Dominicans living overseas who are trained in medicine have been asked to avail themselves and assist the island in providing better medical services to its citizens.
“We look forward to beginning the construction of the new hospital in 2014 and with that new hospital we will be able to provide a number of very critical services which would almost eliminate the need for any one of us to go out of Dominica for medical services and in that vein I am beseeching those of you who are trained in medicine to avail yourselves to work in Dominica,” prime minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, told a diaspora forum on Wednesday.
According to Skerrit, the island will soon be receiving various equipment which are expected to provide better medical services to the people of Dominica. Among them are an MRI and an additional CT scan.
The prime minister said these equipment will arrive in Dominica by the middle of November.
“Many of our citizens still have to go to other islands and the United States to receive medical services and at prohibitive costs. There is a high incidence of cancer in this country particularly breast cancer which is a major concern for us,” he stated. “The government has purchased a mammogram which should be here on the 15th November so that we can encourage our ladies to do the necessary tests required. Do not wait if you feel a lump in your breast go straight to the doctor.”
In the meantime, Skerrit has defended the government’s decision to construct a coffee plant in Portsmouth.
He stated “we are being criticized by the opposition who are saying we do not have coffee, so what are we doing with a coffee plant and the minister (Matthew Walter) drew to your attention that there are many countries who import the raw material from developing countries add value to it and sell it back to us at double the price.”
According to him value will be added to the imported coffee beans, in the interim, and it will be sold to the ALBA countries.
“Venezuela has a population of over 27 million people, and through the agreement with Venezuela they have agreed to purchase the coffee from Dominica,” Skerrit noted. “So how can you be against this? We have the coffee plant being constructed and we have a market for the coffee which will bring in significant foreign exchange in our country and address the issue of unemployment amongst our citizens.”
So when u employ all those who live, work abroad what about the thousands that go university to venezula, Cuba etc? Are they not qualified enough to work at ur hospital? And further more, so many young people we have here who are unemployed. Don’t u believe it’s necessary to create jobs for them first Mr. PM? Election coming so u want to make other empty promises to those poor diasporans to get vote. Well they should consider twice taking ur ticket to come back here to vote base on the state of our economy. Who’s in the kitchen feels the heat.
Alas look haters
Will some one kindly tell me, when was the last time a POLITICIAN really and HONESTLY looked out for ou gave them all the perks and benifits interest? When does the EMPLOYEE have or receive better BENIFITS than the EMPLOYER?? We voted for these MORONS, we hired them and gave them benefits, and they have not performed, or produced, why should we give them another chance??
Sadly under this administration a dictatorship have been developed.
So you mean after so many years in office is now Skerro seeing the need to improve the local medical conditions for Dominicans?
I do not believe anything this man say.
I went home and I have not seen what Labourites are celebrating as progress and development?? Dominica is in the same state.
Over the years I have seen that DLP have no brains in their midst to take Dominica to the next international level.They are too selfish and small minded.
So if Dominicans want to remain in poverty and forth world conditions , they should continue to vote for Skerrite.
WAW !! Why so much negativity. Nobody in the History of Dominica have done what Prime minister Skerrit is doing for Dominica. The man is saying that by the 15th of this Month he will have Mammogram equipment and other equipment in/on the way to Dominica. He is not promising this like next year or the year after that or saying 5. 10, 15 years from now !! he is talking about equipment that has already been purchased and on it’s way to Dominica. Every Dominican especially those of us who have experienced all the set backs we have had as a third World country in medicine for the pass years should be jumping for joy. And those of us who have had to loose love ones because they could not afford treatment out side Dominica because of the high cost and just a ticket to Martinique!! The prime Minister is also talking about construction of a New hospital that will start in 2014 this is a huge step forward for Dominica, its long overdue. So this is progress yes, Plenty progress for Dominica. Some one mention about people getting paid outside Dominica More than in Dominica but how much of that money do you get to keep. So Dominicans should seriously consider working in the Medical field in Dominica because they may well have a better quality of life that will be balanced if they take less pay in Dominica . This is how the “debate should go” lets talk about it and not just curse out what the PM and others are doing… Lets talk
“correction” By the 15th of November the equipment will be in Dominica.. thank you !!
You are so right… Nobody in the history of Dominica took a loan from the Chinese to build a 27 million dollar house before he made improvements to the hospital. Imagine how many dominicans would be alive today if the hospital had been built in 2011. Now Now just before elections he making so many promises. Remember that loan will come due in your lifetime.. if you don’t get injured seriously and need proper medical attention before the hospital is made better. OPEN your EYES!!!!!
