A day before DLP candidate launch, UWP leader accuses government of ignorance

Just a day before candidate launch of Dominica Labour Party in Marigot constituency, leader of opposition and United Workers Party candidate for the same constituency, Lennox Linton took over social media to target DLP alleging ignorance towards people of Marigot.

The top leader of UWP alleged that DLP government which will present the final budget of the current government has ignored people of his constituency. Speaking in a video uploaded, he said that he has reviewed the 2019-2019 estimates of the budget and some items cause his concerns.

“Provision for the Marigot hospital, built in the 1920s with significant community assistance, was shut down in 2014 for termite infestation under the watch of DLP. Since that time, they promised a new state of the art hospital in Marigot. Year after year, amounts have been presented in the budget but nothing has happened.”

He also added that amount to be spent on Marigot hospital has been significantly reduced than that of the previous budget session. “3 years earlier 18.8 million dollars were provided to be spent over 2 years to build the hospital and in next budget year the amount was raised to 20.25 million dollars but besides construction, the building was demolished. The disturbing development now coming out of the preliminary read of the estimates of expenditure for the next financial year, is the amount of money has been reduced from 20.25 million dollars to 13.8 million dollars, which is 6.5-million-dollars reduction.”

He alleged that no one has explained that why amount to be spent on Marigot hospital has been reduced, yet the people of Marigot still wait for the construction to begin. “Even we have proposed years ago that, while we wait for the construction of the hospital, we needed to put in place an emergency and accident facility that would cost around 1.5 million dollars to ensure that people had the acute care coverage until then, but money has been spent on all sorts of things around Dominica, but health care for the people of Marigot and surrounding communities continues to be ignored.”

Lennox also accused DLP for the collapse of Dam Bridge in Marigot due to the negligence of maintenance, despite his suggestions for the provision of money. He alleged that children of Marigot did not get the scholarship, youth was denied jobs in the government sector. “Leading telecommunication provider had an office in Marigot was closed, DOMLEC office was closed, DOWASCO and branch of Courts were closed. The government also ignored the need for proper treatment to people of Marigot after the hurricane and given them the lowest amount of money for the households.”