Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Roosevelt Skerrit, has called for people to honour their agreements with the Dominica Agricultural Industrial and Development (AID) Bank
Speaking at the AID Bank’s Annual General Meeting earlier this week, Skerrit urged borrowers to fulfill their legal obligation to repay what was borrowed from the bank in order to maintain ‘buoyancy’ within the institution.
“We must respect our legal agreements. If we borrow, there is a responsibility to repay and if you’re experiencing difficulties in repaying, then you must go to the bank and engage the bank in discussions to see whether they can refinance or extend your loan repayments,” the Prime Minister stated.
He continued, “But, by neglecting the responsibility and being also publicly defiant of the dereliction of your responsibility and duty is not sitting well with our country, because you are, in fact, denying more job creation in the country; you are denying more entrepreneurs to be developed in the country because you’re denying somebody else opportunity.”
He stressed that it is incumbent on the bank and its clients to ensure that the institution continues to be buoyant, with enough resources that it can lend to people.
Skerrit also revealed that the AID Bank is in discussion with the Exim Bank of China with a view to borrowing funds from the Chinese Bank for on-lending to the private sector of Dominica.
He said he hopes the negotiations will be successful.
“Our hope is that your application will be successful, because if it becomes successful, it would be a major plus to the bank, first and foremost, but also importantly, to the Dominican economy; because at the Exim Bank, the bank would borrow at about 2%, and of course, you’d be able to on-lend to your customers, your clients at no more than 6%, allowing you to make a decent profit.”
Meantime, Prime Minister Skerrit urged the Dominican public to adopt a more positive outlook, stop engaging negative thoughts and actions that are “completely contrary to the biblical teachings” and become “keepers of our neighbours.”
He asked that everyone—particularly religious people—use Holy Week to reflect on their contributions to society.
“…this is not Roosevelt Skerrit’s country…this is our country…and in this time, this Holy Week, those of us who are Christians, who are Catholic Christians…it is an opportune time for us to do our own reflections, and to see within us ‘what is it I am doing positively I can build on? And, what is it I am doing negatively that’s not benefitting human kind, that’s not benefitting our country, that’s placing our country in a less than positive light’?,” he remarked.
Skerrit urged citizens to be patriots and ambassadors for Dominica and to get involved in nation-building in order to leave a better country for the younger generation.
“…..there are some in our midst, whenever they’re quoted anywhere out of Dominica, and in Dominica, it is something bad about Dominica, something bad about our country and unfortunately, there is a minority that applauds that foolishness. We have to stop it. We cannot want, in our effort to get where we want to get, to destroy everything in our way,” the Prime Minister complained. “Who is gonna rebuild Dominica when we destroy it? Our children. And, what kind of Dominica we would like to bequeath to our children… why would we want to destroy Dominica, and not build it up?”
Mr. PM direct the message to your members of the Board of Directors who are not honoring their committment
Mr. PM direct the message to your members of the Board of Directors
When u giving those hard working aid bank employees a RAISE!
Talk is cheap; do as I say not as I do.
There is no need to be rude and sarcastic.
Your comment also pertains to you. Whenever you criticize someone and play the blame game on them, you should realize that you, as an imperfect human being also refer to yourself. It falls right back on the one who made the comment. This is something you and others as you must learn.
Even though this advice may not refer to you, you can never appreciative sound advice. You should consider you or some others could learn something which will benefit you.
clico pay me so i can pay aid bank readers put the dots together
So when you tell your child something is wrong in public you are destroying your child?
Mr. PM , when things are wrong in this country we have say so and keep our GOVT accountable.
We gave you a free hand too long and never told you about your wrong doings, This is why our country is in CRISIS today and we are in a DITCH.
DITCH- Dominica In Total Crisis HELP.
Consider how many people there are in Dominica. You are only one of them.
I spoke to a few people in Dominica at the weekend. None told me that Dominica is in a crisis. None complained. If there is a crisis in Dominica, in the true sense of the word, I would know about it. So would other Dominicans who reside abroad.
