Hon Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, is back on island. The Prime Minister has returned from an official visit to the Azerbaijan where he held talks with President, Prime Minister and other government officials.
The Dominica leader spoke with GIS news on Wednesday about his visit to the Euro-Asian country.
“There were very constructive discussions between both parties, that is, the Government of Dominica and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan. We touched on a number of areas including investments. One of the areas we have pointed out to the Government of Azerbaijan was that there are certainly opportunities in the area of water resource management and the packaging, bottling and marketing of our water. Because, we believe that we have not been able, for a very long time, to take advantage and exploit this natural resource which we have and which a number of countries and regions across the world really need. We believe that we have to be able to bottle and package and market this resource properly but need some capital investment. So, we have put this on the table in respect to one areas of possible investment by the investment arm of the Government of Azerbaijan,” he said.
There were also discussions about possible support from the Azerbaijan towards Dominica’s geothermal energy exploits.
“We have started the process of the test drilling of the wells. Based on studies that have been done in the past and at present, there is the firm belief that we have tremendous geothermal resources in the Wotten Waven area in particular and that we may be able to construct a 120 megawatt plant. The whole intention is to supply Dominica with a renewable source of energy but also hopefully cheaper source of energy. One can appreciate the kind of impact that would have on the economy as a whole in terms of industry and in terms of the expansion of Dominica’s economy. But also critically, is the sharing of this recourse with Martinique and Guadeloupe which have been our neighbors and very strong traditional partners. We would be able to supply them with energy from this renewable resource. At the end of the day, we would need investors to come in to capitalize the construction of the plant and the generation and transmission of the energy. That, experts have indicated, would be in the region of US$500-million. Clearly, you need to ensure that you can garner the partners and potential investors to come in to express an interest. We already have interested parties but certainly, the more we have to consider is better for the Government of Dominica and the people of Dominica. So, we have put this also forward to the Government of Azerbaijan,” he said.
The Dominica leader during his meetings with Azerbaijan officials discussed the possibility of that country funding a national library in Dominica
“It is a project which the Government of Dominica has been discussion for some time and we would like to build a state-of-the-art national library because we appreciate the fact that literacy and numeracy are critical for a country’s development. The more literate as a society and a country, the more successful one expects you to be. Therefore, we have to ensure that we provide our students, people and citizens with the avenues for taking advantage of those very important aspects of one’s survival and one’s development. They have indicated that they would be prepared to assist the Government in the construction of this state-of-the-art national library in the city of Roseau,” the Prime Minister stated.
There were also discussions between the two parties relating to Dominica’s tourism development.
“We are well aware that in the Portsmouth area particularly the Cabrits/Cotton Hill area, lend itself to tremendous potential in terms of tourism development, the marina, hotel plants, villa constructions, second homes and residences for Dominicans living overseas and of course, even non-nationals,” he pointed out.
The current administration has paid special emphasis to the enhancement of its foreign policy.
You all Dominicans are nothing but negative, simple, uneducated people. No matter what the PM does or says for the country’s good your remarks all become negative and foolish. You all need to grow up and understand politics and foreign affairs.If the PM was sitting at his desk all the time calling the shots and going nowhere, you all would be wondering why doesn’t the man get out and go do something good for this country. He is doing just that, but there comes the negative devils that can’t do anything for their own country. You all make me sick. Get a life all of you!
The statement released by the government service seems positive.However,there is an area that makes me shake my head.Why do we need assistance from anyone outside our shores to build a library?Instead of the money going to build a state house,why not a state of the art library?A state house is a seat of power for politicians,whereas a library is a seat of power for the masses.Dominicans should hold the leaders and politicians feet to the fire and not fall for false and empty promises.Maybe I might be wrong,but the direction and environment in Dominica is one leading to a state controlled by one man and his lackeys.Dominicans better be prepared and do something or else our once sweet and innocent island will be gone.Well actually it is already gone without many knowing it,they just have not seen the consequences and the ramifications of the leadership of,”Father Skeritt”.It used to be all shall eat,now it is some shall eat.Soon it will be some may eat.
i realize some people are just negative no mater what,the bible said we must pray for our leaders and that we must do,and we must pray for all these negative people too,pray for our country,i have faith god have something great for us in the future, in spite of all the negativeness that is being said,we don’t realize that if we sow negative we reap negative, if we sow positive we reap positive,so are you going to continue to speak negative or are you going to turn your life around and start speaking positive about your self and your country,we are our own enemy!we are what we think,the power of life and death is in the tong Rome was not built in a day,so get up and do something to help instead of criticizing every thing.
