Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has told residents of Scotts Head that his years in office have been defined by one central aim: raising Dominicans up. Speaking at a Town Hall Meeting in the south-coast village, Skerrit said his work as leader of the Commonwealth of Dominica has been directed at improving the lives of ordinary people across the island.
“What I have been able to do as Prime Minister of this country is to raise people up,” Skerrit told the gathering. The meeting formed part of the government’s ongoing outreach to communities, giving residents the opportunity to hear directly from the Prime Minister and to raise local concerns.
The Prime Minister’s remarks in Scotts Head come as his administration continues to promote its record on housing, infrastructure, and social programmes, particularly in rural communities. Scotts Head, a fishing village at the island’s southern tip, has been a focus of government attention in recent years, with roadworks and community projects among the initiatives cited by officials.
Skerrit, who has led the country since 2004, has frequently used public meetings to defend his government’s performance and to outline plans for further development. His comments in Scotts Head echo a broader message he has delivered across Dominica in recent months, as the administration prepares for the next general election, constitutionally due by late 2025.
The Town Hall Meeting format has become a staple of the Prime Minister’s engagement with constituents, allowing him to answer questions on matters ranging from housing to agriculture and the cost of living. In Scotts Head, residents have previously raised issues such as road conditions, water supply, and support for the fishing industry.
Government officials have pointed to the construction of new homes under the housing revolution programme, the expansion of the airport at Douglas-Charles, and the development of geothermal energy as evidence of progress under Skerrit’s leadership. The Prime Minister has also emphasised the importance of resilience in the wake of Hurricane Maria in 2017, which devastated much of the island.
Opposition figures have, however, challenged the government’s record, arguing that more needs to be done to address unemployment and the high cost of living. The United Workers Party has accused the administration of failing to deliver on promises, particularly in rural areas.
Skerrit’s address in Scotts Head is the latest in a series of public engagements as the political season heats up. The Prime Minister has signalled that his party will contest the next election on its record of rebuilding and modernising the country, while promising further investment in communities across the island.
Residents who attended the meeting said they appreciated the opportunity to speak with the Prime Minister directly, though some expressed a desire for more concrete commitments on local projects. The government has said it will continue its programme of town hall meetings in other villages in the coming weeks.