What is your problem and what is wrong with you?
Roosevelt Skerrit and his bunch sabotage the businesses of AID Bank clients who they believe do not support his party, I say party not government, because any person who starts a business under the reign of a government cannot be accused of not supporting the government, then Roosevelt wants the same businesses to honour their loans when they make it impossible for these businesses to survive.
There are countless AID Bank clients who are suffering under the pressure of Roosevelt Skerrit and his gang, the AID Bank is used as a tool to make these businesses fail.
DNO I am a living example of this one, I can write a series of articles on how Roosevelt Skerrit and the AID Bank make businesses fail. Maybe DNO should send out an invitation to AID Bank clients to tell their story.
Despite everything else, he is the Prime Minister of the country and while in office, he should be treated with more respect than that .Is the young lady disabled or have difficulty standing ? this don’t seem so to me . You are shaking the Prime Ministers hand , whether you like him or not show a bit of etiquette, Please stand for the hand shake . Why should such disrespect be acceptable . We have to raise our standards en .Or is it the fact that one has to earn respect to be respected ? I dunno nah ;
Just an observation wee.
I have already advised and said that, Satan Cannot Forgive sins.. Satan does morale authority to advise anyone, let alone Dominicans on wrong or role right, Satan has never been a good role model for Jesus, let alone for the People of Jesus who have been in bondage for years
So PM advice and pronouncements are not taken seriously and like Jesus must be seen as a big disappointment to the Dominican people.
See how Skerrit is shooting himself in the foot, self inflicted wounds, only if those who drafted this speech for him, did it deliberately and I am happy they did…..
1. “We must respect our legal agreements…” (What,…..is this man serious..?
2. He continued, “But, by neglecting the responsibility and being also publicly defiant of the dereliction of your responsibility and duty is not sitting well with our country.
I wonder if Skerrit reads his speech and really comprend before he spews it it out? We all agree that Skerrits actions are just not sitting down well with…
Who are you referring to when you state that Satan cannot forgive sins? You have to be a fool to call a person Satan.
Anyone on this Website stated they can forgive sins? Christians know all about Satan, the deceiver, destroyer and detractor of souls including yours.
God gave everyone a mouth and a voice. Anybody can talk and say anything and about God and to give good/godly advice. So what is your problem? You are placing yourself on a holier than thou pedestal above the PM.
God knows you and your lifestyle. “He has commanded that we love. He has forbidden that we judge.” This goes for you. Your pronouncements are also not taken seriously for you are by no means perfect. God knows that.
If you keep on judging and referring human beings as Satan, be careful you do not end up as a Satan and in his eternal cauldron of everlasting fire.
God is taking note of your words.
Some of you excel in judging others but not yourselves as if you are not worthy of being judged. Look to yourself and judge yourself first.
Ask yourself. How do you rank before God? This should be your primary concern.
We are judged at this moment, in the manner God sees us based on our lifestyle and what comes out of our mouths as embedded in our hearts. So you are not above the PM in this respect. You lack love and respect. Your writing has spewed hatred. God will judge you two-fold for judging another.
You do not have the power to judge. Only God has. Therefore, cease your judgment. Do not heap eternal hot, burning coals on your head.
If god alone can judge, why are you judging the brother? We will all be judged on that day for our iniquities,whether we are money launders, receivers of sexual favors and other gifts from criminals, underpaying civil servants etc. We are all bad people. Just look at petite savanne people. Still homeless 7 Months after Erika . Got the picture?
Does that go for the certain board member that not paying his loan? or just for the common man?
I know, right!
They think people don’t know about him. hmph!
My only comments during this Easter time on this payback loan matter is, “it is better to be considered to be considered dishonest, then to open your mouth and remove all doubts.”.
