Public servants in Dominica say they are prepared to embark on protest action if issues affecting them are not resolved.
Hundreds of public servants who showed up for a special general membership meeting of the public service union, on Tuesday, say they feel disrespected by government’s productivity consultant Parry Bellot’s statement that lack of productivity in the public service has reached an eighty percent level.
They have given government seven days to retract that statement and failure to do so will result in protest action
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit is calling for a re-examination of the public service.
Public servants are expected to meet with their union today to discuss productivity concerns after criticisms that about eighty percent of public servants are unproductive.
He told a press conference Monday that although the figure maybe incorrect the system must be reexamined.
Stakeholders in the agricultural sector are meeting in Dominica today, to discuss the country’s proposal for implementing the Banana Accompanying Measures (BAM).
The BAM is the proposed form of additional development assistance by the European Commission, intended to support ten selected banana exporting countries, in their adjustment of new market conditions.
National Authorizing Officer Carlyn Roberts says preliminary figures show that Dominica has an indicative financial allocation under the BAM of between 14-15 million Euros.
A report by government’s productivity consultant and the latest on salary negotiations are expected to form part of discussions when public servants meet under one umbrella tomorrow.
Public servants are said to be angry about revelations by Parry Bellot that 80% of them are unproductive.
They also want to be informed about the latest with regards to salary negations with their union.
General Secretary of the Dominica Pubic Service Union Thomas Letang says tomorrow’s meeting is an important day in the lives of all public servants on the island.
Letang says there appears to be some foot-dragging by government with regards to the salary negotiations.
The meeting is carded from 4:30 at the PSU building on Valley Road.
Kalinago chief Garnet Joseph says the houses will be constructed on the holdings of the selected recipients. Meantime Joseph says the Kalinago people continue to battle with poverty.
While he is unable to say whether there is a decline in that regard he says reports of income for the current cruise season have dropped.
Urban renewal minister Julius Timothy says the new development around the Roseau River constitutes part of government thrust to develop the city into the premiere capital of the OECS.
He told the opening of the New DC Bridge that the construction of a new bus terminal for Kalinago bus drivers will help ease traffic around the city.
He says the new DC Bridge could also open new possibilities for the people of Bay Town. The new bus terminal will be located alongside the new DC Bridge.
