A high ranking French diplomat is denying press reports that France has blacklisted 17 countries, including Dominica, judged to be uncooperative in investigating foreign aid fraud.
The Trinidad Express is quoting French Ambassador to Barbados and Trinidad, Jacques Sturm, as saying there is “no blacklist”.
According to the Express, Sturm said there is indeed a list but it comes from the France Development Bank (AFD). “It is working list for banking procedures. It is not an official list of the French government,” he said.
“I deny that it is a blacklist,” the Express quoted him as saying.
He went on to say that the French government has an official blacklist “which does not concern this issue.”
AFD is a financial institution and the major implementing agency for France’s official development assistance to developing countries and overseas territories. It is owned by a partnership comprising banks, development agencies, NGOs, Local and Regional Authority, UN and other key institutions. AFD operates in more than 70 countries.
Sturm said the bank has a certain level of independence from French government, “And when it takes measures on a working basis, it does not imply that the Government agrees. It is a development bank working with development countries on development projects.”
DNO made several attempts to contact the French Embassy in St. Lucia on the matter but all efforts have so far been unsuccessful.
On Tuesday, Agence France Press (AFP) reported that the 17 countries were placed on the French blacklist.
AFP said French officials pointed out out that the move is justified because there is a lack of transparency in Dominica and the other nations on the list.
On Wednesday prime minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, said his government was shocked by the news.
He said he would be writing the French government for clarification on the matter.
the man did not deny the expulsion.that was a diplomatic response.
i would like walter to give a report on the meeting with biden,was he allowed to enter the room?this is tax payers money, we have a right to know.
Too much excuses making dem man even more corrupted…say as it is never see smoke without fire, have you??
I mean, WHAT IS A BLACKLIST? It is a list of countries that the BIG 8 cannot spin around their large fingers to do their bidding. A nation of LIONS like Dominicans is a strongwild nation. Though they rry to take everything from us, we still survive.
There is no doubt that something has happened in relation to a black list in which Dominica was included. The govt now has to review the funds received from the ddevelopmenr agency and produced a report. This socialist french govt is new in office and they seem ignorant on how to run a govt. All these new ministers said they were averaged french people when they entered office. Yet upon investigation they were very rich persons with several villas etc and great wealth.. The ex finance minister in charge of tax evasion and secret accts was himself a culprit. For the Agency to implement such drastic decision without the govt endorsement is unheard of. The Dominican govt should sue france in the international courts or Brisbane may be right in his accusations.
but what really goin on here nuh?
First of all I want to see AFP retract de story and make a correction……I doh even worrying with u Mr. Sturm…..all ah we nah dotish.
Can our Dominican born Head of de Caricom Secretariat help us with this one at all?
Next I am concerned about de completion of de Pond Casse to Melvillehall Road. De project still far from completion.
Dominicans just don’t get it period…
This Dip will always leave this alone, they all know the truth…
Dominicans must learn to read between the lines..
Dominica is a highly corrupt island…
MAMA LOOK wanting something BAD for your Country, CLOWN.
Mr.Thomphson Fontaine,do you have anything to say?
Did Skerritt possess a French passport? Did he write to the French Embassy in St. Lucia requesting that he denounce his French citizenship?
Has Skerritt ever responded to anyone, either in the positive or negative, about he having a French passport? Couldn’t the French Ambassador also help us here to clarify that matter and help us find the truth?
By all accounts, Dominica is certainly on a “Black List.” Where money-laundering, fraud and other corrupt practices are free to flourish, the country and its people pay the heavy price. Excuses after excuses, won’t help. Diplomatic niceties also won’t erase the problems we are facing. What is the function of the French Development Bank? Have Dominica received loans from that bank for projects? Is their any working relationship between that bank and the French Govt.?
Whose fools are we? The country is under serious surveillance – money-laundering, indiscriminate passport sales (transparency or accountability wanting), criminals are at easy reach of our sacred passports,drug trade, human trafficking and so on. Are you also in a state of perpetual denial?
