Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has announced that the Leader of the Opposition, Jesma Paul-Victor is not in support of his choice of nominee for the next President of Dominica, therefore, for the next 14 days, nominations will be submitted followed by an election.
His announcement came during an interview with the state-owned DBS radio, where he detailed the constitutional provisions governing the selection of the president.
According to these provisions, there should be a consultation between the prime minister and the leader of the opposition, during which the prime minister shares his nominee for the presidential role, which Skerrit says was done. He did, however, disclose that due to Paul-Victor’s disapproval of his nomination, instead of going to parliament this morning to announce his choice Mrs Slyvanie Burton as the incoming president, who would take over from Charles Savarin effective October 1, 2023, he has instead written to the Speaker of the House of Assembly that there is no joint nomination.
The Prime Minister explained that the process will now be open for the next 14 days, during which nominations will be submitted. This will be followed by a parliamentary vote by secret ballot to determine the next President of Dominica. Skerrit expressed his disappointment in the leader of the opposition’s unwillingness to support Mrs. Burton, highlighting her qualifications and lifelong commitment to the Kalinago people and the nation as a whole.
“We had a golden opportunity as a country to allow for history to be created first with the appointment of the first female president in our political history and the first person of Kalinago descent to be considered for such high office,” he said.
Skerrit added, “So it is unfortunate and I see this as a vilification of a woman and the vilification of a Kalinago which is unfortunate because they are the people who first came to our county and defended our patrimony and allowed us to now call Dominica our home.”
As per the head of government’s remarks, Mrs. Burton’s qualifications extend far beyond her gender and Kalinago heritage. He emphasized that she meets the constitutional requirements for the presidential role. Furthermore, he highlighted her lifelong commitment to Dominica, where she has resided throughout her life, serving both the Kalinago people and the nation as a whole.
“Every development program and project which has been pursued in the Kalinago territory over the last 40 years she has been involved in one way or the other, either preparing the project documents, soliciting funds, or overseeing its implementations” he stated.
“So this is somebody who has all the [qualifications] and above and beyond being a female and Kalinago,” Skerrit added, “so I cannot understand any reason why the leader of the opposition would have come to that conclusion but I guess her advisors might have a different view and they would have so advised her.”
As previously announced, Mrs. Burton, 58, from Salybia, Kalinago Territory has served as permanent secretary in various ministries since 2014. She has served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministries of Community Development, Foreign Affairs, Trade, Youth and Social Services, and holds a current position as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Rural Modernization, Kalinago Upliftment, and Constituency Empowerment.
She also previously served as a development officer in the Ministry of Kalinago Affairs and held the position of District Development Officer (DDO) for an extended period.
The mother of two brings 25 years of experience as a Justice of the Peace and has dedicated over two decades as a lay associate in the Roman Catholic Church. Mrs. Burton’s educational background includes a master’s degree in Project Management and a bachelor’s degree in Rural Development.
An so the rush is on for a Carib Indian to be appointed president; the opposition has nominated one who watches American Television, and relates what she see and hear to Dominica. This Sanford person heard the word systemic discrimination in America, she relates that to the Carib Indians in Dominica; without knowledge, that prior the the Coalitionist the Carib and Arawak are the indigenous people of Dominica.
Slavery brought black people to Dominic: After the British left on their occurred, Carib Arawak, and Black became masters of our destiny; so I don’t know where she get this idea of the rubbish she spoke.
I regards to Sylvane, Roosevelt has overrated her: even to bring her religion into it. He is Roman Catholic; one religion should not be a criterion for the presidency; hence I disagree with both choices, and reject them both!
“Systemic racism, also referred to as institutional racism because it’s embedded in institutions, refers to systemic and pervasive racial…
I am in support of Sylvannie Burton becoming Dominica’s next President. Not because PM, Hon. Skerrit nominated but because she’s a woman and she’s a Kalinago.
I respect Hon. Paul-Victor’s position. She has the right to bring forth a candidate for President as well.
There is talk about Wynante Adrien Roberts as a possible candidate. She is also a good candidate… a woman who also has Kalinago roots.
Both women are good candidates.
Is it not the time to move away from Colonial political gimmicky? The only way forward, i believe, is to adopt Socialism. To many, Dominica is already a One party State, and this is the opportune time to lead the island into a different pathway. Democracy have not been good to small Nation States like Dominica, with a History of having been through Slavery, Racism, Indiference and self hate.Poor States like the Nature Island, have been conditioned into accepting all the mis-givings of the Evil winner take all Democracy.Stop wasting time and money and point Dominica to the future.
