PM Skerrit calls for “collaborative approach” for first climate resilience nation

Skerrit said all must play their part

Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has said a collaborative approach is needed to realize the government’s idea of making Dominica the first climate resilient country in the world.

Speaking at a government-organized National Rebuilding and Economic Partnership Consultation on Monday, Skerrit said the government cannot do it alone.

“Maria has placed even sharper focus, not only on the need to build back better but also the need to build resilience in all our sectors of our country, in tourism, agriculture, housing, our utilities and public infrastructure,” he said. “So when I speak of making Dominica the first climate resilient nation in the world these are the areas that we seek to target.”

He said building a climate resilient nation is not a task this government can do on its own “given our limitation of resources and expertise.”

“More than that, each of us needs to build resilience in our home and our businesses and therefore this requires a collaborative approach,” the Prime Minister stated. “Your acceptance of our invitation to come here today is a manifestation of your interest and desire to be part of a vision to build a climate resilient nation …it is an indication of your willingness to impart your knowledge, experience, and skill in rebuilding a new Dominica.”

According to Skerrit, there is “no set formula, there is no one size fits all approach or blueprint” for the concept of a climate resilient nation.

“I have traveled the world since September and sat in many international forums and I have not come across any individual who can be considered an expert in the build-out of a climate resilient nation,” he stated. “The world has bought in however to the concept of a climate resilient nation and is looking to Dominica to make this a reality. In the Caribbean, we are particularly vulnerable as small island and low lying states to the ill effects of climate change.”

He stated that CARICOM, the UN Secretary-General, the President of the World Bank, key officials of the European Union, every head of state he has spoken to, key development partners and every climate resilient enthusiast he knows are all keen to play a part in making Dominica the first climate resilient country.

“The world is rooting for us, ladies and gentlemen,” the Prime Minister noted. “But we must play our part.”

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16 Comments

  1. February 22, 2018

    Good thing, I don’t listen to Skerrit and his magee, what we need i Dominica, is electoral reform, so we can have elections with integrity.
    After 18years of Skerrit and the DLP, with nothing significant to show for it, inspite of having so much money. It’s time for change, Skerrit is long time overdue or Are we gonna do the same thing over and over, and expect a different result????????????????????

  2. Mike
    February 22, 2018

    How about trying something simple how about making Dominica banana and plantain resilient

  3. L power
    February 20, 2018

    Skerrit is 18 years of talk, no action. please define climate resilience?

  4. Maria
    February 20, 2018

    The Dominica Business Forum had a symposium last month, it was much more informative than that talk show of the government. This consultation was just a labour Party campaign gimmick. All government ministers, parliamentarians including senators and worthless advisors were there. Only the Leader of the Opposition was invited on the other side.
    How much more insulting can it get? Not even the Roseau North parliamentary representative was invited and Skerrit says he has not made a political statement since Maria.
    He has a racist Arab lawyer insulting people every day.
    Please don’t insult my intelligence. UWP you guys must pick up these political games and call them out or Skerrit will outsmart you or should I say Skerrit is outsmarting you.

  5. dee
    February 20, 2018

    Comrade
    I love all that climate resilient talk, now lets all get the action started and prove to the Dominican communities that we serious .
    My suggestion to open up a road at the top of Scott’s Head, making the building of new homes safer,implement regulations for all new homes must be powered by solar panels ,backed up by Domlec, if necessary.That road could be built with covered drains,taking the flow through a mains culvert drain, right into the Atlantic Ocean, eliminating the possibility of drastic soil erosion. As pledged before, i will personally take on the landscaping and beautification of up there and will accept full responsibility for all justified criticism, if it is constructive .
    Comrade, Do not wait until campaign time to come up there and tell us, it would be a good idea .Engage the two retired international engineers, they are patriotic.
    Wall house could never be compared to up there, residents would live as one united model community ,Helas i crying ein…

  6. Jonathan Y St Jean
    February 20, 2018

    Skerritt talks a good game to the red acolytes in the country who will not even examine the content of his speech far less point out where he is misguided.He says that a collaborative approach is needed for a resilient Dominica.The collaborative approach is needed in all facets a of society for them to succeed.In the absence of that collaboration, failure is assured be it in a marriage or anywhere else.This isn’t a new concept, however, the practice of collaborating has to be done not only spoken about.President Clinton comes to visit Dominica and Skerritt couldn’t even invite the leader of the opposition to show that there is unity of purpose in a two by four country.So Skerritt going forward I am expecting to see that you practice what you are calling for and include everyone including the opposition

  7. SN
    February 20, 2018

    Correct me if I am wrong, but to my knowledge, Parliament has not been convened since Maria. Collaborative efforts should also take place in Parliament also. Now with regard to resiliency, the short duty free period of 6 months on building supplies etc. is inadequate and the PM should convene parliament where parliament can extend this window for no less than two years. Resiliency comes with a cost and the government should mitigate those costs to allow everyone to participate in the resiliency rebuilding program. To date, some people are still waiting on insurance payments and March 19 (duty free end date) is around the corner and the majority will be unable to take advantage of this concessionary program. Likewise, material and labor supply are issues that impact the process, so more time must be given, taking into consideration these constraints.

