UPDATE: State of Emergency and curfew to be declared in Dominica as Tropical Storm Beryl approaches

Prime Minister Skerrit has said that a State of Emergency will be declared in Dominica tomorrow, Sunday July 8 and a curfew will also be imposed.

The prime minister made the announcement at a press conference this morning as preparations intensify for the possible arrival sometime between Sunday and Monday of weather system Beryl, now  downgraded to a Tropical Storm.

The prime minister said more details regarding the implementation of these measures will be given later today.

With reference to the widespread looting that occurred after Hurricane Maria, Skerrit made it abundantly clear that lawlessness will not be tolerated.

“We will not tolerate lawlessness from any one in Dominica and the state will take proactive and preemptive measures to ensure that that which happened after Maria that there will not be even one incident of it, far more many incidents of it and as of tomorrow and I’m waiting to be advised in writing by the Chief of Police but there has been a decision of the Cabinet based on oral advice from the Chief of Police that a State of Emergency shall be declared and will give you later today the precise time when it will come into effect tomorrow,” the prime mister stated.

Information from the Met Office is that the storm is likely to start affecting Dominica from about midday Sunday into Monday and it is expected that this information will be a factor in determining the precise timing of the state of emergency and curfew.

“Anybody, it could be a priest; it could be a pastor; it could be an employee of the state, if you have no business being out during the curfew hours, you will be picked up. You will be picked up,” Skerrit warned.

He said the appropriate authorities will advise the Chief of Police on those persons who will have business to be outside.

“But a man who lives in Portsmouth and in Vieille Case and  who might be part of the emergency committee there, you may be allowed to be on the streets but within the confines of the boundaries of the village of Vieille Case. He can’t be in Pte. Michel and say that he is part of the disaster committee. I give you the assurance you’ll be picked up.”

Superintendent Richmond Valentine earlier issued a call via the media for all police officers to report for duty at 12.00 pm today.

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34 Comments

  1. Prayers for Dominica
    July 8, 2018

    I’m reading some of these ridiculous comments I’m seeing that you all have no love for your country instead of you all pray and ask for the mercy of God you all just critizing the p.m.The pm is doing what he have to do.He do you all critize don’t do you all still critize my gosh! how can this man please some of you ? You call him dictator but yet you all have all the rights to call on radio stations write on social media and say all such of things about him but you called him dictator. But don’t worry the day you all move Skerrit and put Linton many of you will call back for Skerrit take my word on that .There is a saying that goes you know what you have but you never know what you going to get .

    • Neville
      July 9, 2018

      Skerrit and his government are useless and need to go. Nothing to do with the storm but all to do with the last 18 years. What has this regime achieved what has this regime done for DA? Nothing, absolutely nothing. But they have looked after themselves and the cabal very well at the expense of all citizens!

  2. Danziger
    July 7, 2018

    I appreciate that PM, if they love their self they will COUCHE IN THEIR KABAND AND REST.

  3. Rawlston Pompey
    July 7, 2018

    MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITY

    The leader of a devastated country has more than a ‘…Ministerial Responsibility’
    in ensuring the safety and protection of law-abiding, but vulnerable citizens.

    Harbor no illusions, certain people often seized opportunities to perpetrate
    particular criminal acts when others are ‘…deeply distressed; …devastated or
    bereaved.’ They are as lawless as they are heartless.

    This has been happening the world-over, even right here in Antigua and Barbuda.

    When a leader talked tough, it is not necessarily about repetitive meaningless
    rhetoric, but ‘…declarations of intent.’

    The law-abiding may not be unduly troubled by these declarations.

    Though your Prime Minister had referenced ‘…Men of Cloth,’ the message is clearly
    not intended for them.

    They could never be excused being out on the streets ‘…saving souls or protecting
    lives’ in severe hurricane conditions. The latter is the responsibility of the Security Forces…

    • RandyX
      July 9, 2018

      I do agree with you in general. However, the position in Dominica is slightly different in as far that members of the police force where looting themselves rather than preventing it. You see Dominica is not an ordinary state because everything here is upside down. The PM does not care about DA but rather is busy looking after No. 1. It’s so sad, but it’s true.

  4. July 7, 2018

    YES [DA FAIL] you are correct the real Dominican population need to increase with the amount of people leaving and all the Haitians taking over there wont be no more true Dominican , so we need a new breeding program , skerro already said he will pay for pampers milk and housing, all you need is you weed and the red clinic , labor katavie.

    • M D
      July 7, 2018

      Dominica IS NOT the Dominican Republic. Seriously!

    • No sense
      July 8, 2018

      You such a idiot

  5. July 7, 2018

    Up till now you mean to tell me skerro has not pick up them old galvanize along the road side nu ? eh eh wat I seeing nu? . I thought dey say labor ka twavy .

    • Get a life
      July 8, 2018

      Why don’t you make magic and remove them and while at it get a life

    • SimoneSays
      July 8, 2018

      You fool. Skerrit is not responsible for picking up galvanize along the road. Whats wrong with your own arms and legs? We need to grow up and take responsibility and not blame the PM for the things which we could easily complete. The Pm has been doing a fantastic job post Maria. If it wasn’t for him then the Country would’ve been far worse. So think before you speak because you’re the one looking like an idiot.??

  6. July 7, 2018

    The business owners need to sleep on there business property with there guns ready for them looters, shoot on site , and ask questions later , no law no constitution , stand your ground , get all your families to protect your business’s , get cutlass and , baseball bates , cricket bats and whoop them upside there heads and knees, Carbon cant protect you , don’t rely on Carbon he is a moo moo, he don’t do nothing , protect your self.

