Opposition leader, Hector John, has described the 2013-2014 budget as a lazy man’s budget which lacks the innovation to stimulate the economy.
“We need to put Dominicans back to work,” he told DNO.
On Wednesday Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, presented the $474.7 million budget to parliament during which he projected growth in many sectors of the economy.
But John said Skerrit’s presentation was nothing more than “a cut and paste” from the 2012 budget.
“Several programs that he promised to deliver during the last fiscal year were repeated in this address,” he pointed out.
John pointed to six examples of promises made last year that were repeated in this year’s budget presentation.
They include assistance to DAPEX, the completion of the Pont Casse to Melville Hall Road, establishment of Export Dominica with DEXIA, an apprenticeship program for the job market, sea transportation including the purchase of a boat and the construction of a coffee factory.
According to the opposition leader, all of these were mentioned in the last budget and the prime minister was simply repeating what he had already said.
“This shows that there was a lot of cut and paste from the last budget,” he remarked. “If you do a promise versus performance analysis you will see the government failed during the last fiscal year and they are making the same promises in this particular budget. Is shows it is a continuation of the last budget address.”
He said the opposition was expecting “a clear path” and innovative plans and programs for changing the island’s economic trend and putting Dominicans back to work.
John noted that no economic activities are taking place on the island and Dominicans are not seeing any money. “This is a serious problem,” he noted. “We would like to see money circulating within the economy, how we going to get the farmers back on track. We are going backwards, we are not giving Dominicans the opportunity to be gainfully employed.”
John, as opposition leader in parliament, will deliver his response to the budget on Friday.
After visiting D/ca, I was suprise to see how Things are getting from bad to worst. I raised up in the 80s and 90s and Dominica was the best place in the World and I was only making journee.
I could remember growing up in Salisbury, where bananas selling,citrusfruits selling, mellon selling, tomatoes, cucumber, dasheen all selling, 18 brand new 4+4 pickups was purchased in one week, none stop action, everybody had Money, No matter what time you came, people would be on the road parting.
I was visiting a friend and I left about 2230 and walked up the Whole road without meeting one person, then it really hit me, DOMINICA IS FINISH, so right now I don’t get (shaggwe)homesick anymore, Why in the World should I leave a country where there are good saftý nets and come D/ca to see measery? WHO WANT TO BUY MY FlAG, IT’S FOR SALE
hmm, well well well, we make politics our 3 meals a day! Instead of criticizing, be innovative and get work to do. The Haitians love farming, why can’t Dominicans do the same! Everyone cannot work in Ministry and banks; Government can’t do it all!!!!!
Ok DNO you will post my comments when this post is no longer on your page.
But all my comments in favour of certain people are always posted early, while others are kept back when they critize one set.
I see now.
Who beat you, you crying,you are not alone.
that admin is so arogant its not funny. they will approve this comment of yours to make you look stupid. and then later they will approve the comment you originally made to make you look more stupid. You need to complain to TIM about that. Print the screen and expose them cause Tim aint got time to monitor all of that
All those politicians are the same all talk and no walk. Well I have seen it first hand that they make so many promises and tell you how they going to do this and do that and as soon as they get in and in the hot chair, then see all is not a bed of roses they start making excuses. Well this is enough because education or not they all want one thing is to make their pockets healthier.
What Mr. Hector said could not be further from the truth. All these promises and no action, just talk. We have seen an abominable increase in crimes due to lack of employment and yet still this regime’s budget, does not address these econimic disaster.
But they love their PM
Being in opposition is very easy, you can say whatever you want and oppose all you want. when you are in office and the sun hits your eyes, you have to put on your sunglasses and start governing.
Just ask Obama
You cannot blame the opposition, because it has as much power as the people will give it.
So let us all with so much big fingers on a keyboard, come out in person every time there is an opposition ( DFP or UWP) rally or campaign to show our faces and let our voices be heard.