Who can beleive you. In the face of the truth, you have chosen to kkep on with what could easily spillin your face as a massive lie and unfounded accusation. Its a pity you did not say Skerrit bought the diplomat. Go ahead even now and sy it. i am sure you are not a foolish person, don’t behave like one It cannot be that you hate Skerrit so much that you will not even in this case spear him a moment of your evil machinations. A big question you must answer. Have you seen any sign that yours and others present stance will deliver Dominica into the hands of the party you think has a better plan – albeit on line? I suspect many people are getting fed up with such wicked thoughts of your and others like you.
woow mama look,Jacques Sturm denies there is a foreign aid blacklist
If one reads between the lines you would will observe that Mr. Jacque Strum is truly a Diplomat.Reputable news papers like the Agence Franc Press would not disseminate that kind of information kwowing it is false. I first read the news on CANA, another powerful news paper in the Caribbean. Had it been DNO or Q95 who had reported the story first, the Skerrit labor Government would have requested an immediate retraction and apology. The next level show would have come down on them like a ton of bricks.Like the calypso,” put your hands between your legs”,man talking about seeking explanation.Dominicans should request an immediate apology from those concerned.
conspiracy theory: any and every who does not comply with the new world order gets unaffiliated. The P.M did not oblige to approvals for legalizing homosexuals; so it has began.
S:N we could be self reliable if we kept our own oil.
why you and your goverment wasnt shock by the christmas fire on mano house ans seek CLARIFICATION on the matter. feel how it is to be betrayed
I think is time that Dominicans with duel citizenships run for office cause there is no political party in DA at the moment that can take this guy and his corrupt ministers of government.
Let’s hope Q95 talks on that one too…French Diplomat Denies foreign aid blacklist/Dominica…Q95,man like Angelo and Lennox;
Dem man so quick to Blacklist Dominica for politics sake.Boy!IF Dominica could talk she would tell Us who are the criminals.
The news concerning the blacklist was first reported to the Caribbean people by CANA.
Dominica is indeed on a black list. read properly.Are you DUMB?
Cacarat,please read and understsnd!And go look up the meaning of DUMB…Maybe you are one of those Q95 sheep.
am sorry I can’t please quote where the French said yes Dominica is on a black list clown
DNO IS A WASTE OF UNRELIABILITY. I DON’T BELIEVE NOTHING THEY WRITE.
But when Dominica was blacklisted they was RELIABLE
According to the Express, Sturm said there is indeed a list but it comes from the France Development Bank (AFD). “It is working list for banking procedures. It is not an official list of the French government,” he said.
So I interpret that to mean that Dominica is indeed on a list. The question still remains, why is Dominica on this list? Do we have an obligation to provide this agency with information and who is responsible for doing so, is it the government or the banks? Further is there a question of question mark against banking procedures in Dominica and if there isn’t why are the banks not following proper banking procedures.
But Papa Dom, AFD (not a bank) is an offical French Govt. agency. So what is the difference? Go and ask our own French (OECS) Ambassador in St. Lucia, not the one in Barbados.
Please show where he said Dominica is on AFD list, am missing something. I know there is a list but never went as far as to say Dominica is on that list or can all the experts get us that list please that would put all they say to rest
Just because you dont like a person´s politics doesnt mean you have to go out of your way to discredit him by any means necessary. Some people dont mind tarnishing Dominica´s good name, just to bring down Roosevelt Skerrit. Shame on all of you: Q95, Fontaine and all the others who stoop so low!
Why the ambassador for France in Barbados, when we have our own, Mr. Prome? I recall that gentleman presenting his credentials to Dr. Liverpool, our President. Was the news of the blacklisting not made public by a French Govt. Minister? So was he lying then?
This is so funny that Thompson want to come to represent Dominica at the highest level and it is only the bad he is reporting. I have not heard him reported on something good about Dominica. He should get his facts straight, he even mentioned the Europeans and US will be following soon to black list Dominica, these fellas sickens me. Matt is just following like a ZAMBIE, Dominica, Dominica, Dominica. Please you guys, it is better to be thought of as a fool and open your mouth and prove all doubts. This goes right back to Matt and Thompson and their bunch of cronies. Thompson research the story and come back on Q95 and let us know we are WAITING.
well said
A typical example of diplomatic hairsplitting. Regardless what the French Embassador in Barbados says the fact is that the French Development Agency (AFD) is “the main implementing agency for France’s OFFICIAL development asistance to developing countries and overseas territories” (as per AFD’s own web site).Let there be no misunderstanding. This is done on behalf of the French Govt.:”pour mettre en place la politique de developpement international DEFINIE par Le GOUVERNMENT FRANCAIS”. To emphasise this, the agreement of 22 June 2012 for the second AFD loan for the Pont Case= Melville Hall road project was signed not only by Roosevelt Skerrit but also the French Embassador to Dominica, Michel Prom, who said on the occasion that AFD was “deeply involved in Dominica”. (see also: Caribbean Journal of 29 June, 2012). That loan was for Euro 10 million, contracted for the completion of the Roseau to Melville Halll road Project” (Roosevelt Skerrit, budget address of 17 uly,2012). This is in addition to the original loan of Euro 15.8 million from AFd for financing the contract for the rehabilitation of this road, signed by Govt. with messrs. Gaddarkhan. Therefore, we are so far indebted to AFD to the tune of Euro 25.8 million for this project alone, which is welll past its ,rescheduled, completion date.
