Baron accuses OAS Secretary General of bias, having no regard for OAS member governments

Francine Baron addressing the Special OAS Permanent Council Session

Dominica’s Foreign Affairs Minister Francine Baron has slammed the Organization of the American States (OAS) Secretary-General, Luis Amalgro, as being “biased and having no regard for the governments of member states.”

Baron was addressing a Special Meeting of the Permanent Council of the OAS on Friday.

She was responding to statements by Amalgro, who supported the Opposition’s call in Dominica for electoral reform before the December 6 general election.

Amalgro tweeted, “The people of #Dominica deserve democratic, fair, inclusive and transparent elections. Democracy is the best antidote against violence,”.

He stated an Observation Mission to Dominica would be essential to provide assurance and suggest improvements to the system.

Amalgro’s position was supported in a statement presented to the OAS Permanent Security Council on November 20, 2019, where he bemoaned Dominica’s rejection of the recommendations for electoral reform of the Joint Mission of The OAS, CARICOM and the Commonwealth to Dominica.

However, Baron said when the OAS make statements on behalf of its members or by the directing mind of the OAS, it should be fair and balanced having regard to all of the facts.

“The elections which will take place on December 06th in Dominica are being held under the same electoral laws which have governance Dominica’s free and fair elections for the last 40 years,” she told the meeting.

Baron said the OAS should not forget, that both the government and the opposition have been elected under the same laws.

She the government is nonetheless committed to electoral reform and has been working towards its implementation since 2015.

However, she said Tropical Storm Ericka and then Hurricane Maria prevented its speedy execution.

“…This is at a time when any reasonable person would have understood the need to reprioritize and direct all financial resources and energies to the rebuilding process,” she said.

Regarding calls About calls for an Observation Mission to Dominica, Baron said Dominica remains open to dialogue with the OAS in respect of its participation in the general elections

“We call on the OAS to denounce acts of violence in these and any elections and to call on those who seek to take power though violence and civil disorder to seize their undemocratic practice,” she said.

Accordingly, Baron called on the OAS to urge countries and organizations to refrain from making statements that can be viewed as attempts to interfere in the electoral process of Dominica.

Meanwhile, St Lucia’s Ambassador to the CARICOM Anton Edmunds also said at the Special OAS Permanent Council Session on Friday that there is no obligation for Dominica or any other member state to invite the OAS to observe its electoral process.

“The Caribbean has always had a strong tradition of democracy, notably free and fair elections and considering previous electoral commissions in the Caribbean, “we are confident that the OAS understands this. We encourage impartiality,” Anton remarked.

All this comes as the United States continues to stand by its position that the OAS should be invited to Dominica to observe the upcoming general election.

Deputy U.S. Permanent Representative Alexis F. Ludwig, in a statement at the OAS Permanent Council, recalled the joint OAS, CARICOM, and  Commonwealthmission to Dominica by the last August and three areas of concern were identified for free, fair and transparent elections.

“1) Removal of deceased persons and ineligible voters from the current electoral list; 2) Issuance of photo identification cards to electors to facilitate more accurate identification at the polls; and 3) Removal from the current electoral list of all diaspora voters who are ineligible to vote by virtue of being out of the country for more than five years,” he explained.

Adding, “Sadly, the Government of Dominica rejected all of these recommendations.”

Ludwig noted that Prime Minister of Dominica Roosevelt Skerrit called an election “without implementing recommendations listed in a joint OAS/CARICOM/Commonwealth report issued in September 2019.”

“We recognize that Prime Minister Skerrit has the constitutional right to call elections at any time,” he stated.

“However, we believe that implementing the recommendations would have contributed significantly to the fairness and transparency of the elections that all Dominicans seek, but also reaffirm the OAS’ and international community’s confidence that Dominica wants to ensure that its elections meets the standards of the OAS Democratic Charter and the international norms for organizing and holding elections.”

He lamented the fact that the Government of Dominica has not invited the OAS to send an Electoral Observation Mission.

“As we know, the OAS Electoral Observation Missions are the gold standard in ensuring free and fair elections,” Ludwig stated.

The entire address by Baron can view by clicking the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/OASofficial/videos/3236199753088943/?q=organization%20of%20american%20states%20(oas)&epa=SEARCH_BOX

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45 Comments

  1. November 27, 2019

    Besides elections, does this foreign minster take a stand on foreign matters; did she make a statement on behalf of the murdered Dominica victim in Anguilla; the fire victims, which left the Dominica family homeless in Antigua and much more. What is her contribution to her people? Please educate me.

