Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has announced that damages caused by the passing of Tropical storm Erika now stands at EC$1.298-billion.
Giving an update to the nation just over one month since the storm he said the amount was given in a draft assessment report which was undertaken by a team led by the World Bank which included agencies such as the Caribbean Development Bank, the Caribbean Disaster Management Agency, UNDP, PAHO, FAO, World Food Program, the OECS Commission and the University of the West Indies,
“The draft report estimates that damages, losses and cost to rebuild infrastructure at $EC1.298 billion or US$482.84-million,” he stated.
He noted that the IMF began a mission on September 25, and during that mission the economic framework will be reviewed and updated.
“The mission will assist government in preparing a framework that will take into account the significant level of investment that government must meet and establish a plan that will guide fiscal operations,” he pointed out.
Skerrit noted that in terms of direct relief and assistance, government has recorded cash receipts of $13.02-million.
“This include $5.69-million in at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and $7.3-million at the National Bank of Dominica,” he noted. “The balance at the National Bank of Dominica includes the sum of $6.6-million which was received as payout from a catastrophe risk insurance fund.”
The Prime Minister also indicated that after the storm government revenues have taken a nose dive while expenditures are on the rise.
“Just to give you an example of the impact of this disaster,” he explained. “VAT revenues for the month of August were $10.3-million. For September VAT revenues originally projected for $11.2-million, stood today two days before the end of the month at $4.2-million. A shortfall in excess of $7-million. And that scenario is replicated across government’s revenue stream.”
Despite the bleak picture, the Prime Minister said he confident that recovery efforts will intensify in the coming weeks.
“I am hopeful that our international relief effort will intensify and continue to bear fruit,” he remarked. “Dominica needs $1.2-billion to rebuild. We cannot generate such funds on our own. We need the continued support of the international community..”
He stated that he will soon embark on “a hectic overseas travel and speaking itinerary to drum up support for that effort.”
Folks do not worry THE BARONESS getting that EC$1,29 Billion for Dominica just like that.
A man with no love and pride for his country, is voted in twice by a people who have no love and pride for their country. Shame on both.
One of the reasons why Japan is so properous is that there have been five P.Ms in the last 7 years. Leadership there is very quick to take up responsibilty , but when ever there is failure they are even faster to step aside and let a next person take over.
When you have a mentality that is only One Man that can do the job (like Mogabe and many others in Africa) there bound to be under-development. Even other islands are laughing at our progress in Da after 30 years.
Dominica does not need politicians right now, we need economists and engineers, to revive our faultering state of financial affiars.
Go to the U.S with the kids , I will stay in Da to fool the people in the mean time!
Please Heavenly Father, let Dominica stay away from the IMF!!!
I may not always like the way Skerrit conduct business but one great attribute about him is his charisma and authenticity as a leader. He can convince a few rich people to help out Dominica. The amount is not so high and he can get that money without going to the IMF. Ask Trinidad, Russia, Saudia Arabia(one of the princes; Alaweeed bin Talal is looking to give away some of his fortune). The IMF is too troublesome and their reconstructing plans are impractical and expensive for the average citizen.
ALIE, why do we want Russia help don’t u know Russians do not like blacks
Any first form secondary school child would know that $1.29billion when rounded is $1.3 billion, yet our prime minister who used to be a teacher is saying It’s $1.2 billion. People we know the track record of this man and his administration in the management of the Dominican economy,so we have to hold him to account. He likes fuzzy maths no wonder he prefers the red clinic out of his office,rather than going the traditional route through the welfare department as was done in the past by all previous governments. He is yet to announce how he is going to reduce expenditure in these trying times,to impress on donor governments and organizations that prudent fiscal management is at work. His announcement that “he” will be going to seek assistance for the country is short sighted. Instead it should be a team of competent persons headed by him.Mr Skerritt has drunk the cool aid that if not him then who,other wise he would seek inclusion to get the most aid for Dominica.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
I told you all long ago the man is a Mountain Chicken Crapo Mentality kind of individual! Anybody can be a school teacher in Dominica you know, all you need is a cousin or someone in the ministry of education who knows you or your family, and “that’s all she wrote” oui!
There is a little twelve year old teacher writing on DNO you know: Ah know her name but I doh calling it eh, I know but I doh talking!
