The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is being asked to intervene in Dominica’s parrots controversy.
Eleven organizations have weighed in on the issue, telling the UNEP of their “grave concerns regarding a recent transfer of extremely rare birds from the Commonwealth of Dominica to the Federal Republic of Germany under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora”.
In a letter co-signed and addressed to the UNEP Executive Director Erik Solheim, the eleven organisations warn that the Dominica transfer of birds to Germany undermines decades of dedicated conservation work in the region and exploits a small island nation just as it begins to recover from the most devastating hurricane in its recorded history.
The groups note that “moving these wild-hatched birds from their home island to a private facility in Germany is not the first such event–endemic, endangered parrots have been transferred from other eastern Caribbean islands to the same private facility”.
“Hence our collective concern that this will not be the last such transfer and our desire to prevent future actions which will further undermine legitimate efforts to save these rare species from extinction” the organizations concerned warn.
The birds which were transferred to Germany are two Sisserou parrots and ten Jacos.
The Sisserou is Dominica’s national bird, and is featured on the country’s coat of arms.
The eleven concerned groups contend in their letter to the UNEP that since both species involved in this shipment – Amazona imperialis and A. arausiaca – appear on Appendix I of CITES, “a proper international transfer would require the issuance of both a CITES export permit from Dominica and an import permit from Germany”.
“We urge close scrutiny of these documents given that, at the time of the transfer, Dominica was temporarily under a suspension of “All Trade” by the Convention (effective 30 January 2018) due to lack of reporting compliance with the Convention. This fact alone should have prevented the signing of both permits, and ultimately, the transfer itself,” the organizations stated.
The eleven Signatory Organizations are:
American Bird Conservancy
Birds Caribbean
City Parrots
Defenders of Wildlife
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
Echo Bonaire
NABU – Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union
Pro Wildlife e.V.
Rare Species Conservatory Foundation
Species Survival Network
World Parrot Trust
Below is the full text they have sent explaining their concerns to the UNEP:
APR 9, 2018 — Dear Mr. Solheim ,
We the undersigned write today to address grave concerns regarding a recent transfer of extremely rare birds from the Commonwealth of Dominica to the Federal Republic of Germany under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
This transfer undermines decades of dedicated conservation work in the region and exploits a small island nation just as it begins to recover from the most devastating hurricane in its recorded history.
Moving these wild-hatched birds from their home island to a private facility in Germany is not the first such event–endemic, endangered parrots have been transferred from other eastern Caribbean islands to the same private facility.
Hence our collective concern that this will not be the last such transfer and our desire to prevent future actions which will further undermine legitimate efforts to save these rare species from extinction.
The justification for moving these birds, purported as an emergency action to protect their species from future hurricanes and volcanoes, is unfounded.
In fact, these 12 individual parrots were already safely held in captivity and had survived catastrophic Hurricane Maria in September.
They were being attended to by the CITES Scientific Authority for Dominica, the Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division, with support from IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare).
Likewise, in Puerto Rico, a similar captive population of threatened parrots survived the same storm, proving that preparations made on both islands effectively protect these birds from such threats, however severe.
Since both species involved in this shipment – Amazona imperialis and A. arausiaca – appear on Appendix I of CITES, a proper international transfer would require the issuance of both a CITES export permit from Dominica and an import permit from Germany.
We urge close scrutiny of these documents given that, at the time of the transfer, Dominica was temporarily under a suspension of “All Trade” by the Convention (effective 30 January 2018) due to lack of reporting compliance with the Convention.
This fact alone should have prevented the signing of both permits, and ultimately, the transfer itself.
Additionally, Dominica’s CITES Management and Scientific Authorities of record, the Environmental Coordinating Unit, and Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division, respectively, were not contacted about the transfer and neither signed the CITES export permit.
The export permit was signed and executed by an Acting Permanent Secretary.
Finally, the “special conditions” section of the permit references an agreement between ACTP and the Government of Dominica, but the CITES Management and Scientific Authorities have no knowledge of any such agreement, and it was not included in the export documentation.
Given the lack of facilities in Dominica to carry out pre-export testing for select pathogens, we urge additional scrutiny of these aspects of the transfer to determine if either the European Union’s requirements or Germany’s requirements for quarantine
and testing prior to shipment were adequately met.
Naturally, bio-security threats go in both directions, and untested imported live birds have the potential to introduce dangerous pathogens to threatened species already held in captive collections in Europe.
In closing, we thank you for your decades of commitment to ensuring that wildlife trade does not further threaten the survival of Endangered Species, and respectfully urge the thorough investigation of all aspects of these recent actions.