  8. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    February 20, 2018

    When we are talking about climate we can break it down into categories, and levels; as we know the climate at certain latitude and region are incline to change, and such changes can have a direct effect on the human body i.e.; one who lives in Dominica suffering from asthma from the day they were born; chances are if they move to a place such as Arizona in the United States, they may recover completely, from that disease  and never have another episode of the disease, without taking any form of medication.

    That would be as a result of climate change! So, we are talking about a region of the earth having specific climatic conditions or the average course or condition of the weather at a certain place over a period of many years exhibited by temperature, wind such as hurricane velocity; and also precipitation, along with a prevailing set of conditions including temperature, and humidity.

    Roosevelt and others are into this hype about Dominica becoming the first climate resilient…

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      February 20, 2018

      Cont:

      Roosevelt and others are into this hype about Dominica becoming the first climate resilient country; nevertheless, he has not presented one form of scientific method that he will utilize to accomplish his fate! Talk is cheap, building a house out of metal rather than wood may not make much of a difference, because some wood outlast metal of iron; and that is a fact!

      Termites eats untreated wood, however metal such as iron rust and decay too: I have witness water bend solid iron, while traveling in rough seas in the North Sea, on a ship we owned. If one build a house in Dominica, out of solid concrete  even  the roof, there is no guarantee that during a flood, or simple heavy falling rain the water will not find a way to undermine the foundation and topple the the pile of cement and sand, even if it was built out of one hundred percent granite!

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      February 20, 2018

      If Roosevelt believe he is building a climate resilient Dominica, just out of curiosity; can you Dr. Skerrit; and notice I did not say Dr. Punjab; but pleas Sr. Knight Roosevelt Skerrit, stop your foolish notion of this thing that Dominica will be the first resilient nation on earth.

      If you are capable of accomplishing that; please present the science you intend to use to substantiate your scientific and political ambition.

      Boy someone saw you coming as usual, and once again made a fool out of you.

      Note it is termed “climate change” because it continues to change over the many years; the only difference is it is now changing faster than more than two thousand plus years ago!

  9. RandyX
    February 20, 2018

    I just hope Linton isn’t going to take the bate. Skerrit should call parliament and debate the issues at hand there. After all that’s parliament is there for.

  10. Massacre
    February 20, 2018

    It hurt my ears every time I hear this man Skerries open his mouth. Very shameful and poor presentation
    Learn how to articulate yourself.

  11. Shaka Zulu
    February 20, 2018

    Thats what the parliament is there for. Climate resilience has to be put into legislation or else it cannot be enforced. To do that it will reqire adjustments to building codes, land use reform, drainage management etc and require the imput of subject matter technical experts from dominica and elswhere. The government and opposition can review a comprehensive resilience plan and debate on additions or removals and what works for Dominica and thier individual constituents. If the PM is serious about collaboration he should remember is obligation as a law maker under tbe constitution of Dominica and go through the channels provided. He has 17 yrs of history and any proclamation of collaboration with opposition outside of where it matters is nothing but a front. Skerrit is a snake and maria just shed some skin so he still a snake. The parliament was designed for demonstrating the gov ability to chart path for country. Use it. I hope UWP don’t fall for PM BS again.

    • Dominican
      February 20, 2018

      I recommend once again, and strongly, that parliament meets at least once a month. That is the place to have an ongoing dialogue and ensure cooperation andconsencus among all representatives of our people. We need this now more than ever if we are to benefit from most of the outside aid promised.

  12. UKDominican
    February 20, 2018

    Started off well but ended up with ramble by Mr. Skerrit in defence of himself and extolling his personal suffering. This was supposed to be a public consultation but it appears that mr. Skerrit lost his way, perhaps someone stepped on his toes, and it ended up more like an ad-hoc election address. I,m sorry, but this was immature behaviour with Mr. Skerrit relapsing into his ususal form I guess it is true that you cannot change the spots on a dog.

  13. Booger Engineer
    February 20, 2018

    Unless Skerrit flatten all Dominica mountains we will never be climate resilient

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