    • Eddy A
      November 29, 2019

      Kissing Skerrits behind!

  2. Soo very disapointed woman
    November 27, 2019

    What an unbalanced, immature presentation on the contending, legitimate demands of the people in Dominica at the moment.
    But we should not be surprised.
    Remember Francine Baron does not represent any constituency, village, parish, town, not even a yard – in Dominica. She was not voted in by anyone.
    She is there to represent and in this case shield only one person. The one who appointed her to this post in the first place.

    Francine stop protecting Skerrit. Explain your ‘delighted’, ‘over the moon’ self as shown in the Al Jazeera documentary.
    Time to resign!!!!

  3. Jonathan Y St Jean
    November 27, 2019

    Francine Baron accuses the OAS of bias. She doesn’t have to look far to see the bias with which her leader and government displays to Dominican citizens at home. Constituencies which don’t vote for Labour are mostly neglected, known supporters of the opposition are denied assistance from the government from the resources of the country. So who is Francine to sound disgusted at OAS officials when the same is the record of her government and the OAS knows what her leader is doing too? Don’t point fingers Francine and clean your closet out first before you make accusations.

  4. Child of Itassi
    November 27, 2019

    Aljazeera singing Les Aiglons song: Yo voué ou. Yo voué ou en l’auto Yo voué ou ka bweh glo!

    Dominicans singing Coupé Cloué song: Nous pas besoin Fem’m Kolokinte. Avancez ! L’argent! le suivant qui est ce qui te la avant? entrez !

  5. jamie
    November 26, 2019

    Baron,you should be ashamed of yourself as a woman,Skerrit is corrupt,and you fall right in line with him.One day you all will ask God for all the corruption against the poor people.Skerrit where is the missing money?

  6. Eddy A
    November 26, 2019

    Baron, you just sung for your last supper. I hope you have a place to stay after the 6. Dec.

  7. Thanks
    November 26, 2019

    Dominicans will decide their fate on December 6th. No we will not follow in the footsteps of the USA and have outside interference as they did with Russia. OAS mind your Dirty RACIST business and leave Dominicans ALONE. It’s just a couple months ago the President of the USA bullied and threatened the sovereignty of the sister island of Anguilla 🇦🇮, now you are threatening Dominica 🇩🇲 . The government of America is threatening and undermining our sovereignty and our democracy. We the people of the Caribbean will not be bullied by an illegal Trump Administration. Yes I am a Dominican by birth and proud of DAT.

  8. Zandoli
    November 26, 2019

    Why is the DLP so afraid of electoral reform? Why are they so afraid of independent observers? What do they have to hide?

  9. Eddy A
    November 26, 2019

    Be quiet Baron! Instead tell us where the missing CBI and PetroCaribe money is that Skerrit can’t account for.

  10. RandyX
    November 26, 2019

    Yes, whoever doesn’t dance to Skerrits tune is bias. Grow up! You guys are doing all kind of nonsense to our country and whenever people try to put you right you behave like children. If all you would govern the country properly, I mean without thievery, corruption and within the boundaries of the law and the constitution, nobody would say anything in the first place. Grow up and except criticism when it’s justified!!!

  11. Zammm
    November 25, 2019

    You know the shameful thing this lady n most of labour say they catholic… Wat a waste of time…
    You are just another liar for money n Skerritt..
    You don’t love Dominica. Blasted liar….. Allll of you must fallllllllllllll. You allll must fallllllllllllll, just watch… Blood of the fore fathers upon you alll hands.. You guys have to go in Jah Name…..
    Table turning…
    Money, money worries… Gone Washington and lie…. Shame on you.
    You en noooo catholic, you ain’t no Christian…
    Tout ki ka fere Mal assou later, zout Sha Mort.. Zoey ka machay Mort.. Zort za Mort…

