Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has told the people of Dominica to tolerate an increase in the tariff on water and sewerage services, which DOWASCO announced recently.
Skerrit said Friday, at the opening of a new water supply system in Petite Savanne, the 15 percent increase will be for one year in the first instance.
DOWASCO had submitted a two-year water increase plan to government to deal with rising financial constraints.
“The other option we had was to keep the rates at the level and send many of you [workers] home but we decided to keep you and ensure that we can improve the efficiency of the water supply,” Skerrit stated.
He called on nationals “to bear with us and for a slight increase in water supply”.
Somebody HELP . Whats the government rate of tax on the consumption of Water ? How many workers did dowasco intend to lay off ? what would be the impact on the economy by sending these workers home versus the impact of the 15 % increase in water.
We will tolerate it when our salary increases. Why the salary never increases? chupes
Dominicans and people who work for others, employees must understand how important a Union is to their survival on the job and their survival in general. Hats off to the DPSU for great job at representing its members, Letang good work!
Things already so hard we can’t be creating unemployment insteand of creating Jobs, hmm
true, so easier solution, take the 27 million and invest in DOWASCO. It needs it. No 15% off my pocket.
Are you blind or are you deaf? Can’t you see the the price of everything going up? Gas price have people bawling. Everything, especial those related to Gas gone up. The Gas even causing my pressure to go up.
Well, I hear DAWASCO spend all their money on crooked deals involving foreigners so they broke. The need more money to pay for their gas and diesel now.
What happened to the low prices of gas from Venezuela? I thought Papa Hugo was going to keep the price low for us. Can somebody call Mr Austrie, and tell him to call Papa Hugo and see what the heck is going on? Stupessssss..
am all for an increase to salvage the company and prevent workers from going home,however,15% increase(another vat in disguise) is too exorbitant.the stabilization levy was meant to cushion the economic blow yet millions was derived from it and we never got it back as was promised instead we got a mere 3% increase for donkeys years after all that sacrifice we have been making over the years!way way way domnik zordi see parni soutiwey inparni voley!
It is so sad to see the people have to pay so much for water, when it is said that DA has 365 rivers. Yet the places i used to bathe before is a stream. All the large rivers we used to know are getting like dried beds in Africa. Trafalgar falls is not the fall i once knew, now i see exposed rock skeletons in the place where we used to have basins. A survey needs to be done again and come up with the right numbers of rivers, i do not think it is 365 anymore.
It was never 365. This is just a popular catch phrase to indicate that Dominica has many rivers. Take out a large map of Dominica and count all of the streams big and small flowing into the sea. You will count only about 80. Then even if you give each of them three tributaries each (and that is an exageration for many streams) you will get 240…at the most.
But as for those complaining “we have 365 rivers why we gwayaying for water” go in the bush and see where the intakes are in the mountains and how much pipes, maintenance and distance is required…and you will understand why the staff numbers and costs have to be as they are.
If you dont want DOWASCO water, take your bucket on your head and go find a ‘souce’ somewhere pou tapay glo. Then you will not have to pay water rate.
To Frankly,
there is no problem in going to the source and even running my own pipes from the source then i will pay maintainance for my own system, at least then i will actually have water and not air turning my meter. the only problem will be dowasco will say by law i cant do that and charge me, like their actions would be justifyable because it on a paper with some faint ink.
The water system is the same as 20 years ago and yet still they want increase.
why not up grade the system by building reservoirs to avoid dirty water during the rainy season.
Prevention of water outrages in places for 2 to 3 days. Low pressure of the water, running like oil in people’s pipe.
Then they can ask for more percentages.
Well they would need money to upgrade the water system, won’t they?
WICKED THEY WICKED THEIR EYES WIDE OPEN THEY AFRAID TO TALK WHEN THEY HAVE TO. SOMETHING THATS GOING TO AFFECT ALL OF US WITH NO SALARY INCREASE, WHERE THE HELL R WE GOING TO GET MONEY TO PAY FOR WATER INCREASE??????
It was not Govt. decision to keep the some DOWASCO workers. Frankly, it was The Dominica Public Service Union which suggested an increase in tariffs instead of sending workers home. DPSU also suggested improving the management of DOWASCO. The Minister responsible for Water had indicated that Govt. would not increase tariffs and burden the people of Dominica with an increase in water rates. The DPSU must be commended. Because of the Union’s strong stand on behalf of the workers, Skerritt and his Govt. was forced to go according to their advice to increase the tariff on water instead. Dominicans your Union is your STRENGTH.
Our standard of living is continually being eroded by this incompetent administration, while theirs are soaring by the minute.The most affected will be the poor and downtrodden… Those who were shouting SOMETHING IS HAPPENING….THIS IS NEXT LEVEL GALORE..ALAS PAPA GOD !!!!!
I understand DOWASCO has not raised its rates for many years – Why? I think most people are reasonable and would expect incremental rises over this period as nothing stays the same, running costs will always increase. No-one likes to pay more but smaller and gradual increases help to soften the blow. The difficulty now is that people will be resentful as we are now being hit with all the increase in one big blow!
As recent as Feb. 22 the Hon. Min. Ausrie, who is responsible for water resources, stated that tariff increases were not the way to go. Now we hear from Mr. Skerrit the opposite, without a murmur from Mr. Austrie. Is Mr. Austrie’s competence in question? Who is running what?
