Former Deputy Director of Tourism and Dominica’s Lady of Song Ophelia Marie is calling on authorities here to do more to ensure that French nationals are not confused about the documents they need to enter Dominica.
This comes after an admission from a French female visitor to Dominica, in a front page article of a Guadeloupe newspaper earlier this month, who claimed that she had a traumatizing experience with Dominica’s immigration.
The woman, who is in her late 50’s, apparently attempted to enter the country with a passport that had expired. The French lady claimed in the article that she was subjected to body search and also housed in a termite-infested cell for a night. She also expressed dissatisfaction with the meal that she was given and the treatment from police the following morning, who allegedly told her to leave the Police Headquarters without she knowing her whereabouts.
In an interview last week with Matt Peltier on Q-95’s “Hot Seat,” Marie indicated that doubts in the mind of French travelers to Dominica about the documents necessary to enter the country need to be clarified.
“The French used to be allowed to come, even with expired documentation, however, things have change, it’s been a long time now. If somebody can tell whoever has to be told, to let them know that they need proper documentation, then I would hope that those things can be prevented,” Marie said.
Marie is not pointing blame at anyone. “Maybe the police know things that we don’t know,” she stated.
However the hospitality entrepreneur indicates that if these bad media reports continue in the Francophone world, they will have damaging effects on Dominica’s economy.
“We cannot behave like we don’t care about this. Guadeloupe and Martinique stand for at least 30 percent of our arrival. These are the people who come to World Creole Music Festival, a lot of times these are the only people that we have,” Marie said.
I had my friend treated very bad by French migration carnival had him fly to Martinique he had no visa. He was hand coff arrested and carnival reprsentative try to explain but they was very rude . someone in our office may or oversight some paper every on makes mistake . It was dama he said he will neve go to the French island . As some of the readers decause we don’t report to our media is happing . Give that’s visa we can earn some money for our country not expensive say 100 or50 we are treated the say way tell ofila or what’s her make find out if our citizen are treated them open her mouth last year flying from Mia to home liat stop in Guadeloupe due to the door not closing we were it allowed to enter the airport they told we cannot come in we stood out side 2hours. What a about that does ofila see that tell here to to sleep
To all my Domincains Friends,
All the comments I read are very angry and spiteful towards how you are treated on the French Islands.
I feel very sadly because your experience in Guadeloupe or Martinique, which I am sur is true. I would like you to understand how people on our ilelands feel. We have so many illégal peuple who come here to our ilelands, from Dominican République, from Antigua, from Barbades, Haiti, Guyana, Saint Christopher, from Haiti, from Sainte Lucie and from Dominique.
This is a big probleme. We do not hate the peuple from Dominique. Just if so many peuple come, we have too many illegal here. I know sometimes you are traited bad. But we like the especially the peuple from Dominique and Saint Lucie, we are your brothers.
I think what Ophelia want to say is that when peuple come from the French Ileland, they are used to like when crossing to Spain, Germany or Holland, when you are French, you do not need passeports, when it is no good or expirered.
They are hearing the peuple at the aeroport who tell them it is OK. and they think nobady will be suspicious of French citizen with expirered passport, because they do not know the new regulartions and they think they will never be suspicios that they want to stay in Dominique to work or to stay illegal there. They feel sur that the peuple from Dominique will never feel this type of illegal activity, because they are just going for few days.
Maybe the French treat the Dominquais bad, I am sorry, but because so many people from so many ilelands want to come here. The people from Guadeloupe think they know that Dominque will not suspect them to stay illegal, this is why they are choqued to be traited like peuple from Dominican République or refugies from very poor countrys. They do not expect this traitement, that is like revanche from the way we maybe traite peuple from Dominique.
We all have to learn to treat each one another better. I feel bad that the peuple from Domique cannot have different type of Opinion. i see they are more like the Americains or the English, you are guilty or innocent, you brake the law, go to jail, you did not, you are a good person. Law and order, go to jail or pay a ticket. People from Guadeloupe think because your are Creole, you can always explane you special situation, that you are now coming to be illegal, that you will maybe understand. I think this is what Ophelia was explaineing. Because you have been English so long, you think like them, everybody must folloe the law or break it, be good or be evil, from the way you talk everything in the world is black or white, no exeption, you do not see nuance like grey or brown. I think we should talk to people from Guadeloupe and Domonique and Martinique and Saitn Lucie, so all us, the Créole, understand and love each other because we have the same histoiry and the same culture and language.
