With confirmation coming from a senior Cabinet member, that the people of Dominica will be footing the cost of renting a house for the Hon. Prime Minister of Dominica, the Alternative People’s Party would like to join the discussion by making the following observations:
- The Hon. Senior Minister, in his statement on Kairi FM’s ‘The Next Level’ radio program on June 30, 2020, stated that “the PM has a right, and the country has ah [an] obligation to provide suitable accommodation for the Head of State, the Prime Minister of Dominica;”
- The senior minister further stated that after searching three buildings, the Cabinet of the government of Dominica decided, based on the location and security features: “that is the house we want for the Prime Minister.”
We are deeply concerned about the misleading statement in observation 1 that the Hon. Prime Minister is Dominica’s Head of State. This is incorrect; His Excellency the President is the Head of State. APP also holds the view that this decision by the Cabinet of Ministers to provide accomodation to the tune of over $32,000.00EC for the Hon. Prime Minister, may not have the support and blessing of the majority of Dominicans.
Our concern is rooted in the Hon. Prime Minister’s very own admission, that the government cannot afford to continue subsidize housing for citizens who were dislocated from their community by Tropical Storm Erika. It simply cannot be fair for the Prime Minister, who is touted by many as ‘someone with plenty money’ to receive state housing assistance to the tune of close to $400,000.00EC a year, while some citizens who make no income are left to fight it out on their own.
While we believe that the Hon. Prime Minister, just as any other citizen, can receive government housing assistance, this recent announcement seems unfair on several fronts. My team and I, therefore, ask the members of the Cabinet of the Government of Dominica to reconsider this decision in the interest of the people. We further reach out to the good people conscience in the wider Dominican community to impress on the Head of State and the Prime Minister to put ‘we the people’ first in this and other such matters. Elected members are servants of the people and this will always be manifested in APP’s every action.
If, indeed, the Hon. Prime Minister of Dominica requires to dwell in a facility with suitable accommodation and security features to the tune of $32,000.00EC, there are many more worrying questions to be asked. We urge the people to inquire of their elected representatives, and demand answers. APP stands with and for the people.
This article is copyright © 2020 DOM767
