United Workers Party reiterates call for minimum of $500.00/month for public pensioners

The United Workers Party (UWP) has said that it is reiterating its call to government for a minimum monthly benefit to all Public Pensioners of $500.00, with immediate effect.

The UWP’s announcement comes in the wake of Prime Minister Skerrit’s decision, as announced in his 2018 Independence Day address, to give a one-off gratuity payment to the lowest paid categories of pensioners in Dominica.

He said those who currently receive $300.00 a month as non-contributory pension will in December, receive a total of $500.00. The prime minister also announced that those who receive between $300.00 and $500.00 each month, and have contributed to the pensions scheme over the years, will receive an extra “top up” of $300.00.

“The leadership of the United Workers Party, expresses great disappointment at the government’s recently announced, single top up to five hundred dollars in December 2018, instead of the sensible, data driven approach, proposed by Honourable Linton,” the UWP stated in a release.

“In his response to the 2018/2019 budget presentation in Parliament, July 2018, Honorable Lennox Linton, leader of the Parliamentary Opposition and Leader of the United Workers Party, made the call for a monthly minimum benefit of five hundred dollars ($500) to Public Pensioners,” the UWP said. “This measure will ensure that seniors who currently receive three hundred dollars ($300), can afford to live above the national poverty line.”

The party said it will treat this commitment as a priority if it is elected to office.

“The Political Leader further reaffirms his commitment to effecting this measure as a priority, upon taking office as Prime Minister. The Party contends that the proposal by the government will serve only to subject the seniors of this country to prolonged and undue hardship at a time of their vulnerability,” the release stated.

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40 Comments

  1. LifeandDeath
    November 21, 2018

    The Country should be bouyant enough by now to be able to give the pensioners in Dominica that kind of money, but after half of the country’s independent life was spent enriching certain Politicians and their friends then to ask for that now, sounds totally absurd because there simply isn’t a good base for economic growth or self sustenance..Skerrit can not do it because he don’t know how, worse the idea comes from the opposition, he will never allow it, because he knows best!!.
    So in reality I don’t think it’s too much to ask for, but please please Dominicans, know that your Politicians should be competent enough to devise plans and policies to make your lives easier, more meaningful and NOT just riddled with hardship while they play political hopscotch..
    The PM speaks to actuarial science, but how did they come up with the $300 in the first place??
    DA deserves better. Worse management of the economy we have seen since 40 years ago.

  2. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    November 20, 2018

    “Francisco whilst I may agree with what you may say about what other countries are receiving, you seem to forget those persons were not receiving anything at all. Yet you blame PM for everything and not being objective encourage someone who tries.” 

    Yes, after forty year of independence, there should be  a legal system where an unemployed disadvantage  person could go and apply for financial assistance rather than waiting on a brown envelope with two hundred dollars in it; on which the words “From The Prime Minister” are written.

    The working population should contribute to that system, through social security deductions. The problem is not enough people are employed, due to a lack of industries, and so as a result of that we are faced with this debate, Roosevelt uses that handout system to his advantage; as you said he is trying, and that is the catch “hook” of the unsuspecting.

    They vote for him only to keep them in political, and economic bondage.

    Don’t I will not…

  3. ???????????
    November 19, 2018

    ElizabethLinaXavier Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque for sure likes to show his arrogant and know it all. Previously as I indicated in my comments, Francisco and the likes of him (his party and Hero were against the amount of $300.00 paid to the Elderly. Now what his hero proposes, he supports. What are they clearly up to? Contradicting themselves all the while. Of course, we are enjoying our island. I am for sure and also contentment and peace as well.

    Francisco please be a positive mouth piece over your island – Dominica.

    • November 20, 2018

      @??????????? “Of course, we are enjoying our island. I am for sure and also contentment and peace as well.”

      And if it is God’s Will come a few years when I have added a room to one of my sister’s house in Dominica, I will be there too, enjoying the peace that is now mesmerizing my mind, but to a greater extent, I have no desire to die in Toronto–the only reason I could stay here is if my son was alive. And I pray to God that He will not allow that to happen to me.

