There are conflicting views within the Dominica Tipper Truckers Association (TTA) as to how to respond to the latest impasse regarding payment to truckers for work done on the ongoing Pont Casse to Melville Hall road rehabilitation project.
TTA public relations officer, Everson Magloire, has given Government a one week ultimatum to pay the truckers but the association’s president, Earl Laudat,is not prepared to comment on whether or not he supports his PRO’s position.
Payment of TTA truckers has a been a long simmering issue which flared up again earlier this year in June, with truckers eventually being paid in July, after seven months of agitation by the TTA.
Public Works Minister, Rayburn Blackmoore, stated back then that the truckers are subcontracted to Emile Gaddarkhan et Fils, the main contractor, which makes payment claims to the “Consultant of the project for certifying and passing on to the funding agency, Agence Française de Développement (AFD) through the Ministry of Public Works, Energy and Ports. The certified claim of the contractor is submitted to the AFD Regional Office in Martinique for payment.”
However, it appears that this procedure has not been operating to the satisfaction of the truckers.
The Association says that the amount now owed to its members dating back to June 2013, is close one million dollars.
The TTA president, Earl Laudat, says that EC$ 400,000 of the amount owed, was approved by the contractor, Jack Gardarkhan, and that was sent to government.
When asked whether he has received any word from government, Laudat responded, “ in a nutshell yes, because when we spoke in September when we went through what we went through, government was upset with us from the time we hit the media…and honestly hitting the media is not something we want to do.”
He said they were told that they should not return and should liaise with the Government’s Consultant (who is an Italian) “we went to Mr. Carouba last week …every day money is not there …every day is a different story”.
A frustrated Everson Magloire, public relations officer of the TTA, said in a radio interview on Thursday, that government was being given one week to address the issue as truckers were experiencing severe financial difficulties and in some cases, their trucks were being repossessed by the banks.
“I just know for a fact that this coming week something has to be done. Somebody has to come up with a plan…because when I have to see my fellow truckers have to be subjected to seizures from the banks…I am more financially depressed now than I have been in years, and I have worked harder than I have worked in years; and so is everybody,” he said.
He did not say what would be done if the ultimatum is not met.
However, Magloire’s position has not been fully embraced by the association’s president, Earl Laudat, who told Dominica News Online in an interview, that he is unsure of what was meant by one week.
“When he said one week, I don’t know what he meant by one week,” he stated.“I wouldn’t be able to answer that, I wish I could give them the afternoon. That would be something that would be difficult to comment on whether it is our position, I think the only thing I would really like to see is that we get money. And that is all truckers interested in doing …I don’t think is truckers, I think is every body waiting on that,” he pointed out.
Laudat told DNO on Friday morning that Dominica’s Director of Audit, Clarence Christian, has asked the association to send the relevant documents to him.
“We have sent him the documents and we are awaiting word from him. So far, nothing has happened,” Laudat stated.
Labour Power!!! ok I see…
Clarance Christian’s sole aim is to protect this incompetent and egregious government.Why is this government so afraid of the media if they are operating above board ?
Hello and good afternoon my people. Well this situation raised it head again therefore we must take a closer look as to how this contractor operates. Now the truckers don’t work for the Government rather they work for the contractor who is responsible to pay them at a predetermined time. I also see that there seems to be a problem with Mr Laudat and Mr Maglorie base on their stand on the issue. I think we need an independent monitor to issue the fees once the truckers perform their job and we can’t have a contractor slowing up the work because he failed to pay the truckers in a timely manner. This project should have been completed already.
Even when money is given to the labor government to do a project it can’t finish. No wander the Chinese decided to the the coast road and the state house themselves. Because if they had given the money to the government it would disappear.
My question is ….why is the Minister soooooooooo involved in this and other projects. A project must be managed by a team consisting of a Project Manager and other technical persons……I am not surprised with way that project is progressing……..more than 2 years delay…..massive cost overun……..constant changes in scope.