Why should one support any of these parties to effect change? They are all the same. What we need is a change in how we think and do things as a people.
i tell all u already it happen under Mamo after two year the start to relax its time to change them, love u Skerritt but its time for a new person to take over and lennox is the man i jumping ship i coming out of this and coming in ah dat for labour to Workers LennoxXXXXX
Well I’m on the line and none of the oposition have shown me that they got what it takes to effect change in DA. If I had to vote today, I hate to say it but the Govt. would get my vote.
I agree with Mr. John one hundred percent that the Skerrit Labor Government budget of 2013 lacks innovation and was cut and paste.This is the first time I have heard a budget speech from Skerrit that did not last approximately three hours, but again,because their was no meat on the bone it only lasted approximately one hour and a half.Dominicans are going to get a powerful reply they have never heard before , in the history of Dominica. The comming together of Mr. Lennox Linton,Mr. Edison James, Mr. Claudius Sanford and Mr. Spraggs John putting the reply together,Dominicans are going to agree once and for all,CHANGE IS NOT AN OPTION, IT IS DEFINITELY A MUST.
You put spaggs last….salisbury people not good enuff for all you
I think what sprags saying is very true. Now if he can just expound on that and tell the people what plans and programs he would like to see in place to help the economy then they will have a chance. Now is the time to win the people sprags because skerro break their spirits with that budget.
if projects are incomplete…should they not be finished? wouldnt completion come with a cost? wouldn’t that cost be part of the budget? off course many of the items presented last year be part of the new year’s budget…why? because it is ongoing work. i’m not political, have never and probably will never vote..but it just makes sense to make considerations to complete the work your already began.
Some of you people are so silly your posts are not even funny any more. If work is continuing then the budget should explain that the money is to complete the project. In any case the amount budgeted for last time was spent so tell us what they did with that money.
I hear you, Mr. John. What are your solutions? We need an opposition with a plan. YOU be innovative.
Right now I think the Opposite should take the bull by the horns… Bring out plans in detail to develop the Country, get boots on the ground to sell those ideas to the nation in all ways possible. We also need a basic socialize health care system in place for anyone who enters the work force..
As a young citizen I hav come to the realization that Mr Skerrit simply can’t Manage and run the Country to prosperity…I want change.
FORWARD WITH LENNOX 2014-2015
Typo.. Opposition UWP**
The thing is, not one of the oposition parties are ready. They do not have an alternative, or I just haven’t heard about it.
This Budget suits and reflects the present day Dominica…
Dominicans are way too relax, not high driven ideals type society…they are contented with the little they get, alongside the Proud Badge of Honour-Ignorance….so nothing to shout about…
Facts are their, Dominica is the Poorest in the Eastern Caribbean, it’s extremely unattractive for Investors,they are afraid of the Ignorance factors which looms over the culture and pride of Dominica.
So not sure if their are any recovery measures for the island of Dominica…
Oh by the way..Change is a “Must” for the re-birth of Dominica!
I like the culture pride part….we think Domini a is for Dominicans but we want to go all ovef the world and dominate
mr john people are frustrated with labour and all the poverty they have caused in our country so one advice i can give to you guys is to start rallying and give us an idea of what you guys can offer to create employment and stop just criticizing the pm … for example give us a brief overview of what you guys would have to differently thanks
You must stop being a talker/writer. Start being a listener. This has be expressed time and time again. You must listen,listen,listen.
LOVE YOU SPAGGS!
Seems like you are the only one listening. You are one of the blind political parties suporters. We the undecided need to know and see whay change the oposition can bring and not just reacting to what was said. Let us know by telling us how they would do it.
The question is are you or have you been listening. Too many Dominicans are motivated by cowardice and we keep making excuses for our fears and docility. If things are bad say so and seek solutions.. The only solution righ now is to get rid of the bad sore and the poison that has destroyed our country.
I have listened to the opposition offering ideas to remedy the dire situation in Dominica – many times they have. We spent so much of our time dwelling on the issue of the opposition abscence in parliament as a means of blocking out the colossal failure of the current government administration. Now that the opposition is back in parliament we are saying that they are not fife ring an alternative. How can we hear or reason when we are indoctrinated by the idea of ” if not SKERRIT who?”
