Member of Parliament for Roseau South, Joshua Francis, said he is pledging 15 percent of his parliamentary salary for the next year to Paradise Valley residents, referring to them as his extended family.
During the passage of Tropical Storm Erika, Paradise Valley, in Bath Estate, was severely damaged and two brothers from the area have been reported missing. After the storm, the government declared the area a special disaster zone.
Francis told DNO on Monday that an account will be set up at the National Cooperative Credit Union (NCCU) and residents in Dominica, the Diaspora or any other persons who wishes to make a contribution to the residents, will be invited to do so.
“The Paradise Valley in Bath Estate was one of the hardest hit areas and in respect to that I felt like contributing 15 percent of my Parliamentary salary every month to a fund which will be established,” he said. “And soon the public will be able to make its donation if it so desires because we are setting up a bank account. The account will be taken care of by two signatories of the Paradise Valley and the public will be invited to make contributions to that account.”
According to him the contribution will be for the empowerment, reconstruction, recovery and advancement of the Paradise Valley.
“Basically I am leading the way, that’s the least I can do,” Francis said. “It’s really heart breaking to experience or to understand what some people in Paradise Valley, among other persons in Dominica, had to go through, and the least I can do is make a financial contribution on a monthly basis.”
He said Paradise Valley has been damaged to the extent where some families lost their clothes, appliances, among other household items and most houses in the area were subjected to devastation.
“In the view of that, like several other persons in Dominica who were affected they require relief, they require assistance,” he noted.
Francis revealed that a meeting will be held with the residents on Wednesday (September 30) where further discussions will be held on the matter and then the bank account will be set up.
Meanwhile Francis is of the opinion that the government’s cabinet is oversized and in the light of the devastation of Erika, the opportunity now exists for Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, to consider cutting down on its size in the interest of Dominica.
“Right now the cabinet is oversized, we have too many advisors to the Cabinet, so we need to cut the number of advisors to the Prime Minister Cabinet and ministers to reduce Cabinet size and that money that can be saved will be used in the reconstruction process because every penny counts,” Francis remarked.
Mr. Francis , Dominica loves you for the great example that you are setting for all of us to follow.
I am looking for others politicians to do the same.
I’ve always found Mr. Francis “different” and I applaud his initiative in taking the lead in something positive.
My view is however, that he should not make it a competition. He has done something that I expect is out of genuine concern, it should not matter to him whether anyone else is doing the same. How would he know whether other parliamentarians are not doing the same thing without making a public show of it?
Sir, I like your gentle, intelligent approach to things and more so your demonstration of having a mind of your own but make your contribution a personally noble gesture, not a contest with other people. My little piece of advice.
He has made it public because he asked others to make their contribution by share that accounts space with him.
Good job Francis u can remove linton from office u have my support U would make a better pm than Lennox de novice.
My comrade whether you are blue or red or green you are a leader apart from your team. Any man who criticizes your personal contribution to your people as their parl. rep is selfish, low-down and dirty. Had you done so through your party someone in the party would have stolen your honour, respect and love for your people. You are your own man with your own money and your own constituents to spend it on. Harvest the rewards yourself. Who Jah bless let no man curse.
Chief Jacco, I support your comments re. mr. Francis as an individual but don’t try to sneak in an attempt to split him form Team Dominica. That is not going to work. Joshua has chosen which side he is on and it is not mr. Skerrit’s.
Commendable Mr Francis….. no matter how small this contribution will be, its a gesture which shows love for country and fellow Dominicans, as we say in DA “it will block a hole”…….
WITH ALL THESE GESTURES OF TRUE PATRIOTISM; CIVIL SERVANTS NOT PUSHING FOR INCREASE FOR 2015/2016 & ALLLL THE OTHER HARD WORKING DOMINICANS IN THE DIASPORA’S MANY CONTRIBUTION….WHAT IS MR SKERRIT’S SHOW OF LOVE FOR COUNTRY BESIDES SETTING UP A GOFUNDME, A BANK ACCOUNT AND OTHER MEANS AND WHATS TO HAVE THE COUNTRY’S HANDS STRETCHED OUT?????
HERE’S 3 WAYS YOU CAN SHOW TRULY LOVE YOUR COUNTRY MR PM:
1. Take a page from Mr Francis’ book….donate a percentage of your salary
2. Cut your cabinet down (if Trinidad with a population of 1 million can have a cabinet of 12 DA can have much less)
3. Cut all the advisers and post/roles/jobs you created for your boys and girls
OH 1 MORE
4. Your wife lavish lifestyle in the US, she is not Princess Kate who has the riches of the Royal…
Skerrrit meet his wife and her family with all their money so know your place
You mean at that place in Queens? Don’t make me laugh carcon. You can not buy class.
