Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has said that it has always been the position of the government to have a medical facility close to the island’s main airport in Melville Hall.
He was responding to a visiting Dominican at a Diaspora Forum on Tuesday who raised concerns over the lack of a hospital close the airport.
“If a plane lands and there is a mishap, we can lose a number of lives if we don’t have that facility,” the visiting Dominican said. “So we can build a big hospital in Roseau but it will take too much time to get to Roseau to get medical attention. It is very important for the government and the people in government see that as a very important thing to do right now. It’s not like you can put it on a side for later. It doesn’t have to be at the Marigot Hospital but it has to be in the immediate vicinity.”
But Skerrit said the position of the government has always been to have a medical facility in the area.
“It has always been the position of the government that you need an improved medical facility in close proximity to the airport, not only provide for increased health care services to the Marigot Health District, which spans from the Kalinago Territory to Calibishie, but in the event something were to happen, God forbid, at the airport,” he said.
He said there is no argument on that matter.
“There is no argument about this at all,” Skerrit said. “As a matter of fact, we have in the budget, as the minister would have indicated to audience present, monies for the design of that facility and we have taken a further decision in the cabinet, by the cabinet to outsource the engineering and architectural services in order expedite the process for the realization of the new health facility in the vicinity of the Melville Hall Airport.”
Skerrit said there are some people who are giving the false impression that the government does not like the people of Marigot.
“What some people have tried to do is to give the impression, which completely false, that this government does not like Marigot people, we do not like people from up there, this is just total nonsense,” he stated. “We believe, and I personally believe, as I articulated in public domains before, that Marigot has some of the brightest people in the country, resourceful. I think they need good leadership to harness those resources to the benefit of the people.”
The closest medical facility to the airport is the Marigot Hospital but it was recently shut down due to a severe mold and fungus infestation and the services relocated.
It is not the Parl rep to build, it is you the Government to build the Hospital. Everyone begging and asking to build. Shame on you PM
PM Skerritt you know that words are cheap unless backed by concrete action.Ever since Julius Timothy was minister of health,he promised a modernized facility in Margot.It’s been a while and yet things have gotten worse rather than better.You say you don’t have a thing against the Marigot people,but let me ask you,Sir.Knowing that Marigot is a progressive agricultural community you said you offered $30,000 for repairs to a feeder road,yet you gave over $200,000 to a youth group in Pennville .Where is your priority then.I would have thought that the farm access roads in Marigot should all have been repaired if you did not have something against them.Also look at the trans insular road from the Melville Hall airport,the only part not redone is in Marigot.Look also at the sea wall by the Melville Hall airport,why isn’t this repaired.Saying that they need wise leadership is insulting.The people decide who they want to represent them,but you fail to respect their choice.You hate them
When I was growing up in Marigot, the Marigot hospital was the pride of the North Eastern district of Dominica. It was equipped with doctors, nurses, dispensers and even ambulances just like a thriving community in the developing Caribbean. They fixed you up at that hospital. Took care of minor surgeries, community healt needs, births, deaths, even some medical lab work. Now I grow up and wood-ants occupy the whole hospital. To tell the truth, I think that the wood-ants now thinks that the building is unsafe.
This is not improvement. We are going backwards. Night light at the airport but you can’t find a pill for a headache and the neighboring health facility, far less emergency health service.
This brings me to mention Patric John, Eugina Charles, Edison James…etc., these PM’s performed exceptionally better then Skerrit. Things improved under these leaders. Dominicans had a sense of moving forward. Allowing a modern hospital to die is dismal performance Skerrit. Fire…
I am prepared to bet every penny I have on my name, that if Mr. Lennox Linton was to announce his retirement from politics and parliamentary representative of the constituency of Marigot with immediate effect, in six months, bulldozers, trucks, building materials, equipment and workers would be moved to Marigot in order to build a new hospital.
Skeerit you need to grow up,you and your wasted government.Government is not for one is for all the people,A MAJOR DISASTER WILL CHANGE YOUR MIND AND A HEALTH FACILITY FOR MARIGOT.
Skeritt right..
a serious Leader would have closed down the Airport long ago..tired of that Abbot and “Cascallo” business……. 
Respect Marigot people, they are the same Dominican our brothers and sisters.
The PM is correct when he said Dominica is not a real country he speaks and what comes from his mouth is just rubbish , he knows that he cannot take the Marigot people for granted so don’t come with your nonsensical comments, The hospital is not for only that Village it’s for mostly all the people on the North and it’s the responsibility of the Government to make sure that the health of the people and the Island are at it’s best, PM stop trying to put out statements just to make yourself feel good at the expense of the people , or just to impress the Dominicans from the Diaspora because we study you and how you present and act we are not stupid, you speak we listen and we analyze so if you care you would realize a proper Medical institute is needed some where not to far from the Airport, and what about the Portsmouth Hospital it also needs much repairs and what the ppl for that area does is to defend the PM and not help his constituency . Dominica needs better people to get it…
Not having a hospital near our main airport is reckless behavior by our government. Stop with the politics on this matter, and build a facility that can assist the citizens of the surrounding communities, as well as, assist passengers in the event the unthinkable occurs at Douglas-Charles.