It is time these labour ministers leave Project Management to honest, competent technical persons. That is not your job….Your job is to get updates on the project. Stop putting your hands and mouth in every project……hence the situation will continue….corruption….money disappearance…unfinished project…….
This is how you all men WITH NO BALLS should be dealt with.
STOP THE CRYING.
This is how you all men with NO BALLS should be dealt with. STOP THE CRYING!
This situation in my view, is evidence of incompetence and failings on the part of the government when drawing up the contractual agreements for this project. But when i listen to the divisions within the TTA in terms of the way in which they respond differently to the situation and in terms of their inability to have a collective and decisive approach to it all, I cannot help but come to the conclusion that some of the truckers are being paid but are pretending to not have been paid in order to hide the truth. This,if true, suggests that there may be a sustained effort on the part of unknown persons, to force some of these truckers into bankruptcy and thus the reluctance or fear of many to join in the vocal defence of their rights in this case! If this effort succeeds, then those who ultimately survive and/or benefit from this illegal, unjust and ruthless plot will be supporters or members of the government elite!! Hmmmmmmmmm………WHEN ARE WE GOING TO KNOW THE TRUTH??? Pm, I wish that you would tackle this issue in order to remove the figleaf behind which the truth is being hidden in order that it may all come to light!!!
Eating is for one set. The great msjority will eat concrete, fertilser, garbage bins, discarded saltfish, and dry cokes on Sunday-no red beans.
That is the Go-To-Hell-Act in Dominica.
i find no fault in the government ,we have a red clinic we make use of .what else you all want
According to the saying, ” you cannot have your cake and eat it,” is true in terms of the situation concerning the Truckers. They want their money but because of their sympathy towards the Skeritt Labor Government they are in a state on confusion. The Truckers must understand, their well being and that of their families come first, not politicians who are enjoying the butter, cheese, milk of the country.
dont worry truckers will get paid. master mind skeritt will never allow this to go on before the elction.soon he is gonna emerge as the savior who rescued the truckers. remember the glanvillia land issue? do you hear anything about the glanvillia people again? soon the turckers will be flying their red flags and driving that big red truck in the pic.
ill say that much as far as I know when your eyes is to RED in Dominica we called it RED EYES there is nothing you can see for your self so your going to have to take what you get from any one where am from its no pay no work but its not so in Dominica the way I see Dominicans its about self as long as someone has food to eat thay don’t care about who don’t have that’s just how I see things here
If all people or companies & government included, paid monies due on time and as agreed…where is the problem. But alas no Dominica works on a work first, for how long…then perhaps someone, somewhere along the line MIGHT pay you for your work. All I am seeing on this island is corruption and deceit. The people of Dominica need to wake up and judge the government before they vote in the next election. All I am hearing is people don’t won’t to loose their vote? Therefore they only vote who they think will win, not who they really want to vote for!
Skerrit has Millions of dollar to give in his red corruption CLINIC but he cannot pay Truckers and Public Workers for their hard labour. Skerrit created jobs for the Chinese at his $27m State Palace, $100m road project and millions in constructing the College while the unemployment rate in Dominica is sky high.Skerrit can build $2m mansion and Villas in the millions but he is allowing the financial institutions to repossess his own supporters trucks and other possessions for which they depend on for their livelihood. What kind of people who are suffering will say nothing against those who cause them and their family pain because they love their government ? Only some stupid Dominicans in the Truckers Association. Would they be so undecided if the UWP was in government?
mr gaddarkhan . these truckers dont want to work my only advise to you sir is for you to bring in your 20 tonnes truck from guadeloupe so that you can finish the project in grand stlye. these grown men just there talking foolishness while there family is getting so dam poor. mr gaddarkhan bring in your truck like you did befor. as you can see the trucker act like dotish ppl.
You sound like a heartless labourite who benefits from the Red Clinic…… and does not understand the plight of poor hardworking Dominicans…..
