Secretary General of the OAS responds to Chairman of CARICOM

Luis Leonardo Almagro Lemes – Secretary General of the OAS

The Secretary General of the OAS, Luis Almagro Lemes, has responded to a statement by the Chairman of CARICOM, Timothy Harris, which is critical of a tweet posted by Almagro on 7th February.

In that twitter post, Almagro mentions former Dominican UN Ambassador Crispin Gregoire’s concern about free and fair elections in Dominica.

The day after the tweet was published, Foreign Affairs Minister, Francine Baron wrote to the OAS Secretary General, on behalf of the government of Dominica, demanding its withdrawal and an apology for the tweet.

Almagro has insisted that he has done nothing inappropriate and has opted to not remove the tweet.

Below is the full statement from the OAS Secretary General, including the full text of the original tweet, as he responds to this latest criticism.

 

Statement by the Secretary General of the OAS

February 22, 2019

In response to the statement published by the chairman of CARICOM on February 19, 2019 in which he wrongly asserts that I acted beyond the competence of the Office of Secretary General of the OAS, I would like to highlight the following:

1. The tweet I published on February 7, 2019 at 12:55 pm reads:“Today I met with Former Ambassador to @UN, Crispin Gregoire, who expressed his concern that the upcoming elections in #Dominica are not free and fair. He also requested @OAS_official assistance to help ensure a level playing field in the country.” As is evident from the transcript, Ambassador Gregoire expressed his concern to me and I formulated the communication. I am surprised that I was denounced for being transparent and for not censoring ideas, particularly in an organization that is obliged to act in accordance with democratic principles such as freedom of speech, openness and tolerance for the diversity of political views.

2. In connection to the previous point, I would like to reiterate what I promised during my inaugural speech as the Secretary General of the OAS in 2015. I said I would be “both government and opposition.” As Secretary General of the OAS, I have an open-door policy, I meet with people with different views and I welcome pluralism of ideas and beliefs.

3. It is worth noting that, according to a study published by the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and The University of Sydney, Dominica is the country with the lowest rate of implementation (below 10%) of the recommendations of OAS Electoral Observation Missions. Democracy is a way of life and an ongoing process of continuous improvement and the recommendations of the Organization aim to guarantee voters the best possible electoral process. When they are not followed and not implemented, this does not help member states to increase the level of trust from the opposition and the international community in their electoral processes.

I stand by my statements and actions, which are completely consistent with the competencies of the Office of Secretary General and the democratic principles that this Organization promotes and defends.

Former UN Ambassador (left) Crispin Gregoire meets with OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro Lemes (this photo accompanied the controversial tweet)

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79 Comments

  1. B VIDAL
    February 25, 2019

    GOD WILL HELP US ONE DAY,

    • Pipo
      February 26, 2019

      How can He if Skerrit is His Son?

  2. Neverson St Jean
    February 25, 2019

    His tweet was about Crispin and dominica. That’s what led to all this outrage . leave Venezuela out for the moment . Do u find anything in his tweet he should apologize for

    • roberts
      February 25, 2019

      But everybody knows itst venezuela that whole saga about, ,,

    • Barbara Saunders
      February 26, 2019

      Yes Neverson
      Yes he should apologise for bringing his organisation into disrepute by putting out misleading information and at his level attempting to smear a member country of an organisation with which he is employed.

      Venezuela cannot be left out because he took an extract of a report without the context and presented it as if that is all the report said. The same report said Venezuela had a 65% compliance and that too had a context. Yet he basically deemed Venezuela’s elections null and void and recognised the self-declared opposition President.

      How do you and he reconcile that? This is not the Dominica opposition that has no responsibility to anyone so they can go all over the world and say just about anything about anyone including their own country because their supporters do not hold them to account. This is the Secretary General of an international organisation which should have people’s trust. I now have to second guess everything the OAS says from now.

  3. Ernest
    February 25, 2019

    It’s amazing how easy people play the race card to push their agenda it have good and bad peoples of all races .
    Let us look at the facts! Is the election in Dominica free and fair if not how can we make it. What is so wrong about the statement let’s keep our pride out of it
    Now about the USA. By the grace of God I was able to leave Dominica with almost nothing go to the Us start a business pay my taxes and be able to buy a house so hard work should be rewarded we need a system where this is possible for the average man and women

    • Barbara Saunders
      February 25, 2019

      Ernest
      Good for you. That’s the America we used to know. I hope for your sake and others it remains that way with Trump’s new attititude.

      Can I just tell you that many average men and women in Dominica who are prepared to work hard and make sacrifices do in fact have their own homes. They may not all be able to own businesses but the majority of middle class working people have their own homes.

      In fact some of them have homes far superior to many of the particle board (forgot the name of the material) houses in the USA. Perhaps if you are able to come on a holiday you need to visit Canefield East, West, North and South; Morne Daniel; Upper Goodwill; Elmshall; Castle Comfort; Wall House; Grandbay; Wesley; Portsmouth; Warner etc. In fact all over Dominica. These are the homes of average men and women.

      You people need to stop denigrating your country. As a Dominican, I accept that we have short comings but I will not join the negative prophets of doom. Sorry!