  12. Eagle-Eyed
    November 25, 2019

    So if Lennox Linton, Luidwig, and Luis Amalgro (white supremacist), want to lecture us on our electoral system that we have used for the past forty years to vote in and vote out governments is not a fair system, then Lennox himself and other members of the opposition who were elected under this same system should have resigned rather than taking their seats in Parliament. We should see Lennox Linton as a bogus leader of the opposition. Anyway, it is a bit rich of those rightwing ‘Trumpsters’, trying to lecture us about fairness of our electoral system when they operate a system where Hillary Clinton had over a million more votes than trump, yet he is sitting in the White House as President instead of her. When you compare our system and theirs you can judge for yourself which is fairer. The American electoral system also disenfranchise millions of Black voters from participating in this so-called democratic process. Who cares what Trump thinks anyway, he is currently facing…

    • Jonathan Y St Jean
      November 27, 2019

      @Eagle-eted, the attorney general and Skerritt have come out and said that there is a need for change and updating of the electoral laws and system for a modern democracy.

  13. November 25, 2019

    Why is Alexis F. Ludwig of the OAS try to prevent me as members of the Dominican diaspora from voting in the country of my birth, just because I do not reside within its borders? This is not right and just, He as a USA citizen has that right for himself and his family to vote in the USA via the postal voting system without restriction if he resides out of the USA, yet he seeks to deny this to citizens of Dominica living out of the country, this proposal for the Dominican diaspora can to not be right and must be challenged and corrected.
    In California a USA citizen who has never resided in the USA has the right to vote for the president of the USA need I say anymore!!!

    • JusSaaying
      November 26, 2019

      U.S citizens residing in other countries still pay taxes and other fees required to be paid in order to preserve thier status as citizens. Do you pay taxes and other fees required by Dominica law or spend less than 5 years outside it’s borders. Just asking?

      • Eddy A
        December 2, 2019

        No that one Theo doesn’t pay any taxes at all, not in DA nor anywhere else. These guys survive from Skerrits handouts and election bribes!

  14. What happened to Vince?
    November 25, 2019

    Where did Francine pass to exit the OAS building? She must have escaped through the back because her copilot Vince tried to leave through the front. Well…he had his buttocks handed to him on a plate by some angry diaspora :lol:

    • Danziger
      November 27, 2019

      Vince pass infront of you all, in and out LIAR. I have the VIDEO. ESKANDALEUSE, go back in front of OAS, and make noise band of TRAITORS.

  15. Waste of time Francine
    November 25, 2019

    It was obvous that Francine did not write that speech and that she received it only minutes before she entered that room. She is little more than a mouthpiece for Roosevelt Skerrit.

  16. God-fearing
    November 25, 2019

    Why are these people so bent on lying. Francine God sees and knows everything so keep on lying, when you stand before Him as your Judge, Dominica cannot save you. To be honest I could not even finish listening to Francine so I turned it off. Too many lies everyday, it is sickening.

  17. Ras B
    November 25, 2019

    This level of folly is damaging to our country and the added refrain from Anton Edmunds just shows the world that we are a bunch of immature idiots. Nothing in the recommendations from The joint OAS mission appears unfair or unreasonable.
    They have made recommendations that would seek to safeguard our democracy and should not provoke a fight from D/ca and St. Lucia. We must be guided by our actions and these immature representatives must learn that you do not pick a fight that you cannot win.

    I have said before that should the labor party win this election, the world will be a much more hostile place to Dominica. Why is there such a desire to avoid implementation of those recommendations? Those recommendations are not biased. The only rationale for this level of resistance is the potential benefit to one political party of maintaining the status quo. The world is looking, we should not destroy our country with those unschooled utterances.

  18. Braindamage
    November 25, 2019

    It’s time to pull out those types of liars and thieves in office.
    As a Dominican, we will never see our way through under such regime…

  19. Made in China
    November 25, 2019

    “The elections which will take place on December 06th in Dominica are being held under the same electoral laws which have governance Dominica’s free and fair elections for the last 40 years,”

    This is such a stupid and baseless argument. For one, the country’s current political and socio-economic climate is much, much different than it was back then. Governments were not able to mass import people to vote in volatile constituencies to shift elections.

    Also two of the recommendations (cleaning out dead voters and illegitimate diaspora) are essentially based on time. After 40 years how many people who were registered to vote have died or left the country?

  20. Man bites dogs
    November 25, 2019

    Francine Baron, you were brilliant addressing the OAS council session, you are a class of your own 🌹God bless.

