Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Dominica Freedom Party reponse to PMs statement on purchase of 2700 garbage bins
By Judith Pestaina - Party Leader
Having heard Prime Minister Skerrit’s lame attempt at trying to spin the garbage bin scandal in his Address to the Nation, Dominicans are left to wonder why is he of the view that we are a gullible people. Why is it that with so many other important economic and social issues facing the country that the Office of the Prime Minister seems to be embroiled in rubbish?
The exposé given by the Prime Minister has made this more of a scandal and demonstrates that the ethical foundations of our country are quickly being lost and replaced with amorality, indifference and a latent acceptance of corrupt behaviour.
The plethora of excuses given by Prime Minister Skerrit in seeking to explain away this matter is grossly disrespectful to the intelligence of our people and shows clear evidence of an attempt to cover up blatant inconsistencies in the procurement of 2700 garbage bins which were clearly overpriced and of poor quality.
He has not explained why it is that Government paid US$102 for a garbage bin that only costs US$15. He has not explained why it is that it took Government until May 28 2009 to realise that the garbage bins did not have “wheels or secure covers”. He has not explained why it is that payment was made in advance of receipt of goods. He has not told the Dominican people how much tax payers money was paid for storage of bins on the port for that length of time.
In asking the Attorney General to review the matter to ensure that tenders are held in future transactions by Councils and Statutory Bodies, the Prime Minister has clearly disregarded or is ignorant of government procurement procedures which are already in place. Consequently, it is passing strange that Prime Minister Skerrit would seek to gloss over the irregularity of this acquisition, citing the fact that the purchase was NOT illegal as justification.
The Prime Minister has merely skirted the main issues which Dominicans want cleared by failing to respond to the following:
• How was contact established with Andre Dopwell and through whom?
• What, if any, business was conducted by Government with the individual in the past?
• Was it a coincidence that Mr Dopwell is the brother of the Minister of Trade and Diaspora Affairs who the Prime Minister said was not involved in this transaction?
• Why would the Ministry of Finance pay in advance a sum of more than ¾ million dollars to a company that is NOT registered in either the US or Dominica, or no other known country for that matter?
• Why did it take the Ministry of Finance so long to follow up on the short supply of bins?
It is clear that government procurement procedures were seriously breached in the purchase of the garbage bins. Yet Prime Minister Skerrit has sought to pass these off as mere mistakes by the Civil Servants concerned. Most modern Democracies would have sanctioned the Minister under whose Ministry such blatant mismanagement of our meagre tax dollars took place.
In Dominica however, we are fed with a diet of spin and an innate desire to remind Dominicans that past misdeeds somehow justify this kind of misconduct and lack of probity in public office.
As guardian of the National Purse, Prime Minister Skerrit cannot escape this blatant disregard and clear evidence of abuse exhibited in this Bin Bobol and must clear the air on those questions which still remain unanswered. This was not as some spin doctors have tried to describe it “an innocent mistake” or an “accounting error.”
We call on all Dominicans and all Freedomites who uphold and subscribe to the principles of the Dominica Freedom Party “People Before Power, People Before Politics, People Before Privilege and Things”, to condemn such abuse of public office and public trust.
We insist that an Independent Investigation be carried out to clear the air once and for all on this matter. Nothing less would suffice in this blatant case of the corrupt acquisition of Bins.
Having heard Prime Minister Skerrit’s lame attempt at trying to spin the garbage bin scandal in his Address to the Nation, Dominicans are left to wonder why is he of the view that we are a gullible people. Why is it that with so many other important economic and social issues facing the country that the Office of the Prime Minister seems to be embroiled in rubbish?
 Freedom Party Leader Judith Pestaina. |
The plethora of excuses given by Prime Minister Skerrit in seeking to explain away this matter is grossly disrespectful to the intelligence of our people and shows clear evidence of an attempt to cover up blatant inconsistencies in the procurement of 2700 garbage bins which were clearly overpriced and of poor quality.