      • viewsexpressed
        February 26, 2019

        Barbara stop this nonsense talk. People talk loudly on TV, Radio Newspaper everyday its in the media of your Trump, refer to as Tramp. In Domininca we have to talk and open our minds and let our voices be heard of the level of deception, Corruption, Bobol and malfeasance going on in our struggling Dominica. Madam Lady, if your Trump, Tramp fully opens the White House and have you and other US Citizens come in and hand over to you and others each US$25,00, US$2,000.00, US$50.00 etc etc…every other: 1.Babara, what would you say and do?, Receive it, condemn, talk out, or kick his assets out? How long would he survive as President. In the US, there checks & balances. The President is a servant of the people, not a Tramp to buy loyalty. In Domininca this thievery and violation of finance Act is condone. I want to hear you say that this is an abusive and deceptive act. “Average men & women in Dominica work damn hard and don`t want corrupt handout. It`s an Insult to que cash. Skerrit Go

      • Barbara Saunders
        February 26, 2019

        Viewsexpressed

        What exactly was the view you were trying to express? You are agreeing that average people work hard and have their homes. Not sure what the burst blood vessel is about. There was no talk about hand out except that I forgot to tell him that some of the housing was faciltated through low interest loans for public officers and low income private sector employees. Guy calm down.

        Perhaps he can tell you about people in the US who don’t even bother to work as it is more profitable to live on government welfare handouts. I do not agree with that but it is a fact of life in the US.

        I do not agree with condoning laziness in Dominica either whether it is people who seek handouts or strong men who represent people who do absolutely nothing identifiable from morning till night other than travel around in-country and out of country. Maybe you can take a look at that too.

        I know it is desperation time so anything goes but you could hurt yourself with this fury!

  4. Truth Hurts
    February 25, 2019

    It’s amazing how so many, obviously fanatical opposition stooges could come to the defense of this right wing facist and racist who is widely viewed by many within the OAS circles as the worst secretary general that organization has ever seen. The man is running the organization as a bigger dictator than some of the countries such as Venezuela whose leader he has gone on a personal crusade to overthrow at any costs even through use of military force. He is obviously supported by other fasists right wing governments in the region such as the Trump administration and the newly elected government in Brazil under their new crazy, racist president. Folks we better be careful because if we remain gullible to the propaganda of these folks because it suits our own subjective and biased political ends, then we may very well end up back in chains again which where they want us. Take heed!

    • Barbara Saunders
      February 25, 2019

      Truth hurts

      Thanks you so much for some analytical discourse and for looking at the bigger picture. You help to bring some decorum to the charade on this site.

      Every couple months I actually have to take some time out to detox.

      Thanks again.

    • viewsexpressed
      February 25, 2019

      My God the Truth really hurts. this statement is so dumfounded and out of context, really seems too personal and nothing of substance to debate on, but to be rejected as any credible piece of work. What is the message, what is the point, what are you saying or attempting to say?
      Do you think that you acted as a fanatical or behaved immaturely to offer some objective points that we can take forward? No, it did not. Let us go back t the issue ay hand and debate careful that we all learn.
      “,,,other fascists right wing governments in the region…? are you for real. Trump is a tramp, one with no ideology, but appears spontaneous like you. My God, where do position this rump and also this failed immature Skerrit. You see, we have two failed immature politicians, one in the USA, the other In Domininca where both has diminished and brought our countries to shame, due to their immaturity and who depends on scouts to talk for them. They both must exit being in government. They both have…

    • Ibo France
      February 25, 2019

      @Truth Hurts
      Most of your statement l am in agreement. The General Secretary is an conservative, right wing, racist extremist. However, even a fool speaks sensible things sometimes. What the man said about Dominica cannot honestly be refuted. Facts are stubborn things.

  5. Man bites dogs
    February 25, 2019

    I am calling for that secretary so-called General to be sack how dear he to agree with that strange looking version of ET man to say elections in Dominica has been rig. Is it the gin and tonic water or what?

    • viewsexpressed
      February 26, 2019

      Man Bite Dogs, the truth kills and you it`s that way for you because you are not objective on the bigger picture of decency in government and politics. I am aware together with my colleagues where we sit on the top floors of Both government buildings. We know and are very much aware of the Bobol, corruption, abuse of states funds coming out of the top floor where the Prime (Odd) Minister is seated not too long again. He must Go. We know of Skerrit’s Red Clinic, an abuse and insulting programme to buy our poor and vulnerable people for a few pieces of votes. The majority of them go home because they have not been called upstairs. Skerrit has abused, neglect, abandoned the Welfare Division and handles states finances on his on for political reasons. We know of this upstairs and it is a criminal abusive, deceptive behaviour that whoever does this and accommodate must and should be arrested for fraud and the abuse of states funds. Shame on All those blind hypocritical scouts. Skerrit Go.

  6. Too late
    February 25, 2019

    This man from the OAS be careful that the doctor skerrit donr order the intelligence agencies of dominica and the brilliant and clever inspector mills to investigate him and take his phones and laptop

  7. Da
    February 24, 2019

    Now we have the whole world looking at Dominica, I know for sure they international organizations will do all they can to make sure that they do not have another Venezuela in Dominica.
    I hope Skerroo and Corbette are taking note and will respect the free and peaceful demonstration for the people , by the people and of the people.
    The time is soon coming when you guys will have too answer to your destruction of Dominica.

    • Barbara Saunders
      February 25, 2019

      Da
      That was always the intention wasn’t it. All that effort to raise all kinds of allegations with the help of Rijock and other international figures of questionable character. Digging up dirt on you all’s country has been the only job some people have held for the last several years.

      It was clear that either the intended audiences were not listening or dismissed those attempts as malicious because very few people can understand how citizens of a country can devote every waking moment to destruction of the same country where they live.

      Just witness the kind of response to Dominica after Maria. Just witness the kind of glowing reports being put out by the organisations responsible to do so.