      I believe that most people like Telemaque have plagued their minds with the desire to obtain the things of luxury; they do not know the priceless value of necessity. Now they are stranded and burdened with having to pay their creditors for all those unnecessary things–those people can have no peace of mind, for the rest of their life.

      That is why they are claiming poverty and bad governance in Dominica as an excuse to stay in their burden of debts–they cannot leave, not even if they wanted to

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        November 20, 2018

        ” they are claiming poverty and bad governance in Dominica as an excuse to stay in their burden of debts–they cannot leave, not even if they wanted to “(Elizabeth).

        Hhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhaah!

         You think I don’t know such rubbish in the quote you directed at me? I bet you anything Elizabeth, that I who you believe you know is burned with debt in America, live a much better, prosperous, and luxurious life than you will never be able to afford as long as you live.

        The only way you could come close to me financially is if God drop a few millions out of the sky to you, and that has never happen in the history of the world! Otherwise, you had better play Canadian Lottery for the rest of your life, and there is no grantee  you will win one dime! 

        You and question mark are on my case, but who cares?

         And about low thumbs up rating, Am not looking for thumbs up, that’s your crave!

        You lonesome without friends! 

  4. Ibo France
    November 19, 2018

    Why does this country have to be last or the lowest common denominator in everything in the sub- region? It is unthinkable for an adult to even subsist on $300.00 per month in this island of punitive taxes and constant increases in food prices. No reasonable, rational nor sensible person can justly argue against an immediately need for an increase in pension and the minimum wage. Some apologists of the government have asked where the money would be had for these increases. Where the hundreds of thousands of dollars come from to pay for the PM’s numerous and exorbitant trips? The PM travels so often that he spends more time out than in the country. The man is virtually a tourist. Where the money comes from to pay a pot bellied, overly bloated government of nineteen(19) Ministers of government a hefty salary each month for doing so little? Where the money comes from to pay all these local and foreign ‘heavyweight’ advisors for bad advice? The people deserve much better.

  5. Annon
    November 19, 2018

    How are they going to do it if not for the sale of passports that you all oppose for the sake of opposing?

  6. November 19, 2018

    First they should not get three hundred dollars, because it was political and causing people to be too dependant on government, what has changed? Is the UWP now practicing the style of politics that they accuse the DLP of playing.? What’s the reason for the $500? Is it based on a cost of living adjustment or just a figure to support political propaganda.

    • %
      November 19, 2018

      Your understanding is very shallow…Go take your time and read over.The English is at a basic level that a grade two student can run with.That’s the problem with you all dunderhead labour supporters.
      Skerrit Must Go
      Skerrit Must Go
      LAZY Skerrit Must Go Now

      • Ready or not
        November 20, 2018

        Bonehead, everyone isn’t a Labor supporter if they state an opinion different than that of your political party, which by the way may explain why your side still cannot win an election. I may be wrong but you are really boring wi pal.

  7. Joseph John
    November 19, 2018

    I support this move. Half a loaf is plenty bread. I do not give two flying bananas for who ever gets credit or political points for this. Next term when I get into power it will be $500.00 per week, PER WEEK, EVERY WEEK. Can you imagine the impact of the lives of poor Dominicans ? Can you imagine the impact this disposable income can have on the economy.

    • shadow
      November 20, 2018

      Go and tell a white man that half a loaf s plenty bread and he will tell you where the rest of it. Dominicans like to live with “just enough to get by” ridiculous.

      • Joseph John
        November 20, 2018

        I do not idolize any white man. You must be the shadow of some white man but because you are shorter than him when you stand behind him he will tell you the rest of it with hot air. Dominicans are not greedy so we appreciate the little that God gives us to get by. Because you are not a Dominican you can shadow the greedy white man. You must be singing “all is mine” as your prayers, morning, noon and night .

  8. Ti Garcon
    November 19, 2018

    3rd world nations shouldn’t be wasting their limited resources into welfare. What the govt and opposition have to do is to encourage the working class to save and pay into Social Security. Then Social Security invests this money into ventures in the said society. Thats what they should have been doing since independence, then we wouldnt be here now.

