PM Skerrit holds bilateral meeting with Venezuelan Foreign Minister

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister (r) with PM Skerrit

Prime Minister Skerrit met on Monday December the 10th, with the Foreign Minister of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Jorge Arreaza.

According to an article in a Venezeulan Government online publication, the aim of the meeting was to strengthen “ties of friendship and cooperation between the Bolivarian Government and the Commonwealth of Dominica.”

The article adds that the meeting is part of the bilateral agenda held by the Venezuelan Foreign Minister, in the land of Morocco, framed in the Intergovernmental Conference for the Adoption of the Global Compact for Orderly, Secure and Regular Migration.

“Likewise,” the article continues, “the Venezuelan Foreign Minister and the Prime Minister of Dominica, expressed their desire to keep working on the strengthening of trade and diplomatic relations between both nations.”

It concludes, “Arreaza attended the 40th anniversary of the Independence of the Commonwealth of Dominica in November, in which he expressed his gratitude and support for the people and Government of the Caribbean island to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.”

In the absence of information regarding his whereabouts, there was some concern about Skerrit’s absence from parliament during the passage of the CREAD Bill.

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41 Comments

  1. Ibo France
    December 14, 2018

    Mr. Skerrit is a tourist in his own country. The man spends more time out than in. Local journalists should try to ascertain how many times, for the fiscal year, Mr. Skerrit has traveled overseas, the overall cost of these trips, and how the country has benefited. The only time the PM spends a reasonable amount of time on island is during the election campaign. This man hardly spends two straight weeks in Dominica to bring solutions to the myriad of problems the country faces. While he is dining and sleeping in the best hotels around the world, fellow Dominicans are languishing in poverty and misery. Many babies, children and adults go to bed on empty stomachs. The people are much too docile and easily satisfied. Nothing politicians like more than an apathetic, sheep-like electorate. Nothing they are more scared of than an intelligent, active, no-nonsense electorate. People, wise up, take a stand for your own best interest. Nobody could take better care of you than you.

  2. viewsexpressed
    December 14, 2018

    So don2fresh, what of substance do you have to say. Come on, make a difference, say something beneficial to Domininca, for example, Get failed Skerrit out” ” Kick out, vote out this lazy corrupt Labour government….and now to”
    Matt is credible, Angelo is Credible, Hon Linton, Dominica`s in coming Prime Minister is exceedingly credible and your Scare-it, Skerrit is scared of Linton big time. Skerrit cannot, will not walk in the shoes of these honourable gentlemen. Skerrit has not earned any respect from Dominicans. He has been a failure. Skerrit must Go… he has been that big failure. My Dominican people, We need to take back our Domininca.
    Apres Bondie ce Later

  3. December 14, 2018

    But Dr PM always wants to strengthen ties with some weird countries eh

    • Carltymas
      December 14, 2018

      This comment is truly disturbing? Under what criteria should a country fall to qualify it as a weird country? I await your response.

      • December 14, 2018

        countries with dictatorship empires and countries deep in poverty… What is really the gain from strengthening ties with such countries??

      • Carltymas
        December 17, 2018

        There are countries with dictatorships that are flourishing very well that countries globally have ties with that are viewed as leading countries i.e. China. UWP back in ’99 had ties with Korea, another dictatorship. There are countries that we hold in high standings with very questionable leadership, high levels of racial and sexual discrimination, high rate of injustice specifically in the judicial system, rising crime and violence and warmonger, and I can list more socially disadvantaging practices, however, these countries are not weird to us, we see them as the superior countries. Why?

    • Brrrrr
      December 14, 2018

      Countries with oil is no where close to weird ………

      • viewsexpressed
        December 14, 2018

        The oil has been abused. You know hat too damn well. The oil in the middle East countries is good and their economy has boomed and prosperous and their people nice and not in poverty like failed Venezuela. Skerrit only rush over to Venezuela for fame, hype, media bliss, political garbage talk and comes back home with more rubbish talk. What a fiasco. What development has taken place in Domininca apart for some politicians who has enriched themselves and their families while poor Dominicans remain in poverty…..and nice rich politicians have their children in over yonder enjoying the lavish life. This Labour failed corrupt government has created the art of poverty well in Domininca and many are in denial because they love their PM and not their Dominica that is in severe poverty. Dominicans, please let us get rid of this corrupt hopeless, failed labour Government now. Domininca has in waiting a decent, disciplined Party, the Untied Workers Party led by trusted Hon Linton and his team.