      Of course the government makes mistakes and they should be called out on those but to live for the destruction of a country to bring down one man or group of men is about as sick as it comes.

      I seem to be barred from DNO so I hope my comments will be printed in this democracy of….

      ADMIN: You are not barred from DNO. We have published all your recent comments.

      • Barbara Saunders
        February 25, 2019

        Thanks admin
        I had been searching last week for some observations which I made and couldn’t find them anywhere. Good to see my recent ones.

      • viewsexpressed
        February 26, 2019

        Barbara, if you are not aware of what we are going through in Domininca, then please ask some credible questions that you are uplifted and well informed. Madam, this is a Dominican talking to you now, who is in the middle of the scenario in government as a civil servant observing this Bobol/corrupt on a daily basis and the abuse of states funds openly and quietly sent out to families who need a job but left to receive Handouts” from this puppet master in the Prime Ministers’ Office. Why don`t you talk and write about this corruption where we the professionals are ignored and pushed aside and difficult to undertake the jobs we have been paid to do. Its political skulduggery, corruption at the highest level and abusive at the human level and people are out there shouting BS that “We love our PM”. This man is a waste and should never have been Prime Minister, he has behaved Oddly. Our agricultural sector is doomed, it is Passports we now selling. Farmers are crying daily and Skerrit…

  8. Massacre
    February 24, 2019

    The whole of CARICOM is a mess, they have been supporting corrupt leaders like Skerro in Da and Gonzalves in St.Vincent that allow them to be the dictators that they have become.
    So I am happy that the OAS has stood up to tyrants like them to show support for free and fair elections. I want to ask Francine who voted for her and how come she did not know these basic information about the role of the OAS.
    Girl stay quiet and learn.

  9. KID ON THE BLOCK
    February 24, 2019

    Sir, your tweet was just out of the box. No one didn’t say you shouldn’t be both “government and opposition” but your tweet stretched it for questioning your motive.

    • Ibo France
      February 25, 2019

      KID, spend some serious time strengthening your grammar and improving your sentence construction. You spend an inordinate amount of time defending all the wrongdoings of a kleptocratic administration and demonizing the opposition. Your comments on this article are difficult to decipher. Elevate yourself academically instead of vilifying every one of Skerrit’s critics. You should not insist on being hypercritical of people when you are such a weak vessel. Seems t like your pathetic ways are an lvercompensation for your insecurities. Uplift yourself!

      • KID ON THE BLOCK
        February 25, 2019

        Ibo France, When the fox couldn’t reach the gtrapes he said they were sour!
        Looks like I am a hanger for your jacket. You can not run me out of the race. You are who you are, I am who I am. Keep your advice to your to your self.; Spend some time and review your malapropisms.

      • viewsexpressed
        February 26, 2019

        IBO Francis, please ignore This “Kid on the Block”, he and his comments are not fully linked before the subject at hand. Its all about protecting Skerrit and attempting to go at The Hon Lennox Linton who has exposed this thievery and Bobol. Then they, Labour Corrupt Govt said quickly it was a mistake attempting to hide their usual thievery of states funds. We commend you fully Hon Linton, our incoming UWP Prime Minister. We need to clean up Dominica.
        If you notice this illiterate comments, makes no comments of 1. The daily poverty of our people, 2. The level of unemployment in our Dominica, 3. The quick increase in the riches of some sitting politicians and ministers, 4. The Bin Bobol & Fertilizer Bobol, where the state misused states funds, the people’s tax money and then when discovered by Hon Linton, the lied and then said it was mistake”. Well it was deliberate states thievery because a siting minister’s brother in the US was the one who facilitated and received the money…

  10. Man bites dogs
    February 24, 2019

    DNO could you please remove these two guys photos from my face uncle Sam and uncle Tom they making me feel sick!!!

    • viewsexpressed
      February 25, 2019

      people, do you y point with these so called failed immature Skerrites? Man bites dog (Which is poisons) is labelling and asking that “two guys photos be removed …” Are you interested in beauty or the ugly state of y9our Dominica created by your loving friend the failed immature Skerrit.
      Man bites Dogs, yo have been advised for sometime to stop iting and barking at Dogs and repair y9orsel and intelligence quickly because these talk and language is not getting you anywhere. And just a reminder, Skerrit ust go, he has failed us and you are not in any position of intellectual to understand, yet, comprehend the bigger picture of poverty that we are in. Go ask your PM, guess he is able to account for this failure of his and corrupt Labour Government. Skerrit must. Get Out, exit government, we need better people to run our affairs. Skerrit must Go

  11. Bee
    February 24, 2019

    The Secretary General stated that Less than 10% of recommendations from the OAS observer missions were adopted. Granted they were recommendations, but one would think in an effort to at least appear transparent Skerrit would at least have considered more than that my God.

    I guess Skerrit must have gotten Caricom to respond when the Secretary General didn’t piss on Francine Baron.Some time ago, when Lennox went to a Caricom meeting, it was generally felt that he was wasting his time. It seems clearer now. Caricom seems to be a forum where corrupt leaders meet to discuss how best to cover for each other.

    Thankfully, OAS playing buy a different drum!

    Now let’s hear the DLP cool aid drinkers excuses for Skerrit…

  12. Ibo France
    February 24, 2019

    Dominica has acquired Pariah Status under Skerrit’s dictatorship. Here are a few reasons. Dominica is a magnet and a refuge for international crooks and fugitives, a place where dictatorship flourishes and democratic practices flounder, instead of collectivism there is one-man-ism. It’s a country where transparency, accountability and personal responsible are frowned on by government officials. It’s a place where corruption is allowed to run amok. It’s a country where sensible electoral reforms are conceitedly rejected. Things have to change so that the populace can breathe a big sigh of relief from the daily misery of their insufferable lives. Dominica, at this juncture in time, needs statesmen and stateswomen , no longer any crooks and bandits to lead the country.

