Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, has written to President Charles Savarin advising him to appoint lawyer, Colleen Felix-Grant as Chairman of the Integrity Commission of the Commonwealth of Dominica.
Skerrit, in a letter dated March 6 2019, wrote to the Leader of the Opposition, Lennox Linton informing him of that decision.
In December 2015, using its parliamentary majority, the DLP government approved amendments to the IPO Act, which included the reduction of the Commission from 7 to three members: one from the government, one from the opposition and a chairperson appointed by the President of Dominica upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition.
The amended Act also gave the new Commission the authority to decide whether it wanted to continue with matters that were before the old Commission.
Those changes were stoutly opposed by the UWP with its leader, Lennox Linton, insisting that the professional bodies of law and finance, which were represented on the old Commission, should remain.
He said then that his party would not nominate a candidate for the three-member Commission and that position has to date, remained vacant.
Why do we Dominicans allow Skerrit to do as he pleases? What has happened to our courage?
This appointment is so unethical, I am appalled that the Prime Minister, a highly educated man who holds two doctoral degrees, does not realize that fact. I am also aghast that Mrs. Felix-Grant, a trained attorney who at some point in her legal studies must have taken a course entitled “Legal Ethics” (or something similar) does not realize the unethical nature of her appointment. For the sake of the noble legal profession, for the sake of the integrity of the Integrity Commission, for the sake of our nation, the good woman should either resign or the highly educated Prime Minister should rescind the appointment. Even a simpleton like me can see that.
Expertly written! Greed, selfishness and other vices tend to overpower our sense of morality and ethical responsibility to make this world a much better place to reside. For many, the more they get is the more they want. Material gains trump everything else. This is typical of Skerrit and his over-indulgent surrogates.
Please be advised that the PM does NOT hold ANY doctoral degrees. He has been bestowed HONORARY doctorate degrees, which is why it is incorrect to call him “Dr” as a title. He IS the holder of a Bachelor of Science degree….sort of an average, or even below average nowadays, where all are aiming at Masters degrees or Doctorates in order to be competitive on the job market.
Dominica may soon be under a dictatorship ruled by a despot surrounded by his goon squads of private secret police dressed in camouflage going around intimidating the people especially at “election” time. This may result in foreign intervention by a real army.
If either the husband or the wife had any sense of inttegrity left in them, they would have discussed this and agree that one of them would have to stand down to avoid a conflict of interest.
But it is all about the money and the EC$5000 or so a month to be Chairman of the IPO for doing nothing is just too tempting for these two greedy, selfish indivuals!!
The media in Dominica are much too docile and unassertive. They act like a stenographer. They just repeat information that they receive verbatim. There is no investigative journalism although there are copious amounts of wrongdoings and corrupt practices by the current regime. The media have an obligation to shed light on these matters and bring them to the fore. When the government does any thing good give them their accolades also. This administration will continue to operate in secrecy and complete darkness as this is their mode of operation. They have become emboldened because the media do not challenge their clandestine ways. By the way, when will the parrots be repatriated? No update at all on these indigenous creatures. This autocracy feels that it is not accountable to the people, it is only supposed to dictate to them.
This is madness, only in damn Dominica, as a matter of fact if Mrs. Grant has any form of professionalism in her she would to the most respectful thing and decline, she would even resign. She is a woman of the law, but also knows ethics. Come stop making the world look as us as donkeys. PM we know you have the power but stop the abuse,
It was the same DLP led by Tony Astaphan that got rid of Dave Bruney from the IPO Commission, claiming he is an operative of the UWP and therefore cannot sit on the Commission. Skerrit now puts the wife of a DLP candidate as Chairperson of the Commission. What is the difference, Tony? So, what is good for the goose is not good for the gander.
Going forward, Dominica will never experience good governance unless the majority of citizens demand it. Skerrit and his political operatives see the people as door mats . The man has become a fully fledged monocrat. He is stifling electoral reforms, dragging opposition members before the court on trumped up charges, placing political lackeys in key positions in the civil service, arbitrarily giving away the country’s scarce financial resources for political favor. We often hear about Gaston Browne, Mia Motley, Keith Michell, Timothy Harris taking initiatives, certainly not so with the ornamental Doctor. Skerrit’s name is synonymous with corruption and scandals, also tarnished with international fugitives like Alizera Manfred. Dominica’s international image is indelibly stained by the Doctor²Skerrit.
…and again they put the fox in charge of the fowl house! Skerrit is taking the mickey out of Dominicans!
So who is Colleen Grant? Is she the wife of a politician? ..
I really wonder when this Skerrit will stop believing that we are as idiotic an intellectually empty as he is.
This IPO as is, is pure joke,rubbish, crap!!!…
Dominica will only get into proper order when Skerrit is discarded at the polls .His Msduro style misgovernance of Dominica has infiltrated all institutions…
What a wicked leader!
Skerrit Must Go
Skerrit Must Go
LAZY Skerrit Must Go Now
So just now, She is already appointed????? …. 15th Feb 2019 ain’t pass nah???? So whats the point of sending Linton a letter on 6th of March asking his take on something you did in Feb…. and even giving him a deadline to respond……………………..DAT MAKING SENSE, DAT DOH MAKING SENSE!!!
Skerro in ALLLLLLL his glory!!! HE RUNNING DA LIKE HIS OWN PERSONAL BUSINESS, allu wait there!!!!!
Salient points! You have it down packed! Isn’t this unconstitutional? Writing to the leader of the parliamentary opposition informing of an appointment after the fact. The highly decorated Doctor always sees it fit to decorate his over-inflated ego for political advantageousness.
Skerrit-” I’ve done it and there is nothing you nor anyone can do about it.”
