标签： Dominica

The Dominican government has initiated a comprehensive overhaul of compensation packages for the nation’s highest offices, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced during a press conference this week. The reforms will include a salary increase for the President effective in the coming year, alongside significant adjustments to benefits for both current and former heads of state.

Skerrit revealed that his administration conducted an extensive evaluation of presidential terms and engagements, extending beyond mere financial compensation to examine how the nation treats its leaders during and after their service. “We have done a comprehensive review of the President’s emoluments and engagement,” stated Skerrit, confirming that proposed amendments would be presented to Parliament during the first quarter of next year.

The Prime Minister outlined additional considerations being given to the legal status of the President’s spouse, noting that the position comes with significant restrictions on personal and professional activities. “Once you become the President’s spouse, you become limited in what you can do,” Skerrit emphasized. “We believe that serving the nation should not place undue burden on the President’s family, and we are examining appropriate facilitations.”

The announcement follows recent cabinet decisions regarding former prime ministers, who now receive $7,000 monthly along with comprehensive support including drivers, domestic helpers, and vehicles. The government is also addressing compensation for other key positions, including the Director of Audit and Chief Elections Officer, whose retirement age was recently increased from 55 as part of broader electoral reforms.

Skerrit indicated that statutory instruments governing these positions require updating to reflect contemporary standards and ensure appropriate compensation structures across the nation’s leadership framework.

A significant political dispute has emerged in Dominica regarding housing allocation priorities, pitting the parliamentary representative of the Salisbury Constituency against the Minister for Housing and Urban Development. The controversy centers on claims of neglect versus substantial financial support for hurricane-affected communities.

Jesma Paul-Victor, Parliamentary Representative for Salisbury Constituency, recently asserted in parliament that her district had been completely excluded from the government’s housing initiatives despite substantial budgetary allocations to the Housing Ministry. She emphasized that eight years after Hurricane Maria, families in the Coulibistrie area specifically continue residing in deteriorating structures, partially repaired homes, and temporary arrangements originally intended as short-term solutions.

Minister Melissa Poponne-Skerrit presented a contradictory account during her year-end press conference on Monday, revealing that approximately $2 million had been designated specifically for the Salisbury Constituency through local village councils. She firmly dismissed suggestions that the government had abandoned the opposition-held constituency, stating: ‘Housing is a right and it is for everyone across Dominica.’

The Minister detailed comprehensive interventions including financial assistance for home construction and repairs, government land sales at reduced prices, and relocation support. She noted that fewer than five households remain requiring assistance, with plans to address their needs in 2026. Many constituents had alternatively opted to purchase government land at discounted rates to build independent homes, while others relocated or migrated with government support.

The exchange highlights the politically charged nature of post-disaster reconstruction in Dominica, where housing allocations become intertwined with constituency politics and allegations of preferential treatment based on political affiliations.

Dominica’s Housing Minister Melissa Poponne-Skerrit has publicly countered claims of neglect in opposition-held constituencies, revealing that approximately $2 million was specifically allocated to the Salisbury Constituency for housing assistance. The minister’s statements came during her year-end press conference on Monday, directly addressing recent parliamentary remarks by Salisbury’s Parliamentary Representative Jesma Paul-Victor.

Paul-Victor had previously asserted that her constituency remained excluded from the government’s national housing project despite substantial parliamentary allocations to the Housing Ministry. She highlighted that eight years after Hurricane Maria, numerous families in the Coulibistrie area continue residing in deteriorating structures and temporary arrangements originally intended as short-term solutions.

Minister Poponne-Skerrit firmly dismissed these allegations, emphasizing that political representation does not determine housing distribution. “Housing is a right and it is for everyone across Dominica,” she stated. “We have made significant interventions in terms of financing—I believe close to $2 million was allocated to that constituency and distributed through the local village council.”

The minister detailed that fewer than five households still require assistance, which will be addressed in 2026. She explained that many constituents originally slated for relocation instead opted to purchase government land at reduced prices to build their own homes. Additional support included financial assistance for home construction and repairs, with some residents choosing relocation or migration options.

