PDM Press Statements

P.M. Says, “Stay here; don’t migrate”)

The call by Prime Minister Skerrit for unskilled and semi-skilled Dominicans to remain here rather than go overseas in search of a better life is pure nonsense. It is an insult to the intelligence of our people. And it is an attempt to sweep under the carpet the fact that, after 9 years of Labour rule, unemployment is still a grave problem in the country.

Mr. Skerrit says our people should not go abroad in search of a better life because, in the present state of the world economy, life out there is not at all better than here in Dominica. He goes on to say that, in fact, life here is much better than maybe everywhere else in the world.

We wonder, if life is so good here, why are our people leaving by the hundreds? If life is so good here, why are so many of our people going to lawyers to help them fill out visa application forms? If things here are so nice and dandy, why are so many of our people entering neighboring islands through the back door and risking spending most of their time looking over their shoulders for the gendarmes?

The fact is, lack of jobs is a big problem here. Government’s own statistics put the unemployment rate at about 35 per cent, that is to say, at 1 in every 3 people. And from our own observation we can see that, especially among our youth, the rate is much, much higher. Just ask yourself: how many persons in your household have a job? Ask yourself: who is going to employ you if you drop out of primary and secondary school? And ask yourself: how many of our young people graduate from college and end up on the streets rather than in a job?

Lack of jobs is a big problem here because Government does not have a plan of development that puts the creation of jobs at the center. Lack of jobs is a problem here because Government fails to understand that the way to bring jobs to our people is to offer incentives and concessions to our business men and women so they can exploit all the natural resources we have to create new wealth. Lack of jobs is a big problem here because Government is only interested in winning election after election. And it believes that charity, grants and technical assistance from friendly countries and, then, handouts to those at home who are not in need is all that is required to win an election and remain in power.

So, rather than talk this foolishness that suffering Dominicans should stay here and, no doubt, suffer here, rather than try and better themselves elsewhere, Prime Minister Skerrit should be presenting to the nation his Government’s plan for stimulating the economy in such a way that jobs are provided for those of our unskilled and semi-skilled people who may be tempted to seek greener pastures elsewhere.

We in P.D.M since April 2006 outlined our plan for doing so. We said that the private sector must be persuaded with concessions and incentives to move aggressively into the production of goods and services from our natural resources. The starting point must be to produce cheap energy by setting up mini-hydro plants at the Picard river, Roseau river, Layou river, White river, Melville Hall river and so on. These plants will provide electricity to the communities served by these rivers. And the surplus of this electricity will go towards feeding factories based on the exploitation of our natural resources. For example, the bottling of our water. The canning of our fruits, vegetables and fish. The processing of our herbs into beverages and medicines. The production of cement from our stones and tarrish. First, mini-hydro plants. Wind-energy, solar energy and geo-thermal energy will come in next.

That is how a P.D.M government intends to solve the problem of unemployment in our country. That is what any serious government would be concerned about. So, rather than shouting to people without jobs and without a future, that they should not leave the country to better themselves, Prime Minister Skerrit should be laying out a plan to provide jobs and keep our people at home. P.D.M has announced its plan. What is Government offering?

..............................................
William Para Riviere (Dr)
P.D.M Political Leader

July 6, 2009

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