinking, is he at all concerned about the well-being of Dominicans? and the PM endorsed too……. hmmmmm…..

    • Concern
      December 22, 2010

      It was alos unethical when we were told to boycott Astaphans and Cost us Save.

      • True Dominican
        December 22, 2010

        I Have a solution… Since we r all about boycotting, let us just do that 2 everyone in DA.. then we would really have nothing 2 write about. I love the idea of being FREE LOADERS…don’t u. I think m going 2 move 2 Barbados. I hear they don’t have all this crap going on over there. Anyone wanna join me.

    • DA man
      December 22, 2010

      this guy don’t care about dominican he been leaving on dominican all those years and yet he don’t care

      • JIM
        December 22, 2010

        @ DA man Which guy? It must be Skerrit !! It cannot be Brisbane,because from what i know, he loves Dominica more than Skerrit…Skerrit loves only his pocket,and the poor people maybe like you,since he is keeping in the dark.

    • mama oy!!!
      December 23, 2010

      but all u have poopoo head?????!!! wasn’t it unethical n worst to go ahead and write a letter saying not to continue supporting the govt of dominica??? DUH!! it means all u will not get money. zor pakay tapay larjan…..

      BUT WHERE ALL U GO SCHOOL NUH?? IN DE JUNGLE??

      • En Ba La
        December 23, 2010

        @mama oy!!! You are exactly what you called everyone. YOU ARE A SHEEP. You just proved the saying right you know what they say happens in a democracy = majority rules remember. The truth is POOPOO HEADS like YOU are in majority – so no matter how much intelligent people try to educate the outcome will look like WHAT IS TAKING PLACE IN DOMINICA RIGHT NOW

  22. Ibn Gabrioli
    December 22, 2010

    DNO, how comes you did not make CEC’s top 10 list for providing timely information and for promoting free and unfettered discourse in our online community?

    Scientific or not, it’s good to let us know what the public is thinking on the core issues, including this one.

    Thank you, DNO, for providing coverage on the range of issues concerning Dominica and Dominicans. We know we speak for many Dominican, both here and abroad, when we say you work is invaluable.

    Voted “Medium of the Year!”

    • observer
      December 23, 2010

      I agree.

  23. Miami
    December 22, 2010

    WRONG IS WRONG AND ONE HAS TO THINK BEFORE TALKING. NEVER WISH BAD FOR ANYONE AND WHEN YOU ARE DIGGING A HOLE FOR SOMEONE YOU MIGHT AS WELL DIG A HOLE FOR YOUR SELF. WHAT GOES AROUND COME AROUND.

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