Member of Parliament for Roseau South, Ambrose George, is in full support of the government’s Public Support Program, dubbed the ‘Red Clinics’ by critics, describing it as ‘visionary.’
Speaking in parliament on Monday George said the program is open to every Dominican, irrespective of party color. “It is not only members of the Dominica Labour Party that is benefiting,” he stated. “All Dominicans, blue, red, yellow, whatever color they have, they come there and they receive support from the program.”
George said he has personally witnessed several Dominicans, who otherwise could not afford it, seeking assistance from the program.
“Whether it is for medical services, educational services, for domestic services or concerns or whatever, madam speaker, I have seen several Dominicans, needy Dominicans come forward, made their request in writing because nobody comes to the prime minister’s office and makes a request verbally and walks out there with any support from the program,” he stated.
He pointed out that the program is transparent and every cent is accounted for. “I can assure you, and I have heard it from the minister of finance, that every cent that is spent under the Public Support Program can be accounted for, every cent, madam speaker, every black cent, if you want to call it so, can be accounted for.”
The program was initiated by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit to provide an opportunity once a week, for Dominicans with various financial needs to make a plea directly to his office for assistance.
But the program has been a subject of severe criticism by some who insist it is an exercise for buying votes.
Opposition leader, Hector John, in his contribution to the 2013-2014 national budget debate earlier this year described the program as “using state resources to help Skerrit’s “personal election campaign.”
According to John, in the 2012-2013 national budget, $200,000 was approved for the program with an additional $250,000 in the June to December (2102) supplementary appropriation.
He said for the 2013-2014 fiscal year $1-million was appropriated to the Red Clinic. “This is an increase of 75 percent…” he said.
In May 21, 2012 The Sun published a report which states that “the prime minister has vowed to continue the weekly practice of giving cash handouts directly to the Dominican people from his office”.
The article was supported by a Letter to the Editor in which the writer alleged that what is dished out at the Red Clinic is “money (dry cash), also upon request monies or cash of up to $2,000.00, sometimes $5,000.00 well packaged in envelopes and escorted to the source by a special courier delivered to party and PM loyalists”.
This prompted Director of Audit, Clarence Christian, to issue a statement saying no cash handouts are made available at the “Red Clinic’, and the process is a transparent one where proper accountability is practiced.
The authorities have also dismissed descriptions of the program as being a cash handout affair, insisting that it is a social protection initiative aimed at addressing the pressing needs of some of the country’s destitute.
There have been suggestions that the program should be channeled through the government’s Social Welfare Department.
It is public knowledge that there are persons who cannot help themselves eg. the the persons with disabilities, physically challenged, and the elderly. There is the yes we care which has focused on the elderly who just cannot do anything for themselves, there is the welfare division picking up the slack; but to have able-bodied people line up to receive handout from the Prime Minister is di-humanizing and when I look around Dominica, these monies can be spent on the same young and able-bodied people can be put into agencies to create employment and get these people to work.
The streets need repairing and cleaning; put the money into the village councils and get community people employed.
Are the Councillors and other responsible people blind to the filthy areas around Dominica. Bush is actually on the roads. You cannot see where you are driving and garbage strun all around.
Put people to work since when a Prime Minister dishing money from his draw. How are these monies accounted for?
Give a man a fish…. you feed him for a day.
Teach a man to fish… you feed him for life.
Strong healthy people going to red clinic!!!! Some dominicans are just to lazy….. they need to readjust their minds and be more innovative. You dont see the so called mad ppl going to red clinic. I have seen a few who work for their money. You see them hang around the suppermarkets saying ‘mam or sir or you want help with your bags…which bus stop are you going to… one of them was even decent enough to ask me if i prefer walking fast or slow to get to my bus stop so that he could readjust his speed of walking.. he was even willing to carry all my bags even if 1 or 2 of them were not so heavy. 2.00 to pay for a little help is not bad but it soon adds up. Multiply that by every 10mins for 8hrs a day…. you do the maths!!!!!!!
