As Dominica observes 20 years of diplomatic relations with Cuba, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Francine Baron, has called for further integration of Cuba into the international community.
“Caribbean leaders continue to call for the continued integration of Cuba into the international community,” she said, at a ceremony held at the State House, on Wednesday night.
Baron stated that CARICOM states, collectively and individually, will continue to “explore avenues for even stronger ties for and investments with Cuba, following Havana’s improved relations with the United States.”
In July 2015, diplomatic relations were restored between Cuba and the United States after over five decades of severed ties.
US President, Barack Obama, travelled to Cuba in March 2016. He was the first sitting US President to visit the island since Calvin Coolidge, in 1928.
Baron noted that improved relations between Cuba and the US can impact CARICOM countries, both positively and negatively.
“We all recognize that the process of normalization between the US and Cuba withholds several implications for CARICOM and for its own relationship with Cuba,” she remarked. “It also presents opportunities, which we will assess and explore to our mutual benefit.”
She urged the private sector within CARICOM to be prepared to seize new business opportunities which are expected to arise—some of which, she observed, already exist under the CARICOM-Cuba Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement.
The agreement, entered into in July, 2000, is meant to strengthen commercial and economic ties between CARICOM and Cuba. The agreement addresses concerns raised by researchers and members of the private sector.
Additionally, Baron revealed Dominica’s advocacy for the termination of the embargo against Cuba, which she deemed ‘unjust’.
“However, we look forward to, and continue to advocate for the end of the economic, commercial, and financial embargo against Cuba—a decision which would greatly improve the lives of the Cuban people,” she said. “Dominica has joined other CARICOM member states in supporting the call at the United Nations for the lifting of the unjust economic embargo imposed on Cuba.”
EMPTY VESSELS MAKE THE MOST NOISE. That’s why they will never win. Only thing the UWP does is talk about other people. No policies. Very negative, lacking accurate information, self-hate, easily distracted. Petty. Most things about the UWP is Doom and Gloom. WHAT A PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!. SO EMPTY. ……
“NO WAY JOSE” Let the Leftist, Socialist, marxist. communism, workers paradise, stay in their misery. They tried that intergration crap in Grenada. Asked comrade “Bishop” who well that worked, or i forgot, he is not around to tell. How about, advocating for, a free press in cuba, free elections, ending the police state, multi-party political party, ending the castro brother 57 years in power. and also for the castro’s to send back that terrorist joanne chresimard, back to new jersey. I always feel that the castro’s junior DLP partners, also want a one party control state in dominca.
The US is well aware of these tricks. Castro is gonna say to talk to the US first. OK? No side door here
The things people say for a free lunch and drinks! Honestly.
What is she really talking about ?Is she going nuts?
Francine can you please let us know what was done with the cheque you received from SVG to help with TSE… Damages.where is this money… We are watching and waiting… Instead you cone here with your useless comments… Check your backyard. Cuba is ok without you making your useless comments. Cuba has done more for Dominica than Dominica can say it did for Cuba…..
Francine can you please let us know what was done with the cheque you received from SVG to help with TSE… Damages.where is this money…
I know what she did with it but I doh talking eh! If I say what she did with it DNO will not print it:
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahhaahahahahhaha!
But I know, but I doh talking oui!
The last time I enquired from her what she did with it, DNO did not print it:
Dominica politicians have no shame; that is why I will never ever contribute anything collectively to any cause in Dominica which money has to pass, or go through the hands of any so called Dominica government minister!
If I am ask to help an individual who has a need, as long as I can verify that need I will help, if it is to buy car, or drink rum; Sorry!
Francine Baron,lady do you really think anyone is listening to your hogwash.so please speak that with your supreme leader.
Never mind all that. What I would like to know is what happened to the cheque for US$ 10,000 which you received some weeks after Erika. In which account was that cheque deposited?
Francine Baron, when are you going to get down your high horse ans answer the question poised by the people of Dominica?
Up to this day, neither you nor Skerritt and the rest of the Cabal have refuted the revelations about “My Dominica Trade House” and the thousands of $$$$$$$$$$ you received on Dominica’s behalf. After all, Francine, who paying the salary you getting, non? At least, we do not worth an answer? Is not our business?as if we are dogs then? Why do you continue to treat your own people with so much arrogance and contempt?