He has not explained why it is that Government paid US$102 for a garbage bin that only costs US$15. He has not explained why it is that it took Government until May 28 2009 to realise that the garbage bins did not have “wheels or secure covers”. He has not explained why it is that payment was made in advance of receipt of goods. He has not told the Dominican people how much tax payers money was paid for storage of bins on the port for that length of time.
In asking the Attorney General to review the matter to ensure that tenders are held in future transactions by Councils and Statutory Bodies, the Prime Minister has clearly disregarded or is ignorant of government procurement procedures which are already in place. Consequently, it is passing strange that Prime Minister Skerrit would seek to gloss over the irregularity of this acquisition, citing the fact that the purchase was NOT illegal as justification.
The Prime Minister has merely skirted the main issues which Dominicans want cleared by failing to respond to the following:
• How was contact established with Andre Dopwell and through whom?
• What, if any, business was conducted by Government with the individual in the past?
• Was it a coincidence that Mr Dopwell is the brother of the Minister of Trade and Diaspora Affairs who the Prime Minister said was not involved in this transaction?
• Why would the Ministry of Finance pay in advance a sum of more than ¾ million dollars to a company that is NOT registered in either the US or Dominica, or no other known country for that matter?
• Why did it take the Ministry of Finance so long to follow up on the short supply of bins?
It is clear that government procurement procedures were seriously breached in the purchase of the garbage bins. Yet Prime Minister Skerrit has sought to pass these off as mere mistakes by the Civil Servants concerned. Most modern Democracies would have sanctioned the Minister under whose Ministry such blatant mismanagement of our meagre tax dollars took place.
In Dominica however, we are fed with a diet of spin and an innate desire to remind Dominicans that past misdeeds somehow justify this kind of misconduct and lack of probity in public office.
As guardian of the National Purse, Prime Minister Skerrit cannot escape this blatant disregard and clear evidence of abuse exhibited in this Bin Bobol and must clear the air on those questions which still remain unanswered. This was not as some spin doctors have tried to describe it “an innocent mistake” or an “accounting error.”
We call on all Dominicans and all Freedomites who uphold and subscribe to the principles of the Dominica Freedom Party “People Before Power, People Before Politics, People Before Privilege and Things”, to condemn such abuse of public office and public trust.
We insist that an Independent Investigation be carried out to clear the air once and for all on this matter. Nothing less would suffice in this blatant case of the corrupt acquisition of Bins.
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// posted by TheDominican.net @ 10:41 AM
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The Hon Prime Minister Rooosevelt Skerrit has NOT answered the critical questions, and he NEEDS to do so now. He cannot brush away our questions as he did in the House of Assembly last year. In the People's Assembly ALL Questions MUST be answered, Mr. Prime Minister Skerrit! We will NOT have evasive statements; we will NOT tolerate LIES! We will REJECT all spin! I think the Honorable thing to do Prime Minister is to FIRE the Hon Minister for Finance, which happens to be yourself. Nothing short of that will suffice. Otherwise, the Bin Bobol Scandal will bring you DOWN and stay with you forever. Excellent response Judith.
# posted by 
: June 3, 2009 12:21 PM
: June 3, 2009 12:21 PM
Happy to know that the Fredom Party is quick in its response on this. This brings to mind what the DFP has always stood for, good governance, integrity, accountability, trust and people before power. Thnaks for the reminder and good luck in the election. Dominica needs you all more than ever now. Do you realise that the DFP has always come in to save and serve Dominica. Dominica please bring bring back good governance and people whom we can al trust. I am very disappointed in Skerritt, he is a failure. He climed to high on the shoulders of others.
# posted by : June 3, 2009 4:08 PM
: June 3, 2009 4:08 PM
very well written have a look at what a lawyer thinks in the other main peice by Skerrit entitled as a legal person it is very good and he is right
# posted by : June 3, 2009 7:38 PM
: June 3, 2009 7:38 PM Links to this post:
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