He taught English and studied psychology. Have you not listened to the kind of English that comes from his mouth. How in anyone’s right mind expect PM to have any comand of maths and finance or understand economics. I will give him his credit for using psychology on majority Dominica to stay in power. What can I say. It worked. You have desperate uneducated people any manipulator can fool them. He surrounds himself with idiots and selfish folks who have compromised thier integrity and dare not speak out. Go ask the former Park Rep for Paid bouche. See who have chldren getting scholarships. Check who have kis in charge in ministry and petro carib. Check out who in charge of police, and other ministry. This place cannot go forward with business as usual.
“The draft report estimates that damages, losses and cost to rebuild infrastructure at $EC1.298 billion or US$482.84.
The wind was still blowing over Dominica, when someone reference hurricane Katrina which wreak havoc in Louisiana, taking the life’s of hundreds of people, and causing several billions of dollars in damages. The pompous foolish Dominican argued that the people in Louisiana were on roof tops begging for help; and noted that Dominicans’ was doing and surviving on our own.
We know that there are single individuals in the world (in America) who has billions of dollars in their bank account; US$482.84 millions are peanut change to some people. I find it strange that with all of Dominica’s wealth, and Skerrit boasting of much better off we are than the rest; comparing Dominica to America, we do not have four hundred eighty-two plus million in Dominica’s treasury. Why?
That is another subject to debate!
FRANCISCO ,when i was a boy people use to say marigot people were stupid man you have just proved it .
Here you go again, another fake ID,The real facts, Kid on the Block, and the other id, you are really a boomboo fly idiot keep on flying for your supper, and don’t bother me, also you need to go find yourself some kaka to eat
Fly rat, dog, whoever you are, I am not from Marigot, I am from the village of Wesley, and very proud of that because there’s where I began! You call me a fool, but you are so stupid you are acting like an old goat from the fifties who enjoyed talking about people from Marigot.
Don’t you know that the more academically educated people in Dominica are from the villages of Marigot and Wesley; why don’t you hang yourself?
Before you run your sick dirty mouth, off point out what you found in my comments which gives you the idea that I am stupid! Take a look at yourself, and the foolishness you write, compare them, and decide if you should not hang yourself, because of how dumb and stupid you are.
Guy you are straight out of a comic book! I am sure you did not finish elementary school, I can put a crook on your back and ride you around in circles you would have the commonsense to try and throw me off you crooked back!
When I was a boy, I had a dog name Rex, I would twist its tail to one side, the dog would see it tail, and keep going around in circles, trying to catch its tail. You are like Rex, you go in circles attacking people.
You attack Victoria, you attack me, so we will be reading where you believe you are a bird, and flew off a mountain, or cliff somewhere in Dominica!
Every fool usually self destruct!
DNO I find it very strange that up to this day you have said nothing about the arrest of NG Lap Seng, especially when it is public knowledge that he was a good friend of former US President, Bill Clinton and current Prime Minister of Dominica, Hon Roosevelt Skerrit. Is this not news worthy locally, regionally and internationally?
Please open the links of the following very reliable news agencies so you could rightly inform your many readers that are depending on DNO for news: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/judge-revokes-bail-chinese-billionaires-chief-assistant-34137813
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/28/usa-crime-macau-idUSL1N11V1TG20150928
http://nypost.com/2015/09/22/chinese-businessman-arrested-for-smuggling-4-5m-cash-into-us/
http://www.newsday.com/news/new-york/ng-lap-seng-chinese-billionaire-charged-with-lying-about-cash-brought-into-u-s-prosecutors-say-1.10883021
There is a time and a place for derogatory comments and political posturing. IT IS NOT NOW!
Volney you are too hypocrite , you need to say the same to Tony Astaphan and the others on the ANIMAL SHOW, Tony enjoying his life wherever he is, yet he attacking poor Black Dominican left rignt and centre, Volney you are turning a deft ears to all the derogatory and verbal diarrhea coming from Tony Astaphan, you Volney need to clean your dirty ears and your backyard before asking others to clean theirs Volney what good foe the goose is also good for the gander
FRANCISCO ,when i was a boy people use to say marigot people were stupid man you have just proved it .
VICTORIA i can see where you coming from your lots are the nastiest of the lot there are no words to discribe you all ,mr.Tony Astaphan have never attack poor Dominican you are a lier .