You know some Dominicans believe that as soon as they land in New York their refugee status instantly become way above us Dominican who remain home to build our country. They think themselves our overlords and acts so in comedies of errors. They can’t open their mouth against the American government, so they gratify their one-dimensional egos by jerking stupidity from foul mouths about Dominicans every day life. Usually those “some” Dominican are rapist, child molesters, criminals, thieves who have fled from the law in Dominica.
more like thats what you believe Jaco. Speak about what you know about as facts. not speculation, suspicion and hearsay. Also his wife and her family have been able to afford her lifestyle (Not a lavished as you think, maybe just better looking than yours) long long long ago before she ever knew of a Roosevelt Skerrit. If anything HE married up the social ladder, not her. Not just cause he is PM that he automatically is welcomed in these social circles. It still have the old bougeoisie social class thing present in society today and he married into it.
Keep your damn advice to yourself or give it to Lennox.
Charity begins at home. Dominicans helping Dominicans. This is where it first commences.
St. Paul: Generosity in Giving – God loves a cheerful giver.
The over-sized cabinet, as it is stated, should not be left without a job. They need a job for their survival. They also have families to support. Probably they could be given another portfolio or ask that they. contribute fifteen per cent of their income, as you have decided that you will do. This is not asking for too much.
You have set the example and the pace. May others follow suit.
All think that every one but them makes a lot of money. Yes, Mr. Francis is a lawyer but that does not mean that he is a millionaire or that he does not have his own expenses. No matter what amount it is…I say ‘good job’. Even if it $50.00 …it is 15%…not even God required 15%…he asked for 10%.
Do what you have to Mr. Francis and don’t be concerned about the haters. The people who are making a big upheaval about the how small the amount is…what have they done? How many of them have given any? They are still living their lives (some lavishly) and have never made a contribution of a new shirt or a bag of groceries. There are some ‘high rollers’ who have given but if you look closer it is from the organisation that they are working for or from contributions received from others…without taking out anything from their pockets.
So Mr. Francis, do what you have to do…once it is from your heart even if it is a political heart..after all, it is politics which brought…
Boyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy….
Let it had been a Labour minister, senator, supporter that said that… you would have singing a different tune. I guess its only the Blue that have own expenses.
smdh
ehhhh but atleast $225 per month (Approx) will assist maybe one family
We need people like Joshua Francis. We need to reduce Ministers and all these advisors to save Dominica.
Trinidad is rich and have only 23 Ministers of government with a population of 20 times that of Dominica which has 17 Ministers. Trinidad should have 340 Ministers(17 x 20) using Dominica’s Government method.
Do you think people of Trinidad would be happy with their government if it had 340 Ministers? Absolutely not!!! How long can we continue draining the treasury? How long can we continue with such waste of money?
Good Job Francis But u are in the wrong party…
Hmmm ONLY 15% I am sure you can do much better than that if you truly wants to lead the way and encourage the PM to remove certain ministers. Remember unlike the PM and other Ministers both opposition and the elected party. You also have a private practice bringing additional revenue to you. Your wife also I have a private practice. It is better to give in private than to publicize. Search within I am sure you can donate much more than that especially to ‘your family’ the people of paradise valley. Set the pace so that others may follow your footsteps. Are you creeping or truly want to be an example. Can 15% have an impact on the PM to adjust the cabinet when you want to hold on to the pay. Why don’t take actions and stop talk… talk… talk… they say empty barrels makes the most noise….. GIVE UP THE WHOLE THING…..
How much did you give? I learnt from small if you have nothing good to say shut your * mouth. The gesture is excellent. Stop there. Go under your bed and tell yourself these negative things. This is not the place for that. Shucks man!
Honourable Joshua Francis must be highly commended for this move to donate 15% of his salary as a Parliamentarian every month for the next 12 months to the people of Paradise Valley as part of his contribution towards the rebuilding process. This is a very positive move that I am sure the constituents will appreciate
I commend this mobe.
More members of parliament,need to follow in Joshua’s footsteps.Come on step up your game RS,WHERE ALL THE MONEY YOU RAISE FOR ELECTION CAMPAIGN.
joshua francis….Dominicas next prime minister…. i cant wait!!!!!1
I agree with mr. francis. Maybe I would not be able to give 15% of the little I make but I truly think that all the ministers can and also take 50% from all the advisors salary. Making cabinet smaller as Mr. Francis suggested won’t happen, we know that. This government do not think that way and will keep buttering the mouths their millionaire friends as if they need it. The people who are at the schools and guest houses, they are the ones who need it but then again the poor do not have a voice so we carry on.
