Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit led Members of Cabinet as they met with persons from the Diaspora and afforded them the opportunity to engage in a dialogue earlier today at the Fort Young Hotel.
The event facilitated through the Regional Integration and Diaspora Unit of the Ministry of Employment, Trade, Industry and Diaspora Affairs was conducted under the theme, “Enhancing Partnership for Sustainable Development”.
Also available for consultation with the persons in attendance were various public and private sector stakeholders including the National Bank of Dominica and National Cooperative Credit Union, officials from Immigration and Customs Departments, Discover Dominica and Invest Dominica Authorities, and Dominica Social Security.
According to Minister for Employment, Trade, Industry and Diaspora Affairs Dr Collin McIntyre, an effort was made to ensure a more intimate interaction between Cabinet and those in attendance. The meeting featured small groups speaking to various members of the Cabinet.
“[This unit] provides and important bridge between Dominicans resident abroad, recent returnees and the Government of Dominica. Many innovative ideas are generated from these events and they assist us in making policy decisions. We look forward to an open and enthusiastic exchange of ideas. We genuinely appreciate your contributions and look forward to the continuous engagement in a productive dialogue. We have decided to adopt a slightly different format for today’s meeting. We will engage in direct dialogue with smaller groups. All Cabinet members are available for discussion on any issue and all ideas,” McIntyre said.
Skerrit in his address attempted to impress all present and other Dominicans living abroad to keep Dominica an ever fixed thought in their mind and to never forget from whence the came and use those two things to fuel their investment in Dominica in partnership with the Government, pledging Government’s commitment to supporting those investments with concessions and other instruments.
“Through the AID Bank, we have been able to drop the interest rates from about 11, 12 percent to an average of about six percent to invest in Dominica. These facilities are available to you like they’re available to people who have been living in Dominica all their lives, because we don’t see you as any foreign Dominican. We see you as Dominicans, no matter where you are, as long as you have a genuine interest in Dominica. So, do not let anyone give you the impression that you are any second class Dominica citizen. You are a Dominican citizen who was born in Dominica, you have left to go and educate yourself and improve yourself but nonetheless you have not forgotten where you come from,” he said.
“We have to ensure as a people that we continue to promote our country in a positive way,” the Prime Minister added.
Besides attending such an event it would be beneficial if the diaspora could organise itself as a unit and visit various communities in dominica and hold discussions with community groups (i.e. Non governmental) to get a sense of progress and needs assessments with strategic planning for growth being outlined. I think then we would be heading in the direction of growth and development. As it appears now these diaspora meetings are charades and simply wasted time hurting up the wax in peoples ears. Too much talk without anything sustainable coming out of it.
Visiting communities is a good idea, but communities should do the organising and advertise to the visiting Dominicans. This would require some date, time and transpotation scheduling.
I mean Cabinet has me thinking . . . .
I’m not a second class citizen here so can’t be extradited; RIGHT??
Man, you mean to defraud your U.S. bank to set up a business here? How trustworthy you reckon that would make you, not to mention your credit rating.
Well it’s good to know that Aid Bank cares. I have banked with another financial institution (not a bank, but they are mentioned in the article) ever since before I left Dominica. All my life savings are in there, and to get a loan to buy land and build a house, i’m told I need to put up 15% because I don’t live in the country, when others living in Dominica need only 5%. My birth certificate and passport clearly states where I’m from. I send money to Dominica every month, to pay for my land loan. Not to mention, the money for other needs, clothes and food that I offset my family with. And I have travelled back to my country every year since I have left. So yes, they make you feel like a second class citizen in your own country. Under different circumstances, I would be living in my country. As an 18 year old at the time, coming from nowhere, without a big name, although educated at the best institutions in my country, and doing excellently in my exams, I could not find a job. Lo and behold, travelling to another country, they welcome your qualifiactions and say that Dominica has a high standard of education, and you can find the best of the best jobs in that foreign land. Don’t judge the Diaspora as you call us because given the option to sink or swim, many of us would not choose to sink.
ITS NICE THAT THE gOVERNMENT IS MEETING WITH THE DIASPORA FOLKS , BUT CAN THEY PLEASE MEET WITH THE PEOPLE OF ZABICO HEIGHTS AND DOWASCO AS EVERY LONG WEEKEND AND HOLIDAY SEASON THE WATER IS CUT OFF AND THE RESIDENTS ARE TOLD ITS DOWASCO IS THE ONE CUTING OFF THE WATER ON THEM,THE PEOPLE WHO DONT PAY SHOULD BE CUT OFF , NOT THE ENTIRE RESIDENTS , THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS NOW
We the diaspora more broke than people home…..credit card many of us used to buy tick er t to go home…..