How can a prime minister of a country also be minister of finance? that creates a conflict of interest and opens up a possibility of misuse of funds. In no way should a PM also be the countries minister of finance too. The finances should be controlled by a board of individuals on a rotation basis so that they can watch each other and prevent theft. There should be millions of dollars in the Treasury, where is the money? Chins should investigate to find out what happened to all the money they have given Dominica.
yup. i have the same concerns. How do we allow these things to happen?
Your comment shows ignorance of how the Government operates under the provisions of the constitution in regards to financial accountability. You also do not understand the term “conflict of interest,” is this what your political partisan beliefs does to your mind.
% Keep on crying; it is routine.
well i agree with you skerrit, while most of us have to take loans and struggle to pay them because of a literally dead economy, you build cash, your 100k vehicles cash, your family does everything cash…. PRAISE GOD FOR YOU
“the bank would borrow at about 2%, and of course, you’d be able to on-lend to your customers, your clients at no more than 6%, allowing you to make a decent profit.” PM, NONE of the Banks in Dominica get that message, and they all have a cost of funds below 2%. Banks here practice USURY! Please reduce the prime lending rate.
Yes, usury the most evil thing placed on people and Governments.
My sister and I have discussed this many many times.
Charging people 10,9,7,% on a mortgage is highway robbery. After she paid off her mortgage we did some quick calculations and concluded that she had paid about 3 and a half times more than what she borrowed. And I’m talking about a bungalow style 2 bedroom house, no frills.
Government need to put some control over this nonsense. I don’t expect RBC and FCIB and BNS to comply since they are foreign banks. However, NBD and GHLB are owned by the Government and so, Government need to put laws in place to make lending rates more attractive.
Only then young people will feel brave enough to take mortgages and have their own homes.
Well perhaps if you would stop VICTIMIZING people they may be able to honour their loan agreements.
Ashe,
Lorenzo,
Lap Seng,
Madueke,
Zampoli,
Rudulph King,
Francisco Corallo,
Susan Olde
Whose friend are all the above crooks?
Otherwise there will be no more bank loans. There are many DA’cans who are of the opinion that they can borrow and not have to repay. Just like they can wreck or steal another’s property and feel that they don’t have to pay for it. The parents that raised them must have taught them accordingly.
PM, here is my advise to U. Iit’s Easter time and now is not the time to talk money. I think as a true Chistian U should find some serious priest or pastor and go confess to them. Do like Nichodimus and talk to the priest or pastor about what you may know on subjects like: Big men in society that allegedly sexually abusing our minors; the alleged leaked confession of a minor to police and how it happen to go viral; macaw scandal and what people like Yin, Ashe, Lorenzo, Lap seng, Vivian, and others did to be arrested by FBI and how their case might affect Dominica; Mr. and Mrs. GON Emmanuel and the Christmas 2009 fire bombing;; the villas and who is the true owner; Layou River hotel and the $130 million that disappeared; The Morocan hotel and why it has not opened and when should we expect it to open; the sale of our passports and the possibility of them ending in the hands of ISIS. No, you did not do anything and U are not confessing sins. U just telling them what U may have known
How come the PM always goes on a religious rant to deflect from his useless government?
He also needs to improve his English “Who is GONNA” rebuild Dominica.That doctorate received seems to be misplaced.
Has the Government now lost credibility in the financial world and has to turn to China for Aid Bank Funding?
What sin really crucified Christ? was it Peter’s denial? judas’ betrayal? the disciples cowardice?can we blame Pilate for conforming to the crowds demand? does the fault lie with those who cried crucify him. did the jealousy of the stribes,pharasses and high priest weigh in the crime? It was all these,denial,betrayal,cowardice,confirmity,pride and jealousy.these sins nailed Christ to be tree. We are troubled when we see that ,those sins reside in all of us,therefore,it was our pride, our conformity, our betrayal which crucified the Lord Jesus. Dominica was destroyed by a massive storm Ericka, we receive aid from over a hundred other countries, never a word of thanks, yet you are out to crucify one man. don’t matter what you learn from man, if you don’t study the Bible your brain never expand. We just have to feel sorry for you lots
Like Pilate, and Hitler, and Botha and Idi Amin, and Baby Doc and Gairy and other despots around the world they were all one sole leader who destroyed their countries and left it in poverty and deprivation.