Sometimes I wonder I wonder if we mean if not Skerrit really who else could run this country into the dungeon of doom and dispair.
Name ONE alternative idea that is “innovative” that the UWP has put forward to build Dominica. I have made it easy for you: Name only ONE.
By the way, an idea is NOT a programme or a project. If ideas were what we use to build countries, no country in the world would be undeveloped. Every fool has ideas. Everyone on crack or rum has tons of ideas. If all the UWP can offer us, based on your post, are ideas then they have NOTHING to offer us.
Really, what are the solutions that are being offered. More employment? How are they going to do that? We need to hear it from them. The UWP cannot even settle on a leader much less to offer solutions. I need to hear the solutions and so do many who would like to vote.
uh…shouldnt this have been done since 2010? should they have began working in every constituency …n i mean working… not talking.. to let ppl feel like this is the party we need? instead of piggy backing on Angelo and Mat and Lennox’s rhetoric? no…they didnt… so even today now in 2013, why should you still be asking the question of what do they have to offer…to be honest id like to know also…cus they havent shown me anything.. except that they like to go to court and be on the radio.
Who would expect the opposition to say anything different. Not me, did you? I will wait for his address before commenting further.
Hmm big order, do you really expect an answer that would do the country justice? They do not and have not had an alternate plan it is plain to see.
Wow! Good job Honourable Spaggs John.
His job is not good enuff for workers, they are kicking him out for lennox…I cry on that already
wake up my brothers and sisters, can’t you hear it is time to wakeup.it is time to drink from Lennox cup.Let us try him,he is a young man too of high intellect.Now is Linton hour.
Drink from Lennox what ? lmaoooooo…oh u locals.. drink still
Wow…u guys must be crazy.
we want Lennox Linton. Linton for sure.He is the man man for the hour.
OH YEAH. My vote for sure.
With Lennox Linton, at the helm of the UWP, Dominica will make a big difference, please appoint Mr. Linton as the head of the UWP, and we will see a change in the high cost of living, and the poverty in Dominica, give him a try, as he is very intelligent and speaks fluently.
Thanks
as he is very intelligent and speaks fluently…ask Obama how this is going in America…He too spoke very very well
What do you mean ask Obama,things are going good in the US,Unemployment is down the economy is doing well, They do not mention all the good that he is doing because they do not want PRESIDENT OBAMA TO LOOK DOOD.
1000%Obama Supporter how is the Gay Rights thing going, how is Obamcare going, how is the low end jobs going…I heard his rating is at 40% now
After what history have taught us about Politicians why would you think that a person who speaks fluently and what you conceive to be intelligence are the treats of a good leader.Do think a person who talks fluently and convey intelligence can solve a country poverty and economic conditions overnight.
He “speaks fluently”? Really? Thats what it takes to becme the leader of an underdeveloped country? Wow
No, that’s not what it takes but it surely counts for more than having dimples. What did skerritt bring to the table when he became leader? What apart from the love of the deluded Labour Party supporters does he offer at present? Can he sit and have a meaningful debate about the very budget which he “READ”? Just wait and you will hear what he has to say in his closing remarks on the budget debate.
He does not just speak fluently,he has integrity,and is a statesman.He understands, what it takes to propel the country forward, in tourism, agriculture, off shore services, education,small businesses,etc,etc,. He understands that wastage in government (eg too many advisers)is a burden on the country. He understands what is needed to grow the economy. He understands what the energy sector needs to move it forward, and how it will impact the poor, the businesses, the economy.He knows what it means to enjoy an adequate standard of living and quality of life.
HE IS WELL ROUNDED.
ILOVE LENNOX as opposed to Skerrit, who lacks basic understanding in everything.
What? He has what?
You guys are so ridiculous its NOT funny.
I agree that Skeritt has to go, but in all honesty – how the hell is Linton a better candidate?
Is it because he is an advocate of the idea of a better Dominica?
