Dominica’s newly sworn-in Opposition Leader and elected Member of Parliament for the Salisbury, Coulibistrie and Morne Rachette Constituency Hector John has called for the resignation of the Agriculture Minister Matthew Walter.
John has taken a swipe at Walter, who he said has failed to properly represent the interest of local farmers.
John told a public meeting organized by the United Workers Party (UWP) to discuss the 2010/2011 national budget in Lagoon last night that the minister lacks the understanding and forté, to effectively represent the farmers and their interests in the area of export.
He joined his party colleagues in calling on Walter to either resign or be fired.
“We cannot allow that to continue in our country. We have to put down our foot. How can you have agriculture, tourism [at the top] when your road network is at the poorest? How do you expect farmers to go to their farms when you do not have proper roads?” he questioned.
Former Prime Minister and MP for Marigot Edison James also echoed John’s sentiments for Walter to resign or be fired.
For the petty people who resort to name calling and snide innuendo when it comes to politics. Enough with the mudslinging and resorting to petty insults. All negativity and unwarranted anger being exhibited by some people bring the notion of preschoolers to mind. Let’s focus on ideas and respect for people who hold opposing viewpoints. Habit never dies. It’s a tactic used to simply anger your opponent when you can’t come up with an intelligent remark. Any fool can criticize, the people who continue to critize don’t have the balls to take on the responsibility of the ones they critize. Grow up people.
I like the fact that you are acknowledging that the DLP has ruined the agriculture industry. You’ve spent so much time telling us that Edison screw up the the farmers so it is OK for Skerrit and his administration to do the same. It took me 4 lines to say the same thing you are saying.
is that the way we want to move the country forward? First you came by and Disrespect the farmers by saying that they need to recognize they are no longer important- such a shameful display from you PATAT
I HATE TO DO THIS BUT I GET THE FEELING THAT PEOPLE LIKE YOU ARE SINGING FOR YOUR DINNER SOO MUCH SO THAT EVEN WHEN THE VERY THINGS THAT WERE WRONG WITH THE UWP IS NOW OK WITH THE DLP. tHAT IS DISHEARTENING POOR D/CA.
Dominicans will eat the lexus, crv, suv etc lol.
@victimized: TO Victimized Papar , Baby Doc and Jim jones had thousand of ignorant illiterate followers but they never had the majority , because you can only fool people sometime no all the time. We know Haiti population is mostly illiterate and if you go and research Jim Jone you will see he mostly had poor illiterate black americans. what does that say about education ?
A lack of education is the reason why an opposition leader can have a public meeting scare people, say crazy things about the government not get arrested and at the same time say there is no democracy. If the majority believed that there would be thousands in the street not a hand full as we see.
When the end was near for Jim Jones he started saying more and more crazy things like, they are coming to get us, they are going to kill us, our fredom will be taken away etc etc etc and that’s how he got them to drink that kool aid. Apparently desperate men say desperate and crazy things and UWP leaders are clearly desperate so be carefull.
Oh and by the way you do have 3 to a thousand so be happy and stop complaining.
@Magwaysar: I am joking read my post again, i am being sarcastic ,come on now do you see any young people in that pic?
@victimized: @roots man: i am joking read my post again, i am being sarcastic.
For those who did not get it in the above post i am being sarcastic
Reading the many contributions on this news item makes we laugh my head out and at the very same time some crucial questions comes to mind:
1. Can Mr. James and all the other members of the UWP who are or were farmers say boldly that agriculture in Dominica have made them better of as men and women?
2. How many of the UWP candidates apart from Mr. Ron Green declared their assets publicly? Mr. Ron Green went on record and state that he has about $10,000.00 in the Credit Union and a small revolving loan as well as his antique pickup.
3. Did Mr. James publicly declared his assets for all of us to know how well of he is as a farmer? Remember Mr. James was manager of Bananas in Dominica for a number of years and moved the banana industry from crisis to recovery to crisis to the top of the debt mountain with nothing to show for it.
