Pinard does not favor protest action

The workers staged a peaceful protest on Wednesday morning
The workers staged a peaceful protest on Wednesday morning

Public Works Minister, Ian Pinard, believes that staging a protest action is not the best way to solve problems.

The minister’s statement followed a peaceful protest by workers employed at the Public Works Corporation (PWC) on Wednesday.

Workers say they are “fed up” and “frustrated” because they have not been paid for at least four fortnights.

“I cannot tell persons what to do in terms of protesting,” Pinard told privately-owned Kairi FM Radio Station. “Persons have their own prerogative to these things but there are things that can happen at a much better level.”

He revealed that the government has been making all the necessary payments to the Corporation.

“We have one payment due to the Corporation which they will get paid hopefully late this week,” he revealed. “As far as I am informed, they haven’t been paid for three fortnights and also for one month and I know that the payment which is due to them from the government will be made.”

Pinard said last week he instructed his permanent secretary to organize a meeting, slated for Wednesday (today), with the Board of Directors of the PWC to discuss the restructuring of the Corporation.

“I have a meeting with the board this afternoon and all this will be discussed in terms of the restructuring of the Corporation,” he stated. “We have been going back and forth in terms of the restructuring process which is something that will take some time, we have been putting it together…”

He stated that he is always open to discussion and hopes that decisions will be made on the restructuring matter.

“We are hoping that some decisions will be taken very soon on the Corporation in terms of its restructuring and hopefully in terms of payments to staff,  a thing of the past,” Pinard stated.

pwc workers2

 

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38 Comments

  1. Matthew J. Walter
    May 15, 2015

    Fouchette Feur, I look at issues with an objective eye regarding matters that affect my country. This is why I disclosed my name for all to see, I don’t hide behind any smokescreen . it seems as if you are uninformed, please do so before you comment on issues. This country is ours and so it is incumbent on all of us to safeguard ,nurture and positively promote it. We all must strive to become patriotic notwithstanding our political persuasions . country before partisan politics. Lets face the facts!!

  2. DNO Reader
    May 14, 2015

    I wonder how he and his PS would like it to not be paid for FOUR fortnights. Crazy talk.

  3. peck
    May 14, 2015

    Y don’t we take pinards salary away for the next 6 months

  4. uk Dominican
    May 14, 2015

    more protest action is 100% the way forward

  5. Massacre
    May 14, 2015

    Dominicans just “SHUT UP ALREADY!” You all are the same ones who just a few months before the elections all you were demonstrating for on time payment, then during elections all you get a little money which clouded your vision. You then go to the polls and vote in the same people who held you down for so long, so how do you think Labor is going to treat you knowing that they have 5 years left to fool you again!
    My friends we all know that a Zebra does not change its spots, and so too are these slimy politicians we have in Da today.
    Pinard knows what he is saying , because he knows who to pay to keep you all quiet.
    My people wake up from your slumber!

  6. Thorbjørn Jagland
    May 14, 2015

    All government is illusion; it is a scam. It is a cancer feeding on freedom. Government is today’s most dangerous superstition; it is not needed for anything

  7. Truth be Told
    May 14, 2015

    Slavery and red clinic under Labour Party. No sense on industry. No business competency. Remind me why this is the better party or government for Dominica to progress?

  8. IFF I WUZ
    May 14, 2015

    Parry, I would advise Mr. Pinard to use 50% of the $3.5 million approved for the NEP and pay the workers of the PWD. The PWD workers have families and commitments just like the workers involved in the NEP.

  9. Trevor Fabien
    May 14, 2015

    Another Alice in Wonderland (Dominica) episode. The minister of Public Works admits that the workers have not been paid for 3 fortnights yet he says that protest action is not necessary. You guys are getting away with absolute murder in Dominica. I cannot think of any other country in the western world where people are not being paid for almost 2 months and things are fine.
    Please pay the workers and stop leading them on like fools.