Cliché, cliché, cliché same OLD cliché
Do we know what is the difference between a good politician and a bad politician? A good politician is one who can fool the people all the time. A bad politician is someone who can fool the people some of the time. I wonder what category Mr Skerrit is in?
grow up donkey.
I SAY MACHIAVELLIAN AT ITS BEST.
Evertime the PM is under pressure he tends to give the public sometime to direct their minds away from the real issue.
On april 5 2011 , the pm met with Donald Trump and i quote from the article on DNO “PM Skerrit told a radio programme the keen interest expressed by foreign investors comes as a result of government’s management of the country.
He says government has set the environment for doing business in Dominica.”
can anyway one see the spin . Up to this day not one substancial multilateral investor has been brought in by this government but yet still he is making such claims as above. Moreover, no where in the article was any indication given of trump intrest in doing business in dominica nor any agreement was signed. False hope created by the PM.
During that same month , the PM again on his US trip came out with his one lap top per child program and that he is looking to procure 20000 laptops from micro soft and HP.
where are we with that program . when is the government planning to engage those suppliers . Moreover who is going to pay for it.
On numerous ocasion we have heard about exporting of water and nothing hapens.Everyone agree that we may have a comparative advantage in producing water but we must also realised that there is a factor called transportation cost. looking at the countries that we are tarketing , its seems that we will loose our comparative advantage when transportation cost ( and the necessary import duties) are taken into consideration. A pefect eg is oasis water is selling for the same price as loubierre water in antigua.
The government really need to consider the issue of competitiveness. One way to help is more aggressive maketing of our water as being natural. Again when i look at a Country like Antigua with maybe 10 -15 diffrent brands of water , but yet still the market basically operates as a perfectly competitive market for water , i often wonder about how realistic is this water thing as a major export ( foreign exchange earner) for dominica.
One advise fro the pm is that he needs to put the investmnet authority to work. get these people to design viable projects and then travel with a team ,do some presentaion on those projects and raise funds ,sell the project etc .
Can Donald Trump lans his jet Dominica?No!So Donald Trump won’t be investing in Dominica.Why don’t the people of this island whip Roosevelt Medard Skerrit out of the office he is fraudulently holding hostage?I mean literally give him some bad licks with sticks and if possible stones too.
I wonder why no mention of Hartley Henry’s role in all this?
So what is Azerbaijan getting in return? What would they like from us?
YEAH I AGREE DOCTOR LOVE, THE PM SHOULD HOLD PRESS CONFERENCES AND ANSWER QUESTIONS.
Not in allu lifetime!!! Come on let us stop thinking wishfully.
WEH WEH WEH I AM SO DISAPPOINTED:
YOU MEAN TO TELL ME D MAN DOE BRING DOWN BORAT!?
I must say, this is the first positive detailed statement that I have heard from this Prime Minister in a long time.
It contains substance and details. Congratulations to him…Finally some accountability, which I think, is a step in the right direction…He seems honest…Maybe,just maybe,all is not lost after all….
I have been saying this all along…Agriculture yes. But agriculture is not going to make us wealthy.
We need agriculture and the production of goods and services.
The Country is not producing,and if we are to survive,we must start producing to means of our subsistence. I think it was Karl Marx who once said…”How men organize to produce the means of their subsistence constitute the fundamental relations of society”.
We need to get more efficient.We need to industrialize. The wealthiest Countries in the World are all industrialized Countries.
We must take full potential of our natural resources. We must begin to develop our economy.
We need economic development. So this Government can begin by creating an atmosphere that is attractive and friendly to investment.
Let us not forget that the stimulus of a economy is investment, and a solid work force.
There is no point in Government,unless it is to improve the lives of its Citizens.
Could it be, that my P.M. (L.O.L,..Yes, I said my P.M.), is maturing right before our very eyes,..quite possibly.
I like what i am hearing…….It’s a very positive step.
You cannot criticize the Prime Minister for doing the right thing….At the very least, he is trying…But there is a lot more work to be done.
All the very best…and Peace profound!…..
INTELLECTUAL GANGSTA!!!…..
substance my brother is in signed deals and agreements not just saying we are asking for this and that from them. the other part of the equation is also lacking in that what is it that we are offering them in terms of concessions etc to attract the investment we desire. i share your opinion on agriculture since it will be the engine to drive economic development. in terms of being attractive to foreign investors i think we have a long way to go in terms of accessability, infrastructure and workforce(skilled) also the majority of young dominicans are abroad seeking employment opportunities.
my final blow would be that in saying that the pm is maturing is an admission that he was and is still not mature for the mantle of leadership needed by dominica to navigate the straits that we are in rite now.