    These incentives are just vote buying, the money spent on welfare is equal to that lost via corruption. 5 years ago this wasn’t around, and its safe to say 5 years from now it will not be. Person have to take personal accountability, and children and families should take care of their elderly. Its not the personal responsibility of the govt.

    I just wonder how people were living prior (since the beginning of time) to this welfare.

  9. Ti Garcon
    November 19, 2018

    Where is this money gonna come from? Who is going to pay to sustain this? As a 3rd world country is this the best use of resources?

    Wasn’t the UWP that was crying about the red clinic, and saying how the DLP wants to turn Dominicans into beggars? So now they agree to handouts, to the point that they are saying its not enough? Doesn’t Dominica need a stronger road network, modern ports and refurnished hospitals, police stations, schools etc? Feeder roads for farmers and markets for their produce?

    These guys are clowns, they have no clear ideology and development plan. They just say whatever comes to mind, which is disappointing.

  10. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    November 19, 2018

    In a place where cost of living is so high, a bit of meat cost almost a hundred dollars, the price of other food commodities are outrageous. Cloths one cannot simply buy when needed; I do not see how one can survive on two hundred per week, not enough to buy meat or fish to eat in seven days!

    One should consider the recipients may not have a house, and desire one, whereas I say houses advertise for sale with a price tag of over a million dollars, whereas the average value is more than four hundred thousand dollars; how can one receiving such peanut change as a pension survive?

    Two hundred dollars per week means: 200.00/30 = 6.667 or 6.70, resulting in $6.70. Can a person live off six dollars and seventy cents per day?

    The last time I was in Dominica I paid more than five dollars for a 12 oz bottle of beer, I am sure it might be twice that plus now! It’s all about poverty yet!

    • November 19, 2018

      The last time I was in Dominica I paid more than five dollars for a 12 oz bottle of beer, I am sure it might be twice that plus now! It’s all about poverty yet

      Telemaque, there you go exaggerating again! When was the last time that you were in Dominica? And who sold you beer fro more than $5.00?

      Well, the last time I was in Dominica was 2013–five years ago–my sister runs a liquor bar and a bottle of beer only cost $3.50¢ I am sure you are talking like more than 30 years ago, when you were in Dominica ; how could you have paid more than $5.00¢ for a bottle of beer at that time?

      You are always finding a way to speak your thing about poverty in Dominica, except that idea is quite futile; I am sure that there are a lot of people in Dominica who is living a greater Life of peace and contentment than you are living in Los Angeles.

      For once in your Life why can’t you speak something of enlightenment about your own homeland?

      • PakerDog
        November 19, 2018
      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        November 19, 2018

         I am sure that there are a lot of people in Dominica who is living a greater Life of peace and contentment than you are living in Los Angeles.
         
        Shouldn’t that be ” there are a lot of in Dominica who are living” rather than “is?”

        Elizabeth, on my way to Dominica, I transit throw Antigua, where I attended to my brother funeral. I Antigua where I stayed at the home of a Dominican, she had a street side vending business, where I paid her five fifty for a twelve oz of Heineken Beer.

        When I got to Dominica I paid the same in Wesley, even for a Waitu Kubuli. I even brought back a of Kubuli of which I have an empty bottle, to show you. I will post it on the blog tonight or tomorrow.

        Maybe the reason your sister beer so cheap is because she thief to sell eh!

        Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

        Tired, been at the hospital all day with one of my tenants who dislocated her shoulder.

      • ???????????
        November 19, 2018

        ElizabethLinaXavier Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque for sure likes to show his arrogant and know it all. Previously as I indicated in my comments, Francisco and the likes of him (his party and Hero were against the amount of $300.00 paid to the Elderly. Now what his hero proposes, he supports. What are they clearly up to? Contradicting themselves all the while. Of course, we are enjoying our island. I am for sure and also contentment and peace as well.

        Francisco please be a positive mouth piece over your island – Dominica.

      • November 20, 2018

        @??????????? “Of course, we are enjoying our island. I am for sure and also contentment and peace as well.”

