Dominica: primer ministro sale al cruce de los pedidos de la oposición para que dimita al cargo
Dominica PM says he may be 65 before leaving office
In contrast to the Beatles plaintive question, Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit seems convinced that his country will still need him until he is 65 – another 20 years.
The opposition United Workers Party (UWP) has called for Skerrit and his administration to step down, stating that he is mismanaging the country and is involved in corrupt practices.
However, at a town hall meeting last week, Skerrit stated that he may be in office longer than some may think.
“The opposition has a slogan these days, which says ‘Skerrit must go’, but I say to them, Skerrit must go on to build a new hospital for Dominica, Skerrit must go on to build homes for the people of Dominica, Skerrit must go on to continue creating opportunities for the youth of our country, Skerrit must go on to build the five-star hotel for Dominica, Skerrit must go on to build the geothermal plant to bring cheaper light bills for our people in Dominica and Skerrit must go on to continue raising the monies required to bring a better way of life for the people of Dominica, Skerrit must go on to build homes for the people who lost their homes during Erika,” he said.
“Skerrit must go in 2037 when he gets to age 65,” Skerrit added.
Meanwhile, president of Dominica, Charles Savarin, has written to leader of the opposition Lennox Linton, deflecting a request for his intervention to dismiss Skerrit and his Cabinet.
Linton also called for the appointment of a government of national unity mandated to:
– run the affairs of state for the benefit of all Dominicans;
– criminalize the sale of diplomatic passports and the use of diplomatic immunity privileges for criminal activity;
– set up a commission of inquiry into the operations of Dominica’s citizenship by investment program;
– facilitate completion of electoral reforms to ensure elections with integrity; and
– prepare for general elections within 12 months.
“As president of Dominica, I am available to receive and have an exchange of views with any and all Members of Parliament in a civil manner on matters affecting the governance of the state and/or of public interest. However, regrettably, your four-page letter is replete with accusations and allegations against the prime minister and the president,” Savarin responded.
“You may wish to bring to my attention the provisions of the constitution or any law on which you rely to make such a call on the president and more particularly, which would allow the president lawfully to act as you propose,” he concluded.