  13. way papa
    February 24, 2019

    Francine looks like you opened a can of worms. :-|

    • Barbara Saunders
      February 25, 2019

      way papa

      Yes it looks like she did because it seems that this is not the end of the story. The OAS Secretary General may now have to explain why he doctored the report from the Havard Kennedy School of government and the Australian University.

      If you are quoting from a reputable source you cannot manipulate the report to suit your point of view, you have to quote the report as presented. Can of worms indeed because this man should not be allowed to get away with this.

      I know in short-sightedness some think everything is about Skerrit, but Dominica is where I live by choice and I find that too many people in this society are happy to align themselves with the Rijock con men and others of questionable repute to cast Dominica in a bad light.

      It is as if we think Dominica is going to miraculously transform into a beautiful society once Skerrit leaves or is removed from office. So go ahead and create your monsters. Guess who has to deal with them after? Me, you and them.

      ADMIN: Where does he “doctor” the report? You need to provide the evidence to support such an allegation. There is a link to the report in the article the graph he is referencing is in the results section at the bottom, here is the link to the report in case you missed it: http://www.oas.org/fpdb/press/FINAL-Democratic-Difusion-English-Exec.pdf

      • Barbara Saunders
        February 25, 2019

        Admin, thank you for making the report available so that many others if they are so inclined can read it and determine if the Sec. Gen. has been fair to Dominica. Admin, if you take sections of a report out of context what do you call that?
        Let’s look at page 17, I quote:
        “…the results show that non-established democracies implement OAS recommendations in a significantly higher proportion 55% than established democracies 44%…”

        “…countries show different implementation rates of the recommendations e.g. Colombia, Salvador, Bolivia and Venezuela show implementation rates of 72, 70, 67 and 65% respectively while in the Caribbean concretely, St.Kitts 7 Nevis, Antigua, Dominica or Bahamas implementation rate does not reach 10% which may be due to to the different legal and historical traditions as well as the different levels of regulation within those societies…”

        Admin. you note Venezuela’s rate? 65%. What then do you think of the Sec. Gen. comments re Venezuela?

        ADMIN: Our concern is over the accuracy of the statements made, because you disagree with his position does not prove he doctored the report.

        Almagro selected information from the report that supported his position as did you in the comment above.

        We encourage everyone in this forum to use evidence to support their points rather than use allegations.

      • Barbara Saunders
        February 25, 2019

        Admin to continue
        pg 18
        “We have also find (sic) that in 6 countries in which democracy is more established tend to implement recommendations less.” (good observation or negative observation?)

        “…Finally on average recommendations take on average (sic) 4 years to be implemented. This signals that it takes a substantial amount of time to implement as those are in many cases not a straightforward process, given the complexity of some and the actors involved to make the changes…”

        Admin. This in my view is an example of how information can be manipulated or “doctored” to give either a negative or positive outcome. The Secretary General certainly did not intend a positive outcome given his unilateral declarations and posturing.

        The most interesting revelation so far from the report was Venezuela. Again, if the information is taken out of context, when other factors and conditions do not accompany the statement, Venezuela’s democracy should be getting accolades!

      • Barbara Saunders
        February 25, 2019

        Admin
        I think you will agree that I, an ordinary citizen of Dominica cannot be held to the same level of responsibility that the Secretary General of the OAS, paid by member countries to represent their interests should have. In spite of that, I believe I have responsibly supported my statement. I am now wondering how using the same yardstick, i.e. the report, on what basis he picked his preferred President of Venezuela.

        This cannot be about the gentleman selecting information to support his point as you are implying because you are now presenting an even more dangerous scenario than meets the eye. If the gentleman chooses to entertain allegations from persons with no known authority, take a personal public position based on those allegations and then “to cover his tracks” he selects a section of a report applicable not only to Dominica and presents it in his condemnation of Dominica’s electoral process, then we are rushing down an extremely slippery slope.

  14. dissident
    February 24, 2019

    Thank you for showing our opposition some respect. …it means a lot to our democracy. Our own caricom treat our opposition with disregard on the issue of FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS. I am certain that CARICOM is aware of the OAS and Commonwealth election observer’s comments in interest of free and fair elections

    An outside body appears to have more interest in the fairness of general elections in Dominica. ….SHAME IN CARICOM!!!!!!!
    millionaire status have heads of state treating the people that they SHOULD SERVE as slaves and pawns in their dirty game of enrichment of self.

    CARICOM : we the honest patriots of Dominica watching closely with suspicion! !!!!!!

  15. Neal
    February 24, 2019

    I feel very sorry for that rude and ‘Corparwayon’ lady Francine Baron. Dominica is making headlines all over the world for the wrong reasons and she is asking big and powerful men to apologize.

