Dominica welcomes new Belgian ambassador

Godelieve Van Den Bergh is the new Belgian ambassador to Dominica
Godelieve Van Den Bergh is the new Belgian ambassador to Dominica

President of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Charles Savarin, expresses hope that negotiations for the Schengen Visa Waiver Agreements for OECS Member States will soon be concluded.

This as he welcomed new Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to the Commonwealth of Dominica, Godelieve Van Den Bergh on Wednesday March 12, 2014.

The president noted the desire to further strengthen and maintain the cordial relations which already exist between the two countries; as well as explore other means to improve and deepen the bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Godelieve Van Den Bergh will also serve as the first Plenipotentiary representative to the Caribbean Community, CARICOM.

Savarin, in highlighting Belgium’s understanding of sub-regional integration as part of the European Union, urged that the new ambassador focuses on regional integration would extend beyond CARICOM to the OECS.

“We expect that Your Excellency will not only focus on the areas of interest for development cooperation as outlined by the CARICOM Secretary General, but that you will also lend your considerable experience to support and strengthen cooperation between Belgium and the OECS Member States as well,” he stated.

Van Den Bergh will replace former ambassador, Frederic Meurice.

In presenting her credentials she praised Dominica as one of the countries in the Caribbean region to achieve true democratic independence as a Republic nation.

She noted Belgium’s role in the pastoral and educational development of Dominica.

She also expressed desire to intensify cooperation with CARICOM and further strengthen relations between Dominica and Belgium.

“Being one of the founding members of the European Union, Belgium relatively small in size is particularly aware of the numerous challenges that the Caribbean States would face. I guess you are aware, Your Excellency, Belgium and the Caricom Member States do maintain excellent relations within the United Nations. My country really hopes that these relations will get more intensive during the coming years,” she said.

She added, “I would like to renew the interest of my country to enhance its relationship with the Government of Dominica, not only at the bilateral level but also in the multiple multilateral fora in which we interact with each other.”

Dominica and Belgium have shared diplomatic relations since 1980. Her Excellency Godelieve will be resident in Jamaica.

Ambassador Van Den Bergh also paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Roosevelt Skerrit on Friday.

Below is a video shot during the meeting betweeen the prime minister and the ambassador.

 

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34 Comments

  1. lut
    March 17, 2014

    m
    Mr.Francisco Telemaque, you are fully right, Belgium is popularty called België. But on our international pasport states: Koninkrijk België (dutch) Royaume De Belgique. (french) Konigreich Belgien (germany) we have 3 languages in our country. We are in the dutch party (nord) en life in Dominica. Good you know a lot of our country. Sorry for my englisch spellingfaults.

    • Francisco Telemaque
      March 17, 2014

      Okay, I have to take it from you since I had no knowledge that it was called The Kingdom of Belgium, if it is written in your passports, it could be a similar situation to Dominica, whereas our nation since independence has officially become the Commonwealth of Dominica, however that is not known to the common man in the streets, but it is written on the cover of our national passport.

      I like Belgium though, my first day in Lie’ge, I had some immigration problems on the train; an young lady assisted me until I over came my difficulties, we became friends, so during my stay in Cuxhaven West Germany, I would from time to time go to visit Lie’ge.

      Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

    • Emile Zapatos
      March 17, 2014

      Thanks MR Lut. This bag of air and bubbles who remind me of Lennox Linton, But is name Francisco Telemacque really does not know much about the land of the Automium. I think he just read a travel pamphlet.
      He also read some history book about the Restoration a long time ago, and only learnt old school stuff. We are in the 21st century where MODERN governments exist.

  2. Emile Zapatos
    March 16, 2014

    Really ???. Those people who make all those propaganda type comments are not stupid .Dominicans are not stupid. The UWP are the best in the propaganda business and can mislead people. The uwp guys would make good car salesmen. They could sell ice to the Eskimos and bayfront property on Mt Diablotin . Real con artists. Dominica will soon remove their masks and expose those imposters. That is the “CHANGE” change that will soon happen. They will be apologising to all Dominicans then.

    • Emile Zapatos
      March 17, 2014

      make that “good used cars salesmen”. They have a lot of lapse in judgement.

    • Francisco Telemaque
      March 17, 2014

      “Modern governments are either dictatorial or democratic and both can be monarchy. For your information “The United Kingdom”, England does not have a constitution. By the way the official name of Belgium is “The Kingdom of Belgium.”(Emile Zapatas”)

      Emile Zapatas, whoever you are, fictitious as you are, wherever you came from, I detect you are not even an qualified kindergarten graduate capable of arguing with anybody, never mind one who knows! Your very statement in the quote above is an indication of how ignorant you are.

