The United Workers Party (UWP) is recommending a number of measures for implementation by the government to assist Dominican citizens who are most vulnerable and affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic.
These suggestions are also aimed at preventing the further spread of the virus.
As of Monday 30th March 2020, the government reported that there were twelve (12) confirmed cases of COVID-19 on the island.
In a document released to the media entitled “COVID-19 Dominica- Funding the National Response”, the UWP proposes measures in three main areas: (1) The Health Care System (2) Emergency Relief, Protecting Consumers and Economic Stimulation and (3) Financing.
It stated that in order to obtain a strong and well-prepared health system for COVID-19, additional hospital capacity, availability of necessary medications, supplies and equipment and adequate protection should be provided for health care workers.
“Emergency Insu1.rance for all “Frontline Workers” including but not limited to those in healthcare, immigration, police, customs and ports to cater for payment of medicals for anyone contracting COVID-19 and support financing to immediate surviving family in the event any such worker dies from having contracted COVID-19,” it stated.
Effective Coordination of the response between health authorities at all levels of government is also recommended.
In terms of emergency relief, protection of consumers and economic stimulation, the letter focused on five key issues including employment income and business continuity support, the suspension of all consumer and small business credit payments, support for vulnerable groups (the homeless, single-parent households and people living with disabilities), food security and telecommunications.
Some specific suggestions include an increase in minimum old-age pensions from three hundred dollars ($EC300) to five hundred dollars ($EC500) monthly, business development grants of up to fifty thousand dollars ($EC50,000) for manufacturing operations in the processing of local root crops, vegetables, fruits, herbs, spices, fish and meats and livelihood stabilization grants of at least a thousand dollars ($EC1,000) monthly for vulnerable groups, for three months.
In terms of financing, the UWP noted that all funds collected from the sale of Dominican citizenship “through the so-called Housing component” of the CBI in the last two financial years (2018/2019 and 2019/2020), less amounts used for the construction of public housing and other state projects, “must be immediately deposited in the consolidated fund to finance first and foremost, Dominica’s COVID-19 response and other pressing needs on the agenda of revised national development priorities.”
“The relief, recovery and economic stimulus plan carries an estimated cost of $300 million and will be financed by funds from the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program,” the release stated.
It said in the absence of immediate and substantial government spending, the COVID-19 pandemic will wreak havoc with lives and livelihoods in Dominica.
To date, 1,033,478 are affected by COVID-19 and 54,369 have died in 181 countries worldwide.
The full text of the UWP COVID-19 Dominica National Response document is posted below.
Google. to be honest, go google yourself and try to work out the nonsense that your have recommended there with absolutely no common-sense, how it is to be implemented etc? Skerrit and his failed corrupted Labour government has already killed our Dominica, killed our agriculture, Killed our bananas, killed our hucksters activities and focussed on selling our Birth right Passports to all ugly Tom Dick and Harriette. Shame on you Skerrit and your so called Blind supports, especially that prestigious one name “Man Bites Dogs” Woof, woof to you all barking dogs. Nice one.
When you all get home, go tame your Dogs and stop your barking nonsensical matters that you all have created. Your leader is a failure and we need him and his failed Labour Government out of our government. We need decency in government, not abuse the states limited finances for prestige and honour. We no longer have an Honourable Prime Minister, we have a dishoarable Odd Minister who has killed our resources. He…
And you want to Kill the CBI now you want Money from it Boss live Politics alone!
And you want to Kill the CBI now you want Money from it Boss live Politics alone
This is a plan that should be put into action by the government. Teach them Workers.
Good to see that the UWP supports giving money to Dominicans who need help. Remember when the UWP criticized the government for making Dominicans too dependent and lazy?
Lennox Linton, Instead of you and your pirates writing Rum shop and meaningless rubbish why don’t you comes out with something sensible such as you are willing to work with the Government to see this crisis through, you Linton, is taking this Covid-19 Virus for a joke all that crap you put out is having no meaning or significant purpose and ability to protect the Nation. In London today the new Labour opposition leader in his first speech to the media said I vow to work with the government to help stamp out the Virus why cant you do that for a change instead of going around like a headless chicken or asking for the “one and a half billion dollars” Skerrit has it in his back pocket take it off him!!!
I hope DNO will publish my post thanks.
This has been the best outlined speech coming from Dominica since the Covid-19 . I hope those that have ears to hear are listening.
To be financed by the CBI, what a thing. No new ideas from this party. Same old same old.
The government should have gathered the best and brightest from the widest cross section of the public to devise a stimulus package for the country. Many of the neighboring islands already have stimulus plans in place but ALAS, Dominica ha to be the exception. Where wisdom is lacking the people perish.
Lennox and the UWP must understand that if wishes were horses every beggar would ride. Things are much easier said than done. One cannot be too busy to attend his/her own funeral.
Wasn’t that same CBI that Lennox and the UWP criticized?
No one is denying helping the people at this particular time but the UWP and Lenox seem to be still on a political spree.