Both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition have made their decisions, as they are entitled to; now, let’s move on to the next phase of the process.
Where in the 2014 report from the election observers does it say Mrs.Sylvanie Burton was a deputy campaign manager for the DLP.Name the page number.
As I already said in my original comment, Page 26.
Its found under heading Annex II near the top of the page under “Dominica Labour Party Salybia Branch”
It is plain as day, all this fakeness and pretense is destroying Dominica. You want the best for the country right?
I know you see this too.
@Wake up and grow up
Are you trying to explain to Lin clown..😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄Do you expect him to understand?
You really think he can’t? I know he can otherwise let him justify himself.
Is this a disqualifying factor? To be elected president you must be a supporter of the ruling party, to think and expect otherwise is to be living in a fools paradise. Eugenia Charles and Edison James would never nominate anyone to be president if that person was not one of their party supporters, let’s stop been hypocritical.
Yes, it has been a disqualifying factor, sure candidates had their own relatively reasonable bias but this overt politicization started with the appointment of Savarin before that it was thought of as desirable NOT to be political to get appointed as president.
Savarin was a divisive choice, accompanied by massive spin to placate the people I’ve never seen that before. Before him you couldn’t tell for certain where the president’s bread was buttered. It wasn’t unheard of where presidential candidates were previously critical of the government’s that appointed them – then again we had public debates once. and not this one-sided idiocy.
Now it seems wearing your politics on your sleeve is a requirement to get even the highest “neutral” positions – this is a massive shift.
The only fools are those who let themselves believe the propaganda that it is ok now, effectively revising history to suit their limited myopic views on the matter.
Wake up this affects all of us!
Are you the constitution to say it is a disqualifying factor? The ruling party nominates a candidate to be president and because they have the majority in parliament they will have their way.
“Yes, it has been a disqualifying factor, sure candidates had their own relatively reasonable bias but this overt politicization started with the appointment of Savarin before that it was thought of as desirable NOT to be political to get appointed as president.”
We always wished that the President would be apolitical, but such does not exist. Each of our previous Presidents (since 1978) can be reasonably linked to a political party. Each of them! Admittedly, Savarin’s coronation is, so far, the most blatant blur of partisan politics and the Presidency because of his clear and documented ties to the DFP – DLP coalition. However, it is disingenuous to suggest that the other Presidents before him were apolitical and impartial. Quit the lies and hypocrisy!
Point, You make a fair point.
But the law or constitution is just a (usually) written form of the way people want the world to be and what they to wish to enforce. Its our actions that show who we are and what we value.
People used to *make* it a disqualifying factor by applying pressure and holding each other accountable to something at least resembling a moral standard.
Now we are just making it worse.
For years there have been laws that have not been enforced, there is no political will to do so.
People still run their mouths but our morals in *practice* (actions and deeds) have gotten even more lax and convenient.
It was unheard of to be shot in broad-daylight on Hillsborough street just outside the bank until recently.
Its not just Skerrit or the “government” its us the people who have been too complacent, short-sighted and immature to care what happens in our own backyards unless it almost literally explodes in our face.
Self-centered, stupidity.
@ Putin
“However, it is disingenuous to suggest that the other Presidents before him were apolitical and impartial. Quit the lies and hypocrisy!”
We agree it is disingenuous to say that, that’s exactly why I didn’t say that in my comment and said there was likely some “relatively reasonable bias” before. We also agree Savarin’s appointment was a departure from the norm and a blatant display of partisan politics.
I recognize and appreciate your willingness to see truth in my comment, I’m willing to give the government their due, which means fair criticism and fair praise when its warranted.
You are not Lin Clown you are Blind Clown!
Well Lin clown, I checked myself it’s recorded there in black and white on page 26
Annex II: List of meetings held
Dominica Labour Party, Salybia Branch
• Casius Darroux (MP, Salybia Constituency)
• Cozier Frederick (Chairman, Constituency branch)
• Sylvanie Burton (Deputy Campaign Manager)
• Kimerly Tyson (President, Labour Youth Organisation, Salybia Constituency)
• Josephine Gage
• Catherine Laurent
• Louis Patrick Hill
• Paul Elizei
• Ashton Graneau
• Jean Williams
• Kelly Fianeau
• Danne Auguste
• Regina Joseph
Here is the link
https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrEm4TjRwNltLMKfSBXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzQEdnRpZANBRFRFU1RTQ18xBHNlYwNzcg–/RV=2/RE=1694742627/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fdominicanewsonline.com%2fnews%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2017%2f06%2fFINAL_ReportofCommonwealthObserverMissiontoDomincaElection2014-Unrestricted.pdf/RK=2/RS=2HXPLiDQJS8T.G0jAq.9XHM9XnY-
Skerrrit is nothing but a divider and opportunist.