Amen Bambi! Come States to see the state of all the big shots who come and cut vary lolol
I wonder why we the locals living here trying hard to make ends meet, some of us with good Ideas cannot get a good deal from the banks and the PM to start our own thing, why do we need those who left here because it was too hard for most of them to come back a get it sweet. Charity begins at home not overseas for home people. I am not against anyone coming back to open their business, but meyseye, give us some good loans let us try to start something too. We are the ones who stayed through thick and thin, we should be considered.
I send my money to Dominica all the time. I did not leave because it was too hard. Rather i was sent away at age 17. Since I left home I supported many things in my country. Things were not always the way they are now in Dominica, and if you do not think that many of us who left home can do alot to cause positive change back home you think again. My money come home all the time, today the latest. Stop behaving like you are more Dominican than someone who left home or you might discourage something that has been true about Dominicans since i was a child growing up and would often receive many things from overseas.
THAT MAN SKERRIT REALLY GOOD.YOU WILL REMEMBER SKERRIT’S OUTBURST AT LAST YEAR’S BIASPORA MEETING WHEN A DOMINICAN LIVING ABROAD ASK HIM SOME PERTENENT QUESTIONS.THIS YEAR’S MEETING WAS DIFFERENT,NO ONE COULD ASK SKERRIT ANY PUBLIC QUESTIONS.THEY ASSEMBLED MANY PEOPLE IN GROUPS IN DIFFERENT AREAS IN THE HALL AND AT EVERY TABLE WAS SEATED A MINISTER OF GOVERNMENT AND A BANKER OR BUSINESS MAN.BOY I TELL YOU THAT MAN WILL DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING TO STAY AWAY EITHER FROM A PRESS PRESS CONFERENCE OR INDIVIDUALS ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DAYBAR IN THE COUNTRY.
That is called ‘divide-and-rule’.
WAY TO GO PM.
DON’T OVER WORK YOURSELF.
Hmmmm…does jet lag from secret trips overseas count as over-work? Just axing….
sour puss.you sound disgruntle
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Firstly, the reality is there needs to be incentives for both diaspora and locals to utilize our resources in order to manufacture goods for trading with other countries. For example why can’t about 5 directors who are Dominicans come together, sit down and plan a serious project which includes manufacturing goods from our raw materials instead of allowing them to go to waste? Or, why can’t our diaspora abroad come together, invest in a company in China to manufacture quality goods then ship them directly to Dominica on the market? If the whites can do it so could we. If we order in bulk naturally our things will be cheaper and better quality once we start imposing standards. These meaningful projects are sustainable and would create jobs in the private sector.
I think it is lack of wisdom to simply allow Chinese to dominate our local markets, importing inferior goods. Dominicans are very welcoming people but we must welcome based on mutual respect and interests. A individual buying a pair of shoes then half an hour later it gets torn in the middle of Roseau is total lack of respect. Worst of all, some Chinese lack proper customer service ethics.
Secondly, many Chinese either cannot or pretend they cannot speak English properly. A policy should be implemented that before having papers they should be taught English language. This would create jobs for our people. After they learn English they should do TESOL exams. This is done in many countries in the world, why are we sleeping as a people? This should apply to all non English speakers who want to make a meaningful contribution to Dominica. Also, if any of them do a crime, the court wouldn’t have to go through this embarrassment regarding a translator.
Thirdly, our think tanks need to seriously suggest tangible and practical plans for sustainable development.
Cabinet meeting with Diasporo was a Joke !!! There was no mention of creating jobs instead Diasporos should invest in land and gild vacation homes in Dominica. I can’t believe the PM. He even went as far as justifying the president’s mansion. I went to the meeting to find out how I could help develop my country and to share some of my ideas with other Diasporos and cabinet, instead I saw ministers greeting each other as if they were scared of the Diasporos.
Mr. PM , I am tired of hearing you talk about our friends and how much they come in our need. Instead, I would like to hear a plan or vision of Dominica standing on it’s own. Let’s talk about thermal energy for example and how much of an impact this would make on the region and not only Dominica.
I was really disappointed with this event !!!!!!!
Why don’t you just do something to develop your country and stop trying to find out how I could develop my country, fool. You all just have a big mouth, impressionist.
My question is, why the diaspora and not the residents who live under his rule?