Serge
those of u who are condemning the policemen ur turns will soon come when u or a member of ur family enters into gaudeloupe.Am not surporting anyone,and it’s time that these people learn to repect and treat others as humans and not as rubbish,and they are untouchable,cause they think they are gold.Good work policemen.Mr prime minister,it’s time to act and i’ll come to pay u a visit anytime am in D/ca.Dominicans are going through too much to enter a so called neighbor sister contry
I AM CALLING ON THE AUTHORITIES TO IMPOSE VISA RESTRICTION ON THESE FRENCH PEOPLE TOO…WHAT GOOD FOR THE GOOSE…GOOD FOR THE GHANDA. THESE FRENCH PEOPLE ARE VERY DISRESPECTFUL AND THEY TREAT DOMINICANS LIKE CRAP.
THEY TRICKED US WITH THEIR VISA FREE ENTRY AND MADE THINGS WORST FOR US….PLEASE OPHELIA I AM NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH YOU ON THAT ONE
Does French immigration treat Dominicans entering their country better and without suspicion and scorn? Simply because have not reported it or made a public outcry about it, does not mean it is not happening to Dominicans. Stuuuuuupes…
Wrong Ophelia!
Every day we see the millions of $ of our resources being shipped out on barges by french men…without our mountains they can’t build in the french islands.
Our fishermen being chased at gun point on their own Fish aggregation devices.
The french have claimed our macoba bank
They harvest millions of $ in fish from our waters.
When they are caught they boast that we can’t do them anything (did not politicians with french connections release them?)
They have exhausted their fish stocks so they are exploiting ours now.
Our colas workers, contractors, truckers are without jobs and can’t pay their loans while French men get all our road contracts…
They are in a recession so we are subsidizing them.
Sorry Ophelia it is the other way around.
“Maybe the police know things that we don’t know,” …this is the time when all countries are stepping our their immigration
what is Ophelia talking about? It is just logical for ANYONE traveling these days to have all I s, Ts, a Ps sorted out.
I don’t think we should differentiate between a french traveler and another traveler. All travelers should do their due diligence and have the proper travel documents.
I’m not sure what the lady expected traveling with an expired passport- that is unheard of…it’s just logical to check you documents for validity before you travel…so to try to excuse her behavior is unjustified.
She should have been deported right back
Try to enter any other country with an expired passport & see what happens to you! Try to exit a country with an expired passport & see what happens to you! THis woman should have been stopped from traveling by the FRENCH authorities!
wat goes around comes around thats how the treat dominicans
So why wasn’t it picked up by the airlines, TSA or ferry service prior to her boarding?
There are people in place to check those things.
Most Dominican policemen don’t know what respect and courtesy means. I had the experience at the World Creole Festival 2010. The police in Dominica think they are above the law and the people (persons in Dominica)in authority are aiding and abeting
their actions. Let’s be honest – respect and courtesy is lacking in Dominica.
That has nothing to do with a French national traveling on an expired passport!
i will tell you what that lady did, she went to but her ticket with her carte d’identite and she pass through immigration in Guadeloupe with her card and when she reach Dominica she showed her passport!!!
thats what i believe she did.
i can bet on this, because it is impossible to pass through immigratuon in Guada with an expired passport when is computer systems they have.
i support u 100% sir
Should have…
OPHELIA you are OUT OF ORDER !
In 1964 when Hurricane Cleo devastated Guadeloupe, 14 dead, 1000 homes destroyed, the first country to give assistance was Dominica. Two years later in 1966 after the ravages of Hurricane Inez, 27 dead over 600 injured .. again Dominica was the first to provide assistance, even before the European French came down.
Only a few years ago during the social unrest in the French Caribbean which forced the Guadeloupe economy to a virtual standstill, Dominica came to the rescue by providing much needed goods and services to Guadeloupe. Conversely, the majority of Dominicans who have traveled to Guadeloupe over the past 20 years will share negative experiences they encountered at the hands, (and nasty mouths) of the French authorities.. and these experiences were unjustified except for the fact that the individuals on the receiving end are Dominican citizens.
If you are taking one isolated case of a woman trying to enter into Dominica with a passport that expired 5 months prior to entry don’t make an international case out of it ! The Dominica authorities had every right to do what they did….. lady you are out of order…
She is “NOT OF ORDER” and stop screaming. Ophelia only made a suggestion that” authorities here to do more to ensure that French nationals are not confused about the documents they need to enter Dominica”.
This is an advice and stop making a mountain out of a mole hill. Reread again the article slowly and digest before you scream and comment.
In your Merrr… When I travel it is up to me to know the requirements of the country i am visiting. It is not their duty to inform me..
she is really out of order,and a hypocrite as they are
there is something fishy here, if the passport was expired for over 5 mths and she had to come here, why didn’t she use some other form of ID?
am sure she was aware of the expiry date on the passport,she cant complain bout the conditions of the cell,this is a place you are put in when u comit a crime,or you have done something illegal so you could reflect back on what you’ve done.In her country it would have been the same or even worst.
A cell is a place where you are held when you are SUSPECTED of having committed a crime.
