Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, is hoping that recent disturbances in the community of Salisbury is put behind and the focus be placed on more important things.
He believes the grievances of farmers in the area are being addressed and there should be a return to business as usual.
“My hope really is that all concerned can settle down and return to normalcy,” he said. “Actions were taken, concerns were raised, my hope is that we can put this behind us and focus on more important things. I am certainly focusing on more important things, going forward.”
On May 11 and June 11, Salisbury was engulfed in disturbances as the police and residents face off. The first action was in protest of poor farm road conditions in the area. It was eventually broken up by the police. The second protest took place after the police swooped into the community and arrested six residents on allegations that they were part of the first protest.
Both actions have been described as “riotous” by the police.
Skerrit said the people in the community had made known their problem and the government has started improving the roads.
“The people indicated the problem which they had and why the protested and the protest turned to a riot is over the road,” he noted. “The government has started the improvement to the road…:
He revealed that earlier this week, as Minister of Finance, he had approved contracts for paving difficult sections of road in the heights of Salisbury and Carholm to the tune of over $515,000.
“So the view is if the poor condition of the road was the cause of the action, that has been addressed so let us move back to our normal lives,” the Prime Minister noted. “My hope is that the people there can take advantage of the investment which the government is making there to improve the roads and improve the way of lives of the farmers.”
A meeting to discuss the way forward in the community is being held today (Friday) at the office of the Bishop of the Diocese of Roseau, His Lordship Gabriel Malzaire. Among those expected to be in attendance are the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Lennox Linton, MP for Salisbury, Hector John, among others.
I believe that the days of normalcy have been and gone in Dominica and I am afraid that we will not see them again until this government has been removed. I will not elaborate any further, suffice to say though that I am absolutely astonished by the number of ‘faithful’ DLP supporters that still remain. Ultimately the country will have to apportion a significant share of blame on these people at the base. Skerrit would not have gotten as far as he did without their continuous support in exchange for material things. Only time will tell.
Good idea but normalcy comes with Justice, peace and love. There is no peace without Justice. Those who have ears listen.
Why does it have to come to that before we as a people get the required attention needed? A stitch in time saves nine.
“Bishop of the Diocese of Roseau, His Lordship Gabriel Malzaire.”
What the crap lordship is Skerrit talking about, Malzaire should not be playing politics in Dominica, this is a first any place on earth; nobody in Salisbury should sit in an audience with a tool of Satan. Normalcy is not difficult to attain, all the dictator has to do is simply respect the rights of the people of the village. The homes of people were shot-up, expired tear gas was used on the people!
Has anyone apologized? Nevertheless, Austrie compounded his vicious act, by saying people could be killed. Didn’t he realize that prior to executing his orders to shoot to kill?
If I was in the opposition I would refuse to get involve with a man we know who was bought by Skerrit, he sold his body, mind, and soul for five hundred thousand dollars. I wish I could deport his behind from Dominica. What will Malzaire say in the interest of the people?
Thank you Prime minister. .. positive message.. Praise God… Help is coming to us Salisbury people..
Normalcy in this country of Dominica mean Roosevelt Skerritt needs to step down as Prime Minister.
It is the only way the poor Dominicans can have normal life of no suffering.
What kind of leader and Police Chief bombs a community with expired Tear Gas and bullets, for begging for years repairs to the roads leading to their work places, their farms?
Skerritt and his DLP Gov’t refused to listen to Salisbury farmers all those Years. In fact, Gov’t has really, literally, blocked the community’s feeder roads, through neglect, making it difficult for agricultural workers/farmers to access the farms.
Gov’t has caused residents to be poorer over those years. Their income has been severely reduced. Their standard of living has declined considerably.
Racketeering with our visas. Imagine some Haitians in collaboration with a few greedy, selfish Dominicans making more money than many farmers put together? Human trafficking,, visa scams. No investigation, much less for arrests or charges to the culprits. Why? We know. “Big Boys’ in that.
But Salisbury villagers could face such irresponsible attacks for their rights? Passport vendors, no…
There is a current hit song which goes like: Is not what I want ,is what’s good for you.lol
Okay Skerro time is approaching it’s about that time.
Just a set of baseless ignorant comments I’m reading here. Salisbury people are not above the law. They got to pay for their crime. Normalcy or not. UWP has too many advisers and none don’t worth their ar** to their elbow. All they do is go on DNO and Q95 and preach lies and violence. They talking about demonstration at the UN, Think the UN have time for radicals when the UN already know that those people are desperate for power and are planning to over throw the Government by a coup. Man like Angelo should be a shame of himself and reflect of his days as a police officer how worthless, undisciplined and wicked he was. All now is his sins that are haunting him. Now he on radio talking about who is good and who is bad. Shame on you Angelo! Come back to NY nuh!