Volney has two (2) tongues inside his mouth. So don’t expect any better.
cyril you must get a medal nov 3. you are part of the corruption in da
What if Mr Lennox Linton was the Prime Minister at this time? Just thinking.
He would be doing a much better job of managing the affairs of the country. It is becoming increasingly clear that Dominicans made a huge mistake last December.
He stated that he will soon embark on “a hectic overseas travel and speaking itinerary to drum up support for that effort.”
But Mr. PM if you make New York your first stop of this very hectic speaking engagement, it might be very well be a good starting point you know, because according to the New York Post, the FBI had the photo of a briefcase that had $4.5 million dollars, that was alleged to smuggled into the US Look here:http://nypost.com/2015/09/22/chinese-businessman-arrested-for-smuggling-4-5m-cash-into-us/
I suggest you first speak to president OBama or the FBI to see if Dominica cannot get all these monies. In fact you good friend NG Lap Seng, may have already told them some good things about you. So please make it your first stop. Bring Tony and Alick with you so they could convince OBama and FBI that Dominica needs the money. Also bring those many spiritual advisors of yours so they could pray and tell Obama about how you have been the best PM in Dominica.
“He stated that he will soon embark on “a hectic overseas travel and speaking itinerary to drum up support for that effort.”
To where may I humbly ask will Skerrit go?
Any assistance the world intended to give to Dominica, they have already given that assistance. If under normal circumstances he selected what he thought were the best educated minds in the country, and flew them around the Asian, nations talking about he is looking for investors; he returned unsuccessful, that is an indication nobody is paying any attention to Skerrit!
We all remember days prior to the election he ran out of the country, he said he was going to China to get help to build International Airport; did he get any help?
Food for taught!
We should start by asking all private citizens who received duty free cars in the past 5 years just for being a supporter of this gov’t, to pay the duty due. We are talking millions and millions of dollars lost by the treasury because we allowed one man to make those sick decisions. Why should some of us pay duty on vehicles and others who are not entitled by Dominica law be allowed to escape those taxes?
As I said last December, Dominicans will take what they get. They see all the wrong going on in the country and they choose to remain silent. So while the poor man is going the feel the squeeze, those who have been exploiting the country still have their loot to enjoy.
My Dearly beloved PM, I have no doubt that together we shall build back Dominica! The manner in which you have led after the storm is exceptional. You have not only taken swift action as a great leader but as a humble citizen as well. You have proven to the Nation that you genuinely care about people, and for that my support has been solidified. Though, the task seems extremely difficult, with you at the helm and the support of many, we shall prevail. I want to encourage you to remain focused on rebuilding the Country and alleviating the sufferings of the people. The critics are out to destroy you, however, you have been tested many times, only to be victorious. Remain steadfast, you are in my prayers daily. I am proud of your achievements thus far, and will continue to give you my unwavering support! Keep the faith PM!
“The Prime Minister indicated after the storm that government revenue have taken nosedive while expenditure continues to rise”. Firstly, the governments biggest expenditure is its huge wage bill, which accomodates the largest cabinet, advisors and hangers on in the world, so if you want you expenditure to go down, get rid of Ambrose, Athenia, Mano ect, and cut the size of your cabinet in half. Secondly, if you want to increase your revenue then put the country to work by creating an environment for business/investment , how do you plan to raise revenue if the country is shut down? Not even a relief concert can take place in Dominica, its time for revolution in Dominica!!
He stated that he will soon embark on “a hectic overseas travel and speaking itinerary to drum up support for that effort.”
Yea Mr. Skerrit, Thanks for informing us this time that you will be on a hectic overseas to speak. You are right this time because you might have a very hectic overseas trip, and lot of speaking to do overseas.
Since you did not tell us who you will be speaking to I guess we can speculate. So, are you expected to speak with Obama? Or the FBI in NY? Will you be meeting and speaking with your god buddy and friend of Dominica, NG Lap Seng? I wish you all the best sir.
Since your overseas trip will be hectic, you might also need to take SC Tony and Alick with you because they will be very helpful at this time, so they could help you speak as well. Also, I strongly suggest that you bring your spiritual advisor with you so he could keep nonstop prayer meetings on your behalf, so the hearts of donor groups and countries will be moved with compassion toward us?