    • World's Moistest Jheri Curl
      December 14, 2018

      They cannot get themselves out of the slump they’re mired in yet we think they make great strategic partners.
      Not sure I understand the endgame of our foreign policy

      • carltymas
        December 18, 2018

        Diplomatic relations does not only serve a financial benefit but serves other social and economic benefit. They also serve for ease of co-operation and communication, trade, education, cultural exchange and understanding which helps with a lot of the worlds social problems and there are many more. There are a lot of materials to be read on the advantages of diplomatic relations.
        Some quoted it has the door to peace. But there are the malicious ones of course who view it a tool to undermine their superiority over the world. There are more to say but it’s just a read away.

    • viewsexpressed
      December 16, 2018

      This is the worse weird Prime Minister we have endured in our Blessed Nature Island. This man has crippled and stained our Domininca. His diplomatic approach seems to capture failed states as friends and weird far reaching countries as to do deals with, We have not and are not seeing any results or rewards from all of these weird visitors, globe trotting all over the world and comes back empty handed and his 18 weird minister all they do is LOL..LOL. at Cabinet, where Skerrit has nothing of substance developmentally, to report back. …and to those fools in cabinet, keep shouting “We Love our PM wi”. What Idiots sitting there seeing our country deteriorate and talk BS. Skerrit is not able to strengthen ties with anyone and any country, it only appears as beggars paradise and buying friends empty handed, and developmentally illiterate. We have to call it as we see it. Too much Donkey (Hee Haw…Hee haw) diplomacy business. Dominicans must kick out this weird, failed Labour Govt. Go…

      • carltymas
        December 18, 2018

        If you want your point to be taking seriously refrain from engaging in childish name-calling and prepossessed slandering and rather serve credible and legitimate responses. A little humor here and there is always a sight for sore eyes. I started to read your comment but realized that the comment serves slanderous purposes.

    • don2fresh
      December 18, 2018

      I am starting to feel so bad for people like viewsexpressed eh. He is so consumed by hatred and evil intentions, that his mind and eyes have him see what he wants and says what he feels even though it is to make the most malicious, degrading and inaccurate statements about our people and our country. Or this might just be a strategic move to get UWP in office. I can point out low-income earners whose children are overseas getting an education to help elevate themselves and their families, some thanks to the DLP, I can point out high-income earners whose children are studying here and they themselves are studying here at UWI. I can point out family members of UWP overseas. The only reason you all are calling these countries weird is that RS created ties with them. If he made ties with the US it would be ties with a racist government; ties with UK would be ties with former colonizers. You all just oppose for opposing sake.

  4. Looking
    December 14, 2018

    This foreign policy of smiles and secret promises is very dangerous. An ignorant mass can be fooled and manipulated, but never play with fire or else it will burn. We were never serious about ALBA and following the wishes and dreams of the late Hugo Chavez, but only interested in the goodies that came with it. In the end it will be a sad fairy tale.

  5. kubulol
    December 14, 2018

    It is a pity and a real shame that DCA still have ties with this horrible venezuelan dictatorship.
    Recently again, for local elections, the opposition was not allowed to nominate any candidate.

  6. Pragmatik
    December 13, 2018

    In the spirit of strengthening ties of friendship and solidarity between the two countries, I propose that 100 people from Venezuela trade places for one month with a 100 people in Dominica who believe in and support the bolivarian revolution. Also they should not be treated in any special way, each group should live in the respective countries for one month as the ordinary citizens in each country lives

  7. Stella
    December 13, 2018

    My question is. Why is our Foreign Minister not attending those meetings. Is she not capable?

    • Channel 1
      December 14, 2018

      Stella – Roosevelt apparently felt it was better for the foreign minister to stay back in Dominica to talk about the climate-related CREAD bill while he went out in the foreign with the Minister for Climate resilience to talk to a foreign government about “strengthening ties of friendship & cooperation”.

      Don’t be surprised if you hear next the Minister of Health being the featured speaker at the opening of a new road and the Minister of Communications & Work being the one to address nurses on health-related policies.

      Talk about a government that is back to front, upside down, clueless, ABSOLUTELY CLUELESS – Look no further than Roosevelt Skerrit & his crew.

  8. Twoproro
    December 13, 2018

    So that strengthening of ties with a country where its people are starving was more important than presenting the Greed Bill! Scareit was in Venezuela for some other reason and basically had to come up with some excuse..trying to pull wool over people’s eye…SMH. When will people wake up in this country.

  9. %
    December 13, 2018

    We were only informed from ousise of Dominica.. This is an indication to all concerned,the amount of “bad/nasty”deals our country could be entangled in because off Skerrit.Remember a day before TSE
    Erica he was with some characters who are imprisoned cutting cake in Macau?We were supposed to have built in Dominica a Convention Centre to serve Latin America and the Caribbean..To date he, Skerrit has not told us anything..
    I am of the firm view that Dominica is already destroyed,and this is because of the chronic apathy of it’s citizens.
    Skerrit Must Go
    Skerrit Must Go
    Lazy Skerrit Go Now

  10. Man bites dogs
    December 13, 2018

    I was about to make a comment but then I realised why should I step into dog crap.