@Kid On the Block.
Your asinine and bovine harangue,shows that you want another war in Salisbury.
Well go there and start it.Tell them that you are Cabon.This time they surely will BLOCK YOUR BIG MOUTH, instead of the road.
Facts you can use any fictitious name you wish, you can even impersonate Elizabeth, you will still get a pile of thumbs down. You are a real earth worm, that is why you are all over the place using different names.
A Leopard cannot change its color, nether can some people change their rhetoric!
The Prime Minister is now addressed as His Holiness, Christ like, my God have mercy on us in Dominica, forgive our ignorance.
I will continue to pray that Wisdom prevail among all my people.
Laboroflove you are a darn fool. Do not waste de people time and space with your garbage.
Oh protest outside of UN taking on prominence….the ICC matter is serious now and it is let’s go back to normal? Well you will fix di roads and still answer for your crimes against the Salisbury ppl. Back to normal then.
Now you want normalcy?
After you fan de fire and stir de pot now you want normalcy? Bwavo!
The Prime Minister wants normalcy, isn’t that to late. Where was Skeritt when the people of Salisbury were begging for either he or his Ministers to come down to Salisbury of May 11th. If Skeritt wants normalcy at Salisbury, he has to declare that anyone in Salisbury that was affected by the expired tear gas, will be the Government’s responsibility for their medical bills. The Government should also compensate the farmers of Salisbury for all the money they lost because of the bad roads which hindered their farming for the last ten years.
Yes moving forward… FINALLY!
I’m sure the people of Salisbury, and most of the rest of the country want normalcy too Roosevelt. Come off your high horse and go and talk to them, is that so hard to do? They are part of the country that you represent too, even if they did not vote for you. Be magnanimous, it will stand you in good stead.
A demonstration, police response, live rounds of ammo, citizens labeled rioters, meeting with Bishop, but not important. Well I agree. It is not selling passports and having good time in morocco, Malaysia, or China. Complaints from citizens especially if they did not vote for you is not that important. Let’s move on, except five charges will continue. Just a bit of advice. The PM needs to get a professional press personnel that will help him with answering public and making comments. He is constantly displaying how dumb, unprofessional, and out if touch he is. Maybe that’s how Dominican like it. How can we compete on a global stage when this is the quality of our leader?
Our humble and compassionate Supreme Leader is so Christ-like in his nature. Despite the violent attempt by the Uneducated Wicked People and their close-minded followers to overthrow his Government, His Holiness, the ordained and highly esteemed Knight of the blessed and most holy Roman Catholic Church, the right and honourable, Prime Minister Dr. Roosevelt M. Skerrit extends an olive branch (once again) and seeks peace when he has the power to crush these insubordinate, violent and insolent enemies of the State. His Holiness, Dr. Roosevelt Skerrit has allocated significant funds to better the lives of the Salisbury People. Will they now be grateful and support the most progressive Government/party? Or, will they continue to follow some power-hungry individuals who crave power by ANY means? Mostly all Dominicans know and realize that the blessed and most precious Dominica Labour Party will remain in power well into the next two decades. Join the movement now!
Humble? ?? Compassionate ??? Christ like??? Bram bram!! Many sounds like they took a bit from the cake. To many hand outs has blind the ppl, it’s fully brown but they see white. .
BUT GOD,,, ,,, BUT GOD, will deliver us!! .. evil and injustice will not , cannot and will NEVER Last forever..
For the few faithful our creator will put a Hand,, SOON..
We are praying for our Island,,,
Do not accept a bribe , for a bribe blind those who see and twist the word of the innocent. . Proverbs 17. 8
I love the Salisbury people…Protest for your rights! Thats how we get things done in Dominica. Country of corrupt leaders!
Oh the lack of diplomacy,and arrogance by this primr minister.He says “I am focussing on more important things going forward” clearly shows his dismissive attitude, and disdain for the residents of Salisbury. Sir,you are prime minister of the whole of Dominica, and you better act like it.Respect all citizens, and respect the office that you occupy.
When you call for all parties to move forward,I am taking that to include the police.Mr Bruno,has given you a good blue print for moving forward, be humble and borrow some of his ideas for the sake of healing,for Dominica’s sake