Acting Prime Minister Reginald Austrie has told villagers of Morne Prosper that their community could become the vegetable basket of the Caribbean but collaboration is key to achieving this goal.
Austrie was addressing the swearing-in ceremony of the Morne Prosper Village Council on Monday afternoon.
“Right here in Morne Prosper you have the opportunity, you are in fact the food basket of Dominica, but there is a great opportunity to become the vegetable basket of the Caribbean,” he said. “Because food security is a major issue for the entire world.”
He pointed out that with climate change issues currently facing the world “the production of food can be a challenge.”
“But you are very, very, fortunate in Morne Prosper and you need to focus on doing that. Get yourself organizing cooperatives, sell together, plant together, and grow together so you can have the volume to export, because the only way you can take control of the overseas market, you must be consistent in your volume,” Austrie said.
The Acting Prime Minister also called on the councilors to unite the community.
“I want to urge you as a council, you have a responsibility to unite the community,” he stated. “We all have our own separate lives but we are not doing this for ourselves, we are doing it for the community. Whether it is religious, whether it is politics, race, profession those have no right, no place in your village council and in our community.”
Minister for Social Services, Family and Gender Affairs, Catherine Daniel who also addressed the ceremony, said the central government has put support systems in place such as the Yes We Care program and the non-contributory Social Pension Assistance to create an environment for senior citizens where their integrity is maintained.
However, she said, local government must assist.
“We urge you as councilors to assist us in ensuring that no one is left behind as we seek to respond swiftly to rescue any citizen who slip through the acute poverty crack,” she said. “Councilors, play your part as local government ensuring that gaps are closed, narrowed or totally eliminated. “You have been chosen as leaders in your community. I humbly urge you to accept your role seriously. Be honest in your dealings, be faithful to your task and be true to yourselves and your community.”
The members of the council are: Michael Lanns (Chairman), Joselie Maximin, Eugenia Jolly, Mildred Nicholas, Walter Aenkiel Bougouneaeu, Emile Cadeau, Mc Dowill Paul, Ted Maximae, Tressy Diane Sandy, Madison Austin Etienne and Connie F. Ophar.
Skerrit boy stop flying in the air,stay on land my partner.
The challenge Austrie should be throwing to the entire nation is one that condemns the “No law no constitution speech” that was made in his presence, which is having a very negative impact on the nation as year in year out the nature of crime on the island seems to be getting out of hand. By the way Austrie, why are you acting PM? Where is the nations PM?
This is just laughable. Ask Austrie how much cash they spend for the elections and if the farmers of this country was ever on their minds, these guys have too much guts. Now u know who can be food basket for the region. I feel to vomit.
Austrie you and de agriculture minister should be ashamed of yourselves.
I have heard the people of Morne Prosper screaming out for assistance from de government for the very same reasons you talk of. COLIN MCINTYRE AND DE CABINET HAVE BEEN AVOIDING DEM. CALLS FALLING ON DEATH EARS.
ALL YOU TOO WICKED!!!
WHY ALL YOU IGNORING RANDY AARON!!
HE IS PERFECTLY QUALIFIED FOR WHAT YOU SPEAK OF.
Stop talking foolishness in my head.
pull ur socks up.
you sound like you trying to make a call for political support after de results of de last election show your support is going down.
STOP TALKING FOOLISHNESS.
LET DE AGRICULTURE MINISTER TALK DAT FOOLISHNESS.
DLP does not have what it takes to bring people from different political views together for any positive agenda.
You will set up an organization full of DLP stooges and ignore to contribution of bigger contibutors who are not aligned with DLP.
well Mr Austrie there was reports that ministers were driving around and giving agricultural inputs fertilise to labour party people only is that the way to run a country?
mr autrie you are rather late it tookyou guys 15yrs to realize Morne Prosper can be the Bread Basket of D.A. I stayed in D.A. for 10 yrs and i knew that on my first visit to that village you guys need to retire and let people who have the interest and love for the country do the work,[email protected]
Ask where de PM is still, you all seems to forget he also carries out caricom duties? Jeezzzzz
where is the Pal rep of morne prosper???
been 3 months since the villagers have seen or heard from him, he is still vex with them after the dec 8th general election.
after how much years of bad road, pot holes and bush all on the road, on the day of the swearing-in ceremony of the Morne Prosper Village Counci is when the road is being patch up just cause the president and acting prime minister is coming is when work was done on it.
such a shame on the parl rep but then again he dont care about the people
Finally Austrie in the labour party are getting the message.Agriculture needs to be in the focus for all Dominicans,Jamaica has a high crime rate yearly,but they do export lots of food to he US and other regions.
I can not listen to these guys anymore, I am sick and tired of their constant rethoric. Plenty of talk…never ever any action.
@Titiwi, just as before when he brings financing to do the same projects above you will have known where he was and what he was doing, instead of reiterating what that was said above and telling the people that they should listen to what was said and plant and grow together you asking where the PM is at, you all don’t care about the people you only care about getting into office. To the people take heed plant and grow, the saying is how you make your bed that’s how you will sleep, well make your produce bed so in time to come your family will have a proper roof over their beds so they can sleep well.
actually it’s also the government’s job to unite and bring the country together
@ derp it takes everyone, election is over the country needs a lot of help. It takes the opposition it takes you an I to say the right and proper thing to help us as a young nation grow. We need to come together to change some of these laws where kids can be kids and not be molested by people in and around the home, we need a system in this day and age where people are vaccinated when the flu season is coming so people can have less time bed ridden instead of being at work, Dominica will only rise when we put our selfish ways aside and do things to better our country rather than kill it for us to come in and fix the same thing we killed to get it, I never got this.
I recall those days that D/cans did not get the flu. We did not hear of vaccination. Only on occasion, they would get mumps, measles and chicken pox.
What else could be considered? I reiterate, in those days we did not get the flu as some get it today with fever, blowing and sneezing.
If the flu is not airborne, through the years, the number of travelers to D/ca and those who returned from visits abroad may have caught it. In those days people did not travel as much as they do today. This is the reason why D/cans catch the flu. It has spread from far and wide to D/ca. Or is it something they ate?
This is the problem with people as you. You assume everything is always the government and the public have nothing to do with it. You are so wrong. It is time to leave the government alone, in peace, so that they could lead the country and see about the affairs of D/ca and nationals. You people are attacking and undermining them which is not fair. How would you like to be in their position?
but for love, peace, harmony and unity. I wonder when those who cause divisions will learn that? They are the ones keeping back D/ca.
Nationals have to pull their weight and unite with each other. Too many are pulling against others and hate others because they support a political Party. Too many are insulted and called derogatory names when they provide their comments on this Website and the list goes on. . .
How can there be any unity? It first commences from one individual and this one is you. Then others, to spread around as gangrene spreads – not illness of course
Where is Roosevelt Skerrit…..again?? Is Dominica getting too small for him?
Dominica is long time to small for him… MAYBE HE WENT TO LANG KA WI
Yes! You are so huge that you took up all the space, his space that he cannot move around D/ca so he had to leave.