Though I agree with everything said here in these two comments, I’m still waiting to hear what part Mr. Henry had to play in these negotiations. Why is that part ” conveniently ” left out???
i think that part of the 27 million dollar loan used for the state malice could have been used to upgrade the library and why ask for assistance in geothermal development when recently the boast was geothermal exploration has begun and is on track? the rope is certainly getting shorter and shorter.
i think that instead of begging for an up to date library part of the 27 million loan from china could have been used to upgrade our library and why ask them about geothermal assistance when just recently there was the boast of geothermal exploration has already begun and is on track? seems like the rope is running out!!!
why aren’t u saying about an int’airport.
18-3, 18-3, 18-3 is the mantra of some Dominicans. Now take what all you getting. Skerrit do right, because Dominicans have been enabling him for the longest time and not holding him accountable for anything. Right now he feels that he does not have to answer to anyone because he is el supremo. Enjoy the ride people, there will be some more major bumps ahead, just make sure zor bien bwashay.
I AM WATCHIN
DONT BLAME ANYONE FOR THE LACK OF ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND SARCASM,READ BETWEEN LINE OR EVEN ANALYSE A SIMPLE REMARK ITS HAD TO REASON WITH SOME PEOLPE,ITS LIKE IF THE ONE SPEAKING WAS CLOSE THE WOULD JUST STAB THE PERSON IN THE HEART.
IT JUST SHOWS THE DEEPTH FOR THE EDUCATION
SYSTEM. ITS SAD.
The word is hard
Why can’t we just do a 15-20MW geothermal power plant and cover Dominica’s energy needs. This 150MW power plant development talk is becoming old and quite frankly unrealistic. THe transmission cost to martinique and guadeloupe alone will cost US500 million dollars. There is also a global shortage of under water transmission construction companies due to the various off shore wind farm projects that are under construction globally. Our political talk is not in step with the technology. I am not sure who is the technology advisor to these politicians. They are just spontaneously shooting out stuff.
this US500 million dollars can build an international airport…
PM BE TRUE TO YOURSELF AND THINGS WILL FALL IN PLACE. FOOLING THE PEOPLE IN THE LONG/SHORT RUN YOU WILL FOOL YOURSELF. DO YOU SERVE THE PEOPLE OR YOUR CLOSE BUDDIES? YOU CAN BE A GREAT LEARDER JUST COME BACK DOWN TO EARTH, BE THE BOY THAT GREW UP IN VIEILLE CASE, AS FAR AS I CAN SEE YOU HAVE DRIFTED FROM WHO YOU WERE
when someone can tell me how this trip is going to help us economically and and improve our realtionships with other countries apart from the comunist countries we are dealing with right now, I will say if that trip was worth it or not. I am not against the PM or any other ministers, i am just a concern Dominica, all the politician do the same, UWP, Freedom and Labour, they are all the same, I just want them to do what is right for the Island.
AnotHer typical Dominican cliché. Not all politicians are the same. No two people on earth are… some people set out to genuinely make a difference. While others are hell bent on serving their own interests. It is just plain prejudicial to make such a generalized statement.
Stay home and deal with your own country. We have become a violent and volatile nation while you have been away. Come home and deal with the influx of automatic machine guns, land slides etc…..
the pm cannot stop crime. he can just talk, we have to check our lives pm cannot go in our hearts/minds
Once again, I ask the question, as I did in a previous thread regarding Skerrit’s trip – I wonder if I will be censored once again, as my response was left out.
Will the Dominican public get full access to the MOU? If not, was one formulated?
I’m just asking a feasible and legitimate question, especially in context what has happened before when Skerrit has held his hand out to other countries. China comes to mind.
Are you guys living on another planet,my,my with the US Economy under pressure,and links with CHINA and Venezuela well nice up, the visipnary PM is looking at new link up …simple basic Diplomatic manouvers—-why do we let political affiliations make us think at kindergarten levels….We all saying so much water just running to the sea wasting so if the possibility exist to export water and gain foreign exchange will us all not benefit….When the Geothermal potential bears real fruits…will not Dominica benefit,,,hey hey get back on planet Earth-remember we all breathe the same air ….
