PM Skerrit says the “Do Nothing Campaign is counterproductive to Dominicans”

Dominica: Prime Minister Dr Roosevelt Skerrit has condemned the 'Do Nothing' campaign, which is an initiative launched by the UWP - United Workers Party and other opposition parties encouraging the public to do nothing on March 4.

During a radio show titled Next Level Show, PM Skerrit expressed his views on the Do Nothing campaign launched by the opposition party. The UWP has been encouraging the Dominican population to spend seven days doing nothing, that is to say, shut down their businesses and make the government feel the economic loss this period will cause.

PM Skerrit introduced the subject by saying “What a set of intellectually bankrupt individuals do we have who want to run the country." PM Skerrit makes a rational point by suggesting that instead of suggesting any new policies or programmes this call to action for supporters of the UWP is counter productive for the nation as a whole.

It is very explicitly suggested in the conversation that the unprecedented move from the UWP is simply the result of power struggles and conflict within the party itself.

He goes on to suggest and deduce that this campaign is ungrounded and ordinary civilians will suffer because of it, going as far as to say that UWP representatives, Edison James and Lennox Linton, are both getting parliamentary pensions, they have drivers, helpers and so on, these events will not affect them as all; he gives an illustration of the campaign “seeking to block roads so that the farmers can’t get to the markets, they’re seeking to block roads so that the lady that has to get her dialysis treatment cannot make it to the hospital”.

The narrative presented emphasizes the intentions of the opposition to “advance their selfish political gain” and goes on to say “That’s not how we behave in opposition” before liking how the Labour Party acted when it was an opposition party during which they “got scholarships for Dominicans… we got British Parliamentarians to ask questions about Dominica, we brought doctors… built roads, ran pre-schools, got children uniform, provided bus fare for them to get to school”.

PM Skerrit concludes his thoughts by stating “This is actions about do nothing has nothing to do with Dominica, it has everything to do with Linton, aided and abetted by Edison James”. He also suggested the polar opposite of the Do Nothing campaign and said Dominicans must focus on their livelihood to improve the national economy. In the last quarter of the show, the hosts opened up their telephone lines to allow everyday Dominicans to interact with PM Skerrit, where many expressed relief at PM Skerrit’s rational stance on the Do Nothing campaign and his competence as a national leader and representative. Several local news outlets took to the streets to hear what the general population thought of the controversial campaign, during these engagements the overwhelming majority of interviewees dismissed the campaign suggesting it to be irrational, counterproductive and in bad taste, a single mother of three stated that she cannot stay home or go to work and do nothing, “who is going to help me support my children when I am out of a job? I am a single parent and I am the only provider for my family”. The opposition has been very vocal in seeking public support for this campaign but has failed to explain how the public would monetarily survive if they were to just stop working for no other reason than a political stance.

Even those who thought the intention behind the campaign was good, they too did not think it would be successful, citing “a lack of national unity” for something like this to work. The campaign set the intention to initiate on Monday the 4th of March, the success of this controversial campaign is yet to be seen.