Dominica: Linton outlines hopes for coming weeks

The leader of the main opposition party in Dominican has taken to social media to share his hopes for the upcoming weeks.

Lennox Linton shared a post on his Facebook page, one month after the tiny Caribbean island was wrecked by category five Hurricane Maria.

He thanked “brothers and sisters at home and abroad, the international aid agencies and disaster relief organisations, the development cooperation partners, and the governments and people of friendly countries around the world who have rallied to assist us in these times of severe crisis.”

Although some signs of normality are returning to Dominica, the country is still far from recovered.

People are still relying on aid packages for food and water, and some areas remain difficult to access.

Linton outlined what he hopes will happen in the near future.

“Over the next few weeks we trust that there will be an immediate end to the politicisation of post-disaster relief, and that the food aid and other relief supplies contributed from the taxes and hard work of others will be distributed fairly and equitably to all in need based on their levels of need,” he wrote.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has already hit back at claims that there is any preferential treatment when it comes to the distribution of relief.

Linton continued: “We trust that there will be an all Embracing National Consultation on National Reconstruction before any sector specific national consultation.

“We trust that there will be a standing committee of parliament to oversee national reconstruction.

“We trust that urgent attention will be given to the critical issues of climate-resilient shelter, comprehensive community clean-up, health care, education, revival of the economic growth engines, livelihood restoration and population stabilisation.

“We trust that all ideas will be allowed to contend and all available human resources at home and abroad will be utilised effectively in the national interest.”

The UWP leader ended with what appears to be a veiled attacked on the prime minister.

“We trust that having heard one man's story about he, himself and his doings exclusively over the past four weeks, the people will understand and appreciate it is time for their stories of truth, righteousness and justice so that things could go right with the rebuilding of Dominica.”