Dominica and Chile sign visa waiver agreement

The agreement will facilitate easier travel between the two countries
The agreement will facilitate easier official travel between the two countries

Holders of diplomatic and official passports from Dominica and Chile are now exempt from visa requirements when traveling between the respective countries due to an agreement signed between the governments of the two nations.

On Monday morning Minister for National Security, Labor and Immigration Alvin Bernard signed the agreement on behalf of the government of Dominica.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Careen Prevost, explained that the agreement came about at a summit between CARICOM and Chile in February, 2012.

“At the second CARICOM-Chile joint summit held in February 2012 it was agreed that in order to facilitate movement between Chile and CARICOM member states, an agreement on visa waiver exemptions for holders of diplomatic and official passports should be concluded between Chile and CARICOM member states and the meeting further agreed that this should be negotiated as soon as possible,” she said. “Subsequently the embassy submitted a draft agreement to Dominica and by Cabinet decision dated October 30th, 2013, Cabinet advised approval for the signing of this agreement.”

Ambassador of the Republic of Chile to Dominica, Eduardo Bonila, pointed out that the signing of this agreement is very important to his country.

“We have to move a lot and we have to travel a lot and most of the time we do it in the last five minutes …. it is not planned as we would like it too,” he said. “So this is a very important agreement for my country and I am very happy to be the Chilean Ambassador who is going to sign this agreement.”

Bernard remarked that 2014 marks fourteen years of relations between CARICOM and Chile.

“Since becoming a democracy in 1990 Chile has become a very active player in the international forum in various aspects of international matters. The government of Dominica views this decision very seriously and sees it as a critical aspect of cooperation between our two countries,” he said.

He added that the language barrier has hindered Dominica from taking advantage of  cooperation between the two countries.

“It is important for the free movement of our officials as Ambassador Bonilla indicated,” he sated. “We need to respond to various initiatives in our aspects of development sometimes at a moment’s notice and it is important that we remove every hindrance for the movement of our officials. Today is the culmination of a number of stages and of course is the first step in the continuation and the progress of this important bilateral cooperation with the government of Chile.”

The Republic of Chile is a Spanish speaking south American country which is said to be one of the most stable and prosperous nations in that region.

In 2014 Chile’s population stood at 17,808,847, which makes it the 59th most populous country on earth.

Location of Chile on the South American map
Location of Chile on the South American map

 

 

 

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37 Comments

  1. RickJames
    June 24, 2014

    What happened to the Brazil – Dominica visa waiver initiative that has been on the table for years?!? More Dominicans have been going to Brazil and more Brazilians would travel to Dominica if the visa waiver was enacted. The Brazilians offered but Dominica is playing hardball because Venezuela and Brazil has border issues. So sad! ALBA negatives.

  2. bone
    June 24, 2014

    well i guess this is for more Chileans to come to Dominica rather than Dominicans going to Chile

  3. how much a pasport
    June 24, 2014

    how many Diplomats holding Dominican passport for the size of our island to make such a waiver 10 30 50 70 are we doing such exchange for this big deal,,call me a sceptic but the product our official selling is DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY and that cash is private,go on the net and google DOMINICA passport you will find a number of agents.

  4. Sierra
    June 23, 2014

    Was it ever difficult for Dominicans to get into Chile

    • hmmm
      June 25, 2014

      I can say yes to that !! that’s all I will say for now!!!personal experience

  5. realist#1
    June 23, 2014

    i think this is good form the government,its an alternative when arranging honeymoons etc to my list…. although i don’t see the benefit as it would for most visited places Dominicans travel too.. maybe im not seeing the big picture as you all did while signing this visa waiver exemptions.. my question.. is it going to benefit us more or them? enlighten me,subject to correction .

    • June 24, 2014

      It doesn’t matter whether it benefits Dominicans or Chileans more, so long as both peoples do benefit from it at all, and freer movement is always a blessing.

      • JoJo
        June 24, 2014

        If I want free movement like that I simply take castor oil. Works all the time and it truly is a blessing!

  6. KoKo Naughts
    June 23, 2014

    Ok, I doh understand nah. Chile??? And DNO what is the significance of de last line in de report nah? Ki maylay mon with Chile population? While allu at it tell us what their national bird is too then. Stupes tan. Dapway Chile!

