ROSEAU, Dominica, Oct 29, CMC – Former Haitian president Michel Martelly has told Dominicans to be patient as the island recovers from the battering it took from Hurricane Maria last September and support Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit in his efforts to rebuild the country.
Martelly, who was here performing in the World Creole Music Festival, while there’s much more to be done, Dominicans have to be “patient.
“You cannot build a country in one year and also to make it faster and easier …you the people (should) get together with the government,” said Martelly, who uses the stage name “Sweet Mickey”.
Hurricane Maria battered the island on September 18 last year, killing more than 30 people and causing millions of dollars (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) in damage to the island’s infrastructure.
Prime Minister Skerrit has already said he wants Dominica to become the first climate resilient country in the world and has since been working towards that initiative as the island rebuilds.
Martelly, who served as head of state of the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country from 2011 to 2016, said he had the opportunity as CARICOM chairman to have observed Skerrit at work.
“And I saw in him a young and dynamic person,” Martelly said, recalling having met with Skerrit soon after the hurricane in the United States “looking to get funds to bring back to Dominica to get Dominica back to life.
“I know about the political man trying to do good for his country and having being a president myself I also know about government. It is so easy to criticise a prime minister, it is so easy to criticise government. So easy to complain and I think that it is one thing I want to tell the people of Dominica.
“Coming here today I have realised that you have done a lot and making your country become functioning today. Of course there’s a lot remaining. “he told reporters.
Former Haitian president urges Dominicans to be patient as the country re-builds
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -