A double ceremony took place at the Cabrits in the north of Dominica on Thursday morning associated with the expansion and strengthening of the Coast Guard facilities here.
The first was the ground breaking ceremony at a 1.77 acre site at Bell Hall for the construction of a Coast Guard base for Dominica to control the north of the island.
The second was the commissioning of two 38 foot “Secure Seas Interceptor Vessels” donated by the government of the United States of America.
The vessels are high speed Defender Class, all aluminum, patrol boats.
The boats are named after two former police officers who died while in active service in the force and coast guard.
Participating at both ceremonies was the new US Ambassador to Dominica and the Eastern Caribbean, Larry Leon Palmer.
Ambassador Palmer noted that Dominica was the first Caribbean state to apply for, and the first state to receive the new vessels, under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative.
The new base will be financed with a US $1.7 million grant.
It will include buildings and a jetty on the shores of Douglas Bay at Bell Hall on the north side of the Cabrits Peninsular.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit issued a warning to drug traders in the waters of Dominica and the region that the additional craft brings to seven, the number of interdiction vessels in active service.
“We will chase you, catch up with you, search you out and subject you to the full force of the law” he stated.
The prime minister also sought to assure Ambassador Palmer that whatever he may hear to the contrary, the good relationship between Dominica and the US “is as solid as a rock”.
Officials attending the ceremony were taken on a test ride of the vessels around Prince Rupert Bay.
Construction of the base will be put out to tender and construction is expected to start in October.
The Prime Minister declared that he looked forward to local firms participating and one of them winning the bid to construct the base.
Alas dominicans be thanful ,i consider that making Foreign[Policy work for us, China gives,Chavez gives,America decides what to give ,,,we take from all then the Equation will be completed..Easier to Patrol Anse de Maie and Woodforhill from[Portsmouth
they should not build that base at bellhall, that should be done at the same area at longhouse, just extend the jetty. having the base hidden there away from people,hummmm, who knows what can go on, not saying anything will but. please do not build that at bellehall
And what really is the function of the Regional Security System (RSS)?
http://www.rss.org.bb/
Shame on skeritt..America only want to give us coast guard an he still taking it..shame on us ..America don’t buil schools bridges roads ..I wish china Chavez banned us..we are now traitors..
Thanks US
But again. Poor choice on location. It takes under 25 mins from Roseau to Possie. We have facilities in Roseau and that serves the west coats well..
What about the east of the Island? The North East and the south east? Search and rescue is necessary there too.. Not to mention, all the drug landed and country band, is on the NorthEast they claim..
The PM stated that they will come after the Drugs dealers? BIg joke, by the time you leave possie to head up north of island , and then to circle down to the east, them man in Marigalante…. LOL
JOKES!!
Why not put that facility in Anse-de-mai or Calibishie?
Again, power power decision. These guys are jokes. man… Are you really serious?
YOu have an entire island to serve but you put the second facility moments away from the first?
Mr. PM who made that location decision?
Disappointing, But thanks US. I don’t think US Ambassador made the location decision.. LOL
Or Marigot. We already have Port Facilities in Marigot. Marigot Desperately needs a new Police Facilities. Why not use that 1.7M to build a multi purpose couplex in Marigot?
Plus or Airport in right at MelVille Hall. In case of an emergency in the waters right outside the airport, search and rescue would be quick.
I really don’t think this is the best decision.
Anse de mai or Calibishie or Marigot would have been the best Choices for this ..
Does that mean America is going after the real drug Lord and Barons.
In his speech the US Ambassador praised PM Skerrit for leading the way in security in the region.
LOL
Listen to Matt on Monday!
And..how is that going to benfit us???
I think that this is a good gesture from the USA, BUT, I believe that the USA can do better than that.They are only using this to protect their borders from a distance.Their intentions are primarily for their own benefit.They can do much more to help us down here in Dominica.
