Dominica suspended from UN voting over failure to pay dues

UN General Assembly in session

The United Nations has identified Dominica among several countries that are in arrears of their dues and are, therefore, banned from voting in the General Assembly.

The other countries in this category are the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Suriname, Venezuela and Yemen.

“Member states who are in arrears of an amount that equals or exceeds a contribution due for two years can lose their vote in the General Assembly,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said, referring to the UN Charter’s Article 19.

According to Dujarric, an “exception is allowed if the Member State can show that conditions beyond its control contributed to this inability to pay.”

There has been no word from the Government of Dominica on the matter however the island paid a heavy price when it was struck by Hurricane Maria in September 2017. The recovery effort will cost $1.37 billion, equal to 226 percent of Dominica’s 2016 GDP.

Based on the nonpayment of dues, Dominica does not have a vote in the current 72nd session of the General Assembly.

The government of Suriname has said the country owed the UN US$800,000.

The government said it would accept a payment plan, beginning with a US$117,000 deposit in the coming days, so its voting rights can be restored.

“Suriname is well aware of the importance of its membership at the United Nations and the opportunities that this specialised organisations can offer in the areas of technical assistance and development cooperation,” Suriname’s Foreign Affairs Ministry in a statement.

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49 Comments

  1. Food
    February 22, 2018

    The U.S probably laughing us boy :lol:

  2. Truth Be Told
    February 22, 2018

    Our debt will be forgiven due to the hurricanes. Thank God for the hurricanes! Do you remember when we had money to loan to other Caribbean nations, according to our PM! This country is one sad joke!

    • Truth Be Told
      February 22, 2018

      The commonwealth of Dominica better known as the laughing stock of the Caribbean thanks to PM Roosevelt Skerrit!

  3. Annon
    February 22, 2018

    I do support the guy in these trying times…….but simply Google this and http://www.Un.org said ” As of Feb. 14, 2018 ” this story is true. If they paid between the 14th and the consultation on the 19th then he aught to have revealed the date paid otherwise he lied as a true lieing politrician. Why lie when there’s no need to? Politrictions I tell you :oops: :twisted:

  4. UKDominican
    February 22, 2018

    Those doubting Thomases, who believe this is fake news should read Caribbean News Now article of 19 Feb. “Grenada and Dominica from voting at the UN over failure to pay dues”. This news item was also carried by ou own Dominica Vibes and the JamaicaObserver, among others.
    Our vote is as valuable as anyone else’s in the U.N. and that is why countries like Morocco solicit our support with gifts and aid to secure our vote for their claims. That “bought” friendship has no value if we cannot vote and keep our end of the bargain. I’m sure king Mohammed is not impressed by his friend Skrit right now.
    We join a list of other “”trustworthy” friends and paragons of virtue like Grenada, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Libya,, Suriname, Venezuela and Yemen.

  5. Yahoudim
    February 22, 2018

    UWP OPERATIVE in the name of DNO is not a credible source so I will not fall for their tricks.

    Now to all these ungrateful people who speak against the Government. Shame on you, Shame on you all. What most Dominicans do best is to use their dirty tongues for slander and not use it to BLESS the efforts of their leaders. Keep on following Lennox , he’s all for himself and not for the country.

    I still support the efforts of my pm during these trying times. I will continue to hold his arms up like Joshua and Aaron held up the hands of Moses. God Bless Dominica, God Bless the PM.

    • RandyX
      February 22, 2018

      And now for you for supporting this corrupt PM shame on you, shame on you, shame on you. You and your political friends betrayed your country badly!!

    • Zor Sot
      February 22, 2018

      :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: i’m dyingggg

  6. Anonymous
    February 22, 2018

    Wonder what Garvin Richards has to say about this one!

  7. The Cord
    February 21, 2018

    DNO, is that true? You all just saying what you want…you all must get your facts right cause I heard with my two long ears that the PM/AM said that during the symposium on Monday that Dominica paid it dues to the UN that even officials at the UN was surprised that after the such a storm Dominica was able to meet its commitment– and loborites at the gathering clapped and clapped… Suitwe….DNO, We know according to some like NUWP, kid on the block, Kairi reporters, and many labouites only others DONT tell truth; their PM NEVER lies…well, I am well surprise to read this news and DNO must be a mouthpiece of the opposition to spread such propaganda….shame on you, DNO, doh tie our truthful PM….Dominicans are a sick bunch of nincompoops

    • really
      February 22, 2018

      please research before you make a fool of yourself .Go on google and search for united nations suspended voters , You will see a link on UN website showing you all countries in arrears and you will see Dominica . Mustn’t say what you dont know

      • Me
        February 22, 2018

        I believe the Cord in this case is a practitioner of sarcasm.

  8. February 21, 2018

    While I expect this will be an unpopular opinion, I’m glad that money isn’t being wasted on that worthless hot air factory.

    • Too much hypocrite in Dominica
      February 21, 2018

      But your happy to find yourself at the “worthless hot air factory” begging the countries of the world to fund your fight against “climate change”….HYPOCRITE!

      • February 28, 2018

        I believe you have me confused for someone else.

