Two Caribbean Prime Ministers Dickon Mitchell of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of Grenada and Phillip J. Pierre of the St. Lucia Labour Party were guests of honours of the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) over the weekend during the party’s delegates conference in Vieille Case.
The ruling DLP held its convention under the Theme: “A legacy of Commitment” and speaking at the event, Dickon Mitchell of Grenada told party supporters that “It is Labour and the working class that has built the Caribbean and it is Labour that has built Dominica.”
“I am not here to talk about government or elections. I am here to talk about strengthening our political institutions,” he said.
He told party faithful, that he hoped they appreciate that the next year 2025, the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) will be celebrating 75 years of existence.
“Since your formation, you have won ten general elections in Dominica and you need to appreciate that, that level of longevity comes from your team with a level of commitment to build Dominica,” the Grenadian leader stated.
He warned them, however, that they should not take the party for granted. “Don’t take it for granted…because winning comes from boots on the ground. Don’t take your success or your leadership for granted you have a leader that wherever he goes, he puts the people of Dominica and the country first,” PM Mitchell remarked.
He continued, “They asked if I was coming to Dominica to glorify Skerrit (PM) I don’t have to do that because people’s track record speaks for themselves. The feature belongs to those who created it. Now you need to ask yourselves as Labour, are you better off today than when Skerrit took over 20 years ago as leader of the DLP? And, will your children and grandchildren be better off 20 years from now under the DLP or a new leader?”
“So, once you keep your boots on the ground which represents your bloodstream and you are part of a noble organization that has served its people and Dominica then you should not worry about creating that feature of hope, expectation, and the growth and feature of Dominica will continue,” he stated.
“You have been tested a lot, punched a few times in the face, but you have always gathered yourself together, wiped the bloody nose, and marched forward. So, I expect the DLP to move forward and backward never,” he concluded.
Prime Minister of St. Lucia and leader of the St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP) Phillip J. Pierre had glorifying words about Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit labeling him as “a great developer and modernizer.”
He told DLP supporters that while “Climate Change” is an enemy in the Caribbean and must stand together there is also another common enemy in the Caribbean “the opposition.”
“If you listen to the news in Dominica, St. Lucia, Antigua, Grenada, and St. Vincent you will realize that the same forces that are fighting Skerrit (PM of Dominica) Ralph (PM of St. Vincent), Gaston (PM of Antigua) and Dickon (PM Grenada) are the same forces that are fighting Phillip J. Pierre of St. Lucia, brothers and sisters, we have a common enemy,” he stated.
“Our enemies can see that we are united and they hate our unity so my message is this, if our enemies see our unity, and they hate our unity, then this is the very reason why we must stand stronger together, solidly united together and explore every avenue for deepening and strengthen our unity,” PM Phillip J Pierre stated.
He continued, “We must protect the victory because the enemies hate the facts that our party’s (Labour) are for the working class of the Caribbean and Roosevelt Skerrit is building an international airport so they attack the CIP Programme (Citizens by Investment Programme).”
He also issued a stern warning to Labourites “You must not get yourselves in this attack on or about our CIP Programme. Lies and more lies because they cannot defeat us with policy and development.”
He congratulated Dominica on its achievements over Thea Lafond who won gold at the Tripple Jump Olympics in France and also Julian Alfred from his island St. Lucia who won a gold medal in the 100 meters saying that the opposition was vexed since this placed Dominica and St. Lucia further on the map to the “annoyance of the opposition.”
“Skerrit has a legacy of achievement although young his work has just started and will go down as a leader who managed Dominica after three terrible hurricanes…he is a great developer of Dominica, a great modernizer of Dominica because what you have achieved through him, has been phenomenal and an example to me and other prime ministers. The Caribbean people should celebrate Roosevelt Skerrit,” PM Phillip J. Pierre posited.
“So my sisters and brothers, do not fall prey to the enemies that say to you that Roosevelt Skerrit is bad for Dominica. Roosevelt Skerrit will go down not only as a Caribbean leader but also as a world leader. Because to take a country back and bring it where it is today after the hurricanes is not only one man, but two, three, and even four men,” the St. Lucian leader stated.
“Roosevelt Skerrit has the fortitude, courage, and determination against all odds to take Dominica where it is today, he needs to be revered and I salute you and I need some advice,” He stated to loud applause.
