On Monday, July 23 Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Steve Ferrol, left Dominica for an official visit to the Kingdom of Morocco.
The purpose of the visit, according to the Government Information Service (GIS), was to seek ways to further strengthen and advance ties between the two countries.
The Prime Minister has not yet returned to Dominica. However below is a statement which he issued on the visit.
“The Commonwealth of Dominica enjoys excellent relations with the Kingdom of Morocco based on mutual respect and have formalized cooperation in a number of fields including but not limited to, agriculture, tourism, and human resource development. The Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation plays a major positive role in the advancement, promotion and strengthening of relations and cooperation.
Dominica and the Kingdom of Morocco have also collaborated on a number of matters of mutual interest at the level of the United Nations and other international fora. In this regard, Dominica wishes to state that it continues to support fully the autonomy plan on Sahara explored under the aegis of the United Nations. Dominica is convinced that it is a credible, realistic and serious plan which has the potential of resolving the issue permanently and to the benefit of all concerned. Dominica is prepared to assist in whatever way possible, in seeking the successful implementation of the autonomy plan.
Consistent with the well founded internationally accepted principles of respect for sovereignty and non-interference, Dominica also wishes to state its strong solidarity and support for the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco.
I wish to finally to thank His Majesty the King for the prompt assistance given to my country in the aftermath of Hurricane Ophelia which caused severe and widespread infrastructural damage to the Commonwealth of Dominica in 2011. I look forward to even closer collaboration in all areas of mutual interests, in the future.
Long live the strong bond of friendship and solidarity between our two nations.”
Hallo guys .,..some how I’ve find this page ..and I saw ur comments .im form morroco and you are not gonna believe that thers just a few of people who knows about Dominica.but for the friendships between the countries we don’t have no edia about it …but you really have a beautiful country .you must to be aproud of what you got .for me I’m working on my visa to Dominica ..do you have any tips!
as expected absolutely no news on the plight of the students in Morocco as expected, where is this so called reporter Jacques pierre when we need him
How much better it would be if the present administration would devote as much time and energy towards building a solid foundation for a sustainable home grown economy as they do begging and prostrating themselves for handouts.
The guiding principle seems to be “give us your $$$$ and we will provide you with our support in the international fora. I think we can do better.
The genius of the present Prime Minister is that he fully understands that most voting Dominicans really don’t see the difference or care. They will not hold him accountable for a failing/failed economy. They are all too willing to accept his excuses.
The sad thing is that Dominica’s economy will not develop if the people do not adopt a more mature attitude towards the growth of economy and the governments’ role in stimulating it.
well said
Well once again Skerro is seeking financial assistance where ever he can get it. It does not matter how unpopular that giver might be on the international scene.
Why didn’t Vince Henderson educate Skerro on the importance of not affiliating Da with Morocco? Vince i expect better from you.The Western Sahara has been oppressed for years by the Moroccan Gov’t in their quest for independence, and the UN has been been spending millions of dollars in support of that effort.
Where are our internationally political educated people in Da? To tell DLP where to keep away from!!??
The back lash will come to us if we do not take these guys out of office. For a few years now , this administration is taking the super powers for a joke. But little do they know , just like all the rouge regimes that have fallen in the middle east, it’s just a matter of time for their’s.
I think he had to make that statement before he can leave Morocco. Probably drafted by the Moroccans themselves.
The main thing here is support for Morocco on the Western Sahara issue and against the POLISARIO front (the group fighting the Moroccans for independence of their homeland).
After all Rosie Douglas did and campaigned for the independence of Western Sahara, he must be turning in his grave at this Sellout of their struggle.
And all this for a mess of pottage (the 58-room Hotel).
yeah i thought the same myself
Marcus, couldn’t agree more. Morocco is not part of the African Union, precisely because of this issue. Even the Lybian regime, so generous to us at the time, supported the W. Sahara’s people’s right for self-determination as I believe does the U.N. majority. We, Dominica, have been a staunch supporter of the African Union since our independence and to side now with Morocco must seriously question our integrity. Have we really become no more than a political prostitute, selling our U.N. vote to the highest bidder? Can we be trusted?