Every island country is about it’s own interest! You have gotten 2 response boats equipped with radar/ weapons ( I hope) plus a 1.7 million dollar grant and you ate still complaining. Sometimes it is ok just to say thanks
Great thinking Mr PM. This will result in more efficient patrols not only for drug interdiction and migrant smuggling back door to and from Guada, but also in search and rescue cases.
are.. Excuse me…
U saying what the boat have, then u saying (i hope)?
U making sense/=
To Ras whatever you think you are… Even if it was a pee pwis it is mote than you Guys had so be thankful, you 2 smart, with all your CXC and GCE!
More
HA HA HA HAAAAAH
GUESS WHO TALKIN ABOUT UPHOLDING THE LAW…..
LAUGHABLE
YOU SEE? HERE WE GO AGAIN.NEGATIVE ENERGY LORD HELP DOMINICIANS TO BE THANKFUL.
Tnx for the help but it would be better if the contribution were toward Agriculture and Education
Just say thanks. What is your contribution. Why enjoy telling everyone else what they should and shouldn’t do. Like in the mirror?
What did you do for your neighbour today?
Exactly!!!
I thought so!
Love your response to these idiotic, self-serving skeptics.
Gwada must
Hats off and big up the the American Government or who ever responsible overthere, the DLP and prime minister skerrit, the C.D.P.F (Marine unit) and all others. much needed efforts. Much needed in Portsmouth. Thank you.
It’s laughable that the labour party supporters on here and quick to accuse people of having multiple handles.
I see no reason to have multiple handles. I do not think any one of us who don’t support this bunch of criminals have multiple handles. Usually, when people accuse people of foolishness, it’s because they are guilty of it and think that everyone is like them.
I have challenged ADMIN to Confirm that my IP address posts ONLY as MET YO.
I am putting out the challenge again, and I ask the others who are being accused to do the same.
We do not need multiple handles to make allu look like idiots. The actions of the criminals day in day out doing the job! All we have to do is highlight..or remind, simple as that!
Why not use your real name? I mean, what is the sense of hiding behind ‘handles.’
Just mouth all u Dominican have but all u fraid all u own shadows.
hehehehe
Trust me my, alot of them already know who I am. And there are times when I erase Met Yo and type my full name for emphasis!
They know me well..trust me..and they know I doh fraid none of them.
I’m just…MET YO…lol
Usually, when people accuse people of foolishness, it’s because they are guilty of it and think that everyone is like them—-MET YO WOW
Dominica is not the only island that received boats.So this is all an anti drug campaign by the U.S.
Skerritt deserves no credit for these bosts.He thinking the U.S Gov’t forget he was supporting Khadafi??The Bin Bobboll issue happened in the U.S , they know all about it , so don’t pretend and say that Da’s relationship with the U.S is rock solid.
yes keep the drugs away to many young people gone paro in a we country happy for tha PM RS the best dominica ever have is you u are the will man from viellecase am a viellecase man like u PM living overseas
Mista dem doh have no vision nuh,,, noffing is for free you know,,,
Why dey doe seek funds to improve Deep- water-Habor so as to facilitate more Agro exports,,, when dem Marn set up base over dere you doh tink dey gonna come tell Marn how to run tings???
But wait nuh y is dere a US ambassador on Dominica again??? Could somebody please educate d Marn??? There is no need for coast guard base over dere when the customs facilities over there in Ans-de-Mai needs improvement and that location is more strategically located as them coast guard pardners will be able to survale the whole north of the island,,,
But wait nuh, dey doe say most of the contraband is on woodforthill beach nuh dey does land,,, I doe know noffing you know,,,
Marn just aksing questions,,,
Yes Rasta,you fraid de boats slow down your ganga movements!!!
i would like to find out if fighting drugs and protecting and preventing the drugs from getting to the us shores is the only aspect of help that the us can offer
We all would agree that the US could potentially do more to contribute to the socio-economic development of Dominica. However, we must be grateful for the little that we are able to get, considering the poor state of the global economy. Unlike the loans from China for building the State House and West Coast road with Chinese labour, this is grant funding and the Americans will not be sending minimum wage labourers to work on the construction of the jetty. I am happy to hear that construction works will be put out to international, competitive tender and that local companies will have the opportunity to participate in the solicitation process and if possible win an award or a subcontract.