Lord I rise this morning to declare that you are The Dependable, Reliable and Faithful God and so I place Dominica in your capable hands. Your word declares that “Except the Lord builds a house, they labor in vain that builds it”. Money, water, food, clothes, bridges, concrete, etc are all but temporary bandages that will give pleasure to the eyes and a feel good moment but brings no pleasure to you. God what you are asking for today is the HEARTS of the people of Dominica so that you can do a complete healing of the nation. I stand in the gap and plead on behalf of all of the islanders, that Dominica not be turned over to Satan but there will be genuine repentance from the leaders in the palace to the beggars on the streets. I stand in the gap created by greed, envy, malice, hatred, deceit, division, sexual immorality, lasciviousness, child molestation, sorcery, witchcraft, idol worshiper, lack of concern for the poor. murder, jealousy and all manner of unrighteousness.
Lord I ask for mercy and grace for Dominica today. Lord allow your perfect will to be done – You do the clean up, You do the repairing, You do the mending., You do the restructuring Jesus. Out of this storm Lord Jesus, cause a “New Dominica” to arise where you are the priority of all of the inhabitants, where praise and honor to you is heard in every village, every city, every parish, from Diablotin to Cashacou. Jesus let Dominica become an Island that is set on a hill, lit up with your glory where your “SON JESUS” shines ever so brightly. Let the sounds of Hallelujah be heard in Martinique, Guadeloupe, and the Saints. God other nations will come because your Glory will draw them to Dominica. Not only will we boast of Sulphur Springs but we will boast of the Springs of Living Waters, not only will we boast of being the “Nature Island of the Caribbean” but we will boast of being “The Lighthouse of the Caribbean.” This I pray today in the Name of Jesus my Lord and Savior…
I’m curious to know how the Prime Minister will explain to these very shrewd international financiers why he would cancel the only large foreign income-generating activity this year, after seeing how VAT plummeted. It doesn’t take an economist to see all the free barrels, etc. coming in the country duty-free, not to mention Roseau closed for many days, would have caused a significant dent in VAT collections.
The PM has a plan, a very dangerous one for many Dominicans. He knew the economy was tanking, and is hoping to place the blame on this storm so that debt restructuring and all the pain that comes with it, won’t be seen as his fault.
A leader who cares about his people would have placed a rallying call out to the region to support the WCMF to make it the most successful ever to help our rebuilding efforts! A tyrant who is more beholden to international “friends” that his own people could care less about stimulating the local economy! Actions speak louder than words!
first of all you need lots and lots of $$$ to stage such an event, they have to spend the $ elsewhere where it needed. The Creole festival is an investment, you put $ in you get money out. The ticket sales are only a small portion of the income that is generated by the Festival… you have hotels, shops, buses, and other business who benefit from it. as well as the taxation aspect which goes to the treasury, the increase in flights would fill LIAT pockets and the airport will also get their share. the fact that Dominica looks very bad aesthetically right now and the roads are a disaster, some people are desolate, most bridges are damaged… that is not the environment you should to bring thousands of new people into. there are security and health concerns, food etc… Before you criticize which is what fools and ignorant people like to do because they are doing and offering nothing… try to use your brain to see with your minds eye so you can gain understanding.
I am happy that he disclosed the total sums for relief received. That is all I was asking and all the hot heads who do not know one thing about the basic tenets of democracy were jumping on me.
Anyway, right now we heard the amount needed to rebuild, let’s join hearts and hands to rebuild our country together with the government.
Now you have that information… what? If he said they have 6 million total… what? If he say they have 50 million total… what?
If a man tell you how much money he has and you don’t understand the amount of bills he has… its pointless.
UDOHREADYET
Don’t worry. I don’t need to understand the bills at this juncture. I just wanted to know how much we received and we can take it from here. The onus is on the government to provide this public information to the citizenry. Don’t get your undies all bunched up for nothing. He disclosed as I requested, so I am happy.
UDOHREADYET what the Fxxk more do you want
Mr. PM God is good and I believe he will help us back to our feet. You, Mr. Prime Minister and the Government are doing a very good job. I have complete confidence in you. I join you and others in thanking all those who have come to the assistance of Dominica and her people.