  16. Take Warning
    February 24, 2019

    Is best Francine and Skerrit had left Mr. tweet alone. To get that kind of international expose is terribly bad. Before this response from the Secretary General of the OAS, I never knew a study published by the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and The University of Sydney, revealed Dominica has the lowest rate of implementation (below 10%) of the recommendations of OAS Electoral Observation. I mean I’m lost for words man! I knew Dominica was up there with Venezuela when come to freedom of expression, a country ruled by a dictatorship, non transparency, freedom of the press, bloated voters list and so on but I never knew we had the lowest rate of implementing recommendations by OAS. The OAS should have revealed that long time man. No wonder the manage of DBS carried the UWP press conference on Thursday and on Friday DBS Labor Manager, Cecil Joseph, was on Q95 mamotaying and twisting truth? These guys should know that they are on the radar and they better watch out

    • Barbara Saunders
      February 25, 2019

      Take warning
      No it is a good thing Francine had spoken. DNO has a link to the report. Go and read it. If we have to follow the example of the Secretary General in selective information out of context, you would have to give Venezuela thumbs up for a thriving democracy, having implemented 65% of the recommendations of the OAS.

      What did the same Secretary General have to say about Venezuela even after the same report gave Venezuela that implementation rating? He recognised the opposition leader over Maduro. I am no Maduro fan but that Secretary General is extremely unprincipled.

      Do you know that if you take parts of the Bible out of context you can make murderers and whoremongerers look like whistle clean apostles and vice versa? The lives and acts of Disciple Peter and Apostle Paul are great examples of that.

  17. Tobby
    February 24, 2019

    Dominican people give the opposition a try, stop put labour in office over and over and they doing nothing new to help the people of Dominica. Is you all putting yourselves in poverty. Take the example of the caricom chairman’s country. The people of St.Kitts gave his party a try which was in opposition and trust me marvelous things a happening in st.Kitts compare to the last 15 years when I visited there. What I saw happening in St.Kitts since the opposition won and what they accomplished in 4 years since in power, Labour never did tht in their 20 years in office. So give the opposition a try, remove labour in Dominica and you guys might just do the right thing to save the country. I really don’t know why labour still in power. What I realized with our Dominican people is that , they don’t vote for a developing country, they vote for love of the politicians and that’s why have us so poor.

  18. BMB
    February 24, 2019

    Crispin’s face looks like the man’s squeezing his hand too tight lol

  19. FOR THE LOVE OF COUNTRY
    February 24, 2019

    Amen… now here’s a MAN with “BALLS” – testicular fortitude, thank you Sir for speaking TRUTH to power.

    Wasn’t Mr Timothy Harris (Chairman of CARICOM) aware of the essence your quote?:
    “…/ according to a study published by the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and The University of Sydney, Dominica is the country with the lowest rate of implementation (below 10%) of the recommendations of OAS Electoral Observation Missions?”

    Why has he conveniently remained silent on the whole matter of “ELECTORAL REFORM” in Dominica – an over decade ago request by the likes of the very OPPOSITIONS the Secretary General is akin to also listen to?

    In my humble opinion, CARICOM runs like a ‘boys’ club’ brigade (no ill-intent implied by the statement). When such tailored interests being demonstrated it feeds negative belief in people’s minds – CARICOM not really giving a damn about the region’s welfare. That it’s a sort of cartel who only protect its close affiliates’ interests.

  20. Zammm
    February 24, 2019

    Right now, Francine, Skerritt, and others talking about OAS will shut up …
    For Dominicans to be so courageous to support labour dats a crime against the state. Skerritt must goooooo

  21. %
    February 23, 2019

    Labour Party or DLP, has over the past few months made more than 20 – 30 bad mistakes,on the trot. Is it now a cursed party under lazy Skerrit’s leadership? Labourites can’t you all see that Skerrit has destroyed DLP?
    When a party is evil and its downfall is imminent, the mistakes will just continue to come!!
    The leader,Skerrit, has no love for the citizenry, especially the poor, he is well pleased with the begging syndrome he himself has created, he is lazy, he insults and misleads people,he is an impulsive liar, he disrespects the constitution, he is anti democratic, he hates opposition,etc..He is a total enigma and conundrum!
    Look out for more mistakes people,because Skerrit was NEVER prime minister material!
    UWP has a huge, powerful,patan momentun driving them forward thanks to the leader LL, his brilliance,love,honesty and that of the team.
    Lintonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!
    Skerrit Must Go
    Skerrit Must Go
    LAZY Skerrit Must…

  22. Perfect idiot
    February 23, 2019

    So Timothy Harris who wrote the OAS secretary General on February 20, 2019, is PM of St. Kitts and Nevis because he is the beneficiary of free and fair elections in St. Kitts because the people stood on the runway to prevent friends of Denzil Douglas to come and vote for him? Wasn’t r. Harris a member of Denzil Douglas cabinet before he walked out? So PM Harris knows the old trick and knows Skerrit and Denzel are friends? So Dr. Harris and Dr Denzil were before the Courts because that same Skerrit gave Denzil Douglas a Diplomatic passport and Skerrit was a witness against PM Harris? So a day before the result of the case was made public, Dr. Harris wrote to the secretary General and rebuked him for implying that Skerrit not taking steps to ensure free and fair election? Boy you smart Wii you that real Dr. Harris. Is that your way of letting the OAS Secretary General of OAS expose and take care of Skerrit for you? You are really brilliant ! Skerrit can’t say you didn’t try lol

  23. dd1
    February 23, 2019

    Thank you Sir, Tell the blind DLP supporters

    • Barbara Saunders
      February 25, 2019

      dd1
      That’s just the trouble. Everyone else is blind except you people. You do not analyse anything. You excuse away child molestation when it suits you. When hard evidence of money passing hands is presented, you all sweep it under the carpet. When people exploit you and extort money from you to pay for their irresponsibility you pay up and see nothing wrong. When evidence of mingling with terrorists is brought to light you all brazen it out in usual style.

      You all act blind deaf and dumb once the issue of wrong doing is on your side. You then turn around and try to bash supporters on the other side who also choose to display their loyalty.