Check you self first before you condemn the suffering people of Dominica.
Why don’t you educate your self about international political affairs before making silly comments. Your opening paragraph displays such gross ignorance.
Think of yourself. Your sins, with no exception also crucified Our Lord Jesus Christ. You should know you are not exempt.
Stuppesssssssssssssssss….Man you are a bad example….You have nothing good to emulate..You have comatosed and even destroyed the country,created a begging and lazy population,and this shall be your most damming legacy as a bad leader….!!!Tell the nation how many DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS have been issued and/or sold, and to whom? How much money have been collected post Erika?Why is Roseau in such a poor state?What is it you were signing in Macau one day before Erika struck? ARE YOU AN EXPERT IN SLICING CAKES? You can run,but you cannot hide from some of these questions? I wish you answer them in a jurisdiction far removed from Dominica….
There are many bad examples of some who comment on this Website. Teaching people consistently by your words, to hat; not to love and never to forget as if you are a saint.
You think God is pleased with you? If you are a Christian and a practicing one at that, you should know, if you teach evil by your words and also by bad example – bad people, you do not please God? Do you have to be told? Surely you should know that.
God’s judgment and punishment is fair as each one deserves. Keep this in your mind for your day is coming.
You cannot even enter Heaven if you continue spewing those words.
St. Paul said: “Nothing defiled will enter Heaven.” Some of you deceive yourselves otherwise.
@ Facts You impish character I rebuke you…You are the most decorated example of a bad citizen,who give thumbs up to everything WICKED that evil leaders do…Guess you know already that you will most likely occupy the hottest spot in HELL!
When you say quote “I wish you answer them in a jurisdiction far removed from Dominica” what wishful thinking on your part.
Yes Lord. Yes Lord Yes Lord. All I can say.
I want to know if Skerrit is the sole owner of AID Bank or if he has shares in it. Thinking of how close he and Martin are I realize it’s going to be a very difficult question to answer especially when one takes the villas into consideration, and how he was able to make pastor Bobbles lie to say id his.
It’s quite clear that his level of interest in AID bank is much higher than NBD. By the way Skerrit, who is the rightful owner of Blaircourt Property Development Ltd? Bobbles owns it right? Didn’t skerrit grant duty free concession nou? If yes, then it means he has no shares in it because there is no way the pm would give himself duty free right? Just asking
One thing that is factual about Skerrit is that he can cut a cake eh boy!!!!…Go check his picture again together with the……crooks like Ash, NG, Lorenzo,etc,who the FBI have interrogating…
With what …..?, no jobs, you want us to make blood come out from stone?
Excellently worded PM Skerrit. Dominica is a Christian country. Keep on reminding your people about the importance of being a Christian and the expectation of all Christians, God, most of all who does not slumber nor sleep and takes note of our every action. There are times some Christians need to be reminded of it.
Those who are not Christians or who renounced Christianity do not think you are exempt. Not being a Christian or assuming you are not one makes no difference, in that, you are a national and the same is expected of you.
Yes, God who created us expects it of us with no exception. Whatever people believe, in the end, they will be answerable to One God. Better believe it.
Nation-building must be every Dominican’s business. Make no mistake about that and do not deceive yourselves otherwise.
Go Face the Facts and reality of poverty in Dominica. Go open your eyes and see how Dominicans have been turned into beggars.
Shame on this government and its leaders
If I were to write a book about poverty in Dominica and interview every adult and ask why they are poor, you would be shocked at their answers.
You better conduct a survey and ask them why they are poor. I have stated time and time again why some people are poor. I do not have to elaborate and emphasize it any more. You are blind and deaf which is why you stated that.
I am not deceived. I know why many people are poor. You close your brains to it. The PM is not to be blamed.
Do you want me to go on TV and shout it out in no uncertain way as it is and why some people are poor?
