PM’s address to DLP delegates conference

PM Skerrit

Editor’s note: Below is the full address delivered by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit to the DLP delegates conference as provided by the Dominica Labour Party.

Comrades and friends good afternoon! It is truly good to be here in St. Joseph today!

It is an honor to have so revered a political thinker in Peter Wickham as our Guest Speaker. I wish to thank him once again for stepping in at such short notice to fill the slot created due to the unavoidable absence of Mr. Owen Arthur, former Prime Minister of Barbados.

Incidentally, Mr. Arthur has asked that I convey to this Conference his very best wishes and sincere apologies for cancelling at the last moment. Personal issues triggered the cancellation but he has insisted that he be provided an opportunity in the very near future to fellowship with the Dominica Labour Party.

To this end, we will be organizing a public forum for sometime next month at which Mr. Arthur has consented to speak and reflect on issues of importance to residents of Dominica and other Caribbean nationals. We in the Dominica Labour Party look forward to that occasion and opportunity.

Comrades, I speak to you today as Political Leader of the Dominica Labour Party. Don’t get me wrong, I am still very much the Prime Minister of Dominica…but today I want to dialogue with you on the need for us to embrace and nurture this great political organization that has done so much for Dominica and the mass of people of this beautiful island.

Forgive me if I sound a bit cliché in describing Dominica as beautiful…but I’m not the only one who says so.

Within the past six months, almost every visiting dignitary, entrepreneur, sports enthusiast and ordinary tourist who visited these shores, and with whom I have come into contact, have commented on the remarkable transformation that has, and which continues to, come about in Dominica.

They speak to the negatives they read and hear about, and then their astonishment on arriving in Dominica, traversing its lush, green countryside and interacting with its friendly people.

Incidentally, Mr. Wickham, I know you are from Barbados and you guys love to boast of your legendary accomplishments in the field of cricket. Kensington Oval is an historic world cricket venue. Indeed it’s appropriately described as ‘the Mecca’. I take nothing away from you in that regard. But let me say to you, Mr. Barbadian, you have not had ‘a day at cricket’….until you have watched cricket at the Windsor Park Stadium in Dominica!

Again, Sir, it is not Roosevelt Skerrit alone saying this…it is every international cricketer, sports administrator and journalist who have visited these shores in the past three years for an international game.

Can you imagine the experience next time around, when they will be able to have a smoother and shorter ride from Melville Hall Airport? Can you imagine the feeling of contentment by those who will stay in the more than 150 new hotel rooms coming on stream in Dominica in the next 24 months?

Forgive me, Ladies and Gentlemen, but I have every reason to be proud of Dominica this afternoon!

Comrades and friends, we meet at a crucial juncture, not only in the ongoing evolution of our country, but in the tenure of our great political party in office.

As I intimated from the outset, I will not be wearing my governmental or Prime Ministerial hat this afternoon. There will be plenty of opportunity in the coming weeks, including the annual Budget debate, for me to promote, explain and defend the policies of our government.

Ladies and gentlemen, I wish today to pause and take a look at ourselves, as a political party, in the context of what is happening around us. Rest assured that the recent demise of several incumbent parties in the region and elsewhere is not lost on me.

Forgive me if I am not in a celebratory or seemingly exuberant mood this afternoon, but I believe this conference is a watershed moment in the continued evolution of the Dominica Labour party.

We need to lay the foundation today for another 25 years in office, based on our transformation and adaptability as a 21st century political party.

I am not taking anything for granted, as it relates to the right of the electorate of this country to judge us harshly and on merit next time around.

I am also acutely aware of the prognoses for several other ruling parties across the region, and I do not intend to make the mistakes that others did.

Our distinguished Guest Speaker has been speaking and writing incessantly about this in recent months and I intend to make sure that this Dominica Labour Party steers clear of the political icebergs that lie ahead in this period of global economic recession and associated voter apathy and cynicism.

Please do not get me wrong. I am by no means running scared. Here in Dominica, we are fortunate to have knocked the opposition parties clean out of the ball park in the last general elections, and it will take a lot for them to recover. But, I am also aware that a day in politics is a long time, far less five years…so I am not taking anything for granted.

