Minister of Social Services, Catherine Daniel, has chastised the village councils for their lack of accountability with funds provided to them by the government, saying it is causing a problem.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Grand Fond Village Council, Daniel said that village councils do not follow-up on their financial reports.
“Councils are not reporting to the various Ministries who allocate these funds to them, and we have a big problem with that. I do not know whether your council (Grand Fond village council) is part of that, but we have a lot of problem in that area,” she said.
She noted the lack of accountability at village council poses problems says Catherine Danielt accountability is key as it can determine whether or not future financing will be made available to these village councils.
“This, not reporting, is a fundamental problem. This will determine whether you receive more funds or not. Unless you can come up to report how you have utilized the funds that you have been given, then more funds cannot be generated into your coffers,” she stated.
She charged the new village council for Grand Fond with the task of knowing the financial status of the council before they go any further with new ventures.
Daniel remarked that this task is not only to be considered and acted upon by the Grand Fond village council, but by councils across the island as well.
what about the lawyer you know about…….do you have anything to say about accountability? JAH
It’s time that Dominicans stop those who are in the different administrations and institutes from look on them as a bunch of stupid people ,Polltlc is in everything on the Island and we have to stop that because we have people who can do a lot better if they are given a chance, Dominica is all of us responsibility and we have to step up to the plate, political meddling have to be done away with and people fighting against each other especially party supporters is ridiculous and unwarranted .
Dominicans soon from now want be able to say they are a peaceful nation but we must chance our ways and over all behavior we can all do better than that .
I’m not surprised by this disclosure form Ms Daniel.The Dominica government has had for many years been the recipient of financial assistance from many institutions overseas, which have systems in place for accounting for the money. I would have thought that a responsible government would seek to implement the system of checks and balances which are applied to it,to these village Councils and other bodies who they wish to empower, in decentralizing government.However when we see the behavior of this administration and the prime Minister, I’m not shocked.A Prime Minister who changes the accountable system of the past for assisting need individuals, and turns it into a “Red Clinic” with no records and accountability.He and his surrogates seek to replecate this irresponsible spending throughout the country.Skerritt seeks to operate as if Dominica is his private estate,but an estate which doesn’t have a good accounting system will not be successful
that they like. Many of these councils are politically motivated. Many of the members of the council are active supporters of your party Ms. Daniel. They are like entitled, privileged children who feel they are the ones in charge and the authorities in their respect communities and answer to noone but the PM. in this light they know their power is influence when it is elections time. So they free up.
Madame, it is alleged that the Marigot Village Council put the money Government gave to them to develop the community in a fix deposit in the Marigot Credit Union instead of using it for what it was intended, and you cannot do anything about that except talk.
It seems like the whole fish is rotten now
Soon the head will drop off.
Lack of what? Where? Village council? What about accountability in your government? Shame on you for trying to accuse poor pple of accountability after they learn that behavior from you all.
Corruption in high places .
I believe I have read about that in the past. When handing a cheque to them, ensure that they are informed in writing, they must give an account for the funds by providing a financial statement for money which was spent. Do not simply give them the funds and forget about it until a meeting is held the following year.
Two authorized people should be responsible for the money and should sign the cheques. It should not be the responsibility of one person. They should ensure the money is used for the purpose they received it.
An audit of the funds, accounts payable and receivable, should be conducted by government authorities.
All village councils are doing the work of the Labour party . They are tooo political. During the election campaign the chair of the our village was campaigning heavily using their position and the office for DLP propaganda. When the opposition donated some drinks for the men working on the road during NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE, the chair embarrassed the young man and refuse to accept his donation. Our villlage is so divided because this behaviour
But the young men did nothing about the action by that individual we allow those same attitudes of those who we elect to do as they wish, young people you have a voice don’t give up that voice especially when in justice are done to you, learn to stand up without being disrespectful no matter what.
Not surprised. Which constituency did that happen?
A word to the wise. Do as i saw but not as we do!
How many reports do you want! You put monies in the councils for your projects, you pay a project coordinator and assistance project coordination to monitor and evaluate your projects you don’t pay the village councils so blame the people you pay and not the volunteers!
The council members are paid stipends. they have mandates. They work with and report to the coordinators on what is happening in their village. How do you expect me as a coordinator to come in your village, and not communicate with you on the happenings in your village, especially if im NOT EVEN FROM YOUR VILLAGE? We have a culture here where people want to do minimum work, reach all nigh position, and sit back and cross their legs. With much responsibility nuch is expected from you. If you cannot be fair and transparent, and have ulterior motive like just collecting free money, then you are not a SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE. you are a crook. If you cannot provide feedback and reports on the work YOU have been put there to do, then your are a unqualified to hold your position.
