ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Patrick John believes that Sports Minister Justina Charles’ planned talks with the Dominica Employees Federation and the Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce is destined to fail.
The Sports Minister indicated last week that she would engage in discussion with the private sector bodies aimed at ensuring that employees get time off from work when selected for national team.
But John feels that Charles has made the wrong move, and should have consulted with the national sports associations first before meeting with the DEF and the DAIC.
“I would have thought that since the idea and the problem arose with players and that the associations have been calling for that, the minister should have met the associations first to hear our reasons and whatever ideas we have would then be taken to the private sector bodies,” he said.
“When you go to the private sector bodies, they may come up with all sorts of problems.
Had the Minister met with us first, we would have been able to tell her exactly our position, what we are suffering and how we can assist the private sector bodies in dealing with the situation.”
John concluded that the Minister of Sport would have entered the discussions with the business leaders armed with more information and could reach a compromise much easier.
“But the way I see it, to come back to us after she meets them, I do not believe that this is going to work,” said John.