Sad Times In Dominica, Sad times.
You go boy. In economics they refer to such action as a future.
Will ur boys follow?
maybe that might get the passport agents to bring out their millions. to make certain the future investments in paradise valley falls theu next blood moon elections.
@RoseauValor September 28, 2015
What is your grievance about sir/madam/boy/girl? “discuss this issues with his leader and get its endorsement”–what for may I ask!
Even if Mr. Francis belong in a Political party–he also has a personal life–which you people cannot comprehend. He is not taking funds from the UWP to launch his idea, he is speaking about his own income; why does he need to get approval from UWP or anyone whatsoever for doing so?
UWP did not put him in parliament; the people of his constituency did; they know that he is from the UWP –he is pledging to help them from his personal asset–what is your blah, blah, blah, against that for? Are you people for real?
DNO ADMIN,
Continue you tell use what is the parliamentary salary ??
VR.
All you have to do is google… The information is supposed to be available to the public.
This link is a pdf download for the average salaries for every parliament of all the Commonwealth Countries.
http://bit.ly/1GeLrvg
(Note: this is a survey which states what the salary is supposed to be, not necessarily what they are)
Make issue with his God-given good heart. This man is for real. You think is a mint he is making? You probably making more money than him. The Parliamentarians not even getting 50% of the salary your sitting Government officials making. Some of those jokers without a think-head getting big salaries. Why don’t you ask them instead what they getting. Some of them don’t even have a CXC or school leaving certificate and they receiving over $10,000 per month in salary and allowances. You get it? Prove me wrong. And the elected Parliamentarians outside of the government, pittance and they thinking more than those who are inside. They have more qualifications than those who are inside. They have more experience in managing and running things than those inside. They have proven success rates. Think about that. Stop questioning Joshua’s good heart. He can give 15% of his pittance and he is giving it with love and compassion. Ask your labor ministers to match that or more.
To add to what I just said these greedy laborites are interested in themselves. Hijacking the relief supplies, putting locks on food store rooms, choosing who is who and controlling what is coming in, for what! why are they doing that! People are still complaining they are not getting supplies. Look a Fire Officer was reporting they are not even receiving water and these people have pallets and pallets of water in containers and store rooms. I may have not been ravaged by Erika, but as a common citizen I should be able to go to a relief centre and obtain some bottles of water because ravaged and non-ravaged citizens we all are exposed to the polluted water which is making all of us sick. That labor party aint learning? They not seeing what happened to us was a message? They are not changing their sinful ways? Under this Labor Government this country has become outrageous. Stop questioning Joshua and his good intentions and his salary. You want to know? ask Skerrit
No matter how much it is, may God Bless you Francis. Anyone who does not see this as just being a wonderful gesture, please suggest other ways in which aid can be given to those who need it. if you are not helping then you are part of the problem.
Thank you Mr.Francis. Let us see what Skerrit will do. All those post he create everywhere and giving awaymoney. I call it giving away because no work is being done yet they getting salary.
God sees all.
Bro you are in the Church(politics) but in the wrong pew(party).
Right now the cabinet is oversized, we have too many advisors to the Cabinet, so we need to cut the number of advisors to the Prime Minister Cabinet to reduce Cabinet size and that money that can be saved will be used in the reconstruction process because every penny counts, skerrit cut cabinet dream on Joshua,
Might be a good gesture if the UWP would first give back to the State the monies they were paid when they were staying out of parliament. Maybe he can advise them on that. I would consider that a very good gesture.
please know it all, the least you could do Dominica is organize a simple relief concert, but no even that you can do, everybody else can do it but you, county of 70 people can not get even a concert off the ground, instead grown hardback members of parliament want to come in the media bold face ni face to beg, its sickening…
Now can we see the government reduce this oversize useless cabinet and all the political jobs that was created that these be cancelled? It cannot be for one set to make sacrifices and another set just pillaging the country’s resources with impunity.
It tells a lot that a party can raise $30 million for one month of campaigning and they cannot raise funds from these same persons for the rebuilding of the country.
Amen to that
Some people still do not know the difference between a political party and the government. So is one political party Dominica has? How much did the UWP spend in all their elections? Are you telling me all what this government is doing, you are still complaining? Can you imagine if it were the UWP in power? Could they have done better?