The way the government is handing out the monies is wrong. If the Minister of finance would use a little discretion, he would do differently. How can you put large sums of money into the hands of hungry people? I suggest that the money is put on an account in a financial institution and based on estimates and invoices, withdrawals made.
They rob the country in broad daylight of its wealth, who supports them, drinks the wine from their cup, who don’t, are left to suffer,
Hypocrite Hypocrite in a village council bags of cement and Thousands $$$$$$$$$$$$ went on vacation and it is being covered $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ don’t you know about it
Everything starts from the top, our leaders in government don’t show transparency, how do they expect the village council to do the same.
Well, why complain? you are the one who should have set an example with a few of them. YOU are their boss. We cannot make them accountable but you can!
But then again, the members of parliament operate on a lack of accountability, lack of transparency basis so its has trickled down!
Madam you are right but so wrong! You know well that tbe council has no access to spend the monies. Its all about the the parl. Rep. Or the labour party reps responsible for spendi g these monies.
Catherine, here is a metaphor: “what is in the root is also found in the branches!” In your government led by Roosevelt Skerrit, there is no transparency, no one is held accountable for anything they do. Murders are committed in the streets, and the murderers are set free!
Dominica credit unions are branches, and appendages of your government, what accountability you expect from them?
I do not see how you can be so bare-face and hypocritical to mention accountability to anybody,
Lying has become the norm in Dominica: i.e. minister of agriculture told the world that he shipped a million pounds of Dominica fish all over the world, yet he never disclosed the method he used to ship all his fish, and who caught the fish.
Francisco, you gone off on a tangent you alone can comprehend: “Dominica credit unions are branches, and appendages of your government, what accountability you expect from them?”
Can’t understand how Mr. No-it-all mixing up credit union with village council. Problem with the world is the smart people in the world who are too smart to know that they are crazy and rant like lunatics..
Well you see it indeed appear as if I mixed apples with oranges; but always remember what may seem to be a stupid comment from is, and shall always be intended to serve a particular purpose.
This one has already served it purpose.
And trust me although one seems to have nothing to do with the other directly; indirectly they are have a common denominator which is the corrupted government.
Admin, I do not understand why you omitted that part of my submission where I said they stole three hundred thousand dollars from my Nephew in a credit union in Wesley. It is true; everybody in Wesley knows about it.
That and other people money which has disappeared over the years is one of the reasons the Credit Union in Wesley was closed: And trust me we know who the thieves are; or were: I understand at least one of the thieves are no longer in this life.
In the case of my nephew, they made the claim that his money was confiscated by government because “they say he accumulated his money by illegal means!” If that’s true there is a bubble standard: Again what is in the root are in the appendages.
No point of censoring that because it is true my Nephew is still alive and well, and can testify to what they did to him in a court of law.
It starts from the top No Accountability in GOV”T so the village councils are doing the same.
We keep warming this DLP GOVT about transparency/accountability in governance of this country and they do nothing.
SMH!!!!!!!!
The same Labour party government within the past year have been giving out 100s of thousands of state funds to various entities within the country with no framework for oversight. Where are the government auditors who are supposed to make regular audits of the councils. The irresponsible party here is this Labour administration. Now Mrs Danielle is here pointing to a problem passing blame when the government is the cause of the problem. What is the solution? Absolutely non because Catherine know jolly well that her party creates this situation and then pass blame. When will Dominica stop this blatant abuse, misuse, and waste. What a place..
Pardon my french – how the hell the government expects to hold people accountable when they themselves do not want to be accountable to the people?
When government “dishes out” money just to gain support what the hell do they expect?
Gimme a break Miss Daniel
Hmm. The laws are there. The problem is the people to be indited they know people that know people that have high ranking party connections.
All you just there give out money like there is no tomorrow. What do you expect? Obviously, the government did not have the mechanism in place to You guys need to go back to the drawing board to tighten the accountability process. Big lapse on the DLP side.
Councils have to audit their books on a monthly basis. Some councils receive money but someone outside of the council orders how it’s spent
That will always happen when the Govt is just dishing out funds. There are various small business organization (e.g. small business unit: DYBT; etc) which should be given these grant funding are distributed to genuine small business owners. Accountability??!!! Chnage the process then you will get accountability
my lady your own government have no accountability do you expect the village councils to not follow YOUR governments example
The minister knows jolly well what is going on she is out of line and over ruled by her Boss, instead she should return to him and try to in courage him to stop handing out the monies that belong to the State without first a framework or plan in advance, it’s time you and your administration stop believing the monies of the State belong to you all.