This story = kyak!! The woman passport is expired for G** sake!! so what is Ophelia talking about? Is she her friend or close acquaintance..gota be something like that! I am even dissapointed in Ophelia making any public statement on this. The woman is wrong period!!!
not ony that it was expired 1,2,0r 3 weeks ago but almost 5 months. we take no chances c wat happened in Norway. we should trust no one not 4 age nor nationality.
they doing like we r begginin so we have to take their crap. its time they learn to respect us and our rules. rules are rules no VIP treatment 4 one set. their immigrations over ther speak rough rough 2 u although u have all the required documents. she try to sabotage us my displaying that nonsence on the news paper but wat she really did is one them n tell them we take our rules seriously. so doh play
it happened to ne in martinq. i had a valid passport but 4got to remove my expired titre de sejour from my passport n they till held me up 4 questioning. i was just passing through not even staying inb their country 4 the day. they asked me for my stamped of entry, i showed it to them, they kept questioning and i had to wait until the chief immigration comes n told them y they holding me if they did not c my stamp. i mean common dominicans my passport was not expired n they treated me like shit.
where in the world you can enter someone elses country ona expired passport tell me
My thoughts exactly!!! in this day and age you need to have the required documents to enter any country. An expired passport is really pushing it. After reading this article I really wondered if it was a joke. I know I can never enter a country much less guadeloupe with an expired passport…pure common sense!
By indicating that people should be notifed of the correct documents is rediculus (other documents yes but not a passport), that woman must have been banged on her head and in serious denial to think with everything that’s been going on in the world that it is okay to travel on an expired passport. How about checking with your travel agency in ur country before travelling? Maybe she thought Dominica has no laws or maybe she was in a coma and just woke up and decided to travel … like duh? stupes
While I agree we all need to do our part for tourism development … this case is really rediculus n ophelia should not have raised this because while I agree certain lawless things happens in DA, it is definetly not a complete lawless country so please lets be real!
come on Marie! with all due respect. we know the contribution they make to our economy. but does this give right to come in here with expired documents?
and to make mention it made headlines! i mean come on! have you heard of Dcans testimonies where traveling to Guadalupe is concerned? we go through unnecessary scrutiny and not ONCE it has made headlines here in Dominica. our ppl are always maligned by these french people and before one mishap allu calling on us to remember the economy…
This can’t be right…money is not all! so stop asking us to shut up!
and when you have Euro is still a problem to change it they have to ask you all kind of questions.
SHE SERIOUS MAN .. EXPIRED PASSPORT LOCK HER UP .. SO THE FRENCH CAN DO AND GET AWAY .. AND IF I GO FRENCH ISLAND AND I MISSING ONE PAPER .. IS PROBLEMS .. SO MANY PAPERS U NEED TO GO QUADELOUPE
this is got to be a joke. Before time the french used to come in with expired passport………stupes. thats to show u how u all ride dominica back but for us to enter allu country for one day, we have to have so much documents that it just makes one change their mind. we suppose to enter visa free for two weeks but that is more crap, u need more stuff for visa free than visa itself. A dominican would dare attempt to go enter guada with an expired passport. lady u do the crime, do the time.
correction…..a dominican wouldn’t dare attempt to enter guada with an expired passport
There are some misleading information in the lady’s story. She said that she was told to leave Police Headquarters the next morning without knowing her whereabouts, I don’t believe that. If she was detained by police, they would NEVER cause her to leave the station from the cell on her own like a lost child in the city. Why was she detained in the first place? Was it a joke? She is lying.
truly dominican
in the first place she talking about not knowing her whereabout,if she dont know her whereabout what the a** she coming in a country for. when leaving your country to enter another man’s country u must have a contact address or telephone or even a hotel guesthouse anything. she lying
i said the same thing. where were you going in the first place, how she did not know her whereabouts, so she was just coming in what was the address on the immigration form she had to fill out , this lady wanted to make an issue just to sue the state i believe its a money making scandle, thats what i believe, wicked set of people.
these people are too wicked,and think they are walking on air.Am too furious about Opillia.This has me wondering that,if some Dominicans are the reason why these people take us for byasses.
What i hearing there nah. Dominicans are traeted s0 badly when we go to Guadeloupe even if our documents are in order and Ophelia want to come and talk that nonsense. Her passport expire throw her in d cell. they should even send her back d next day. We too like to put foreighers before our own people.
that’s a very foolish comment what ophelia said is very right is people like u that dont care about dominica that is going to afect tne dominican economy you dont care because you think you will get hand out from skerrit for ever
ophelia get real.
Dominican have been treated so bad in french country where YOU.
