Former Nurse Anette Sandford took the stage yesterday at her official launching to present herself to the people of the Salybia Constituency. She says that she is making herself available to champion the cause of her people.
According to her, that cause is “to live a decent, dignifying and satisfying life in our own land”. She says, ” I am prepared to lead that fight! I will head up the struggle! I make this sacrifice for you, my loving people, and I will be there for you – all the way”.
Anette said, “our nation is reeling on its knees and state institutions have all been compromised and contaminated by a regime which can be best categorized as being vindictive, incompetent and even corrupt”. She says that the same regime “must take responsibility for having nurtured the dependency syndrome… where our people have to swallow their pride and dignity and wallow at the feet of politicians for financial favours to support their basic daily survival needs. And as if this was not enough, those same politicians turn around and publicly humiliated and ridiculed the same people who were forced to seek assistance. If this is not indignity at the policy-makers level of government, nothing is”. She says that Team Dominica of which she is humbled to be a part will change that.
Anette listed some of the shortcomings of the DLP administration with regard to the Kalinago people including the redirecting of allegedly US$10 million dollars grant from Venezuela, the Government’s refusal to appoint any of the four Kalinago medical doctors, lack of maintenance of the Atkinson Health Center resulting in the closure of the facility for several months and counting, the closure of the Marigot hospital for more than five years and the constant taking and redirecting of medical supplies by the Ministry of Health sent to the community by friends and well-wishers. She challenged any supporter of the DLP to defend these.
Anette listed some of the things a Team Dominica Government will do for the Kalinago Territory including the establishment of the Kalinago Development Corporation to serve as the catalyst for micro-enterprise development and the self-empowerment of residents; development of the Kalinago Territory as a model for successful community tourism; with all the required infrastructure and support for example the development of the Kalinago Eco-Park & Camp Ground here in Gaulette River- a concept developed by a native Kalinago; revitalization of the agricultural sector; construction of a technical institute and the making of Kalinago Week a national festival along with the Atkinson Sewinal Festival.
Anette says that once she declared herself a candidate she was approached and allegedly offered $120,000 but she is not for sale and will never be bought. She looks forward to representing her people in Dominica’s parliament. She called on them to make this a reality and ensure that there is not a repeat of the Chief elections where many of her ballots were not counted.
