- Reducing Cabinet By 40%
- Grow the Economy By 7% per year
- 12,000 New Jobs by 2025
- Financial Grant for Single Parents
- Free Tuition at Dominica State College
- Increase Kalinago Minister Powers + Amend Carib Act
Opposition leader Lennox Linton has released the names of a number of candidates who will contest on a United Workers Party (UWP) ticket in the next general elections widely expected to be announced within the next three months.
Addressing a live press conference at the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) conference room Thursday February 21, 2019, Linton stated that as the ruling Skerrit led Dominica Labour Party (DLP) crumbles, the UWP Team Dominica stands as the only party ready and able to lead the change that Dominica needs after the colossal governance failures of the tired leader and his followers that reduced Dominica to the indignities of poverty, joblessness and dependency over the past two decades.
“Dominica deserves better. The people of this blessed nature island need a fresh start and real change. There is no question in their minds that the United Workers Party is the change,” Linton said.
He continued, “This is why we stand equipped and ready with our Vision 2020 initiative to receive the people’s mandate to lead and manage their affairs in government. We will reduce the size of Cabinet by at least forty percent; we will pursue the appropriate constitutional amendments and enact legislation to limit the time in office for any Prime Minister to 2 five-year terms and to establish a fixed date for general elections every five years.”
To loud applauses, the UWP leader stated that they will create a new sustainable Nature Island Economy with agriculture, tourism, renewable energy, ICT, the cultural industries and a water industry as major pillars. He also said that a UWP government will grow the economy by 7% per year, create 12,000 new jobs by 2025, and increase the minimum wage and old age pensions by no less than 50%. “We will restore livelihoods and bring back regular income to families in the farming communities of Dominica…and enact Legislation and Regulations to Legalize, grow, process and export cannabis, and cannabis-based health and wellness products,” he stated.
Linton further disclosed that his UWP government will provide agricultural inputs and farm labour financial assistance grants to farmers to boost output of a range of high value products for export and will purchase at least two refrigerated vessels to transport Nature Island branded primary and processed agricultural products in the Caribbean. They will also provide low interest loans, financial grants and appropriate fiscal incentives to deserving tourist service providers and manufactures for refinancing, refurbishment and expansion of their establishments.
“We will construct an eco-friendly, state-of-the-art, international airport, we will expand and modernize our sea ports, we will open the Delice/Petite Savanne road and complete the Roseau Road Reinstatement Project… Overall, we will and upgrade our road network and bridges to the highest standards of resilience to natural disasters, we will fully reinstate, restructure and operationalize the Public Works Corporation and will ensure there is fairness, equity, proper accountability, and no political interference in government’s housing assistance programme,” Linton remarked.
According to him, they will broaden government’s home assistance programme to include a one-time financial grant to deserving single parent tenants who suffered loss of house contents during passage of Hurricane Maria and will allow duty free entry of essential building materials for one year in the first instance; expand the port-folio of the Minister of Kalinago Affairs, and amend the Carib Act to meet the needs of our Kalinago brothers and sisters. “We will restore primary health care systems and upgrade tertiary care. The State will pay the tuition fees of all the sons and daughters of Dominica attending the Dominica State College,” he said.
“We call on our nature island people to continue to put the country first, irrespective of partisan allegiance. Let us not place party before people and country. Let us unite over this common desire for change, knowing that those whose failure and destruction we seek to change from cannot present us with the change which we need,” the UWP leader stated.
This article is copyright © 2019 DOM767
How does that man expect to grow the economy by 7% every year? There is no precedent. They must be just wishful thoughts, clearly demonstrating a lack of governance and management. These are some outrageous claims and promises. Dominicans beware, this is a real wolf in sheep’s clothing. I hate Lies, I really do hate them.
My point exactly – some really outlandish claims. We see right through it comrade.
I epecially like the one about the 12,000 jobs by 2025. we are going to mine GOLD? Or maybe we will get luck and find a an oil reserve in marigot. And thats 12,000 new jobs in 5 years time? some insane promises.
Jobs in agriculture Moron. Expanded tourism industry, ICT: what you think will happen when UWP give more favorable deals to US, UK companies to outsource their support centers on the island. Do you know how many of those this administration has lost due to their greediness? UWP opening that up.
Forward we must Go, I expect this country to emerge from the ashes and renew itself as a beacon it suppose to be in the Caribbean. We will not be ridiculed, we will not be moved. WE will prevail.
Our brothers in Arms have mobilized – this is what we are ready for. Dominica will be ready for a UWP led Government. There will be no coalition, its UWP all the way. It’s 16 years of pure incompetence; no transparency, no accountability. Is just pure lies, deceptions and corruption by the DLP. Skerrit must Go Dominica – he must GO.
I am truly proud of your leadership, Honourable Linton, stay focused, and level headed, you have endured the victimization and plots of DLP for decades, you will not be moved, but remain the servant that you are.
Well said my brother – Our Honourable Leader Lennox Linton will bring us home, will bring in a new era.
You see tha is the kinda support we need to hear – we need to remain firm and supportive of the new Father if Dominica. I just cannot see anyone more competent right now – who will take do the job that needs to be done. I am voting linton for Prime Minister
Are you serious? the Man is a timebomb. Prime Minister you say? not on my watch. DLP and Dominica will not let this happen