Austrie is a moomoo when he has to face the PM.
while we want everyone to have a job….doh play politics with our bills …..if the company is not running efficiently and unproductive jobs have to be cut…..so be it…….and doh play di fool with our money by not tendering projects out properly so we get value for our money……..if skerrit was payin for water he would appreciate that….
Increasing the water rates may be the correct thing to do, but controlling costs at Dowasco (even by cutting some redundant positions) is better than preserving deadwood at the company.
Dominica has the most rivers in the OECS! Yet we pay the highest water bills! DOM IN A CAN ask u all self how long we fools keep our eyes closed!!
So so true!!!
MARIGOTIAN..YOU ARE NOT FORCED TO PAY THE WATER BILL.LIKE YOU SAID,WE GOT THE MOST RIVERS IN THE OECS..BUT THE WATER CAN’T JUST COME FROM THE RIVER AND COME TO YOUR HOME WITHOUT A COST..MONEY DONT GROW ON TREES..SO IF YOU DONT WANT TO PAY FOR THE SERVICES TO HAVE WATER IN YOUR HOUSE,YOU HAVE THE ALTERNATIVE TO GO TO THE RIVER AND GET YOUR WATER…(EVERYTHING TO SOME OF US TOO POLITICAL).
I don’t see anything political about Marigotian comments. You might be the one that is too political.
yes we have the most rivers so why don’t you try taking the water straight from the river to ur home instead of depending on dowasco. tell me why. No don’t tell me i’ll answer that, it’s pretty damn expensive. A lil $3.00 increase won’t kill us, let’s just see how it works out first.
Uhuh, Marigotian asked why Dominica water is more expensive that the other islands when we have more water than them. Sumting wrung Uhuhuhuhu!
Why di PM coming and talk and defend DOWASCO now….why he didnt come and ask them to tender di million dollar water tank in morne bruce.???? after they waste your money he coming and tell u to tie your waist and just take the increase…..i would no problem payin an increase if he was just as efficient as making dowasco tender out the projects as he seems to be about telling us to pay the increase…
Are you certain, is this a fact? Or are you just belching bubbles? An increase in rates is not always the best but by sending home workers it would mean a reduction in services. Dowasco now has to provide service for the money people pay. Now is the time for Dominicans to demand clean and adequate water for their money.
Loubiere Spring Water is cheaper in other countries than in Dominica, I would really like to know why that is.
thats a technical vat mr pm!15% increase? so why we cannot get something comfortable on our salary like at least 15% increase to cushion the economic blow as well?why is always we that have to pay for all misdeeds?dowasco have water wasting all over the damn country and now is me that have to pay for their inefficiency its just unfair to us tax and bill payers of this cun-tree.
i am quite satisfied by this move! all shall eat. we just have to conserve some more so our water bill will not be exobitant. it would really be sad to see so many people going home. employment is already so hard to obtain. These workers are single parents, married people, people with commitments! thats a reasonable move!
The rate was increased by 15% (same tarrif as the VAT) for Year 1. How much is the increase going to be come April 2012? Admin, please find out from DOWASCO General Manager
Why is it that our dear prime minister finds it just to make such a statement in public as per paragraph 5. Who is he to question or say what one can afford and determine what is a slight increase on our expenses. Has he forgotten that during the election period he made a false promise to decrease or that he intended to decrease VAT and when he was given the power and opportunity to delivery he turned around and said that Dominica is too small a country to expect that there is anything less than 15% VAT. Has he forgotten that he made a promise or intent to increase minimum wage and when given the chance he said it cant be done. Why is it that we stand for this insolence to our face and to have this alien constantly insult and blister us to our face. While statistics may state the GDP for Dominca is increased for whatever year while this alien is in office, it has not reflected my individual performance, neither has there been any releif on my expenses and now when there is an increase this man has the audacity to publicly state that 15% is a slight increase
15% out of nothing is nothing and wonder what he think that is when u have other things going on in your life 15% can break your back i agree with you my brother
utter rubbish. If 15 percent is slight, what about the 1, 2, 3 percent for civil servatns you offer?
The dominican people are like the PM’s sewer, they tolerate all his sh…t
The 1,2 and 3% were insignificant!!!
This is a cover up. They need to tell us the real reason why rates must go up. They are silent about the loan that The water company has ti pay because. the pretty boy leave it on their account.
More like that
Something happening.
I realize that the government will need increased revenue, nevertheless, a country as Dominica which has 365 rivers; also streams and lakes as the Freshwater Lake, residents should not be squeezed into high cost of water.
If this increase continues, Dominicans will have to resort to the old custom of getting water from the river; washing their clothes in the river, bathing in the river and shampooing their hair in the river. They will save a lot of money.
I foresee this is what they should do, return to the old custom as our ancestors did. They managed very well.
Also for hydro costs, Dominicans did not have hot water in those days. They boiled their water. They can still do without it. Guess what? This would be good exercise for the body.
There is indeed a price to pay for progress and convenience. This entails increased and high costs.
oh yes massa we will, just say the word and we will.its is accepted to have a seven million water project not tendered and given to an operative of your labour party. the u come to the podium and speak of finical constraints by dawasco?, hum master in your land the one eye man so go on and lead the blind flock of sheep chanting i love my pm.
Has anyone considered reducing the General Manager’s salary and allowances? Just a thought!
wow! you can only get so much juice from an orange. squeeze papa, squeeze.
Skerrit said Friday, at the opening of a new water supply system in Petite Savanne, “the 15 percent increase will be for one year in the first instance.”
just the same as the VAT would have been there for 2 years was it?
people open up your heads not even eyes can see such deception!!