There are some people who live overseas They went to college have degrees and have fallen on Hard Times whether is the loss of Jobs or illness
do get assistance from their Gov’t. Those who are critical of Gov’t HERE helping some people need to look in the Mirror. I wonder since when some Dominicans become so Critical of each other like that non?
That’s absolutely the wrong way to go about it and the people are obliged to dress in red wee to go and beg…shame Mr. George, making beggars of your people what about job creation.
Sure the Red Clinic is visionary Ambrose ….if you are myopic and wear rose-tinted spectacles!
This red clinic is oppressive, humiliating, disempowering , emasculating and definitely not visionary. If the red clinic system is the Labor Party’s version of empowering poor people then doctor Rickets should expect a visit from Ambrose cause his vision is certainly distorted.
What is simply the highest level of hypocrisy is that apologists for he current administration refer to farmers as lazy when they complain that access to their farm is almost impossible . Note we are talking about farmers who are past 50 years ( as all our could be young farmers are gone – destroyed by the current administration). It is double standard when Timothy and laborites chastise young men and ask them to go fish for Balaw yet on Wednesday mornings strong and abled laborites line up for the red clinic. I wonder whether Mr Timothy could intervene on a Wednesday morning and ask the laborite red clinic patients to go weed the bushes on the roadside, take pictures of their hard work then ask for a red clinic paycheck; what about picking up garbage in Roseau instead of laborites criticizing a business man who went the extra distance by paying the city council an extra $ 150 dollars a month just to insure that his garbage is collected. So who is lazy now?
How many of these red clinic patients are really cured of the desease of poverty and total dependence. Yes a $220 dollar on Wednesday morning may provide a temporary relief – just like a Tylenol in the case of a major tooth ache and infection but unless the problem is addressed the pain is destined to get worse and the patience must come back to the red clinic the following day.
If this is the quality of care that the labor Party administration calls visionary then how can we be surprised that we are where are today – second to Haiti and with a miniscule margin.
Their needs are written in letters. Any bo dy can make up a lie. Do they have proff of what’s in them before giving the cash.
Their needs are written in letters. Any body can make up a lie. Do they have proff of what’s in them before giving the cash.
Why would he Ambrose not support it? None of these guys can go against skerritt witches.
After 35 years of INDEPENDENCE, this is what we have become.
WHAT A DISGRACE
I must begin by saying I do respect everyone’s opinion. Are we saying that there are not people
in this country and many other countries that need some help from their Gov’t? .In America there is FOOD STAMPS some elderly are given a stipend every month.Some are given Medicaid which pays for their healthcare. Is this enabling them.? Sometimes people go through hard times and I am sure the children who are being helped do not care whether it is called ‘red, blue yellow or pink clinic. I am not convinced those people who are receiving help would not want a better life for themselves.We should be more sensitive to the less fortunate. Some may say that probably I get help from the clinic ,Thus far no but if I have to go I would go in a heartbeat .For those who are blessed think about the less fortunate .I am just saying
Enough of this nonsense. Last week the PM told us about a new sector he has created named “The unemployment sector” and now Ambrose calling the red clinic visionary? Can you all understand how they have killed Dominica and what will become of DA should they last another year?
“Nobody comes to the prime minister’s office and makes a request verbally and walks out there with any support from the program,” he stated.”
Is that true Ambrose? Are you the same person that was looking for a bank that never existed? Man I am very close to the Viellecase constituency and I can tell you you really need to take a trip to head office at Vielle case on a Thursday and you will see what is happening and what kind of written request the PM getting. Man you all are just too corrupt. If you all really mean to help needy Dominicans then why not allow the welfare division to identify those that are in need and then assist them? It’s just corruption, corruption, corruption all over the place and it must be stopped or at list be transparent.