    • Ibo France
      December 13, 2018

      Somebody is writing for you but the person is still emitting dog crap. It’s the public right to know about the PM’s overseas trips unless they would compromise national security. The PM uses taxpayers’ hard earned money to go globe trotting. More often than not he comes back with nothing of note. If one were to do a rough calculation, Mr. Skerrit’s wasteful trips have cost the treasury tens of millions of dollars. This is unconscionable as public buildings, roads, bridges, hospitals, health centers, and more, to numerous to mention, are in a severe state of disrepair. Public servants should get a well needed ‘top up’ on their meager salaries. Tell your writer that his/her dimwitted response will be like water running off a duck’s back. No effect here. In fact, I’m looking forward to it.

    • viewsexpressed
      December 13, 2018

      Woof woof, Mr Dog Crap, you damn right. Skerrit is already below the level of political decency, so please keep yours & your barking dogs to yourself. We are having enough to bear and tolerate of this failed PM and his nuisance blind loyalists on DNO. The more you all attempt to protect and raise Skerrit up, the lower he goes with more ineptitude, poor governance showing. The higher you all climb in attempting to protect Skerrit failed, corrupt government the more he, you all exposed your dirty assets, that`s not worth a penny. Skerrit has a lot to account to we the people of Dominica. It is a shame and sad what we have to endure after this wasteful 18 years in government.
      We need a Commission of Enquiry ASAP to audit the states books, resources we believe has been abused. The list of corrupt practises and deceitfulness we need to know about. The Bin Bobol, The Fertilizer Bobol, The Red Clinic, where poor parents, teen queue up for hand-outs every Wednesday. Where is states auditor?

    • viewsexpressed
      December 15, 2018

      Woof….woof…. woof… you damn right. Stay away from peoples decent conversations and stop barking in the streets and on social media you are disturbing the peace and etiquette of decent people engaging in mature dialogue of matters of concerns to their failed Domininca and this failed PM Skerrit and you just coming and pushing your damn foot into labour`s dirty Red Shoes. Tennis Show (Red) Tongue. You have step into this dog crap many times and now you are stained. To late to go hide in the bushes, you have already well exposed yourself, who you are. Show us your company and we will tell you who you are. You are this blind loyalists attempting to bark at everyone who is critical of the failures of your failed Skerrit. Too much corruption within the Labour government. We need to clean up this country to move forward. So stop your silly Funky barking and get on the decent train. On a journey to recover our island Domininca. But Skerrit must Go. Woof Woof Woof.

  11. Anonymous
    December 13, 2018

    Was this meeting in Venezuela or Morocco. The press release does not make this clear.

  12. Creation Rebel
    December 13, 2018

    One word to describe this “utter rubbish” :lol: :lol:

  13. Save
    December 13, 2018

    TRUMP LOOK HIM……

  14. LifeandDeath
    December 13, 2018

    Another example of where Skerrit’s interest lies. As he aren’t going to be touching CREAD money, it’s not important. Even after all the talk of Climate resilience..nonsense!!

    Skerrit is tired as Prime Minister, he has nothing left in the tank..a whole heap of poor decisions and glaring corruption will be his legacy

  15. Vernon
    December 13, 2018

    Admin,
    How can I post a picture on a post?

    ADMIN: The easiest way might be to post it on a social media account and provide a link in your comment.

  16. viewsexpressed
    December 13, 2018

    Please note this nonsense from Skerrit`s Team my fellow Dominicans..” the aim of the meeting was to strengthen “ties of friendship and cooperation between the Bolivarian Government and the Commonwealth of Dominica.” What ties are there again to tie, when both these countries are deep in poverty, abused their respective states funds, unable to create any new developmental initiatives, or is it that Skerrit is there begging again from the crumbs of Venezuela to aid Dominica? Skerrit, please from Venezuela, please Go to Hell, Go to Hell. Go to hell. ..none of our Damn Business, you have sufficiently damaged and destroyed our Dominica enough. You and your hopeless corrupt Labour are worthless, clueless, and idiotic of the processes of social-economic development. Bin Bobol activities are too high on the agenda of your failed corrupt government activities, and your leadership is not one to be desired. Skerrit outside of the Bobol, corruption what have you done lately for Dominica. Nothing!

    • PENNY
      December 13, 2018

      This crap Skerrit doing can only happen in 3rd world countries. For the life of me, I can’t understand why would a leader of a country would be going out of state week after week and month after month and not telling the people who put him in power. I really give up on some of my people. One day you this fake DR DR PM will have to answer for the way you’re treating your own people. I guess you can’t get your fingers on CREAD money so the bilateral whatever is more of interest $$$$.