Skerrit marigot people feels the the hatred it was there before you but you have increase the victimization and the hatred. Give us our hospital which was built by us and destroyed
“We believe, and I personally believe, as I articulated in public domains before, that Marigot has some of the brightest people in the country, resourceful. I think they need good leadership to harness those resources to the benefit of the people.”
So here we have it, the admission of the truth from the horses mouth, that as leader of the country, he has failed the people of Marigot and Dominica by extension.
He is the leader who has the power to inspire and change the status quo, but because he cannot get total submission to his will he will do nothing.
Well the most high warned us that idolatry is a sin.
Marigot needs a hospital
And a state of the art one . With all the different specialties , so people don’t need to go to Roseau . In this day an age healthcare is a priority.
Too many people say Dominica is lovely but the health care , I mean secondary care is not adequate ,
That was in the responses of expat who would other wise move to Dominica .
Air access for business was another complaint . So if we all know that , why is nothing being done th solve the problem .
We need to address the real problems of the country not this type of fighting between political parties . Get the job done and you will not need to campaign the work will speak for itself.
So my suggestion is seek funding and build one or let a private company build and operate .
Everything doesn’t always stop at the government , effective governanace look for effective solutions to the problems.
Have a blessed day Dominica.
This is so childish what we see DLP playing with the lives of Dominicans and arriving visitors. International law states that there must be a medical facility of a certain capacity within 5 miles of every national airport. So Skerro and his bunch think the are punishing Marigot people for not voting for him , but he is hurting the very image of Dominica. So Skerro is breaking international laws,
Before international airlines land here they have to look at all these capabilities, so while Dominicans sewo and drinking rum other islands are developing.
Wake up Dominicans
Let the people go and build and expand the marigot hospital.
And Skerritt will find some conniving way to stop them!!!
let us see if what he says will happen.What he say is true Marigot village is one of the smartest village in Dominica don’t down talk what he say you like your Linton that’s ok just wait…..
How long are we going to wait? If Skerrit and the government sees that it is so necessary, they need to stop talking and act, so that we will have a facility and trained personnel to take care of what needs to be taken care of. The health of a nation is important, and being prepared in the event of airline mishap/accident is top priority. Its not about liking or not liking people of any village its about getting on with the actual plan and labor to put a health facility where it belongs, close to the main airport.
Marigot is getting compliments from the PM about how smart it’s people are and the Speaker of the HOUSE telling Mr.Linton he is a smart person I wonder why it took them all these years to understand they can never purchase these folks, These people want to see matters handle with every one included they have high standard not only for Marigot but for DOMINICA regardless who is PM.. Look when Miss .Charles was PM she always go to Marigot even they all didn’t come over to her way of thinking but she never disrespect the people and she listened to them she never allowed the strain between herself and Mr. Edison James stopped her because Marigot is part of Dominica and that’s the difference I have studied the villages of both Marigot and Wesley and they love Dominica just as any other.
Mr Skerritt agrees that there should be a health care facility close to the main airport, no argument on that. So where is the hospital or Health care facility? How long has this Marigot hospital been closed and non functional? All you Dominicans living in the Diaspora who were at the meeting today, if the plane you came in on had a mishap, which resulted in personal injury to passengers, where would they have taken you all for assessment and care of your injuries? You all sit there and listen to what the government says to you all, but do you all think and process these things that are said to you all? If the hospital is so necessary, why isn’t it a HIGH PRIORITY? What are we waiting for? For something serious to happen, then we will put blame on others and not face the true facts. This Hospital has been out of commission for sooooo long, and its by God’s grace, that nothing serious has happened. If the hospital is very well needed then construction should already be well on the…
“Skerrit said there are some people who are giving the false impression that the government does not like the people of Marigot.”
Roosevelt Skerrit: that is a fact, you do not do anything for any of the constituencies where you, and your candidates a rejected by the people! To try to impress people that government (and by the way you are the government), want hospital facility next to the Airport is a confounded lie, and you know that.
If you had any interest in having a medical facilities near the Airport, the Marigot Hospital existed for more than a hundred years before you were born; and served the area for more than a hundred years, you came along and effected no maintenance, causing it to fall into a dilapidated state where if cannot be repaired.