He is all talks. Granted he brings many issues to the forefront, but what else does he do? Being a good reporter, and that’s debateable, is not the same as being ideal for leadership.
That man has no vision other than he can talk.
I hear so many complaining about the economy of Dominica, lack of jobs and what not..show me someone who knows how to assist by actions and that’s the person that should be given the opportunity to represent Dominica.
this man has a shady past – you guys know what he is capable of, so don’t be surprised when you get what you are asking for.
Dominica has a bunch of power hungry people with NO VISION, NO SENSE OF REALITY and no IDEA on how to lead a nation.
now thats madness..
After what history have taught us about Politicians why would you think that a person who speaks fluently and what you conceive to be intelligence are the treats of a good leader.Do think a person who talks fluently and convey intelligence can solve a country poverty and economic conditions overnight.
Nothing is ever good enough for the opposition. When will you guys stop all this criticizing……gooosh man
They will stop when stooges and beggars of Skerrit like you start being blinded by $5.00 and $10.00 from Red Clinic Money. LAZY!
him it will stop when people like u stop pretending. And sending people in red clinic to beg for all ubecause u so shame to go yourself. So doh critizing the clinic LAZY.
You don’t know the blogger from Adam but you are assuming he/she is a lazy begger just because of a difference in partisan politics. Come on … it’s high time we elevate the conversation.
skerrit cannot even pay the truckers, do you think he can create all those jobs he talked about in the budjet…
well a promise is a comfort to a fool and you my dear are the biggest of FOOLS in dominica..what will you say when your god(skerrit) has destroyed everything?
Judge dredd go and do your homework before u talk. If you do not know what you are talking go and ask gardacan about paying truckers an not the PM. well that is jealousy talking their becasu our lovely people is doing so well for his country.
I WISH I HAD MONEY TO SEND PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND OTHERS THAT CRITIZIANG DOMINICA SO MUCH. I WOULD PUT ALL U ON A BARGE TO GO VISIT OTHER CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES AND THE USA FOR ONE YEAR. THEN I WILL WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU. BECASUE I KNOW YOU WILL STOP TALKING BAD ABOUT DOMINICA
it’s true that the gov can’t even afford to pay their hired truckers a proper fee and on time….
Hon Hector’s preliminary response appears to poignant with thought. It is left to see how he is going to present a clear alternative with empirical data to show.
Agreed 100% this administration don’t seems to understand that job creation is the way to go they’re lazy and keep looking for hand outs, that’s why right now chinese has more right than us in our land, it’s because of that same reason we’re in that predicament
That sounds like another handout to me. Government to people. If dominicans go to school and learn, or learn a skill and make themselves useful, nobody-not even Chinese- can have more rights than them. Instead of waiting every year for Skerrit to say, “Look money, Dominicans.”
hahahaha
Mr.john preach it to them private sector is the engine to growth and prosperity you stop fueling that engine it will break down and so will the economy no jobs is a serious problem .
But kindly let us know what are the plans of UWP in terms of job creation and developing this country in the rebuttal so we Dominicans can make the right choice in the next general elections .
to speak the truth there is no reason why we should expect different the PM executed his budget with proper English thats his field of knowledge. the maths and logistic is not his feild
I so glad for you! What he have a Financial Secretary and Senior Economists for???
We want lennox
Now tell me which FOOLISH red ANTS going to come here and disagree with what Hector said.
What did he say?
me, cuz hector doesnt have any alternative and he just repeats what he was told. Hector is another puppet. Eddison pulling his string.
MET YO, u alone cah remove Labour in Power and u hve no influence on anybody to make a difference
PLEASE BRING BACK THE MILK AND HONEY. Twenty years and back, our country was flourishing, little poverty and almost no homeless. What has gone wrong. Can these politicians see what is going on. Dominicans never was migrating in droves like that. We go to any port for a storm. Dominica already do not have enough people to build the economy. When all of us leave, how can the government generate taxes to do anything in the country.
