*Editor’s note* The article originally stated that the treaty was signed in 1983 this has since been corrected. The treaty was signed in Paris between the two Prime Ministers on 7 September 1987. This error in the year of the signing was as a result of a misprint from our source. Jacque Chirac was Prime Minister of France at that time in 1987.”
World leaders have gathered in Paris to join mourners in paying their final respects to the former French president Jacques Chirac who died last week.
Jacques Chirac, was a dominant force in French politics for more than 40 years and served as mayor of Paris, prime minister and president of France.
Chirac had a connection with Dominica, being a friend and admirer of Dominica’s former Prime Minister Dame Eugenia Charles. Together, they signed an agreement on establishing the boundary between Dominica and France.
Although Dominica was ceded to Britain by the Treaty of Paris in 1763 and was again returned to Britain by the Treaty of Versailles in 1783 after five years of French occupation, no boundary had ever been established between Dominica and its two French neighbours of Martinique and Guadeloupe.
In 1987, two hundred years later, Chirac and Dame Eugenia met to sign an agreement which confirmed the surveyed boundary between the two countries. In attendance at the Elysée Palace in Paris was Dame Eugenia’s Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Judith Pestaina.
Another connection between Chirac and Dominica is that the French President established the Quai Branly museum in Paris as a parting monument to his presidency. It is dedicated to the indigenous arts and culture of non-European civilisations.
Displayed in that museum is the most famous indigenous object from Dominica, the “stone three-pointer” zemi of Soufriere, which was sent to France in 1878. Although requests have been made for its return to Dominica, this has been refused, and an identical cast has been offered instead.
so mamo go and meet with a world leader in with all her arms and shoulders outside but you cant enter some churches & public buildings dressed the same way
The wise thing then that should have been done was to turn Dominica over to France. Since no boundaries were officially signed after changing of hands,French British, just leave it as is, it is what it is,we were then independent, back to France we go.Dominica would have been much better of…
Careful what you ask for. You need to research what they did to Algeria when the people made a simple demand for independence. They ordered their jeand’arm to burn the whole city down, then granted independence.
There is a mistake :
in 1983 Chirac was not the Prime Minister of France ; he was then the Mayor of Paris
ADMIN: The document was signed in 1987 the correction has been made in the article.
Very interested indeed and unknown to me !
Still something is not matching… Chirac was not PM in 1983, he was opposition. It seems unlikely he had a proxy then to sign for Gov. He became PM in 86.
But he was mayor for Paris in 1983, and IMO the pic displayed looks more like Paris townhall than Elysee, hence the dress.
Editor please shed a light for a loyal French reader! Merci epi bon fos ba zot grasa dié!
ADMIN: Thank you for pointing this out. We have since had our source verify and make the necessary corrections. The treaty was signed in 1987.
Very interesting article to read. I wanted more to read. Thanks for making the connection between Chirac and Dominica.
I find Ms. Charles was bold in wearing a sleeveless, open top dress on such an auspicious occasion at the Elysee Palace ! That was Ms. Charles for you.
The 1980s were a good decade for Dominica, both internally and externally.
While the entire world mourn the death of the former French President, Mr. Jacques Chirac, we in the commonwealth of Dominica are dealing with our own fear, which might lead to a national morning, as our prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, has once again hinted if not highlighted a possible ” Blood Shed”. We know the opposition leader Mr. Lennox Linton, has called for a very peaceful gathering this afternoon, while our Prime Minister once again talks about “Blood shed” as if he knows or has plans to shed blood of the people of Dominica. I once again call on the Police Commissioner Mr. Daniel Carbon to call Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, and ask him to disclose any plans he, his officers, or friends might have to shed our blood. But despite his fairs, we the people of the Commonwealth of Dominica say to him, just as the three Hebrew boys said to king Nebuchadnezzar,we say to you our God will deliver us oh Skerrit from your evil plans and you can’t stop that peaceful move