      When you talk about modern government you do not have a clue of what you are talking about, so I must refer you to read my response to the bit of garbage you wrote when you attacked and assaulted me: every system of government which I mentioned in my brief is in effect in the world today, only you have no idea, because of your shallow, and limited intelligence.

      The world does not only revolve around Dominica and your childish nonsensical petty politics which you and your pals play!

      The audience are expressing their opinions regarding the new Belgium Ambassador to our country, good or bad the opinions, no one mentioned the UWP, except you! The reason is that’s all your occupation, that is because idiots like you are programmed to access DNO, and spew and mumble your political venom; nothing educational, nothing sensible comes out of your mind.

      You are not able to think cognitively, hence the operation of your mind process, by which you should become aware of objects, of thought, and perception, including all aspects of perceiving, thinking, and remembering in your case is nonfunctional; my opinion of you is that I see you as someone operating below the level of an idiot!

      As such I believe you exist in a delusional state, waiting for you handlers, your political masters to tell you what next to say. I have no handler, I have an independent, and an analytical mind, which cannot be influenced, and not easily persuaded; when I speak I speak, I do it with authority, because I am an academically educated man, a computer, and the Internet is not my class room, I advised you to get at least a two year college education. Now that we have a junior collage in Dominica, that may not be too difficult you to obtain, when you do; only then I might be willing to give you an audience, until you improve your intelligence which is beneath mine, I do not wish to hear from you!

      Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

  3. Emile Zapatos
    March 16, 2014

    Congratulations to Dominica for a center stage connection. Belgium called Belgie in Dutch,Belgique in Franch, and Belgien in German. Its official name is ” The Kingdom of Belgium”. It is a monarchy in Western Europe and a democratic country. The official languages are Dutch and Flemish.
    It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its Headquarters , and also the NATO headquarters. Capital is Brussels.
    Through the Catholic church, Dominica has benefited in Education (Convent High School and ST Martin School).When the British Colonial Office did not think it proper to educate women
    The credit union movement is also their contribution also construction of Churches and Halls.
    Begium is a great ally and should be treated with great respect. Diplomatic relationship is not with a person or government ,but with a country. So all Dominicans should join the President and welcome the ambassador regardless of our personal belief or our party affiliations .

    • Emile Zapatos
      March 17, 2014

      Oh yes, an other educational contribution by the Belgian Catholics was the St Mary’s Academy. During the Colonial years only the children of the plantation masters could attend the pretigeous Dominica Gramer School. Closer relations with Belgium can only be a win win in benefits for Dominica.

  4. suspicious one
    March 15, 2014

    i also dont trust or respect any ambassador that is link with Roosevelt skreeit

  5. RastarMarn
    March 15, 2014

    Ambassador for what nuh!!!
    How much Belgians dat pass through Dominica like that or have established Bases in Dominica to warrant an Abassador nuh,,,

    Every neck of the world somebody Travel Dominican in a corner somewhere wi,,,

    Does Dominicans have representation in as many of them Countries as the Dominicans entertain those Ambassadors in Dominica???

    There is something odd about dat wi and warrants some Body to Hinvestigate some kinna Abassadorgate,,,

    What Business Dominica have wiff Belgium to warrant them installing an Ambassador in Dominica???

    Is there something the Masses suppose to know that they are not being informed about???

    • Simply the Truth
      March 17, 2014

      Are you aware that there are D/cans residing in Belgium? In bygone years the priests and nuns who were in D/ca were originally from Belgium, long before people as you changed your Christian religion and became a Rasta which was non-existent in D/ca then.
      This ambassador’s last name is the same as a Belgium priest who once resided in D/ca. Therefore, Belgium is fully aware that D/ca exists. Those authorities may know more about Dominica than you a national knows. Give credit where it is due and have respect.
      Furthermore, those D/can ambassadors may have been appointed for a purpose which is beyond your comprehension. Dominica may very well be protected in the future because of them. You should give this a good thought.

  6. Maria
    March 14, 2014

    Great news!

    • concerned
      March 14, 2014

      How great is that piece of information ? ? ? How does that put food on our tables ? ? ? Did you read that she will be residing in Jamaica ??? My opinion…… unnecessary bulk . Another give away of a Diplomatic passport

  7. Francisco Telemaque
    March 14, 2014

    “This as he welcomed new Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium.”