Tanto, Tanto Francine. Continue to treat us like dogs, like worthless beings not even deserving a response to the questions we ask. who received the money? Was it yours? who should we ask? So you too big to answer us. As the old saying goes, “Pas jamais qwashay asur un Bosi.” In English, “Never spit on persons with disabilities.”
Usual spewing of crap. Our burning questions remain unanswered. Tanto, Tanto,…
Cuba would be more impressed if your boss did not support the king of Morocco against the people of the Western Sahara’s struggle for independence. Address that ms. Baron and you will have my ear. Right now all you, are speaking is empty rhetoric.
Aye Francine, what about the integration into the treasury of Dominica of a certain $10,000US check? You have any updates for us on that nuh.
I would think that Cuba is quite capable of looking after its own affairs without any meddling from Hon. Francine Baron. They do not need her advice or guidance and I think they are doing well on their own. There is enough to worry about Dominica’s own destiny and status in the world and I would suggest she concentrate on that.
Hello missy, on the other side of the coin the diplomatic relations which were restored between Cuba and the United States after over five decades of severed ties is actually good for the USA but bad news for us. As someone who leaves in Florida, I can personally tell you that a great multitude of people who would have scheduled their cruise ship tours for the eastern Caribbean is using this new found opening with Cuba as an opportunity to make the Spanish speaking island their preferred destination. This is not good news for Dominica because we are already the most unattractive and least visited island in the eastern Caribbean. The other Caribbean islands will be just fine because unlike Dominica they are internationally known. You all think the tourism industry was in decline? Just wait, it’s about to hit rock bottom.
“As someone who leaves in Florida,”
In the future use the therm lives, rather than “leaves.”
The terminology “leaves” indicates you are leaving one place going to another. (” I leave in the morning going, or traveling to Dominica).
The word live (s) indicates you are living in Florida, in reality you are residence, or residing in Florida. No offence intended!
It’s not me, it’s my phone’s poor predictive text. I hardly ever read over the comments before I post them to correct errors. That’s what happens. Thanks for the info on the difference between leave and live but that’s info I already knew.
Floridian, I thought you LIVED in Florida.
At what point will our people stop making this basic grammatical error? I see it so very often written hear….OK here.
It is not so much a matter of grammatical error; it is the Dominica accent, and the way we speak, I made that very mistake when I was about seventeen years old, and was immediately corrected.
There are lots of other words we transpose or actually invert. The only time I take issue with some of our people are those I believe should know better.
Take for instance when Ian Douglas who claims to be a lawyer does not know the difference between “cole” and cold I take offence to that. He substituted cole rather than using the word cold in the context of where the appropriate word should be used.
Skerrit came out the other day and said ” President Obama should lift the embargo on Cuba before he demit office.” I simply view him as a dunce; because to demit means your are withdrawing from a position, or removing your name from among a list of persons contending for something.
Obama will be leaving office because he has completed two terms as president of the United States, he…
I don’t even know why these ministers make comments when it comes to international politics. Have they not noticed that no significant country listens to them?
Thank you!!!
They are what we term want to be!
Dominica is the most backward place I know, but rather then these clowns try to get the country to move forward they do not concern themselves with the backward, and primitive state in which our nation exists.
Everything in Dominica is better, the Dominica politician has the resolve for every issue affecting all the nations of the world excepts our very own problems in Dominica.
Skerrit went to Cuba lamenting: ” The United States Must Lift The Embargoed on Cuba” not knowing Obama committed himself to do just that when he first became president. While Skerrit was farting from his mouth the plans to reestablish relation was only days away.
Within weeks of reestablishing relationship with Cuba, an American company was given license to go into Cuba where they set up a company to manufacture tractors, and create jobs for the Cuban people. So, it is hypocritical for her to be pretending she is saying something which actually makes no sense,…
They trying to make the small chickens on the ground think they’re talking about important stuff… smh. Remember when a government didn’t recognize who skerrit was? And he had an inhospitable stay? No one that matters looking out for these guys
rhetoric. yes we all know this. as a region with power, we need to come together and stop acting like frightful slaves and cowering behind the US. Cuba is a sister nation in the Caribbean, all other Caribbean countries should be fully open and already have trade relations with the country. This has been a market that we have neglected and scoffed our noses at because the US has said to. But now they playing nice, everyone else wants to join the band wagon. WE are such fools sometimes.