Here he nominates a ‘poto’ Laborite and when the opposition leader voices concern, he tries to spit the country apart dividing afro Dominicans and First Nation Peoples.
The President supposed to be neutral?
He is not a leader just a juvenile.
The appointment of a President by the Prime Minister should be like any other appointed job by the Prime Minister and should not require the approval of the Opposition Leader to confirm her appointment to be installed into office by the Prime Minister. Unlike the Prime Minister which is an electable job, the job of the President is an appointed job. If the Constitution is saying otherwise, then, the Constitution need to be amended. Appointment jobs should not be allowed to be pussyfooted on by the Opposition. As I have said before, Jesma Paul was only pleasing the wicked hearts of the demons of the UWP bums like Ibo, Francisco, Lawyer, Jonathan, Meme and company to avoid being called a Labor sucker if she had to do otherwise. There is no convincing reason why she would have rejected the appointment of a decent, knowledgeable, educated woman from Salybia. And if you asked her, she would not have given you a candid reason for rejecting the PM’s appointee because she does not have one.
A permanent secretary posting BS on DNO.Please DNO tell that Jacka permanent secretary all Mrs Sylvanie Burton has to do is resign before she is sworn in as president,that is the law.Every smart person know she cannot hold her present position with government and be President.
Every Dominican has a political linkage or bias; there is none without. Period. Any person chosen for that office would either be affiliated with opposition or the ruling party. Since it is the ruling party (government) holding the majority vote then we cannot escape the fact that their candidate of choice will be elected. That has always been so. Why are we playing naive??
Perception is reality. I am sure that someone from the private sector who is not closely aligned with any political party would have been more acceptable.
Anyone who works at a certain level in the public sector in Dominica is intimately affiliated with the DLP. Roosevelt has to be certain of your loyalty to him and his political party before you are appointed to these lofty positions in the civil service.
Someone sympathy can lie with a political party but not deep enough to make biased decisions. This nominee is sure not one such person.
@ Carissa
No that is not the issue here this woman has been a deputy campaign manager for the DLP in 2014.
There is reasonable bias and then there is blatant cronyism. If the PM really wants a suitable candidate all parties can unite behind then he shouldn’t be so damn biased about it. I can’t support pretenders and manipulators of any kind.
Saw this on DNO under another article: https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/FINAL_ReportofCommonwealthObserverMissiontoDomincaElection2014-Unrestricted.pdf
look on page 26
Wasn’t she a public servant then? That makes it even worse.
Roosevelt is acting like the spoilt he is. Not given his own way, falls to the floor, kicking and screaming to the top of his voice.
This position as President of a country calls for an apolitical, impartial, independent thinker. But Roosevelt, as usual, must appoint a lackey who he can easily manipulate. That’s his modus operandi.
Dominica after two decades of this butt naked, corrupt political oligarchy in place, a change for better is long overdue.
Shut your cake hole Ibo, you are a spoiler always acting like a little baby boy or girl get a life bloody b*****d crying every day Skerrit, Skerrit, Skerrit, no one is listening to your stupid music.
Calm down Roosevelt’s attack dog. If you continue with this sort of uncommon rage, you are sure to rupture a blood vessel. Don’t allow the truth to negatively affect your health.
I think it’s high time that all you defenders of the indefensible shut up your cake hole and smell the coffee. Your hero has been exposed as a con-man.
Which one of them, the one living it up in Sudan or the one who still believes he is the “Leader of the Parliamentary Opposishun?”
I’m talking about the Red Baron of Daniel, your political idol. I that clear enough now for you, Pea Brain?
So since we going down the road of gender and race politics, next we will be talking about the rights of LGBT. Especially now that we will have a female president – women are notorious for pushing for those types of changes in society. Good luck Dominica
How unfortunate this is the despicable character that lead a country. Bastards have no fathers make it worst no mother to show them love and discipline. they often grow up mentally and emotionally damaged
someone need to go find our who skerrit was in VC as a kid. something tells me that there is some psychological damage at the center of his existence. it shows!
Why you don’t take it on to yourself and find out or ask the question, I am sure Pm Skerrit, knows his father, my Question to you Shaka, do you know who is your real Father? Yeah think about it and get back to me!!
you are my real father!!!!!!!!