Borrowing an analogy from the game of cricket, I see the need, though we have been at the crease for a relatively long time and have scored many runs, to stop and take fresh guard. It is not that the spinners are bowling any better; it may just be that playing conditions are deteriorating.

If all along we have been batting on leg, I want today to start to reposition this party to bat middle and leg, for I want to ensure that we protect our wicket.
Looking around the Caribbean and the world today, the off stump is being attacked, so we cannot stubbornly remain on leg. We have to adjust to the conditions and position ourselves to prevail, no matter the deteriorating conditions.

No bad weather, no soggy outfield, no one blocking the sight screen, no plane passing overhead, is going to stop this party from scoring yet another century, by close of play on election night 2015!!!

I am grateful to those of you who call on the radio programs. I appreciate the efforts of those who wage a war on the internet. I value very much the interventions of those who, in their workplaces, at church, in the supermarket, at the hairdresser, playing field and community centres, advance arguments in defense of the stewardship of this government. You are the bedrock of our support. You are the ones who keep the flag of Labour flying and the fire burning. But, alas, you are not enough!

I am not getting enough from those who benefit the most from this Labour Party being in office. The country elected 18 Labour Party representatives to Parliament, but by so doing, it authorized 18,000 Labour party activists and supporters to go out there and be missionaries for this party.

A Parl Rep can only do so much in a given week or month. Most Parl Reps are also ministers of government and that in itself is a full time job. I want to see greater Labour Party representation on the ground; in the various communities and constituencies across Dominica.

Incumbent governments in Jamaica, St. Lucia and Bahamas lost recent elections not only because they were confronted by harsh economic conditions but because both Parl Reps and foot soldiers became disconnected from the people.

I am saying this afternoon, there are too many Labour Party operatives walking around with chests in the air and not pulling their reasonable weight in the service of this party. For them, the party is not what is trending. Well, I beg to differ! For me, the party is definitely where it’s at!!

I want today, therefore, for us to commit, not only to flying the party’s flag higher, but furthermore, to bringing that flag in for much needed repairs. I want to stoke the fire and remove the embers, remove unwanted debris, clean the chimneys, paint the fire place…I want us today to place this great political party in the observation room for a much needed check up.

The Labour Party has been good to this country, and this country has been good to Labour. But, we can do better! I want us to do more! Our goal must not just be to outperform the other parties… I want us to set new benchmarks for political parties in Dominica and across the Caribbean.

It is not my fault that the other major party in Dominica appears today to be caught in a time tunnel experience. Ten years ago they got rid of Edison James because he was too old and out of step with modern, contemporary politics. Ten years later they have brought him back as the Crown Prince of UWP politics!

Repeatedly, they have built their case for election to office on a campaign of lies, deceit and innuendo against opponents. They have clearly not learnt anything and I am no longer in the business of teaching…so they can continue to invest in the power of character assassination on a radio call-in program.

Dominica is truly a remarkable place! This is the only country in the world for which the global economic recession has had no impact on the politics of the opposition. It is almost as if the global economic meltdown never existed.

Can you recall any of them, at any point in the last six years, speaking about the challenges that this economic quagmire presents for countries such as Dominica? Do you get the sense that they even read economic reports or follow the saga in Greece, Spain, Latin and North America?

Budget after budget; debate after debate; public meeting after public meeting, and not a word from a so-called government-in-waiting, about how they would tackle the challenges that we confront. Indeed, they have not even acknowledged the existence of these challenges.

Edison James would return to office tomorrow to continue where he left off 13 years ago, totally oblivious to the mind boggling changes that have taken place since then. Can you imagine what that would do to the Dominican economy? They are still courting Taiwan and Taiwan is making love to China. They continue to beat us up on Petrocaribe and Alba while every other country in the Caribbean is asking me how they can become a member of Alba.

This is a party, Mr. Wickham, which did not even publish a manifesto in the last general elections! Can you imagine that? They invited all Dominicans to attend the launch of their manifesto and then, after keeping people in the drizzling rain for close to six hours, informed them that there would be no manifesto as we have come to know it for the past 300 years, but that they would be ‘putting something’ online.