Please help us stay in our country. The grass is not always greener on the other side. I use to work for the government, but could never see my way with our high cost of living, and stagnant salaries. Yet all the ministers who are younger than I am, and just came into politics, have so much, and the hard working Dominicans, trying to make a living, and be a good citizen, have little to show. Something does not add up. Please God, help us. We are in big trouble.
It is very easy to make these statements like “Dominicans were nevr migrating in droves like that.” “Our country was flourishing, little poverty, no homless…” however, it would be good to support your statements with the figures. Until then, you have only stated your opinion which is based on emotion and bias,
I think its you who lack innovation! Wonder if you know hat the word mean it self!
Hon Hector John, we wait patiently for your address and what you and your UWP present as an alternative to the PM Budget. The repeats are explainable and you did explain them. NO Government in he world in these times could ever deliver everything they promised cause we all know that we had some unexpected challenges during the fiscal year. It shows that even if they were not delivered they are not scrapped so they are included in this new budget. You call the Budget a Lazy Man Budget so lets hear what you bring to us on Friday and remember that whatever one propose to accomplish one must indicate how one will raise the funding for ones activities. Friday its your day at least your last opportunity to address the Parliament as Leader of the Opposition. I feel so sorry for you young man.
Don’t be a fool! A budget is a yearly thing so if $434m was spent and the work wasn’t done then where did that money go?
Bear in mind, spending $434m does not mean that the money is sitting in an account waiting to be spent. You expect certain income and this same money is re-injected into society. If this don/t go as planned, tell me where they getting money to spend. Its called a rolling budget and budget is just that a budget-an expectation, a prediction, no one knows what tomorrow will bring
Alas! So too, the shopkeeper and supermarket owner should sell everything placed in the shop at the end of every year eh? Need to think a bit.
you can tell that’s a listener of the animal show.
“where they getting funding” is their punch line. No matter how many times everything is explained, they will still ask “where they getting funding”…these wicked foolish labourites
Mr.John you need to tell us your new ideas how you gonna put Dominicans back to work if we put the U W P in office,please just not criticise we need a new leader,our country is broke,when our country will be able have a project on its own without a loans our grants from foreign countries its scary to me.
you dont listen
Mr John does not understand Public Administration or budgeting.
a lazy man’s budget??? hmmm well, we will hear what the response will be like, if we were to remember last year I am not sure if anyone is looking forward to hearing the response to this “lazy man’s budget”
One Word: TRUE!!!!! Like him or not, this is….TRUE!!!
dominicans are so ignorant about economics.we need an international airport.but they keep on saying that we don’t need one.they are saying that it will inly burden dominica’s economy.they are saying that st.lucia ,and grenada cannot maintain theirs,so it will be the same for us.that just propaganda.dominicans are so easy to mislead.since night landing was implimented on mellville haall,has their any increase in foreign investment or tourism?.no.then dominicans has a lot to learn.
st. lucia’s economy is thriving more than ours…and they cant.. so why you think our economy will? tourism? st. lucia’s tourism industry is years ahead of ours…we dont even have proper entertainment, services, infrastructure here..to keep ppl…st. lucia is ahead of us…st. kitts also, and they struggle to maintain theirs.
Does John has a job, because he is stepping down for marigot
your grammar out of touch…your general knowledge still out of touch. what in the world did you just say there?
I heard PM Skerrit in his budget address throwing a few talks at Mr James saying they by-pass others in the party to give leadership to Linton…. Skerrit boi it looks like you really scared of Linton…..
Be careful what U wish for..Skerrit he coming!!
FORWARD WITH LINTON 2014-15
From since the villas thing, he has been scared of Linton.
how does that statement reflect fear? isnt it a fact tho that other faithfuls were bypassed? what political experience does linton have to make his the head overnight for such a bold move. maybe he’s the party’s last hope
:-|. Dude beat all them man on all levels, elections, court, parliament….why b scared? if i were skerro id b sooo happy, that now we get a chance to really have it out..being a public figure now..all gloves are off. reasearch has already been dun on skerrit and brought to the forefront, now its linton’s turn.. lets get it in!