Secondly, what is the point of your ramblings about hospitals when even at the PMH you have a pile of Cuban, and Chines quacks employed performing malpractice doing more harm to our people than good. And even when…
Continue:
And even when some of our professional medical Doctors working here in America offer their assistance to our people you Skerrit and the rest of your circus put obstacles in the way and reject their offer, their generosity.
After Hurricane Erika, a Dominican doctor well know with a good reputation in America, offered to help the brought different types of medication along with him to Dominica. You insulted the man and said you all do not want his expired medication. You know, only an idiot would suggest a doctor would be pile up expired medication and take to Dominica to give to people to harm them.
Skerrit boy you need to shut up,
hi my pm you alredy choose a bridge insted of a hospital so stop crying
skerrit words in a nut shell, for marigot to get anything that will benefit the community they must vote labor. stupid man. and stupid Dominicans that voting this party back into power again and again the country would be much better off if Dominicans was using their rights to vote properly.its your vote putting him there and you all watching the other constituencies that didn’t vote for labor perishing and you all laughing. marigot and wesley is the first place a visitor see’s when landed in Dominica. first impression last. dominicans need to widen their mind. if all eat there will be more players. If you feed a few, only a few will participate.when you feed a few the rest just seat around and watch. then you say come participate.skerrit you are a mean person a vindictive person and all the evil you spreading on those who do not support you will follow you.there is a time for everything under the sun. not even Jesus had the full support of the world who do you think you are? time…
PM Skerrit we need a hospital in the area. Please fix and expand the one in Marigot. This is not only for the people of Marigot but for the whole island.. Treat Marigot people as you treat the rest of the islanders.
This prime minister insults and ridicules citizen at the same time. If you read between the lines you will see that he bashes the Marigot people in a subtle manner. The issue is the urgent need for hospital as soon as yesterday.
Dominicans diasporsa we need your hands to kill this wicked evil one man government out from the backs of we the suffering people in the next general election. HIS REVERSE PSYCHOLOGY MUST CATCH UP WITH HIM ONE DAY. ….what he is saying is that if a labour person is not representing marigot, there will be no hospital……..Dominicans diaspora start rallying u all support for the country of u all birth to d=save Dominica. We down here are crying our hearts out.
Wow DNO really?????? Then say you all not partisan…. I am going to personally screen shot this and ensure that the PM gets this….. You telling me of all things this did not deserve censoring?????
Listen to this lackey ‘NabesandI’ talking about running to tell his daddy someone said something he doesnt like. I’m sure you will get a pat on the head to make you happy.
Grow some balls you sad person – wake up and smell the coffee!!
This whole article is about the lack of facilities and instructure at a crucial location that would benefit the welfare and safety of residents and visitors alike. It is about the poor utilisation and distribution of resources as is the result of the very same partizan politics that you are subscribing to foster its continuance. You ignore the very real facts but want to carry tales.
Substitute Skerritt for a slavemaster then take a look at yourself in the mirror – you will still be the same. Nuff said
English is one of the things that’s very difficult to understand in DA at the moment, it was your PM and Speaker of the House who said Marigot people are smart.. so a you jealous of that fact.
“We believe, and I personally believe, as I articulated in public domains before, that Marigot has some of the brightest people in the country, resourceful. I think they need good leadership to harness those resources to the benefit of the people.”
WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE ISSUE….ONE THING I KNOW IS THAT YOU CANNOT PLAY IN THE MINDS OF THE PEOPLE OF MARIGOT….WE ARE WAY AHEAD OF YOU SKERRIT.
THIS HOSPITAL ISSUE IS BEING TAKEN FOR A JOKE BUT JUST RECENTLY SOMEONE GOT SICK ON A PLANE AND HAD TO BE TAKEN TO WESLEY HEALTH CENTER. WHAT A SHAME!!!
THE SITUATION MAY BE WORST NEXT TIME?
In any event you do not present yourself as one of those smart and resourceful people, if you crap which follows my comment would not be written in all capital letters:
Children do not even write that way, only uneducated people who believe they are emphasizing a point, and trying to attract people’s attention screw up themselves like that!
WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE ISSUE….ONE THING I KNOW IS THAT YOU CANNOT PLAY IN THE MINDS OF THE PEOPLE OF MARIGOT….WE ARE WAY AHEAD OF YOU SKERRIT.
THIS HOSPITAL ISSUE IS BEING TAKEN FOR A JOKE BUT JUST RECENTLY SOMEONE GOT SICK ON A PLANE AND HAD TO BE TAKEN TO WESLEY HEALTH CENTER. WHAT A SHAME!!!
THE SITUATION MAY BE WORST NEXT TIME?
That is nonsense, simple as it is!
How much does DNO pay you to critique people’s articles?
