PM wants legislation on free OECS movement

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit is calling for proper legislation for the free movement of people within the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), pointing out that Dominica has always welcomed citizens from other islands to its shores.

“Every OECS citizen has been enjoying the benefits of the free movement into Dominica,” he said at the inaugural Sitting of the OECS Assembly in Antigua on Tuesday.

According to the prime minister, OECS citizens who come to Dominica have been enjoying similar benefits as those who are citizens of the island. “In terms of education, there are OECS children residing in Dominica, they have the same unfettered access to our education systems, they get the same benefits of our Dominican citizens, if they sit the national assessment exam they can earn themselves a scholarship to attend a secondary school,” he noted. “These things has been in place long before the OECS economic union.”

He stated that despite this and many other things that are in place, “we all agree we need to formalize it through legislation.”

The free movement of people through the OECS commenced on August 1, 2011 but it has not been fully formalized by all member states.

Opposition Leader Hector John
Opposition Leader Hector John

Meanwhile Opposition Leader, Hector John, has called for an amnesty for undocumented Dominicans living in Antigua arguing that the number of Dominicans living on that island is an example of how positively the free movement of people can affect its economic viability.

“It is estimated that about 10 to fifteen thousand Dominicans live in Antigua and I would like to give support to my colleague from Antigua when he asked for an amnesty for some of our nationals living in Antigua who are undocumented,” he said., “I think the amnesty will be timely and important because there are some of them who are working under the radar and some of them would like to make their full contribution to the development of Antigua and Barbuda…”

The Assembly is being held at Parliament’s Building in St. John’s, Antigua.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

30 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    March 27, 2013

    It’s a matter of supply and demand. The higher the demand for a country, the tougher it is to gain legal status. No one is interested in Dominica, the welfare island of the region, so of course its easy to come here.

    Dominica can enforce the toughest measures in the world and guess what? no one would notice.

  2. J
    March 27, 2013

    Please!!!!!!!!!!!!..these people do not want Dominicans in their place and keep fighting foreigners living in Antigua. What make you think Baldwin “dutty” Spencer will agree to free movement of people within the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), in Antigua? (chuuupes) These people has put measures in place to prevent foreigners from working in Antigua. They have gotten rid of sooo many foreigners that Antigua’s Economy has dropped so bad that people are starting to flee the country everyday.

    They need to do a survey with the number of illegal Antiguans living in the U. S. and send them home. Do unto others as you would like them to do unto u.

    My Prime Minister needs to put measures in place to prevent people from coming to Dominica and getting by so easy because when we go out there they make it hard for us..so we need to make things hard for them too.

    Anyway,we’ll just have to wait and see……

    (D/can who lived in Antigua for almost 6 yrs)

  3. Sugar Apple
    March 27, 2013

    I love my PM, I love my PM

  4. Pelham pkwy north
    March 27, 2013

    ANTIGUA’S IN ANTIGUA NEED TO COME BACK HOME TO OUR wonderful Dominica ‘ WHICH ANTIGUA THAT NOR?

  5. WOODFORDHILL
    March 27, 2013

    Love my p.m good job !

  6. March 27, 2013

    That’s nothing new..Dominica has always been the monkey on the branch from time.
    Long before the idea of free movement of Caricom Citizens surfaced, it was trade.Buy goods that were manufactured within Caricom and if there was none producing it,only then it could be bought from outside..
    Was it fear?…they knew it was not..
    Many of the more advanced nations,Barbados,Trinidad,Antigua, still use to buy goods extra Caricom, that were manufactured within the member states.Some would purchase it extra Caricom and relable it when it get to their shores.I know of one company in Barbados that was famous for that practice.
    So tell your PM in Dominica that he is just fooling himself if he is expecting a level playing field.
    Within the memeber states Barbados has the more stable economy..She dose not want the other member states citizens to come in and screw it up for her.Moreso she dose not care for the Guyanese and Jamaicians.
    There are others states that think alike..they don’t care for the Guyanese,Jamaicians,Haitians etc.
    And I suppose there are those that don’t care for Dominicians also..I am puzzled at why would a member fo parliament in Dominica; seek amnesty for Dominicians in Antigua.
    Dose it not tell the story..They probable need to awake and smell the coffee.
    Oh!!!before Caricom…there was something by the name off ( The Federation)..So maybe you palreps down there need to dive back into history and you’ll might just then get the message…

    • Bla bla bla
      March 27, 2013

      1 from 10 is o ir Eric wiliams. Backin the 70’s

  7. Me
    March 27, 2013

    Spags u go right Antigua and fight Skerrit in parliament. What a joker. Talking about undocumented Dominican working under the rada. That happens everywhere its the we thd caricom countries allow free movement within the region. Antigua playing high and mighty. Spags shame on you! As your good friend always say ” it’s better to be thought as a fool, than to open your mouth and removed all doubt”. All have enough work to do here to build a stronger opposition than to waste time and go talk rubbish in Antigua.