Dominica and Cuba have had diplomatic relations and related trade, development, and educational agreements for decades.
mostly education and medical, come agricultural assistance. In terms of goods, what do we export to Cuba? What have we imported? Why have we not maximized this potential? Why is it only now that America has open its own gates that we see the need to even discuss this article?
Foreign minister Baron,considering the close ties between Dominica and Venezuela Isn’t it time that your administration say something about the dilemma and do something to assist the suffering people of Venezuela.W hen we were in dire need of assistance the Venezuelan people came to our assistance speedily,yet Skerritt and you are yet to make an effort on behalf of the people of Dominica to give whatever help we can.Tell me this,is ALBA agreement still a Some ive? Some people don’t need the USA unless they want their children to be born there or they need assistance.Go figure
The key foreign affairs issue of any significance to the gov’t and people of D/ca is the “PANAMA PAPERS” leak. Why is there such a silence by gov’t on what it appears are misappropriation of taxpayers monies by our supremos, caught in this web of revelations?
Who is brave and courageous enough to to bring an end to this deafening silence by gov’t?
You need to shut up, shut your bloody mouth talking crap, Cuba is much more integrated in the international community than Dominica will ever be!
Here is an example, Canadians has been doing business in Cuba for many years, through the embargo, and what have you. Since Cuba and the United States has partially settled their conflict, of differences, more American tourist has visited Cuba in one week than what visit Dominica in an entire season.
There are American and Cuban businessmen cooperating in business in Cube right at this moment. How many Canadian, and American companies do you have operating in Dominica?
Not one!
Why don’t you and your stupid Dominica political rhetoric get lost?
Your nonsense are only heard in Dominica by the idiots who vote for people like you!
Find something constructive to do: simply shut up!
“Not one!”
Ross is owned by DeVry, an American company. Clear Harbor, which has a call centre in Dominica, is also an American company. That’s just off the top of my head, there may be more.
Well, I agree, but remember they are not there because of Skerrit, Francine; and if we are not careful they may lift anchor like Palmolive-Colgate and leave!
And remember too there were government in Dominica, prior to the Edison James Government who were reluctant to grant citizenship to Ross, had it not been for Edison James, and the UWP who granted him his citizenship perhaps Ross Medical School might be long gone from Dominica.
And maybe the people who owns Marpin right now might be Americans, I don’t know!
That’s it. In any event more Americans has gone to Cuba engaged in Business than all of what is operating in Dominica for almost a hundred years!
Skerrit is wonted for murder: Who de man kill?
Dominica oui!
Hahahahahahahahahahhahhahahahahahah
Let me hear Roosevelt Skerrit now expressing solidarity with Maduro when he claims the economic crisis and destabilisation in Venezuela is all the fault of the U.S.A. Come on comrade Skerrit, I dare you open your mouth!
If there is more it’s probably only one more @Steve Foerster…. Those are the only two that comes to everybody’s mind…
Goes back to my point. Because America says its a go for them, we act like all of a sudden its a go for us. We never had any issues with Cuba not did any of the other Caribbean nations. However because we dont want to stir bad blood with America many countries have restricted relations with Cuba. tables turn now everyone want to play most friend. Meanwhile yes we have forgotten Venezuela as well because now its our turn to help.
Stir bad blood with America what?
I do not even understand the nonsense you are talking. When an embargo, or any sanction is levied, and implemented on a nation, that has to be approved by the “international community” via the United Nations!
It is not a one man, nor a one country decision.
Unintelligent, uneducated people just spew garbage not knowing what they are mumbling about. Cuba was one of the worlds most permanent sponsor of terrorism; they trained terrorist to go around the world to kill men women and children. Castro aim along with the former Soviet Union was to take over the world, forcing people to live under communist rule.
I Can’t educate you but before you talk nonsense exposing your stupidity, do some research educate you mind and save yourself the embarrassment!