Me lady why don’t you take a page out of the book of the administrations in the USA White House and tell your Boss he messed up big time go on TV and tell him , then we can say you truly care about the people stop hiding behind your office and party.
Why not a secretary for local gov’t, to look after the affairs of the councils? over time, the elected members of the councils, have created a cabal if you may call it , among themselves while remaining aloof vis-a-vis the villagers. Don’t create Demi-Gods.
Madame please stop being a hypocrite. You know very well which councils are guilty . However, all the councils with heavy DLP supporters within its rank have been given tacit blessings to do as they please since no one will hold them accountable. I guess monkey see so much key do…..national government can do so local government are just following suit.
Assertive like the rod of Moses! ?
Honourable Daniel, are you sure this is what you want to say??? This is a most serious indictment on yourself as minister and also of your govt. You all embarked on a systematic process to undermine the village councils with the creation of a ministry that includes “community empowerment”, thinking that your opponents would be sidelined. Now you calling for ACCOUNTABILITY? She then proceeded to insult the Grand Fond village council: why speak to them in such derogatory terms if you are UNSURE of their situation? A little preparation would have indicated this. And, still not sure of their condition, you wen further to threaten them with future finances. As Trump would say on his twitter account: Very BAD
And, madame minister, the councils that find themselves in this predicament are only following in the footsteps of CENTRAL GOVERNMENT which has not produced an Audit Report for the years 2012 to 2015. What do you have to say in response?
Misery likes…
“Councils are not reporting to the various Ministries who allocate these funds to them, and we have a big problem with that. I do not know whether your council (Grand Fond village council) is part of that, but we have a lot of problem in that area,” she said. Notice she did not accuse any one council but “COUNCILS”.
My point is, isn’t this the same reason why 18 ministers sued Linton? So I guess all village councils should meet with Tony and Lawrence so they could find a way to sue Ms. Daniel for accusing all councils of not being transparent.
Catherine, monkey see monkey do. Is our P.M. accountable for the public money he hands out every Wednesday at his red clinic? I’m not saying it is right but so we like it Catherine.
By the way my understanding of “figurative language” is NOT necessarily what the speaker said but most importantly, what the speaker wants us to understand. So when Ian Douglas blasted the opposition for secret trip last week, we all know he did not blast Skerrit. However we understand him to be blasting Skerrit, and I feel that’s what he wanted us to understand. The same is true with Ms. Daniel today when she blasted the councils for not being transparent. We all understand who she was talking to, don’t we?
monkey see monkey do
That’s the second government minister in the last two weeks that trying to address and condemn the actions of Skerrit but because they too weak to address him, they using figurative language to talk to him.
First it was the baby Ian that slammed the opposition for going out in secret when he knew very well that Skerrit had gone on a secret trip, the day that five young men from his constituency died in an accident, in his own village and no one, including government ministers knew where he went to,
Today it is the great granny minister that slamming him about his lack of transparency but again, like Ian, she uses figurative speech like the “councils” to address her concern
I was taught to respect the elderly and I do respect them very much. However one could just watch some people in their face and you see dishonesty, hypocrisy, lies, and lack of transparency. These days I can’t even watch them in the face because you see all types of evil things by just looking at them
That’s because they are using the funds for their own personal reasons.
There is accountability madame minister,but what it also have is non action when certain people are involved. If DNO would allow it I could post evidence.
What do you expect Catherine. Your government handing out cash like that and expect people to account for every penny? Well, they will tell you they spend tit and now need more of that easy money. I dare you to take people to court for misappropriation, as rightly you should but then again, don’t put temptation in the way of vorace. You might say, they are only following the leader. Good luck.
The village I live in is the same thing. Over the years I’ve seen different people on the executive and it is no different. The Gov’t needs to pass a law to make the councils accountable for all monies collected and used.
I hope you realize that the Gov’t that putting those people in place. So they going to pass laws against themselves then. Just be happy more CBI money flowing eeh.
These Councils have become too political, thats why there is no accountability.
The Minister is failing in her duty to ensure accountability. There should be monthly auditing and annual reports of income and expenditure with supporting receipts and vouchers. Get the Accountant General and Director of Audit involve. If there is stealing people should be arrested and fired if convicted. In fact the best thing is to start now with monthly reports.
Those organization operate under delegated legislation and are responsible to the government administration for there activities.
Do we have a Lolocal Government Commissioner…….?