I do not give a damn about, “What some people have tried to do is to give the impression, which completely false, that this government does not like Marigot people, we do not like people from up there, this is just total nonsense,” he stated. “We believe, and I personally believe, as I articulated in public domains before, that Marigot has some of the brightest people in the country, resourceful. I think they need good leadership to harness those resources to the benefit of the people.”
How can you have an airport between the mountains and the sea and allow the only medical hospital facility in close proximity to fall apart and then come and divert attention from the issue by talking such nonsense? Mr PM you are no leader. You lack effective leadership qualities and by the time you are gone from office, Dominica will suffer for the nearly two decades of wasted rule by this Labour Party administration!
Truth Be Told; Face The Facts, Tell The Truth, Kid On Block, you can run but you cannot rum.
You are so dumb you do not have the capacity to even fool a one day old bay, because from day one a baby recognizes its mother. You cannot even fool a dog never mind yourself.
Skerrit hate the people of Marigot, Wesley Woodford Hill, and Salisbury as much as the devil like you hate holy water!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
You need to drink some of that Roman Catholic dirty water you all call holy water, see if it could heal you from ignorance, and your dumbness! You are the most ignorant human alive!
Skerrit the question is, how after 15 years of Labour Rule, the Marigot District Hospital has to be shut down for neglect?..
Nothing to do with Marigot People being bright or whether they need leadership. With leadership like yours you will continue to be rejected by the Marigot people. Your leadership if you must know, is not envious to bright people, in fact it’s contemptuous. Too much buffering from you..be a straight talker and speak the truth..
The Fire station in Portsmouth is another eyesore and shame It’s now without a roof..right under Ian Douglas nose..Dominicans must fraid allu gasson!!
The poor and uneducated will always fear losing their only benefactordespite him kicking them in the teeth. Skerritt and his party clearly know this and so do their foreign backers. I even think the decisions to build the hospital extension had more influence from outside Dominica than within.
Skerritt is displaying all the negative symptoms of corrupt african leadership – exploiting his people while keeping them in ignorance, at the same time selling their heritiage to foreigners. No loan is free, no aid is free and what price will future Dominicans have to pay for these so called gifts. It wont matter to him because he will be long gone from office with full pockets when the hits the fan.
History often repeats itself and this regime is following an all too familiar pattern.
Actions speak louder than words, every budget year, less and less money is budgeted to the facility, 16/17 budget no mention of the facility
when you see skerrit day reach please bring him in the stadium at 12 midday and stone him…..no jail time his puppets will ensure he is well taken care of in the jail.
Jeez man, Skerrit I’m tired of listening to your claptrap. Now you putting your own acolite Dr. Cristmas in an embarrassing situation, serves him right for following you like a lapdog. You are just full of BS that you believe yourself.
If ytu had really wanted to you could have put a hospital in Marigot before now, or at least stop the one that was there from falling to pieces. You did neither and that is the cold fact.
You hear lies and more lies…
As the old adage goes “FOOLS LAUGH AT THEIR OWN CALAMITY”, so who is the biggest joker in the pack – this inept PM.
hmm, that’s why dominica continues to be the laughing stock of the caribbean, the poorest and slowest economy in the eastern caribbean block..
he is PM for over a decade and a health facility reaches the bottom, what kinda of leadership and management does this joker have….
dominica is a waste of time, getting nowhere at all….as their fools continue to praise ignorance,,,,,,,,and it’s …. factual the Prime Minister has hate towards Marigot ppl
marigot will continue to be alive and kick that foolish thing labour away from representing the village….to hell with labour…
Please focus on this quote for a minute and tell me this is not about wanting to dictate who should eat bread and who will get from this government. “What some people have tried to do is to give the impression, which completely false, that this government does not like Marigot people, we do not like people from up there, this is just total nonsense,” he stated. “We believe, and I personally believe, as I articulated in public domains before, that Marigot has some of the brightest people in the country, resourceful. I think they need good leadership to harness those resources to the benefit of the people.” For all our intelligence in Dominica this man has to be flunking the basic comprehension exam that others know is not needed to understand what is gong on here. I mean if health care restoration does not come high on ones priority list and they can skirt the issue of public safety and health this is a pathetic case and neglect. God is watching and we cannot hide our hate from him.
So in effect you are saying despite Marigot people being bright and resourceful you cannot work with them or better yet initiate moves to benefit them. So are you referring to being bright/ sorry my bad stupid enough to allow you to decide a labour person needs to be elected in that area to show their brilliance/ sorry again their stupidity? Well, your attempt of reverse psychology is not working at these people are so bright that they would like you to wear a ray ban shades to see the beautiful picture you have painted all over yourself. Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto Jesus. Keep playing while Jesus is taking notes.
Proverbs 15:3 said the eyes of The Lord are in every place beholding the EVIL and the GOOD,
so don’t be fulled by what mister man is saying, those are just bubble belchers