Officials from Dominica will meet their counterparts from across the region in Cuba from today (Monday) during an ALBA Summit to discuss preparations for the deadly Ebola Virus.
The Ebola summit was convened by the president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro.
Dominica News Online was reliably informed that Dominica’s delegation will be led by agriculture minister, Matthew Walter, who will be accompanied by National Epidemiologist, Dr. Paul Ricketts and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. David Johnson.
Prime minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, said on Friday that Cuba is one of the leading countries as far as health care is concerned and the island has a “vast reservoir of human resources.”
“So we will be relying on Cuba to guide us in our own preparations from an ALBA standpoint,” he said.
“It is important for us to continue the dialogue and engagement of all countries, because it is going to require a global effort. No one country or region can adequately deal with this,” he noted.
According to Skerrit the government of Dominica will make available $1-million for any eventuality or possibility of the disease coming to Dominica.
“I now have to take over $1-million, monies that we could use for housing and other things, to prepare ourselves for the Ebola Virus,” he said at the official launch of a resource center in Wesley on Friday. “And people don’t understand these things, sometimes you have money to do something but another urgent and critical issue comes up and you now have to take monies ear-marked for another project and divert it to another more critical situation.”
He stated the money is being diverted because “we understand the tremendous threat that the virus poses to the entire world.”
“And this is why we are making a firm financial commitment to providing the resources to prepare ourselves for any eventuality or possibility,” the prime minister said.
Meanwhile, United Workers Party (UWP) leader Lennox Linton has called for a regional integrated approach to Ebola.
“An integrated response by CARICOM and the OECS to the deadly Ebola disease is still the way to go,” Linton said.
Linton noted the tardiness in an integrated response by CARICOM and the OECS to the deadly Ebola disease, and called for speedy action.
“We are one Caribbean. The Caribbean is a small geographic space, with heavy inter-island travelling. The Caribbean will be as safe as its weakest member”, he said.
At least 4,500 people have already died from the Ebola Virus Disease since its outbreak in western parts of Africa.
My God! These days everybody so desperate for their per-diem things must be desperate.
is he the health minister?
Really? I mean Seriously Mr Skerrit?
The most incompetent minister to lead ebola delegation? Is this an indication of how serious you are about ebola?
If Mr Walter’s management of the black sigatoka crisis which has crippled our banana field is any indication of how he is going to handle ebola………..I say…..God help us!
Why you have to send the Minister of Agriculture to a meeting like this. Dr. Johnson and Dr. Ricketts are capable of doing this on their own without that extra baggage. Or perhaps you sent him along to keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t say the wrong things or talk to the wrong people?
Skirrit can start converting the rooms of that Official Residence into’ Isolation Units’ for the first case!!! Who said he was not PREPARED!!!
God have mercy on our beloved DA
Something is wrong with that picture. Why isnt the Minister of health heading that Ebolah mission to cuba. Hey its just a question. Can Ebolah be contracted through Agricultural produce? Again just trying to establish the link with Matthew Walter’s role on the delegation.
Another square peg in a round hole. A government upside down. Sending an ambassador to talk tourism, sending a minister of agriculture to talk health.
What next?
Maybe instead of going to church, we will head to the cemetary.
Since the Cubans give Skerrit a sit down on his betrayal of the Polisario Front and he pack up and leave the ECLAT Meeting, mister not going Cuba again garcon.
He does not even mention the word Cuba again. Them Castro brothers and the Cuban people hate traitors and to betray the people of Western Sahara was an act of treachery and betrayal. If Skerrit was a Cuban he would have received the maximum punishment. So now he cannot muster the courage to go to Cuba but at the same time he wants to show Timothy that he has no use for him
Boy Skerrit good oui!
when you have to take money you have for one thing and when something else come up you have to use that same money for it. that means you are broke. people that statement by the prime minister confirms that the country is broke.
“It takes considerable knowledge just to realize the extent of your own ignorance.”
Thomas Sowell
Skerro and the DLP has taken ignorance to the highest level. Walters has single handedly destroyed the agriculture section of the country; and now the PM has the cahounas to have him lead a delegation on ebola? What a bunch of nonsense! What happen to our healthcare professionals? We have so many good doctors that graduated in Cuba for instance why did the PM not see it fit to send a team of healthcare professionals (nurses, doctors, dentists) to Cuba under the leadership of Dr. Johnson? Is he telling us that both the health minister and Dr. Johnson and incompetent and are not worthy of their positions? What an insult! Hope Dr. Johnson learns his lesson………..
