Every CARICOM citizen must count Granger says

Granger said every CARICOM citizen has rights

Chairman of CARICOM, David Granger, has said that every citizen of the Community counts, has rights and must be treated as Caribbean citizens.

He was speaking at the conclusion of Twenty-Eighth Intersessional Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in Guyana last week.

He noted that during the meeting, the Heads of Government reflected on the importance of the CARICOM ‘Brand’, “and the pride that we have in our citizenship, citizenry and membership.”

“Every citizen of this Community must count; every citizen of this Community has rights, and, wherever our citizens are, they have the right to be treated as Caribbean citizens,” Granger, who is also the President of Guyana pointed out.

He stated that there is no such thing as a ‘stateless person’ in CARICOM.

“There should be no such occurrence as a citizen of a Caribbean state being treated as inferior in any jurisdiction in the Community,” he remarked.

Granger also noted that there is an unacceptable level of crime in the Community.

“We have resolved to do more to curb the scourge, including placing greater focus on the social determinants of crime, especially among the youth. Our Attorneys-General will take action to finalise Agreements which are essential to the implementation of the Regional Crime and Security Agenda,” he said. “We will be seeking to take full advantage of opportunities for capacity-building to address existing and emerging threats, including those related to Cybersecurity and Cybercrime, Crime Prevention and Drug Demand Reduction.”

He stated that CARICOM has a long-standing relationship with the US.

“We looked forward to continuing the fruitful and mutually beneficial relationship with the new USA Administration,” he said, referring to the administration of new US President Donald Trump. “We also recognised the importance of the recently adopted bipartisan, US-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2016 that seeks to increase US engagement with the governments and civil society of the Region.”

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

29 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    February 22, 2017

    Caricom should be called Carry-On. It is such a charade, just a big boys club.

  2. “He noted that during the meeting, the Heads of Government reflected on the importance of the CARICOM ‘Brand’, “and the pride that we have in our citizenship, citizenry and membership.”

    Granger; you need to shut up, just shut up; because your brand of CARICOM only serve a convenient purpose to some islands people who knows how to manipulate the system, to extract money from dumb government such a Dominica government!

    When a hoodlum leaves Jamaica, goes to Dominica, and broke the immigration and naturalization laws, and when he was deported from the country he had the right to sue our people and benefit millions of dollars after he instigated the problem and deliberated broke the law in order to sue. Then the prime minister of Dominica claims that he has no alternative than to pay that criminal millions, because of some crap he signed; something is wrong with your brand CARICOM citizenry okay!

    By the same token Lennox Linton was not treated as a CARICOM citizen when he was…

    • Continue:

      By the same token Lennox Linton was not treated as a CARICOM citizen when he was deported from Antigua simply because he worked in a Radio Station, where he had to be truthful in his reporting; and because Baldwin Spencer, and Dominica born Justin Simon, and company got offended they discriminated against Lennox Linton and deported him from Antigua.

      Were you concern with that?

      How come Skerrit did not seek compensation from Antigua Government, the same as the Jamaica prime minister, intervene, and put the screws to Skerrit’s head, ensuring that he gave their Jamaican thug how many millions of dollars? What was good for the Jamaican Goose, was not equally good for the Dominica Gander!

      I would imagine all prime ministers in CARICOM singed the same agreement, how come it works against Dominicans, and not the members who signed to your “Brand of CARICOM?”

      • anon
        February 23, 2017

        1st time i like your comment francisco.

    • D/can to de Bone (F)
      February 22, 2017

      Linton issue was not the right forum….and you dam welll know that . HE is a bully who wants to have his way. I live in a civil country and politian dint behave the way he did. He hold political and personal hatred

    • All I will say to you again is, your comprehension is beneath that of dog: A dog knows how to utilize its instincts to function, know when to bark: They only bark when they sense danger.

      You are so dumb, there is no point of me calling stupid anymore, because you do not know what it is to be stupid: It is a good thing the only patios word I know is “sot” perhaps you may not have any difficulties comprehending you are sot!

      Sot, sot, sot, sot! Lennox was in what other what forum? Understand this if you can; a public meeting place for open discussion. The center of judicial and public business, such as a judicial body or assembly such as a court system all defines ” forum. ” Did not the Jamaican thug take his case to a judicial forum?
      You see when people are sot, how they allow people to wipe their feet in their faces?

      If is one thing a smart phone, or a computer will do in this forum: DNO is a public forum the same as Radio, and Television, is expose the stupidity; the…

  3. February 21, 2017

    I’m positive that the founding fathers of the CARICOM grouping never envisaged that you Mr Granger and the crop of present leaders and the ”boys club” that you have formed would take this community to this level of corruption; depict; unaccountably ; division and greed which permeates our present day societies. And you are right sir stay the hell now and forever out of our business we will deal with these political bandits n our own time and choosing.