I have searched the internet inside out and have yet to find anything resembling a social or economic plan for the development of this country, proposed by the UWP.
They built their case for re-election on the vilification of Roosevelt Skerrit and the Dominica Labour Party. They lost that battle. They lost almost every single seat in Parliament and yet, they have continued two years into this current term, with the same misguided approach to 21st century politics.

So we are not using them as any yardstick. If they just want to get high on their ability to sit in a studio and curse every known opponent, that is a matter for them.
But, in this Dominica Labour Party, we have a duty to reach out to and positively impact the lives of those we lead. We therefore need to set our own goals and benchmarks.

Accordingly, I am today calling this party to arms in the context of its readiness for the challenges that we will confront as a political party going forward.

The first request I wish to make is for a reaffirmation of your commitment to this party. There is a strange paradox which I want you to consider. Each of us work hard as officials of government to make the work of the government and the image of the government as impressive as it can be. So as a government, we play our part to make the government attractive.

Yet, as a party, we tend to ignore or play down our obligation to make the party stronger.

All of you here, who are ministers, Parl Reps, Members of Boards, Public Officers or otherwise affiliated to the government, are first and foremost, representatives of the Labour Party. It is because of this Labour Party that you are who you are and where you are. It is the fate of this Labour Party that will determine how long you remain who you are and where you are. So we have to spend more time nurturing the cow from which we get our milk, our cheese and our butter!!!

Everyone wants to be invited to a government reception and to be seen up front, but few willingly and readily turn up to a party activity. Few volunteer a day’s work in the service of the party. Few make it their business to go out there and promote the work and image of the party…and yet, it is from the party that you draw your strength and sustenance.

Comrades all, I want to see a change of attitude and approach to this dangerous trend, in the shortest possible time.
Every one of you is a Parl Rep in your own right. Elected representatives will come and elected representatives will go, but the Labour Party must remain strong in the villages and hamlets of this country.

As Political Leader of this great party, I intend to deal with non performing or poorly performing Parl Reps. No Parl Rep is bigger than the party! No Parl Rep is guaranteed automatic endorsement as a candidate in the next general elections. I intend to declare all constituencies vacant and persons will have to make a case as to why they should be returned as candidates for this Dominica Labour Party. Those who cannot and who do not make a satisfactory case for retention will be replaced as candidates!

But, in the meantime, I want the party’s presence in the constituencies to be strong and its image favorable, so as to give me the room and maneuverability to do what I have to do, as Political Leader, to ensure that we end up with the 21 strongest candidates this party can field in 2015 or whenever the next general elections are called.

Comrades, as a 21st century party, there are also some other fundamental goals we need to set and pursue over the course of the next two years and certainly before the end of this current parliamentary term.

We promised Dominicans to take Dominica to the next level. Well in order to achieve this, we have first to take the Labour Party to the next level as well.

In this regard, one of the first undertakings that comes to mind, and which is near and dear to my heart, is the acquisition of our own home or headquarters.

I do not know how much more time I have as your Political Leader, but I will consider it a major failing if I do not, by the end of my tenure, provide this party with a place to call “home”.

I am very serious about this! No great political party in the 21st century should still be operating out of a little rented office in the highly congested city of Roseau.

We can have a city presence, but I need a home and sophisticated headquarters for this party. I would like to see a research unit in our party, where persons can go and familiarize themselves with the history of this organization and the outstanding contributions of its founding fathers.

I do not want any external gift…I want a facility that reflects the hard work and sacrifice of the members of this party.

I want us to embark on a series of activities to raise funds towards the construction of a modern, state of the art headquarters for the Labour Party. It must be large enough to hold conferences such as this. It must be a place of learning, where people can assemble regularly and be enlightened.

I envision a place where school children can do their homework and where the less fortunate can drop by for a little sustenance every now and then.

I want the executive of this party to move with dispatch to set up a building committee that will work, in earnest, to provide this party with a home in the shortest possible time.

Secondly, Comrades, I want to grow our numbers. I want the Dominica Labour Party to become the single largest mass organization in Dominica. We have done enough and are doing enough for the people of this country to merit that distinction.

Young people in particular must be educated and sensitized to the work and accomplishments of this great organization. We have to chronicle our achievements and market them to the people of this country, so they would be inclined to join our ranks in the continued service of Dominica. I want to set ourselves the conservative goal of 2,000 new members by the end of this current parliamentary term.

Thirdly my friends, we are in government and I want us to remain there for a long, long time. To do this, we have to simplify government and make it work for the people!

The whole style and approach to constituency representation is in need of review and overhaul.

Our ministers are hard working and I do not want anyone to underestimate this. Dominica today is not the Dominica of 40 years ago. There are many tenuous and complex matters confronting ministers on a daily basis. Yet, they must also function as Parl Reps.

Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to provide them additional personal staff or facilities. But I recognize that you want to see more of them…you want to have greater and more regular access to them.

We have been discussing this among ourselves as Parliamentarians and we have agreed to recommit to the concept of select constituency days, whereby, as long as a Parl Rep is on island, he or she will be on the ground in his or her constituency, either holding clinics in their constituency office or out and about in the communities interacting with people and addressing problems.

I wish to stress that there ought to be no exceptions to this rule!

We also, as a party in government, have to start talking and interacting more with the membership and with the public at large. Accordingly, I want to see the reactivation of constituency branches and the scheduling of monthly constituency branch meetings, involving presentations and town-hall-type meetings with Parl Reps, Ministers of government and party members, as well as members of the public.

These discussions and interactions are healthy, not only for democracy, but, also they provide an avenue and opportunity for the free flow of ideas and options. We do not believe for one moment that the Cabinet of ministers is endowed with all knowledge, wisdom and understanding. That is not how we function in this Labour Party.

Therefore, I am today requesting constituency executives to get to work in organizing and sustaining monthly public outreach activities and initiatives.

I want to hear of Labour Party branch meetings being held every single week at different venues across this island.

On this question of communication, I am eager to move this party to the next level, as it relates to its embrace of the new social media. We cannot and must not yield the communication war to the other side. Several of you are already doing a fantastic job of defending the party’s honor on the blog sites, facebook, twitter and the like but, going forward, I would like for it to be done in a more structured and sustained manner.

We have to apportion far greater priority and attention to the business of information management and the need to keep our overseas based nationals, in particular, informed of the goings on in Dominica, as well as up to date on responses to the diatribe that is peddled by our opponents on a daily basis.

So yes, Comrades and Friends, there is work to be done. I know we have much to be proud about and which we can celebrate…but I implore you to hold the festivities for later.

I want to inflict another beating on the UWP and the Freedom Party before the celebrations begin.

I want to put Edison James out of his political misery. I want to send Judith Pestaina on her way, leaving yet another deposit in the treasury. I am waiting, oh yes I am waiting, for Lennox Linton to declare which seat he will be contesting…for if nothing else, I am going to go all out to ensure that he loses his deposit!

So Ladies and Gentlemen, in addition to all that we are doing, with respect to the governance of this country and keeping the economic ship of state afloat, we are also working feverishly to improve the functioning of your political party.

I am keen as well to sit with the Hon Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs to undertake an assessment of our Legislative agenda. There are some archaic laws on the statute books of Dominica that I would like to see either updated or removed. Far too often I am confronted with legitimate complaints from citizens about how their goals and aspirations are being frustrated and even destroyed by cumbersome laws that really need to be removed from the statute books.

There are also issues of crime and antisocial behavior that current laws and penalties do not go far enough to deter, and this is a matter we will have to examine.
Dominica has built an enviable reputation as a safe and peaceful place to live, reside and visit and we are committed as a government to doing all that is necessary to retain that reputation.

Those in our midst, who wish to persist with behaviors totally foreign to our accepted way of life, will soon discover that this government is not going to be tolerant of lawlessness in any form, shape or size. We will go to Parliament and update the laws and stiffen penalties to ensure adequate deterrence to lawlessness in this country.

So, Comrades and Friends, there you have it! The task before us is clear. This Dominica Labour Party is the only party in the region in the last five years to have increased the number of seats it holds in Parliament. This Dominica Labour Party is the only party to have defeated its opposition in the midst of a global economic recession. This Dominica Labour Party, I am determined, will be one of the parties in the region that will emerge unscathed from this period of global economic and political turmoil.