    • ^
      March 27, 2013

      Shame for what. Your Dotish. You obviously have no understanding. Extremely Good Job Spaggs.

  8. proud
    March 26, 2013

    Congratulations to the WINDWARD ISLAND CRICKET TEAM!!! Well done Shane….Represent Dominica with pride!!!

    • .
      March 27, 2013

      Yeah . I second that.Don’t worry with peoploe when you want to bring up an issue, you do so irrespective of where you get the chance to do so.

      • Peeping Tom
        March 27, 2013

        :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

  9. Pondera
    March 26, 2013

    I missed this session. Those sessions are worth listening to. What a great development! OECS paliamentarians are able to come together to discuss pertinent issues. Well done. At least history will record that you guys tried.

  10. ?
    March 26, 2013

    Mr Skerrit is corruption in government an item on the agenda?

  11. Discombobulated
    March 26, 2013

    Yes jah. Finally these two share some form of understanding. These guys should realise that the best way forward for this country is to work together. Enough is enough and I am actually happy to see this minor but significant agreement

  12. Morihei Ueshiba
    March 26, 2013

    Wow Hector John outshine skerro :-P :-P :-P

  13. DANZIGER
    March 26, 2013

    DNO, I heard that the M V ELITE sank at the Saints this morning. Is that true?

  14. %
    March 26, 2013

    Good call honourable John.As for Skerrit, the first order of business for him, should be trying to reduce the spiralling levels of unemployment and mendicancy in his country, both of which were created by him, since he is the government and the other “pieces of plastics” are little boys with no testicles. Even the Red Clinic is under pressure now.Both OECS and CARICOM are talkshops, that heads of government (jokers) who do not care a d– attend at taxpayers expense.

  15. Yam Babawoolais
    March 26, 2013

    Free movement my behind. I have been hearing this talk since I little boy and I en no spring chicken. We have lays had free movement

  16. Lougaoo Mem
    March 26, 2013

    I fully concur that such legislation should have already been legislated, passed and implemented in the OECS. However, unless we recognize that we are one people with a common goal to promote unity in the region, the tribal bicker will continue to divide.

  17. Aye Dominique
    March 26, 2013

    There will be many many more meetings. These OECS leaders are all the same, 6 in one hand, half a dozen in the other.

  18. an act of contrition
    March 26, 2013

    I want to join with PM Roosevelt Skerrit to call for proper legislation be put in place to ensure that Dominica’s passport is not given to criminals.
    With our passports being in wrong hands, members of the OECS are not sure who is a real Dominican since so many people bought our passport. So please put things in place to ensure that those who have DOMINICA’s passports are truly DOMINICANS.

    • No BS ideas
      March 26, 2013

      How do you plan on advising on how we proceed?

  19. jeremy sinclair
    March 26, 2013

    one has to be right about this as much as i dislike skerrit this is a good decision, shame he can not be as good in more serious matters but from small beginings who knows,

    • IPO
      March 26, 2013

      Skerrit loves you

  20. stehen
    March 26, 2013

    is not today i keep hearing about Caribbean unity we were able to have the monetary union eastern caribbean dollar, a dream that europe wishing to come they cannot achieve it with their euro
    there is free movement for the europeans across the various countrys
    DOMINICANs are more advance in that policy

  21. Doc Love
    March 26, 2013

    Great job,Mr. Hector John,this is not of Skerrit’s interest,because if many of these Dominicans were to get amnesty and become Antiguans,Skerrit might have a problem in the next general elections.

    • Dominiquen
      March 26, 2013

      Rubbish!!! :lol:

    • 2Cute
      March 27, 2013

      Of all things to say thats the best spagz could come up with..

  22. Bull Crap
    March 26, 2013

    Was looking at it live online. Lots of great speeches. but i have come to understand that all these leaders do is talk. where are the legislation. so many countries am hearing about that has not even bother adopt stuff they already voted on.

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available