Bus drivers and taxi operators in Dominica have begun to receive stimulus package cheques from the government. The transport workers queued up at the Dominica Social Security (DSS) to receive their cheques, and they were full of gratitude to the Skerrit-led administration for the financial bailout. They appreciated PM Roosevelt Skerrit for promising to help them and actually fulfilling the promise.
Many of the bus drivers revealed that they got cheques for EC$3,600 and many taxi owners also confirmed that they received EC$4,600 in cheques. Some of the beneficiaries disclosed that they will use the windfall to repair and upgrade their vehicles, while some said they will use it to pay for their vehicle licenses and insurance. But most of them confessed they will be using the funds to feed and maintain their families.
While many of the transport workers thanked the government for the financial package, some of them condemned their colleagues who failed to cooperate with them during the mass strike that forced the hands of the government. The complainants contended that while only a handful of them organized and executed the strike action, all of them are beneficiaries of the stimulus package.
“The day in question when we were standing up for the rights of the bus drivers, others who chose to continue to transport passengers had so many ill words to say against us,” one of the drivers said. “They called us fools, they threatened to puncture our tires, break our windows, saying that we were causing them to lose money that day. However today, they got more than what they would have received in a month.”
PM Skerrit said he ought to have broken off the assistance agreement with the drivers on account of their ill-advised strike, but reconsidered his position since most of them could have been ill-advised by political operatives.
But, as the leader of the country, I have a responsibility to look beyond people’s own foolishness and to save them from themselves. I don’t think it’s wise for me to withhold help from them because of their foolishness and so I am protecting them from themselves in that regard.
Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica
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