    • November 26, 2019

      She spoke very well but the messages she brought forward she was not telling the truth and it’s sad that she have be little herself to that low level, her Dad would bow his head. Francine should have known the members from OECS would be at the hearing and also the OAS so whoever pen her speech put her a box, and to make others believe that everything that is going on in Dominica is all about the Leader of the opposition is just ridiculous and that’s where she was just speaking to one person and that’s her boss Skerrit , a person who keep telling lies will come to the point where they believe their lies as truth but tell any one facts are facts.

  21. Danziger
    November 25, 2019

    I saw the video the behaviour of UWP supporters at the OAS, its a shame.The HIPPOCRITES GABO, DANGLE and COMPANY.

  22. dissident
    November 25, 2019

    Francine your padna skerrit invited Commonwealth, CARICOM and OAS to come to Dominica to give guidance and recommendations for electoral reform.

    De group provided a report and your government rejected it!
    Basically, Skerrit insulted de entire group that he invited…..de report wasn’t an OAS report
    CAROCOM and Commonwealth didn’t produce a separated report showering praises to your most high skerrit

    Skerrit invites both CARICOM and Commonwealth to observe de elections but u left out OAS WHY??
    CARICOM and Commonwealth hands were on de VERY SAME REPORT WOMAN!

    de difference i see here is a little boy back to slavery days attitude of our head of CARICOM who is Dominican as well as de Secretary General of Commonwealth…..i think our Dominican reps sold their soul!

    i challenge CARICOM and Commonwealth Secretary Generals to disassociate themselves from de joint report they rubber stamped with de OAS madamme Francine!
    Linton will not deal easy with all u

  23. En BA LA
    November 25, 2019

    First thanks to our sister nation St. Lucia. The Caribbean people should know what it is to stand with your fellow diplomats. This is Dominica today it might be you tomorrow. Imagine the same scenario and the UWP from Dominica with their diplomat out there – IS THIS THE TYPE OF POLICIES THAT YOU ALL ARE GOING TO BE STANDING BY. You, members and leadership of the UWP you all are handing you sovereign rights to another to determine what DEMOCRACY is.
    HISTORY HAS A WAY OF REPEATING ITSELF. BRITAIN ONCE RULED, YOU ALL ARE CRYING THAT DOMINICA WILL BE OWNED BY CHINA – WOULD YOU LIKE THE OAS TO RUN DOMINICAS AFFAIRS.

    DID THE U.S. SAY THAT they want to BUY GREENLAND? CAREFUL.

    This is not leadership. If the UWP WAS IN POWER TODAY I would have supported them making the call that Foreign Minister BARON is making today.

    THIS IS A TEST OF THE LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES OF THE UNITED WORKERS PARTY.

  24. November 25, 2019

    It would be helpful if someone would say what are the pros and cons in the context of political support and voting in the coming general elections with/without electoral reform. It would also be helpful if an electronic version of the current list is published online, identifying the number of deceased persons on it, and done the argument…

  25. weh
    November 25, 2019

    MS Baron you and your PM were the ones who invited the OAS down to DA to recommend ways on electoral reform. Now they are biased because they made recommendations you don’t want to hear?

  26. DAPossieMassie
    November 25, 2019

    Lock her up, lock her up, Lock her up.

  27. Truth Hurts
    November 25, 2019

    The man is a bigotted, racist, right-winged extremest doing the dirty work of Trump and his surrogates in Washington. The OAS had no moral authority to lecture anyone on democracy having only recently approved and installed an illegitimate right-wing woman to the presidency in Bolivia who is a known racist and is currently authorizing the mass killing of innocent indigenous civilians who form the majority in that country, while the western media keeps silent. This organization only speaks to democracy to encourage governments taking power who are supportive and subservient to their right wing, neoliberal policies. Any talk of democracy from these facists is simply a farce. It is rather ironic that Dominicans who speak of being patriots and desendants Bala and Kangore can so barefacely shame their ancestors by associating and alligninging themselves with the descendants of these fascists, racists, imperialists against whom our brave ancestors faught so bravely.

    • Dee
      November 25, 2019

      Francine
      Your declaration that the same laws have governed election for the last forty years and should be ideal in this election is so stupid . Why don’t you tell Dominicans and Skerrit the many houses that have withstood many, many hurricanes before, do not need to be
      improved upon and made hurricane resistant to (winds of 200mls per hour)because they stood firm for the last 40 years.
      The Dominica roads should not be improved upon as they have served us well over the last 40years .
      I cannot believe you Francine , really disappointed in you .
      You see you cannot even look Dominicans in the eye again , I wonder why.