We shall do that, Ladies and Gentlemen, because we shall remain focused. We shall keep our eyes on the prize. We shall redouble our efforts to move this party forward and to transform it into the most progressive 21st century political organization in the region.

So yes, we have much to celebrate and much for which to thank Almighty God…but until we put another beating on the United Workers Party; until we extend our mandate, giving ourselves another term to continue the work we have started on behalf of the masses of this country; until we succeed, as we have promised, to minimize suffering and hardships; and until we succeed in taking this country to the next level culturally, socially and economically, this Political Leader of yours and this
Prime Minister of Dominica, cannot and will not party!  We have too much work to do!

May God bless the Dominica Labour Party and every one of you.

Thank you.

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34 Comments

  1. ROSEAU VALLEY
    May 22, 2012

    The quintessential point of the Prime Minister’s is valid. However, the convention may not have been the best place, time, and manner to make it. It is assumed that the Labour Party has a constitution that gives guidance and direction on the question of how to nominate, select or elect parliamentary representatives. I doubt it gives the PM the right to humiliate his colleagues in such a public manner. If there is an issue with the perceived or real performance of lack thereof of his fellow members of parliament, the PM should have addressed it in more respectable and private manner. This is a breach of protocol, the absence of diplomacy, a sign of dictatorial tendencies and an arrogant display of self-confidence. The elected members of the Labour Party should perhaps remind the PM that whereas one is made PM because he commands the majority support among the elected parliamentarians, one becomes a parliamentarian by having the support of the majority of his constituents

  2. dissident
    May 22, 2012

    Do us a favor PM. There is no work going on the Pond Case Marigot road for about 3 weeks now. Will u or ur Minister of Public works make a statement? Dominicans working on that job sir. Ask when last they were paid? I dare u. The road is due next month. Are u willing to enlighten us on progress? Will GIS come up and do a story? De chinese got so much publicityu for their work like chinese alone working in Dominica.

    Please look after us Dominicans. It is ur duty. Come see de guys work? Come and boast about the new road about to be completed next month.

  3. I tell you
    May 22, 2012

    woe woe woe something ia happening and its so exciting!!!

  4. dissident
    May 22, 2012

    De nerve of de guy. Reminding his faithful laborites that they are nothing without labor. Labor Party is their bread and butter, their cooking gas, their breadfruit, their shopping by Nassief. In a desperate attempt to shore up a failing (falling) party he throwing stones at his colleagues and supporters. More support appear to be coming from Barbados and China.
    By the way PM not every citizen of this state is so senile to think of or consider the opposition members are employees of LUCIFER. The learned ones amongst us knows who worship LUCIFER. The opposition members are honored citizens of this honorable like u sir and myself. When one puts himself up to represent his country at the level of Government they deserve more honor than the Chinese laborers working at the college and on the Palace of Malice next to our sorry looking Public Library. When u stand on ur level and denigrate others on the same level u are only looking into a mirror. They were there before u. U can call dem all name u want. U want to beat people? Politics is about people issues. U want to show bad u can beat people?

    Sir, u are desperately looking for new support. U dissatisfied with all u have. It not enough. 18 – 3 not enough. Come for de other 3 nuh? U tried already and u failed miserably.

  5. Irie
    May 22, 2012

    Please Skerrit, understand this, the number one thing that can kill any party is LACK OF SUCCESSION PLANNING. You see what happen to freedom? Lack of succession plan, no viable alternative to MAMO, UWP suffering from it too. Every political leader reaches his/her zenith and starts to fade, it is the way of the political arena. If you want the Labour party to truly blossom and maintain its stronghold on the electorate, you must start looking for potential future leaders to replace you when you go out of style, which will happen eventually, it is inevitable. The electorate is not static, so it would be poor planning and lack or foresight on your part to think the leadership of the party should also be static for 25 more years. Take my advice Skerrit and start grooming the leaders of tomorrow, because tomorrow may come sooner than you know it.

    • PROF. WIKILEAKS
      May 22, 2012

      That is happening.