      As it turns out, the Dominica Constitution Order gives ALL DOMINICANS the same freedoms: of Association; to form opinions; of expression etc. I’m not sure why you people feel that anyone who chooses to express their rights in a different manner and in support of a different person you all fall into a frenzy.

  24. Hit Back
    February 23, 2019

    I don’t believe that letter from CARICOM chairman Dr Timothy Harris, was coming from his heart. Dr. Harris is a very smart politician and somehow I think he just wanted the secretary General of OAS to expose Skerrit and that he did. In a democracy everyone is free to their opinion, though their opinion might not be correct so here is my opinion: First let’s take note of some very important dates:

    On February 19, 2019 Dr. Harris, who is the Prime Minister of St. Kitts & Nevis wrote to the secretary General of the OAS to inform him that CARICOM was not happy with tweet about DOMINICA and election reform ok. Here is another important date that has to do with Dr. Harris, Dominica and Skerrit.

    On February 19, 2019, The St. Kitts Court formerly announced that Dr. Denzil Douglas had won his Dominica Passport case against who? It was against the attorney general but it was Dr. Harris that got that thing started. But it wa Skerrit that was key witness in favor of Douglas. That was a…

  25. %
    February 23, 2019

    This is brilliant use of the English language. Reminds me of the exquisitely beautiful style of writing that patriot Linton possesses. I do hope, someone explains it to lazy Skerrit. I just informed a “Poto Labour”
    supporter about it..His response was,”I am not with them man again”..”If they go they go”!!
    Skerrit Must Go
    Skerrit Must Go
    LAZY Skerrit Must Go Now

    • Gary
      February 24, 2019

      Wow, pity you with such nonsense regarding your comment that this is a brilliant use of the English language, it only shows what partisan political beliefs have done to your mind. Do you know some of the most brilliant use of the English language written has been used for deception and propaganda, being able to discern the deception and propaganda from what is presented is far more important. Mr. Luis Leonardo Almagro Lemes the diplomat can craft his version, but we should be reminded of the words from Abraham Lincoln quote “Character is like a tree and reputation its shadow. The shadow is what we think it is and the tree is the real thing.” so long for you written nonsense.

      • Ibo France
        February 25, 2019

        Welcome back, Gary. I truly thought that you were still hibernating. You accuse others, ever so often, of what inheres within you. In your opinion, everyone who does not glorify the current government writes nonsense. Your criticisms run hollow as they are just mere cheap shots to decorate your eggshell ego. You are no sage.

  26. %
    February 23, 2019

    Francine
    Skerrit
    Mills
    Tony
    Cucum
    Parry
    Brain
    Ghost
    Sogo
    Mammys
    Cecil
    Simeon
    Corbette
    Parry
    Labourites
    Caricom
    Maduro
    The Secretary General of the OAS Luis Almagro Lemes cannot be browbeaten into a corner. He has responded..Put on you all unfair,red glasses!
    We (those who cherish our democracy) need more boots on the ground!!
    Luis Almagro quoted less than 10%? As a Dominican, i think 0% of the recommendations have been adopted by lazy Skerrit and his MISLEADERS.
    Skerrit Must Go
    Skerrit Must Go
    LAZY Skerrit Must Go Now

  27. Me that say that
    February 23, 2019

    So because of the tweet CARICOM wants to fire the man and replace him with the former PM of St. Lucia Kenny Anthony? Boy CARICOM is really a club that is put in place to protect corrupt politicians while the people are going through hell eh

  28. Red Ants Bite
    February 23, 2019

    PM you see what you caused. If you didn’t tell Francine to respond to the secretary General nobody would know a study was conducted by a University that revealed Dominica implemented less than 10% of recommendations. Now everybody going to see how corrupt we are. Well here is part of the study:

    “The OAS reports were remarkably effective: about half of their recommendations
    were either fully or partially implemented;
    §§ Recommendations that needed some resources were significantly more likely
    (60%) to be implemented than those requiring formal (legal) changes (47%);
    §§ Yet any reforms were not immediate; on average, recommendations took
    four years to be implemented, or roughly the period of the standard electoral
    cycle between one contest and the next.
    §§ Implementation rates vary substantially among countries from below 10% in
    Dominica or Bahamas to over 70% in El Salvador or Ecuador”.
    §§ More aid-dependent countries had higher implementation rate than countries
    less…

  29. Neverson St jean
    February 23, 2019

    The Secretary General just dump some egg in the face of caricom. These guys act like its a club and will not criticize each other even when they are wrong. At some stage u guys must stop digging . Timothy Harris should be asking Dr. Punjab to implement more than 10% of electoral reforms.

  30. My little take
    February 23, 2019

    Thank, thank you, thank you and thanks again. Your response to Skerrit, Francine and the Caribbean club aka CARICOM, whose job is to defend other corrupt and dictatorial club members and care less about the the people and our well being.

  31. R
    February 23, 2019

    He is not an ambassador and representing the interest of a political party that does not espouse the the interest of democary but self-interest! This man is not professional.

