Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has told Dominicans in his independence day address that “what we celebrate today is our struggle and triumphs against adversity and the progress and success we have recorded in the process of forging an identity that is truly Dominican.”
The Prime Minister admonished Dominicans that “as a people and as a nation we are not beating our chest loudly enough. We are not heralding enough the successes and achievements of our country and its people”.
In his address delivered at the Independence parade of uniformed groups on Saturday, Nov 3, Mr. Skerrit said his appeal was prompted by an experience which he had in Nevis last week in which a prominent caribbean national thought that Secretary General of Caricom, Dominican, Irwin Larocque, was a St. Lucian.
He mentioned Dr. Cleopatra Henry who holds the position of Director of the International Labour Organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, as another example of the many accomplishments by Dominicans that we should be touting. “For example we whisper very softly the fact that Dominica has more centenarians per capita than perhaps any other other country in the world. This fact ladies and gentlemen speaks volumes to our quality and natural way of life,” the prime minister stated.
According to him, this also reflected our caring attitude towards each other particularly the elderly.
He pointed to the acclaim that Dominica has received for its ecology and topogragphy, to world reviews of the island’s scuba diving and under water experiences, natural and man-enabled tourism attractions and asked “fellow Dominicans, when last you stopped and reflected upon all these attributes?”
The DLP leader said he had departed from the anticipated focus of his address on economics, projects and new jobs, about efforts at reducing the cost of living and about what his Government is doing for the various sectors because “it would seem that as a people we may have fallen into the global trap of gauging and perceiving progress and development through the materialistic eye,” he stated.
Skerrit then named a number of infrastructural, economic, social and foreign policy accomplishments of his administration “even in the midst of the worst global economic recession known to modern man”, which he said he could have spoken about but then asked “but if I were to remain in this mode of material accomplishment, at what time would we as a people pause to muse upon our true blessings as a nation. When would we reflect upon our human development achievements individually and collectively.”
Fifteen Dominicans were presented with meritorious service awards at the ceremony with the second highest national award going to Leo Jules Bernard Nicholas for his contribution to the trade union movement and George Alexander Royer for his contribution in the area of environmental health.
The event ended as is customary, with the parade of uniformed groups.
And for the increase youth unemployment and murders on island, who or what shall we beat, you?
LOL! Good one!
Let’s be proud of our successes but let’s also be honest about what they cost.
DNO your online news is being taken away by rabid uwp supporters who only see hate , anger and division…no wonder they are so few in numbers.
An independence speech asking Dominicans to be proud of their country and nationalistic and it has been reduces by uwp nonsensical/Q95 maypuis…magwasah.
I think UWP is a curse we need to get rid of….They will destroy themselves trying to create themeslves
anything that criticize the opaque practices of your government is labeled UWP. LOLOL poor UWP boy… alas alas alas….
…and by your pronouncements of venom and hate what can you yourself achieve. Aren’t people free to support whom they want? What should DNO do, publish only favourable statements? Skerrit is PM and even if I too can’t deal with the tearing on either side, you should learn to accept that if he wants the praise he has to take the blows with it. What does the posting of people have to do with Q95? In an effort to present another view, you have exposed yourself as another idiot drinking too much from the well of ignorance and hatred. How can you know what side a blogger is on from their postings? Only a damn fool would believe that all supporters of Skerrit don’t bash him behind the scenes and on blogs like DNO
his speech was generally ok
Yawnnnnnnnnnnnn! Yawnnnnnnnnnn! Yawnnnnnnnnnnnn! Who dat need to beat their chest and for what?
Dominicans are no longer stupid and the silence of those most educated should not be overlooked. For silence is golden and pretence is one’s best friend when your livelihood depends on it. The biggest voice will be heard at the pools next elections.
Assertive, NOT Agressive!
Let’s not jump and shout! The meek shall inherit the earth. A wise US President said, “talk softly but carry a big stick.” Isn’t it always the smallest dog that yips the most? No, least not we boast but let our accomplishments speak like thunder!
We would not have the “grand” state house if we had not sold our national pride. Best we all learn Chinese.
The Prime Minister admonished Dominicans that “as a people and as a nation we are not beating our chest loudly enough. We are not heralding enough the successes and achievements of our country and its people”.
Prime Minister, maybe your fellow citizens are more realistic and know that there is not very much to shout about. What do you want them to shout about? Constant murders and other crime, corrupt politicians, corrupt and useless police force, hopeless judicial system, shattered economy, a visionless administration and so on.
