PM Skerrit describes President Clinton as a “long time friend” of Dominica

Clinton and Skerrit at a press conference on Tuesday

Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has described former US President Bill Clinton as a long time friend of Dominica and the region whose commitment has grown since the passage of Hurricane Maria.

Clinton is in Dominica for a one-day visit to view reconstruction after the hurricane and during a press conference, Skerrit said has had great pleasure in working with him since 2012.

“President Clinton has been a long time friend to Dominica and the entire Caribbean community,” he stated. “I have had the pleasure of working with him and the Clinton Climate Initiative since 2012 developing clean renewable projects in Dominica. As a matter of fact, the Clinton Climate Initiative was exceptional in assisting us in developing our geothermal project as our advisors.”

Skerrit said since Maria, which devastated the island in September last year, Clinton’s commitment to Dominica and its future has grown.

“Since the devastation of Hurricane Maria, President Clinton’s commitment to Dominica’s future has only grown stronger, he immediately pledged that he would do whatever he could to help us rebuild as the world’s first climate resilient nation and since then he has backed up that pledge with action,” he stated. “In November last year, he joined me at the CARICOM/UN High-Level Pledging Conference and issued a rallying cry to the international community to fund our plans for long-term sustainable development.”

Skerrit said last week, Clinton convened the Action Network on Post Disaster Recovery, in New York City “which will bring partners together from across sectors to make concrete commitments to implement projects supporting the region’s long-term recovery.”

“I am grateful that one of the action network’s first three commitments to action, the Digicel Foundation will be repairing or rebuilding seven schools and 360 homes in Dominica that were damaged or destroyed by Maria,” he said. “Today our relationship with the Clinton Climate Initiative will grow deeper as we announce our plans to work together to develop a rapid integrated resource plan for Dominica’s energy sector and look forward to working with President Clinton and the Clinton Climate Initiative as we transform Dominica’s energy sector into a model of resilience that the entire region and world can follow.”

Meanwhile, Clinton said that he was honored to be in Dominica and the Clinton Foundation was given the opportunity to work in Dominica and appreciate the efforts made to recover from the hurricane.

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61 Comments

  1. Sisserou
    February 7, 2018

    Sing for ur Supper skero. Is dat u good 4 u good 4 nothing volea!

  2. Dominica Needs to be Free From Corruption
    February 7, 2018

    Your Prime Minister is not that bright is he? lol How can he be addressed as the “President of the United States” when he is a former president? Or did his speech writer forget to omit it?

    I can see some Dumbinicans saying ” Yes, I, Clinton, the United States president visited our country, oui!”
    Sakwey sot

    • Man bites dogs
      February 7, 2018

      Above comments, Please get back to your cage and who let the dog out??????????jack…

    • Weekenz
      February 8, 2018

      Hahaha you seem to be even dumber than whom you say is not bright. All presidents past and presents are refered to as President in the USA. You try to ridicule somebody but end up with egg on your face. Next time do your research, educate yourself before you question how bright someone is.

    • da will be back
      February 8, 2018

      starting with you

  3. Just saying
    February 7, 2018

    “I did not have relations with that country”

    • Toto
      February 7, 2018

      No, they only pleasures me.

  4. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    February 6, 2018

    “@ Truth be told, Mr Skerrit is a very educated man in a matter of facts Mr Skerrit, has more education at the end of his tip than you will ever have in your head thanks,  ” Man bite Dog.”

    Man bite Dog, how do you know Roosevelt is a very educated man? On what criteria do you base that? Before you make unfounded comments like that, you need to remember there are different levels of education; that is why when people go to college and university the must declare a major.

    Roosevelt Skerrit does not have any academical education okay! Anybody can become a school teacher in Dominica which I believe he was in Portsmouth. That honorary degree from Punjab in India was not bestowed on him because of any academical achievement!

    We know he is also a Knight, but in the British system people were honored with that title based on how many people they kill in the name of the reigning monarch. Roosevelt travels the world, what has he brought home?

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      February 7, 2018

      So let me finish Mr. Man Eat Dog!

      There is scarcely a country Roosevelt Skerrit has not traveled to claiming he is going to find investors to come to Dominica and invest. His last circus performance was last Election when he took Peters, head of the Dominica State College, and a few other puppets to of all places Singapore to find investors.

      They went to China too; he also made the claim he was going to China to get money to build International Airport.