    How long ago the people of Belgium change the name of their country from Belgium, to the Kingdom of Belgium? Just because Savarin call it the Kingdom of Belgium, I doubt the name of the country changed. Belgium in French is Belgique, I am certain that the country is popularly called Belgie, by most European.

    Belgium is a country located in West Europe, bordering on the North sea, its system of government is a constitutional monarchy. The Capital City Brussels, covers an area of 11,774 square miles, or approximately 30,612 sq km; with a population of a little more than 10, or 11,000,000 people; I might be wrong on the population, however when I used to walk the streets of Lie’ge which is a province in E Belgium, the population of Brussels was about 9,978,681 inhabitance.

    Around the time when I was in Liege, ( El Presidente ) was on the slopes of Brussels skiing down slopes with his oversize goggles on his face, splashing snow all over the place, after a hard day of skiing, the man would go to the palace paid for by the Dominica Taxpayers, and throw his ambassadorial party, showing off to his counterparts wow rich a country Dominica is.

    That is why I suggest the other day that he should have gone to Russia to represent us in the winter Olympics, the man could have walked away with gold for Dominica eh.

    Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!

    (I voting for he next time we want to send a good Dominica Eagle to fly down the slopes, and earn we country gold.) How about that Charles, do you remember your good old days in the Kingdom of Belgium, which you seems to have created? If you are sure that Belgium is know as the Kingdom of Belgium,tell me when the Kingdom was added! There are six forms of government: autocracy; oligarchy; democracy; authoritarian; totalitarian; constitutional.

    Communism is another thing!

    In the United States, and a small number of other nations, governments are severely limited as to what they are permitted to control (we term that substantive limits), as well as how they go about it (procedural limits). Governments that are so limited are called Constitutional, and that is what is they have in Belgium.

    Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

    • Francisco Telemaque
      March 14, 2014

      “and that is what is they have in Belgium.”

      Correction: “And that is what they have in Belgium.

      FET.

    • winston warrington
      March 15, 2014

      The President lived in Belgium. You are using a computer and may check the facts. The guy is no good, but the facts are what they are.

    • FED UP DOMINICAN
      March 15, 2014

      I always read your long winded comments, and you never fail to surprise me with your worldly knowledge.

      Please stand corrected and acknowledge that the OFFICIAL name for Belgium is,( wait for it) is. THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM.

    • Emile Zapatos
      March 16, 2014

      A lot of the information in your piece is incorrect and is only intended to discredit those involve, and to bring attention to yourself.
      Modern governments are either dictatorial or democratic and both can be monarchy. For your information “The United Kingdom”, England does not have a constitution. By the way the official name of Belgium is “The Kingdom of Belgium.

      • Emile Zapatos
        March 17, 2014

        And the official name for Dominica is “The Commonwealth of Dominica”

      • Francisco Telemaque
        March 17, 2014

        Prove to me that you are correct by directing me to where I can find the name Kingdom of Belgium documented, unless you can do just be quit, and let me get the attention, which you believe I desire!

        I am not looking for name fame on DNO, I know who the heck I am, and that is good enough for me! I a not in a any contest, if I say something that you now to be incorrect, expose my error, without attacking me personally, because anything I say have to be true or almost true; I know that plenty of you in Dominica, operate as if you know it all, but I refuse to allow myself to be intimidated by your kind!

        I write what I know and believe to be true, if you have information contrary to what I know and believe prove me wrong with documentary fact, and not your person rubbish, because attacking and trying to insult me will not make you better person, if anything I’ll expose you as an idiot!

        Let me give you an education boy! In forms of government; government vary in their institutional structure, in their size, and in their of operation. Two questions are of special importance in determining how governments differ from each other Who governs? How much governmental control is permitted?

        In some nations, governing is done by a single individual: i. e., a king, or dictator. this state of affairs is called autocracy. Where a small group of landowners, military offers, or wealthy merchants control most of the governing decisions, that government is termed an oligarchy. In the event more people participate, and if the populace is deemed to have some influence over their actions, that government is tending toward democracy; such as we supposed to have in Dominica.

        Governments also vary considerably in terms of how they govern. In the United States, and a small number of other nations, governments are severely limited as to what they are permitted to control, and I believe I term that last weak as substantive limits, and as well as how they go about it ( I termed to be procedural limits). Governments that are so limited are called “constitutional”, or liberal governments; that is what they have in Belgium. In other nations, including may in Europe, as well as in South America, Asia, and Africa, though the law imposes few real limits, a government is nevertheless kept in check by other political, and social institutions that the government is unable to control, however, must come to terms with-such as autonomous territories, an organized church, organized business groups, or organized labor unions. Such governments are generally called authoritarian.