Boy look begging! First, they cried down on Ms. Charles, now look it. Look debts!!!
What is Dominica producing and exporting to pay all these debts. If the PM sits in the post for another 5-10 years we the tax payers will never know the true debt that the Country owes.
OUR DEBT IS NOT THE PROBLEM:
Our debt as a percentage of GDP has been reduced considerably under the Labour Party Government. The global financial crisis has only slightly decreased this trend, as the government devoted funds towards economic stimulus, similar to what has been done in many other “more developed” countries.
For more information check the IMF REPORT ON DEBT SUSTAINABILITY ANALYSIS available online at http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/dsa/pdf/dsacr11324.pdf
is this Diplomatic standards or a boys club chatting child stuff…
see nothing much from that..again nothing to shout about typical zeros are usual…
folks are fully ignorant and island is the poorest..wow look how da come too..
My gosh, you people are petty!
Dont you know that Dominica holds more power than our caribbean neighbours. Our country is an untouchable an an envy to the rest. We are rich in our natural resorces and self sustainability. he only island that can stand on in this world economic situation. God Bless Dominica and the Government.
Did not know we are breeding ostriches in Dominica these days…!
Yah “power” are you kidding me? And we are the poorest after Haiti!! what does that say to you??
This is a meaningless diplomatic statement, which seems to have been drafted the Vince Henderson in New York. We await the comments of the PM as they relate to the concerns and issues affecting the Dominican people.
Dominicans have been expressing disgust over the frequent disappearing acts of the PM to foreign countries without any announcement of his whereabouts. That is the issue not our diplomatic relations with Morocco per se, albeit that in itself could be could separately and critically examined based on the conduct of Morocco with regard to its handling and treatment of the people and territory in the Sahara. Dominicans would hope that the nature of the collaboration that the PM speaks about is not giving support to Morocco’s position at the UN on this matter as this would not be one of the matters of mutual interest at the level of the UN and other international fora.
ADMIN: On another matter, it is noted that a story entitled, “DBS GM contradicts his Chairman’ – Edison”, which was carried only yesterday by DNO has been taken off your website. Out of professional courtesy for your readers, I believe that we should know why the story has been removed. Thank you in advance for your explanation.
What is the purpose of the Cabinet Secretary in the meeting. To take notes? Surely a representative of the people would make more sense.
Someone has to carry the cash nuh!
Skerrit next trip bring Simeone Albert nuh. At least he will have a legitimate reason for missing the Urban Council meetings.
I wonder what Roosie would think about that?
I’m not impressed by this trip. Morocco has the largest Muslim population has a history of disrespecting women and engaging in human rights violation.
“Consistent with the well founded internationally accepted principles of respect for sovereignty and non-interference”?
Not true!!
He just keeps adding dictatorship alliance to his existing ones.
Well To correct you on so many fronts. Le Royaume du Maroc does not have the largest muslim population that prize goes to Indonesia and when it comes to the rights of women Le Maroc is not the best country but it is alot better than most Muslim countires i can tell you that I have visited there several times i know what im talking about so this is just another Dominican talking about what they know not
Padna you forget Saudi Arabia man.
dont really care about morocco that country is filled with corruption also.what ever they give us is a price to be paid skerro you know that.stop fooling your people.
The Kingdom of Morocco?
Where is the kingdom of Morocco? As far as we know Morocco is located somewhere out there in a vast bit of desert, on the African continent. It has been, and called Morocco for centuries, even in the days when it was plundered by the British, and the French I believe, it was called ” Morocco ” how come all of a sudden it is called ” The Kingdom of Morocco?”
Could it be because we Dominicans want it to appear that the Prime Minister is dealing with some great world power, and that will make our poor and backward country some false impression of importance!
