Let us keep this short and sweet, and say it loud and clear: A government’s first responsibility is to make sure the “Have Nots” are not taken advantage of by the “Haves.” But under this government, that is exactly what has been happening for over a decade.
Where Has This Government Been While Price Gouging Has Destroyed Our Livelihoods?
The cost of living in Dominica is out of control. Prices for food, basic goods, and necessities are the same or higher than what people pay in the United States or Canada, but we are not earning U.S. or Canadian wages. We work harder, we sacrifice more, and yet we can not even afford the basics, while government officials collect multiple paycheques, pad their pockets with backroom deals, and turn a blind eye to our suffering.
- $10 for a pound of fish – fish caught right on our shores? Ridiculous!
- $25 for a bag of potatoes grown in Dominica’s soil? Absurd!
- $20 for a bag of chips that costs $2 in the U.S.? Outrageous!
- $85 for a steak that costs $15 in Canada? Disgusting!
And they want to act like this is normal? Like this is acceptable?
And to be clear, we can not blame the small, local seller trying to survive, trying to pay their bills in a system this government has failed to control. The real problem lies with the big box stores, the importers, and the businesses driving prices through the roof, all while politicians turn their heads away because they are taken care of through multiple government positions, multiple salaries, backroom deals, they live comfortably while you can not even afford a proper meal.
Think about it, someone is buying these overpriced items and it is not you, the average working Dominican who has been struggling to keep the lights on at home. It is the same small circle of connected insiders, the ones filling their shopping carts, hosting government functions with buffets funded by your tax dollars, living large while you count pennies to feed your family and pay your bills. Enough is enough!
The NEW Dominica Reform Party (DRP) will bring this to an end. We will:
- Strictly penalize businesses that overcharge, with fines, license suspensions, or revocation.
- Create a transparent complaint system, so you can report unfair pricing easily, and action will be taken.
- Support honest businesses, ensuring those who play fair are not undercut by dishonest competitors.
- Guarantee fair pricing, so families can afford necessities and build trust in the market again.
- Introduce regular inspections and price monitoring, so abuse is stopped before it gets out of hand.
We will create a new department dedicated to fighting price gouging, holding powerful businesses accountable, and protecting our people from market manipulation that has gone unchecked for far too long.
No more government greed. No more silent suffering. No more watching your leaders enjoy the good life while you can’t afford the basics.
The NEW DRP is here to fight for you, because Enough is Enough!!
Big Box Stores, Broken Promises, And The Price Of Your Vote.
It is no secret that the biggest supporters of Roosevelt Skerrit’s government are not the struggling farmers, the unemployed youth, or the single mothers trying to survive; it is the big box stores. The same stores that drain millions from our economy every year while paying poverty wages and selling goods at North American prices, in a country where most of our people can not even afford necessities.
These stores are not lining up behind Skerrit out of love for Dominica. They are financing his campaign because his government protects their profits, not your family. And like clockwork, they will try to trick you again when the time comes. You will see the handouts. You will hear the promises. They will show up in your community with a free hamper, a few cement bags, maybe a cheque or a job offer, but always with strings attached. Always right before the election. And always with the same question hanging in the air:
Where Were These Gifts Before They Needed Your Vote?
If their promises were real, you would have seen them before the election season. If they truly cared about Dominica, we would not be paying the same prices as Canada and the United States for food while making a fraction of their wages. If this government had any decency, families would not be fighting to survive while multi-million-dollar businesses thrive.
At the NEW Dominica Reform Party (DRP), we do not need to bribe you for your vote. Our brand of governance — Direct Democracy means every voice matters, every person benefits, and no one is left unheard. That is called unity, and it has been missing in Dominica for a very, very long time.
This election is not about handouts. This is about fairness. It is about restoring dignity to every Dominican, not just those connected to Skerrit’s inner circle or the corporate elite. You should be able to celebrate your country, not just survive in it. But that requires more than promises whispered at election time; it requires leadership that puts our people over profit.
The big box stores and Skerrit’s government are united in one thing: keeping their power, their profits, and your community under control. It is time to break that cycle. On election day, remember: the NEW Dominica Reform Party (DRP) does not show up with last-minute promises. We show up with Direct Democracy, equality, accountability, and real unity for everyone.
No tricks. No handouts. Just change.
Team DRP