Skerrit is either mad or simply wicked. Can someone please tell him that “leafspot” and “ebola” are quite different diseases and that Walter is a lost sheep! God help us in this country if this mad man should steal the election this time. For I know, Change Is A Must for this blessed land.
Assertive, NOT Aggressive!
“Prime minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, said on Friday that Cuba is one of the leading countries as far as health care is concerned and the island has a “vast reservoir of human resources.”
Yes, it is because of this “vast reservoir of human resources,” Cuba has medically why most the Dominica so called doctors who trained their after they successful treatment their patients especially at the Princes Margaret Hospital, all their treated patients usually die!
You go in walking, you come out foot first cold dead.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
There haven’t been one case of Ebola In Cuba, which we heard about; nor Venezuela, how come a bunch of politicians are going to exchange ideas of how to deal with the disease. This is so stupid and ridiculous, if Skerrit wonted our people to be educated first hand on the disease, the appropriate thing to do would be to get consulted by people who dealt with the disease from a first hand on the ground point of view. All the Alba Clowns are going to do is sit and talk crap; and pat each other on their shoulder.
Then the Dominicans are going to return to Dominica babbling with no real idea of how to treat Ebola if it ever get to Dominica.
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Does Ebola affect plants as well? If not…then wtf Agriculture Min doing heading a delegation to discuss a virus affecting humans…
so why is walter they send.why not a doctor or someone in the health sector
Well, I don’t think it matters whether the minister of agriculture or the minister of health goes. The chief medical officer who was educated in Cuba is going and I think that is enough.
The only question I have for the PM and the ministers is this: When Tim Tim belly was hurting him, he went to Martinique to fix it;; When Charlo heart nearly stop, he go Martinique to fix that, when Skerro cough, next day he in the US…With that been said, will our government ministers stay in DA and stick it out if we have five or ten cases of Ebola? Tim Tim said a few weeks ago that we ready; I hope we are..and I hope they stick around if it hits…I hope our voters are asking these questions..
Well, I don’t think it matters whether the minister of agriculture or the minister of health goes. The chief medical officer who was educated in Cuba is going and I think that is enough.
The only question I have for the PM and the ministers is this: When Charlo Saverin be
It is notable that other countries with far more developed health care systems such as Jamaica and Trinidad have closed their borders. They have sought to protect not only their citizens but also their scarce health care resource personel from this deadly disease. The PM is not only putting Dominicans at risk , but the ENTIRE caribbean and their health professionals. It is clear that the PM does not care too much about the health care professionals in DA or the region!
We are not easy!
The PM could not go, the Minister of Health could not go, the Cuban-trained Physician could not go, the Public Health Nurse could not go.
I guess that is the importance we place on the health of the people!!!
The delegate, headed by Matthew Walter will inform the government of what transpired at the meeting and what steps were suggested and should be taken pertaining to the Ebola crisis. This is good enough.
Yesa ou pli sort pasay yoe
Mr. Matthew Walter, you don’t look like the real you. You look worried and disturbed. Anyways since you are representing the ministry of health here, I need to ask you a health question sir. Can one get the Ebola disease through unsafe sex? Also, can an unborn baby contract the Ebola? Just wondering sir
Would u pose these questions to the Health Min What advice would he be able to afford u.?
Ask your doctor.
boy boy boy, we have to start praying.
Only now and only when there is a crisis as this one?
Good people, the only thing that anyone leading/heading a delegation needs to do it effectively is to be properly briefed. This is done by the Officials at the Ministry who are knowledgeable about the issues. It is surely not as diffficult as some of you all here seem to make it out to be. It is my opinion that the strategy of the Government here is to ensure that all those who are going up for political election this season stay in their constituency hence why it may be prudent to send Hon. Matthew Walter since he is not running for electoral office this election. I think one should be guided as such.
Perhaps this explains Hon. Justina Charles’ sterling performance as Minister for youth, culture and sports. Maybe some ministers don’t have their briefs all the time or mislay them.
Nothing is happening for Agriculture so you might as well send the in-law on a vacation!!