You are indeed one of the very best Leaders we have seen; one who works for the people and the country. It is so much easier for the critics who sit behind a computer or radio to criticize when they have nothing to offer.
You just have to look at those who always criticize and try to put your finger on what you have seen them done for Dominica. Many wanted to walk up the stairs of the Financial Center and say I am in charge. It seems a little more difficult now because they would have to work and not just walk in and hang their hats. God has made sure to put the brakes on. Erika is a hard lesson for all of us to learn and live with, but a big lesson nevertheless; I hope we are all learning.
I think DNO should clarify what they mean when they say damage and losses.
A few weeks ago , I posted a comment about who is doing the accounting for all the money received in cash or kind by the government. Also i needed to know how much debt the government was in.
How was civil servants going to be paid after the storm.
Now that government revenue are going to be lower and lower each month.
My comments was not allowed By DNO.
DOMINICANS NEED TO LEARN HOW TO READ BETWEEN THE LINES!
“preparing a framework that will take into account the significant level of investment that government must meet and establish a plan that will guide fiscal operations,” he pointed out.”
Skerrit is simply telling allu “BRACE ALLU SELF FOR AN INCREASE IN VAT”
TAXES GONNA GO UP!!!!!! As that early 90’s song went “EVERYTHING GONE UP IN THE GULF CRISIS”
Dominicans going to start to cry “EVERYTHING GONE UP IN THE DOMINICA CRISIS”
MARK MY WORDS…….START IT START!!!!!!!!
You may get a little, you may get a lot. Either way, what’s the plan and how do you intend to sell it to international agencies and donor countries?
On the plus side. We can sell more passports. Is either that or more taxes eeh.
Labour all the way. No vision. 
i have absolutely no trust in this guy .
Only in the December of 2014 you spent $32 million dollars over a one month election campaign. Way to go best prime minister Dominica has ever had.
E.C.$1.29 billion is a lot of money but everything is relative. It is still less than half the amount the U.S.A. spent on the development costs of their new secret long-range-stealth bomber (LSRB-B) in the past year alone. I am confident that somehow the means will be found to rebuild Dominica and this is an opportunity to do it better. Help will come but not necessarily in the form of cash alone and that will be a good thing too. Let the expert come and physically put new structures, infrastructure and systems in place. Ready cash sometimes flows to easily through inept and greedy fingers.
of course VAT is down… people stop buying as it all coming ‘free’ in a barrel! Help the people that want to work and produce for our country e.g the farmers, the fishermen they are the areas that can rebuild the country and keep the economy ticking. but without access to their land they are funked
With that kind of repair bill I sure hope Domlec will not threaten the Gov’t to lower their taxes other wise they will increase electricity rates on the same ravaged people. Oh, I’m so sorry……rewind….. Domlec already has done just that!
Skerrit should resign: It is a shame that we have such incompetence leading our country in times like this .
What stupidity on the part of this writer at a time like this.
I am not uwp and second that notion, we need serious people, he claiming we have recorded receipts of $13.02-million, but what about all the relief money that came in, how can u lie at a time like this? People homeless, some lose everything, and u lying, OMG man.
Govt revenues will take a nose dive, business was bad before the storm now worse after the storm u cancelled WCMF
Hey, people don’t just resign just because we say so! Pressure has to be continuously applied on de 4cars for them to quit and go into Exile. We don’t merely want them to resign and hang around – But they aught to leave the Country. This will send a very strong message to any future PM who wants to take us for a ride.
The PM goes on a global begging trip – his default modus operandi – showing Dominicans what the ‘next level’ really means; don’t work, just expect others to give to you.
Instead of jumping up and down with excitement at the large number the World Bank has just quoted you, why not think of innovative ways of working that will bring that number down, make Dominica less reliant on others, more self-sufficient and resilient, and put an end to this incessant begging ? What happened to pride and self-worth ?
I don’t understand that. He appointed his close friend Baroness Scotland to do that job. I certainly have not heard anything bout the results she obtained so is the P.M. going to that job himself now? And who is going to hold the reigns of government when he is away? I hope potential donors do not interpret that wrongly and expect the P.M. to roll up his sleeves at home instead of running away from the problems at hand to live a life of luxury, while our people scraping the bottom of the barrel right here.