      How many years has past since last election, and his return? How many investors he brought to Dominica from Singapore, where is the money from China to build the Airport. You see Mr. Dog catcher, you keep overestimating the intelligence of Roosevelt, but if he was as smart, or shall we say educated; he would know how to attract, and bring investors by the thousands to Dominica.

      Could it be his intelligence is so inferior; people laugh at him and ignore his plea! 

      • Man bites dogs
        February 7, 2018

        @Francisco, I will tell as it’s Mr Skerrit is is a winner with a winning team and supporters we have given so-called workers idiotic party three good whooping and much more to come once again Francisco, Skerrit is a gladiator a real man who knows how to lead from the front like an admiral Lord Nelson or Say Mandela type like, Viva forever Labour party.buen dia mi amigo !!!!

  5. February 6, 2018

    @ man bites dog. Y you people depend on others people and countries to build back Dominica. I understand we need some help but am not reading or hearing anything the DLP government is putting in place to build back Dominica. Also in Dominica there’s no transparency and accountability. How can people give when the people of Dominica don’t know how much money the government has received on their behalf. Dominica will not get anywhere because everything is one sided. PM is no fool . He’s singing for he’s Supper?

  6. Sams
    February 6, 2018

    Quick quack pm is your head empty or u just wicked ok

  7. badbaje
    February 6, 2018

    A long time friend of Dominica. The same long time friend who ruined the banana industry of Dominica and the whole region. Now I know for sure you do not give a damn about the farmers or their industry, if you can call Bill Clinton a long time friend of Dominica.

    • February 6, 2018

      Let’s learn to do things properly and stop blaming others for our misfortunes. We were stock in our old ways of producing bananas and resisted change. We were also warned by the like of Rosie Douglas butkept talking about Eddison James and crisis to recovery, putting our energies in an already dying industry.

      • badbaje
        February 7, 2018

        I am speaking here about the deal he made with the other giant banana producer, that rendered the Caribbean region incapable of competing. I am not speaking of the process used by the Caribbean farmers.
        That is another topic by itself.
        Secondly, misfortune is totally different from planned demise.

    • delbert
      February 8, 2018

      Mwen dakò avè’w. These people are here to use dominica for their own purposes. Konmin fwa nou ké lésé moun kouyonné nou????

    • February 8, 2018

      You are demonstrating a lack of understanding of these issues. It is one in the same. If you are unable to effectively compete in a free market economy cwapo smoke your pipe. The customer is not going to feel sorry for you at his own peril. We had to step up our game.

  8. Nan
    February 6, 2018

    ‘Long time friend of Dominica’. Since when!?

  9. J.John Charles
    February 6, 2018

    Dominica would gain nothing from Mr.Clinton,if the P.M.reminds him of his actions against the African,Caribbean and Pacific Countries.However there is no need to lie.He has not been a friend to Dominica and he knows it.Anyway,after all is said and done,Mr president you can right the wrong or redeem your self by making a contribution in the recovery of Dominica,and I mean a few million us$. Sir we need help.

  10. Zandoli
    February 6, 2018

    The long time friend who killed our banana industry? Some friend !

    • Calibishi Warrior
      February 6, 2018

      Las parlay sot!!!… Our Banana industry was too inefficient (5 tons / acre??) , too hurricane/ climate change susceptible, too disease susceptible (black siggatoga), too non organic, too lacking in economies of scale, too reliant on subsistence farming, too lacking in skilled workforce, too unattractive on the European markets …o survive in the 21st century. If you think some preferential treatment trying to swim against market forces was going to save us forever.. then you’re delusional. Even the well meaning fair trade arrangements are not holding up … not just for us but for most third world agriculture. Clinton did not kill our bananas… Economics did.

      • Concerned
        February 7, 2018

        Unfortunately much truth here.

  11. Real!!!!!!
    February 6, 2018

    This is very unfortunate Clinton is not meeting the parliamentary opposition on his quest for Climate Resilience initiative in Dominica.

    This will be a long big financial undertaking for the Clinton foundation so the responsible thing would be to understand where the opposition views are with Climate Change incase they become the governing party …….because if the opposition views on Climate Change is like Mr. Trump then your efforts will be derailed.
    I am aware of the capability of Clinton and his skilled organization when it comes to details, therefore I don’t want to imply it was not honorable. But questionable is how could they allow no parliamentary opposition meeting on their visit……are they serious about D/ca Climate Change Initiative or the visit was a cover for something totally different??

    • Man bites dogs
      February 6, 2018

      @ Real!!!!! Stop talking rubbish and move on, What was the point Linton ,has nothing to offer apart from talking crap.