I like that I really like it
The words of Kevin Hart ‘SAY WHAT!’ Well well well thats the last straw I am not perishing on the DLP ship I rather take my chance in the rough sea and swim among the sharks.
the pm forgot to say why the minister of health is not going on this mission but he made it clear to sound like the money coming from his pocket and making the matter all about “LABOUR” so let them labourites take that. It’s not always about the PM this ebola thing is very serious and we shouldn’t take it lightly. The PM should send a team with the Agricultural minister. Someone who could grasp more knowledge on the subject matter.
I will tell you why Minister of Health Timothy is not going. Skerrit does not want his cure for Ebola given to the participants, remember Timothy have the formula for the cure in his head, that is why he and Skerrit is so prepared and eager for the disease to hit Dominica.
The most important reason the agricultural minister is the pick, that is to afford him the opportunity to get something out of the taxpayers, via the treasury! They will take oh, about a hundred thousand U.S. dollars, when he returns he will simply say all was spent one expenses; you see that is how they get rich eh.
Timothy just had his bit now is agriculture time.
So, you cannot say you do not know the reason. By the time he returns you might see him buying something valued at approximately $268,000.00 dollars, or some close relative may buy something very expensive, and that’s how they do it; Oh, I forget to tell you he will not be able to present any receipt fro the money he spend in Cuba, cause, cause, cause dem doh give receipt in Cuba oui!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Mathew Walter didn’t lead an thing on the black Sigatoka but he leading on Ebola. Let us say Tim could not make it at the minister for Environment who happens to be a medical doctor would be the most appropriate choice. But no Darroux was in Langkawi instead on tourism matters.
How can we be confident on our plans to control Ebola when Mathew Walter the leader of the delegation is a failed minister of agriculture.
I could not stop laughing at this. The minister of agriculture to lead Ebola deglegation to Cuba, are you kidding me? What is wrong with these people? Aren’t they tired of being the laughing stock of the Caribbean? Are you telling me that there is no one in the health department who could lead the delegation? We are not talking about (Black Sigatoga) Where is Dr. Johnson? isn’t he the chief medical officer? Where is Dr. Kenneth Darroux?
We don’t want to believe but Dominica is in the hands of a MAD man because Walters called him Jesus, he is sending him to represent Dominica on such an important matter. What are Walter’s qualifications? Come on, this mad man needs to stop.
Only god knows what lay ahead for us. Skerrit too busy breaking grounds and naming infrastructure for political gains than worry about us and EBOLA because he know he can always get a chartered flight to Cuba or Venezuela for him and his family if stricken by fever much less for ebola. Sleep on allu still
Assertive, NOT Aggressive!
Always looking to or relying on someone else DA. Don’t ;you have enough confidence and professional people to figure it out? Just jump on the Ebola bandwagon like everybody else.
Let me guess. ALBA is going to come up with a script that Ebola was caused by the CIA in other for the US to take over Africa and damage Latin American and the Caribbean in another attempt to spread their influence. And Matthew Walters is going to stand and shout “Viva LA revolution”.
Mr. Pm how can you donate 1 million when you owing petrocaribes and getting money from Venezuela to fund projects. Why not just let Venezuela fund the whole darn thing. Impressionist coming out. Civil servant still need a raise after 14 years.
DNO, please allow me to post the lyrics of this song to my good friend Matthew Walter because I know his job in Cuba is tuff but we in the 70’s he and I always use to sing this song of the Mighty Sparrow, “Good Morning Mr. Walker”
Good morning Mister Walker
I come to see your daughter
Oy, Mister Walker!
I come to see your daughter
Sweet Rosemarie, she promise she gone marry me
And now I tired waiting!
I come to fix the wedding, oh
All I know, is I don’t intend to let she go….
Oh Lord Mamma, woy woy
After the wedding day, I don’t care what nobody say
Everytime I take a good look at she face I see a bankbook
Oh Lord Mamma, woy woy
woye mi roro
minsiter of agriculture but u going to health summit
isnt that something
is that a cosolation trip
who is the father julie
i dont know daddy
But but but but……… why do we have the minister of agriculture goin to represent us abroad on a world health crisis…. is julius too busy campaigning to attend???
no he is not….he is preparing his speech for the nobel peace prize in medicine….remember he said dominica is ready for ebola…..
Ehbeh look it agriculture heading ebola now…nu fini batt.
Launtah zor fenebat epey zor pa mem sav.
