Dominica supports French islands as associate members of OECS
Dominica News Online - Thursday, December 15th, 2011 at 12:13 PM
Skerrit
Dominica is to support an application by Martinique and Guadeloupe to become an associate member of the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean (OECS).
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit made the announcement on Wednesday at meeting with French officials where Dominica’s ongoing geothermal project was discussed.
“It is always welcomed that you have now shown this practical interest,” the Prime Minister said. “We believe that you have an important role to play in the process of our own integration within the OECS. Yes, you are European territories but you are in the Caribbean and we share many common challenges which require a common approach to addressing these challenges. We cannot speak about security in the region without bringing the French assets into play in fighting transnational crimes. We cannot speak about trade without bringing the French islands at the table because of the large markets and access to Europe.”
He said the two islands’ associate membership in the OECS will be a welcomed move and, “Dominica will do everything possible to ensure that the approval is given for both countries to be associate members of the OECS”.
Skerrit also said legislation should be considered to ensure that Guadeloupe and Martinique benefit from Dominica’s geothermal energy resource.
“For there to be a true appreciation for union, for integration, our people must see tangible things. They must be able to point to areas of practical cooporation and not just by words. We see this geothermal project as a very important aspect of that process,” he noted.
He said the resource must be shared with the French islands.
“We need to take that seriousness to even the level of parliament where we will have legislation which will guide that sharing of resource within ourselves,” he said.
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40 Comments
While the integration of our cousins of Martinique and Guadelope should be welcome in the OECS, a note of caution. They are frecnh colonies and Frances economy is not doing very well as a note of factual, France’s credit ratings are about to be down graded, which mean france wil be looking for new markets for their goods. Lets just be minfull that the already fledging economy of the OECs does not suffer as a result on including the french colonies into the family of the OECs.
fair market prices for our resources……….nuff said
Putting all dual citizenship talk aside….why must Dominica share it resources with the French islands? I want you to fully explain what you mean by share.
This resource is for Dominica and Dominicans alone, so I hope your concept of sharing comes with monetary compensation for that resource we will be providing.
Wrong, we don’t own it. A licence was granted by Govt., in Sept. 2008 to West Indies Power, a company utimately registered in St. Maarten and chaired bvy Gregory de Gannes, the former CEO of the National Bank of Dominica . In return we received a 10% stake in their locally registered subsidiary and an undertaking of fixed commisions on all electricity sales (both domestic- and export) by the local subsidiary but that does not mean that we own the company that has the rights to exploit this energy source.
wow its amazing,with all the comments i have read here,that none reflected on the fact that the french territories are next door to us,and that the prime minister was seeing their application as good for dominica,seeing that we are partly french based on history,or maybe a lot of dominicans don’t seem to realize that they trace their family blood lines as far back as france,seriously its true,i have done mine on ancestry dot com,they are not independent that is true,but this only an application.
“Skerrit also said legislation should be considered to ensure that Guadeloupe and Martinique benefit from Dominica’s geothermal energy resource”.
What is this Madness? Legislation for what?
For out resources. This is getting more interesting.
Seems some people really want the French to take over >Dominica completely.
This relationship with the OECS would be essentially managed by the “Conseil Régional” of the french islands, i.e by west indians ( locals) and not by what some of you “narrowminded ppl” call the colonialist power ( i.e the french government).
The OECS and DA can only benefit from this relationship ; they have things to gain, nothing to loose.
The possible and positive consequences are that the french islands could be allowed, by the french government, to import more from the OECS, or to bring more help.
I think that some Dominicans are just jaleous of the french West indians, cause these get a lot from France : huge social assistance, huge economic and financial support.
They cost much more to France than what they bring to it ; ( still, they’re not happy with it ; it’s never enough ; but that is another story )
Concerning the issue of entering Guadeloupe or Martninique : All you can only blame some fellow citizens who commited crimes and so many nonsense ( drug traffic, robberies, smuggling, rapes, …)
the french are fed up with it !
Concerning the geothermal project : Who said DA will provide “free” electricity to the French WI ?
The french would invest a lot of money in that project that DA cannot afford to build alone
And DA will benefit from it, by getting free or cheap electricity and probably, by selling this electricity at a negociated price to the french WI
So stop complaining ; open all you eyes !
“They cost much more to France than what they bring to it ; ( still, they’re not happy with it ; it’s never enough ; but that is another story )” really???? find out where the biggest commercial zone in France is located….then rethink ur statement….
Why is there so much emphasis on sharing resources with the French islands? We are, by no means, selfish nor do we oppose Caribbean integration, but don’t we have to share the wealth with Dominicans first? That means employing every Dominican, having decent housing, education, health care and recreation.
Our emphasis must be placed on attracting capital investments to grow our economy by utilizing our natural and human resources. Let the French invest here instead of giving them cheap energy to expand their economy and continue the brain drain. We will share the products we manufacture with them.
Even after the Treaty of Paris 1814, Martinique and Saint Lucia never really separated, those two have a very deep,weird relationship and I don’t understand it.
Anyway, I think it would be good for the OECS because there are too many sharks (Chavez etc…) out there and France will keep an eye out for us. Long live the OECS.
WHEN THIS MAN GETS LEGITIMATE I WILL RESPECT HIM
After reading some of these comments; I understand why our fellow Caribbean countries have left us behind. With such short forsight, and such negativity.