With appropriate steps, ideally these detrimental actions can be mitigated and reversed, and preventative measures can be taken to ensure that no such trafficking of rare species occurs under the auspices of the Convention.
Issac ignore those a-holes that keep blasting.
You did what’s best for YOU and I’m sure anyone would do the same. Now you know who your true friends and supporters are.
True colors of people always show when you make a move that benefits yourself.
Majority of the comments on here is the same old story. Our God bless p.m ears must be ringing night and day. You all must try figure out how to turn all dat negative energy into positive energy or otherwise all u will age fast/faster than the so called leader of the oppression party. All you ting J.I stupid he bail out quick from the sinking ship. Stay so still all will win an election maybe in 2060
An investigation needs to be conducted to see who possibly received bribe money to sign off on the paperwork for the removal of the parrots. Dominica is fully capable of taking care of their parrots so why did they need to be flown all the way to Germany? Something is rotten and smells real bad. The German government should be petitioned for the demand of the birds return. Where is the German ambassador in all this?
There is still one bird left on the island. . .the MP for Marigot & leader of the UWP. Why was he not shipped with the others?
The Sisserou to the Jaco… “Boy take out that blue from your face!”
Jaco… “Why, nuh ?”
Sisserou.. “Boy them UWPites like too much trouble, they always blue vex and that is their color. We so happy in Germany, the lazy uwpites want them to send us back and they have nothing to give us when we hungry and hurricane coming again soon.””
Jaco.. ” But for true, since when they so concerned about us, nuh? Dem man really like trouble, eh.
PM don’t make them people distracted you from selling the parrots.
Years we selling pasport to Tom, duck and John and no one worries about whom you tell it too.
I understand it’s on our flag but that can’t give us money, just corrupt birdy that making money on the brids and while he was to be working my administration allow to go off doing private tours.
However my part lost focus and no surprise they’re in office for 20 years, imagine the US have a good dictator under their nose.
No plimentry processing and all those national giving money to our king.
However people of Dominica, ha ha, Hurricane season coming I hope you’ll secure the things you get for free.
I was in Dominica an it’s full of garbage all over, they say on other isaland Dominican is nasty.
Not this Dominica you were in, maybe right after the storm or you went to Dominican Republic by mistake. Lol. ..quit going by what u hear and please come home to fix your parents battered house. Don’t leave it for government to do, they are no good anyway. But we still not changing them now x and put some rookies in there to make their money they dying to get in there to make.
I remembered a famous US president said, ” Let the people fight among themselves” why?
without vision, the people will perish. The island of Dominica will still be there. Generations come and go. Begin by evaluating each village. People who were accustomed to help one another are gone. Not many are alive today. Yet we are still fighting and not building. May God help us to renew our minds.
The government is accountable to the people regardless of party affiliation. Public servant mean you serve the people with honesty and integrity.Dominica resources belongs to its people and should benefit the country and its people.so when politician run their mouth saying they do not have to tell the people nothing, there is something seriously wrong with that kind of governance and I think the people need to wake up from their sleep and slumber.
We thank the reputable and internationally recognized organizations for coming to our assistance. We owe a debt of gratitude.
The manner in which the birds were removed from their natural habitat and exported to Germany could be considered a clandestine act. This was completely shrouded in secrecy . This government doesn’t even have a modicum of respect for its citizens. Public opinion does not matter. As I mentioned previously, this is a kakistocratic government. Expecting them to bring home the birds is hoping for too much from these hypocrites. This government is the epitome of a wolf in sheep’s clothing, its words are incongruous with its actions.
You all coming here and liking stuff on here like is election. After reading different post u can see who have plenty time to waste. After next election all will stay blue vex AGAIN
What if the birds are enjoying themselves?
What they are getting better food?
Living in a better environment? What if they are happy?
What if Skerrit was not our worst nightmsre, what if he was not there.
Trade places with the birds. We don’t need you @The one and only…..We need our birds back in Dominica where they will live in harmony and eating healthy foods where as in Germany they will be given steroids and all kinds of manmade foods
Good questions, all they can do is come on dno and blah blah blah.
Send them an E-Mail and ask them, parrots can talk.
I understand your concern RE the parrots as indigenous to Dominica. One thing i keep noticing however is that humans are caring for animals more than other humans, and we spend most of our time into other issues of this world. If we spent that time into our spiritual well being everything else would follow…. like our mental, emotional and physical health, and every other issue that pertains to us. It is such a shame that we do not realize who we really are and our purpose for being here.
Almost everyone believe that there is a God. Either way there must be a god of our life whether it is the most high God, the devil, ourselves , our money, vehicle, home….. another person…. One day people we will see the true religion Jesus Christ!