    Point 2:
    I could not help but notice the professionalism the Police is displaying in that picture above. One is sat in the back of the pick up and two female officers are standing and it seems like something have caught their attention. This is the Dominican way, nice life, everyone just chill and look unprofessional even though the press is there, I can sit in the back of a police vehicle in my full uniform.

    These Police officers need a good dose of professionalism. they are so slack they totally forget that the press is present.Pure Slackness

  10. mama
    May 14, 2015

    In my opinion that photo is unflattering for the police. IF a protest is in progress (no matter how small the number of protesters) shouldn’t the officers be on the ground and strike a more vigilant post? They seem to be (illegally) standing in the van, as if ready to run away? Was there a need to be flight ready? Dominicans are generally quite cooperative with the law and its enforcers.

    BTW the public minister shows his inadequacy in responding to an issue related to his ministry: if it’s a peaceful protest (which is popularly used to bring attention to issues affecting THE PEOPLE), why make official statements that are meaningless. He was either not updated on how peaceful the protest was, or he should not be so easily scared when people speak out on issues. As though he prefers a quieter approach, but the people FEDUP man! There may be the so called Red Clinic, but the people still have their rights to protest. Kudos to Dominicans: this shows you are not that cheap & gullible

  11. Duncekyat
    May 13, 2015

    Ian Pinard, here is the best way to solve the problem: Pay the workers their hard earned wages on time all the time. Is that too much to ask?

  12. stupes
    May 13, 2015

    What about the social security that’s not being paid. The traveling allowance that’s not being paid. Sir please leave your office and meet with the staff of the coperation to understand what’s really going on. ………. the staff are frustrated their backs are being pushed against the wall, they have children,bills need paying. #thestruggleisreal

  13. TrueBornDominican
    May 13, 2015

    Having considered the reality of Dominica, Dominicans should never listen to the lies of this Government.
    They have been in office for over 14 years and truth be told Dominica is the most backward island in the Caribbean.
    They are a group of cowards who are afraid of the people’s power! They came into office thinking that Dominicans would allow them to put waste in their mouths. Protesting is a way of saying things are very very bad. if this Government think that they will escape with the crap, foolishness, lies and corruption and bad management, tell them to will and come again.
    Dominicans must demand from the government the very best of everything. If not, take the streets, organise marches, go slows at government offices, call in sick, strike on the jobs, until Dominicans get the best.
    Without any form of apology, these ministers can be considered the worst in the world…. Only in Dominica tey stand a chance…………….. Misfits, square pegs in round wholes,…

    • 2 TrueBornDominican
      May 17, 2015

      ou are not a steve hiding in the forest right!

  14. joe 4 all
    May 13, 2015

    in all the protest pics I ain’t seeing the public works employee who had the huge red flags on his van election time!! Is he too ashamed??

    • Derick Gonsalves
      May 14, 2015

      But you see the one who had all the blue flags on his own though smdh

  15. The Facts
    May 13, 2015

    If they are to be paid per fortnight, then pay them at fortnight! What is the reason for the hold-up of pay? Employees are expected to report for work daily and on time. They are also expected to put in a full day’s work as required. When pay day arrives they expect to be paid the salary agreed upon and on the day it was agreed they should get paid.
    The primary reason they work it is for their livelihood. When they are not paid on the stipulated day, how are they supposed to purchase necessities as food and to pay their bills? Their bills must also be paid on time.
    I can understand their anxiety which also creates stress for them. Workers should not have to go through this.
    Please Minister Pinard, pay them and do not allow this to recur. It is not fair to the workers and gives you and your department a bad reputation for not paying staff on time.
    If you want dedicated and happy workers, then pay them when they are supposed to get paid. Be Christian-like.

  16. OneDestiny
    May 13, 2015

    Gosh, I do wish these honorable gentlemen would learn how to string a proper sentence together. Their vocabulary is severely lacking and as for sentence construction….I can hardly make sense of what they’re trying to express most of the time…..but to get to the matter at hand, people need to eat and drink. Forget paying bills and buying yourself something at the fund of the month. People need to eat.,,simple. And the Ministers fridges sure always filled….