I really don’t see why mr. Skerrit wants an association through the OECS when the EPA is already in place. Maybe he has long-term ambitions for Gudaloupe and Martinique to give up their status of full EU territories and become ALBA members instead? Just wonder.
you know y they looking to the caribbean because france is putting it had on them,thay why they a turning to the oecs
Well dual citizenship was not a problem was it???
smdh
let the man do his DO….french or not….
mmmmm I see, allu always doubting what thomas say…. is a good thing i never wave red, blue or green flag to eat and drink, nor to have anything I own. mi zor tapai achwelma say sa zor tay ka chercher… PWOIIIII pas pleure!!!!!!!!!!!!
true??? anoushah you come out…. a light shine on you welcome into the light baby….always knew you were a smart one….
lololoLOLOLOLololol say con sa yo kay van zor leh zor ka dormi….plis sot passe sot..
invicks me “I don’t want to SELF INCRIMINATE”
HE HEYYYYYYYY MI TWAHKAHHHHH JEFFOIIIII
Why Dominicans elect mister only nonsense mister doing? Nothing for the benefit of Dominicans, because u are a French man u doing that Cha Man!
Very smart move indeed,trafic to and from Guda and Martinique need to be made easyer.lets hope all of this will be in the making as we go forward.
we really do not need them now.
Duh!
Please blame the past for the problems we’re now facing. However, let’s let-go of the past, and move forward. The future looks bright with…!
the french a only intresting in what they can get from the little island nothing more,trust me I live in a french country when they finish eating you up they throw you away
Boi Skerro looking like he have worries boi! LOL!
But what we hearing there, nuh? Since Martinique and Guadeloupe have not attained Political Independence from France, those two Islands are still considered dependencies of the Colonial country, France. Therefore, there are certain decisions that the authorities in both French dependencies are incapable of taking on their own. Matters dealing with such foreign relations must be vetted by France.
Dominica is politically independent. Could the island become an Associate member of the EU? Would Martinique and Guadeloupe also apply for associate membership in ALBA and become members as dependencies of France?
Dominicans should also reflect on that Geothermal project and Agreement signed, who are the players involved, who was awarded that important national project ahead of capable, skilled, professional Dominicans who had submitted a proposal to participate in the geothermal exploration programme. Those locals were rejected in favour of a foreign company.
Read, research and inform yourselves about some of those people linked to that project. Dominicans remember clearly about the millions paid for LEGAL FEES in the initial phases of the geothermal project.
Dominicans pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee do not allow yourselves to be fooled again and again and again. Fight hard to ensure that Dominicans, like yourselves, obtain maximum benefits from its geothermal exploration, its unique natural resource. If we are not vigilant most of the benefits to be derived will be sucked up by God knows whom.
Let’s try to see further than the tip of our noses. We should take no chances, seeing and hearing the abomination that is going on with our sacred property, our PASSPORTS. A FEW are making millions, while the country is reeling backwards. KEEP your EYES and EARS wide open.
One thing is clear. If Guadeloupe and Martinique are to become dependent on energy supplies from Dominica security measures will have to be put into place to ensure that these two French territorities will not suffer any major disruptions, be it through natural causes, political interference or otherwise. I do not think the French would ever allow a situatuin to develop where they could be held to ransom over this.
because of greed and lawlessness from our people they are forced to put laws in place to protect them, we keep fighting among ouselves and are not recognizing our importance and to protect our self. why be sad when others work to prevent the abuse of their probucts
Fairplay you are very very right. They will just swallow all the available Aid for the OECS states. Opportunists!!! They looking for other avenues now that Europe is in financial trouble.
Wake up! They don’t need us like we need them.
Guadeloupe and Martinique benefitting from everything..but we benefit nothing from them..see how we have to struggle to go to guada and martinique and these people enter our country like it’s theres…smh
Blame the criminal elements from your country!
@TRUE,WELL SAID,WE USED TO TRAVEL TO THE FRENCH WITHOUT A VISA,AND SOME DOMINICANS AND ST.LUCIANS CAME TO THE PEOPLE LAND COMMITTED CRIME ALSO DRUGS,NOW YOU GUYS WANT TO BLAME THE FRENCH PEOPLE,WHEN I USED TO BE MARTINIQUE A WEEK WILL NOT PASS WITHOUT I HEAR A DOMINICAN COMMIT A CRIME,I USED TO BE SO ASHAMED.
Brother, because we are the “Haitians” of Guadeloupe-Martinique-UK-US and some were else; how many Dominicans can have a 5mn conversation without mentioning a relative leaving in this or other place???? Better let enter few and give them a chance to live and work as humans than full their country with us, living and being treated as WE DO with the Haitians, XXI century slavery
Extremely important decision.
yes but would approval not have to be obtained from the mothership – france?
remember they are departments of france eh
The same procedure for the British Overseas Territories, who requested permission from the UK government.
I am not comenting on the right or wrong of this matter but you my friend are wrong. The relationship which BOT have with Britain is quite different to what obtains with France and its departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique. So before you jump into blind support of Skerrit, do your research, ok.
This will be a one-way street, giving the French people unlimited access to the OECS countries while our access to French Islands will remain limited.
well said
amen to that! i shave you big toe
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