A people get the Government they deserve…..You support lies and corruption ……It comes back and slaps you in your face
It is easy to understand why Skeritt continues to get away with all his nonsense. This is dohtishness at its highest!!
Dominican have all kind of (dayfoa)
If we as Dominicans put back this government in power again well we like good misery and slavery days are not bolished for Dominica
that is a nice big RED truck,it would look good in a labour motocade .maybe then they would get pay or maybe just some diesel money.lol.jean dominique sot papa.
And we Dominicans believe this GOVT when they say they care about poor people.
SMH in disguise.
Are there no labor laws in Dominica? most businesses who hire contractors make it a point to add into the contract the fact that the contractor will pay the subcontractor on a timely basis, what is worst here is that the business owner is the government, how can a government watch it’s citizens have their property reposessed for non payment when they know that the money is owed for work performed?
I am not political because I have not lived in Dominica for a few decades so I do not pretend to know enough to make those decisions, but this is simple commonsense… Ensure that the people who do the work get paid… nuff said.
“Unsure?” Simple: Take the responsible party to court and stop talking, already.
If after tha truckers take in their Invoices to the (Contractor)Emile Gaddarkhan for verification then a document is issued saying that all have checked out and another document issued giving the GOVT the go a head to pay the drivers so why it’s not done, why is Clerence Christian having a problem with the process,it seem that he was caught with his pants down when Matt ask him about it this morning he sounded ridiculous he didnt care,I hope the President sent him copies of all pertinent documents that was approved by the Contractor and that the trucker will get all their money.
I sympathized with the truckers but dragging their feet will not bring the matter to a close take a page from the Farmers they have to work together the PRO, President, Truckers should all be working towards they should all be on the same page.The monies in question are funds that truckers have worked for and no one including Govt director of audit or ministers or any other should interfere with that process.
PAY THE TRUCKERS ! PAY THE TRUCKERS !
Namby: “ If after tha truckers take in their Invoices to the (Contractor)Emile Gaddarkhan for verification then a document is issued saying that all have checked out and another document issued giving the GOVT the go a head to pay the drivers so why it’s not done.”
Namby, it seems that like Matt, you heard only one part of what Mr, Christian said. Mr. Christian accurately described the process involved in getting truckers paid. In addition to what you described above, he added that all invoices have to first receive a “no objection” from the French authorities before any money can be paid to truckers. So, namby, and Matt, even though the truckers’ invoices are cleared in Dominica, the French must FIRST say “we agree to pay the sums requested” or something of the sort before any trucker can get paid. So, if anyone made an a_ _ of himself it was Matt. First, his questions showed that he assumed Mr. Christian is involved in the process and that he would know details of the impasse. Mr. Christian is the Auditor General. He is surely NOT involved in the process. He simply has knowledge of that process, as would many public officers. Second, even after Mr. Christian laid out the facts of the process to Matt, Matt totally ignored what the man said and kept on asking for payment for the truckers. I listened this morning and I just shook my head in disbelief. Frankly, if Matt were not so lazy (and if he truly wants answers) he could easily have made some calls to find out where the truckers’ money is stuck.
De audit feller is a big fool and as an independent creature of the constitution I cannot understand why this guy continues to occupy that office after breaching the ethics of the office on so many occasions. I hope all those breaches are being noted so that when he is fired he sill have no legs to stand on.
i feel sorry for the truckers.6 months with money that beating alas .
maybe these truckers are not labourites, this is wickedness
TTA, you guys are not serious. How is it that the PRO and the president are giving conflicting views. Didn’t the association (at least the executive – if one exists) meet to discuss the situation and come up with a plan of action? If you guys can’t get your act together on something like this, then how are you intended to resolve the payment issue and ensure that this does not continue to happen?
The strategy here is to divide and rule. A house divided cannot stand. The government have operatives inside the TTA who create that division within the group, and who idiotically claim that they are not promoting peoples agenda and so choose not to take the necessary actions in demand for their due payments. They fear that said action would probably halt the project or put some administrators that they support in bad light. For all you know they probably receive personal subsidies too and may not be feeling the crunch like the ordinary members of the TTA.