        In a third group of nations such as what was considered the Soviet Union when it was rued by Joseph Stalin, and those who came after; Nazi Germany, and perhaps prewar Japan, and Italy, governments not only are free of legal limits, but in addition seek to eliminate those organized social groupings that might challenge, or limit their authority. These governments typically attempt to dominate, or control every sphere of political, economic, and social life, and as a result, are called totalitarian.

        You can keep on talking crap about, about government this and try to make it up as you go along. Do not try to insult me unless you have some better in your cranium than I have in mine okay!

        I am:

        Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

      • Emile Zapatos
        March 17, 2014

        Fransisco Telemacque ,you self have provided the proof you have asked for. By your own admission you proved that you do not know what you are talking about. Just refer to your comment about Lut posting at the top of this page. Now you know that we are called “the Commonwealth of Dominica”.
        Also look at my posting at the top of this page. That is all you will get,because you are full of sound and fury signifying nothing.

  8. Possie Direct
    March 14, 2014

    Before Roosevelt Skerrit became Prime Minister of Dominica I had high respect and regards for an ambassador. But since the dude became PM and to see how has made everybody ambassador for his own personal gain, I have absolutely NO respect for ambassadors. I will only start to respect them after the election, by which time Skerrit will be kicked out and Dominica will be delivered again. For now when I see an ambassador that is affiliated with Dominica, the first thing that comes to mind is, how many Dominica passports sold and what’s their cut. Sorry Skerrit you have planted a very corrupt image of Dominica and unless we restore our country like we did in 1979, although it was nowhere close to the level of today, I will not honor or respect any ambassador, Prime Minister, / president or cabinet members that are affiliated with your plague.

    • Emile Zapatos
      March 17, 2014

      I am a bit confused. How are you going to kick out Roosevelt Skerrit by election ,and by the 1979 method of stones AT THE SAME TIME. Are you going to be a stone thrower like Linton and his gang ,including his two sisters. Remember how they stoned Roy Williams and other labour party suporters out of Dominica. Or are you having a lapse in judgement.

  9. faceup
    March 14, 2014

    Pretty smile nice face, you see them in Europe say hello or at least Good day to peeps like her, they jump scared running away from you.. Any way who cares !

  10. March 14, 2014

    Waypapa medaybar.

  11. perfect Idiot
    March 14, 2014

    These days we have so many ambassadors all over the world that I don’t even know the ones that are genuine from those that are fake. One thing I am sure about is the fact that I am a Dominican and these so-called ambassadors never represent my interests. Skerrit and Charles Savarin might as well leave their thrones in Dominica and go serve as ambassadors so they could sell and sign more diplomatic passports. These are the views of A PERFECT IDIOT.

    • Shim
      March 14, 2014

      Ah yes, Perfect Idiot, you must indeed be very proud of your badge that you so gleefully display in your post. Deceased Pierro would have smiled.

      • Perfect Idot
        March 14, 2014

        @Shim, thanks for your complement. However, I know that already and gladly accept my badge. I see you fighting had to compete with me and I am afraid because you keep proving you more deserve this title than I. What is even more alarming to me is, I know I am the perfect idiot and cannot do much to improve; you on the other hand do not know that about yourself and everytime you post a comment on this site you keep getting better at it.

      • RastarMarn
        March 15, 2014

        Well Answer d Pardner Question nuh and show him how Smart you are,,,

        You more Sort dan d Idiot cause you just taking in everyting dem unqualified so-called leaders give you at list Idiot Smart enough to ask a question,,,

        There is no Stupid question, if you didn’t know yet!!!

    • Sam
      March 14, 2014

      Yes, you are prefect idiot and stupid

      • Perfect Idot
        March 14, 2014

        @Sam, I know I am the original perfect idiot and according to you stupid. But the bad thing is you competing with me for both titles and most likely you have replaced me. The only difference is, I know that about myself but you DO NOT know that about yourself.

    • Really???
      March 14, 2014

      The name suits you since you know nothing about diplomacy. These Ambassadors are representing their home countries in the Caribbean Islands….they don’t represent you or Dominica. They simply ensure that their country enjoys good relations with the outside world,…capiche?

    • Haven't decided
      March 17, 2014

      Perfect Idiot, the Belgium ambassador does represent you as a Dominican. She represents those from Belgium.

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