Editor’s note:This article was published in the Editorial section of the Chronicle Newspaper on June 19,2009.

One should not believe everything one hears, especially if it is a rumour that Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has assumed unofficial duties on Wednesdays as Dominica’s welfare director.

From his track record, it certainly seems that the P.M. is quite keen on the idea of turning Dominica into a welfare state. But it would be a bizarre expansion of this concept if Prime Minister Skerrit takes personal control of the distribution of the state’s largesse and holds weekly meetings with supplicants to decide who gets state help and who does not.

Most of us know that, in the strictest sense, a welfare state is one in which the government provides for the welfare, or the well-being, of its citizens completely. It is a state in which a government gets involved in citizens’ lives at every level and government provides for physical, material, and social needs rather than the people. The vast majority of the nation’s collective income goes to and is spent by the state, while citizens’ personal income and spending are kept as low as possible.

A welfare state spends expansively on huge state projects under broad headings like security, education, housing, healthcare and the like. It invests heavily in public services like transportation and childcare and social amenities such as public parks and libraries, focusing almost exclusively on goods and services for public consumption. This requires massive state expenditure, some of which is paid for by loans and grants from international donors while a large amount comes from taxes paid by individuals and businesses.

The concept of the welfare state is often closely linked to communist or socialist ideals. It is based on the progressive redistribution of a nation’s wealth by heavily taxing those who a particular government perceives to have too much wealth and income, according to its own subjective criteria; ostensibly to provide goods and services for those persons who the government deems to be underprivileged, according to its own subjective criteria.

The Skerrit administration clearly embraces development plan along the lines of a welfare state that involves the government providing the people with more roads, bridges and other state-funded projects, rather than leaving more disposable income in the hands of individual Dominicans. Maybe too many people have come to depend on Skerrit’s budding welfare state, and in an attempt to provide equitably to all petitioners for state help, the Prime Minister has allegedly appointed himself as the state’s welfare director.

One wonders if some people have come to the conclusion that the best way to improve their lives is to depend on the Skerrit government to provide state largesse directly to them, especially if they line up once a week to appeal to the supposed welfare director himself. If so, it would put the P.M. in a position to usurp the functions of a multitude of state agencies and mechanisms and dole out state funds according to personal criteria.

Ironically, a ‘one-person welfare distribution show’ goes against the grain of the welfare state in which government welfare is indiscriminate. One person should never have sole authority to distinguish between deserving and undeserving petitioners for assistance according to personal criteria. A single individual should never have the power to decide whether or not to provide state funds, and the level of state assistance to be given.

Rumour has it that P.M. Skerrit has turned himself into the state’s welfare director in order to create a personality cult based on some persons’ dependency on his personal distribution of state resources. But one should never believe everything one hears.

The possible influence that Hugh Chavez (president of Venezuela), might have on the outcome of the next general election should be something every that Dominicans should be concern about.

The same way Mr. Chavez allegedly did in Argentina and in some of the other Latin American countries; he will inject funds into the election to influence the outcome in the best interest of the ‘Petro Caribe Agreement.’

What many Dominican don’t realize that from this Petro Caribe deal, by the time our children and grand children become adults they will owe Chavez billions of dollars.

Why?

Look around Dominica…look carefully, the government is yet to invest in any type business venture. A large majority of the money they’ve received has gone only in community projects around Dominica.

Now, I’m not saying that these community projects are not needed. What’s going to happen when it’s time to payback to Venezuela its 2% interest; when we’ve invested a large sum of the money in community projects and not small businesses?

At that time Chavez can dictate to Skerrit and the other Caribbean leaders as much as America has been accused of doing.

But Chavez is not the only political broker in the business of influencing the outcome of Dominica’s political future. In the coming months, as the date of the elections draws near, China, and Taiwan are forfeiting their positions for they’re called upon for help.

As I mention my post ‘Money and Its Influence on the Next General Election‘ - in our permissive Dominican society most people will see nothing wrong with accepting political contributions from these political Brokers, who’s only interested is their personal agendas.

Yesterday morning at 4 a.m. I was woken by sudden call. It was my friend, who lives with her husband on their yacht, anchored in the Portsmouth area. They had just been robbed, almost beaten to death and neither of them knew the number for the police. I am trying to tell her the number, but realize that in her condition she will not be able to make the call - furthermore find a right words in English to explain what had happened to she and her husband.

