Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said his government is looking at going to Parliament to pass legislation to assist retired judges of the court as well as other officials on their return to Dominica after holding important positions overseas.
He made the disclosure during a press briefing this week.
The country’s leader referred to distinguished Dominican jurist, Justice Davidson Kelvin Baptiste who had to go to court in order for his personal items to be released from the port, after he returned to Dominica from serving as Court of Appeal Judge for almost 20 years.
“It is unfortunate the matter had to go to court,” Prime Minister Skerrit said. “For me, personally, I believe that Parliament needs to pass legislation to deal with individuals like justices of the courts; heads of a regional or international organization.”
According to him, as a Dominican citizen, once that individual returns home, “all of the things that they are bringing in should be brought in with no hindrance by way of cost of duties and taxes.”
Furthermore, the Prime Minister stated that at the end of the day, the country has rules and laws, “and if a law does not allow the customs to facilitate something, the customs cannot facilitate it.”
He went on to state that with respect to a judge or a supreme court, it is the supreme court that is mandated to cover the cost of duties and the charges on behalf of retiring judges.
“We have had retiring judges here who were subjected to the same process…all of whom paid the duties that they were supposed to pay to clear their motor vehicle into the country,” Skerrit revealed.
He also made reference to Ambassador Irwin LaRocque who came to Dominica and had to pay some duties on his vehicle, “which is unfortunate.”
“Personally I don’t agree with this, but me disagreeing with it is not law,” he remarked. “I have a personal view about these things…”
Meanwhile, he said in regard to foreign missions there are certain encumbrances the law places on them which he doesn’t agree with.
“I think we need to look at amending those laws and to bring greater clarification to this matter,” Skerrit stated.
He added, “Going forward there will not be any issues.”
In his view, Prime Minister Skerrit believes that Parliament may want to give consideration to having a separate piece of legislation, notwithstanding any obligations or the Supreme Court mandate.
“I think if somebody serves as Head of CARICOM or Head of PAHO, and comes back [home], I think you should be able to drive your vehicle out of the port with no difficulty,” he noted. “That is my personal view.”
He continued,” We are looking at going to Parliament and to have a special piece of legislation to deal with that, so that we do not have misunderstanding with the state and persons coming in…”
Mr. Prime Minister why are you passi g a law fir the seflective few? Those who are selected like the Judges are those who got bog salaries each year and are in better position that the little man who had to flee from the island to gain some form of employment for survival and to help their family. Many want to return home with the little they accumulate but because of excessive customs duties they remain in a foreign country and wishing for change. Now you want to chane law it should be changed for all Dominicans who wish to come back home not a selective few. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. Remember too that many Dominicans return home to your.government in power so the least they can get from their country of birth is exemption from Customs Duties having lived 10 yrs and over 20yrs in another man’s country.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit how long have you been PM of this country? And how many laws have you changed to make life easier and better off for Dominicans in Dominica?
You are here talking talking talking, you are the government, you can change it but you never did. Now it is affecting your friends so it should be changed! You are such an idiot it is no longer funny! There are many old, archaic, senseless laws that need changing in Dominica. You have a DPP, Attorney General, and Minister of National Security and between you all, apart from using laws to harass the Opposition you all have not changed one law to better life for Dominicans or to protect Dominicans. But they keep voting Labour for ham and turkey! Keep on selling their birthright. PM Gonsalves in St Vincent does not sell passports!
I agree absolutely.
All DNO does is to repeat the exact words spoken by Roosevelt. The sad thing is that DNO is quite cognizant of this Liar’s antagonistic relationship with the truth.
This regime is uncaring, reactive and backwards. In the more progressive countries of the sub-region, returning nationals who return to their native land to live out their remaining years, are granted duty a free con concessions on all their belongings.
This Roosevelt-led oligarchy displays no visionary leadership. It is the most is a most antiquated, anachronistic incumbency.
Seriously? So certain people getting it free while others have to pay? What happen to fairness? What happen to equal treatment for all?
Aks I aksing.
You surprised? It’s just more of the same. For 2 decades this going on in DA now! This CM is a gangster.
More utter bs from a totally clueless individual. What about retiring politicians? You won’t ask them to come back? How about retiring police or military officers? You wouldn’t want them back. You are scared of them.
So this Evil man can rush to parliament to amend all laws on the books except the one to protect our young girls from those rapist? Skerrit why after 20 yrs in power you still can not protect our young vulnerable girls?
You run “tings” in Dominica, you are to be blamed 10p% for that. So you expect praises now by saying that? You have been a parliamentarian for 20 years, and 16 years as Prime Minister. You are minister of everything, what have you been doing? Have you been hiberating?
WICKED SOUL!!
You surely won’t get praises for me!!!
MISLEADER!! KING LIAR!!
blamed 100% for that………..
And we already know that Satan is a liar, Satan is a thief, Satan is a murderer, Satan is a backstabber, Satan is a destroyer, Satan is deceitful and that old Satan is a wolf in sheep clothing . Good thing is his days are numbered and he knows that and sadly he will not go down without a fight. So I don’t listen to anything Satan says. DNO I referring to the real Satan we all read about in the Bible that’s him
Yoe chey-baywuu! You keep messing with officers of the court but your day MUST come. Don’t come here playing “mister concerned” when you knew damn well that the retired judge was being made a laughing stock because he does not bow to the HOUSE OF Labour. But keep playing games still because when your turn comes around no one will cry mercy for you. What you and your cabal are sewing today will yield very very very unpleasant results. Mark my words! God is not a labour apologist!
Another Roosevelt article again. Just a question DNO. Does this man earn a majority of shares in this news outlet?
Where is the balance and the challenge to the veracity of the information? You cut and paste Roosevelt’s pronouncements verbatim without surgically dissecting or critically analysing them.
The more impartial the media outlets are, the better off society is.
He has got them in his pockets for sure, that’s why I don’t bother commenting any longer. In fact I do not even read their nonsense anymore. All I can say, good luck for the future. You’ll see what you get!
I think that some people were not born with the gene that causes shame in the human psyche. There was no need for the Honourable Justice to go to court for this matter. The same man who has gone on record with the pronouncement “I run things in Dominica” could have made a simple phone call to the Customs for the gentleman as well as the case of Larocque that he mentioned. Why didn’t he? And why is he grandstanding now?