  6. JUSTICE
    May 22, 2012

    I am not the greatest fan of Edison James, but starting where we left off 13 years ago doesn’t sound that bad, That was before, the youth of our country was trying to keep up with other countries in terms of owning guns, and robbing people instead of working on their farms. 13 years ago is when our foundation stopped being built strongly but went to something that LOOKS strong but is completely weak and falling apart, sort of like a pair of chinese shoes that are dry rotting and fall apart with the slightest wear.
    Dominica is beautiful! That has not changed but that is not the doing of any government, that is Gods doing, Government cannot take credit for that.

  7. JUSTICE
    May 22, 2012

    This is a party, Mr. Wickham, which did not even publish a manifesto in the last general elections! Can you imagine that?
    WHY ARE YOU ADDRESSING MR WICKHAM? What about your Dominicans?

  8. JUSTICE
    May 22, 2012

    “Dominica is truly a remarkable place! This is the only country in the world for which the global economic recession has had no impact on the politics of the opposition. It is almost as if the global economic meltdown never existed.”
    PM! did you really say this? Where do you live, not in the Dominica I live. I have never seen such poverty in this country. In the days with worse economy people were not trying to be like other countries. They were farming and fishing, and everyone was eating, there were not a bunch of Paros on the street begging for food and cocaine. It was a great time in Dominica. You really are out of touch with the majority of your people unless “your People” are your French people. Dominica will take generations to recover from your administration.
    Pull your head out of the clouds and see the truth.

    • hope
      May 22, 2012

      I had to make this correction … “effect on the politics of the oppososition” NOT Dominica. Read the article again, you misunderstood the statement. :-D Don’t bother, you are welcomed

  9. Views Expessed
    May 21, 2012

    Not impessed…not interested…nothing of develoopment, have had no ideas….ok.comrsde…you have overstayd your welcome….my country have bercome poorer under your leadership while Comrade Peter country is stable with decent leadeship, economic groeth and a leader in Caribean politics. We have been reduced to kakarat postion…with kakarat MP`s according to the PM
    What a shame, whata sham…..Oh God.

    Help us

  10. Anonymous
    May 21, 2012

    I love that speach, pm don’t put put butter in ur mouth to speak say it like it is. Let elected officials pull there weight. And sall party supporters to. I don’t believe u are afraid, afraid of what? This country has to move and we all need to work. Dominicans at home and abroad. C on the social media for eg only negative vibe about ur speach, where are the real Laborite comments, those of us who are not home need to hear from u. We only hear the negative things. Good luck pm and please don’t call a snap election I need to come home to vote cause my monies are being spent right there in DA even if I am abroad . God bless the PM and the Government and th Dominica labor party.

  11. langsal
    May 21, 2012

    sick

  12. Fpre
    May 21, 2012

    PM your longest rope MUST come to an end………those so call Labour supporters,,,,,those who are benefitting handsomely from what they are getting from you …trust me they will be the ones to bring you down……like the one who die….he reap the treasury of handsome salaries even when he unable work,,,,,,,being sick for soooooooooooolong and never retired or regined while we the youth cannot get work for us to do. PM we the youth NOt FOOLISH…..no amount of seewo you bring mow can save you …..the next general we will deal with you with our votes.

  13. isthatso
    May 21, 2012

    P M Skerrit…….All of you here,who are ministers, Parl Reps, memebers of boards public affairs or otherwise affliated to the Government is because of this labour party that you are who you are and where you are it is the fate of this labour party that will determing how long yu remain where you are and who you are, so we have spend more time nuturing the cow from where we getting our milk, cheese and butter from, did you guys understand this man, help us all give words Skerrit also thank you for helping us confirming that this labour party is not the one we use to know.