The Prime Minister’s warning to drug dealers is appreciated. I have absolutely no reason to doubt the sincerity of his utterances on that issue. However, the PM appears to be unschooled in the art of international diplomacy when he sought to assure Ambassador Palmer that whatever he may hear to the contrary, the relationship between Dominica and the US “is as solid as a rock.” I wondered why he thought it was necessary to assumed that the Ambassador may have heard negative staff about our relations with the US and more so openly expressed it. Could he have been guilty of the negative impact of his own statements calling US officials as arrogant rum-shop drinkers? The PM could learn a lot from the American diplomats and US intelligence agents, who absorb all insults and derogatory comments silently with a broad smile on their face as if all is well while they undermine you through covert operations-if they have to.
But all is well, let’s embrace such national development initiatives and give praise.
welcome the gift but from the limited information available I am not yet convinced that the implementation plan makes sense. It seems like the idea is to shorten the response time for activities on the northern part of the island and to create some type of covert operating system. I am not convinced that installing the facility in the Bell Hall area would not conceal the activities of the coast guard. I would love to see the design of this project .Unless there is additional funding for the construction of an isolated coast guard facility I cannot see US $1.7 million doing the job. Is the pier going to be one of those floating jetties? cause surely I am not aware that any geotechnical exploration was done in the area for the construction of a pier. Will there be wave dissipaters to protect the facility? Does this &1.7 Million include bringing utilities power and water to the area? It may be more prudent to utilize and expand the facility at the Long House area to incorporate the construction of the coast guard facility in the area.
“We will chase you, catch up with you, search you out and subject you to the full force of the law” he stated.
ROOSEVELT SKERRIT THAT SAID THAT?
Full force of which law in which constitution my boy????
lmao
i wonder myself
AM WAITING ON THE CABAL-GANGSTERS TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING NEGATIVE.
I GUESS THEY CAN’T FIND ANYTHING.
HEY GUYS I GOT AN ISSUE FOR YOU.
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BUILD THE COAST GUARD BASE IN THE INTERIOR OF THE ISLAND.
Why not. Fresh Water lake excellent for claiming perfect interdiction record at low cost at high altitude. (for dimwits that think I serious, this is a joke!).
We do appreciate the grant from the US government and I also applaud the effort by the DLP government to finally pursue the offer which had been on the table for a very long time. The US government has provided much support to us in the past in spite of what we have heard from people like WIKILEAKS. There may be strings attached but TIT FOR TAT BUTTER FOR FAT we wont have Americans building the project and taking jobs away from us. The construction of the facility will create construction jobs for the unemployed.
maybe we shoud ask the chinese to do the same give the gift but let us build it so we can earn a living
This has nothing to do with what you are talking about.
Read, Portsmouth: «Construction of the base will be put out to tender and construction is expected to start in October.
The Prime Minister declared that he looked forward to local firms participating and one of them winning the bid to construct the base.»
This means, Portsmouth, that we should all first wait to see the results of the tendering process. It may very well be that another Barbadian wins the bidding. Or, an American company. (And then, what can you or the PM do about that?)
Do not be too quick to score political points, Portsmouth.
Amen! Which country our people want green card for? Is China, Venezuela or U.S.A? Is reality we have to live with friends. Ideology never filled empty stomachs.
Stupid see, stupid does…what does the coast guard have to do with Green Card..if opposition means stupid then leave me with the ruling…cause I don’t want to like these people
I agree WIKILEAKS this is a stupid comment the only thing is ; this is exactly how you sound often times. Yeh Tif doh like to see tif with a bag”
GOOD JOB!!!!!
thanks to the United states Government…. Dominicans have a chance to be employed in developmental work, Thats the difference between the united states and the China…
Here is another very significant difference. China assist us with our social development pprogram to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. Whilst we are and oughtto be thankful for the gift form the US, the Us gift pales into fifth or sixth place comparede to aid from China, Venezuela, Cuba etc. Thanjs for the gift. But we need more gifts to keep the yoiung people away from jobs. We need aid in job creation, human resource development, social development etc. Secxurity is very impportant for us. What could secure the country even more is assistance to be able to create jobs for the young people.
