Ministerial statements are expected to be promoted by government in future parliament sittings, as part of a move to improve governance, according to Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.
The next sitting of parliament is due on March 29. According to PM Skerrit the ministerial statements seek to improve the governance of the country, and give ministers the ability to report in a greater frequency of their own portfolio responsibility.
“One of the things that we gonna be promoting very much are ministerial statements. So (if) a particular issue is affecting the country the minister responsible will come and issue a statement identifying the key issue, and what is the government doing to address the issue on behalf of the Dominican people. So these are the kinds of things that we are seeking to do,” the prime minister explained at a press briefing last week.
He also mentioned a new procedure, where a time elapse will be allowed between the first and second reading which will give parliamentarians the opportunity to read and ask questions about different legislations.
“Going to parliament to do the first reading for example, and allow time to elapse so that you could have an opportunity to read the legislation, as questions between the first reading and the second reading and be better informed as to what is happening. These are the things that we are seeking to do as part of the improvements to the governance of the country,” the finance minister said.
HERMISHA ROLLE, STAFF REPORTER.
Ministerial statements as part of the improvements to the governance of Dominica? That comes from PM? In 2009, last year, Parliament discussed voter ID cards as recommended by the Chief Elections Officer, an amount of $$$ was budgeted to do just that, yet the minister of finance refused to dish out the money. One person exercised more power than an entire parliament.
Governance has to do also with freedom of information, the right of citizens to seek, access and receive vital info pertaining to the nation’s development. Information is very difficult to obtain from politicians and Govt institutions.
Who is accountable to whom. What about the investigation about the BIN BOBOL and FERTILIZER BOBOL? What about the refund of $500,000 from DOPWEL for overcharging on purchase of BINS? Since when Dominicans here cannot order bins and fertilizer for the country? Who is carrying out the investigation? That’s not good governance?
What about secret deals, and David Hsui and operations as Dominican ambassador to China? Dominicans knew nothing about their ambassador. Good governance has to do with being truthful, trusting the people, participation of the citizenry in charting their path. Statements read out in parliamentary settings is not equal to actions taken for good governance in Dominica. No action as far as electoral reform is concerned is being mentioned. Isn’t that the most important factor for good governance? In fact, to reform the present system will be a thorn in the side of many in high places in the political arena. Mighty Sparrow sang years ago, ‘We like it so.’
why is the PM also the minister of finance, The role of PM. is enough where is the accountability if the PM is Minister of finance.something dominicans should discuss.
I really would like to know who advises the pm. If nobody does, then I must commend him for his innovative ideas. It seems he must be spending a lot of time meditating on improving Dominica. Wisdom comes from God PM, Be god fearing and honest. Always want the best for all despite their hatred towards you. God is mightier than the devil. YOU WILL PREVAIL. YOU HAVE A LOT OF OLDER FOLKS PRAYING FOR YOU.
Governance is just a word, the PM is the Finance minister and who is going to over see the spending of the country’s monies.
LOL@Emil ti Kwen…..maybe the PM was speaking in an informal setting.
Or maybe we should start putting a compilation of errors made by the PM call ‘Skerritism” just as it was done for the former president of the US George W. Bush.
“Bushism” has been characterized as “unconventional words, phrases, pronunciations, malapropisms, and semantic or linguistic errors that have occurred in and defined the public speaking of former President of the United States George W. Bush.”
On a more serious note, even the greatest speakers and intellectuals have been cut with their ‘pants down’ when it comes to grammar. So in a sense, I will cut the PM some slack on this one.
Did PM Skerrit really say “One of the things that we GONNA BE promoting ….” ?
GOVERNANCE SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE MANAGEMENT ON YHE COUNTRY’S PURSE.