  7. hidout
    June 23, 2014

    if you have lto hid some thing do you put it where it can be found? the great train robber of England hid himself in brazil for years name was Ronny biggs latin America is know for its shamble.
    the last german solder was found by the jewish intelegent service hiding again deep in south America

  8. here we go again
    June 23, 2014

    these administration lead by Skerrit is totally up to no good

  9. cute
    June 23, 2014

    No is for chines and haitsons because thy have the dominican passports

  10. Anonymous
    June 23, 2014

    I’ve never heard of any Dominicans wanting to go to Chile, why don’t u all do the requirements for one to visit Canada? If a person wants to travel to Canada, they have to make a trip to Trinidad in order to obtain a visa, to the States, u have to travel to Barbados. Make it mandatory for someone doing to the USA and Canada , to enter visa free

    • June 24, 2014

      it wont happen because you guys mass immigrate that is why visa restrictions was imposed on you in the first place its not something that you can change if economic growth improves and your country grows then it will be eased for certain countries

      • Ma Moses
        June 25, 2014

        So Daius if things are so good here as the P.M. says, why would people be mass migrating? That does not make sense.

  11. chili
    June 23, 2014

    Chilii.!! Ka nou kay fè Chile :lol:

  12. at a lost for words
    June 23, 2014

    chile, I was not aware my country have relationship with Chile… Does Dominican travel to Chile.. How about putting some thing in place for Dominican who want visit the French island, USA, Canada..

    • bigmack
      June 23, 2014

      My point exactly, how many of us here travel to chile that often.

    • Gilda-Rae Grell
      June 23, 2014

      Because those other countries are probably more difficult

      • JoJo
        June 24, 2014

        Exactly Ms. Grell. We already know that. The question is why? How come that with the same Caricom passport from Antigua I don’t need a vis a for Canada or E.U. but with a Dominican Caricom passport I do? We have to be honest and say that the only explanation can be is that they do not trust our documents. That is what we really have to fix before saying anything else.

  13. Anonymous
    June 23, 2014

    We can go to Chile for chilling out and come back home with pure white powder. now I can see the DLP is bad and mad

    • Gilda-Rae Grell
      June 23, 2014

      Or go the Chile for education, or employment

    • June 24, 2014

      That’s Bolivia and Colombia. Chile’s main exported intoxicant is wine, much of which is excellent.

      Anyway, Chile is solidly democratic now, and is one of the countries in Latin America that are really getting their act together. Consider that a few years ago when there was a large earthquake they said they didn’t need any special foreign aid, they said they had a recovery plan and were okay to sort it out themselves.

      Either way, considering that our economy and levels of human resource development are lower than theirs, you may want to refrain from making jokes at their expense.

      • JoJo
        June 24, 2014

        I like that Steve. Instead of Pinochet we now have Pinot noir. Preferable at any time! Cheers.

  14. Views Expressed
    June 23, 2014

    My same questions…..who goes to Chile. Alvin ….
    1. You and Skerrit doh have work to do.
    2. Are you guys lacking newsworthy issues?
    3. What is the connection…really what is it ?
    4. Please do a visa waiver to pay the Public Works, employees
    5. Do a waiver to pay the police, teachers, civil servants
    Ant please exit running this county down, so take the VISA and all of you Migrate to Chile..

    ADIOIS

    • Gilda-Rae Grell
      June 23, 2014

      Having the opportunity to enter a country without a visa is not newsworthy?

      • Anonymous
        June 24, 2014

        Oh yeah, I forgot. We can also go to the Falkland Islands without a visa.
        All joking aside, I supect this may be more important for people who bought our citizenship rather than our local people, who have trouble spending more than fifteen days in Guadeloupe or Martinique, right next doors to us.

  15. malick
    June 23, 2014

    What do you all mean by “an agreement on visa waiver exemptions for holders of diplomatic and official passports”

    What about the holders of ordinary passports?

    • Ras
      June 24, 2014

      good point. most of the Dominican diplomatic passport holders are people that never walk in Roseau anyhow. it is for the wanna be big boys on the backs of suffering poor Dominicans. that news is not for ordinary passport holders. yo par maalay sah nous vlay

  16. Apple
    June 23, 2014

    Who the hell goes to chile stupesdd

    • JoJo
      June 24, 2014

      Well, somebody is importing wine from there so I suspect they must visit?

  17. skerro
    June 23, 2014

    are you guys serious, chile, who goes to chile

    • irep767
      June 23, 2014

      Same thing I check when read that post :lol:

    • Gilda-Rae Grell
      June 23, 2014

      Now you have the opportunity to go to Chile. Jeez. What did you want States? Thats not so easy to get ahold of.

      • skerro
        June 24, 2014

        yes I love state, land of the free… you also have the opportunity to go there and mingle. I will die going states.

  18. vieille case
    June 23, 2014

    chili

  19. JoJo
    June 23, 2014

    Big deal. Would be more impressed if that could be done between us and Canada, U.S.A. and the E.U. How many Dominicans planning to visit Chile noh??

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