Statement by the APP on bus drivers unrest of April 12, 2021.

Public protests generally occur when people believe that their government is not listening.

Our research reveals that the Dominica bus drivers protest of April 12, 2021, was sparked by disagreements and discontentment over several issues, and especially exacerbated by the recent hike in the price of fuel.

While the Alternative Peoples’ Party (APP) understands the action taken by bus drivers, we are not in agreement with the disruptive episodes and what appeared to be brutality and the use of excessive force and a militarized presence at the protest. APP calls for peace and tolerance, even while we understand the struggle of the people.

Protests are never the best forms of negotiations, but when people protest it means that things are serious enough to cause them to take action. The authorities should and must always listen, and act in the interest of the people. Dominica is a democracy, and protest is a standard practice in democratic countries. The people who chose to protest as well as those who refuse to should be protected, understood and respected. APP is willing to play a role in achieving mutual cooperation.

Our party, when in government, will reform the entire public transportation service. We will build two major bus terminals in Roseau: one to serve the North and West and the other for East and South. The state will invest in standard public buses which will be contracted or leased to certified drivers and bus operators and conductors. Private minibuses will also be registered with the National Transportation Association (NTA) and will operate by standard laws. The NTA will also administer the operations of school buses. Public bus fare will be subsidized by the State, especially for senior citizens, and buses will operate on particular schedules.

We will discuss our plans in greater detail in the near future, but in the meantime, we ask bus drivers and operators to keep hope alive that a new day will dawn on their business with an APP administration. Our party looks forward to speaking with the bus operators and presenting them with the party’s plans for the future.

Let us fix our problems together, as one people, with one destiny.

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16 Comments

  1. Felix
    April 14, 2021

    I think this is a considered response with positive ideas for the future. If Dominica is to move forward it needs to shed the partisanship and the poison generated by the two main political parties. They do nothing for this country. They just generate hate and division.

  2. %
    April 14, 2021

    @Truth
    A price HIKE is 1000 000 000% correct.

  3. JOE LINTON
    April 14, 2021

    I am confuse, is APP condemning the blocking of the road by the bus drivers or not?????
    I am also confuse with the solution propose by APP, the bus drivers are seeking a stimulus package from central government because they claim Covid 19 brought hardship to them, they block people like me from going to Roseau and had to cancel my Doctor’s appointment simply because they believe the government is owing them money (never knew they were working for government).
    So APP how is this “Our party, when in government, will reform the entire public transportation service. We will build two major bus terminals in Roseau: one to serve the North and West and the other for East and South. The state will invest in standard public buses which will be contracted or leased to certified drivers and bus operators and conductors. Private minibuses will also be registered with the National Transportation Association (NTA) and will operate by standard laws.” going to help them from the so-called…

  4. Truth
    April 14, 2021

    Whether it be the APP or DNO error, please be aware that the proper word to be used in the statement you made about fuel is not HIKE but “SPIKE”. Ok. Because a hike means the cost is lowered but a spike means the cost has been increased. Thanks you

    ADMIN: Thank you for your feedback but that is not accurate. Hike can also be used to mean an increase. See link to definition below:

    https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hike

  5. Lin clown
    April 14, 2021

    Boy I must laugh. Hahahahahahahaa. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

    • Lin NOT Clown.
      April 15, 2021

      But that is what clowns do, laugh!

    • click here
      April 16, 2021

      thats what clowns do. noone takes you seriously.

  6. Avanelle Schafer
    April 14, 2021

    I dont care a dam if my name or email are shown

  7. Avanelle Schafer
    April 14, 2021

    The policemen should show more respect, they are there to protect and not to act like dogs,it’s unacceptable how 6 policemen beat up a young man, and another policeman shut a man in his leg,they should all be fired 😡😡

  8. Forkit
    April 14, 2021

    Two bus terminals in roseau, really… In the air allu going to build it….

  9. Gary
    April 13, 2021

    The opening statement of this comment shows childish reasoning, it also displays a lack of understanding regarding “objective reasoning” by a group of people who see themselves as the future Government. I wonder if they were in Government if they would adhere to such a belief, quote “Public protests generally occur when people believe that their government is not listening.”

    I have gotten to know and understand that there are reality aspects of Governments that is not understood. Let us look at our Government with it’s limited financial resources and the present crisis. Do we really think The Government can meet the needs of every person, every interest group and Political Party harmoniously. Asking bus drivers and operators to keep hope alive that a new day will dawn on their business with an APP, wow. Why didn’t you all go to the protest and give the bus drivers hope with such a statement. The first to rush to make commentary does not hold the truth or vision for Dominica.

    • April 14, 2021

      Gary, we have had some hot arguments in the past but for some reason, this has ceased for a long time ago, and I always read and support your comments; this, above one of them.

      I agree with you, that those people, whoever they are, could never be the government of the country and simply accept what the bus drivers are doing. They git a reason to beg for popularity, but it is not going to happen; not that way!

  10. Ibo France
    April 13, 2021

    The APP is trying to have it both ways. Usually when there is a well publicized incident of national concern, such as this one concerning the bus drivers, APP comes out from under the rocks making comments to gain political mileage.

    This party shows that it is comprised of political neophytes. Your suggestion as a government to purchase buses and give them to a selected few shows a top down instead of bottom/ground up style of government.

    APP your comments are bland, equivocal and show that you are far from ready for prime time. You should have come out unequivocally and denounce that level of brutality by the serial law breakers (police) against peaceful protesters who were only exercising their constitutional rights. Stop trying to he on both sides of the issue for political aggrandizement..

  11. Nkrumah Kwame
    April 13, 2021

    Please, App, inform the population of your “research” finding; specifically, what is the nature of the ” discontent and disagreements over VARIOUS issues??
    HOTEP!

  12. April 13, 2021

    APP bad timing to sell an election promise which is 4 1/2 years away, without any guarantee you will win the election. Tell them what legal services you can offer them NOW!!!

  13. appme
    April 13, 2021

    lol did a child write this?

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