  17. REAL!!!!
    December 13, 2018

    SKERRIT is a total waste of time…..Time for him to go.

    SKERRIT left the Island when a very important bill of CREAD for Climate resilience in DA that he owned was brought into act in our parliament and went to Venezuela a failing country with a dictatorship empire to strength relationships…..SMDH

    When we are expecting the monies for CREAD from INTL donor countries that does not support the dictatorial GOVT in Venezuela.

  18. Truth Be Told
    December 13, 2018

    Every government official and diplomatic ambassador wear the lapel pin, flag, crest of their nation when making international representation or visiting a foreign country. Why is the Prime Minister of Dominica wearing a Venezuelan lapel pin on his jacket instead of Dominica lapel pin? Is he an agent of the Venezuelan Government?

    • Channel 1
      December 13, 2018

      @Truth Be Told – Excellent observation. I also have been wondering about that lapel pin on his jacket.

  19. foreign observer
    December 13, 2018

    I don’t understand why the PM’s travel schedule is not released, especially as he ALWAYS seems to be out of Dominica! The Prime Minister’s web site is still “under development”, as it has been for the past couple of months. He has been absent from Parliament on several occasions this year, when major legislation is being tabled, whereabouts unknown. Until some other government or organisation issues a press release, that is! Not that he, personally, needs to present every piece of legislation but he should be there to support his ministers in their work. Also, isn’t it about time his travel expenses are placed in the public domain? This speaks to a complete lack of transparency. But then, I’m a mere foreign observer in a country where these items are in the public domain…or can be accessed through applied requests. Sad.

  20. Shaka Zulu
    December 13, 2018

    LMAO. So we are getting news of the prime ministers whereabouts from a foriegn press. Where is GIS. ” framed in the Intergovernmental Conference for the Adoption of the Global Compact for Orderly, Secure and Regular Migration.” A bunch of horse manure. I swear these folks create crap to give the impression they are making a difference mean time people catching thier behind. Look at CARICOM. A dominican student goes to study in Trinidad and has to buy a rturn ticket to prove when she is going home. You gp to study in the US. You buy a one way ticket cause school takes at least three years. Then they goo get photo ops get awards and come back home watch thier population beg and remain in perpetual misery.

  21. jamie
    December 13, 2018

    What a joke,my question to Skerrit,if your so tight with Venezuela,why do you own property in the USA?Also Venezuela is sanctioned by the US,Venezuela cant do nothing for Dominica,Ask your supporters where would be a better life for them now,Venezuela or the USA?

  22. I often wonder
    December 13, 2018

    According to an article in a Venezeulan Government online publication, the aim of the meeting was to strengthen “ties of friendship and cooperation between the Bolivarian Government and the Commonwealth of Dominica.”

    The aim of the meeting was to strengthen “ties of friendship and cooperation- joke is how much stronger can these ties become? We have been having talks with Caracas since the 70’s
    I often wonder!

    • Channel 1
      December 13, 2018

      @I often wonder – Padner, same thing I wondering. I tired see that phrase “strengthening ties of friendship and cooperation.”

      Hence I want to know what does that phrase truly mean when used by these politicians and diplomats. What policy agendas are covertly hidden within that generalized phrase?

      A similar phrase was used recently between the Chinese & Dominica signing of some $120 million dollar agreement.

      Now couldn’t Skerrit have gone to “strengthen these ties of friendship & cooperation” after the CREAD bill parliament meeting was finished?

      For the investigative journalists out there -> Find out WHY was it so necessary for Skerrit to be meeting with the Venezuelan foreign minister at the same time the CREAD bill was before parliament?

    • Malatete
      December 13, 2018

      You may not be aware that the Russians are in Venezuela too this week. On monday two of their TU-160, supersonic long-range White Swan bombers arrived in Venezuela from Russia after crossing the Atlantic, which they can do in five hours, to the consternation of the Americans. They Later carried out a patrol over the Caribbean accompanied by Venezuelan fighter places, including the SU-30, supplied by Russia.
      Angelo Allen told us not too long ago that Russia, Venezuela and China share common interest in the oil & gas business of Venezuela and that Dominica has a strategic role in this. That would be very important to us if true and maybe mr. Skerrit’s visit is linked to this.

      • don2fresh
        December 14, 2018

        I love how the sources of you all’s information are always “Matt Said”, Allen said”, “Linton informed”, “They said on Q this morning that”… Lol I love that. lol and even though these are not the exact words, you all come and regurgitate everything that was said.
        Hardly see “I read”, “From my personal knowledge, understanding and common sense”, “The book I read implies that”…
        I love you people for that. I want to be just like allu when I grow up wee, Don’t get to think for myself, have someone do it for me type of thing you know, feed me conspiracies and I fly with it kind of nonsense.

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