Those words sound nice but is utilizing the words effectively and adequately comes the question,
Where and How…
Moo – moo Talking Linton to Skerrit, where is the money show me de colour of de money (one and a half Billion dollars I want it for me and de family Skerrit to Linton Go to hell 👹) 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Man Bites Dogs, if yo re that illiterate and have nothing of substance to say talk about or recommend. Please shut your doggie dirty mouth and stop biting your Dog, which appears to be a very good barking hobby of yours. Why?. Because you have nothing of substance to talk about but to bark loud in dirty Dog language, GOES AS “Woof, woof, woof, as I am a “Man who Bites Dogs” ………., and go about your barking business waging your dirty tail all over the place. You are just not contributing anything to the development of our people and our country. Your focus is on failed incompetent Skerrit and this failed, corrupted, Labour Government. When will you stop this useless barking at your failed Labour Party government and its Leadership that you share bones with them to chew? Stop this disgusting barking behaviour and biting this dirty Dog and have respect for our people of Dominica.
You will continue to stain Skerrit and his failed Labour government. Please keep it there. Woof…
But what is wrong with Lennox Linton and the United Workers Party (UWP). You all cannot understand help is coming.
After all man; the damn treasury empty because we use the money for GE19 thinking we were going to lose. Who didn’t get their cool out for GE19 well you can quarantine and get to stay in a student apartment at Picard and 3 meals a day for 2 weeks. An all inclusive holiday.
I mean all UWP fellas have good ideas but the Treasury empty so don’t complain. Take what you get.
America is giving 1200 dollars but you asking for 1000 monthly for three months what is wrong with you. You are trying to score points on a pandemic, your wicked intention wont take you anywhere.
UWP have their priorities all wrong. The Government priorities are spot on, which is saving lives first and worrying about the economy when things get back to normal. UWP would have the Government use up all our reserves in one go with nothing left in the kitty in case this pandemic drags on for longer than anticipated. This would lead to a more catastrophic situation both in terms of the economy and loss of life. Dominicans can help by tightening their belts and follow scientific advice on how to keep themselves, their families and fellow countrymen safe and alive. UWP must stop playing politics with peoples lives and support the government fully. They can encourage people to rely more on local produce and other local resources rather than imported stuff.
UWP have their priorities all wrong. The Government priorities are spot on.
The UWP is this Highly committed no nonsenses Political Party, who to date has been serving and represent we the people of Dominica admirable in Parliament and are also observers to the level of corruption and abuse of our states funds from this obvious Failed Corrupted Labour Government.
The UWP Opposition Team is a formidable Team under sound leadership and guidance of our decent prolific “Leader of the Opposition” and his trusted committed professional UWP Team led by our committed Hon. Lennox Linton, who represents us well in Parliament and observes the abuse and corruption of our states resources by this failed Skerrit Labour Government. We need change of government. Labour Government and its immature Odd Minister has failed we the people and our country and has stained the name of our Isle of Beauty. All you blind “Man Bites Dog” of Skerrit, put this in your pipes and keep barking Labour BS…
UWP, whereas you seem to be of the view that Dominica has money, I want you to observe the behaviour of Government and compare it with regional and international responses. All other countries have put together a financial package to protect their people, Dominica’s government is mute on the issue. You reflect on the activity of this very government leading up to the December election and you would realise that there is much less money in circulation. You should also note that in the heart of the pandemic, the Government put out a bulletin talking about the amount of tax that is owed by the populace. If that does not suggest to you that the country is broke, review the evidence! Further you realise that there is a dearth of leadership in the country, You have the minister of Health imposing a curfew, a complete lock down of the country for three days, Day and night and at the end of the three days, the curfew is lifted with no clear plans on the way forward. Is this leadership?
Boy lennox know dam well skerrot sqander de money you know…lol i dying dere..lennox no jokes now we all know skerrot finish de money just to be in power..if you were elected you would get grey hair one time…stop the game ok..treasury gat no money…so my advise to you is tàke on a covid project so we can see what you and your team doing for DA. Becausenit look like fir the next five years is criticise u will be criticising..we gat to move on..skerrit trying something even if is sacrificing lives..lol not my life he sacrificing kamem…stop running your mouth and get to work I tiref hear you belching
Mad Max on a rampage again, may I ask what CIB money you are referring TOO! I hope you are not talking about the passports you are bent on destroying? From being a zero you are trying to be a hero, 90 % of what you articulated is already in place by the Skerrit Administration. Get a life and stop trying to be relevant.
The UWP is pissing me off this morning! Such an enemy to progress. How can the Government at this stage dispense any money to citizens when we are in the beginning stages of the pandemic? The main focus of any level headed leader would be to save as many lives as possible. How do you do this? By trying to limit the spread of the virus as much as possible. When we are able to analyze the situation in a more in depth manner, meaning that more data come in, number of cases, unemployment, loss of revenue for businesses etc., then, Government will determine what figures they are to work with. These people have no love for Country, they just want the Government to make hasty decisions that will backfire so that the UWP can gain support. Shame!
It is good that you as an organization can come up with ideas. What about some plans that you can implement as an organization in opposition?
Now wouldn’t that be great.