    • Well the founding father’s were V. C. Bird Sr. of Antigua, and I believe Borrow of Barbados. They were the only two islands involved; and arrangment was called CARIFTA, ( Caribbean Free Trade), which became CARICOM. when Bird and Borrow entered the agreement it involved only trading of commodities, it had nothing to do with immigration and people!

      They brought that free trade agreement into effect around 1969, the early 1970’s That was the brain child of V. C. Bird Sr.

  4. viewsexpressed
    February 21, 2017

    “We have resolved to do more to curb the scourge, including placing greater focus on the social determinants of crime, especially among the youth. Our Attorneys-General will take action to finalise Agreements which are essential to the implementation of the Regional Crime and Security Agenda,” he said. “We will be seeking to take full advantage of opportunities for capacity-building to address existing and emerging threats, including those related to Cybersecurity and Cybercrime, Crime Prevention and Drug Demand Reduction

    OK, nice words and sounds appealing.

    When is CARICOM going to take good governance, Transparency and accountability seriously within CARICOM. When it stares in your face the cry for justice as relates to our bad governance by Skerrit that we the Dominican people have been cying for years. I am sorry to say Sir, you issue is not ours, our pain and suffering of poverty victimisation is ours. Your agenda is not ours, Our agenda is is to get rid of corrupt…

  5. J.John-Charles
    February 21, 2017

    For the past 10 years we have been visited Dominica every year, but something happened while going to Dominica from the U.S.in 2014. we invited our son who was still in Dominica, to spend the weekend with the rest of the family in Barbados and then traveled on Monday to Dominica.When he landed in Barbados he could not remember the apartments address where we had to live,Anyway he gave the immigration officer the air planes name and number and time we will be arriving.The officer could simply go to the airlines office at the airport and ascertained whether my son was truthful ,but no, he arrested him and locked him in a room from morning until we landed around 4.00 pm.
    So this message should be addressed to the Bargan authorities,because they treat citizens from the so-called small islands as nothing.

    • Me
      February 21, 2017

      Exactly my point, what does Caricom do for us after all these years of membership?

    • U.K. Dominican
      February 22, 2017

      You know what, I noticed at Barbados aiport that they have a separate line to check passports for Caricom citizens but I also notice also that that one is moving slower than the one for regular tourists. I decided to try it one time with my Dominican passport and boy, I was really interrogated as if they don’t trust us.What does that tell you about Caricom citizenship and freedom of movement?

    • Skerrit Must Go Now (please?)
      February 22, 2017

      My wife was threatened with a public internal examination by the Barbados people (front and back), just because she objected to her bags being searched because she was Dominican.

      When will this caricature of Caricom cr*p stop!!!

  6. 100% Dominican
    February 21, 2017

    “Every citizen of this Community must count; every citizen of this Community has rights, and, wherever our citizens are, they have the right to be treated as Caribbean citizens,” Granger, who is also the President of Guyana pointed out.

    …and Mr Granger when asked about the situation in Dominica …you distanced yourself and Caricom… Mr Granger your words are full of shadows.

  7. The Fate of Mankind
    February 21, 2017

    An that includes Tommy Lee. Why was he not treated like a CARICOM citizen? Why was he not treated like a performing artist/skilled artisan as the law states? These people like to enact law and order when it suits them. All politicians are the same.

  8. Look It
    February 21, 2017

    This PM is actually going against what SVG PM said about not considering those who BOUGHT a CARICOM passport via CBI programme, a CARICOM citizen.

    I want to see them fight eh, lol because a lot of the region PMs are not in agreement with it. What is truly sad is that DOMINICA is the ONLY Caribbean island which is SOLELY dependent on a CBI programme.

    HAS SKERRIT AND HIS LOYAL SUPPORTERS EVER STOP TO WONDER WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO DA IF THAT CBI PROGRAMME IS PULLED????

    Already Dominica has the lowest and slowest growing GDP, the highest unemployment rate and the lowest wage pay per hour in the region. Even Haiti fair better than DA in 2016, with a significant growth in tourist arrivals.

    #WeloveourPM

  9. Music Producer
    February 21, 2017

    Granger is …., period!