Fortunately, I was able quickly get in contact with the Portsmouth police station and alert them of the situation. But I started panicking when the officer told me that they were unable go to the yacht and could only look-on from the on shore. During that time, my friends were trapped on their yacht (because their dingy boat was stolen), beaten, and had no way of reaching onshore for help.

While Chris (my boyfriend) was speaking with the police (because I was about to loose my self-control), she called to inform me that the robbers were on the way back to the yacht and that she was scared. The only thing I could do at the moment is just tell that we got the police and they were on their way.

After a few minutes gone by, I called her again… they had found a boat and were heading for the shore. After exchanging few phone calls they finally met up with the police. Her husband speaks who only German, and she who only knows a little bit of English were so traumatized by the whole experience couldn’t even remember the words to say that they were robbed much-less to describe the perpetrators. I briefly described the situation to the policeman and sighed with relief – they were now safe and would receive medical attention.

At the hospital they stitch the scars on her head and gave her anesthesia, because it appears that one of her ribs was broken. Luckily, there was nothing seriously wrong with her husband.

Update: 8 hours later, x-rays confirms that she did suffered a broken rib.

A few hours later, I called her again to check up on their condition and to get a clear understanding on what how exactly happened. She went on to describe to me - that she was suddenly woken by someone putting a shirt over her head and hitting her in the jaw (she said: “I am grateful to the Lord, that none of my teeth didn’t come out!”) and he start to strangle her (“I almost though that I will die”). During the robbery, two of the armed men beat them, while the third man searched the yacht for money and other valuable items.

Despite all what had happened, my friends are very grateful too the police officers and the doctors at the Portsmouth hospital for all the sympathy and assistance they gave to them.

This is the second case a of yacht robbery in Portsmouth where the victims were tied and beaten. The first robbery occurred some time in the middle of May of this year; soon after the Portsmouth police along with some dedicated residents of the area started a community watch/security watch-out, that patrols the area close the Portsmouth beach during the night on small fishing boats. Unfortunately, my friends who heard about the first robbery never took the situation seriously. They went ahead and move their yacht closer to the Indian River, and left the yacht open during the night.

Dominica is consider one of the safer islands in the Caribbean, which trends to make visitors let their guard down from time to time, which makes prime targets for criminals. So please, continuing to take all the necessary precautions that you would take on any other island, and always be aware of your surroundings.

Here are some tips that you might find helpful when sailing to Dominica:

1. Get to know the all emergency numbers, for example:

• Dominica Police headquarters in Roseau: 448-2222
• Portsmouth Police station: 445-5222
• Princess Margaret Hospital: 448 – 2231
• Portsmouth Hospital: 445-5237
• Police, Fire, and Ambulance hotline - 999

2. Learn areas where is security patrol for yachts.
3. Padlock or find some an alternative way to secure your dingy boat at nights
4. Close your yacht for the night: don’t leave open doors, windows and etc. This will make it harder for the perpetrators to get in without you knowing.
5. Keep an extra cell phone on the yacht at all times, and learn the emergency (or crisis hotline) phone numbers in the event you’ve to make a call for help.
6. Get a dog – it can alert you in advance about danger.
7. Get something to protect yourself (at least traumatic pistol).

If there is anyone who have more safety tips or ideas on how we can reduce the number of yacht robberies particularly in the Portsmouth area, please share them in the comments below.

Stay Safe….and bye for now!

Given the present state of the Dominican economy, the high levels of unemployment especially among the youth, and the debilitating rate of migration, one would think that the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) to find it difficult to convince voters that it deserves another term in office.

But when you consider the possible dept and weight of the DLP campaign purse, the predictability of the next general election becomes even darker as the 2010 elections draws nearer.

To quote Orson Scott Card:

“If pigs could vote, the man with the slop bucket would be elected swineherd every time, no matter home much slaughtering he did on the side.”

Money can have such a significant influence on the outcome of any election, I sometimes wonder why the Electoral Commission and the opposition in particular, have not address this growing issue.

Nevertheless, the issue of campaign financing is as important as voters identification and cleaning of the voters list before the next general election is held. But in our permissive society most people don’t see anything wrong with accepting political contributions, even though these funds are donated by drug dealers and criminals.

Then again, who I’m fooling - politics on a whole is unethical.

Editor’s Note:This is a guest post written by Keith S. Greaves; one of the Airline Passengers affected by the closure of the airports during President Chavez recent visit to Dominica.