Does this mean that we should treat others badly because they or someone from their country treated us bad? We have to do what is right at all times. I remember myself being treated roughly by the lady at the ferry terminal in Guadeloupe and how did I react. I spoke to her about the love of the Heavenly Father and one should not treat others with disdain. I did not scream at her or swear at her. When I got to her I spoke to her in soft voice and reminded her that we in DA do not treat Gaudelopeans that way and I reminded her of the Fathers love. she went quiet and I am sure she thought deeply. To this day whenever I go to Guadeloupe this lady is so pleasant to me and someone who was in the line remarked “What did you say to her? She has changed her attitude to the Dominican Public”
TD i agree
we cannot enter a country with an expired passport, who the hell is the french they is jesus christ. they should send her ass back the same day
i want ophelia to make our comments make headline alos, you cannot enter a country on an expired passport
I agree we don’t have to treat others the way they treat us,but it’s the same bible who said we are to respect the authorities.It was not a tit for tat,it’s respecting the law
just asking, why when they do us, where is Marie or Matt,yes they come to music festival that don’t give her the right to come here with are expire passport, we if we go to any french islands and we missing one document they treat us worse, food don’t talk about that so who she think she be, Matt and Marie never get held by french immigration yet when they do, they will cry for there mother if she alive,i did even if i have my papers i leave in french st martin just saying.
I am French. Living in Dominica. But this is nonsense. When you travel abroad, you have to have valid documents. End of the discussion. If this French lady wants to blame Dominica or Dominicans for not being allowed to enter a foreign country without proper documentation, that’s her problem but we should have a look at it and let the same media know the true story. French citizens are lucky to be allowed to enter Dominica with a National I.D. card instead of a passport. That’s already nice.
On the other hand, and without knowing what happened with Immigration officers on this particular case, it is known there is one female immigration officer always very rude with foreigners arriving in Dominica. This is a real bad behaviour which could have serious consequences for the French islands market, and this is real bad publicity for Dominica.
Anyway, the whole immigration and customs procedure at express des Iles arrivals should be better handled; It is still by far too long . The ferry is a good tool but people (Dominicans and foreigners) complain about the time needed to clear customs and Immigration upon arrival.
These “details” contribute to the feeling visitors get from a travel experience. It MUST be as good as possible.
So Ophelia the authorities here have to tell travellers to Dominica when to renew their passports? All you not easy in DA nah!
Don’t want sound negative and ignorant. But that is pay back for the way treat our Dominica national(the law biding ones) when entering their territory. I know Mrs Marie means well for all parties involved. But b/c of my experience i had get this one off my chest. I know its ti for ta thinking.
marie this happens all over .expired document u want to get vip treatment.haha u know better.you forgot what happen to the dominicans who slept in cells in guadeloupe.i dont have to refresh you memory.what goes around comes around .you never spoke on their behalf.ameooooo
Yeah, like the treatmen Doc Henry got in Guadeloupe although she had all the necessary paperwork. Come on Mrs Marie…
mrs marie did not say any thing that was bad, she was not pointing any fingers i listened to the radio program and heard every thing she said , she was just causioning the police to be a little more professional in their duties, not because french ppl do us wrong we have to do the same thing, the same costumer service we do not have in dominica that is why all this is happening, however if you go to an american country and your papers are not in order , i can gaurentee youm they will not treat you with disrespect. criminal are ppl , treat them with respect, that is just it.
they treat us like garbage up there. they put us in cells worse than that when our people don’t have papers, they put u in a small cell with how many smelling people no light, a bid grown woman like that don’t know she is not suppose to travel with an expired passport. they calling on everyone now to make their electronic passport i ma sure she is aware of that. our people did their job, those french peoplet o impossible when we get worse treatment than that in their place,we having all documents and when we reach immigration they still pressing us putting you an a side in a lil room to wait for how long,when they hold you not even clotehs or shoes you can sometimes go for, the authorities did what they have to do. if is states she was going i am sure she would have the right docs, but they believe in thir mind Dominica is a free port. how did she pass through immigration in Guadeloupe in the first place!!!!!!
My thoughts exactly.. How da hell she passed through immigration a Le Raizet airport.
Hello We are in 2011…one would hope that just as we have sanctions and regulations since the world trade center bombing issue that offcourse all documentation into and out of the country or any country must be valid. We have rules to go by to get to guadeloupe and martinique why should they be excused coming here.
I will not at any time accept the police mistreating anyone not even the locals so if they did mistreat this visitor they are in the wrong and should be shamed publicly. Some of these officers can be lazy and arrogant and lack the diplomacy and tact required for the job. They need people skills training.
All in all just as we Dominicans have to be informed of what travel documents we need all other countries nationals should exercise the same.
LOL ‘She also expressed dissatisfaction with the meal that she was given’ Not haute cuisine enough for her?
I agree we need to ensure our image is presented in the best light. However, they should also look at the way they treat other foreign nationals who come in contact with their law enforcement authorities.