Marigot Bus drivers still waiting for answers from government

The protest action affected scores of people including students and commuters
The protest action affected scores of people including students and commuters

As a new week begins, bus drivers plying the Marigot to Londonderry route have still not been able to meet with Public Works Minister, Ian Pinard, to seek solutions to a problem that they are facing in that area.

Last week, bus drivers and others who use that route staged protest action near the Douglas Charles Airport because the sea has been breaching the wall in the area causing seawater to invade the road.

They say for years the seawater has been damaging their vehicles and are demanding that the government do something about the situation.

However, there seems to have been some miscommunication as it relates to the location where the meeting was supposed to be held this week.

“We understood that they said the meeting will be held in town, but that was not revealed to none of us,” bus driver Stacia Williams told Dominica News Online (DNO) on Thursday.

According to her, the bus drivers waited for the minister on Wednesday at Marigot and he never showed up.

“Since 10:00am Wednesday we waited for the Minister to begin the meeting; a lot of people were there,” she said. “We stayed up to lunchtime and nothing happened so we left.”

She said the first time they met the government side said they would return to Marigot to have a meeting “because that is where the problem is, and there I believe is the best place to hold that meeting.”

She added, “We have not received any message or a call from the minister and we are still waiting for answers. We want to know how much money it will cost to solve that problem.”

She said the bus drivers were not aware of the meeting in Roseau. “It was not communicated to us. If he had communicated that with us we would know, but we are sought of confused………We are waiting to see how long they are going to get back to us”

Williams said the bus drivers have decided not to continue with the protest action in order to give the minister time to solve the problem. She described the situation as a serious one which needs to be addressed.

Meanwhile in an interview on state-owned DBS Radio on Friday, Public Works Minister Ian Pinard, gave his account of what happened.

“We informed them that the meeting is going to take place in Roseau and the persons in Marigot indicated that they wanted to meet in Marigot and we informed them that there was a meeting scheduled in Marigot already which took place and we wanted the next meeting to be held in Roseau,” Pinard explained.

He said another meeting is expected to be held in Roseau, with a date to be announced later.

“In fact I have given the Permanent Secretary instructions to call again and rescheduled that meeting, so we are hoping to have a meeting with the residents of Marigot. We would like the meeting to be held in Roseau…we have all the information that we require and we are hoping that we can give them an update as to what is transpiring,” the minister stated.

Pinard said that the government is “very concerned” about the matter. He said it was discussed in cabinet on Tuesday and they are “looking at all possible ways to come up with the right decisions.”

“Because a lot of proposals that we have are very expensive, the proposals are in millions of dollars so we have to make sure it is done and it is done right. That is why we need more information and more time to make a decision,” the minister stated.

He said the government is working very hard and will have a solution for this problem.

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24 Comments

  1. Mine
    January 27, 2015

    What IS the educational level of this minister? This is his statement “Because a lot of proposals that we have are very expensive, the proposals are in millions of dollars so we have to make sure it is done and it is done right. That is why we need more information and more time to make a decision,” the minister stated. My question is; if you need time to make a decision, what are the people of Marigot coming to Roseau for then? Are you calling them in a meeting to tell that you need more time to make a decision.. Well; Mr. Minister, MARIGOT people are NOT lacking intelligence or common sense, stop playing games. The demand is that you and your PS go to Marigot with a solution to this problem and do it FAST. People are paying you and your government to do the people’s of Dominica work, last I check MARIGOT is in Dominica.

  2. Democracy 4 Dominica
    January 26, 2015

    Captain the Ship is sinking……. oops! The Captain has jumped ship every man for himself!!!!!
    Total chaos unfolding right before our eyes. No directions and no one knows what they are doing or what they are talking about. The ones assuming control are Clueless and clearly have no idea what it takes to address the Issues. It’s time The International Agencies intervene . Dominica is becoming a laughing stock for the Government seem incapable of handling its Domestic affairs.
    God please deliver your people Amen.

  3. Democracy 4 Dominica
    January 26, 2015

    Don’t hold your breath!!! Nought is coming from this it’s just a big Show on the officials part. They were trying to buy time while they plan their next move. The people took them by surprise and they had to back down but had no intention to provide a solution. Their WORDS mean nothing.
    So I say SHUT the Country down. The Masses hold the power … Regroup and put the pressure on . No more TALK we need ACTION.

  4. January 26, 2015

    IAN PINARD can say what he wants but this is an insult to the people of marigot and wesley . this is the height of disrespect and rudeness coming from pinard . PINARD the best thing for you to do is to go to the people . who do you think you are. you are playing great now but at the end of this five year term or sooner tha you may think you will be begging them for their votes again!!!!

  5. Doc. Love
    January 26, 2015

    Here we go again, delay tactics. I hope Hon Lennox Linton does not get wrapped up in the semantics of the Skeritt led administration. The people of Marigot and Dominica have lots of confidence in you to make things happen, please don’t let them down. Your are dealing with a very deceptive feller, don’t let your guards down like your predecessor, action time is over due, my brother. :mrgreen:

  6. Dominican
    January 26, 2015

    Unbelievable…..Roseau to Marigot is approximately 30 miles. The government official could have met with the citizens of the area, addressed the issue and provided possible solutions and been back in Roseau before quieting time (5PM)……C’mon Man!

