In July 2025, Skerrit and his government announced a “VAT relief”, claiming that starting October 1st, 2025 essential goods would be cheaper for ordinary Dominicans. Families were told that groceries like tuna, chicken, beans, rice, and even toilet paper would cost less. The government framed it as a “victory for the people,” a step toward easing the crushing cost of living.
- Codfish
- Salted Herrings
- Onions
- Garlic
- Split Peas
- Black-Eyed Peas
- Red Kidney Beans
- Lentils
- Pigeon Peas
- Oats
- Cream Of Wheat
- Cornmeal
- Luncheon Meats
- Canned Corned Beef
- Canned Herring
- Canned Sardines
- Canned Tuna
- Canned Mackerel
- Cereal
- Unsweetened Biscuits
- Orange Juice
- Tomato Ketchup
- Toothpaste
- Laundry Detergents
- Toilet Paper
- Sanitary Towels
- Tampons
- Napkins
- Napkin Liners
- Almond Milk
- Soy Milk
What actually happened? Nothing. Not even close.
September 01, 2025
By September 1, 2025, a full month before the VAT relief was supposed to start, stores like Astaphans, Fresh Market, and other major chains quietly raised prices overnight. The price hikes were significant, anywhere from $1 to $3 per item.
This was no accident, it was a planned, calculated move. By inflating prices ahead of the VAT relief, the stores guaranteed that when October 01, arrived, the “relief” would do nothing for consumers and their profits would be protected and actually increase.
The Numbers Do No Lie.
Take a single can of tuna as an example:
| Stage | Price | Cost | VAT | Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original Before Relief | $2.65 | $1.00 | $0.40 | $1.25 |
| Price Hike Sept 1, 2025 | $3.65 | $1.00 | $0.55 | $2.10 |
| After VAT Removal Oct 1, 2025 | $2.59 | $1.00 | $0.00 | $1.59 |
Look closely. The price of a can of tuna returned to nearly the original after the VAT removal $2.59, down just 6 cents from the pre-relief price of $2.65. BSo we the consumers gained a tiny 6-cent reduction in the overal price. But the grocery stores now pocketed 29 cents more in profits per can than they did before the VAT was even removed.
Meanwhile, Skerrit and his corrupt government sat there, doing absolutely nothing, fully aware of these blatant price hikes. Not a single public official from Parliament to local authorities could be bothered to intervene, speak up, or even pretend to care. They did not freeze prices. They did not enforce compliance. They did not protect the people in any way.
They literally do not care. They let grocery stores manipulate the system, jack up prices, and line their pockets while ordinary Dominicans struggle to feed their families, keep gas in their stoves, and send their children to school. Then, after letting this blatant theft occur, they have the audacity to claim we are “getting relief.” Relief for whom? Not the people — the stores. Not the struggling families — the government.
This is cold, calculated indifference, and it exposes the truth: the people of Dominica mean nothing to this government.
A Deliberate Betrayal.
This was no coincidence. This was a coordinated, orchestrated scam:
- Stores inflated prices ahead of time to shield profits.
- Government watched silently, took credit, and called it relief.
- Consumers were left paying nearly the same price, with no benefit.
The VAT relief was never intended for the people. It was designed to look good politically, give grocery chains a green light to line their pockets, and allow the government to claim it “helped” citizens, all while ordinary Dominicans were deceived.
The Bigger Picture.
This is not just about tuna. It is about all essential goods, and about the wider corruption in government-business relations. For decades, ordinary citizens have been told that policies are being designed to help them, yet time and again, the people pay the price while insiders profit.
The VAT “relief” is the latest example of a government that:
- Prioritizes political optics over the public good.
- Allows corporate greed to flourish at the expense of our citizens.
- Pretends to act for the people while letting the people lose.
The Brutal Truth.
Dominicans are expected to believe they are getting help while the stores make more money, and the government claims credit. This is not relief. It is theft disguised as generosity, greed disguised as goodwill, and deception disguised as policy.
If you are a Dominican shopper, look at your receipt. Look at the prices. Compare them to the so-called “relief” promises. You will see the truth, we were played, and the only winners were the stores and a government that refuses to protect us.
It is time to call this exactly what it is, it was a calculated betrayal of the people of Dominica by Skerrit, his government and these grocery stores. No more pretending. No more empty promises. The VAT relief was never about us, it was about politics, profit, and deception.
We must demand accountability. We must demand real relief. And we must remember that every time the government smiles and claims victory, the people are paying the real cost
The 2.26% “Relief” Scam: How Skerrit and Grocery Stores Are Laughing at Dominicans.
We were told we were getting a 15% VAT relief starting October 1, 2025. What did we actually get? A 2.26% break. Yes, you read that right, two point two six percent. Meanwhile, stores like Astaphans and Fresh Market raised prices a full month earlier, on September 1, 2025, knowing full well what the so-called relief would do.
And to be crystal clear: Skerrit saw the price hikes. Fontaine saw the price hikes. They knew exactly what was happening. And yet nobody said a damn word. Fontaine, with his economics degree, knew perfectly well the manipulation behind these numbers, and like the coward he is, he stayed silent because his puppet master told him to.
We at the NEW Dominica Reform party (DRP) are not economists, yet the math is simple enough for anyone willing to see the truth:
The so-called relief mathematically does nothing for the people. The stores profit more than they did before, and the government smiles, claiming they have “helped the public.”
Wake Up, Dominica.
If you support these parties and still complain about the extremely overinflated cost of living, you have no right to complain. You cannot rationalize paying Canadian prices for goods while earning one-tenth of what Canadians earn, and then pretend the math adds up.
If anyone dares argue against these numbers, you should be embarrassed, ashamed, and you should seriously ask yourself: Are you corrupt, or simply willfully blind? There is no way mathematically, morally, or ethically that this is right!
The people of Dominica are struggling to:
- Put their children through school
- Keep gas in their stoves
- Feed their families
And this government, with its corrupt grocery partners, thinks it has the right to profit even more off our misery.
It is long past time for communities and organizations, those who speak constantly of reform, progress, and the betterment of humankind—to rise and take a decisive stand. These groups hold immense influence and carry serious responsibility; they cannot remain silent while our nation suffers under leadership that fails to act in the best interests of its people. It is their duty to unite, to raise their voices together, and to demand meaningful, tangible change at every level of government.
If this government continues to ignore the cries for reform, if it refuses to act with integrity and purpose, then we cannot wait any longer. Alternative action must be taken. Power must be entrusted to those who are committed to true progress, to those who will put the welfare of the people above personal or political gain, and to those who will work tirelessly to build a better future, not just for our nation, but for humankind as a whole.
We are at a pivotal moment. The time for empty promises and hollow words is over. Communities and organizations must lead by example, demonstrating courage, determination, and vision. They must demand accountability, transparency, and decisive action. They must ensure that the leaders of tomorrow are those who will deliver real solutions, who will fight for justice, opportunity, and the dignity of every citizen.
The future of our country and the future of our people depends on our willingness to act now. If we do not seize this moment, if we allow inaction and complacency to continue, the cost will be borne by generations yet to come. But if we rise together, united in purpose and determined in action, we can finally break the cycle of failed leadership, create real opportunity, and build a nation, and a world worthy of our highest ideals.
We need:
- Religious Communities
- Support Organizations
- Outreach Programs
- Every Citizen Willing To Fight
…to take back our standard of living.
We must expose the lies, the manipulation, and the greed. We must demand true relief for the people, not a staged performance for political optics while our families suffer.
This is not just corruption — this is a calculated betrayal of every struggling Dominican family.
Team DRP