Dominicans at home need to give these people a break. They had only done what any of you all would jump a the first chance to do by going overseas for education, work and more… At the end of the day we must realise, for Dominica to move forward, foreign money (whether spent by Dominicans returning or visiting, or tourists), new ideas (whether from overseas or locally, through foreign education), and many more businesses, is the only way Dominica will move forward. Dominicans at home cannot do it all alone. If people want to run others away from their place of birth, a place they love, a place they want to see moving forward, and a place they even have time to visit to meet gov officials to help the country, then I say, where has that Dominican spirit I grew up with evaporated and gone to…? Dominicans at home, you cannot do it on your own, no matter how much you hate or get jealous of diaspora. We need them so just support Dominica in general. End of. Now come with the ridiculous comments
As much as I hate to say it. How many of us, local Dominicans would stay here if the U.S. or Europe opened its doors with no restriction?
Not many I suspect and that is the gospel truth. We should strive to make the place so attractive that not so many of our people feel the need to leave in the first place. That is what we should concentrate on.
Very well said
IT IS ALWAYS VERY RISKY TO INVEST IN A COUNTRY RULED BY A COMMUNIST REGIME :
YOU NEVER SURE IF THEY WILL NOT NATIONALIZE YOUR ASSESTS ONE DAY AND YOU LOOSE EVERYTHING.
SEE WHAT HAPPEN IN VENEZUELA WITH DA’s GOOD FRIEND, THE DICTATOR CHAVEZ !
Come on dude!! Communists do not nationalize moms and pops shops. They do not nationalize square feet of land. Large banks that refuse to loan to the populace, utility companies and those that control large segments of our natural resources (oil, gas, bauxite, copper) are the ones being nationalized. Large estates with thousands of acres are redistributed to the peasants so the canproduce by the sweat of their brow.
In the USA they use eminent domain to take regular folks land to give to private developers for malls and other private enterprises.
these guys cannot govern
they only depend on blind worship
reading this gives me goosebumps
that is so much of a good move because i have seen some good ideas on dno posts i have no fear da will be a prosperous place in the near future.
Well I hope you see fruits of this gathering and that speech after today, because I am still waiting after asking the prime minister a question at the meeting in 2008, and again, the same question in 2010, and if I was there today I would be asking the same question, a third time around.
Goosebumps for what? what did he say to do that? just words my friend, the proof in in the pudding. Ya I try to invest and they want a cut or the country citizens would say “who are you, you left so long ago and now you coming back for my support”, they will not patronize you because you went to better yourself and now coming back to make a contribution and they will penalize you, yes Dominicans will, they would run to the Chinese store before they come to yours. Without the support of the citizens of Dominica, you are doom for failure, regardless of what the Government says.
@ true u may feel that way but in my mind with all the people that was there now they talk to each other what ever plan they might have with me talking to u now dont u think we can put our heads together u guys need to forget about the pm and put your dreams and mine’s together.Some time’s we fail to see what to take out of what is proposed to us instead the hate we have inside clouds our minds thats what being free is they can shop where ever they want but remember the lady that bought her child a shoes at a chinese store what happen my point do u dont worry about chinese,arab,or french.I send stuff home to sell in less than a week most of it is gone.
@real possie, I am confused, what are you saying?, but anyway. Try to convert what you are doing into a store front in DA and you will see the results, nothing will sell.
diaspora my a**!
yeh if only it was you seating at the hotel hummmm!
Come on people, when are we going to recognize that Dominica cannot progress effectively without people in the diaspora? We keep bashing the diasporans for no apparent credible reason. Granted, some of us may be annoyed that disaporans come in to vote and leave after elections. However, this a constitutional issue that have to be adressed if stopping is necessary. Until such time, the diasporans have the constitutional right to coma and vote.
Further, the barrel economy plays a vital role in every Dominican’s daily life. Without the diaspora the barrels, remittances, majority of new homes, sponsored vacations and medical treatment for those who cant get it at home would quit coming. Then what? Some would start complaining and criticizing the diaspora of neglecing the country. It saddens me to see how those at home treat those in the diaspora but when they cant afford to pay the bills etc they always turn to family and friends in the diaspora. Sadly, most Dominicans don’t understand that those in the diaspora are as Dominican or even more Dominican than they will ever be.
@Dr Finger, they annoyed because there was no one to give them the GREEN CARD, that is all, but let then get one see how fast they will run.
you just jealous, because you can’t be called a diasporan. but it’s ok, some of us just have to stay at home.