  7. COMBOS
    January 26, 2015

    this is what blackmore should be addressing

  8. Malgraysa
    January 26, 2015

    Mr. Pinard, you missed a golden opportunity to mingle with the people and measure their sentiments, at the same time taking heat out of the situation and get some credit. Nobody expected you to, make a commitment there and then except to say that you understand their concerns, listened to them and will take them into consideration in coming to a proposed solution. But no, you make it look and sound as if you must dictate to them Dominica ,is too small to sit in ivory towers. Go out and meet the people, mix with them, be genuine and have confidence in yourself. You don’t need a nod from above before you move all the time.

  9. King Skerrit
    January 26, 2015

    Delaying tactics. How hard is it to clearly call a meeting. .something so simple having all this “miscommunication”. I don’t buy it for one minute.

  10. A Doubting Thomas
    January 26, 2015

    What is Dominica? Dominica is an Island.
    What is an Island? An island is land surrounded by water.

    What are some of the things that we pride ourselves with? 365 rivers, the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. But with our hundreds of rivers, and we must Give God All The Praise; there are countries in the world where there is no water. Lest we forget.

    When it rains heavily our water in our pipes can at time be muddy, small price to pay. When there are high seas the waves will be strong and high and other price to pay, in the case of the bus drivers a big price when their vehicles get damaged. All that are beyond our control. It is called Nature.

    What can we do as Dominicans? As Dominicans we must work together. In our country there are limitations to what we can do. What are the best ways to try and conquer our limitations?

    Work together, listen, dialogue, be open to each others view and ideas, after all we all want the same thing. A satisfactory solution…

    • maindesk
      January 27, 2015

      All of this nature thing was there before. It is the government project at the airport that created this problem so they then must correct this. That is what government is all about which includes protecting the life and property of the citizens and residents. A bus costs up to $100000. Perhaps if the bus was yours you would sing a different song so never crticise people’s actions until you walk a mile in their shoes. Should we wait until there is loss of life from a heavy wave to make big speeches of hypocritical mourning

  11. oposition
    January 26, 2015

    political gimmick smh

  12. Thor
    January 26, 2015

    So there are a bunch of drivers in Marigot with the minister and a couple of his other people. Would it be better for the minister to drive to Marigot than to have al these people go to Roseau?

    And why all this confusion?

    I have come to the conclusion that there is a good reason why under-developed countries are poor and most will remain poor. This is a perfect example why we are not developing. That is so simple, yet even that they mess up.

  13. Neutral
    January 26, 2015

    Thank you Pinard. Lets all work together to find a solution to the problem.

  14. TimTim
    January 26, 2015

    A bunch of nincompoops Dominicans are!

  15. Anon
    January 26, 2015

    Pressure start on gov’t,,..Linton could’av let election settle before starting things running wi pal.

  16. IG
    January 26, 2015

    “Because a lot of proposals that we have are very expensive, the proposals are in millions of dollars so we have to make sure it is done and it is done right. That is why we need more information and more time to make a decision,”

    PRIORITIZE MR. MINISTER :-x

    • Titiwi
      January 26, 2015

      Don’t tell me Ian , is Offshore Civil & Marine who told you that, same people who built that wall in the first place. Did they put the right steel sheeting in it hmmm?

  17. marigot
    January 26, 2015

    “They say for years the seawater has been damaging their vehicles and are demanding that the government do something about the situation…. From time people in the marigot area have been victims of SEABLAST, resulting in damages to vehicles, homes and furniture. What has changed? Vehicle owners should have their vehicle properly washed on a regular basis or relocate to a more nature friendly environment.

  18. Rockrr
    January 26, 2015

    The million of dollars skerite spend in the campaign could do more than just putting brrakers.those men there to damn wicked. They spend over 30 million dollars in a campaign and ian pinard taking bout expensive ? Where the jobs all you promissed people in all you…. Ss . ? Uh i doeno how dominicans so stupid. Wherre skerite? And how comes the house of assembly doe start yet? I leaving lennox to blaysay them in paliarment.

  19. Smell of Roses
    January 26, 2015

    Mr. Minister, every heard of something called a LETTER? Why such basic issues can never be properly handled? And the people in Marigot wanted the meeting in Marigot so they waited there instead?? STUPES. That not making sense.

  20. Shameless
    January 26, 2015

    Same government, same she*t. But one thing I know is that Marigot people doh play. :twisted:

    Assertive, NOT Aggressive!

  21. Love All
    January 26, 2015

    I like the way the minister is dealing with the problem by using his technical staff to attend the situation but I don’t see why the meeting should be held in Roseau and not marigot. The other question can the road not continue straight instead of that huge bend? Is there not enough hight to put a mini tunnel. I would be grateful to see an answer from some technical person.

  22. The voice of god?
    January 26, 2015

    “According to her, the bus drivers waited for the minister on Wednesday at Marigot and he never showed up.” A no show government? While growing up as a child my parents always use to recite this proverb: “How you make your bed so you will sleep on it.” It simply means to think it through before we act, and that we failed to do as a nation. Ms Williams there is no way the minister would show up because they depend on one man called Skerrit and none of them can act when he is out. The truth is, since after the election the man has been gone and when he returned he did not have good news for them. Where is he? What is he hiding from the nation? Is he going to do like Chavez? Is Vince Henderson still an ambassador, or is he going to take national duties? Is the labor daba in disarray? Who is the deputy PM again? Who is acting PM again? Did I recently hear from Skerrit and an evangelist that the voice of the people is the voice of God? Did God really speak Mr. Evangelist? Time will tell

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