Groups like Together for Dominica, Dominica 24/7, Inside Report Dominica, and Dominica Memes no longer function as neutral community spaces. They consistently defend the Dominica Labour Party while dismissing or silencing criticism. There is no real debate, no balance, and no accountability.
Because of this, they cannot be trusted as independent sources of information. When every failure is excused and every question is attacked, people are right to ask: What’s in it for them? Access? Favour? Protection? Something else? In a democracy, transparency matters – and propaganda, no matter how it’s packaged, only protects those in power, not the people.
But there is another propaganda machine working for Roosevelt Skerrit, a more personal one. That is Denise Charles-Pemberton. It comes as no surprise to the Dominica Reform Party that she has maintained her position as Minister for Tourism for over six years, despite doing nothing to improve tourism in Dominica. Cruise ship arrivals are at a minimum, international tourism is stagnant, and yet this government continues to parade numbers that simply do not reflect reality.
How does someone who fails repeatedly for over six years and magically stays in a high-paying ministerial seat? The answer is simple: loyalty, and what has been said is a very close relationship with Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit. It has come to be heard that this connection has protected her from consequences, just as Roosevelt Skerrit himself has remained in power despite decades of questionable decisions.
And what has she done with her power? She hands out small, insignificant trinkets to a handful of people in a few villages, things like boats or fisheries, which serve absolutely no purpose in a country that has become even less dependent on fishing over the past 15 years. These gestures look impressive in photos, but in reality, they change nothing for Dominicans. They do not create jobs, they do not build tourism, and they do not help families survive or thrive.
For many years, there have been whispers and questions about her relationship with Roosevelt Skerrit. Whether one wants to believe them or not, the reality is that Denise Charles-Pemberton has positioned herself to maintain her job, regardless of results. Meanwhile, I had a full of people get shiny little trinkets while real opportunities passed them by.
The Dominica Reform Party will change that. We will bring real tourism to Dominica, visitors who stay for a week, spend money in our communities, hire our guides, fill our hotels, and support our families. Real tourism that puts food on the table, pays the bills, and allows families to save. A real Minister for Tourism and a real government do not survive on loyalty alone. They deliver results. We will deliver results.