    • Me myself and I
      February 22, 2018

      That worthless hot air factory is where the PM went first to get support for Dominica after the hurricane, so it has it’s usefulness.

    • Annon
      February 22, 2018

      I like reading your comments but on this one You are wrong. These votes have been used to leverage much needed aid from time to time; that’s why Dominica is courted by many countries such as China, Vzuela, EU, TnT etc etc. …it benefits us to keep current.

  9. Maria
    February 21, 2018

    I thought Skerrit said that Dominica was current with all its debt obligations at the consultation on Monday.
    The UNDP is on island deeply involved in the recovery process and Dominica has not paid its dues?
    Please verify this report, it doesn’t sound right. We just spent $35 million on roof repairs and the non-resilient houses at Bath Estate and we owing the U.N. Nah, that cannot be.
    Dno check your source.

  10. RandyX
    February 21, 2018

    How embarrassing. This administration tarnishes Dominicas good name everywhere.

  11. Juan
    February 21, 2018

    The last thing on Dominica’s mind now should be to pay dues to a corrupt organization anyway when it is going to cost well over one billion dollars to re-build all the damaged caused by a major tropical storm and cat 5 Hurricane. The UN is a useless organization that was designed to stop wars but instead causes wars, they also do nothing to stop genocide’s world wide and support corrupt governments.

    • Maria
      February 22, 2018

      They are in Dominica supporting one of them!

    • Zor Sot
      February 22, 2018

      so why did skerrit say that he paid them …..he indicated that UN was shocked to have received payment from them after being devastated by a hurricane….. if they are so useless why give the impression Dominica has made its payment.

      allu too dam sot.

  12. Hmmmmmm
    February 21, 2018

    Well we cant blame Maria…..cause u have to be owing more than 2 years to be suspended….lol

    • Yes ah
      February 22, 2018

      Well there was Erika to. And that Christmas storm in 2013

  13. Pedro
    February 21, 2018

    This is very embarrassing. Its two years due so we can’t blame Maria. Admin error or wrong priorities? But wait the same happened in 2014! The headline in March 26, 2014, according to DNO:

    “Dominica is among two Caribbean countries which are in arrears in the payments of their dues to the UN and have lost their right to vote at the General Assembly.
    Dominica is in arrears of US$19,734, according to a letter from the UN General Secretary, Ban Ki-Moon.
    Because of that the island has lost its right to vote in the General Assembly as of February 24, 2014.”

    https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/international-relations/dominica-loses-vote-un/

    We should be careful as the world is watching!

  14. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    February 21, 2018

    “There has been no word from the Government of Dominica on the matter however the island paid a heavy price when it was struck by Hurricane Maria in September 2017. The recovery effort will cost $1.37 billion, equal to 226 percent of Dominica’s 2016 GDP. ”

    That is a very narrow and very poor excuse; Maria was last year, Dominica payments of it dues went into default prior to Maria! It is the little things such as this which exposes the rotten conditions existing in our country.

    Since the sale of diplomatic, and travel passports is our main industry; I suppose there should be no lack of money to pay such debts; I guess after the commissions are paid to the salesmen, and women, there is not enough left to run the country and pay the international debt.

    I suppose when they hear the name Skerrit, or Sir Knight Dr. Punjab associated with Dominica, they will say: Oh; poor Dominica give Roosevelt Skerrit a chance, cause he made Dominica first resilient country on earth! 

    • Baffled
      February 22, 2018

      Francisco

      Are you and the erudite Jeffers Joseph the same person?

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        February 23, 2018

        Are you an idiot or what?

        Why would I want to impersonate Joseph; I am sure Joseph is contented with himself!

        I am a very proud and confident man; I  do not have the need to be anyone else, that is why I boldly write whatever I wish under my birth name, and that can be verified any day of the week. I am not an idiot like you asking a dumb question using a fictitious stupid name to ask you ignorant question: I do not know if you are a dog, snake, or a bit of human garbage, or a natural pile of decaying garbage, you seem to be a combination of all!

        You do not even have a name so shut up fool!

  15. Cautious
    February 21, 2018

    Its sad to see that all the money that the government of Dominica have playing SANTA with that they cannot find the money required to pay there bill? awa Skerro something have to be WANG for sure ….or maybe u feel u didn’t get enough sympathy from them or money to give back….its sad

  16. Anonymous
    February 21, 2018

    Hurricane Maria is just an opportune excuse. The UN does not cut you off as quick as that. Our non-payment would go back over a period of at least two years I believe. This is a disgrace while we have been raking in hundreds of millions in passport sales in the mean time. We are in good company, Venezuela is in the same boat. No wonder Skerrit has little credibility at the UN. :oops:

  17. johnjay
    February 21, 2018

    Just dont get this at all. The PM was at the government-organized National Rebuilding and Economic Partnership Consultation on Monday, Skerrit said he or Doinica is not owing anyone they made there payment to who ever they are owing and today the UN is Suspending us from the assembly. Where are the people representing us are they still n Dominica when they should be out there .

