The Dominica Freedom Party congratulate you the people of Dominica for your adherence to the social distancing recommendations and for your respect of the curfew and lockdown as our country seeks to minimize risk to life from the COVID-19 pandemic. We are thankful that no lives have been lost of the 16 persons officially reported to have been infected with the new coronavirus, most of whom have recovered. We urge our continue vigilance and pragmatism as the quasi-lock down and curfew is gradually eased.
Secondly, given the unfolding pandemic, the government would need to consider funding an immediate relief programme as if this is not done, there could be much social hardship and heightened social and citizen security challenges that would, in turn, make it more difficult to restore our country once the COVID-related risks have abated. Even if the quasi-lockdown is lifted in Dominica, lockdowns among our trading partner countries including the USA and the unfolding pandemic-induced global recession will continue to depress economic activity in Dominica, and thus there may still be a need for social relief. But we pause here to re-iterate that should financing become available, the government should not use a relief programme as a political tool.
An immediate relief package could include but not necessarily be limited to the following areas.
- Income support for low-income workers who lost employment or suffered significant reductions in earnings as a result of the pandemic-induces crisis. However, such support can’t be given for a very long period given financing constraints but should allow individuals and communities some breathing space to put in place longer-term efforts to cope with a crisis that could run over an extended period.
- Assistance to public transport operators during the period in which they have been advised to carry less passengers per row. This will support their earnings given that bus fares are controlled. The availability of bus services would facilitate persons accessing essential services, but it would also facilitate a quicker return to normal life once the risk from COVID-19 has passed.
- Debt relief should be contemplated for homeowners with mortgages who experience significant declines in earnings. This could be facilitated by the banking system through loan restructuring, but consideration would have to be given to the financial soundness of commercial banks and credit unions to facilitate this. There should be a role played by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) in that regard.
- Debt relief for qualifying businesses who have suffered significant loss of income. Here again this could be facilitated through the banking system with the involvement of the ECCB.
- Keeping essential utilities turned on for residential and commercial use during an initial period without disconnections but with a proposed bill settlement plan for those who suffer significant loss of income or who otherwise could not settle their bills. A relief package should then include an element that gives consideration to the ability of the utility companies to provide such support.
This article is copyright © 2020 DOM767