4. When UWP was in charge how many feeder roads were built, rehabilitated, and maintained?
5. Why did Mr. James allow a former Manager of DBMC go on the road with a placard in his hand on top of a HiFi Truck leading a protest with banana farmers all around Roseau for again? Mark you he was Prime Minister at that time! Did that protest achieve anything positive for Dominica?
6. What was the reason why Mr. Timothy, the financial genius and wizard, wanted to introduce VAT – yes Value Added Tax into Dominica but decided to call the elections first again?
7. Why did the UWP introduced User Fees at the Hospital for when they were in charge and farmers should have been ok and happy?
8. If things were that good during their term of office why did the UWP government or administration sell Domlec to CDC ?
9. Mr. Peter Carbon worked at the DBMC with Mr. James and ran on a UWP ticket for Wesley and won his seat and became the Minister of Agriculture between 1995 to 2000 and how effective and successful was he again? He constantly made mention of a land bank for persons wanting to go into agriculture and whatever happened to that pipedream under his term of office as Minister of Agriculture?
10. UWP introduced duty free concessions for farmers to buy new pickups and who were the persons who bought these four wheel drive pickups again? A hint: they were not farmers and that was a political campaign ploy!!! And it backfired.
11. Was it ever known that the average farmer kept records of their operations in Dominica? My step-father (yes, my mother man) never kept any records. All he would do is give those people at Barclays his banana sales slip and title and he would get money to fix his Bedford truck and send us to school. Mama use to tell him: Paps banana sales is not profit. Look at all those money that going to Barclays Bank. Paps and Mama would clear more land and put in bananas and take loan again and buy land next to ours to put in bananas. It take my half brother , paps son with my mother to go high school third form in SMA and hear Mr. Jolly talk about yield per acre is vital since land for agriculture is very limited. To cut a long gospel short , my brother and mother come up with a plan and larry start to make books for us and mama go in Royal Bank and open savings for us without paps knowing. And is when d man fall sick we almost get embarrassed if it was not for my mother, paps would have died without no money to bury him.
I say all that to make this point: Farmers were never interested in educating themselves. Farmers never practiced decent hygiene. There was never running water much less for toilet on the farms. Farmers never knew if they were doing better year after year since yields per acre was not taken seriously. It was only in the late 1990s a French man come Dominica and was getting some kind of patan yields on one acre and was renting land from my step-father to expand his production.
The pain the UWP and their supporters feeling now is as a result of globalization and the hard facts that Dominica’s agriculture does not have a competitive advantage far less to even have a comparative advantage with Latin America. The cost of production is too high in Dominica’s case.
The other major problem is that Europe and America join the ranks of the Third World and we in Dominica no longer 3rd world. We now come 4th world papa.
America hardly makes anything anymore!! All those environmentalist and their sponsored legislation cause businesses to ship out their factories and start outsourcing their work to China and India and those Asian Countries. Hence our families in Dominica not getting remittances from US and imagine the number one television show in US is Dirty Jobs on Discovery Channel with Mike Row.
So UWP must come better than that and start watch BBC News and develop creative solutions to help Dominica.
Believe it or not, Skerrit is on track with the budget and you all must see the bigger picture.
Labour and UWP are partners in crime!
@shy…..please do a spell check before you write anything on here….your spelling and grammar = atrocious. @ spags……..ou commence bien bonheure…..(u start well early!!!!)
@Anonymous: How many of you and your ilk and your bunch of inefficient DLP GOVT. care if Dominica’s agriculture gone to ZERO? who cares? carrot, lettuce, cabbage etc. will come from Miami. You like it so. But you all will not be able to beg the Dominican farmer for his fig or dasheen. You all do not even love yourself much less for others. Haiti was once the bread basket of the Caribbean. Haitians ended up making DIRT CAKES. YES, they would take dirt and mix with a little butter and fry that to eat. It early still. Time will Tell. But not all Dominicans KOOYON like you all.