The country needs more than a few miles of new road!!!
It’s noteven new roads in most cases, but refurbished roads…We need to beat our chests that at the end of the rope,all dishonest leaders will have their day.
yes beat our chest for more justice,firebombing no answer yet.
PM, thank you for recognising illustrious Dominicans. There is so much jealousy and hate practised by SOME that they do not mind tarnishing the good work of hard working Dominicans (includiny you, PM) by talking and writing garbage all day long. Strange enough they can never do better than the people they criticise, because all they can do is ctiticise-nothing else. The country WILL go forward without them. Talk is cheap- especially today.
i agree
neutral? really?? maybe in your twisted perception..
what do you or your PM have to be jealous of???
a tarnished reputation?? ill gotten gain??
please specify!
Oh, so true!…and WHO did the talking in the stadium??
Stupes
I will not beat my chest because I’m not a monkey.That’s an insult to the populace by telling them to beat their chest like monkeys.Maybe he think they are.
Happy Independence Day to all of you!!
I may be physically far away (Middle-East) but certainly not in spirit. At this festive hour I am sorry to read about complains and allegations and leaving aside what’s really important. This is Dominica’s birthday!
And Dominica has a lot to be proud of. For such a small country to hold its own – heck take leadership – in environmental development, education, healthcare, etc and resist to the temptation of uncontrolled real estate development to a few non-local profiteers, as so many other islands have fallen prey to, this is quite an achievement.
PM Skeritt is right. We should beat our chest and be proud of what Dominica has achieved in the last 34 years.
what you doing all the way in the middle east??? fighting for some other man country??? well don’t worry WE ARE HERE fighting for YOUR country…
even on it’s 34th birthday…
Fighting to build a better life for young folks through education. I hope to make Dominica benefit from this in the future. Surprisingly the Saudis have a lot in common with the Dominicans with regards to wealth and health in a coastal environment.
Let’s march forward. Don’t look back else we will fall. Let us learn from our mistakes. Irwin Larocque roots are in Coulibistrie. Marlene Louis Larocque who wrote the book is from Coulibistrie, and her mother is a Larocque, and Irwin Larocque is her cousin. He is not No St. Lucian. Earl Louis who drives the Prime Minister is her sister, and Irwin Larocque and their mom are first cousins. Thank You! We have good Production in Dominica.
BUT WHY OH WHY is the disillusioned DYAHSPORAH that have to come and discredit what the LOCAL DOMINICANS testitify??????????? it look like plane tickets going out already for the snap, because all donkey and jack saa braying now?
i know irwin PERSONALLY, these people are disconnected from the DOMINICAN REALITY, living in their cloud 9 in st aroment.
CHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAA
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY ‘DOMINICA’. I hope we see Dominica as our Dominica, and not Dominica for a few. ‘FORWARD EVER, BACKARD NEVER! I live in the States but I am always in Dominica. Please get it right. Irwin Larocque is a Dominican. His family comes from COULIBISTRIE (WEST COAST). If you go to Coulibistrie you will know and find the Larocque’s. My mom is a Larocque. Tell St. Lucia don’t claim our child. The Haitians even say Morris Douboi who works on one of the TV stations in New York is from Haiti. Why they want to claim our best. Dominica have smart people and tell those countries don’t insult us, get their own. If they were stupid they would not want to claim them. Irwin is my cousin. Earl Louis who drives the Prime Minister is his cousin. OK. Let’s look forward. Let’s make progress.
For a bit I wondered if something was wrong with the PM. His speech obviously lacked zeal. In spite of his appeal to beat ones chest as a proud Dominican,he sounded fearful, something was missing. Mr. PM hope everthing is alright with you. I also take issue with the PM with regards to Jerelle’ success. This young lady has always shown that she has the ability to excel. She know how to apply herself and work hard. She has proven that at elementary school,as a netballer, as part of CHLP, at PSS, and now at UWI. Sorry to disappoint you sir but Jerelle has a track record of success, and the intelligent, humble young lady that she is caused to stay away from the show you wanted to put on. Mr PM keep it real, while you are saying that material things don’t matter, you have often tied D A’s progress to the building of roads, the new state house, modern hospital in the making etc. What should we really think. None the less Happy Independence Dominicans.