THANKS AMERICA, THANKS MY PRIME MINISTER, for a long waited project in the PROTECTION of our youths and families that the DRUG LORDS are using to traffic and are selling the drugs too.
The lords are leaving like celebrities while families are suffering due to their greed in making money the fast way by distroying lives.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANKS YOU!!!!!!!!
THANKS FOR THE COAST GUARD VESSEL,PLEASE HELP US WITH EQUIPEMENT TO SOLVE CRIME,THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ADDRESS THIS MATTER ALSO.
Shouldn’t that read: “THANKS FOR THE COAST GUARD VESSEL,PLEASE HELP US WITH EQUIPEMENT TO SOLVE GOVERNMENT?” particularly THIS ONE?
well well now guns goin to come dominica they doesn’t give u nothing for free u see what happen in jamanica
DNO, the defender class interceptor is not all aluminum in the true sense as the distinctive collar around its aluminum hull is made of polyethylene foam.
I spent four years in the U.S. Coast Guard. And it’s true the world is a stage. At the end of the day the fancy boats may help save some fishermans lives but they will only facilitate the crooked officers in the drug trade. FBI arrested over 130 law enforcement in Puerto Rico recently, that’s corruption at the highest level! The equipment is only as good as the people operating it. Dominicans are great at putting snakes in the fowl cage to guard the fowl.
and you know there is lots of corruption in DA
starting from the top
Wow amazing you think Like that! You should try to give people the benefit of the doubt! Ok were you enlisted or not? What was your pay grade? What was your rating? BM, FS etc…
There is crookedness in all aspects of every job. THAT DOESN’T mean that you give up on law enforcement. Like everything else, internal affairs or CID has to weed out the bad apples. So as a fellow coast guardsman myself, unlike you I look to the positive. SEMPER PARATUS 1790….
what you was doing cleaning toilets for us coast guard man? fool
Thank you USA. People may say that you only care about fighting drugs but saving this generation from the ills associated with drug trafficking is just as important as building bridges and schools. After all who will attend thhe schools when all our young people become paros.Keep the drugs away.
for days late, but better than never.
GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ! AFTER ALL DE MONTE GAY RUM AMERICA STILL WAS ABLE TO DONATE TWO BOATS ? HOW DE SAY RUM BAD EH ? RUM GOOD MAN, PASS A D -SPECIAL FOR DE MAN DEM EH, MORE AID FOR DOMINICA.
Pay no attention to the trashy drug dealer commentsthey belong on the trash heap,another thing ,people be thankful for progress it’s one step at a time,if they had done landfil or roads or whatever was mentioned in comment there still would be dissatisfied complainers,some of us just can’t be pleased smdh,good job gov one step at a time!
**DON’T BE UNGRATEFUL**
RE:for the negative comments!
It’s all helps in Dominica’s development. It’s true there are many other things the US could help us with. But REMEMBER it’s THEIR money. They [ the US] have the right to decide;
* where to spend it!
* On what to spend it!
* when to spend it & to whom it goes to.
Let’s not be UNGRATEFUL!
Skerrit is taking infornt by saying contrary to what the Americans have heard, that D/ca and U.S relationship is “Rock solid?”
But the U.S will remember that you were a big critic of their moves against Khadafi,you even wanted to go to Libya yorself to defend this man , you suported Chavez until he was diagnosed with cancer then you ran away from him cause he has more important issues to think about now, they also know about your total disregard for the Rule of Law thru the Constituion, unfair election.You can smile all you want in the ambassador’s face but he knows what you are capable of. It was in the U.S the Bin Boboll happened, what you think , they don’t know that??
Let Dominicans take note that it was not only D/ca that the U.S gave boats. It was an anti drug campaign.
It was a good gift and we accept it. But Skerritt should at no time receive any praises or thanks from Dominicans for doing nothing. it was not thru his doing that we go them.
