Dominican born Romain Laville, Vice President of the St Maarten Parliament, has indicated that various plans are being put in place to establish a closer working relationship between Dominica and St Maarten.
Speaking to reporters following the 2nd Diaspora Entrepreneurship Forum on Wednesday, Laville said St Maarten has started real, serious negotiations with Dominica.
Recently, the Minister of Education, Petter St Jean, along with other delegates was invited to St Maarten to meet with heads of the Ministry of Education in that country to discuss tertiary education opportunities available in Dominica for students from St Maarten.
“We are busy right now putting together an agreement between the government of St Maarten and the government of Dominica where education is concerned so that our kids can come to Dominica to take advantage of the State College,” Laville stated.
He pointed out that a marketing plan to market both islands as one is also being implemented.
“We are busy in agriculture, as well in making sure that we can develop a certain type of trade of agriculture in Dominica to St Maarten to ensure that our people can get the proper foods and eat more healthy,” he noted. “As we go along this week that I’m here, we are basically fostering an MOU between the two governments, to be able to work hand in hand.”
He noted that plans are also being implemented to start a mass shipment of different products from Dominica to St Maarten.
“We are trying to start a program where we can have mass shipment of all types of produce made in Dominica to St Maarten including water, to be able to take care of certain issues and needs of our people.We have also gone so far as to establish an aviation agreement between the islands in flying our people back and forth and looked at increasing airline flights,” he said.
In the meantime, Laville reminded local politicians to always remember that they represent the interest of their constituents.
“Every member that has been placed in the house is placed there by the people. So, no matter what we do it must be in the best interest of those who put you there to represent them. And many times as parliamentarians and ministers we forget that we did not come in on our own and we should make sure that whatever we do, we do it for our constituents,” he stated.
Laville is originally from Marigot.
I have a -problem with people who sees negatives out of something positive, Romain is trying to give Dominica and Dominicans an outlet Dominica does not have where it pertains to tourism, Aviation, export and other venture down the road, but what some of us see is the negatives that we look for. Romain means well, has always meant well for St Maarten where he grew up and became a man, where he stood up for the workers and teachers against his party bosses, it is a shame that the people he stood up for are some of the same people, many of them are against him today simply because of Politics but as the word says , if God is for you then it does not matter who is against you. In the end Romain Laville will prevail and the people St Maarten and of Dominica which he left as a two month old child will prevail. God bless you all, even those of you who cannot see the light.
@Laville in SM
Maybe you should tell Dominicans why Laville cannot be a government minister in SXM. Be Bold and Brave.
Hypocrite.
Mr Laville never failed the screening as Minister. He simply withdrew his name for consideration.
For confirmation of this, sir/madame, whoever you are , then you should check with PM wescott Willaims.
I think that it’s a wonderful idea.
there are many dominicans in st maarten, and many vote for him, he then turned his back on his party and all the voters, joined the opposition,
and left the opposition and re-joined the first party. It,s all about policits, Laville cannot
decide what he wants and is very unstable, he is
one of the least respected guy in st maarten.
Tell them Jane, we look at Laville here on SXM as Laville is only for Laville. We all know that Laville is for Labour since Clayton took him to Dominica to meet Skerrit and he came back to SXM chatting nonsense. Laville knows that there is no hope for him on SXM.
Great job Mr. Laville, don’t be discouraged. Ignore the negative comments and work for our country. Those giving the negative comments, they too will benefit from it all. Everything is a problem. They’ve got nothing to contribute to the country, but negativity.
Africa Unit…..Caribbean Unit!
Maybe I missed something but did it say that he is in support of the Dominica labor party? Why are we so quick to think negatively of acts will be beneficial to our future? Will the opportunity be available to laborious? @CIA
We dont have to wait for the Government for us to farm. Dominicans are LAZY. Right now we want to work in Air Condition. This initiative should enable us to get off of our behinds and go and pant.The Government created programs for us to develop our skill while we expect the to just drop money in our hands. Lets us use this MOU as an initiative to go on our neglected vacant lands to plant cash crops.You people forget what our ancestors did to survive right now we sit and dont work. Stop blaming the Government they are working hard without your selfish support. You bad talk them,curse them and they still remove their gutts for you people. SMH
where the hell was this guy all the time we framers was having great difficulty shipping our produce to st maartin. were living on the little rock island of SM or are you in the company of person still living under a rock like crabs hoping that when you show your hard back to the sun light no one will see you. will and come again sir.
