United Workers Party’s (UWP) Francesca Joseph has called on the government to include the opposition in the fight against Coronavirus, and to consider economic stimulus package for the entire populace.
According to the honourable senator, the Skerrit-led administration must pay equal attention when the opposition brings ideas that impact on the nation, since COVID-19 is a general threat that affects everyone.
“Take all the measures that the Opposition is projecting and look at it,” she said. “Don’t just discard it. We are in favour because we are Dominicans too and everybody else is our family; we have people on the frontlines.”
Senator Joseph made the statement during the 1st session of the 10th parliament. Days before, the UWP had released a 15-minute video asking that a stimulus package be given to Dominicans to help cushion the effects of COVID-19 lockdown.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit had not said anything about paying out money to the people but only indicated that eradicating coronavirus and optimizing the health of the people is more important.
Senator Joseph said that the government should be more direct about the economic stimulus package issue since people are already speculating on how the government is going to respond.
“Give us the package,” Honourable Joseph said. “What is going to happen, when and what amount of money has been allocated to help? Everybody should agree because it is a war…”
The UWP senator noted that the DLP government has been trying to eliminate coronavirus in Dominica and must see the opposition as a partner-in-progress. She said the opposition may disagree with the government on issues, but this must not be seen as a political attack.
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