    • da will be back
      February 8, 2018

      get a life! be real you are following Jim jones

  12. February 6, 2018

    Narcissism at it’s best.? I didn’t drink the kool-aide..

  13. The one and Only
    February 6, 2018

    Bill is a good guy!

    • February 6, 2018

      Yeah right where all them hatian money

      • The one and Only
        February 7, 2018

        Don’t care about the Haitians. I care about Dominica moving forward.

    • February 6, 2018

      Go research the clinton foundation and all their lies and bobols

      • The one and Only
        February 7, 2018

        Every person in power does bobol, I’m sure skeritt has done some

    • Me
      February 7, 2018

      That is what Monika said.

  14. Dominican Passports
    February 6, 2018

    Haiti :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :mrgreen: He just like you Skerro

  15. February 6, 2018

    In that case, I’d hate to see what our enemies do to us!

  16. d-a born
    February 6, 2018

    Longtime friend huh?

    What happened in Haiti again?

  17. Nac Vibes
    February 6, 2018

    That juda skerrit will say anything 30 pieces of silver.

  18. Birds of a feather
    February 6, 2018

    Pm Skerrit said Bill Clinton has been a friend of Dominica? Really Skerrit? The same one you and your friends in the DLP accused of killing our banana industry in the days of UWP? I don’t know if he is a friend of Dominica but we do know that he is a very good fried of NG Lap Seng, now jailed in the US shortly after you all were together in Macau for corruption, John Ashe who was also arrested and died a mysterious death shortly after a plea deal, Roosevelt Skerrit and that same Bill Clinton. If Bill Clinton is a friend of Dominica I wish he would take his time to tell us exactly what you were signing above, since he too was at that same meeting
    https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Policy-Politics/U.S.-prosecutors-allege-Ng-paid-bribes-until-arrest

    • in these times
      February 6, 2018

      Actually we killed our own banana industry. We had a problem of consistent standards.

      • Snake charmer
        February 6, 2018

        I believe that after Clinton blessed NAFTA which stopped the free flow of our bananas into the European Countries, the banana Industry went on life support.. So figure who is to blame.

      • Birds of a feather
        February 6, 2018

        @ in these times and snake charmer let’s have a conversation please. I disagree with you that we lost our industry because of our inconsistent standard. Look, St. Lucia, Guadalupe, Martinique, St. Vincent and Jamaica all had that problem. However their government did what they could to preserve the industry where as our government did NOTHING to help protect ourselves. As we speak all the islands named above are still selling bananas, except Dominica, which stopped before Erika and now Maria. While I am not hot on Clinton I can’t blame him or NAFTA for killing our industry because the islands above we’re also affected by NAFTA, yet they still selling

      • Me
        February 7, 2018

        You are quite right. It did not need mr. Clinton to kill our banana industry. We were quite capable of doing that ourselves. As far as I know St. Lucia, Martinique and Guadeloupe still export bananas to Europe.

  19. LORD HELP THEM
    February 6, 2018

    I must say all that talk is impressive, now lets see action.

  20. Dominica 1st
    February 6, 2018

    It would’ve been nice to have the United States’ flag next to our Dominica’s

    • February 6, 2018

      No. Not necessary. The former president is visiting in his capacity as a director in his foundation. Not on business for the United States government. Stop picking up trivialities in an effort to create confusion.

    • The one and Only
      February 7, 2018

      I agree the U.S flag would be good see.

      • Man bites dogs
        February 7, 2018

        The one and only, education education education, we are a commonwealth country only the UK can do that with permission from P.m. Dr Skerrit and his administration. We are not a U.S. state and never will be. ?

    • Me
      February 7, 2018

      Mr. Clinton was here to represent his foundation, not the United Statesof America.

  21. Truth Be Told
    February 6, 2018

    President Clinton is the man who ended our preferential treatment to Britain – please educate yourself Hon. Skerrit PM: “The Clinton administration took the “banana wars” to the WTO within 24 hours of Chiquita Brands, a powerful, previously Republican-supporting banana multinational, making a $500,000 donation to the Democratic Party.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/mar/05/eu.wto3
    He also imposed the Shiprider Act on the Caribbean and downgraded Barbados International Airport when Barbados refused to sign http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Reflections-on-Jamaican—sovereignty_45181
    President Bill Clinton has never been a friend of the Caribbean, just ask Haiti! Although he loves to let everyone know that he spent his honeymoon in Haiti!