According to Skerrit, the island will soon be receiving various equipment which are expected to provide better medical services to the people of Dominica. Among them are an MRI and an additional CT scan.
The prime minister said the equipment will arrive in Dominica by the middle of November.
“We look forward to beginning the construction of the new hospital in 2014…”
I am no whiz kid but, you can’t receive hospital equipment before you even start construction on the d@rn building. The cr@p might be outdated by the time the building is completed. Deceit and lies to the 10th power!
brilliant observation Rasta!You are an educated one not Labour not Neo-Labour not DFp-ite,no United wiked Party no opportunists.
Mr.Skerrit must begin with the basic and fundamental effort of keeping Dominica clean and green.With a population of 72,000 the government has shown that it is totally incapable of doing a very good job of garbage collection and disposal on the island.The Solid Waste Corporation continues to struggle because of a lack of trucks and other equipment and we talking about MRI and CT scan when we can not even afford to by garbage trucks. I’m not saying that the MRI and the CT scan are not important, but they have to be maintained and serviced on a regular basis. Skerrit is giving money/buying votes with tax payers money and is doing nothing about Dominica’s image as ” The Nature Island of the Caribbean”.
Skerrit u are prime minister of Dominica and your second child will not be born in Venezuela or Cuba Skerro
We will mash dem up. Yes, you did mash up the constitution and the law. Tell them.
I like your deceitful smiles. It speaks volumes. I am watching my back. You cannot be trusted.
We need jobs for all, not jobs for one set.
Interesting, foreign exchange from Venezuela? we owe them how much already that we cannot pay.
guess they will give us the coffee to ad value to and then take the finish product from us for free. Or maybe by the time the plant comes on stream well will have given them enough fig to clear the debt we owe them.
this man cannot help his nonsense.
In 2003 nineteen Dominican doctors graduated from medical schools in Cuba; they had been awarded scholarships in 1996 by the then UWP government.
When they returned home the comment by our then new leaders was, “Edison was mad to send so many doctors to study at one time.” Most of them were frustrated for several months, just hanging around doing nothing. Then the government of Trinidad asked whether they could have nine (9) of them. Nine of the brightest and best from that group left our shores. We are now ten years down the road; most of them have already become specialists in their various areas of endeavor. A number of them are in the USA.
Bearing in mind that the starting salary for a trained Pathologist, for example, in the US is over 100,000USD p.a., I have serious doubts whether any of them will heed the PM’s call; not after the frustration they went through while they were here.
In fact, one of the most vocal persons claiming that it was a bad decision to send so many young people to study medicine was, at the time, the resident doctor at a hospital in Dominica(who you could never find at the hospital; because he had a private practice AND was teaching at Ross University at the same time).
I will rest my case here.
You are so right. Why would they want to come from the US, Canada or UK only to earn less? Maybe some will return near retirement age and work a few more years in Dominica. Skerrit is attempting all kind of foolishness at the moment in the hope to secure enough votes for a further term. As far as the medical equipment is concerned – I believe it, when I see it. Garcon, you had almost 15 years in government doing nothing for your people. Only now you are waking up??
I was one of them who left after so much frustration…God luck to him!!
Blah, bla , bla………
you cannot even well pay those in dominica you asking people who are well paid in overseas to come and work for you. our doctors and nurses are under paid here .papa mister mad man
Mr. Skerrit loves Dominica so much and has so much confidence in the health services in Dominica, he must be asked where will his second child be born
Change is a must , some day soon a change is gonna come my people .
In order for that change to come ,we the people have to be willing to fight and be part of that change.
Fight for change Dominicans, we have a responsibility to ourselves ,our children and grand children and the great leaders who came before us to help bring about that change.
Alas !Alas !M
r Prime Minister you must lead by example, or is it too late for you to do that.
You have to be playing a nasty joke on the nation, you have Paracitamol in the Hospital as a solution to medication when one is sick and you want to ask those residing abroad to help assist in skills and medicine ? Skerrit Dominicans will forever build their country ,not because you request it Skerrit , but because our navel is buried in Dominica You on the other hand , go put back the money in the treasure and stop wasting the nations money , so there can be resources to help with these projects to take care of healthcare .
Shame, Shame on you , it would be best if you just shut up Mr Prime minister we are not as dumb as you think.
Dno, your subject had me running. I thought Skerrit needed help to buy medicine for himself.
Looks like the dimples eh fooling the diasporans again. Huh put it perfectly.
Skerrit – prime minister for life!
Oh my i see voting on handsome is a no no this time around, the beauty has gone out the window along with dignity, compassion, and love for the people, i really hear when a bad life is lived it shows
I think a Coffee Plant is a great idea. Tea and Coffee are the largest consumer beverages in the world and Dominica can produce it right on the island and employ local farmers. I also believe that Cocoa would be another area for consideration as many prognosticators see this product expanding in production to safer countries.