I think UWPand people like you are a curse we need to get rid of….They will destroy themselves trying to create themeslves.
Diappointed are you muslim, you sound bitter and ready to blow something up…will you grow up?
If he does not elevate Jerrelle, by the way from Vieille Case, who will…Barbados, St Lucia, Antigua, Dissappointed???
Will you grow up Disappointed????
I cannot understan why DNO is allowing comments like this while they keep oppressing mine. I simply gave reasons why I cannot beat my chest more loudly, as the PM encouraged us to do, and three times I posted and DNO (Dominica News Oppressor), oppressed my views. Here is a man preching hate, calling UWP suppoters curse, seeking to get rid of such people, maybe through death, and gets into ones religion and DNO feels that this is worth of posting. This definitely does not look like the fair, objective, and honest Tim Durand I once knew.
She was sick and couldnt make it.. get your facts straight and don’t make her absence political
hmm not too keen Dominicans are a sellout type of citizens…they sold dominica for a few pennies…
Really would it not be very honorable for a PM of a Labour Government to recognize the labour Party Prime Ministers and Labour leaders who led us to Independence –PATRICK JOHN AND O.J SERAPHIN THE 1ST AND 2ND PRIME MINISTERS OF OUR COUNTRY . P.J who was our 2 nd Premier and O.J the President of the party and a Minister who together were the Leaders of the day which led us to Independence !
Our children do not know of these men although they are alive …
what a shame !
Were they even invited to the celebations ?
So Nicholas given the highest honour of this year contributed more than them in our nation building ?
Wold it have been too muchdfor
And can it be?….
My Dear Countrymen, brothers and sisters in Dominica and some of you in the Diaspora, I greet you on this auspicious occasion of our Independence.
We have so much to be thankful for! We have achieved much and we will win together.Due to my good leadership, humility, respect for human rights and the rule of law, we now have Dominicans in leadership positions both regionally and internationally. Do you know that others now have the audacity to say that the man in CARICOM is not our own? I hope that the CARICOM man himself will realize that any bad prior treatment, alleged or otherwise, was just a part of the strategy recommended by the Triumvirate to get him out of the Ministry and on to bigger and better things. The wise men of our Triumvirate have never failed in their judgment! Bad people may try to tell you otherwise. To all those naysayers and doubting Thomases I want to reiterate to you this Independence Day that you too shall eat if you will get on board. As you know, nobody can argue that there is a lack of transparency in this administration and as I’ve said before, no law or constitution can keep me (and by extension us) back.
This Independence, instead of beating our swords into plowshares as the good prophet Isaiah cautioned, let us instead beat our chests like King Kong; let us turn our tongues into swords by sticking them out and saying Beh! Repeat after me, “Beh! to all our challengers. We are strong and we shall not fail. For, I tell you today, who Jah bless no man curse.
Thank you.
you too shall eat if you will get on board….
sugar s say no JUMPING ON BORD for a little food…
keep your money and we will keep our honey…
no all Dominicans are that EASY….
Spaggs speech was the best
“Let’s beat our chest more loudly”
That’s what the Pharisee did when he went before God and he was rebuked. But the one who went with a spirit of humility and admit his shortcomings left more justified
You need to beat your chest for turning the once prosperous country called Waitikubuli into one of the poorest in the Caribbean…!
Perhaps Dominicans are right to keep quiet about the many centenarians, because their way of life is long gone. It would just highlight that today Dominica has one of the worst obesity rates in the world and its people are some of the unhealthiest.
And ain’t you proud?
He expressed his sympathies for the people in Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti who suffered because of hurricane Sandy…but not a word about the U.S.A., which was truly hammered, particularly Jersey and N.Y. which have more Dominicans than the other islands combined. Most odd!!I saw a leader, who looked ill, like someone on steroids and who clearly loses the plot whenever he dwells from a script that appears to be crafted by someone else. Seriously, our leader appears to be not well and I’ll pray for him.
The USA was the first he mentioned
people cannot blame other people for not hearing or reading the same thing that is in plain sight or maybe some words were closed captioned for the hearing impaired.
If 5 people are together and they see something and hear something, this is five different thinking, hearing and seeing….
God bless Dominica
If the P.M. did mention the U.S.A. and I failed to hear it I must apologise, of course!
You are a very malicious individual!! The PM did in fact mention the USA and the fact that we as a nation stand in solidarity with them at this devastating time. Stop trying to create confusion and division where there’s none!