As a Dominican , I am sad to read some of the nonsense that is coming out of some your asses ,where do you all get your information from can someone please tell me. Those people that is writing those negative stories please respond thank you,
@ Bruno : Why don’t you respond with corrections and better information? If you are seeking information, there is a better and humbler way in which to ask.
dont trust these men and women with access to all this money.
lets hope these dishonest , greedy men and women not use all this cash coming into the country to build hotels, trucking companies, mahogany houses, five six houses and so on… And in moving forward i would like to advise dominicans to avoid eating too much cow meat so that we remain healthy
I doe want to sound pessimistic buttttt WE FINISH…… government is goin to have a serious cash flow problem…..goin back to the imf is inevitable!!!! cuts to independence is just the begining… social care programs and public sector jobs will most definitely have to cut…boi…i not seeing a bright future… all i want to do is cry
My friend, you are just that..pessimistic
no actually she is being realistic
My friend its not pessimism its reality. If you drink rum everyday you you will die. If you are being promiscuous you will either get an STD or die. Its just the reality. When one is being objective they are crucified. This has been the philosophy of the DLP. Shoot down any voices in opposition. There are those who oppose for the sake of politics. But there are intelligent people who see the writing on the wall. Agriculture is dead, the health sector is struggling, Education is poorly managed. Handouts and red clinic is only going to patch holes not mend them. These people need a guaranteed future for them and their children. Time will tell.
grell where are u hoping to hear from u seeing u know so much
That’s y we shouldn’t be independent in the first place.
Don’t cry for ‘we the people’. You ignore our plea for help. We implore you to seek assistance from the one Country capable of providing the much needed assistance, the good ‘ole U.S.A.
Instead, you remain pigheaded and align yourself with Alba and all you got to show for it is a ‘Pre-Fab’ Shed.
Guess you can store the extra relief supply spilled over from what you and your supporters pilfered.
We are tuning you out……won’t listen to any more of this garbage!
Anansi, if you thought we saw misery under Erika, wait for the Restructuring storm.
On top of the debt that we already owe, Dominica is one of the most indebted nations in the Americas. If we thought we saw misery under Erika, wait for the Restructuring storm.
IMF? Wey Bon Doo…
Where are the people that gave you the million for election?
@too late 300 petrocasa houses @ $90000= $27,500,000. Come up with something better and stop living in the past. The response of Dominicans to the relief effort is pathetic, 13 million $$$$ after 30 days and that includes 6.5 million from an insurance claim for excess rain. Where is the diaspora? We need money so it is time for talking Dominicans to stop talking and put their money where their mouth is. I am qualified to speak as I have contributed financially to this amount of 13 000000 and will continue to contribute. The many Dominicans at home and abroad should commit to making monthly contributions to the relief fund.
doc, lass menti la. You contributed no 13 000000? Weh boy all you have jokes in DA. Too late has a point – it’s not diaspora who contributed $32Million last election but “friendly governments” wo lee yo?? Where are they?
Mr. Skerrit never ceases to amaze me. Less than a year ago, just prior to the election all kind of friendly governments were giving tons of money to Mr. Skerrit to do all kinds of everything. They gave him money to give the public servants raises, they gave him money to charter airplanes to bring overseas voters to vote, they gave him money to spend 30 million dollars in 31 days of campaigning. Now during the disaster when the friendly governments are needed to make those contributions it seems like they have all disappeared. Where is Morocco, China and Malaysia? It’s in these times we need the donations from all these friendly governments but it looks as if they are nowhere to be found.
Oh, by the way, before Mr. Skerrit embarks on his “SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS” to get some of the friendly governments who have not heard about the devastation of Dominica’s infrastructure by tropical storm Erica, he unveils the TABLETS form a friendly government in Grandbay tomorrow.
idk, but those numbers seem highly inflated to me, why not give us a break down and a detailed overview cost by cost to show us how exactly such a figure was calculated hmmm
I no longer support this government. However based on the level of damage I saw on the footage provided I thought that the cost would have been over one billion dollars.
“Dominica needs $1.2-billion to rebuild. We cannot generate such funds on our own. We need the continued support of the international community..”
I understand your misery , and though I worry about the welfare of our country, I have to remind you that you were boasting how Dominica is in such wealthy state, so much so, that you had twenty million dollars to lend to the government of Antigua, and Anguilla, and god Skerrit knows who else!