@john brown: To john Brown and those like John. Ever heard of the saying? Prefer to be right with 3 than to be in the wrong with 1000. Jim Jones had thousands of followers where did they end up? Papa and Baby Doc had many many thousands of worshipers, What happen to Haiti?
Why waste time, energy and effort calling for dismissal and resignation when we know, the whole world knows that will never happen, give it a rest guys!! Focus on other issues and forget about calling for any Minister to resign or be dismissed!!!
@Dos Esquis: WOW, uwp supporters are so original….I see Edison trained you well
@Watcher: well what eddie doesnt seem to realize is dat when GOd puts down a leader he doesnt put him back up. somebody correct me on dat one.
try to recall any leader dat has lost his seat and return in power. the party will rise but the leader who loses never rise again.
so if he’s angry what else to do but try to vent his anger through others. is like some mothers whose marriage didnt work, they take charge of dere daughters own and what u know, sooner or later these children marriages ends in divorce.
let’s encourage da young man to put his best foot forward and do something really good for our country,
Is asking mathew walter to resign the so called new day for democracy in dominica? These opposition people includind the now magic freedom party with their brilliant master brains that know all the answers to every thing whom the dominican electorate taught a lesson they will never forget on december 18 2009, is that the way foward for dominica? hector john my cousin if u have to take the mighty uwp out of the gutter or sewer pit that it found it self in u have a mighty task ahead of u.a huge huge task my brother u cannot u will not u dont have wat it takes to make one additional constituency swing in the uwp favour.u are given this position so as to spend you little money on the party every thing is going to be left on your account wait n c ask earl.however let me congratulate u.your supporters think you”re the prime minister.my friend lennox arthie matt eddison and ron all have contributed to where the uwp is right now since skerrit have life when he”s tennure as prime minister has endeed you will b in your late 50’s.good luck
@john brown: You seems to be a youth too. If that is what you calling youth, Dominica fini bat. UWP dead.
Only when you are starving to death will you realize the importance of farmers and farming.
Only when you are dying from cancer may you finally link the importance of eating only organic, unadulterated food to the disease you are dying from.
that just the beging of john making a fool of him slef [idiot bowy]
A picture tells a thousand words, the tide has changed. The replacement of Mr. Green, an older man, with Mr. Hector, a younger man was a game changer. Now the youth are clearly with the UWP as the above pic shows. This is the future ladies and gentlemen!!
hector boy you just come and you have them bumping already …………. the people are with you …………. SKY’S THE LIMIT BOSS
The DLP IS EXPOSING IT’S A****SS- TOO MUCH CROOKEDNESS , BAD DECISIONS AND LIES. BY NOW EVERYONE KNOW THAT I AM BIAS WHEN IT COMES TO MY PARTY BUT DEEP DOWN INSIDE I KNOW THESE GUYS ARE CORRUPT AND ALL FOR THEMSELVES.
PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING , NO JOBS, THEY SQUEEZING THE FARMERS WHILE THEY GET RICH OVERNIGHT. I HAVE TO FINALLY CONFESS
–reply
Dos Esquis intelligence is not everyone’s forte so I don’t expect anything intelligent from you. You are the Quintessential ignorant DLP supporter who can not provide valid and sensible contribution to a discussion. It is sad that the red veil over your eye is impeding not just your eye sight but your ability to rationalize simple issues – simple issues that even a kinder garden kid can.
@shy: u make no sense at all.
shame,shame shame on Edie for guiding that guy wrong. You are out stay out and give the young man a chance.John what the HEC is wrong with you? Tell Edie to go and succeed. Suck Seed.
@KAL FARIN: If you can call yourself Kal Farin, padna you have a serious problem
Why is the UWP so stuck on Agriculture? Why would hector john who recently completed an accelerated degree program (from a non-school …of all places in the Bronx) is so hell bent on pushing a dying industry.