    • viewsexpressed
      February 24, 2019

      Thanks a lot Mr OAS, you articulate your response exceedingly well. Thanks for OAS to intervene they way that you have. Those who cry out at your professional response are blind and attempting to protect a very failed Corrupt, incompetent, Prime Minister, known as Skerrit, the Odd Minister. We need him to go. He has failed us big time. Our nature isle has been reduce to the gutters by this corrupt Labour Government, led by this immature incompetent Skerrit. Therefore your language does not resonate with them. They are politically illiterate and dunce to the process of development. This failed corrupt Labour Government with their 18 waste of a time Minsters and an exceedingly failed Prime (Odd) Minister must all go. They have failed us, abused states resources and has done nothing of change of Domininca after 18 long years. This corrupt Labour Government starting from Craptain to Hopeless DLP minister and blind followers must Go and soon to. They have failed. We have had enough. Go Go

    • viewsexpressed
      February 25, 2019

      Mr R…..Tell us what education and profession you hold to allow you and qualify to make judgment on this matter? Can you tell us, justify your point to us that we are better able to comprehend it, or are following the rotten school of failed incompetent Skerrit and his corrupt Bobol Labour government? We, you need to stand up fir at the level where Truth is truth ad bias is bias and Bobol is Bobol. We need decency in government and this man Skerrit has failed us and he need to Get Lot, Get Out, Get morning and Get away from us that we are able to work hard without “Corrupt handouts” to appease us and buy us to join the Red Poisnesss Skerrit Labour Kool Aid Bobol Party. Skerrit must Go, He has to go. He is that failure, he and his incompetent corrupt Labour Government has ruined our Dominica a sad betrayed of our people.
      Get out failed immature Skerrit. Goodbye Corrupt Labour. Welcome UWP and Team Leader Hon. Lennox Linton and his Professional decent Team.

  32. %
    February 23, 2019

    Now this is the type of response that must put gas into our tanks to DEMAND electoral reform.
    Francine, Lazy Skerrit,Timothy Harris, Caricom, take that!
    He said less than 10%??,I say 0% of the recommendations have been implemented.We demand elections of integrity on island lazy Skerrit, and you bunchof idiots!
    Skerrit Must Go
    Skerrit Must Go
    LAZY Skerrit Must Go Now

  33. time is now
    February 23, 2019

    But these people have heart none of them never ask there boss Roosevelt to apologies mr PM taking big woman and men of this country for his KIDS that EVIL is so high he have them like JOKES

  34. Gouvelma
    February 23, 2019

    As I said before at not time has the government attacked Crispin Gregoire. The Secretary General was reporting on his meeting with Gregoire. If the small island corrupt politicians s have not attacked Gregoire why are they attacking the secretary General? Have they attacked the report to which the secretary made reference? No.I think it wood serve the Skerritt lead administration well to do what’s right for Dominica’s democracy. Just to hold on to power they will disregard every recommendation.. For a man who claimed to have been a lecturer I find it hard to believe that Skerritt cannot differentiate between a national/state identification card and a voters identification card.. Shame on him. He who must destroy others to succeed must know that destruction awaits him at the gate to success.

  35. Wise man from the east
    February 23, 2019

    That hand shake??? Freemasonry!!

    • viewsexpressed
      February 23, 2019

      You are so wise you have nothing of substance to comment on! I wonder if you read what was said. You seem to be distracted by the handshake rather than digest and analyse the situation at hand, not the gentlemanly handshake. that took place. We need a free Domininca with decent and free speaking honourable people running our country and not failed immature politicians who not nothing of how to develop a small underdeveloped Dominica. The last 18 years we are able to point fingers at main man Skerrit has dilapidated & ruined our nature island which has many resources and we have been reduced to poverty & thievery along with the Bin/Fertilizer Bobol and obvious visible bad governance over the past 18 years. Little, immature boys have no business in big man business. Skerrit must go make way for the reputable UWP professional Team under leadership of Hon Lennox Linton.
      Dominicans, we have had enough of this disaster, we must all join with UWP and kick Skerrit Out of Office Now. Out. Go!

    • Sense out of nonsense
      February 23, 2019

      No no that’s capitalist masonry. You have to pay for that :lol: :lol: :lol:

  36. UKDominican
    February 23, 2019

    Timothy Harrison must rue the decision to give in to Roosevelt Skerrit’s pressure to act in his capacity as Caricom chairman and challenge the OAS on his behalf. I can understand if his Caricom peers are beginningto view our P.M. as a troublesome nuisance.

  37. Ibo France
    February 23, 2019

    This is poignant but very important from the Secretary General of the OAS quote, “It is worth noting that, according to a study published by the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and the University of Sydney, Dominica is the country with the lowest rate of implementation (below 10%) of the recommendations of OAS Electoral Observation Missions,” end quote. This is very instructive. This is concrete evidence that the Skerrit-led administration is anti-democratic and possibly one of the most corrupt governments in the world. This man, Skerrit, has stubbornly and unreasonably refused to implement fair and common sense electoral reforms. The opposition political parties would not gain any advantages whatsoever. This would only create a level playing field for all the parties contesting an election. Only a vile, crooked, cheating, utterly corrupt government could be against these reforms that strengthen democracy. Dominica is a rogue state, presently governed by crooks.

    • KID ON THE BLOCK
      February 24, 2019

      Ibo France, the system has been so long before Skerrit government took office. Dominica has always been governed by crooks since the inception of UWP which turned it to a rogue state. Investigate how the UWP came into existance.
      Try not to forget when UWP was in power, Edison James said,” WE INCHARGE”so refresh your thoughts of the victimization that was going on then

  38. Shaka Zulu
    February 23, 2019

    Chairman of CARICOM complaining because all these leaders care a out is thier record and privilege thet enjoy. We wonder why we are so poor and backward. It is because leaders are willing turn a blind eye for thier boys. Wrong is wrong and the only way forward is by acknowledging our failures, taking actions to correct, moving forward and always looking to improve for all. Roosvelt does not know it all and has been wrong in approach for over 15 years.

