The Office of the Prime Minister announced on Tuesday that Senator Miriam Blanchard has been appointed Minister for Public Works and Ports.
The appointment took effect on March 6, 2016, according to a release.
Blanchard replaces Ian Pinard who recently tendered his resignation in light of what he said are allegations of inappropriate behavior made against him.
The release stated that the portfolio of Postal Services has been allocated to Justina Charles Minister for Youth, Sports, Culture and Constituency Empowerment effective March 7, 2016.
Dominica along with the international community just observed International Women’s Day which calls for gender equality. This means women should be given equal opportunities. Ms. Blanchard’s gender shouldn’t be a barrier to her being given any ministry to manage. When i last checked there was no specific qualification to be appointed a minister.
Congratulations Ms Blanchard on your appointment. I wish you the best and expect an exemplary performance. God’s blessings!
Why are we already judging this lady. we are so judgemental of others, busy trying to keep other people down. But always remember that the time you spend keeping a person Down is time spent keeping a part of you dowN. Grow up and give her a Damn chance. especially us women, it’s time we learn to stand up for one another.
who is that person, is she a foreigner. first time seeing her… a minister and i dont know where she is from?… so sad
do you have to know where she from should the government ask for your approval first she is a Dominican who want to serve her country please give her a chance to do just that before you ask all those questions I have one question for you did you vote?
Women can perform in any position just give them a chance and co-operation. Stand on your own and do what you need to do, don’t be bias. Serve with truth and justice and respect everyone . As a woman show them you can do it, be independent in your decision , always serve with humility.
Miss Blanchard, I would like to congratulate you, on your new appointment.
I don’t know what color affiliation you come in, trust that you have the
qualifications and capabilities in getting the job done.
It is my hope you execute your functions independently, without fear, favor and political intentions.
Doing the right thing is a sign of maturity and responsibility and therefore respect will follow as it is received solely out of respect for others and the office you hold, working for the people as you aspire to greater accomplishments. .
May God guide and truly bless you!
All these unelected persons should not get ministerial positions. Full stop, end. If they want a career in politics they should face the electorate.
do remember how many un elected people was in miss Charles government & also UWP government the law allow that.
again square pegs in wrong hole.
round holes…
Alas da done
Dominicans give the lady a chance nah noone was born anything we developed and progress ourselves if she is not performing then we can judge ok and woman or man has nothing to do with it cause I have seen wemen doing a better job than some men
Dominica is falling bad and it gonna get worst be for 2018 with this Govt. PM have too take the greatest fall from all the minister’s. This Minister took over Pinard gonna be a great1. Pinard was nor checking his people. so what’s goes around comes around!! I wish you the Best New Minister:
we good at crying down our people I ask that my people give every one a chance to prove them self not because its a woman she will fail she not standing alone she have advisors we must remember that our first woman minister of c & w never had experience but did a great job at the time we did not have money to work with that was Mable James when the coastal road and other major roads were built so please my people ease of the young lady and give her the chance if she fail we talk if she do a good job praise her.
Some Dominicans love to look at the cover and judge a book! A number of women in Dominica can do this job if they have the right tools and technical staff. It is progressive of the PM that he has given a woman the opportunity to perform these duties.
It is so clear that Dominica is as backward as it is due to the closed mindedness and highly critical spirits swaying through it. What a country with a high level of criticism per capita (CPC). Every day God makes a day, He hears these noises from critical spirits soaring over the island….so much disquietude… hmmm.
If God, who is all-powerful, releases His wrath on this island of non-stop complainers, you might have a lot of work to do in this Ministry.
Miss. Blanchard congratulations on your appointment. I look forward to you getting rid of the corrupt practices that occurs in this ministry, the kick backs for contract that is done by all of these persons in the ministry put a stop to that practice.
And what do you dream of at nights…? She will be in it quicker than you can think. She is one of them! Otherwise she would not have been appointed to this position by the Doctor. Think!
Recall the public work workers that were laid. Wicked kabal. Don’t care about the poor but only out for themselves.
Congrats. I know the work this lady can do. She surely will get the job done. It requires leadership and not a hard hat and a shovel. If I follow the logic of the previous commentators, we need a man! This is the 21st century people. She is got it, watch you see. Wishing you nothing but the best.