        And if it is God’s Will come a few years when I have added a room to one of my sister’s house in Dominica, I will be there too, enjoying the peace that is now mesmerizing my mind, but to a greater extent, I have no desire to die in Toronto–the only reason I could stay here is if my son was alive. And I pray to God that He will not allow that to happen to me.

        I believe that most people like Telemaque have plagued their minds with the desire to obtain the things of luxury; they do not know the priceless value of necessity. Now they are stranded and burdened with having to pay their creditors for all those unnecessary things–those people can have no peace of mind, for the rest of their life.

        That is why they are claiming poverty and bad governance in Dominica as an excuse to stay in their burden of debts–they cannot leave, not even if they wanted to

    • November 20, 2018

      Man, why can’t you simply admit it when you are wrong; what kind of an individual are you? Right now you have a high thumbs down rating for both of your comments–doesn’t that tell you something?

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        November 21, 2018

        Liar, if your sister selling beer for three dollars, that means she thief dem beer form somewhere to sell, so, she doh care about profit!

  11. Bob Denis
    November 19, 2018

    Where is that kind of money coming from ? We all know of the devastation the Island went through, Gdp down to O say what may have to be said, it is either there is good fiscal management ? or Dominica have been captured by Mr Skerrit/DLP. Apparently , CBI seems to be very lucrative, no wonder Mr Linton continue to hope on being Prime Minister. What ever the Gov’t can do for the pensioners must be applauded , that’s what any Gov’t should do .

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      November 19, 2018

      Bob, how can you ask such questions?

      Three hundred, or eight hundred, or even a thousand dollars per month to live on in Dominica is peanut change, one cannot survive on that! These are the time when some Dominicans may get to focus on their life and the primitive way our people exists in the twenty-first century.

      While Roosevelt want to give people five and eight hundred dollars to live on, the recipients may take a look at Roosevelt lifestyle, review, his and the president monthly salary. Yo mentioned the passport industry, the only people who benefit from that are the salesmen, and women, the recipients so called ones who say the are using it to build hotels!

      In Barbados the average retired civil servant receives a pension of more than $6,000.00 dollars per month in Barbados currency which is higher in value than the East Caribbean currency. Dominicans are bleeding yet they love their pm!

      • ????????????
        November 19, 2018

        Francisco contribute to the pension fund since you are aware of peanut. I will match what you contribute. I suspect that anything your hero suggest, you applaud. Well you know who my hero is. But Francisco as an intelligent man, you proclaim to be, you need to be objective in your analysis. You are always criticizing the Government for everything. But all suggestions by LL is almost perfect. Francisco whilst I may agree with what you may say about what other countries are receiving, you seem to forget those persons were not receiving anything at all. Yet you blame PM for everything and not being objective encourage someone who tries. Encourage Francisco whilst at the same time asking for better. You criticise even when the PM started the $300.00 but here you now… Be truthful and not like a boat tossed in the sea by the wave. You denounce depending on who promotes and you promote when the one is in your favour. Grow up Francisco! Boy na curse me !

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        November 20, 2018

        Well, “question marks); anything Lennox propose  is 100% better than what Dr. Punjab/Duquesne can think of; now I never once said Lennox is my hero, he is more to me than a hero: he is “kin.”

        My grandmother, my father mother, the late Cecil Linton was the biological aunt of Lennox late father, hence making her the biological aunt of Lennox Linton too. So, Lennox is my biological cousin, while that Sir Knight Dr. Punjab/Duquesne  that Mountain Chicken Carpaud (crapo) Mentality Roosevelt Skerrit, is Me Almost Nearly Cousin!

        I doh want to get into detail on how he missed becoming me almost cousin eh, but I will tell you his mother is closely related to a family of mine who passed recently named Sarah Skerrit Wallace!  You see Sarah Skerrit mother was born from a Telemaque mother eh!