Who are their friends who would have helped us? What would have happened to Dominica. I have yet to hear the amount of money and relief supplies that have come to Dominica because of the UWP. Have you? All I ever hear are complains and criticizing our benefactors. Thank You seemed to have been removed from the vocabulary of those we hear as the mouthpiece for the UWP.
Thank God the world knows most Dominicans are grateful and appreciate all the assistance we get from everyone who have heard the cry from Dominica after Tropical Storm Erika. God is Good.
We do not want politics; but we will reply; would prefer a togetherness.
Who are their friends who would have helped us? What would have happened to Dominica. I have yet to hear the amount of money and relief supplies that have come to Dominica because of the UWP. Have you?
This has to be the worst comments I’ve read coming from this DLP operative.
So you are saying people and foreign institutions are giving us assistance because of the Labour Party and not because they want to help Dominica? So if any other party was in power the world would just turn its back on Dominica?
In times of disaster, the government in power in any country worldwide must take the lead role in asking for assistance. The opposition cannot start doing going around asking for assistance because it will not look good in the eyes of the international community. It will show a state of confusion.
How much did we spend to worship the sun? Boss de sun was afraid to rise and shine that dark and gloomy morning.
Great job Sir. Can somebody please explain to me how much money($$$) is 15 percent? Just asking.
Hahah ur question take it was suppose to ask 15% of how much?
You are DA to the Skin too dumb. Maybe U are just in a can.
did skerrit teach U English at school?
Oh please… we are not all educated on the same level. From what I can see you may have some level of education but your personality shows through your comments. It stinks!!!!
Rastafari I hazard a guess and say that you’re probably the biggest beggar who ever walked this earth. I just get a feeling about you, I could be wrong but I very much doubt it. See you in Roseau, Happy begging.
Good Job Mr.Francis am so amazed by your generosity and may the good lord bless you, it is my only wish that there were many more like you in Dominica your indeed a blessing for the people of Roseau South and Dominica by extension.
It is rather unfortunate that this Media – ist refuses to stick to a regiment of conduct where consensus is formulated and respected. Our UWP is an organized entity and was formulated within the realms of democracy where policies are made within a disciplined framework under the leadership and party organs.
Joshua Francis continues to do as she wishes and has consistently brought our party into some form of disrepute. His parliamentary conduct during the last Budget makes us uncomfortable indeed. Many of us seem confused as to what his true intentions are and am not too comfortable with this and other issues.
There are other members of parliament who are members of the UWP self stlyed Team Dominica. I would ve thought that the Roseau South MP and Deputy Leader would have taken the opportunity to discuss this issues with his leader and get its endorsement. It would be much better to have heard that the UWP parliamentarians have met and decided to put a special private fund in…
because unlike other parliamentarians Joshua Francis don’t have time for petty politics. his goal is to represent his people to the best of his ability. Mr Francis good job.be your own man and dont let petty politics keep you from being the great leader that you are and take care of your people however and whenever you can. we know they trying to keep you down but the people, your people are seeing your good works and efforts.
What is your beef? As far as I know it is Mr. Francis’ money and he is not obliged to ask, or tell anyone what he intends to do with it. We live in a free country and he can do with it whatever he wants, provided it is legal and I would call charity very legal. It is his own, personal decision an he is not accountable to anyone for that, least of all a sourpuss like you.
More strengrh to your elbow Mr. Francis. I’m sure St. Peter will not enter this on the debit side of your life’s ledger.
Crap crap and more crap
What happen Lennox fraid?
Your gesture is very commendable Mr Francis, but I hazard a guess to say that 15% of your ministerial salary will not be causing much of a dent in your income, for after all you are a practising lawyer and as such you are generously rewarded. Nevertheless, its a good gesture and maybe others could do likewise.
so the point that you are making by mentioning a dent in his wallet is…? you are making a positive contribution, why tarnish it with that statement? now you let your good word be spoken evil of. remain positive my friend, that is what the nation needs now. okay? one love.
What percentage of your salary you contributing? Or do you even have one? No matter how small it is with good intentions and it all adds up.
These grown men need to stop begging, all Erica did was give Dominicans a green light to go out and beg, disgusting. What are u doing to help yourself Dominica? Absolutely nothin but setting up bank accounts and begging hard working people to deposit their money into it. We have become a nation of beggers, from the top straight down….
On point
God knows I love this man. My brother anytime you are the face of the UWP OR any other party I will be voting for you!!Great news!