And that’s why a lot of us will continue to die ass poorer!
Wake up! Recognize that it is the diaspora helping to keep Dominica afloat!
You’re right about that. In addition to all the financial responsibilities we have overseas we still have to care for our “educated” family members who are unable to find a job back home. And for those who do have a job, we still have to help them because the cost of living is high and they are not making enough money at the end of the month.
It was a great session. The change in format afforded all to meet with any of the ministers in a personal way. It also took away the opportunity for Some ill-intent person to try to ask embarrassing questions in an effort to impress others and that which do not serve any good purpose. It was great. Loved it, the food was delicious and plentiful.
Why would a question be embarassing unless it would be something of heresay? If questions are asked based on facts and available information then how can these be embarassing?
Well since I could not be there this time around, I was very anxiously awaiting the meeting, so I could listen and hear what was being discussed. I even changed my work schedule, and that took a lot of doing, so that I could participate, even in a limited way, by listening over DBS. I felt the other people in the “diaspora” were left out, I know I felt left out. I don’t know if the advantages of the new format outweighed the benefit of having Dominicans all over the world listen, but I did not appreciate this new way of doing this.
I would like to see more results from what is discussed, rather than changing the way we discuss.
You fell for it! The divide & rule strategy worked. Now it is diaspora v. suffering locals.
Glad you enjoyed the (free) delicious and plentiful food.
oh stop it!
you are the one preaching division.
I would have thought that the PM would deliver an address to the Diasporans on the State of the Nation and he and his Cabinet entertain questions on current issues of concern. Individual tete-a-tete meetings was a disaster.
MANY OF THE DIASPOSANS CALL Q95 EVERYDAY BOOMBADING MATT WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT SKERRIT AND PATTER ST.JEAN CONCERNING THE DUAL CITIZENSHIP ISSUE.TODAY THEY MET SKERRIT AND THOSE JOKES PUT THEIR HANDS BETWEEN THEIR LEGS AND REMAINED MOOMOU.
You are such an idiot. How do you know that the persons present are the same ones calling the talk shows?
The lady wearing the pink, white and black striped blouse in the second picture is tense. Watch how she grabs her bag. You can tell by the pressure exerted on her arm. I wonder what was being said. Was it the mention of the 11-12% interest on business loans. 6% interest, Mr. PM, is still too high. What about 3% interest for diasporan businesses that create at least 5 jobs? Give some real incentives man; the local market is already limited.
why does this Prime Minister believe that all dominicans learnt in the stone age..
why does he think his so call trickery aspects can make everyone bend over..
again if they were doing so good why does Dominica rate the poorest in the caribbean with his regime at the helm for the past 11 years and he have new ties with china and re endorsing charvez etc…take a look its a scam to fool those who want to be fooled.
why does he say to dominicans to purchase lands as they going fast..haha does that mean that the china will be purchasing lots on a increase scale…does he know something…its sad..but dominicans dont ask hard questions and sadly they bend over like
begging the master for the crumps what a shame…
Everyone comes from some place on this planet but is it really such an issue to identify with that particular place?
Returning and visiting Dominicans,if u all listen and take what Roosevelt Medard Skerrit had to say, u all will die as poor.It’s a whole heap of lies multiplied by lies,to know the truth u all should live here for a while and listen to all sides.
Stuppessssss…. Same old thing…Skerrit needs to create employment for the unemployed,so the poverty and indigent community on island,which is a significant amount, can enjoy a share of the pie, that he and his ministers are wallowing in.
which truth? the one you have convinced your self is true? your ignorance of the facts that will make you die as poorer.
Very clever this time around. No public question & answer session broadcast. Any potential embarrassment avoided.
Yeah Why didn’t the PM DEMAND that it be broadcast on DBS. People would have been more interested in that than the Parliament session.
It was on DBS! (no other channel to my knowledge)
Same talk everytime – all bark no bite
While this may be true, we have to hold them accountable for what they say. If we just listen and do not follow up then thing will continue the way it is. So this was an opportunity to meet specifically with the ministers who you may be interested in and set appointments with them. If you take as something personal, and keep at it, then surely you stand a better chance at getting somewhere. Then next time around you can, be more vocal by letting them know it is the more of the same TALK. But I believe that everyone should give it a try, make an effort, try a different strategy and see what works. Politicians all over the world are the same. They are politicians, they talk and make promises all the time. So it is up you and how you are going to approach them. Or you can be like the rest, complain complain complain, yet when change is introduced people criticized and put up a resistance.