    • CITIZEN
      May 22, 2012

      one day when we DOMINICANS HAVE A PROPER HEALTH SYSTEM INSTEAD OF A STATE HOUSE , BETTER EDUCATION SYSTEM INSTEAD OF EXTENSION AND ITS THE SAME SYSTEM ,,, HOW MANY PARENTS CAN AFFORD STATE COLLEGE TODAY THAT DO NOT HAVE ALL THE PROGRAMMES ,,, YES I AGREE AT THIS MOMENT PM SKERRIT IS THE BEST BUT THIS COUNTRY IS IN NEED OF LEADERSHIP AND HELP , DOMINICANS ARE TOO BLIND WITH EMPTY WORDS THAT IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE BUSINESS IS CLOSING RATHER THAN DEVELOPING AND OPENING …..IT TAKES YOU A THOUSAND YRS DEPENDS ON WHO U R TO OPEN A BUSINESS HERE AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE DONT KNOW WHAT THEY ABOUT IN THE SYSTEM AND WHAT IS THE REQUIREMENTS…AND TRUSTME I AM NOT NO PAL REP. NOR MINISTER JUST A FREAKING CITIZEN THAT IS IN DOMINICA TRYING NOT TO GIVE UP ON THE PLACE HONESTLY …RENT ,DOMLEC, DOWASCO ,CLOTHING,PORT,FOOD EXPENSIVE WHERE IS THE ONE THING THAT IS AFFORDABLE ON THIS ISLAND EVEN CHINESE STORE I CANT AFFORD THESE DAYS CAUSE THEIR PRICE RISE ALSO ….WHEN I GO ON THE PORT TO CLEAR SOMETHING ITS MORE THAN WHAT I PAID FOR IT ..ADD UP EVERYTHING ITS MORE THAN I MAKE SALARY WISE ITS A SHAME …..I DON’T KNOW HOW POOR PEOPLE OR PEOPLE THAT CANT AFFORD DOES IT …GOD IS OUR SAVIOUR AND PROTECTOR …

  14. Met Yo
    May 21, 2012

    Mr. Skerrit…slowly but surely..everything we warned Dominicans about are coming to pass.

    Continue my boy.

  15. him
    May 21, 2012

    Dominicans take note of where he mentioned the CHURCH……… THE CHURCH….

    • I'm Listening
      May 21, 2012

      THATS the only word u can focus on? What is so wrong by him saying the church.

  16. Yes
    May 21, 2012

    So you really thought that you would rule for ever Mr Skerrit.

  17. ashanti
    May 21, 2012

    Good speech Pm. People before you comment please read the content of the speech.

  18. I rolling with DLP
    May 21, 2012

    To my political leader and the DLP by extension, I say – in the words of Tasha P – I ain’t leaving for no one! They could come an’ fight, I holding you tight, tight! I ain’t leaving you for no one! Long live our party leader Roosevelt Skerritt! Long live the DLP!

  19. As it is
    May 21, 2012

    A delegates’ conference that instructs on nothing dealing with sustainable development, investments into our productive sectors, or a plan of action for the country to create its own wealth utilizing our rich natural resources, but throw threats to its Parl Reps.

    Something is terribly wrong inside Skerritt’s DLP Party and Govt. Time will tell.

    The pillars are rotting. The house is weakening, almost ready to fall down on its inhabitants. The leader is furious, openly scolding his acolytes, shifting the blame for his inefficiencies, dictatorial and high-handed stance on his faithfuls.

    One-man showism, spewing threatening blasts to
    his political colleagues who he claims are not being efficient. The same things the patriots, Q95 and concerned Dominicans are consistently alerting us to. Skerritt now , by his statements, are supporting the observations of patriots. But those people were called terrorist, people who do not like Dominica.

    It was the same DLP and Skeritt who told us that his DLP was doing so good ruling the country that other countries were way behind. Dominicans, read through the lines. The DLP, PM Skerritt is acknowledging publicly that incompetence reigns.

    All is not well internally with DLP, Skerritt, Parl Reps. The country and its people are crying blood regarding the demise of our institutions, economy, disrespect for the Laws and Constitution, increase in crimes, corruption of all kinds. What you sow, is what you all going to reap.

    It will be interesting to see how that internal battle will end up. Well, money talks. Money make the devil dance. Money make plenty people padlock their mouths big time, in the midst of corruption, Bad governance, crimes, lawlessness, greed, dishonesty, selfishness, cronyism, dictatorship. They do not have a conscience. They have lost all sense of reason.

  20. Original-Eagle Eye
    May 21, 2012

    PM Skerrit..”I am grateful to those of you who call on the radio programs. I appreciate the efforts of those who wage a war on the internet. I value very much the interventions of those who, in their workplaces, at church, in the supermarket, at the hairdresser, playing field and community centres, advance arguments in defense of the stewardship of this government. You are the bedrock of our support. You are the ones who keep the flag of Labour flying and the fire burning..”