On Saturday June 13 I was among a group of passengers booked on LIAT 368 – scheduled to depart Grantley Adams International airport in Barbados at 2pm enroute to V.C.Bird International airport, with a single stop at Melville Hall airport, Dominica. I had an onward connection later on the same day to Anguilla.

I duly arrived checked in; went through all the security checks; and awaited my boarding call. I arrived at the gate around 1.40 pm as was clearly stated on my board passing. I waited along with the other passengers for the announcement to actually board the plane. At around 2.35 pm we were told that the flight is delayed at Grantley Adams and would now depart at 3.30pm.

A little pass 3.30 pm we were finally told to board the aircraft. We all went on board. But I noticed that for more than 20 minutes we were just on the plane, nothing was being said to the passengers, plenty of hot air and the discomfort was beginning to get a little unbearable.

Still no word from either of the two pilots (one Grenadian, the other Bajan) or the air hostess (Barbadian). On board were more than a dozen nationals from the Commonwealth of Dominica.

Many of the passengers including myself were clearly getting more and more agitated. Normally, one would see at least one of the engines fired up; but on this occasion both engines were off and forty plus persons bunched up in an aircraft —on a hot, humid Caribbean day.

One of the pilots left the aircraft and returned a short time after with food and a drink. Still no word about why the plane was not in the air —having long pass the scheduled departure time.

I reckon it was after 4 pm when the air hostess inquired about all the passengers from the Dominica on the flight. They all promptly identified themselves. It was then that they were told that they would have to remain in Barbados because the air space and be extension the airport in their country was closed or had been closed since 12 noon due to the visit of President Chavez of Venezuela.

One of the pilots later indicated that they were not informed about the closure of the airport until very late. The Dominicans were furious. One lady said she wanted to go home because she had a sick daughter who needed her care. As the Dominicans reluctantly got up and left the aircraft, many of them could not hide their frustration and anger and in fact had some “choice” words for their prime minister and what would happen to him come next general election.

Meanwhile, the remainder of us on board the plane was informed that the flight would now go direct to Antigua. What we were never told is how soon the flight would depart from Barbados. So we waited and waited. I deduced that perhaps the Liat people were possibly adding some other passengers booked for a later flight into Antigua on our flight 368. My thinking was correct. In fact, only one person joined us on board. Imagine the feeling of having to wait all this time on board with the temperature climbing all the time. We never left Barbados until about 4.35 pm. It meant that my 5.05 pm connection to Anguilla was out the window. Both captain and air hostess apologized for the delay after we took off from Barbados but blamed the whole affair on the authorities in Dominica closing their air space/airport to accommodate Mr Chavez. I recalled the pilot saying jokingly, don’t blame Liat blame your politicians. He was right!

We arrived in Antigua close to 6.30 pm. Checked with the Liat rep at the Intransit area. There were three other persons and myself who had missed our late afternoon connection to Anguilla. We identified ourselves and were told to occupy an area away from the desk without any proper communication as to what will be our next move. At the same time, a group of Americans who had arrived on another aircraft and were booked to travel to Dominica that afternoon/evening received the bad news that the airport was closed due to the visit of the Venezuelan leader. The Liat rep quickly assisted the visiting Americans providing information about a hotel for them to stay overnight, taxi arrangements etc. The passengers from the Caribbean were still being kept off to the side of the reception desk —nothing said. After complaining about the shabby treatment, we were eventually processed and told a taxi would take us to a local Antiguan hotel for the night.

The following day Sunday we were told to be ready for pick up at 2.00 pm. We had a flight for 5.05 pm out Antigua to Anguilla. The deadline came and went, still no pick up. We made several calls to the Liat office at the airport only to be told the taxi was on its way. At about 3.45 pm I called a friend for a lift to the airport. Just as my friend arrived at the hotel – the taxis which were told was sent since 2 pm arrived. No apology, nothing. I went with my friend; my Caribbean colleagues boarded the taxi.

Liat has to treat Caribbean nationals with more respect. Customer service is one of the biggest problems faced by Liat. Our political leaders must also share the blame. The Dominica incident with the Venezuelan leader is a classic example. I could understand the airspace/airport being closed for a short time for security reasons while he is physically in the area but to reportedly close an airport from midday is absolute rubbish. When will we learn here in the Caribbean? Is the airport in Caracas closed when our leaders travel to that South American country?