As it relates to the PM’s appearance, if anything the man simple looks tired. The Independence season is very taxing on the politicians, particularly the Ministers of Culture, Community Development and the PM!
Say it loud.. His nonsense wont affect him but us normal day Dominicans
The people mentioned have worked hard and excelled AS INDIVIDUALS. What does this have to do with building the country as the goverment.
Government’s responsibility is not to single out people and try to use their success as the government being the reason.
Someone meeting you and telling you about Dominica – this is not development.
You are so right. When people work hard to educate themselves with little or no sleep to pay for that tuition and Government want to take praise for it is something else. Then again Dr. Cleopatra Henry is the sister in law of the president, so…..I rest my case. Sa yo mem. But don’t get me wrong I like Mr Williams. Just hope he does not become a YES man!!
Crime crime crime. Mo sympathy man! It shows he does not care 2 hooks. Immagine he full a sheet; he full a sheet of RIP since he joined the poltical arena.
Tyani had started a great job and was not appreciated because of politics. Dominica would have beeb close to a safe place if he was left to continue the good works.
Where ignorance is bliss, it’s……….
What a life.Heaven help us all.
Happy birthday ma Dominik.I wish you many more prosperous birthdays. The Prime Minister has asked me to beat my skinny chest loudly in celebration of the achievements and successes of the country. Mr. Prime Minister,I did beat my chest for all the achievements and successes you have mentioned and I am not finished yet, however, I need your help in order to continue beating my chest.I need you to apologise to Dominicans for all the bad deeds you have committed against the country. For instance,do you have a French Passport or not and if so please present it at a press conference. Please make available approximately $5M to the electoral office for voter’s I.D. Cards etc.Emails were produced linking you to the Villas at Savanne Paix,at the time you said they were cut and paste,please present the original copies. I will dayforsay my chest when you decide to respect the constitution and the people of Dominica.
WOYYYYYYYYY lololool that one sweeten my day,
deforcey mem mem mem!!
i like……………..
Happy Independence Dominica.
I AM DOMINICAN, I AM KALINAGO, I am not forging anything..
What are you…… a gorilla? Or Tarzan?
Get rid of the ego and really get to work for a change. The roads are a mess. No more incompatible patch work.
One part of the PM speech that really stood out for me was when he spoke of the nonstop campaigning by some in the Country, afterall is this how a Country is built???? Is that how every one mst come togther to build a nation???? i dont live on island but listen all the time and it is very disgusting, its shameful of so called big men, its annoying, guys lets dust off and move on plzzzzz. STOP IT, lets build not break
don’t misconstrue the fight for justice as POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING…. don’t let this mans psychology degree batter down your intelligence. come home and experience things on the ground, you are sure to get a rude awakening.
Sorry to say but it is all political campaigning. Some of us are pretending to be fighting against things which we have no intention of changing if we get political power. We will then try to justify them as is evidence by the famous dual citizen case where the persons filing the petition against the two sitting members of the ruling party also had dual citizenship. What did they do? They tried to justify it. Some of us Dominicans will not forget.
here you come with that old broken record…. two wrongs will make a right WHEN COCK HAVE TEETH, and when you gain perspective.
they did it, it was wrong. he came he did it, it was also wrong.
so BABOON we should really NOT CORRECT IT????
is that your totally hollow and deficient argurement????????????????????
Calm down my friend don’t burst a blood vessel but the opposition have been playing the same old broken record for the last three years.
man crawl back under your rock and remain in the darkness you was spawned from eh.
till you have an argument just
SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
No need to resort to name calling or are you just incapable of having a civil discussion? Hope you get over your frustration. Peace!!!
”For example we whisper very softly the fact that Dominica has more centenarians per capita than perhaps any other other country in the world. This fact ladies and gentlemen speaks volumes to our quality and natural way of Life” says Prime Minister Rosevelt Skerrit.
The other way I understand that the spoken words above to be a “truth” comes from my knowledge and understanding that God is Love, He has blessed us, Dominicans, with the Life of His love.
If only more of us, Dominicans, would accept and embrace that “truth” the acceptance that would provoke our minds to just live the Life of peace and gratitude to our Living God, for all that He has blessed us with and done for us!
But instead, we continue to allow the enemy of Life in us, to feed us with his fruits of futility, which are the lies that keeping telling us we have nothing and we are not getting any place. What a wicked and sorry lie!