        I know but I doh talking eh; Dominica family relationship is too complicated, if we all are not related by father, it might by mother side, or some far away cousin…

      • November 20, 2018

        In Barbados, the average retired civil servant receives a pension of more than $6,000.00 dollars per month in Barbados currency which is higher in value than the East Caribbean currency. Dominicans are bleeding yet they love their pm! Telemaque

        That is a blatant lie! $6000.00 would mean that Barbadians are earing $72 ooo.oo a year as a pension income. And $6,000.00 would make that somewhere around $2700.00 Canadian a month; nobody gets that kind of money in Canada as a pension income–the maximum pension income is $900. 00 per month and very few people get it.

        That is why the Government implemented two forms of suppliment to go with pension income. How can you so boldly say things like that?

    • BEB
      November 19, 2018

      He is advising the government to increase the pensioners pay to $500.00, if God would forbid, he becomes Prime Minister , he would change it to $200.00

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        November 20, 2018

        BEB, what make you think if Lennox is now seeking an increase from three hundred to five hundred dollars per month, why do you believe he would change it to$200.00?

        BEB five hundred dollars in any language of the word, is not a lot of money? In Dominica there are people perhaps even in the Civil Service working for less per month!

        How do you  people survive on such penitence, when Roosevelt and his President salary are so high. You pay the same amount  of money as Roosevelt pays for a pound of sugar, yet your pension is not even 1/3 of Roosevelt salary, that should concern you BEB, and not an unfounded statement as you have made in reference to Lennox. 

        I bet you anything the house you living in does not value a million dollars! Check in Dominica alone and assess the value of every bit of property Roosevelt own if you can find them; you will find the worth more than a million dollars each!

      • November 20, 2018

        Man, why can’t you simply admit it when you are wrong; what kind of an individual are you? Right now you have a high thumbs down rating for both of your comments–doesn’t that tell you something?

      • November 20, 2018

        @BEB “He is advising the government to increase the pensioners pay to $500.00 if he would–but God forbid–becomes Prime Minister, he would change it to $200.00.

        That is exactly what I thought of. $500.00 a month for pension and he says immediately, but that is because he is not the ruling party. Linton is trying to score points for the next election, but it will not work; as some people are saying: “He is not ready yet” and I have the guts feeling that he will never be ready.

  12. %
    November 19, 2018

    I fully support the call, and I hope that the failed DLP regime will acquiesce…It cannot be that be in 2018 pensioners (most) are supposed to subsist on $300.00…All the labour parties before this Skerrite lead DLP would do differently.This one lacks love and empathy towards the same people who vote them.This is what differentiates UWP from this wicked DLP.
    UWP is all about the poor and downtrodden,DLP’S preoccupation is self .
    Skerrit Must Go
    Skerrit Must Go
    LAZY Skerrit Must Go Now

    • John hope
      November 20, 2018

      All u so loving and caring, up to now all u cannot even build half a house for atleast one poor dominican after maria.

  13. armchair critic
    November 19, 2018

    That’s the type of idea that helps to win elections.

  14. November 19, 2018

    $500 a month is barely enough to live on for two weeks much less one month. Hopefully, logic will prevail and those who can affect change for a better pension will succeed. It always amazes me how the Powers That Be live large, while at the same time expecting other to live on pittance; that is mind boggling.

    • lightbulb
      November 19, 2018

      The money doesnt come from no where though.
      Present day tax payers have to contribute to the pension.

      • Joseph John
        November 19, 2018

        The money will come rom trees. How is that my problem. That is the government problem.

    • Green Gold
      November 19, 2018

      When we stop being ungrateful we will see our way better. The Government made it its business to give a little something to our pensioners who had nothing and we find every negative thing to say. Yes, it may be “pittance” as you call it, but it was someone’s idea to give the “pittance” to those who need it. The recipients are most grateful though.

      • Joseph John
        November 20, 2018

        People of the UWP persuasion do not know how to give anyone a break. They have the record of throwing people under the bus, so when someone gets a little break they go balistic. They are such haters. They hate people who have done them no wrong. They even hate their own people, their relatives and their fellow Dominicans. But they are so transparent you can see right through their small undeveloped brains. Just look at their heads that is growing back and front.

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