Skerro u doh tired lie and deceive Dominicans when we grow coffee where the roads to go to our farm I can hear Chavez saying no way hose not over my dead body I shaking hands that pm again
Stop being a political puppet. Manufacturing is good for DA. Lets make the best of it.
You bought a “Mammogram?” What is a “Mammogram?”
Da’s all d meeting was for, to beg dem diaspora-ians
They always talking that crap, I advise no one to come back. I got how many letters from the Attorney General demanding I come back to serve a scholarship bond and now I am here NO where to put me. Right now all I can say is thanks for the scholarship and I am in the process of asking the government to release me from my bond. So my advice to anyone who wants to return home don’t do it, or do it at your own risk, and don’t believe anyone in government
He think is fools he was talking to , well these people get smart now, some of them was very disappointed that he just spoke and ran off witout taking any question from them, so they are asking what is he hiding and what kind of PM who is afraid to take question from his people, anyway your empire falling so continue with your liesssssssssssssss CHANGE IS COMING, CHANGE IS A MUST NOT AN OPTION.
I hope everyone notice that the format of this diaspora meeting has changed. Back in 2008, and 2010 I remember the people attending were allowed to ask questions of the PM and his ministers, but more recently it has changed so that the ministers talk, and then they break up and have communication in groups with the ministers, which is not broadcasted, as the speeches are. Therefore the world does not hear the questions people have or the responses. That is the type of psychology that is being used.
Espwa mal papaye
Are you not afraid that they will run Dominica by remote control?
No, he think the remote control gone extinct, just like honesty, truthfulness and transparency.
when they live their big sum and come down meet u Mr.PM can you pay them u think is so
14 years…. 14 years… in power.. and only now… when election is around the conner that man.. decides to get up off his rear and TALK.. all the TALK they acusing the opposition of.. look it right BEFORE YOUR EYES.. i am sick and disgusted of this administration, they are nothing but bullies, .. after 14 years NOT ONE ECONOMICALLY SUSTAINABLE project has been undertaken by this government, and i don’t see why Dominicans think their time is not up for change…
Well if so better late than never. Are you saying that he should do nothing. Lets rise and encourage what is good.
Are you sure that you know what economically sustainable means?
Are you serious Mr. PM in this economic crisis its all about the money, overseas Dominicans are being paid bi-weekly and some are paid weekly in Dominica you have to wait 30 days to get a pittance check, thought you all said early in your administration that the former government trained too many Doctors
He is asking for specialists in the field, come on, a baby can understand that.
Choose what is right, not what is easy
It would be good to have our medical professionals come and work here, but please Mr. PM let them know in advance that when they come and work under you, they have to do what you say at all times or else. to have a difference of opinion with you is fatal or terminal. Therefore, tell them not to resign their jobs.
and as far as the coffee plant go, because other countries import raw material and add value, does not justify Dominica having to import raw coffee too when we can produce coffee that can stand up with Blue Mountain Coffee from Jamaica, which ranks at the top in the world, what with our very similar conditions.
Before you discount importation of raw coffee you need to answer the following questions:
(1) How much coffee do you think it takes to keep a plant running efficiently?
(2) How much coffee is currently being produced in Dominica?
(3) How much more coffee is being planted in Dominica to supplant the imported lot?
(4) What is the cost of local coffee compared to the imported one?
(5) How does the quality of the local coffee compare the imports?
(6) If the cost of the local coffee is higher than the imported one, how much subsidy does the government intent to provide to the plant or the farmers?
To make a long storyt short, it is easy to take an emotional approach to these this. Most people here make statements based on how they feel, but this is not how businesses operate. The figures must speak for themselves. And you also need to establish the objectives of the business you intend to operate.
@Jimi Hendrix.
I am not sure whether you intended to do so but you have managed to point out what is lacking with this coffee plant development.
We have not been given a clear plan for establishing or revitalizing a coffee industry in Dominica.
What is the plan? When this project was first announced we(farmers) were told that there would be superior coffee plants for the production of quality beans that would be processed at a state of the art facility at Portsmouth. After much delay work began at the plant. Now we learn that the focus will be on adding value to coffee beans sourced from outside.(Venezuela?) Is this a short term plan? How much lead time do we need before we are able to produce enough coffee beans to support a viable drying-roasting-packaging operation?
Let us hope that this is not a case where we received a gift from Venezuela that was just too good to turn down!
PM I love coffee we! lol
We will see the foreign exchange when we finish paying venezuela what we owe them.