Dlp all u good. Red clinic is for some cause pmplaying hide and sick with vieille case people, they cannot see him not at his home noh in d so called office he open all we seeing is his security jeeps living d village , penville people he helping on thurdays people from far as grandbay flocking in d village to see him and he have we vieille case people like we need him but anyone reading dis tell him hope penville make him win,ham will not fool, us we in thibaud and vieille case turn, so red clinic we out of it. But we will survive
i think some of the ageing persons should be the ones benefiting i wonder if they no where the red clinic is poor people ambrose bring the red clinic to the older persons who cant help them self’s and stop making young people lazy and beggars lord help us
The Red clinic is creating a culture of dependency, laziness and begging.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
” Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime “.
It is more worthwhile to teach someone to do something, than to do something for them.
What we need in Dominica is job creation, self- reliance, self-sufficiency, independence, self-worth, respect, job- satisfaction, productivity, self- development, and appreciation as a citizen of the most blessed island in the Caribbean.
WE DO NOT NEED HANDOUTS. WE DO NOT NEED TO BE HUMILIATED, and to be treated as a child.
A Patriot
people all-you better watch out cause there some people; youths that are so fedup of this bull ;the red clinic has not only created beggers, but, EXTREAMits,just be careful,we cant take no more!the groupe is alive and really alive, remember this date that i said it 29/10/2013.its about d/A not skerrit and his sick gov,we just cant take more,soon you will understand
FRANCIS for Roseau South all the way.
AMBRUISE YOU ARE ALREADY DISCARDE!!!! YOU ARE USELESS!!!
Thank you Francis for forcing this wicked government to at least start looking after part of the Roseau South Constituency.
VISIONARY? Garcon, you do not even know the meaning of the word! I know a better word to describe the ‘Red Clinic’: BRIBERY.
Just in case you do not know the meaning of that: ‘Bribery is an act of giving money that alters the behaviour of the recipient’. In layman’s terms as far as the DLP is concerned: cash for votes!
How can all you ministers of government stand up and keep a straight face telling all those lies almost on a daily basis???
All you wait, your days are numbered. The clock is ticking. Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock…
Visionary!!!! If that is a visionary program the one who sees must be suffering from vision problem, seeing quite blurry and thinks that is how everybody else see.
After the next general election, I would be happy if the new PM Lennox Linton let the Social Welfare Division do their field word and determine in a practical way, who are the ones amongst us that are in need of help, AND NEVER NEVER, NEVER INDULGE IN DOLING MONEY FROM HIS OFFICE.This is crazy man.
I CONDEMN IT TOTALLY!
When I was a child and I was being disciplined, my parents used to say, if you don’t hear, you’ll feel. So I see point in this debate. Intellectuals debating everyday on programs but the common person doesn’t care to learn or listen. They want instant gratification. When I hungry I’ll go beg the P.M. I figure these people should be left alone to bask in the consequences of their ignorance and stupidity. Only then, when they feel the effects of their decisions will they begin to come to term with reality and change their decisions. So let them feel the pain because they certainly not willing to listen.
All I want to know from this gentleman is why were the cuban students a few years ago disbursed their stipend in counterfeit monies… We still haven’t gotten accountability for this.
I would also like to know why a calypsonian once sang a song “””AMBROSE PWEN COUWEE”””. Is the gentleman an athlete?
So is there such a thing as remotely close to a FIPPA or FOI request in Dominica?
The people need to see the information which will then make the process transparent.
this business of heresay does nto stand up in relaity.
Labour say it’s not cash handouts…UWP say its cash handouts.
My opinionis that all governments are responsible in some aspect and capacity to take care of the less fortunate. It’s visionary to have a process of social assistance and to take a stance to eradicate poverty in any society.
What is ridiculous about htis is that in the face of so much adversity, the government has yet to provide tangible and visible proof that this program is “legit” for lack of a better word, and this program is transparent.
I do not care who benefits – red, blue, or green. What i care about is the accountabilitya dn the process behind this program.
Cash handouts, although allegdely, in this case – are IRRESPONSIBLE – no matter what the reson – unless if the minister chooses to use his person money outside of public funds to do his charity business.
I say, DNO needs to figure out the process of getting these documents and analysizing them and bring them to the public eyes. there has to be some way – the goverbment afterall, is accountable to the people.
time for investigative reporting.
Correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t the PM’s chief advisor an economist? So how then is he advising the Pm on this matter. Based on what I was taught in my various Economics classes (both at college and University level) one of the ways one can prove how well the economy of a country and which aids in bettering the economy the spending power of the citizens. And dishing out money, whether in small or large quantities, to “poor” persons on a weekly basis cannot be considered as they having spending power.
Ambrose I am so done with you man you won’t imagine. Is this the best way to develop human capital to build a country?
Mr. George, Mr. George, Mr. George. You doh find you too modara? Is so all you want to see Dominicans – coming and beg all you all the time?
Ma Gway sa! Bon Diay kay pini zor eh. Give those people work to do and let them fend for themselves. Stop making slaves of poor people!!
Beg to differ Mr.Ambrose those are signs of Poverty at a alarming rate…
If your island is prosperous and economy booming that can’t be a visionary module…
take a look at civilise countries and islands around planet earth, they have agencies which take care of those less fortunate…
you don’t see Americans flocking the white house in droves or the Brits flocking 10 Downing St in London, or bajans in Barbados.
The Red Clinic will only empower Poverty more, turn away Investors as they will see Dominica as a begging island where it’s regime upholds begging and Poverty….
So that’s why Dominicans if they really care should vote the Labour Regime fully out.
Under Labour Dominica is now rated the Poorest in The eastern caribbean…
How do you motivate people by giving them handout??
Isnt it better to teach them to fish, instead of giving them a fish
Mr Ambrose George, the saying that justice must not only be done it must be seen or appear to be done.In this case the prime minister personnally giving out cash to needy individuals is an injustice to other political parties who do not have the purse strings of government to give away taxpayers money to persons he deems fit smirks of buying patronage and nepotism
Sinse there already exists a ministry of Community devolpment and the religeous organizations in the island could be used to do as good if not a better job of helping the needy and there will be no avenue for the perception of vote buying and cronyizm whichexists when the PM gives out money out of his office.Is it that he does not think that anyone other than him can feel the pulse of the prople and understand their plight?.
We all know that when we personally help others they feel indebted to us prrsonslly therefore thr PM is buying votes.If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is a duck and this duck only benefits the Labour party and it is tax money being used tofeef
If Ambrose George wishes to make a fool of himself by calling the operations of the red clinic visionary, many Dominicans and the world by extension must understand that many of us in Dominica does not share the view that giving people handouts can be considered visionary. If giving handouts can be considered a visionary move by Skeritt, how does he consider, Mr. Lennox Linton, leader of the UWP and Prime Minister in waiting, bringing together no less then five University Graduates associated with the UWP and versed in economics and management at an Economic Symposium in order to tackle unemployment, economic growth and other related sustainable developments. According to Dominicans, buy us a fishing line and teach me to fish, instead of handing us a fish every week.
And how do you know that fish you are given is fresh? No Sir, I’d rather catch my own or buy it from an honest merchant.
Are these people from Somalia or Haiti?
They looking like Haitians In Crisis.
See a young woman in her Levi Jeans and she maybe there begging for a pound of sugar. Zort paka honte!
Publish there picture in the newspapers so we can see the lazy ones in our society who don’t want to work hard!
Shame on lazy Dominicans who do not find work to do and depend on the state for crumbs. What an embarrassment!
Lies, lies and more lies, how do these people sleep at night.
What a lie!!!
Cash is indeed handed out to party loyalist.
Ambrose is saying the minister of finance assured him that this handout station is transparent. Who is the finance minister? yes you guessed right the PM.
Also if this is designed for all Dominicans, why is it called the RED CLINIC? and why not initiate such a program through the welfare department.
Ambrose, when the PM said he will continue to give cash handouts to the Dominican people “DIRECTLY FROM HIS OFFICE”, are you saying he is lying?
Dno, what is the yard stick for Ambrose conclusion, if he calls the red clinic visionary well he can also say the result of the red clinic creating a dependancy syndrom among the poor instead of providing the environment for them to get out of poverty that too is visionary, some of us need to consult the dictionary before we use those words