Laudat is a joke. He does not want his money. OH gov was not happy you went to press. Who cares, you work you earn your pay.
TTA needs to get a full time lawyer
So many Dominicans like it so. So many love to be disrespected, impoverished, ridiculed, snobbed, victimized and would do nothing even though they have worked and not been paid after 6 months.
$63,000,000.00 being owed to Venezuela. Venezuela requested its money from Skerrit’s DLP Govt. 18 times. No payments. Just foolish excuses. They can’t deny the fact. Evidence there to prove. But where all that money gone, nuh?
Does that Cabal care about people or their own pockets? No Minister in that present DLP Govt. would agree to wait 1 month for his/her salary and perks. Public servants would be on Go-slow or thinking of strike action for their money. Their Union would be mad to allow six months to pass without payment.
Bank, C.U. mortgage payments, loans for trucks and other equipment cannot be paid, plus interest rising on loan. Utility bills to pay is headache. Mouths to feed and the list goes on.
However, It’s sympathy for their Govt. They love Skerritt, DLP and their Govt. so much that instead of looking for their own pocket and livelihoods of their families, they prefer to go hungry. Like so many Dominicans they fear to act even though they are grossly being taken for rides and not being paid on time for work done.
They do not know their Rights, allowing themselves and their families do be made poorer and poorer, while a few become richer and richer. Amazing !!!!!!!!!!
You don’t sound like you are in support of the truckers.What’s your real agenda?
The government is unable to pay its bills but is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars giving able bodied people under the guise of “housing development program”
Why?? because election is around the corner.
And I know what I am talking about because my uncle got building materials that he doesn’t even need.
See how Laudat behaving dotish… You can see de man afraid of the government!!!
DNO… Publish people comments… you guys running people away from your site!!! The ability to express oneself is the biggest appeal to this site but if you keep repressing people’s view then what’s the point!!!
DNO it would be good journalism to provide a detailed report of the project. Put it all out there and let the people understand and remember the unfolded events and occurrences of the project.
It would have been prudent to let the readers know that 6 months ago we were told that the situation had been fixed and that the truckers would receive their compensation in a fluid manner. That the cash flow system for the project had been rectified and that the truckers would receive their money in a timely fashion.
Since this project started there had been several events and indicators depicting a project severely affected by cash Flow – 3 years of cash flow problem . DNO the readers need to be reminded that the government told us that they acquired another $54 million dollars in loans to complete the project – that was about 2 years ago and MR Blackmore promised that the project would have been completed by the end of 2011. He also told us that they added two sub contractors to the project in order to expedite the revised schedule. check your archives DNO)
What is quite confusing is that after Blackmore and skerrit told the nation that tax payers would have to take out $54 Million in loans to complete the project(2 years ago) , 6 months ago we were hearing about money having to come from Martinique to France and Back to Martinique. Well the question is if we took a loan why so much ro ro when the government should be in control of the money.
I support you 100 percent ,I travelled a lot and I never thought I would ever meet up with such a people anywhere on this earth,
,who would take pleasure in worshipping poverty,
no wonder is rousevelt skeritt that’s our prime minister and most importantly ,our minister of FINANCE<FINANCE <MONEY , the country money ,,our children's future ,a man who didn't own a bycicle , he didn't do accounting ,he didn't have a drivers license ,and he couldn't be a casher at astaphans ,but he have the hard working people of dominica money throwing here and there ,and Dominicans sitting there and accepting that ,MY GOD ,help us ,
how long ? when will we learn?DOMINICANS<<WAKE UP
WAKE UP,dominicans.
Are the Truckers for real?
OMG, this crab type thinking.
