Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has called for plans to be put in place to increase the number of visitors to Dominica’s shores during the Carnival celebrations.
The prime minister said, in a post-carnival statement, that the Ministry of Tourism, International Transport and Maritime Initiatives needs to hold a consultation on Carnival during March/April in order to bring all the band organizers, artistes, representatives, patrons and private sector together to have a very transparent and open discussion on Carnival, “where do we think Carnival should be taken and how do we position ourselves so that we can attract more visitors in our country?”
Skerrit contends that while Carnival is a time to celebrate, “we also have to understand that this is an export commodity.”
“We need to ensure that we continue to attract even increasing numbers of people coming for our Carnival celebrations,” he said. “I have been saying to the Ministry of Tourism for many years now, for the last 10 to 12 years, we always had a ship in town on Tuesday and on Carnival Tuesday we had more than one.”
He believes that his government needs to find a way of getting the cruise passengers to be part of the celebrations.
“Can we not sell a package to the cruise lines so that patrons, visitors, cruise tourists can have their own band or be part of a band?” the prime minister asked.
“Skerrit calls for plans to increase Dominica’s visitor arrivals during carnival”.
“Why does Skerrit have to speak on every issue?”
“Did he take away the Tonge of the ministers when he selected them to run on his ticket?” Ohhhh yes, the tongue of this political clown is worth nothing, only bite at people who has observed that he is extremely immature, politically childish and knows absolutely nothing of socio-economic development. Skerrit is a failure, failed our agriculture and tourism development. He has travelled the world at our expense meeting all kinds of nefarious people who are in charge and in control of our state property, finances and our passport.
Skerrit and his corrupted Labour government has failed us. We must repeat this regularly because our agriculture has sunk deeply into poverty, through Corruption, by extremely corrupted immature failed little Boy referred to as this Odd Minister.. Our people have suffered enough under failed Skerrit.
Labour Party is…
Gouvelma, good point did’t he said he run things do you expect otherwise
Dominica definitely has the potential to be Polaris in the Eastern Caribbean probably the entire Caribbean. However, this will take an astute and insightful leader to make this happen. Mr. Skerrit is neither. Leadership matters!
Diasporan: The importance is not the cruise ship passenger who arrive in the morning, walk aroung the carnival all day without spending a penny and leave at 6.00 pm. It should be directed to the visitor who comes down for carnival and spend 3 to 4 weeks and thereby contributing to the economy by his spending on accomodation and other linving costs. Why don’t people look at the economic impact of the different visitors to our shores.
Skerritt orchestrated a way to bring in 5 times the arrivals during carnival for elections if not more, why don’t he use the same formula
Roosevelt again spewing nonsensical hogwash!
I don’t know anywhere in the Caribbean where tourist ships arrive on any of the islands filled with tourist specifically to participate in the islands Carnival, not even in Trinidad, or Brazil where Carnival celebration are the most extravagant.
Now, I can understand if there was an International Airport on the island, and Dominica’s Carnival season was promoted, and advertise in North America, and some places in Europe; England where they have adapted Carnival introduced by West Indians who migrated there in the 1950’s.
Perhaps there are descendants of West Indians who may want to attend Dominica’s carnival as they visit Trinidad, Barbados, and Antigua Carnival.Mind you Nothing Hill Carnival in England is bigger than that of Dominica.
The amount of visitors to any country depends on what the country have to offer, what is the attraction: Skerrit running off his mouth without an International Airport, is all rubbish!
In order to welcome more visitors, the first thing to do is to bring down the cost of this highly unjustified departure tax.
Also, in Roseau, passengers have to line-in like animals with children, hand luggage, and try to find a a way of filling a form while standing up ( for half an hour )
And last but not least, often realise then after that one luggage is missing and has gone to another island !!
Shame !
FMP, tourist.visitors. coronavirus ; that spell disaster and plague spreading faster. Are we prepare for that, Do we have isolation wards or hospital away from the main hospital for quarantine? Our health comes before the economy. Emphasis should be be place on restrict travelling. Be mindful of what comes in your country. The current issue now is how to prevent the spread pf coronavirus in our country. Carnival has gone but the number of visitors that were here. Creator protect us.
Scare It is a laughing joke.
Is he not aware of he history of carnival? How does he want to còmmpdpfy and package carnival as a tourist package?
I cannot believe I just read these prepròsperòus proposals. This is a leader? Lol
Whereas I may not agree with everything Dr. Skerritt says; I believe we must be mature enough to accept the issuance of a sensible statement from him, even if rare.