@ IPO The comment of an accomplished idiot.GO TO SUMMER CLASSES.Go with a red book, a red pencil, a red cap, etc, etc,…Your betggar.
this is why we can never get anywhere. This is what you choose to ridicule the dominican about. their grammar.. playing more smart..ok u went to school good for you. but isnt their question valid
? if you did really go to school you would have been able to interpret what they are trying to ask and know that no question is really a dumb question, cus id like to know too…abt what’s next for Hector John. instead u choose to call the person names..and ridicule.. no wonder the chinese do better than us..
Oh come out there. Your fool. Why you doe talk about how workers use you and you pass like a donkey backside.
I can hardly wait John. Be specific and give details, not a lot of empty ideas.
These are just empty promises from the labour party once more!A promise is a comfort to a fool and we are not fools!keep ur promises Keep ur lies.We no longer support u!
mr. john all i want to hear is ur plan. what js ur plan? we will be all waiting to hear on friday
I not surprised by this cut and paste budget. Things are so hard in this country , we dominicans are suffering and this budget all it says is things are going to get worst. He said no more new taxes but we wanted to hear an ease on the taxes. Lord have mercy for this is only the beginning of more crimes because we the people are hungry.
Hector you even have some balls to say something so long you is the Ladder in the opposition they didn’t see it fit to make you leader of the Party they putting Lean ox over you and you have guts to even criticize a wonderful budget like that with so much hope for employment and for Dominica neither you your party or the Lean ox would be able to present a budget like that well done PM you are well on track. Hector John you are a none issue they reject you so cross the floor and put the people of Salisbury back on top you wasting their time following that bunch of lazy jokers.
Yoland: If Mr. John take any advice you give I am sorry for him. Look at all what you wrote and yet you have only one period before the last word. OMG!!!! What an adviser!!!!!
you got the message tho.. full stop or not.
We the people of Salisbury, dont want handouts, we don’t let greed blind us from the truth, that why we wont vote labour
U SURE IS NOT WORKERS THAT LACK INNOVATION?
Good Point Hector…I support UWP Lennox Linton for government…
Spaggs why till friday. Is it that difficult? Your budget address should be tonight and should have been prepared already. The PM has already made it easy for you. I assume you had the budget amount on time. If i were you i would not wait that long. It is critical and stratigical to have it tonight or as soon as possible after PM.
that is so true half of Dominicans youth is either unemployed or underemployment and the budjet did not have anything to address this problem … we need a change
you do realise that many of Dominica’s youth get the opportunity to go to school and learn to become independent and many of them drop out, turn to drugs, get pregnant etc?
Some of them have so much “zafeh” that as a visitor to Dominica i am often not surprised that many do not have the ambition or motivation to better themselves.
there’s so many natural things that can be exploited in Dominica.
I remember growing up when my grandparents would make coal to cook food. Today i hear ppl complaining how gas is so expensive..and i find myself asking – don’t ppl cook outside any more?
If i were in Dca and i was unemplyed and poor – i’d survive because i am innovative…i’d live off the land – i’d survive.
there are many ways people can try something in Dominica.
Whenever i think of Dominica and an example of someone who made a situation work – i think of Bole – the hotdog cart man. I left Dominica many, many years ago and i’ve visited often times…and his business is still going.
Perhaps some of the youth should ask him how and why has he lasted so long
You are trying to defend Skerrit’s laziness and incompetency, but you are making a fool out of yourself. There are things that you cannot defend. The fact is, this government consists of too many greedy men/women who are feathering their own nests. So they don’t have time to address the suffering of the poor man. SIMPLE… If they need to go? OFF COURSE THEY ARE USELESS AND NEED TO GO.
Tell them! Some of us are far too lazy and want to get everything from someone else. some of us spend the little we have on all sorts of things we do not NEED. This is a problem that we do not seem to work on. We need to read about what is happening in other countries even the developed ones. There are pockets of poverty even in those. I actually see so many CHARITY SHOPS in a BIG CITY I have the privilege to visit. The money raised goes to institutions in that same place that are needy. So———————-