How can one not admire the song ” Every thing is upside down’ as the song is so relevant to the socio political status quo. LPO’s blowing in the wind from St Joe to Glanvillia to Wesley, Grand Fond , Rosea South. The Wednesday Red Checks are flowing and hard working Dominicans cannot get paid by the same man who is sharing money willy nilly. As I’ve stated before – our country is being controlled by a man with a rum kabawais owner mentality. No direction, blatant ignorance and arrogance. “No wonder we are where we are we stood and cheered for dimples, lies, corruption and deception instead of looking out for the best Dominica.
While it is unfortunate that the family of the truckers and other service providers are really affected I must admit that I a bit tired of hearing truckers cry like babies – grown men who subject themselves to indignities perpetrated by a corrupt government yet grown men refuse to stand up and demand respect. This is not even the third time – maybe the fifth round. This has been happening way before the added $50 million dollar loan when the project ran out of money
It cannot be that the truckers are the only service providers not receiving payments for the service provided on this project. if that is the case then the truckers have even more reasons to stand up but from what I know there are other service providers who must remain silent else the Red Wall of silence that retain filth and corruption will come tumbling down. I am talking about the phantom equipment owners ( right inside the big building) , material suppliers etc.
Suggestion : Maybe Roosevelt Skerrit should consider writing a book ( English Degree – hmmmm) about Bad Management and Smoke Screen.
Truckers don’t deserve any payment at all..
They are small minded in thought process, so that’s a extremely Great way off dealing with them..
Once you have a culture of small mindedness and mediocrity feasted in the culture,you will have a garbage field…that’s Dominica for you…
Truckers should not be Paid!!!
Truckers love the ruling regime to a point where they will and are allowing them to be richer by the month will they become poorer..
Hats off the the Labour Party keep spilling out the Lies and Deceptive stories to the citizens.
They will reaffirm another five (5) to Labour at the Polls that’s how headless they are proud to be in Dominica..
Change mind thoughts of retiring back home, actually looking at Hawaii instead.
Dominicans have become slaves and unable to call things as they are..
That’s why they embrace Rubbish activities like the So called “Red Clinic” why on earth would i want to be associated with folks who think back in stone age mentality…
What a joke, slavery was abolished many moons ago, yet still Dominicans are showing the World that Slavery still exist in Dominica…
How backward have Dominicans become you need your hard earned funds yet not sure what to do..
That’s why Dominica is the Poorest in the Eastern Caribbean, they have become a YES,YES island of “FOOLS”
Good riddance. Don’t let the door hit you on your way out!
The truth hurts !
Who needs you? Stay in your developed world and leave us fools in our stone age mentality. I hope when you are down and out, you don’t decide to retun home to beg crumbs from the very same people you labled so negatively in your post. Let alone, come to rely on the ‘Yes we care’ or ‘Red Clinic’.
you are an idiot
Only in Foolish island this sort of situation would Be ongoing and folks say Thank God…
Change will be extremely difficult to that island.
The Citizens have endorsed Poverty,Corruption and Lies as excellent modules for Governance and Growth Engines!
Dominicans are a special breed of Humans on Planet Earth.
I THINK THAT YOU MUST NOT GENERALIZE. If you use the word “DOMINICANS” you speak even to those who stand firm for change. In all our arguments we must speak to those who you label as fools who are a subset of the population. Note: NOT ALL DOMINICANS ARE FOOLS….
Since the TTA has been engaged by the contractor, would taking the contractor to court be an option? Government should hire contractors in good financial standing not depending on any one project to take care of commitments. Even if the contractor has to take a small loan to meet commitments they should be forced to do so! This is much too long. Project management has also been a failure. Even though technically work has to be approved by project management before disbursements of funds project management has to see the big picture implications that these non payments have and the tricking effect to families and providers of services, not to mention other commitments like repayment of loans etc. The government as whole is not giving an adequate response to the crisis bearing in mind that it could affect the job that is already two years behind schedule. And the project delay has other costs too such as all the road diversions and extended contractor costs etc. Only in Dominica we have that kind of patience!!!
Blackmore you guys are so ridiculous,these guys have families to feed and bills to pay,stop having the people suffer,magwasa.