    OH OK.. SO NOT EVEN CHURH SHOULD GET A BREAK FROM POLITICS, AND WHEN I GETTING MY HAIR DONE, OR GROCERIES SOME IDIOT MUST BOMBARD ME WITH LABOUR THIS, UWP THAT, AND I AM NOT SUPPOSED TO TAKE A BREAK FROM FLEXING WITH MY HUSBAND JUST EAT BREATHE AND LIVE POLITICS. YOU SO RIGHT SKERRIT!

    • PROF. WIKILEAKS
      May 21, 2012

      Its a speech to the delegates….if you are not a delegate…get over it…go flex with your husband..as you say.

      But you there on DNO going toe for toe and then you asking for a break from politics..

      Go get something to do..

    • Franche
      May 21, 2012

      Yeh flex with the heprise one and then claim you not getting flex time with all you husband. All you flexing in hotel with all kind of political maffia. Hush all you mouth cause I have your secrete you know.

    • patriot
      May 21, 2012

      YOU SOUND LIKE A PARRO.

      ARE YOU ?

      IF NOT BEHAVE LIKE A GOOD BOY.

      • .
        May 21, 2012

        @patriot. Wonder how comes you know a paro so well.You just came from rehab man… The powerful words touched a sensitive nerve… No evil can last for ever. ALL EVIL MEN MUST FALL,AND GREAT WILL BE THEIR FALL TOO.

    • brap
      May 21, 2012

      no no no, have u heard of english for academic purposes, i need u to read what u wrote mister skerrit said and then read ur comment, u got it twisted, insimple words he is just saying thanks to those who defend the party in what ever area that they are,somebody tell me what bad skerrit have done dat none of us will ever do. i want an answer.

  21. dissident
    May 21, 2012

    Woyoyoy. Let me get serious, I laugh enough. Mr. PM all I can hear coming from u is fear. U don’t trust your colleagues. Imagine u keep referring to Wickham throughout ur speech like he is ur new found friend for life because ur party colleagues are not all they put up themselves to be.
    So if they failing u what about me? They failing me to. Even with their big salary, duty free vehicle, mansion and suity and tie. What do u suggest I do about de man I vote as myu parliamentary representative. Should I throw eggs at him? So u want to remove my parl rep. For me?
    U sound fearful and desperate. Go to Barbados and find sone faithful supporters.

    • Met Yo
      May 21, 2012

      and mark you….some of the supporters are getting worried…those “educated ones..

      those docile ones…all they know is clap for everything they hear….but the “smart” ones are worried…

      But as KKK say…let them move

    • patriot
      May 21, 2012

      YOU KNOW OUR SONG TOO nah ?

      let me sing de rest for you

      something happening………..

  22. Political Observer
    May 21, 2012

    Hmmm,
    the word Comarades have been used a lot. Here is the meaning
    “comrade |ˈkämˌrad; ˈkämrəd|
    noun
    a companion who shares one’s activities or is a fellow member of an organization.
    • (also comrade-in-arms) a fellow soldier or serviceman.
    • a fellow socialist or communist (often as a form of address) : [as title ] Comrade Lenin.
    DERIVATIVES
    comradely |ˈkɑmrədli| adjective
    comradeship |-ˌ sh ip| |ˈkɑmrødˈʃɪp| |ˈkɑmrədˈʃɪp| noun
    ORIGIN mid 16th cent. (originally also camerade): from French camerade, camarade (originally feminine), from Spanish camarada ‘roommate,’ from Latin camera ‘chamber.’ Compare with chum 1 .”

    Something is wrong with this picture. Where is the PM going with this??

    • A Voice
      May 21, 2012

      The word comrade have always been used by one party or another in Dominica when addressing the populace during times of conventions and campaigning.

      What that really ticks me off is that during times of conventions and campaigns everybody for them is brothers and sisters and comrades, but after they win elections, they are no longer comrades, they are Mr. and Mrs. So and so. They are no longer approachable, they are no longer the people’s equals.

      They become high and mighty; they become everybody’s boss. This is what gets to me…

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