  17. Bird
    May 13, 2015

    Mr pinard you must be the joker in the pack of cards . Your comment is selfish and insensitive . Your mortgage is being paid on time , you have plenty cash to limme , you can go to fort young at any time for lobster , you can fly across to Barbados and stay at the Hilton for a week and the list goes on . Yet , you want to abuse the poor lower class hard working employees of the public works . I am so upset with this government and I am no educated fool . I truly have absolutely no confidence in this government . Mr Pinard , I see you as a heartless man !

  18. Doc. Love
    May 13, 2015

    I wonder what would have been Pinard’s reactions, if Skeritt was to tell him, because of a broken down economy, he would not be able to get a salary for the next six pay days.

  19. Truth Offends
    May 13, 2015

    Does anyone expect Pinard to favor protest? His party is in power and protest action is always a sign that people are not happy with the dealings of their company or government, so I don’t expect him to be in favor of protest. He should have told Skerrit that they should take care of the people and that would have avoided protest action. Do I believe the timing of both the Salsbury protest and Public works protest was good. Hell no! The way Dominica is today, where Skerrit feels he can do whatever he wants and if we decide to stage a peaceful protest he will just send armed officers to scare us, it would have been much better if both farmers, teachers, PW workers and all others had planned to have a massive protest when they know we have a warship from either the USA, Canada or Britain. That’s the only tile we will not be bullied. Last month April 16 would have been a good time because the British warship was here and I bet Skerrit would not send police to intimidate us.

  20. Francisco Telemaque
    May 13, 2015

    Facts, what do you and Skerrit clones have to say about? Government right again right!

    Yea right!

    Oh, boy I sorry for all of you who are thanking God for Skerrit, what a joke!

  21. Francisco Telemaque
    May 13, 2015

    Ian the best way the people can deal with this issue is for you to resolve it by paying every damn penny you and Skerrit owe to the workers!

    You people had no difficulties finding more than thirty million dollars to buy votes, and import people to vote.

    I am sure that the money owed to the workers is less than fifteen million dollars! You all are screwing up the life’s of the poor in the country; nevertheless, as soon as they speak or act to get some results, the powers that be cries “that is not the way to deal with it.” Why do people work? Why do you sit on your behind doing nothing making thousands of Dollars per month, and the people on peanuts salary gets nothing?

    I am sure if Skerrit would loose his head one month and tell poppet’s like you there is no money in the treasury to pay you, you would perhaps strangle him. You might demand he sells his villas, and mansion to pay you!

  22. anonymous2
    May 13, 2015

    I’m sure that Pinard gets his pay check so how ridiculous that he gives his opinion on protests for no pay check.

    • May 13, 2015

      Dominicans what have you done what type of persons have voted for to represent you in Parliament because we seem to have only dummies in Government, and that’s from head to bottom. I would also ask these men/women to study the Constitution before making comments Pinard get his salary end of month so why don’t he believe others shouldn’t, I suggest that these guys get with it and start coming to the aide of the people on the Island and stop the nonsense .
      Employees at Public worker should get their salaries so they can take care of their families..

  23. May 13, 2015

    Mr. Pinard before you were ever born protest existed and will continue to exist long after you are gone. protest is not the issue or the problem. the people must be paid on time. how can you have people working over and beyond their due date of payment and still expect them to be happy? remember the golden rule.

  24. source
    May 13, 2015

    He favours his monthly salary but he don’t favour when the workers stand up for theirs. Those government officials don’t care about ppl. Wasn’t it the PM in his press conference that said they paid everyone their salaries.

  25. Domdom
    May 13, 2015

    The Prime Minister gets paid on time. The payment for his minister are on time. Why are the workers for months before getting paid? They need money to pay for their basic needs, food, shelter, clothing, transportation. I support their strike. Dominican please wake up, now is the time that all should uprise against the government. Please follow the people from Salisbury and have a massive demonstration in the city.

