 |
| CHICKENS ARE HOOM TO ROOST |
The
governments in the region with exception of Dominica have already presented
their economic stimulus and recovery packages.Some have indicated that the packages
presented will serve as a first tranche towards the economic recovery process.
When
first asked –why has the government of Dominica not yet presented the country
with an economic recovery plan the Prime Minister’s response seem to indicated that his bloated cabinet is incapable of
working on preventing an island wide outbreak of the COVID 19 and
simultaneously preparing an urgent economic stimulus program for what was
already a chronically underperforming Dominican economy.
After
declaring that Dominica could “sink under COVID 19” one would expect that the Prime
Minister of Dominica would have been the first among the OECS to issue an economic stimulus plan. Small
businesses are in a freefall people are loosing their jobs in an already
frailed economy. Why is the purveyor of the “Red Clinic” and spontaneous wild
“Kool Out” sessions late with an economic
stimulus package- Is the country flat broke and busted? It appears that the chickens are coming home to roost.
So far
we have seen that all the other governments in the Eastern Caribbean union have already
presented economic support packages for their citizens. The government of St
Kitts issued $120 Million stimulus package with an addition $16 Million for the
health sector. That package will account for the removal of VAT and import duty
on certain items for 6 months. The waiving of water bills for three months for
individuals who have been laid off or have had pay cut. The package also
includes tax incentive for businesses that retain ¾ of its workforce. The
government will also throw in $10 million to support the agriculture industry.
The
government of Grenada also moved in to immediately underpin the economic sector
by shoring up farmers, businesses, homeowners the government. Hotels, bars,
restaurants and other qualifying businesses will receive a percentage of their
existing payroll. The government has also declared that there will be
assistance for the taxi drivers, vendors, bus drivers. According to the PM of
Grenada all income and payroll support will be effected through a direct
deposit system.
The
government of St Lucia also presented what is referred to as COVID 19 Social
Stabilization Program (Phase 1). As part of this program temporary income
support will be provided through the National Insurance Corporation; The
government will also provide a $500 monthly subsistence support to displaced workers
for 3 months. The waiver of interest and penalties on all taxes and tax credit
of 30% of employees’ full salary; relief stimulus for bus operators with fuel
rebate of $1.1 Million, of systematic support for farmers and fishers.
The
government of St Vincent and the Grenadines has presented an economic stimulus
package of EC $70 Million.
In a
follow up response to the COVID 19 stimulus package for Dominica, PM Roosevelt
Skerrit stated that he is now in the process of negotiating a stimulus package.
Based on PM Skerrit’s spending record, we expect an economic stimulus package
that far surpasses that of the other islands in the OECS. After all this is a
Prime Minister who less than five months ago spent over 60 Million dollars just
for an election campaign. The PM has also confirmed that there is roughly 1.2
billion dollars of Dominica’s money somewhere held in an offshore account. In
addition a government that has created a society dependent on Skerrit
handouts/Kool Outs should have already seen A government bailout in motion.
A few
months leading up to the general election bus drivers walked around flaunting fuel
vouchers and prepaid contracts to move Labor party supporters to and from party
activities all over the island. We therefore expect not just $1.1 million in
fuel rebate for our bus drivers as is the case with St Lucia. The Dominican bus
drivers should demand no less than $5 Million in income subsidiaries.
Prior
to the general election gangsters , party supporters were treated with $10,000 checks just for the heck of it ,
purchase orders for Building material, expensive sneakers , bought out bars and
restaurants, free ferry trips to neighboring islands. Imported voters from
Europe, China, North America and the Caribbean also received free plane tickets
and hotel accommodation just to come vote in our elections. The people of
Dominica also witnessed millions of dollars spent on contracts for
international artists just to perform at Dominica Labor Party political events.
 |
| Dominicans in Line At Dowasco |
It is
downright asinine for the people of Dominica to not expect a healthy economic
stimulus package from a government who have no qualms in spending over 60
Million Dollars of the people’s own money on election campaign. The people of
Dominica for example should not at this point in the crisis be standing in long
ques worried about having their water lines disconnected due to non-payment of
the water bill.
We can
all expect the shameless apologists to invoke the “now is not the time “heed. Truth never damages a just cause-
If not now when?
Evil
comes in round shapes
In the
words of Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy “It has
been said that time heals all wounds. I do not agree. The wounds remain. In
time the mind, protecting its sanity covers them with scars tissue and the pain
lessons. But it is never gone.” The
billions of dollars that have been stolen from the people , some in personal
offshore bank accounts, high rise buildings in the middle east, apartments in
New York, mansions, lavish election campaigns etc.- all of this money is
desperately needed right now and in the very near future. The road is about to
get very rough.
Conventional wisdom teaches
that Economies stricken by compulsive corruption are incapable of functioning
efficiently because corruption prevents A natural economy from
functioning freely and a dysfunctional economy causes the society to suffer.
It would be naïve to think
that the rest of the OECS countries are not corrupt but it is also well
established that the higher the level of corruption the lower the level of
economic prosperity and functionality. The government of St Vincent who by the
way does not sell passports has offered its citizens a $70 Million package as
an immediate stimulus response. That is just $10 Million more than what the PM
Minister of Dominica spent on his election campaign.
Amidst Difficulty There Should Have Been
Opportunity
According
to economists, economic crises have historically created opportunities for
industrial renewal in the form of added consumer goods, methods of production
and industrial organization. Had it not been for endemic corruption and
government inefficiency Dominica should have been well positioned and prepared
to take advantage of the economic opportunities that comes with the ensuing
economic renewal. At this point Dominica should have been preparing to take
advantage of the inevitable demand for food and water. We should be gearing up
to add more value to our agricultural produce and ramping up bulk and bottled
water production but alas this government has shown no interest in developing a productive
economy. They have only been interested in procuring the passport money as an
avenue for self-enrichment and massive money laundering schemes.
Five
years ago Reginald Austrie and his colleagues made fun of Dr. Thomson Fountaine
who promoted the idea of developing our essential oil industry with emphasis on
Bay oil and citronella. In this time of renewal Dominica should be preparing to
take advantage of the opportunity to add a hand sanitizer business element to
our Bay rum and essential oil production. Even after the COVID 19 pandemic is
over and with the seasonal flues and other possible flue epidemics hand sanitizers
will become a product in steady demand.
A
liar’s most formidable enemy is someone with a good memory
Truth has no time and space and we should
never worry ourselves about offending
the shameless Skerrit apologists. What we should be concerned about are those
who are repeatedly misled , deceived and destroyed by the Roosevelt Skerrit
deception. Let them hear the truth !!!!