    Shown Here:
    Public Law No: 114-291 (12/16/2016)

    [114th Congress Public Law 291]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

    [[Page 130 STAT. 1497]]

    Public Law 114-291
    114th Congress

    An Act

    To increase engagement with the governments of the Caribbean region, the
    Caribbean diaspora community in the United States, and the private
    sector and civil society in both the United States and the Caribbean,
    and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Dec. 16, 2016 – [H.R. 4939]>>

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
    United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: United States-
    Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2016. 22 USC 2151 note.>>
    SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE….

    read more below:

    https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/4939/text

  10. Shaka Zulu
    February 21, 2017

    Grainger was head of defence Force enforcing the communist ideals of Forbes and other school friends back in the days in Guyana. This guy history says more about him than his stance above. I hope the RSS will not intervene when called upon because it is an internal Matter. Caricom cannot succeed or function if it isolates the problems of member countries or does not represent or acknowledge the opposition concerns of member countries. The government system is not only the ruling party and if Caricom cannot serve to hear the plight of all then it is an absolute waste of time and money. How are we to intermingle and handle the holes in the system. It is said a chain is as strong as the weakest link. Caricom is useless and a waste of the past 40 years. African leaders syndrome. These old men need to depart clear the way for progressive young minds. We are loosing potential leaders to the developed world because of ideological dinosaurs like Grainger

  11. CARI-COM & CARI-GO
    February 21, 2017

    I care a damn about what Granger and CARICOM says because they are of absolutely NO use to us, just as Charles Savarin is useless to us during a severe state of emergency. We treating Granger as if he is better than Skerrit. To expect Caricom to help us is like expecting Charles Savarin to tell Skerrit to grow up, and that’s not going to happen. Take a good look at West Indies cricket and tell me if you think caricom is able to help us in our crisis. In fact I say CARICOM MUST stay away from our problem because they know very well that the Vice president of WICB is Emanuel Nanthan, who also is director of Skerrit’s passport sale business that has brought nothing but shame and embarrassment to Dominica and people of the region. So if Granger or Caricom would open their mouth against Skerrit, they know Skerrit would embarrass them and the state of WICB. Quite frankly they cannot afford to open a nasty can of worms

  12. Shaka Zulu
    February 21, 2017

    Jobs, opportunities, empowerment of our people to believe in themselves and their abilities, independent and innovative thinking, utilizing our sun sea and sand to work for us. UWI need to move from its traditional form of education and focus more up to date research and development and must play a more vocal role on regional development. Here are some of the things we should be leading, boat building and design we have largest market in the US. Cosmetics and herbal medicine from all the herbs in the islands, hurricane resistance design and architecture, comprehensive regional environmental policy on pollution control and remediation. Pollution on one island affect the other. Expansion of the fishing boundaries to all caricom and not just per island. When people are inspired to believe in themselves they achieve more and are less idle hence less crime. We have lost a sense of purpose. We don’t have to be oppressed to find a way forward.

    • Cowboy
      February 21, 2017

      Good. A man that thinks like me

  13. What is Skerrit Legacy
    February 21, 2017

    A sudden focus on crime and violence.

    when our prime minister behaves in ways to make the youths angry, already there are no jobs for them, what do you expect, peace? Everyone has a democratic right to speak about what is affecting them. How does one become a criminal for acting out and speaking against corruption that is plaguing their country? But you stand here and say “every citizen counts.” I know where you are coming from sir. I condemn all acts of violence, however, WE SHOULD NOT EXASPERATE THE YOUTHS, they are tomorrow’s leaders.

    Why don’t you speak of better ways to create jobs for our youths across the Caribbean region and give us a better understanding of the CBI program since there is no transparency in such in our lovely country Dominica.

  14. Moii
    February 21, 2017

    Man buzz off!!!!!!!! When is suits you is CARICOM and when it dosen’t it’s CARI NONE

    • Look It
      February 21, 2017

      LOVE THIS!!!!!

  15. anon
    February 21, 2017

    apparently mr granger our dominica caricom passport is not part of the caricom brand.

  16. Me
    February 21, 2017

    of course they must count mr. Granger and do so very carefully. At least U.S.$.200,000 a pop! Guyanese Dollars (GYD) not accepted.

  17. %
    February 21, 2017

    Caricom does not serve the region well..The community should have a clause or clauses which can bring pressure to bear on rogue and corrupt government..Governments that befriend international crooks and criminals for personal gains..This Caricom grouping operates like a club,where member states that disrespect,insult the citizenry are sheltered from the punishment that they deserve…

  18. I Am Dominica
    February 21, 2017

    Then please intervene into Dominica with regards to Diplomatic Passports being issued to money launderers and crooks .
    Let Mr. Skerrit give us the proper reports as to why were they given these passports and if at tall they paid for it .
    We love our country and its populous is suffering economically and other wise .
    Why so many lies from the Gov?
    We need answers and an independent inquiry .

  19. Dominican
    February 21, 2017

    I presume that also applies to persons, who buy our citizenships without even having to visit their new, adopted Caricom, country without an interview, not having to speak the native language or even recognise their new flag or know the national anthem, the only consideration being the payment of a lot of money. Will guyana now also institute its own lucrative CBI programme?

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available