Some of you are too unfair which is an understatement. You get me angry too for you do not relent on your accusations and judgment of the PM. He should sue you for libel.
Where is your mind? The PM offered good advice but your mind is so warped and filled with hatred that you cannot see beyond that. How can you ever be happy? Too bad for you. It will be your funeral.
Skerrit, you have more front than Harrods of London. You talk about country building, you talk about being patriots etc. Nobody is against that we all want to move forward. In case you have not noticed yet: non of our criticism is aimed at the country but rather at YOU and your political friends. Dominica is not going to move on as long as you are its PM. The reasons for that have been stated here on numerous occasions, so I am not going into that again. Suffice to say, if you love Dominica, resign and let us get on with moving the country forward. You for sure have nothing positive to contribute in that respect. But we are going to hold you responsible for your time in office, be under no illusion.
We can help in various ways. God gave each one of us a gift/talent. Some utilize it for good and positively. Others do not utilize it at all except negatively and this is not using the God-given talents beneficially for they do not produce good fruits.
Based on this, if some people are happy they know why. Those who are unhappy, they should know why. None have far to look except within themselves how well or not they utilize their God-given time and talents.
Adults should know what we sow, one way or the other we reap in time and two-fold. Therefore, if some people think they are harming anyone by sitting in the background, doing nothing but complain and being negative, they are doing themselves an all-round disservice.
This could also be a determining factor how we age, gracefully and healthily or not.
You give nothing, you get nothing good in return. Life has a way of paying us back what we put into it.
The Fact is put th leadership in place and we will be guided and follow what you say. Until then, Face the facts, this government and its leadership are wicked, immature, corrupt, know nothing of good governance accountability and take Dominicans for ride. Time will tell.
And yo tell me go do this and that…under this corrupt leader and DLP government
Yes, there are some who are builders and non-builders. I do believe the non-builders are in the majority.
As nationals, everyone, with no exception is responsible for nation-building.
People are born into a country. There must be a good reason for that and not merely to live one’s life and for one-self. Whoever has that attitude is a selfish/self-centered and non-caring person.
For those who lack godly enlightenment (which they should possess especially as Christians), I am informing you, this will not sit well with God who expects each and everyone to do their part to uplift and help each other and to enhance their country.
God did not create us solely for ourselves. When the inevitable day arrives we must give him an account of how we spent our life.
A visionary said, we have to give an account of every second of our time we spent on earth. This is a serious matter.
Consider, did we waste it or not? This will determine where we spend eternity.
Face the Facts and others who are blind, here is an example. YOu have a bad parent in a home, abusing children everyday in all ways……….and yet they come home with poor results all these parents can say is , I give you breakfast, a bed to sleep and you coming home with poor grades.
Well yes, the child will come home with poor grades because you are abusing the child and you say you give this and that. That is poor and abusive parenting same with Skerrit and his acolytes who are abusive to our country. Parent bad, leader bad, parent lack parenting skills, leader lack leadership skills and both only give out material things and handouts to sweeten the child and Dominicans.
And that is Child Abuse. . …state abuse. Go ask the advocates of Child abuse
See who telling me to honour my loan agreement and he kakaying on his constitutional duties to 70,000 people.
You listen to a lot of crap and repeat it. You are a student. Clear your mind from garbage and look at everything positively rather than negatively. If you grow up with that type of mind, you will be no good to yourself. What you sow you reap and two-fold.
Study diligently and ensure that you graduate and obtain a legal, good paying and stable job. If you succeed at this, you will never live a life of poverty.
Love and respect others. Help others. Stay away from bad company. Their words and actions corrupt.
Your PM is worthy of respect. Every human being is. Conduct yourself accordingly. Keep in mind our God above is taking note of our words and actions.
I hope you go to church, pray to God for yourself, your family and fellow Dominicans. These are a few primary duties you must fulfill. If you practice them, you will be a kind person. God blesses and graces. Do not deny yourself these godly virtues.