The days when we had protection from the EU to sell bananas at$2.00/ pound is over. This was the hight of Edison James and Bananas….its not gonna come back
So UWP don’t fool yourself and try to fool the people of Marigot and Salisbury with you…Oh well, they have been fooled already.
So the UWP are bankrupt of idea and stuck on a donkey carry a banana mentality.
DNO recently published an article where the minister for information articulated his vision for the next three years where we will be heading the path that the new found economies in the Asia-PAC have exploited….TECHNOLOGY.
But the UWP are still stuck in a fork and cutlass mentality….GIVE IT UP
Since before elections the UWP supports have been talking about that silent wave of support that they have. Elections results 18-3 has proven you’ll wrong. Why dont you’ll just regroup, strategise – once this is done, the party will have a road map to help rally support. In so doing the voices that speak on behalf of the party has to change and the storyline also has to be unbiased and fresh. Too much stale news.
Eddie don’t try this. Let the young man do his job well. And to you humble yourself. This world is not our home, we are just passing thru. There is a greater and Mightier one than all of us. Time to come down to earth and stop that hating attitude. Need to hear you make some meaningful contribution in the House not hating and criticising. Time to talk positive and provide meaningful and alternative solutions.
@Yep: You mean that i swaht you start to do already. Spaggs I listened to a young Rasta in the Trinidad Government (I think is Hinds is his name ) and to be honest with you, I listenned and enjoyed the Young man’s contribution. He made points (constructive) to the Government side. I am sure that some of the pointers that he gave would critically pondered on by the Government side. You have not even sat down yet since you had not attended parliament prior to the bye Election and the first thing on your Adgenda is to ask the Honourable Minister Walter to resign. Honourable :Leader of the Opposition Mr Hector John please please for the sake of the youth, do not continue on this path of destruction. Go to the parliament and do your job and be a gentleman so the young people can look up to you. Leave all the boyish childish playful attitude behing and get serious about the country’s business. Put the Father first in all you and ask him to direct your path and be lamp to your feet. Calm down , be humble, read your bible esp the book of wisdom everyday and do your do in a way that the Father wants you to do it.
Ok my pardner.
I find your campaign start well early. You did not even give people a chance to congratulate you, you already calling on minister to resign – My God.
lol @ ‘shy’ again…dude use of punctuation is not a crime you won’t get arrested or anything….
What a massive turn-out by the jubilant UWP supporters, I wonder how traffic was able to flow in the midst of that huge throng of people lol…
It’s funny how the UWP had the platform of a general elections to outline how they would improve agriculture but all i heard them talkin’ bout was Skerrit, bin bobol, Skerrit, Castle Bruce currency, Skerrit, some vague pledges and more Skerrit
Now Earl Williams lite (aka Hector John, aka Sanford corbus) with his mighty 3 seats in parliament is putting his powerful foot down and demanding resignations.
What a bunch of jokers mayne….
PATAT I SADDENED BY YOUR IGNORANCE AND LACK OF SYMPATHY FOR OUR FARMERS. IT IS A WELL KNOWN FACT THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT SHOWN ANY INTEREST IN OUR FARMERS.WHEN THE FARMERS DO WELL AND PRODUCE DOMINICA AS A WHOLE PRODUCTIVE AND PROGRESSIVE. PATAT IS HERE ENJOYING THE DEMISE OF OUR FARMERS AT THE HANDS OF A POLITICAL PARTY THAT HE SUPPORTS. I RESPECT YOUR RIGHT TO SUPPORT YOUR PARTY BUT HOW DARE YOU COME IN HERE AT DIS THE FARMERS YOU AUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF.
NOW THAT WE ALL THINK THAT PATAT IS A DISGRACE HOW CAN OUR COUNTRY PROGRESS WHEN THIS ADMINISTRATION’S MO IS TO BEGG AND DEPEND ON CHAVEZ OR A FEW CHINESE SELF SERVING BUSINESS MEN. AT THIS POINT THE ONLY PRODUCTS THAT WE EXPORT IS ABOUT TO BE OBLIVIATED BY THE DLP.