Please, it is better to die believing in Him and at least seeking Him than knowing, hearing and not making a move toward Him and end up in an eternity of torment.
Chose therefore whom you may serve.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
Animals are God’s creaturen too so you have a duty to treat them with respect, especially if you consider yourself wiser than them.
Hence the reason for the opening sentence, however, when they die that’s it for them. How about you? Your neighbor and your brother? What happens after you leave this world? I am sure God will not ask many questions in relation to animals but rather how we lived with each other.
He said to look at the lilies how they are arrayed and not even Solomon in his glory was arrayed like them. He said that God takes care of the animals… imagine how much He will take care of us!
You see, we are turning the focus on everything else but our very well being.
Hope you understand this one.
Toto
i really thought you were going to ask Analy
about Noah’s Ark, in response to him stating God will not ask the animals questions , how does he know that ? Though honestly I do think
Man has much more questions to answer for ,seeing they are the ones destroying Gods world . One fing i sure of, is God not going to ask Mr.Donkey, why he not Gay? as he would sure respond ”I am not a stupid …”.
What’s your point?
It seems like Skerrit dem selling everything in D/ca, leave cople manicou for me
The rats Will be the last to leave the sinking ship Penez.
Uwp is the only sinking ship in d/ca for the past how many years, opps I forgot remind me
Bull…. . . . This wasn’t a sale, it was a preservative move to protect the parrots. Damn y’all when the parrots were in peril, where were y’all to offer assistance. Typical reactionaries, reacting after the fact. Hurricane season is upon us, so what are y’all plans to protect the birds. No vision, no plans just reacting for reacting sake – this is sickening!!!!
How do you know it was not a sale?
Were you a part of it?
Let us know who profited from it?
First of all the birds sense when storms approaching and go to other islands,so stop your hogwash,Skerrit is selling Dominica bit by bit,so please stop the crap.
NO xi
Don’t pretend to be an idiot .
The Parrots and most wild life know long before you and I when a storm is approaching.
just like when heavy rainfall is approaching pigs on the loose would run about frantically ,and our wise elders would utter the words” pigs dancing bad weather coming ”but maybe you are not old enough to have that experience .
Are there still reported sightings of Parrots post Maria ? do you think they were in 100 mph winds ? wouldn’t they have been blown away ? but they so much smarter than you , they do what they have to do, what they have done before you were born .
Do you think Maria is de only hurricane which has hit Dominica ? yet the parrots are still there . i grew up hearing about hurricane Janet before experiencing David , yet i have been lucky enough to be with those birds in the wild .
When are you guys going to realize sometimes ”is not what you do , but the way you do what you do ” that is important .
Guadeloupe and Martinique has sold and used up all there Crabs and seweks, [ river crabs] now we sell our crabs excetra thru the back door on those boats that smuggle them illegally thru the back door channels , skerrit and the other Dominicans are selling our passports, our Parrots our native crabs we have lost our native dish the frogs due to pesticides, we have airplanes flying over the Islands for four hours and no one no one knows why , we have no air defense, no sea defense, and the airport letting all the Haitians and the san to Dominicans in , under the skerrit administration we have lost OUR LOVELY DOMINICA , looters are allow to steal by the police, NO law an order. SKERRITTE MUST GO. the parrots thieves should have been stopped at the airport before departing D.A. where is the security, I was stop 4 having a shell.
They may soon begin selling people.
Be careful!!!!!!.
Dominica
Dominica is no longer a gem beyond compare.
Its about time we hold the elected people accountable for the international shameful acts that they are doing.
If we don’t stop them , soon we won’t have piece of land to call Dominica.
Wow ?to much going on, just can’t keep up anymore. Will continue to pray and do what I can for Dominica. Whatever happens I hope the birds are well taken care of.
That is to show you these people in higher power don’t have Dominica at heart all they care about is the pocket. Don’t worry God is not a sleeping God.
Man what else are we willing to sell in Dominica? Based on the above article there is no doubt that this whole fiasco was not done genuinely. I heard the mouthpiece for the PM stating on the radio that the higher ups have no obligation to inform the very people that is tasked with taking care of the parrots on a daily basis, and who has been doing so for years. I said to myself is that how we come in the country?
There is no longer right or wrong, everything is viewed along party political lines. I wait to see the government’s response to the above letter, but I am not holding my breadth because there is no accountability in governance in Dominica. Like I stated already the onus is on the people not the current politicians.
Return the birds, anything that can be done for them should be done in country. Shame on us man…..
WOW! Is so we come? Heaven help us
Bla Bla Bla….