PM Roosevelt Skerrit has blamed the UWP opposition for the recent bus drivers strike. He said the protesting drivers are only acting out the script created for them by the UWP and that their public demonstrations were politically-motivated.
While emphasizing that the bus drivers have no moral and legal justifications for their massive protest, Skerrit noted that he has a standing agreement with them and was only waiting for the right time to implement the agreement. He said his government is willing and ready to negotiate further with the drivers so that they can enjoy the dividends of true democracy in Dominica.
According to Skerrit, he met with the leaders of the drivers in a recent meeting and outlined what the government can do for them in the light of their economic stimulus request. He said his main concern is to provide stimulus package to full-time drivers who have no other source of income, and not to part-time drivers who generate revenue from several other sources.
He said there are many civil servants and government workers who own buses that are used for transportation and who still expect the government to give them economic boosts as bus drivers. He made it clear that the limited resources of the government does not allow for employed individuals to be given government money like full-time drivers who have no other sources to eke out a living.
The prime minister explained that he does not want a situation where civil servants with government incomes are given abundant stimulus packages while poor drivers have nothing at all to take up to their indigent families. According to him, he has instructed that an application form be drafted and distributed to drivers so that they can fill out the forms which are to be reviewed by the government.
Skerrit said part of his plans include giving waivers on import duties and excise tax, relief with vehicle registration and license fees, another EC$1.1 million at AID bank, and easier loan access to the EC$27 million fund for micro-businesses with six months extended grace period. He also advised the bus drivers to form an association so that they can better channel their grievances to the government without disrupting public activities in the country.
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