I did not have to think hard. that is how certain I am. As certain as RS
It takes a bastard to know a bastard. He was a great and very respectful kid growing in VC and you are not worthy to tie the lace of his shoe. May god have mercy on you. Hatred and jealousy is a sin, you will never get to be the PM of DA. as he is and youngest in the history.
He didn’t have any shoes let alone shoe laces. What are you talking about? When he worked as a teacher he had to wear second hand suits. And then…. Mister won the lottery. He must have done. There could be any other explanation for his sudden wealth. Or could there…?
It is really sad to see how our so called democracy could be rubbished, because an uninformed small section of the population could ridicule a process and character of a distinguished individual making a mockery of a process and taking it to the gutter just where they last left any intelligence they had. placing everything at a standstill for what? what good and justifiable reason would the loo give for not accepting Mrs. Burton. Yes, it’s her democratic right to but the reason begs the question, is it Mrs. Burton the message that is the problem or the messenger. I think, this is nothing more than myopic, small minds in big bodies and miliciousness combine. May democracy and Dominica be the better for it.
If Lennox, a simple patriot who works tirelessly for the good of our nation is criticized for being anti-social by those who don’t know him but hell bent on destroying him, then pleaseeee describe Mrs. Burton social skills and acumen to us.
Flat out, and yes I said it, we do not need no anti-social, easily manipulated person to serve as president after Charlo. Been there , done that, have the t-shirt to prove dat doh good! Just look at the state of our economy. See how RSS deymoutay Salisbury under Charlo’ watch. Do you believe the RSS could come in Dca and do all that suff without the consent of the Head Of State and still no formal investigation so someone can be held accountable? Hell NO to Sylvanie!
The utterances and the actions of Lennox show that he is anything BUT a patriot. Do not disuse such a beautiful term.
Democracy in DA has been non existent for 20 years now. What you see is not Democracy but rather Dictatorship. No difference to you since both begin with a capital ‘D’. You are so pathetic, Diarrhoeabird.
The man keeps saying Mrs. Burton is highly qualified for the position, yet the constitution says differently. This Burton lady is a permanent secretary in the ministry , and is paid by the government. That makes her unqualified for the position of President. That fact is not being mentioned at all. Instead the man is talking about vilification, and lost opportunity, lost for him, not the country. We have a constitution, let’s follow its laws!
@ Permanent Secretary, could you direct us to the relevant part of the constitution that disqualifies Mrs. Burton from been elected president. Are you misinforming yourself about section 21 of the constitution?
Relax MEME,you have enough time to burst a blood vessel,because Skerrit is going to be there for a very long time.And,Mrs.Burton is going to be President,whether you like it or not.So wallow in the thing you know best GOSSIP.Dominicans have no use for you and you long comments of unrecycled gabbage.Chill man,I should get you some moonshine from Virginia for your nerves.Make up your mind Skerrit and Labour is going nowhere soon.To top it off you have declared war on Dominicans living overseas.
Well, I propose Justice Mrs. Wynant Adrien Roberts be nominated. Thats a fair, honest and uncompromised Dcan we need to root for. That would be a blessing to our troubled land. Fair and balance!
Yes, because she is a UWP BLUE Monkey crab. More politics as usual. They want Skerrit to nominate a UWP monkey of their choice. Do not yield, Skerrit. Stay strong. We got your back.
More headache for UWP,there is going to be a parliamentary session,where the opposition is going to be humiliated..19 in favour 2 against.I hope the camera is pointed at Jesma when this happens.Like it or not Skerrit and DLP will have their way,and there is nothing Matt,Francisco,Blessings,Blue Blue,Ibo MEME and the other blue aholes can do about it.
“Well, I propose Justice Mrs. Wynant Adrien Roberts be nominated.”
This man called Skerrit has no class, manners respect or decorum…Skerrit whether (the lady), your nominee for president, is Kalinago, Chinese, African, European, etc, the leader of the opposition has a right to reject your nomination, and you have no right to go on a tangent of your own in thst classless manner. That’s little boys behaviour. Reasons why i am on record as saying that you had no qualities of a leader in 2004, and in 2023 you are even worse! Did the leader of the opposition steal your toy? Why this tantrum! Have respect for the leader of the opposition, and her decision. She is a lady too!!!