Azerbaijan GDP real growth rate: 2008 – 10.8%, 2009 – 9.3%, 2010 – 5%. The real GDP growth rate for 2011 is expected at 3.7%. Call it diplomatic maneuvering or what ever you want, it appears to me that we are looking for assistance from a country with a failing economy.
Blah blah blah
These people are really taking Dominicans for a colony of fools!! When are you going to send the help to Gadahfi Skerrit he really needs you know, the net is closing on him bug time!
You should change your name to Full Of Hogwash!!
Can anyone tell me what role Hartley Henry played in all of this drama ?
ok so basically the trip was a waste of time….. this speech could have been written wel before he went to that dictatorship country. as far as i read, i see nothing coming for Azerbaijan. ask to build library, help to drill for geothermal which to me doesnt make much sense, and den bottling of our water?? lol. no mention of any agreement signing was noted… so wat have they agreed to??
http://www.news.az/articles/politics/32452
This article was posted 05 March 2011.
ADMIN: On a point of clarification: we have posted stories before which clearly stated that Dominica and Azerbaijan established Diplomatic Relations in March 2011 as stated by the link you posted. The date of the establishment of Diplomatic Relations and the PM’s visit are two completely different matters.
SO WHAT THE HELL MY TAX MONEY BEING SPENT ON HARTLEY HENRY THAT BAJAN NOW!!!!
I guess you sold Dominica a second time around again. Everything in life is for a time.
THIS STATEMENT IS FULL OF HOLES AND I DO NOT BELEIVE ANYHTING SKERRITT SAY. WHY IS DOMINICAN TAX PAYERS MONEY PAYING FOR HARTLEY HENRY TO GO ON A US$100,000 TRIP!!!!
DOMINICNAS YOU HAVE YOUR POCKETS EC$ TO BLAME.
THIS IS ANOTHER PIPE DREAM THAT WE WILL NEVER COME TRUE.WE WAITING FOR THE NEXT ELECTION, IT WILL BE DLP LAST IN OFFICE.
PLEASE SKERRIT ,WHY DONT YOU HOLD A PRESS CONFERRENCE WHERE YOU CAN BE QUESTIONED. YOU PROMISED DOMINICANS THAT CABINET WOULD MEET THE PRESS EVERY MONTH,THE LAST TIME YOU MET THE PRESS WAS MAY OF 2010.
When this PM tells us to run we know he really meant to run; therefore I have a hard time believing anything he says. Furthermore, why did he only speak to the GIS instead of the Media where our professionals could really question him? As far as I am concerned, the PM has been in DA for a few days and I would not be suprized if he and GIS had a practice before the so-called news conference.
You really are a jerk Littleboy. Perhaps by the time you grow up you would have a better insight into governance and international affairs – that’s if you ever finish your schooling!!
Can we ever trust what he says?. He’s been known to be so distant from what is the truth and further why was Hartley Henry a Barbadian national who doesn’t reside in Dominica, the one brought along to these negotiations? Where was the PS or Minister responsible for energy? Where was the PS or Minister responsible for trade? Mr.Skerrit needs to disclose to the people the truth re these questions
And who the hell are you? Sounds like you should go and get yourself elected and sit in Parliament to ask these questions if you’re so skeptical.
Why does Skerrit wanna keep giving away Dominica’s water? What if the day comes (which it probably will one day) where there’s an extreme water shortage and Dominican’s need their water? What will we do then? Probably keep shipping off OUR water to them, while we have to suffer for the lack of water we have.
He is not giving away water he is trying to make use of an abundant natural resource in return for other resources we do not have to help progress the country, in exactly the same way previous governments promoted the banana industry. (no one was ‘giving away’ bananas).
If Dominica every faces a water shortage in the future then any government in power (sensible or dumb) would use the surplus instead of selling it (or give it away as you naively suggest)
The fact that he uses the words “to take advantage and exploit this natural resource” pretty much says it all to me. Isn’t that what he is doing to the whole country?
why couldn’t a camera crew go along with the PM to film this talks huh…
…because people like you would have said that he wasting D/ca’s money!! Huh!
No need for the camera crew the same speech is on You tube – that’s a pre – recorded presentation that the PM does on all interviews for the last god knows when. In this bad economic time the PM could have simply called the leader of Azerbaijan and ask him to check out the you tube video. I believe we could have saved ourselves $80,000 to include Hartley Henry’s and Vince payment and traveling expenses
Alas you can’t even see sarcasm even when it right on the tip of your nose.
You are right on Q…remeber when Rosie Douglas did it…it was the same cry…why Carlisle and Matt have to travel all around the world to hear Douglas speak.