There is another personal business outside of Ebola the shameless minister of Agriculture needs to lead a protest against.
I think this guy hates matthew walters, why expose the poor guy to such a complex issue for which he has no clue????
Beggars are not choosers!
Is that wi
It is so sad and pathetic to see how much fear is being spread though some of the uneducated people who pander for political advantage. The entertainers from Nigeria were cancelled through the fear of Ebola virus now it has been rule by the Europeans that the country is Ebola free. Again, when will these news pond-ants stop spreading fear among the uneducated few. Please stick to the issues that affect us and stop the vicious rumors.
Another fool blinded by the red scarf
De Minister of Agriculture??? What they think – de Ebola virus hiding in de banana plant nuh??
You mean not even Dr. Kenneth Darroux de Prime Minister could delegate to go and check on that for us?
Jesus take de wheel!
ikr anddd he speaks spanish
Dominicans you have your future in your hands and it is yours to guide or destroy.
Here we go again, square pegs in a round hole. Maybe, this a form of punishment for the foepar made by the Minister of Health, Timothy. I noticed the Dominica Ambassador to Venezuela Aaron is absent. Maybe his service is more required with his wife on the Heng on Wednesday mornings.
Doc.Love FYI The Phrase is FAUX PAS…just saying
The Dominican officials should ALL be people in the medical field because they are the ones who are on the font line dealing with the health issues of our country. If the Minister of Health is unable to attend, why not the PS of Health or someone else within the Health Ministry?
Now where are the comments people… or should I begin… :oops
Could someone clear the air as to why it is the minister of agriculture who is going on a health mission? According to a certain doctor if the minister is unable to take up his duties because of illness he should step down?
According to Skerrit, “the government of Dominica has made available $1-million for any eventuality or possibility of the disease coming to Dominica.”
“I now have to take over $1-million, monies that we could use for housing and other things, to prepare ourselves for the Ebola Virus,” he said at the official launch of a resource center in Wesley on Friday. “And people don’t understand these things, sometimes you have money to do something but another urgent and critical issue comes up and you now have to take monies air mark for another project and divert it to another more critical situation.”
I agree that a collective approach to keep the Ebola virus out of the region is a good thing. But what I don’t understand is the $1-million not used for preparedness, instead, put away for any eventuality. I guess we will continue to follow instead of trying to lead for once. As far as I can make out, the government doesn’t have any comprehensive plan for Ebola, and is just awaiting to jump on either ALBA, or any other that fit it right.
Mr. Skerrit, of course we have to prepare against ebola but you mean to say you have no contingency fund for that or other unforeseen problems? Not even a measly E.C.$1 million? Every properly planned construction project has that. Can’t believe we are in such dire straights, honestly.
Mr Pm it’s the government and people who has to make $1million available not “i”. And y send the laziest minister to lead anything much less to lead something outside his ministry.
what a convenient excuse! Sorry no resource center due to Ebola crisis funding; sorry no indoor sports facility due to ebola crisis; sorry no more housing assistance due to Ebola crisis! Hehehe! What a bunch of clowns! Every day is another joke!
no matter what the goverment/minister of health comes up to say about that ebola virus…we are not ready for it. we can never be ready for ebola..just look at our health sector.
we dead!
lol sry i ddnt mean tto laugh at this because ebola is a serious matter but lol
Mr. Walter, boy you can make skerrit laugh at you and put you to shame boy. But then again you referred to him as ‘Jesus’ so I guess presence of your false jesus will be felt at you home.
This is great. But one concern though. Why isn’t the health minister involved? Why agricultur minister instead?
Don’t u know that the Health Min. is not at his best , health wise?
eventuality and behaves..just correcting my errors
skerrit does sicken me wee boi..i had to divert in excess of one million dollars in preparation or eventually of EBOLA reaching here….why he bahaves like is from his pocket the monies coming from??? i and i and more i…stupes…
They agree on something…although they won’t admit it
This says a lot about our state of affairs when the delegation to an Ebola summit is led by the minister of Agriculture.
DNO any more word on the resource center opening in Wesley?
Yes…It will be named Gloria Shillingford Resource Centre.
Oh what kind of resources is it offering?
What does a resource center do? Seriously I must admit I don’t know. I’m not ashamed to say that. Can someone enlighten me please so I can learn? Thank you.