Give the lady a chance and see if there is any progress after a few months
I am not surprised!
She just joined the team. One doesn’t have to be elected to be appointed minister.
She is a team player.
More of the same.
Congrats Happy Women’s Day!
L
L
wow Skerrit has yet to come out and make a statement….he just give this woman a post and he done with us……..dam man!!!!!!! not even a sorry for what has happened nothing….just look ah new minster hush allu mouth.
He will is his time. What is he going to say eh, right now there is nothing to say. I supprot my PM.
So far that’s the cleanest!!! I’ve seen the city! !! Roseau looks good. I can see the change.
That government politics in Dominica full of jokes boy!!
News reaching Lang Mama News agency the government and opposition have united to form a group called RAPING ( Recovery And Productivity In National Growth
Though more than 10 times our size, Jamaica, has 18 member cabinet.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Tight-Government_53981
that hides the number of consultants the jamaican government hires.
Give the woman a break,let her prove herself …. Toneh
Dominicans, i am ashamed of some of you. you believe that women cannot hold high positions that they should remain secretaries and typists and receptionists all their working lives…. this shows how much we know as a people… it hurts even more to know that some women are the ones pushing that stupid thought. you people make women in position feel bad with the garbage that come out of your unlearned mouth.. go do some research and take our very iron lady Mary e Charles and take queen Elizabeth and take m. thatcher and take and a lot more others…. you all sound soooooo behind bring that stupid thought that women cannot hold positions in high office…. I am disappointed in you all…
Always Assertive!
The griots, the songwriters,, the singers, musicians/artists, especially the calypsonians have been warning for years of the immoral, unethical, illegal acts, corruption that is plaguing our country.
This year was no exception with the witty calypso so well performed by the calypsonian, Explosion, reminding us in his song’s lyrics of,”ALL the GIRLS I knew before.” That song is a beautifully crafted song. How fortunate some could be to receive their dues. Others continue to rot in the system. Unemployment increasing, especially among the youth. The standards of living of the majority of Dominicans have declined seriously under Skerritt’s DLP Gov’t. A few have become seriously wealthy, on the backs of Dominicans.
Professionals in some Ministries have been working for Years, no appointment, the future is uncertain. Yet a few who express loyalty, in one way or the other, receive all kinds of positions and blessings?
Many :Labourites” are bawling. A FEW…
Mariam, I fully support your appointment. You are, by far one of the more intelligent ministers. Do well for your country.
And so the titanic continues to sink deeper and deeper.
Lol really.Lord pray for us this country is going to the dogs. Another disappointment. Nothing is going to get done.
Who do you want to be appointed? Who did you expect to be appointed?
The country is not going to the dogs. Critics as you are the ones going to the dogs. You are never satisfied with anything done by the government. You do nothing for the country except to criticize. If that is all you do, then you are part of the contributing factor to the country going to the dogs and that is bad.
How you mean notering is going to get done. You are just another negative Dominican who wish Dominican and the country who not further develop. Wake be a positive Dominican for development
Mr skerrit awa nonsense.
The Post offifce does not even know some of the Internationa rules on what should or should not be imported and exported. Talk to the one in charge and the one directky beneath on the bayfront. Oh please. Listen to the heartbeat of the foreigners when they come to do business at the Post office and what they have been saying to members iof the public. Miss Charles this is the first thing to deal with when you get there because its becoming a public shame for Dominica. PM is trying his best but he cannot do it alone
Miss Charles God bless you but please deal with this matter which is now becoming an embarrassment. We have many nigerians and Russ students here who know the international postal laws.
God bless DA
Papa Bonde! I would have given this lady some other position not that rigid type of Job. Its not all office work. it’s a position that calls for extra and long hours moving here, there and everywhere. Bad adviise lack of insight. Anyways she may be just be acting so she might just prove herself. Public works Ministry is a Rain, Thunder and lightning ministry wee Oh by the way Congrats to Minister Charles she started slowly when she came in as minsitre. She has made significant progress. Anwyas we have to pray for all parties. Pinard and Francis be string and courageous
Do you know her or what job she did before? you are so quick to talk out of turn research
Today is International Women’s Day. Your comment is a bit disrespectful. Have respect for our women and children.
why don’t we wait and see we are to quick to jump and say some one cannot do before we give them a chance which comes first is it failure or trial? you have to first try so you can fail we are to quick to fail some one before we give them a try.