But it will only affect the minds of those who choose to accept it. God Almighty is in control, He is always with us, who are faithful to Him, trustful in His ability to deliver us, obedience to His call for our service, and humble enough to give Him the honors and merits, which belong to Him. Yeah! God is always with us, for we are His people–come what may we will have victory!
Thank you Prime Minster for your speech above and Happy Independence Day to all of your, my people.
Why dont you accept the trith you spooning pokwit chridtian. You said you r flight is booked to jeaven not heaven but you better checkout who the pilot is cause the last time i checked my copilot was mouth of the south and our passengers were those hypocrite soldiers of christianity. Those who connive to supress truth and justice. So this is the ladt call for passengers BJ, P AUGISTINE, BJ MAL MATERRE,PERRE THOMAS,PETTA ST JEAN, ATTOTNEY FATHER PRIEST and Coffee priest.
Since my distinguished passengers can’t recognize the truth a half tank of fuel is sufficient and no landing gear tequired. ALL POKEIT MF ABOARD.
LIZ let us see how much you are for jesus when i mention the following. Fire bombing, french passport, fertilizer and bin bobol,isidore, Villas, land purchase and tax evasion, corrello. Do you see any truths in there LIZ4 JESUS cause if not jesus would be very disappointed. Oh 2 more SICO SECO and 42 charge blockage. I await your honest , pious and reverent answer.
False prophets, hypocrites and parasites. These are the very same people that Jesus spoke against- those in bed with corrupt political and spiritual conmen pretending to be people of god while the poor is languishing and the same conmen are building riches in record time. This is the truth that those hypocrite religious people must confront. Instead of condemning thievery and bidding illegal gain so called pastors are getting together with lawyers to help dishonest politicians hide villas on crab man name. See one pastor fell on his face and he has more to come too. Just wait. The other one that like his jerry curls in Maryland also has his day coming. As for the politicians and overnight millionaires tan fen tan et tan kit aid tan.
If you Liz think that overnight millionaire politicians are any better than the overnight millionaire drug dealer go read your bible again. You want to talk about truth then take of your bias cloak and walk like jesus
why is this guy trying to piggyback off other people’s success
This fake message is for the gullible ones.High unemployment,wastage of money on a palace, the demise of agriculture, a lazy and incompetent government,a leader who disrespects the constitution, a leader who presides over one of the poorest country in the Caribbean.A country with a huge cabinet of pots and pans instesad of honourable men and women.
After 12 long years this government has a failing grade in everything, other than the hurling of vitriolic language and invectives at people who are concerned about the direction that the country is going. Long gone are the days of the TRUE LABOUR PARTY/ THE GOOD LABOUR PARTY… In this regime ‘Some Shall Eat All’, while most must starve. A bleak future lies ahead unless Dominicans realize that the country is descending into an abyss of no return.
what success??? now this dude is claiming Carissa Ettiene’s success as his?? oh and the other cave hill valedictorian???? Geez talk about clutching at straws…..
you know what would be a GREAT personal achievement for this dude????
BRINGING DOMINICANS TOGETHER, to elevate our level of politics. and creating the environment for the kind of self determination Dominicans thirst for…. till then he will continue to batayay…
imagine when these “DOMINICANS” start cheering for that man, I just turn my back and went to buy a drink….horray!!! anyways Elude really fetch a BONE….they said everyone stay standing for the presidents exit…. at that very moment the “teflon don” began his show boating waving for cheers….
If i didn’t leave at that point… I might have hurled on the person sitting infront me.
Boy, you are still leaving in 1979???????
the word is LIVING buddy…. even in 1979 we practice proper grammar.
is that the best you can do?
Well.. As as family member of the Valedictorian I must commend the PM on recognizing her success. Thanks to the Government of Dominica she was granted a scholarship to pursue her dreams… She has always excelled in school and we are very proud of her… I applaud him for making mention of her achievement especially since Dominica placed her on the back page of their newspaper when Barbados had her on the front page!!..So before you start pointing on PM take a look at urselves and check whether or not you appreciate your own..Damian Marley/WCMF was ur front page.. Good job PM.. Remember – they must talk – it means u exist……
ohhh how some people LOVE praise…. but then again. I am entitled to my opinion as are you, and in MY OWN humble opinion, modesty is undervalued in Dominican society…. but then again, not everyone has that quality….
what of fame? the world screams your name, and never again are you alone….