Let it be know that Morocco is one of the poorest country in North Africa, and by the way check out the geographic location to be sure I am not mistaken on location.
This is a country which depends on tourism as a main source of revenue, I do not know what sort of closer ties, togetherness we can create with a place like which will help us to overcome our bad economic situation.
Some people are elated about the 58 room guess house been built in Portsmouth, and Morocco’s expense, that is nothing more than nothing, since there are individual who’s home contains more than fifty-eight rooms.
Since Morocco’s depend on tourism for their survival, they I am sure know the importance of an International Airport, so perhaps the Dominica delegation now in Morocco should ask the King of the Kingdom of Morocco to lend us the money to invest in an International Airport, thus our tied nut to Morocco can become titer.
In that our rich friend in Morocco will have no difficulties flying from Morocco to Dominica direct!
Dominicans calls a 58 room house a ” state of the art hotel.”
They are rated internationally as five and four star in the business, I will add class resorts to that, but as for a ” state of the art hotel, I have never seen one in my world of travel. These days most of them are equip with Satellite Television, and Internet service; I wonder if that is what we consider in Dominica to be state of the art?
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Dude, the official name of that country is Kingdom of Morocco….why don’t you do a simple Google search before you post your comments.
Its like the official name of Dominica is the Commonwealth of Dominica..
SMH
Yeah Francisco, and by the way that country bounds right with the Mediterranean sea, right opposite Spain. Get your atlas out next time
There is a search engine called GOOGLE or yahoo?? Before posting this nonsense at least get the facts straight!!
Unless there is another Morocco the one Mr Telemaque painted does not match the one I researched.
By the way my research revealed among other information:
The country’s official name is The Kingdom of Morocco.
It has a GDP of U.S 90.5billion(dollars.
A GDP growth of 4.5(2011)
A per capita GDP of $4,708.
Man, you are the both jokers in every new packet of playing cards.
in what ever way can dominca assist morocco, or is the other way round… that begging syndrome, when will it stop..
please mr priminister get everyone involved, man woman and child in finding ways to grow our economy…
that begging for roads, schools and hotels just cant improve the calamitty we are in
if we continue so then people will start eating ashphalt, block and concrete
with all the begging and owing we know we dont own DA anymore soon all these people will come and claim their island alas poor us Dominicans..we are SOLD
I must thank you PM skeritt for getting for us a new brand or brand new primary school for newtown. All of the time we were made to believe that it was ARMBRUISE who got it thriugh his negotiations skills ( chupes ) for us the people…but thank you for clearing the air during the last sitting of the house by making it clear that it was you who got it for us. You said it was originally for your constituency but you saw the need for newtown instead as was the case in san sauveur also.
Thanks for being honest. The MP for newtown has done nothing for us ? Some people think so . Trust me PM get another candidate,,,,mister bever around, plenty people are complaining about him. even poto poto labourites and thats happening all over the constituency..the chicken man up kingshill doing whatsoever he wants as if is he people vote for. WE fed up no more ARMBRUISE WE NEED ANOTHER NEW DLP CANDIDATE FOR D NEXT ELECTIONS else…….
Leave Ambi alone he is the best candidate for Newtown. Why change him when he is winning with a greater margin everytime he runs for election??? That says alot about the people of Newtown and surroundings!!!!!
Hon PM Dominica patiently awaits the Goodies from Morocco on your return
“The Prime Minister has not yet returned to Dominica, however below is a statement issued by him on the visit.” Nothing wrong with that. Have you all heard of the thing called “Email”. And I am most certainly sure that this statement was prepared and vetted before they left Dominica. I am also of the belief that he has an Executive Secretary with whom he would be in constant contact with. Have faith in the World Wide Web. Morocco is several flights away from Dominica. At least we are aware of his whereabouts this time ’round.
We have been told where he is going but that is not the same as being informed about his whereabouts. P.M. may have indulged in a little stop-off somewhere or made a detour. Don’t tell me this is not possible, with his official trip to Morocco a convenient cover.