  39. Pipo
    February 23, 2019

    Wow, Roosevelt put that in your pipe and smoke it!!!

  40. Channel 1
    February 23, 2019

    I’m wondering………..(hmmmmm)….

    a. Are the OAS and other ‘observers’ out there now paying much closer covert & overt attention to Dominica in the lead up the upcoming general elections?

    b. If yes to the above, was that then part of the reason or a key reason why the UWP’s press conference a few days ago was aired live on on a particular radio station for the first time in a LOOONNNGGG time?

    After all, we have all heard the main opposition party in Dominica repeatedly cry out about they being denied access to the state-owned radio station.

    By writing to the OAS, I have a suspicion that Dominica’s foreign minister inadvertently helped create a condition where certain election injustices going on ‘undercover’ in Dominica can no longer be hidden in plain sight.

    Stay tuned y’all……

    • Barbara Saunders
      February 23, 2019

      Soooo
      I have no problem with the OAS Secretary general and the OAS wanting to promote fairness in general elections. I believe most people want that but based on his response, is HE the OAS? Is he supposed to represent his personal position or the position of the member states?

      Now how does he propose to make the playing field level in member states? Do his sentiments also apply to the United States of America? Will he now send a tweet about campaign financing in the USA where lobbyists dish out the dough to the party they think will win etc? Will he also send a tweet to encourage Mueller in the Russia probe?

      Can any citizen of any member state simply get up and travel to DC or wherever he is, seek an audience, make statements to him true or false and have him form a personal opinion from the citizen’s personal opinion and condemn the member states which pay his salary?

      This is not about Red or blue in DA. It is about the modus operandus of the OAS in the future.

      • Me
        February 24, 2019

        Ms. Saunders, the way I see it this is a pronouncement on Dominica, not the U.S.A. They have their own problems with their own President. However, Luis Almagro Lemes is the Secretay General of the OAS, of which Dominica is a full member. If mr. Skerrit does not like this he can always resign.

      • %
        February 24, 2019

        Stop straying away from the topic .You are sounding absurd,preposterous and laughable!..The USA does not have chartered flights of people coming in to vote for a wicked politician, and leaving the USA the following day. The USA does not have a voted list bigger than it’s population. Americans do not vote without voter ID ..Stop your arrant puffery,or go spew it to labourites!Put the response in your red pipe and smoke it!!!
        Skerrit Must Go
        Skerrit Must Go
        LAZY Skerrit Must Go Now

      • Ibo France
        February 24, 2019

        Barbara, your bewildering statements and questions reflect poorly on you. You have sidestepped the fact that numerous overtures were made to the Skerrit’s regime by the OAS to assist Dominica in the implementation of fair and sensible electoral reforms recommended by two reputable international organizations. You are maliciously attempting to smear the General Secretary for simply relaying the gospel truth. Barbra, your incendiary and demeaning comments do nothing to encourage resolution to the stalemate.

      • Neverson St jean
        February 24, 2019

        He did not form an opinion for christ sake he said what Chrispin told him. Read and understand my people

    • viewsexpressed
      February 23, 2019

      Channel1, I sincerely hope that they come and really see the corruption in our fail Dominica. We cannot afford to have these clown blind bats run our country again under this failed inept, immature incompetent Prime (Odd) Minister. We need change, Dominica needs to be taken care better than this corrupt behaviour & damage of our nature island by this political puppet master who has this failed PM on a political string. So many advisors and Add-visors using states money to likely honour them as the rush to the bank smiling and our people, parents, farmers, civil servants, families are crying out. Those in the rural villages cry more, there is no produce to sell and some still cry out “they love their PM Skerrit”. What a joke, a LOL. Skerrit get lost, Labour corrupt government Get lost. We await the incoming UWP team of a highly, decent professional Team and led by the well known Hon. Linton has championed for Dominica and sold off that Labour Bin & Fertilizer Bobols. Skerrit Out Go…

      • Channel 1
        February 24, 2019

        @viewsexpressed – I’m in total agreement with you.

      • Barbara Saunders
        February 25, 2019

        Neverson
        He did not say what the government official told him in writing but he says what Crispin told him and you think that is okay.

        Ibo France
        I’m not sure what all this pompous ranting is about. What is incendiary about my comments? He also expressed a personal opinion on the Venezuela issue without the authority of the OAS member states. What I am saying is that he must be consistent and not pounce on those he thinks cannot deal with him.

        We have a tendency towards expediency. We do not remember that behaviour in one situation can be repeated many years down the road. It may not be Skerrit then my boy. What I believe should happen is when your views are at variance with the people who pay you, you quit the job on a principle, not sit there and undermine the organisation which pays you.

        I know that anxiety is overtaking you people but you all are so vicious with your comments on every occasion and on every subject. Can imagine when you have the power behind you!

    • %
      February 23, 2019

      @Channel 1
      I did not know that at all. Another station carried the press conference live? No wonder Dominica is so windy those days! Dominicans “””Have No Fear”””.Dominicans “”Fear No More””” because UWP is coming! The strong wind is just the “”Wind of Change”” .
      Channel 1 (the above blogger), you must take note of the date though, when that happened . Remember the usage, or equal time on a particular radio station was part of the recommendation of either the OAS or the Commonwealth Election Observer Team,after they saw how elections are being stolen on island since 2005!
      Those wickeds,hypocrites,evil ones are smelling something.We have them by their balls, let’s all squeeze together till it burst!!!
      Skerrit Must Go
      Skerrit Must Go
      LAZY Skerrit Must Go Now

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