  18. February 21, 2018

    This does not surprise me at all. Bad management by a leader who is surrounded by sharks like himself roaming to see what they can pocket inland and offshore. I have said this on many occasions; a country without growth or investment is a lost country. The devastations that were caused by the hurricane Maria does not have anything to do with the poverty which gangrenes us today.Why take loans only to pay more police officers, teachers and nurses?Those that are old enough in these trades almost never get a pay rise. We need factories to transform foods, we must improve the fishing industries, build roads in order to help farmers get better access to the farms etc…the government was expecting the UN to wipe out the dept after their own bad management? Skerrit get your act together or get out because we will all sink together.

  19. johnjay
    February 21, 2018

    The Pm was at he National Rebuilding and Economic Partnership Consultation on Monday at the Goodwill Parish Hall saying that the Dominica is not owing anyone paid there dues .way papa. I wonder who the people and the electorates of the Commonwealth of Dominica should believe at this time.

    • RandyX
      February 22, 2018

      The man is a notorious liar. Simple as that.

  20. Ibo France
    February 21, 2018

    The incontrovertible evidence would show that Dominica is presently poorly governed. This embarrassing situation cannot be blamed on Maria as the dues have to accumulate to the equivalence of two years before suspension . It is undoubtedly clear that the country is in serious indebtedness ( UWI, Petrol Caribe, UN) etc. All those critics of the PM’s opaque and autocratic style of leadership should give themselves a pat on the back because they have been vindicated. How many more skeletons to come tumbling out the closet? Meanwhile the country has been reduced to mendicancy as the indebtedness balloons. The majority of the people are longing for a relief from this daily toxic, energy draining, poverty stricken life.

  21. JAHson
    February 21, 2018

    whoops
    i expect this to be taken care of ‘post-haste’

  22. viewsexpressed
    February 21, 2018

    All these years this corrupt government has been parading with so many misfits freinds at the UN pretenting they are working and talking on our behalf. Their speeches we are now learnign has been worthess and now sad our country has been kicked in the back to the rear back that we are now unable to vote. Under Eugenia and Pieero Charles, this never happened. Now this Labour gvernment rogues boost of having endless cash and unbale to pay for our voice and presence at the UN.
    Skerrit must also be banned from the UN, along with his fake ambassadors. No more photo shots and posing with decent people, as its a pretence and disgusting. So herefore the UN has said to us “Go to Hell…Go to Hell…Go to Hell., your government and leadership are worthless..clean up al you damn business

  23. Jonathan Y St Jean
    February 21, 2018

    Only on Monday during the consultation Skerritt made the loud pronouncement that Dominica had paid all its dues and obligations.Why must this man lie like that?Is it that he is not kept properly informed by his staff or that he is a pathological liar with no emotional remorse for the lies he constantly tells.In the age of Trump, I guess lying should now be taught as a subject at the community college to be taught by the Punjabi faux doctor Skerritt.Liar your pants are on fire

  24. ArayofLight
    February 21, 2018

    hmmm could post Ericka and maria have contributed to that delinquency , just asking

    • Zor Sot
      February 22, 2018

      nah cause 2014 we were on that very list

  25. Roy Williams
    February 21, 2018

    We hear a lot about Roosevelt Skeritt being a visionary leader. I would someone following Dominica’s politics since independence, to tell me of a leader, whose name has been embroiled in so many allegations of corruption and blatant failure, in terms of the leadership of the country. The man makes OJ and PJ look like angels.

    • Lalan
      February 21, 2018

      Simply ask, what is the Vision. If there is a vision, there must be a plan and measurable goals. So,what is the vision?

  26. SPorts On island
    February 21, 2018

    Politics is dangerous, instead of publishing what other countries owe you should post what Dominica owe the UN. If you bringing news to us bring the entire story. We are interested in what the govt of Dominica owes not what the government of Suriname owes.

  27. Yes ah
    February 21, 2018

    Smh. But Dominica has probable cause for not paying. Erika put a b
    Set back and Maria was even worse. This is really bad. The only reason we get support from China is for a vote in return to their favor. What’s going to happen now, China going to abandon us?

  28. Patience
    February 21, 2018

    Please do not blame Maria on this one, we have always been delinquent to the U.N. it is clear to to see that our. Representation in the U N is to put a fat pay packet in our boys pocket an nothing to do with Dominica

  29. Channel 1
    February 21, 2018

    Wait hold up, on numerous occasions I have heard Skerrit saying in some press conferences and other public engagements that Dominica has not defaulted on its debts since Hurricane Maria thanks to the CBI funds. Just recently in the consultation thing on Monday, I heard him make such pronouncements again.

    What really going on here now boy? Dominica owing the UN?

    Is Roosevelt up to tricks again with his utterances?

  30. Daryl joseph
    February 21, 2018

    With all the pledges and offering to help at the UN it would be great if all the other members can help post Maria. But instead what they do is suspend for none payment.
    With no transparency does it ever imagine how much debt the Island really have.

  31. voice of reason
    February 21, 2018

    DNO
    For the first time I find your story to be fair and not politically motivated. Keep up the good work

  32. February 21, 2018

    What whould that do to our further development.

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