After thirty years of Diplomatic relations between the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Dominica, many Dominicans are still unsure of the true nature of the alliance.

That uneasiness was made more acute, after the nation listen to President Chavez speech during his last visit to Dominica - Chavez repeated many time that Dominicans and Venezuelans are one people, one nation, and that Africa and Europe are no longer the motherland - Venezuela is the Motherland.

Regardless of Chavez’s agenda, his overtures have to be viewed in the current context of rising prices of commodities , such as food and oil, and economic reality of the region. Nevertheless, few persons doubt that Chavez is using the oil wealth of Venezuela in other to establish closer relations with the Caribbean.

In my opinion, the difficulty with this situation is that many Dominicans have focused narrowly on the lavish developmental aid of Chavez than focusing on the fundamental issue at hand: do we support Chavez’s ideology and his vision of the motherhood of Latin American and the Caribbean.

All is lost in the belief that deriving maximum materialistic satisfaction to be the whole meaning of human existence.

Let the father of the four winds fill your sail and take you across the seas. No fright or hindsight let your spirit voice find what your body needs.

Do you want to be your own king or just another pawn? The feeling inside you says its time you were gone.

So start a new chapter and find what you’ve been after. Leave behind that empty feeling that lingers with the dew. Your Shangri-La lies beneath summers sun across oceans blue, and come rekindled romance with nature in Dominica.

For more information about Dominica visit discoverdominica.com.

Environmentalist Athie Martin says the commissioning of a fuel tank farm in Dominica sends an unfortunate signal to the world.

At a time where the larger economies are looking to move away from fossil fuels whereas Dominica, an island bursting with potential for renewable energy is moving rapidly towards a dependence on fossil fuels.

Martin believes this move will have future generations settling a massive accumulated debt, and that the Petro Caribe agreement is disrespectful and undignified and shows no account for the enormous amount of work done to preserve Dominica’s natural image.

And that the country is moving away from its strengths and embracing a commodity which is not one of its natural assets. He is of the view that although Dominica is small, it can be totally energy independent, not on fossil fuels but on the abundance of natural renewable energy which is available on Island and the technical aspects of any processing activities need to be organized to ensure the island is kept clean and green.

Otherwise Dominica could be regarded as the country which had a chance at leading the world with its green economy (something Venezuela should do as a true friend to Dominica), but instead gave it all up for a few barrels of oil.

Share your opinion(s) in the comments.

While addressing a Good Governance forum on Monday, the Real Labour Party’s representative Washway Douglas highlighted some of the RLP’s strategies to move Dominica forward.

Notwithstanding the clean and green policy and the Renewable Energy Program, Mr Douglas firmly believes the country’s name should be changed from Dominica to ‘Waitukubuli’ the name given by the indigenous people of the country.

Douglas says this is in an effort to lessen the inconvenience of being mistaken for the Dominican Republic and also to help reduce the costs of advertisements made in efforts to clarify that Dominica is not the Dominican Republic.

The RLP is also looking to introduce the concept of Natural Resources being linked to Nationalism, and that the country’s natural resources should be owned by Dominican citizens for the benefit of Dominica and its citizens.

The RLP Coordinator also spoke of building closer relations with the neighboring islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe. He says while the present administration speaks of creating closer links with CARICOM which he fully endorses, greater emphasis needs to be placed on developing tighter links with Guadeloupe and Martinique.

But are these the type of strategies Dominica needs presently to take it forward as a country? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Photo by Daylife

There is an ongoing debate among Dominicans and Airline Passengers as to whether or not it was good judgment by the Government deciding on closing the airports in Dominica to facilitate the visit of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez on Saturday June 13,2009.

The closure resulted in many Dominicans as well as visitors were stranded - wondering what was going on before any word was given that their flights had been canceled due to security precaution for the visit of Venezuelan President Chavez.

Honourable Vince Henderson Minister for Foreign Affairs spoke on the Hot Seat this morning and stated that an apology had been issued Saturday afternoon on behalf of the government to those affected by the cancellation of Airline flights. He further stated that government will compensate those affected by the closure and will meet the overnight expenses of LIAT customers stranded in Antigua and Barbados.

But many Dominicans did not accept the explanation coming from the Minister, and thinks that closing the Airports was purely bad judgment on the governments part.

Question:Do you think closing the Airports was excessive and totally unnecessary? Have your say in the comments below.