Make no mistake AFD blacklist or “official” Fench Govt. blacklist, the effect for us is exactly the same. No more loans forthcoming for us through the offical French development agency.
Bondou, at todays rate of exhange I make that close to E.C.91 million.From Pont Case to Hatton Garden, how much is that per mile?.Is not a new road you know. Where is the money? Where is the road?
What a terrible web we weave. I simply donot understand why my people wallow in such negativity. Judging from this article it may very well be that the AFD has soem difficulty with our banking system. The original story on this matter said or clearly implied that the French Government had “backlisted” Dominica, and thus the nay sayers, the political demagogues around us who wish to see Dominica implode, in actuality ran with the story.
I suppose that soem day when the “governing shoe” will be held by another party, perhaps the Douglases, we will understand the problems we are causing for our little Dominica. It is liek soem people have made it their duty to stay up all night, surfing the net, and googling the word “Dominica” to see if they can come find something unsavoury about the land they claim to love so dearly because there is a hungry thirst for negative news about Dominica. What a tangle web we seek to weave. talk about Dominica’s future development, relationships among its people and institutions. Does the end (removing Skerrit at all cost irrespective) justifies the means (destroying Dominica)?,
But Observer are you seriously suggesting that the removal of Skerrit would destroy Dominica? Well, we are all mortal and Dominica was there before Skerrit and will be there after him, for better or worse.
Good to hear. We must note be so quick to swallow everything. Especialy when it casts our country in bad light.
The point is there is a list and we are on that list and whether or not it is an official french government list, it can still affect the country when it goes looking for loans in the international markets, so before you go jumping for joy and criticizing citizens who are concerned, have a little thought and do not blindly follow, after all you are human, not a lemming.
Some people VEX
That Diplomat must have been paid some money to talk that fake statement. Once again he did it!
Did what you lil monkey?
That story just not adding up. Based on what was reported on the french website “Aides to development minister Pascal Canfin were unable to say how much French foreign aid currently transits via banks in the countries featured on the new blacklist” Oh I get it, must be a red white and blue list!!! Again the precedent was set in 2010 when 18 countries were blacklisted. On that note in 2010 the countries including Dominica were Anguilla, Belize, Grenada, Montserrat, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Why in 2013 we find ourselves with Trinidad and Tobago as the only Caribbean Islands on that list.
http://www.afp.com/en/node/952771
so where did Q95 THOMPSON FONTAINE MATT PELITIER and the other q95 (………) trying to get a name to call them. got this news from
IN THEIR m d a they got it
What is those people qualification?
What university they went to after SMA/DGS ?
Trained Journalists my foot!
They get it from AFP (Agence France Presse), one of the most respected news agencies in the world. Iooked for a retraction/correction but did have not seen one. It looks like Skerrit caught with his pants down for true.
i dont know clear the air Q95
Thanks for the clarification …
The AFD could nt publish a black list of countries without the government’s approval. If so we should hear that the decision makers at AFD are fired.
Notice though that Sturm has not made a formal apology. It is not His responsibility ruffle feathers or engage in confrontation or disagreement .
AFD would not have published such information just out of the blue waters. Notice too that trinidad is also admitting that they had not met previous requirements But they too are expressing discontent but that s expected. After all it is expected that when the inefficiency of politicians are exposed they must defend , lie and condemn.
whosoever did it is immaterial we on some blacklist and this stuuuuupid korupt UWP must be restored into power
These guys didnt get caught with their pants down just now why do you believe they ran to upgrade the law about money laundering last week is because they knew what was comming this Govt is above all the laws of the Island but not the International or regioal communities
They will try all sorts of foolish comments even reach out to other leaders in the OECS to issue statements so that poeple will be wondering what is going on they are good at that but we the people have to start analysing diffrent situations that affect us with understanding regardless of who it may hurt. We will have to wait and see where does Dominica move from here.
I tell you is the bugger laws
The gay fellowship playing hardball. Skerrit spoke today next day black list aint that fishy?
Mais oui mon cher ami.They are begining to punish us for not allowing buggarmen and femme zamie to freely expose their maniere ti-chien on our streets.That’s their stated aim.To bring us to ruin until we change our laws to suit them and allow them to publicly practice their nastiness on our streets.