    • Made in China
      November 25, 2019

      You forgot to mention anti-LGBT in your little screed. It’s racist, bigoted, HOMOPHOBIC, right-winged extremists. If you want to fit in to the crowd you have to remember to use the right terms.

      Also where was your outcry when the government of Venezuela’s troops were gunning down their own people and running over them with tanks. The death from protests since 2014 is probably over 500 by now. But it’s a socialist government doing the killing so it’s OK right? It’s pretty much the same situation except this time the sides are reversed.

    • November 25, 2019

      @Truth Hurts: The problem with the people of Dominica and politics is that they don’t try to weigh the consequences set before them.

      So they simply accept what their favorite man put before them; not aware of the consequences

      You wrote a lot of information, but who understands it, or know that it exists/existed?

      So it is all about what the leader says: like $1.2 billion missing with any facts to prove it, but the people accept with their song: “where de money? Is this smart at all?

      And it turns out to be the blind leading the blind, or the blind asking the deaf do you see what I hear? So where do we go from here?

      A decision was made by one of three men to elect a leader for the opposing government, five years ago, has us, Dominicans, facing discord & disdain, each time that leader stands on a stage.

      Now, this National election is bringing with it, the concern of “civil unrest” or a destructive war–why do we need this?

    • RandyX
      November 26, 2019

      …and all you are doing Skerrits dirty work.

  28. Blaxx
    November 25, 2019

    NB – Editor-. The headline of this article indicates a story about Mrs barons address to the secretary general. Yet, 80 % of the article instead is focused on a previous statement by the oas. Hmmm..

  29. %
    November 25, 2019

    Francine thinks the foolishness she does in our broken parliament with immunity, is what is obtained everywhere.
    She is as good a liar as Skerrit is!!
    The OAS is firm in it’s resolve that Dominica should have free and fair election, but Francine et al wants an election with no integrity, and that is why concerned Dominicans cannot afford theft to rid them of their victory and delivery from Skerrit and his gang!
    She should have been booed, after her pack of lies!
    Skerrit
    Whey is di money?
    Whey is di money?
    Whey is di money?

    • Galileo
      November 25, 2019

      Be quiet, slave. Dominica is a sovereign nation and no racist will determine our foreign policy. We can be friends with which ever country we choose to. Is people like you who kept us that long in slavery.

    • Ma St. Joe
      November 26, 2019

      Yes Lennox, now we the people of St. Joseph know that you personally orchestrated the attack at the UN on Dr. Vince Henderson. Thanks for the information. The two Doctors and the women, who assaulted Vince at the UN, you had your day and thanks. Lennox, you are so desperate and intellectually bankrupt on the interpretation of the Constitution, It’s appalling. You don’t have no accomplishments, therefore, you are putting up smokescreens on election reforms. As you have stated previously, poverty is the norm in Dominica and billions are missing! Where and how are you going to finance the $25000 you promised every house hold. Is that a normal person, Who makes such baseless statements?

      • Bwa-Banday
        November 27, 2019

        Who the hell is Vince anyway? An ALLEGED conspirator in selling our diplomatic passports? They should have handcuffed him and hand him over to the FBI :twisted: :twisted:

  30. birdie
    November 25, 2019

    I am trying to be mature and diplomatic in my response to Ms. Baron.
    But I sincerely hope you go to jail for your lies and misleading comments.
    You and this Labour government.

  31. foreign observer
    November 25, 2019

    “She [Francine Baron] said the government is nonetheless committed to electoral reform and has been working towards its implementation since 2015.

    However, she said Tropical Storm Ericka and then Hurricane Maria prevented its speedy execution.

    “…This is at a time when any reasonable person would have understood the need to reprioritize and direct all financial resources and energies to the rebuilding process,” she said.”

    Blaming Erika and Maria on lack of reform which was identified in observer reports after 2014 election? Directing financial resources to rebuilding? (This explains the numerous fetes, services of Thanksgiving, etc. with pricey imported entertainment. *sarcasm*)

    I think Ms. Baron – and the government she represents – fail to comprehend that the various international organizations which have attended elections previously are watching transpiring events very closely. Will be interesting to see if Baroness Scotland pipes up…

  32. LifeandDeath
    November 25, 2019

    Fierce Francine!!!..lol..

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