This arrogant, non-consultative attitude has the country in dire straits.
Given that Mrs. Grant is the wife of a DLP candidate, this appointment smells suspicious. This will be another addition to Skerrit’s corrupt cabal and he should not be trusted on such a critical appointment.
1 from the President (Skerrit back pocket),
1 from Skerrit himself,
2/3 is for Skerrit so how is that integrity ?
1 from the Opposition.
There is an urgent need for constitutional reforms. The constitution puts to much power and authority in the hands of the prime minister, not withstanding political party. You see, the framers of the Dominican constitution thought that all prime ministers would be fair, decent and morally upright. They did not envisage an unscrupulous, morally depraved figure as Doctor² Skerrit to be at the apex of government.
And you mean there is no pillow talk between the proposed chairman and herhusband the DLP candidate for Wesley? Well, she must be holier than the Pope is all I can say.
The sexy leader, the beautiful, caring, and most gracious immaculate extraterrestrial being from mars, the ruler with an iron fist who rules his country with alien technology, the only double dr pm to never spend a day in school for his degrees, anchor of the most holy Catholic cemetery with blood sacrifices, his majesty Roosevelt Skeritt wants to be the way, the truth, and off course the light. Yet still he remains hidden on a hill because of lack of transparency. This puppet master wants to tell everybody on the island what to do, how to do it, when to do it. He is the minister for everything. He has a cabinet of actors where he speaks for all of them and they have to do as he says or get out. But this extraterrestrial being with all his ancient aliens technology has only been able to bring us misery over the years. He creates poverty and then triea to make us think he’s helping it in the form of NEP and high taxes. Meanwhile his mistress Gucci mel is living the American dream
unethical, unethical, UNETHICALLLLLLL!!!!!!
I was of the impression that the IPO was an independent body, tasked with keeping the politicians in check.
Didn’t the PM’s lawyer put an injunction, barring the IPO from investigating his financial holdings? YES HE Friggin’ DID!!!!! Skerrit needs to get out of office!!! He micro-manages the WHOLE country so he can get away with the unethical and illegal crap he keeps doing!
Millionaire PM, while country have to come beg you!
Skerrit DGAF!!, He “intends” to appoint at a date that precedes the date of the letter he writes to the Opposition Leader? That makes sense??
Well this looks like dictatorial traits, he cares less what the Opposition Leader thinks, and how much more glaring a conflict of interest can we tolerate in DA? All of the institutions have lost integrity under the DLP, and they don’t care for the feelings of the nation.
Kwapo smoke all you pipe if DLP gets another Term in office Dominicans..#wakeup!
Is colleen Felix-Grant the wife of the Labour representative for the Wesley constituency
No, she is the wife of the prospecive candidate for Roosevelt Skerrit’s labour party. He has not been selected yet.
So here it is her husband has been allegedly lucratively lured into the political scene and now she is heading the commission that keeps the guard on such. Wow!
More nonsense and dictatorial decision making. Burton was involved in the IPO before. Her husband is DLP operative. It’s clear where her loyalties are. Summary: just more of the same! Skerritt keeps on fooling the citizens of DA.
Thats right Skerrit, keep it it in the family.
Prime Minister Dr. Dr. Skerrit and Mrs. Skerrit Minister of Tootoonee Affairs in Mass Dominiq.
Hopeful for Wesley constituency Fidel Grant and and Mrs. Grant, Chairman of the Toothless IPO Affairs.
Who’s next to join the corrupted familaylaylaylay?
BTW I really, sincerely hope that it’s not the newest member of the Calypso forgetful family.
There are three members on the commission: one each from the government and the opposition and the third is a DLP hack.
Everything, everything that Skerrit does is heavily tainted with political expediency. Nothing is done to improve or enhance democratic practices in Dominica. In fact, democracy is being rapidly eroded under Skerrit’s tenure. Decisions like this gives credence to the perception that the present Dominican government is monumentally corrupt. The only time that Dominica will show signs of a real democracy is when the sun finally sets on the Skerrit’s regime.
DNO, a more suitable headline is ”Wife of DLP Candidate to Head IPO Commission.”
That man Skerrit has no respect for good governance standards! He is appointing the wife of his selected candidate to contest the Wesley constituency in the upcoming elections as chairperson of the IPO Commission. It was he who changed the IPO Act to prevent him from being accountable for his decision and wealth. When will this disrespect to the people of Dominica come to an end? On the whole, Mr. Skerrit has been bad for Dominica. He ought not to be tolerated as Prime Minister or member of any Cabinet of the Government of Dominica anymore!
That was part of the gesture man ?
Why should the prime minister get a vote in who should head IPO? I mean, if the prime minister doing shady business shouldnt the IPO investigate that? why should the prime minister get a vote in that?
The wife of a Government (DLP) candidate to head the IPO????!!!! Roosevelt Skerrit is clearly provoking and inciting the people of Dominica… we need to teach this deranged man a lesson at the polls.
Haha he put another labourites in the IPO haha so no one will investigate the PM
What are the roles of the Chairman, members and others of the Integrity Commission of the Commonwealth of Dominica. We tend to have all these roles and yet we have not seen nor heard of the discipline applied to ensure that there is everyday integrity in our government that we pay our taxes for and also that the performance of this sitting government must be monitored and called to account and answer questions of suspected ineptitude, abusive of states funds and other such behaviours, accountable to the Audit department and ensure that the office of the Prime Minister is not to abuse by delivering to poor families in need, the abuse of states funds given openly to people and families who are in deep poverty created by failed Skerrit an his corrupt, waste of time Labour government. they must Go, and we hope it will be soon. Skerrit as leader has been a failure, immature, lack developmental foresight why Dominica is in deep poverty with no jobs created by this comical labour Government.