I believe that it is wise to try to make carnival an export product as it is in all other areas of the globe; a time where there are attempts to increase tourist arrivals and involvement in local culture. Selling the Dominican Experience, if you will, should be the desire of every Dominican.
It is lamentable when the Prime minister who has been in that position for 20 plus years says that all he has been doing is talking but no action!!! In his words, “We need to ensure that we continue to attract even increasing numbers of people coming for our Carnival celebrations,” he said. “I have been saying (
) to the Ministry of Tourism for many years now, for the last 10 to 12 years. He is unable to tell us what he has done apart from talking. Did he just admit that he has failed our country?
I would not mind if he had anything sensible to contribute but that’s wishful thinking. The man is useless…!
P.S.: Why doesn’t he tell us when he is going to account for the missing money?
I don’t know why people pay any attention to when this invalid speaks.
Twenty years of Dominica’s life has been wasted .
What a country, whe , whe, whe, Skerit is just ravaging the place.
After 20 years you still planning? What kind of madness is that?
Man your washed up,your only thinking short term,Did you finish the sampling of soil for your so call airport?
The man is a fool?
He states for the past ten /twelve years he has been asking for what?
A ship in port?
Time to go P.M
YOU HAVE LOST ALL CREDIBILITY.
I watched Marpin News last night and heard Skerrit talk about cruise tourist joining or even forming a carnival band. The first thing that came to my mind was, Skerrit needs to go on a cruise to see the demographic on a cruise ship. I just returned from a cruise earlier this month.
Generally if the cruise is more than 7 days, the majority of people on the ship will be more than 70 years old. Cruises leaving from the US that are 7 days or less, which would attract a younger demographic generally do not get as far south as Dominica.
I think this man should first talk to people who know something about tourism before he makes public statements on the subject.
Why not develop plans to increase arrivals in the off season. Visitor arrivals and stay over visitors cannot only be seasonal. If that is the case tourism cannot be our mainstay. Yes carnival is good and creole fest is good. But these cannot be the only times when we have significant stay over visitors. nonsense we doing in tourism. We need better port facilities to accommodate more planes and boats. We need better services in terms of quality restaurants that open PAST LUNCH TIME, gas stations availability island wide, ATM access island wide, more merchants who accept credit/debit cards, safe quality entertainment areas. the people need secure employment that actually pays, otherwise crime will rise. I could go on and on on what is needed to make visitors want to come here and stay. But these people never listen. Only when it is too late do we act like we care. So tell Skerrits to keep talking, Keep doing the bare minimum when its late.
What an Odd Prime Minister we have to miserable endure with. It appears he has just woken up from a dream, Jou oeuvre morning. LOL..LOL..LOL. He Has:
1. “…….called for plans to be put in place to increase the number of visitors to Dominica’s shores during the Carnival celebrations….”
2. “where do we think Carnival should be taken and how do we position ourselves so that we can attract more visitors in our country?”
Response: When we our decent, mature, intellectual, business thinking Person to replace you out of our government. We already have this person in mind, who is exceptionally professional, committed, a team player and a strategist. All these above Skerrit has failed.
3. “We need to ensure that we continue to attract even increasing numbers of people coming for our Carnival celebrations,” Skerrit, you are too late and you have admitted failure after 20 yrs in office now you say “We need to ensure we continue(?) to attract increasing numbers to carnival. Skerrit,…
View expressed keep on babbling. You were rejected 4 times at the polls and your horse King Dice didn’t make it past the starting gate! Rejected again, Blue Vex, you cold cold like ice. Your fancy innuendos is good for your hardcore haters.
In your independence speech in 2019, you said that you were planning to have a direct flight from NY to DA for carnival celebrations in 2020?
Was that a serious plan or just election propaganda?
Very good point Bob! He can arrange flights for people to come and vote for him but not for carnival? Well, mister just wake up from his slumber in the counting house.
Carnival was originally born of the people, by the people and for the people. Therein lies its true purpose. It was not conceived as an “export commodity”.
My heart bleeds. Skerritt unilaterally selsctedbhis candidates for the last elections. He sure knew why he did that. He wanted people who worshipped him and dare not talk without his permission. I accept that he is the prime minister. However does he have to speak on every issue? Where are the technocrats and even the minister in the various ministries? Why does skerritt have to speak on every issue? Did he take away the Tonge of the ministers when he selected them to run on his ticket?