He now wants to pretend to be firnds with the U.S becasue after he lost the next elections , that’s where he will want to move to.But they won’t forget!!
Post.
If it was China giving these boats,my God the Q95 boys would kill you PM.You are a smart man you know who to asks what.I am going to vote for you next time.
I knew the U.S.A. was gonna proceed in giving dominica money for drug interception, boats plan anything dominica want to stop the drugs from landing here , and having them reaching the shores of the U.S.A.rigth after the wolrd leaders meeting in Colombia,It was written in all the majore U.S.A. papers thats all Obama cares about,drug intervention.
What about building bridges, new roads, water, sewer system,proper land fill for garbage disposal, the list goes on , and on .
We are still under president monro”s doctrine we are in the americas, Mr obama help the Caribean develope there country.
dominican abroad.
So China gives us the things you say you want like: “What about building bridges, new roads, water, sewer system,proper land fill for garbage disposal, the list goes on , and on .”
And then people say all kind of things about China.
Make up your mind about what you want people!
COLOMBIANS MI WHY DON,T YOU CALL A SPADE A SPADE? DRUGS FROM VENEZUELA. JUST WATCH HOW THINGS BEGINS TO FALL APART BETWEEN CHAVO N SKERRO
For God’s sake man, is there nothing we can do for ourselves? Can’t we, for once help ourselves instead of insisting on hand-outs as of right and kicking the donor in the teeth in the process?That is not the Dominican I want to be. Do you?
@Malatete You can start doing for yourself and country. Why not start by providing the 1.7million.
Thanks to the US government that our local contractors and local tradesmen will get some work. Hooray for the Monge Rum and Rum Shop talk. NATO is no longer racist for disarming Kadaffi- whooopi.
You confuse issues, Real Porssie!
More UN intervention. Prison planet.
Do you know that the US officials accepted a gift of Bwa bande’ rum each.
Stay angry with people still while the politicians drink wine together behind your backs, classic example. Interfere in Skerrit and Obama business still, sort
It’s all for show! The world is a stage…
At the end of the day it’s inferior to that of America, Venezuela and everywhere else in the world, it’s the officers who do the smuggling.
Happy breaking non-existent maritime laws guys, shoot a couple unfortunate Dominicans whilst you’re at it because they’re on fishing boats. But when you meet the big boys with their high powered 50-cal guns aboard and their rocket launchers we’ll see how fast the news of your retreat will not post on this website…
lame
stupid comment by a stupid person….who only cares about themselves and their stupid drug trade,……get real…look on the streets of Roseau and Portsmouth….see the number of Mentally unstable youths…..come on ..have a heart
Did Met-Yo, Portsmouth, 1979 or any of the other UWP goons on here change their handle to write this crap?
Lol! Hard to say, Prof. The clones have so many handles that you would break a sweat just trying to read all that they post.
What’s your obsession with UWP Prof? Most of us don’t even think of them. We just want a peaceful life without all that “crap” as you call it,labour, uwp , freedom or non-politically aligned all in the same game called Dominica. Are you? Give it a break Prof.
haaa boy u like my name eh?’
I does jam allu too hard, not even admin that can stand it.
But like i said..i have one handle..and only one…
Is you that have about 5…yes i know u..well too..lmao
I would say name calling belongs only to you because I dont understand why politc have to be in everything we got a gift why cant we just say thanks
Peeps,I know its difficult to keep dem fellas thinking straight..b/n you and scarface has dem confused.
Malgraysa, I didn’t know you have a disturbed life…well get it together..enuff of the politics for you…Now what other name you have here…why did you commment??? GOTCHA
METYO—he knows me…that is the hallmark uwp…he has tracked me down, bugged me…Why were you so quick to respond withing mins of Malgraysa.
METYO…you still up to this bugging stuff man????
But Prof., you really losing me now. You unto some weird…
…lmao
YOU ARE REALLY STUPID. WHAT A NAME YOU GIVE YOURSELF.
what are u? u stupid slug!! be the least thankful for that. for God sake.
boom boom school u go man?