  26. Views Expressed
    May 13, 2015

    What on earth is wrong with these Labour Party ministers…….everything they touch and interfere with falling down around them. They have no clue of good government and good governance……
    The people want their money, yo get yours on time at end of month, pay the Public Works workers

  27. Views Expressed
    May 13, 2015

    Pinard wake up… Have you received your salary, or are yo owed 1, 2 or 3 months. Is who in the heat feels. YOu think it is a joy people get in protesting?

  28. Lang Mama
    May 13, 2015

    Diifferent strokes for different folks. Glanvillia people did not have to block the road to be heard on the Georgetown issue ( Promiseville). Salisbury people simply had to be more vociferous because Skerrit and his corrupt government have proven their arrogance and disregard to the people who will never vote them into government. Now Glanvillia is like Mike douglas said is Jardin patat Labar. So what did Skerrit and others did they came down to Glanvillia. Some received peanut butter on their mouths and boom they became silent. Now he is saying that no minister of government must go to protesters.
    Pinard protest is not necessary ? You can talk that only to a people who are too scared to have you eat your words and those teethes that accompany your lies.

  29. mandate 2 mismanage
    May 13, 2015

    Are you KIDDING me???? “…they haven’t been paid for three fortnights and also for one month”??

    I want to know if ANY minister has ever gone that long without being paid? True leaders would pay those workers first!

    This sudden shortage of money begs the question, where did all that DLP campaign spending money come from?

  30. May 13, 2015

    Mr Pinard it appears that communication between your office and the corporation is lacking and this is the result . This has not been the first protest against the corporation due to lack of payments to employees and it won’t be the last I bet you . People have their rights to protest when things aren’t going right and if you and the government doesn’t want it to result in such , then treat the people of Dca with respect they deserve . Have you been short any of your salaries ? How would you feel being in their shoes , working and not being paid to take care of your family . It seems today , we just have to shut up and let you all walk over us .

  31. Harry Mack
    May 13, 2015

    When will Dominicans pack away these ministers? The level of incompetence in this government has reached a new high, . Ian Pinard moves from a little junior clerk in the La salette Credit Union and now he is Minister, what do we expect. How comes Skerrit allowed him to speak on that one?
    Oh Dominica, my heart bleeds for you.

    • The Facts
      May 13, 2015

      You swayed from the subject. What you stated has absolutely nothing to do with it. Do not throw words. Stick to the issue and address it.

    • Matthew J. Walter
      May 13, 2015

      The Dominica Labour Party Government has been the most tolerant and conscientious government In contrast to its predecessors that have dealt with similar violent political activities in Dominica. Our objective is to ensure that we maintain a country free from political unrest. The UWP opposition would take joy in pursuing that dangerous trend. The DLP leadership is smart and using all available ways and means to avoid Dominica from plunging into an abyss. I commend the Minister’s initiative to amicably resolve such matters , if escalated could be detrimental to our beautiful country. Comparing competence with respect to party leaders is like comparing chalk and cheese. Roosevelt is far more competent and experienced than Linton. The opposition should desist from employing those ineffective and unwarranted strategies in an attempt to confuse and scare the DLP government. We have passed that stage- we are like the tree that is planted by the river!

      • FOUCHETTE FEUR
        May 15, 2015

        boy you should not comment on anything because you literally vanished agriculture from dominica…. talk about violent pass, rousy and the protest to raise license, what was more destructive and violent than that… when anse du mai block the road you ran like a little boy to solve the problem….

  32. Lang Mama
    May 13, 2015

    Amazing grace how sweet the lies :

    All you isn’t 3 fortnights + I month equal to 5 fort nights. if he says five fortnights it will sound too bad so he say 3 fortnight + I month. LMAO :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

    All you what it is that he refers to as ” A thing of the past” – is he talking about the continuous deception, the lying and the conning ways of his government.
    Check this out and ask yourself when will end when will it end -the lies and the hijacking of our country by con men

    https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/business/government-still-negotiating-land-price-at-public-work-site-pm/

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