This exchange highlights ongoing tensions between government and opposition representatives regarding resource distribution in post-hurricane recovery efforts, particularly in rural constituencies still grappling with housing challenges.

In a striking reversal of policy, the Gaston Browne administration in Antigua and Barbuda has abruptly terminated its long-standing medical cooperation agreement with Cuba. This decision concludes a partnership that had been described for years as fundamental to the Caribbean nation’s healthcare system.

The termination, revealed this week through statements from the opposition United Progressive Party (UPP), comes after a year of consistent assurances from Prime Minister Browne that his government would resist external pressure to end the Cuban medical program. As recently as this year, Browne had publicly championed the Cuban medical officers as ‘the core of the Antiguan medical service,’ warning that their removal would ‘devastate’ the country’s health services. He had additionally refuted claims from US officials that the program constituted a form of human trafficking.

The government has offered no public explanation for the sudden policy shift, which coincides with intensified US diplomatic efforts in the region. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has led a campaign targeting the Cuban Medical Professional Parole Program, urging Caribbean nations to cease their participation and instead directly hire Cuban doctors, thereby cutting payments to the Cuban government.

The geopolitical pressure escalated materially this week as both Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica faced newly imposed US visa restrictions. This move signals the Trump administration’s willingness to employ tangible measures to advance its policy objectives in the Caribbean. The termination of the medical partnership raises significant questions about what further concessions regional governments might be compelled to make as US leverage increases. The opposition UPP expressed regret over the decision, affirming to the Cuban people that their party remains ‘neither ungrateful nor forgetful’ of the long-standing cooperation.

In a controversial move that has sparked widespread debate, former President Donald Trump has established a “Presidential Walk of Fame” within the White House grounds. This installation features plaques bearing sharply critical commentaries placed beneath official portraits of previous commanders-in-chief, particularly targeting Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

The inscriptions, written in Trump’s characteristic social media style, present scathing assessments of his predecessors’ administrations. The plaque dedicated to President Biden—notably displayed without a portrait—contains particularly harsh language, describing him as “the worst President in American History” and alleging he assumed office through “the most corrupt Election ever seen in the United States.”

While Trump has publicly characterized the exhibit as “a tribute to past Presidents, good, bad, and somewhere in the middle,” factual verification efforts have identified multiple claims on the plaques as unfounded or misleading. This installation represents the latest in a series of controversial modifications Trump has made to the White House complex.

Among previous contentious renovations was the removal of the historical Rose Garden to accommodate a grand ballroom project, funded by supporter contributions with estimated costs approaching $400 million. Construction continues on this significantly expanded facility, which is planned to exceed the scale of any existing structure within the White House campus.

The Presidential Walk of Fame has raised questions about the appropriate treatment of historical presidential legacies and the traditional decorum associated with the nation’s highest office.

The Electoral Office of Dominica has reported significant progress in its ongoing national voter confirmation initiative, with official figures indicating robust public participation. According to a recent press release, electoral authorities have received more than 9,000 applications for voter verification since the program’s inception.

Chief Elections Officer Anthea Joseph provided detailed insights into the verification mechanics, explaining that each application undergoes multiple layers of scrutiny before official voter confirmation is granted. This meticulous process has already resulted in the confirmation of over 700 applicants, with thousands more currently in various stages of review.

Addressing circulating concerns about procedural delays, Ms. Joseph categorically denied any significant setbacks, emphasizing the institution’s commitment to both transparency and electoral integrity. “The verification process is proceeding according to established timelines,” she stated, dismissing rumors of operational deficiencies.

The Electoral Office also announced the imminent distribution of Voter Identification cards, marking the next phase in strengthening Dominica’s electoral infrastructure. This development represents a critical step toward enhancing the credibility and security of the nation’s democratic processes.

Officials confirmed that regular updates will be provided as the verification initiative continues to evolve, ensuring ongoing public awareness regarding this fundamental aspect of electoral preparation.