    • Nac Vibes
      February 6, 2018

      You are so right, but the uninformed will come here with all kinds of praises for the Liberal who extols the New World Order where blacks remain subservient to them. Friend of the Caribbean?, don’t make laugh.

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      February 6, 2018

      Now that is a blatant lie; hatched in hell!

      Bill Clinton was the president of the United States when the Banana industry in the Caribbean lost the preferential privileges; but he did not get up one day and said to anybody who was involved in the importation of bananas to England and the European Market let’s put the islands of the Caribbean out of the banana business.

      You have forgotten, the two powerful entities Chiquita and Dole who were then giants in the banana business in South America, which produced more than all the islands combined. They wanted a monopole on the European market, they went to work and just before they succeeded, they gave up their quest!

      Reason, of the same banana plant disease which has destroyed the plants: that is why now in Dominica genetically altered plants which cannot reproduce themselves are imported from France.

      As for Bill Clinton being a friend of Dominica; that is simply Roosevelt  Skerrit hypocritical  flattery! 

      • Anon Again
        February 6, 2018

        Bill Clinton challenged the so-called preferential treatment that our bananas got from Europe. So, yes, he said let’s destroy the banana industry

    • Anon Again
      February 6, 2018

      @Truth Be Told, you’ve already said what I intended to say, except to add that he was also the one that tried to wreck Antigua’s gambling industry, and after the World Trade Organization rule against him, refused to pay the Antiguans a single cent.

    • Man bites dogs
      February 6, 2018

      @ Truth be told, Mr Skerrit is a very educated man in a matter of facts Mr Skerrit, has more education at the end of his tip than you will ever have in your head thanks, having said that you idiots must learn to play politice.We need Mr Clinton to help build our country Dominica, he don’t need us stop leaving in the pass it’s time black people start moving on with all that stupid losers idiotic small talking especially so-called Workers calamity party and supporters. :twisted:

      • Larry Grell
        February 6, 2018

        We need Clinton to help build our country you say? Are you serious? You mean like how he helped Haiti? In my opinion he was more helping himself. Roosevelt should make him an ambassador as well. I know you would support him on that.

      • dee
        February 6, 2018

        Man bites dogs
        I think you need to start biting mad rabid dogs so your rantings could change ; if that’s not what you have already done .

      • Looking on
        February 7, 2018

        Open your eyes my friend.

      • Paul Rossnof
        February 7, 2018

        Oh yes dog, and how did you work that one out… Oh, of course, he is a Dr. I forgot all about that. Well he must be educated then. Problem is that the Dr. title was bought in India and paid for from our passport money. Keep wallowing in your ignorance little doggy and don’t forget to wag your little tail when master Skerrit calls. Ok

    • My bad
      February 6, 2018

      Hog wash that! Bill was the president of the US and acted in their best interest. Dominica sold lots of bananas during the Bills presidency and after. We failed to sell bananas shortly after our Pm brought down his fertilizer from Morocco, when black segatoca was introduced and subsequently, our wonderful industry was taken away from us with our government doing nothing to try to get it back.

    • Looking on
      February 7, 2018

      Lets be realistic. Our bananas were sub quality. I happened to travel to England and got a chance to see Dominica’s bananas on the supermarket shelves. Smh. It was not a pretty sight. I would not have bought it. On the other hand I understood from my britishfriend that the british chefs still prefered our banans because they are sweeter.

      • Man bites dogs
        February 7, 2018

        @ looking on ,You are a big time liar supermarkets in the UK don’t put bad fruits of any kind on their food shelves, anyway you will never see Dominica bananas only leewards island or windwards islands it’s dogs like you I will keep on biting giving Dominica bad names.

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        February 7, 2018

        You know this time I have to support that Skerrit little puppet on a string, that boy who claims to be biting dogs for doctor Punjab eh!

        Nevertheless, I can tell you there is no way you could have gone into an establishment in England and be able to identify specifically a ripe banana produced in Dominica, sold in a grocery store with Dominica written on it.

        I cannot agree that bananas are tagged Windward or leeward islands either; for I know for a fact bananas are not produced in the Leeward islands and shipped to England.

        I lived in England for a brief period of my life, and bought ripe bananas also, and often wonder if I was eating something out of Dominica. You must remember also bananas are shipped from some African nations such as Uganda and sold in England too:

        I also bought ripe bananas in German, but could never identify the origin, so it is difficult to believe you have identify “Dominica Bananas” in England.

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