He was studying – so he could not help you with our shipping issues to St.maarten
People with a negative mentality never achieve much in life,what the minister is trying to do is to help build our country,people stop thinking politices and start doing things to build Dominica,i’m tierd of the struggles in my country,UWP LABOUR whoever once they are building our country lrt us help them.
Ia this guy here to help Labor party spread their propaganda. Its fourteen years since Labor party is in office and god knows how many years our hucksters are trading in St Martin, all of a sudden one year before an election all ideas of closer relationship with St Martin are brought to light, where were you Mr Vice president of St Martin parliament were you dead fourteen years ago
To CIA,
I have not been in Government for 14yrs, actually for 3 yrs now. 14yrs ago i came out of high school entering to college. But i do think that this a great opportunity for both island to work together for common interest. As a Born Dominican and a Proud St. Maartener, there is an obligation within me during my tenure to become the middleman of both countries. As a young Politician i do not play politics with the lives of people, regardless of Party colors. It is much easier to criticize than to work together not for yourself but for your children who will suffer by the inactions of us all. I should have entered 11 years earlier. lol. smile. God bless you
You are even making matters worse. Where were you three years ago?? Your sole purpose in this country is to Politic for this government with only one year to go before an election. I guess you will be the one recruiting the Dominicans in St. martin to come down to vote, but we will be waiting for them
want to give him the benefit of the doubt because if this is true then that would be great, but if it is a bluff, and all this talk is just a ploy being worked by the government to make people think better things are coming then I am sorry, may God be with us. I really hope this is true. and it may not take tomorrow to happen, I give it atleast 2.5 years to be in full swing but sir, if it is a bluff, please, am fragile, things already rough, but if this is true then hats off to you. I recommend a creed be made for all politicians, one that has a a part to include what you said about “Every member that has been placed in the house is placed there by the people. So, no matter what we do it must be in the best interest of those who put you there to represent them. And many times as parliamentarians and ministers we forget that we did not come in on our own and we should make sure that whatever we do, we do it for our constituents,”. Have a nice day.
You too my cuz.
I have been telling everyone in sxm that discuss about you that our race the LAVILLES are very soft hearted and wil do aanything to help those in need.
You stood up to those crooked politicians concerning the pelican affair and I could not have been prouder of you.
Anyway cuz anything you could do to help DOMINICA no matter how small it is go on listen to your heart and do it.
God bless you and take care.
Please am a born Dominican raise in sxm I no better
That is what he is doing. St. Maarteners do not want to see this guy. he likes jumping ship, jumping from party to party. He did not even win enough votes to get a seat but because of the govt structure of SXM, he was given that seat by Theo, because Theo could not be a member of parliament and also a minister. How did he repay Theo and the UP party? By shifting support and causing the govt to fall because of that one seat. His time is almost up, and believe me he can NEVER sit in parliament again. Maybe Dominica but not SXM.
I could not agree more with dominican woman, Laville has lost all credibility and respect in st maarten, just trying to get some in dominica,
oh shut up already
I am happy that finally we have an opposition party in Dominica (led by Linton- who is not afraid to bring it on) putting some fire under Labour’s (the sitting Government’s) behind, to do something to move forward a country with much potentials.
That has always been a problem in the country’s political process. Too much negativity and not enough intellectual challenge to the seat of power.
That is a major step that I endorse. Good Job Laville, it’s people like you who have Dominica at heart.
Sorry for the thumbs down. It should be a thumbs up.
Great move Mr. Laville, this will be very good for both countries except that we will have to start planting first to be able to do mass shipments to SM. You see, we have not been farmimg much lately, we have more been begging.