HOW CAN WE EXPECT A GENUINE EFFORT FROM THE MINISTER WHEN HIS HEART IS SOMEWHERE ELSE. LET US NOT FORGET MINISTER WALTERS CRIED WHEN HE WAS TRANSFERED TO THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE. LIKE SEAN HE SHOULD BE DISMISSED..
UWP dead they gone 9 feet deep and every time they open their mouth is deeper they sinking…………….something wrong with all u …………try get a life a live my lover beautiful country Dominica in peace pls ……………………….cause we not giving it back to the … Eddie ……………old man Ron ……………. and u john u Don’t stand a chance
@U: get a life ………………u have a problem with the PM man give the man a break if fig not selling what u want them to do ………………….Eddie that was the banana man what did he do for the farmer? not a damn thing ………………. tell John to take a hike …
@shy: you really shy for true …………………… who pe pe Ron, Eddie, John i smell a rat
@shy: Shy reading your comment makes me believe that you are the one who don’t know what’s going on in your country because OMG alot have changed for better… What is the UWP going to do when they are so disfunctional? All the leaders they have put in place have done nothing but bring down the party Don’t blame Dominicans for your party’s failure blame it on y’all leaders and ministers. Order in what house? Edison James is the most illmannered person in the house NO CONDUCT @ ALL
@mm: People have better things to do with their time than to go listen to these people BS
He just got sworn in but he is already demanding things… He really need to start working on how to get his party back. They have nothing else to say about the budget that’s how good it was so they have to go to the extreme to bring somebody down. SMH that’s why they have to choose him (a new comer) to be their leader.
Wait a minute not on a Tuesday it having d pappy show on d radio nuh?
So it had one live on d streets of Roseau den?
It is clear to see that UWP simply trying to revive their support base of farmers. Farming is dead in Dominica. Pickup dealers even close down dealership for years now.
Pickups no longer selling in Dominica – is SUV, CRV, RVR, and Lexus that selling in Dominica. Those kind of transport dere not carrying fig for farmers much less vegetables and ground provisions.
So it is clear to see that the world has changed around dem man dere and they doh notice what hit them and farmers. Doh blame de minister!!!!
the peep peep minister must go.
ALL that Stupes Stupes Stupes wont last forever and trust me we just start you labouries voters dont even know half of what is going in your country because all you can see is a red shirt and a man that has so class and morals infront of you but thank God for the uwp we see way beyond that we see the needs of his people and to bring back morals, class, dignity back into the house of Assemble alas dominican the world is listening to us we are like a laughing star in the world and the latest thing which take place in the house breast, breast, breast knowing a speaker is a woman and also the AG thats a shame shame shame that is what you all need to say stupes for and i hope all labouries has teeth to bite breast so you all wont suck it as your minister put it and he was laughing after you all so much , anyway workerssssssssssssssss we are coming stronger than ever to take back our country from this lowless reckless dishornest lieing men and woman who suppose to protect us instead is more disgrace and shame they bring on poor dominicans back more power to you my Honorable John it a pleasure to call you honorable because indeed you are and your memebers together we will make it and yes we can do it once again.
That’s the crowd? pityful lol
Even the budget reflect the lack of interest or investment in our Agricultural sector. 11 Million, and Tourism 9 million… Imagine that! And what does this administration expect to do for those sectors???? Obviously nothing, certainly not in keeping with the grand scheme of things they have planned for the revival of agriculture…
Hector John … does not have it so too is Eddison James !
I support the call,but then the incompetence is in other ministeries as well.First of all the PM should resign for arrogance and lack of leadership skills.Education,Sports,Housing,Trade,you name it…They need to resign..It’s a country in crisis..
so dat was de budget, tell me something what did farmers do in the 60’s.
Wow, is this the first pronouncements of the much talked about new opposition leader? I thought the meeting was called for to “discuss” the budget. lol lol.
STUPES STUPES STUPES