  7. $156 million short
    July 7, 2018

    It is one thing to try to talk about lockdown and stateof emergency. But the truth is, the looters are from within and hurricane and state of emergency is the perfect condition for those real looters from within to loot from the country. All that said we are still $156 million short and we need answers

  8. Sowestay
    July 7, 2018

    This rhetoric from a leader is not leadership especially when most of the populace is stressed and psychologically scared – this man is a dictator and dont know how to be a leader – horrible

    • George Bellot
      July 7, 2018

      If he says thing, you say what kind of leader is that.

  9. Tony
    July 7, 2018

    I imagine that a reasonable time will be given before the state of emergency is effected.

    How much time do people have and need to go to shelters? Or to move to more secure locations and do final preparations? There is the risk of overloading shelters too early. At least a reasonable time before the impact of the storm should be the cut off time. We can assess the time of impact – for this storm the earliest tropical storm force wind is estimate to impact Dominica at about 8:00 pm Sunday 8th July 2018.

    Why do we hinge it on say 2 hours before the impact of the storm as assessed by the NAOO or our NIPO.

    There is a lot that can happen tomorrow Sunday including giving people time to worship, go to mass and pray.

    The announcement needs to be improved in order to help. It needs to be more informative, not just aimed to show power to “pick up” people.

  10. Bishop Smith
    July 7, 2018

    A great proactive approach is well headed. I recognize however that the first two names that were called where those of men /women of God. Is it that those two might have legitimate reasons to be on the road. Is that the way we treat our men and women of God, we will pick them up. Is it not these same men and women who labor before God seeking refuge and coverage for the city. Remember always sir you are mighty but He is Alllllmighty. If God don’t watch the city all the police you have watches but in vain. We will continue to do our part in safe guarding the city through prayer.

  11. anonymous2
    July 7, 2018

    It appears to be winding down some, so maybe only a tropical storm will hit DA. We will see how prepared the country is this time around.

  12. Shelters
    July 7, 2018

    Friday July 6th. Austrie states: https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/weather/no-decision-yet-on-country-shut-down-says-austrie/

    Next day Sat. July 7th. Skerritt, I-am-the-boss, decided.

    Those who were hoarding, not sharing equally the ration,building materials and finance that people sacrificed and sent to us, especially to those in need, the poor, thought storms, hurricanes finish for Dominica, you ain’t see nothing yet.

    Instead of repairing or building with CLIMATE RESILIENCE in mind and in action, business as usual. No monitoring by Authorities.

    Which hurricane shelters that were damaged, have been repaired? How many damaged bridges have been replaced? How comes Communities like Massacre, Pottersville and several others have NO shelters?
    PRESSURE!!!!!!!!!! MISERY !!!!!!
    Galvanize, rubbish from Maria, all over the country. Where is the equipment to crush galvanize,as you boasted?? Trying to pass UNJUST LAWS instead in secret…

  13. looter
    July 7, 2018

    Berlyn decipitating noooo need to lock down the already NOT progressing Island skerro.. no need

  14. %
    July 7, 2018

    If it was a hurricane,you all would not have cell to place people who would be running away from tarpaulin blown away by the wind…Whenever a Mike is placed before Skerrit’s mouth that’s when you see how miseducated he is..Of course the number of “”am,am,am,am,he stutters,makes a grade two student shudder in disbelief.Thats why WikiLeaks told us that when he is among other Caribbean heads ,”he is out of his depths”.

    • Neville
      July 9, 2018

      Am, am am, am… I couldn’t agree more!

  15. Bring the kidnapped Dominica parrots back.
    July 7, 2018

    Any looters should be banished to bird island to live with the birds.

  16. RandyX
    July 7, 2018

    Just listen to Skerrit: state of emergency and curfew. I would like to say to you Skerrit: forget about all that, all you have to do is put a curfew on the police force. Remember who was involved in all the looting last time. But instead in your infinite wisdom you put the fox in charge of the fowl house.
    You need to go Mister, you are totally out of your depth.

  17. Man bites dogs
    July 7, 2018

    AM Ready Sir my Ak is fully cleaned and oil waiting and hoping i don’t have to use it. Looters keep away don’t mess with, Dogs bites man, good luck.

    • Neville
      July 8, 2018

      So you are prepared to shoot your red comrades and police because they are the ones that did the looting last time round. Fool!

      • Man bites dogs
        July 9, 2018

        NEVILLE, Don’t try playing a smart*** with me I’m not one of Workers supporters idiots, My wife and I have work very hard for what we got in Dominica, the UK plus Europe Spain,My wife is a beautiful woman hard working from Jamaica ocho rios, and she’s more Dominican than most of you dirty nasty supporters of workers propaganda so-called opposition party, So I’m telling you and others like they say in Jamaica dont xxxx.

      • Neville
        July 9, 2018

        Dog, you are a very sorry individual. If you are that well of why do you support a thief? You don’t make any sense man! You are just a thug and your continued comments on DNO proof that in abundance. Go and see Dr. Benji!!

      • Man bites dogs
        July 9, 2018

        NEVILLE, Who am I it’s your guess you would be surprised like many others, But i will only say it once you Linton and his bunch of scavengers plus supporters hasn’t a single thing above me, You guys are all vagabonds, Suckers and dreamers, Who am I wait and see time will tell.

      • Neville
        July 10, 2018

        Who are you, you asking. Here is the answer: a big time LOOSER!

  18. Me
    July 7, 2018

    Proactive steps. Ver good!

  19. DA fails
    July 7, 2018

    Country on lockdown, time to go and lie down by your woman 8) :lol:

    • Vanessa
      July 8, 2018

      I agree. Amen to that! Keep warm and pray.

    • Man bites dogs
      July 8, 2018

      Good idea in T AND T we use to say madman weather we going to bed and *******

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