Given the ongoing protests by bus drivers in the country, PM Roosevelt Skerrit has made it clear that no individual or group of persons can threaten or box him into a corner in any manner. The DLP leader warned protesting drivers that there is no way he can hope to negotiate with them if they feel they can hold a gun to his head to make incompetent demands.
“What I will never fall for is for anybody trying to extort the government or extort Roosevelt Skerrit or putting a gun to my head,” he said. “Anybody who is going to engage me in those kinds of activities…you not going to get your way with me.”
Skerrit said he is aware of every promise he made to the drivers and will fulfill all of them in due time. He said he does not like it when promises take forever to be fulfilled, but certain things happen and promise fulfillment gets postponed to a more suitable time. He made it clear that no matter how long it takes, he ensures that he fulfills all promises regardless of the circumstances.
The Dominican leader said the government’s money is the people’s money and that the government is only a custodian of the people’s money. He said he is not at liberty to expend public money in any way he fancies given the fact that the government is even cash-strapped at the moment. He also added that he wants to ensure that people who need the money most get them and not those who have other better options.
“I don’t fall for anybody putting a gun to my head and threatening me or is trying to extort the government believing that they can put pressure on the government,” he stated. “This is people’s money and therefore, we need to ensure that who we give money to are people who deserve the money…”
According to Skerrit, the time the bus drivers ought to use in making money is being used on the streets to protest. He urged the drivers to let him know if they preferred their protest action above the existing agreement they had with the government so that he can know where to focus his attention.
This article is copyright © 2021 DOM767