My moda is now Marigot people going to get more sea bath because minister of implementation is now minister of public works. Wait for the excuse that the wall is not fixed because the new minister has to evaluate the situation.
So what is Joshua”s ministry all you
Your comment is rubbish
Why a new public works minister when Skerrit and Blackmore did away with public works? DNO I guess you meant to say public waste minister
SONNY, we dont have public works as long as chris and george is there… did anyone ever examine the box colvert george buikt at pond casse where the two men died?. and got paid 980k for a bridge as DNO news article posted some time ago.
a joke that man? Let me see her put on boots and helmets in storm and go and check roads. I am discouraged, I would have added that to kelver portfolio. SMH
Havnt you seen the engineer Jodie Dublin Dangleben do it? She was even hanging from a helicopter! Why you are women so low on self esteem that you have to try to debase other women? I don’t know if she will make a good minister of anything cuz I don’t know her but to suggest that she cant do the job only because she is a woman is giving men the rights to do as they please with women because we are second rate or you are just a plain hater. Be gone woman stupesssssssssss.
No matter who is minister, as long Skerrit is at the top, nothing gonna get done
Well said
Congratulations to my dear Miriam..Shows women can work in every sphere. Miriam one of the first things I need you to do is go to the Public Works technical division and speak to the technical staff there on permanent appointments..It’s embarrassing the amount of young professionals there giving service for minimum wage and after 7 years still no appointments..The gov’t need to get serious.. this is not a matter of personal favor. It’s important for people to feel appreciated and as part of the team..boost their moral and surely will boost productivity. Many young professionals will continue to leave the country if they don’t feel appreciated..and that will be to the demise of the country in the long run.
There will be no demise of the country. In the past many left for other lands and Dominica still stood standing strong.
I would recommend that the government establish a Human Resources Department, if there is none with an appointed expertise to head it and to deal with this situation.
In all fairness, if they are capable of working efficiently, then they should be appointed, at least within the year with an increase in salary.
It is like keeping them on probation for all those years. This does not sound correct.
If they can obtain employment and a better one out of the country, they should pursue this avenue for people must look out for themselves and their future.
What is wrong with Mr. Stephenson the parl. rep for Grand Fond.
Mr. cannot handle that position.
He can’t handle anything. Well according to his leader
The way they have been treating him it seems he can’t handle any position.
He appears to honest and not corrupted
Everything!!
you most be a dolt
garcon mister just there like a number 11batsman chockaying …so dat Thompson cannot come and bat…even if he clean bowl umpire shouting NO BALLL ..
congrats love
congratulation is in order my dear.
Ah Skerrit your back is against the wall,Women are being appointed,I am still awaiting your condemnation ………………………Today would be a great day to come out as a man and condemn.A WOMAN SHOULD BE THE NEXT PRIME MINSTER OF DOMINICA.
Postal services?
That is a laugh right? I am still receiving christmas cards from the U.K. that were posted by airmail. The post office say they are not responsible for that and I believe them, but I suspect they may have been held behind in Antigua till Leave Island Any Time get paid in time for carrying that mail.
PS. Justina, can you get the post office to sell stamps with adhesive please and save offices having to staple them to bills or to letters with glue dispensed from a bottle. What a mess!
Don’t you think in the day and age we should have started using electronic stamps by now? Cost efficient n saves paper!
So, who will replace her as Minister of Projects?
No need for that. It was a made-up job anyway with that lady twiddling her thumbs as far as I’m concerned. At least now she has a real job.
Mr. of projects???? lol
Wasn’t/Isn’t Parry a consultant on production or performance? Does he/it still function?
That’s why I support sister Shirley Allen who described (many yrs ago) DA as a failed state.
DA is being ran by people who are unfit to be dog catcher.
woman time !!!!