How come now you are talking about begging for help from international community when only last week you left out the world community when you were kissing Maduro Butt, talking about he was first, help Dominica. Two days ago you said ALBA is the future: Are your ALBA poor rats nations the international community you are babbling about now?
Has Baldwin Spencer repay you the twenty million, before he lost or is it in the new terminal at Coolidge, (V. C. Bird international) which cost hundreds of millions, of dollars, when Douglas-Charles is…
Has Baldwin Spencer repay you the twenty million, before he lost his last election, or is it in the new terminal at Coolidge, (V. C. Bird international) which cost hundreds of millions, of dollars, when Douglas-Charles is actually a money pit sunk under water?
I suppose Ralph Gonzalez and ALBA and dictator Maduro will save you and Dominica. I guaranty no government, such as the British, the American, Canadian French, German, not even Russia will come to your rescue.
……… any financial help they give to the island no be put to the appropriate use, the Chines told you to build an International Airport, you took Ralph Gonzalez advise and spent more than half of a billion dollars at Melville Hall Airport, which resulted in what you now have. The Chines do not like to deal with ….., you are a cooked turkey!
Trying being patriotic for a change !!!!!!
Please..Tell us how many dollars already poured to the government account keep us updated, I hope while the good generosity of people donates to the government, The price tag should reduce.
The Government was naive in asking persons to send barrels to Dominica. Instead, cash should have been sent to National Bank and the appropriate authorities would have ensured persons who were affected by the storm would receive the cash to purchase groceries, etc; pay their utility bills, purchase building materials etc. In that regard, the local merchants would be stocking up inventory and the the Government would continue to receive VAT and duty. This is simple commerce.
I hope we do not get another disaster; if we do, then we should learn how to manage in a more professional manner. It should not be disaster management; we should have tested plans.
Cancelling the World Creole Festival and Creole in the Park are mistakes. The Government will loose tax revenue, merchants, hotels and our people will be cash strapped. We could have used the sympathy card to get more people to Dominica to sepnd money. We need cash for the economy to grow. When there are no more barrels, what…
yes someone else speaking sense!
This address to the nation was motivated by fear. Mr. Skerrit sounded confused, fearful, disorganized, perplexed and bewildered. I could not understand a thing about what the man was trying to say. He really Skare-It.
Since we could not understand what he was trying to tell us, I now want to ask the Hon. Prime Minister the following questions:
1.Sir, you said today September 29, is one month after TS Erika destroyed Dominica. Sir, do you realize that the storm was actually on August 27 and not August 29?
2. Sir, since we are on the date TS Erika hit Dominica, can you please tell the people of Dominica the truth about where you were on August 25 and what documents you signed?
3. Sir it is common knowledge that NG Lap Seng is your buddy. Can you please tell us when was the last time you met with him?
4. Sir, The New York post and others are reporting that NG Lap Seng was arrested by the FBI5 days ago, for lying about $4.5 Million Dollars. Do you know about it? U 4got to…
Let the begging Begin!!!!! Since Alba is the backbone of our economy how much revenue have we lost. Please do not go down the road we have gone. As I said before the key to recovery is getting back to normal. The festival should have continued and used to bring people in. It would be a boost to our ports, hotels, restaurants, vendors etc. First we should ask for debt forgiveness and start fresh with meaningful investment in our people and economy. Instead of Chinese prisoners building roads with Chinese materials use local engineering, local materials etc. Put people to work let them get paid so they can spend. This is what runs an economy.
I am afraid given this man track record he is going to use this situation to go around begging for more funds to finance fly by night programs. Development is slow and steady and must be from within. There are three main bridges entering town. Two have been there for years. Erika came and the one damaged the most was newly built. Says alot….
Government must continue to function through the use of parliament to appropriate funding. I would like to see the experience of Dr. Fountain used. Let’s debate on issues so when something is voted on in parliament it represents the decisions of the people. That’s how we build nation together. Getting the best ideas from many not the worst from one. Be warned if Mr. Roosevelt goes back to his old ways Dominica will be doomed.
a hectic overseas travel and speaking itinerary to drum up support for that effort.” more expense to teh country, what happen to the coordinator that was appointed?