More politics as usual She did just what Ibo France and Meme wanted her to do, to reject his nominee. It did not matter whether it was God Skerrit had nominated she would have still rejected him for opposition sake. What a sad commentary. She is more educated and more beautiful than Jesma and Linton are. She just did not want Meme and the other UWP blue crabs like Ibo and sickly Francisco to call her a sucker. Ah bet she does not have any cogent and concrete reason for rejecting her. More politics as usual, the sad story of our life. Doing what she was told to do by the opposition for no convincing reason. Jesma does not even have a High School education yet, she is rejecting someone better educated than her. More foolish uneducated Dominicans on this earth.
Her advisory team is the UWP. This shows that she is far from independent. It is time that she declares her hand and stop fooling Dominicans and Salisbury people. After all the constitution protects the right of freedom of association so she has nothing to fear.
Every Permanent Secretary in this maladministration is carefully handpicked by Roosevelt to do his bidding, Mrs Sylvania Burton is no exception.
Roosevelt believes that Dominica was willed to him. Anything he wants he must automatically get. There should be no sort of objection. His eggshell ego has been bruised by the leader of the opposition rebuff.
I am happy that Mrs Paul-Victor has proven that she has a spline. Sad to say though, whatever Roosevelt wants in Dominica he gets. His choice for president will get the nod by his truth-adverse cabinet members.
So who is the Jacka?Mrs Burton will be the next President,whether Jesma like it or not.Who is going to look foolish when Burton is sworn in as PresidentJesma or her advisors?The most embarrassing thing is Mrs.Burton is going to swear in the next leader of the opposition.The biggest embarrassment comes when Speaker Joseph Isaac anounce Mrs.Burton as President and the opposition and UWP bow their head in Shame.
what a miserable life of hate and vexation you live. sadly there is no sign that things will change for you as Skeritt is going nowhere in a hurry.
The only thing that doesn’t change is change itself. What I speak is the unvarnished truth.
Roosevelt is eminently unqualified to run a vendor’s tray. That is indisputable. Ask Reginald Austrie. Why do you think Dominica is last in infrastructural development and standard of living in the OECS? The answer is Starboy of Stupidity mammoth incompetence and corrupt tendencies.
I wonder what the PM has ever done to you. I browse through your posts because honestly I think you write a lot of rubbish. I have no problem with opposition, in fact, it´s healthy to have a good and vibrate opposition. But when people run their mouth for no apparent reason then I get very worried. I worry about your mental health. You have a serious problem and I think you need to get over the PM.
Don’t worry one iota about me. My mental faculties are fully intact. Worry about the desperate lives of your fellow country people and the decadent state of the country.
“What I speak is the unvarnished truth.”..@ibo france, what utter rubbish! Anytime Roosevelt Skeritt’s name is mentioned in a DNO article you chime in with your recycled lies and propaganda, you have left a trail of lies and propaganda on DNO that is impossible to hide.
Why don´t you run for public office and put an end to Roosevelt Skerritt once and for all? I mean you talk on DNO but you don´t put your neck on the line…. If wishes were horses then beggars would ride, don´t you think? Why are you so obssessed with Roosevelt Skerritt? Are you in love with him? Just asking, don´t crucify me DNO.
Because “Ego” France is another petty dictator. The significant difference between him and Skerrit is one has power and the other wish he had.
Their actual behaviour isn’t that different politician like personalities that do nothing of substance but love to pose, project an image and get people’s attention the easiest way they know how.
The only way we can get away from that cycle that results from following these personalities is by recognizing the bad behaviour and changing ourselves.
What’s the saying?
Madness is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result?
@ibo France, Skeritt was just wishing for common ground on the election of a president. It did not happen same old politics as usual. So the nominee from the UWP/Independent party has to fortify herself/himself to be humiliated in parliament for what is surely a suicide mission. Remember it is 19 to 2.
Wow, it appears that Ibo has hit a nerve. All the red boom boom flies go totally mad.
It wouldn’t be 19 to 2 with proper electoral reform!!! All of a sudden thousands of mummies wouldn’t vote anymore and no more aliens would decent on our country on election day anymore. It predict 1 to 20. How about that. That’s reason your political master is kicking and screaming right now. His future is very much in the balance.
With or without reform, Dominica will still NOT re-elect UWPwee. Dominicans doh want the UWP, this is clear. For UWPwee to win another election, it has to show itself to be of value to the electorate; everything cannot be simply “Skerrit,” “CBI missing beelyons,” and “electoral reform.” Even its own supporters have turned their backs on the party. So, even if the UWPwee gets its wish list in the electoral reform process, Dominicans will still reject them.