Regional integration, the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) and related matters will be on the agenda on Sunday (May 20) when the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) holds its delegates conference in the West Coast community of St Joseph in keeping with the DLP’s observance of its 57th Anniversary.
Barbados’ current opposition leader, former prime minister Owen Arthur will be the featured speaker there, and is expected to focus on these regional matters that he championed during his tenure as a regional leader.
However while the hundreds of delegates expected to converge on St Joseph from around the island will be happy to welcome the veteran Barbadian politician, they’ll probably be much more interested to hear Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit’s report on some of the major achievements of his administration over the past 12 months.
Party officials have indicated that although there will be elections for a new executive, the status quo is largely expected to remain the same, with Prime Minister Skerrit maintaining his position of party leader, along with the majority of other officials serving the DLP at executive level.
“The Party does not anticipate any major changes at the helm of the organization,” a release from the DLP states.
Party delegates are expected to deliberate on a number of resolutions being put forward for the consideration of the conference.
LEST WE FORGET
It is greatly surprising to lean that the former Prime Minister of Barbados, current Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Barbados Labour Party Mr. Owen Arthur is carded to be the featured speaker at the Dominica Labour Party’s delegates conference on Sunday, May 20, 2012 at St. Joseph.
Dominicans will remember when the Barbados Labour Party and the Dominica Freedom Party which are similar in nature worked well together over many years to pursue development objectives beneficial to the people of Barbados and the Commonwealth of Dominica. Both Parties aim to promote, preserve and defend FREEDON and DEMOCRACY. Many will remember the strong bond and very cordial relationship that existed particularly between the late Tom Adams Prime Minister of Barbados and the late Dame Mary Eugenia Charles Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica
Remember the Grenada rescue mission in 1983 when Prime Minister Tom Adams and Prime Minister Dame Mary Eugenia Charles were criticised by the Dominica Labour Party for their involvement in that landmark operation.
The Youth Arms of Barbados Labour Party and the Dominica Freedom Party were members of the Caribbean Youth Conference and promoted the ideals of their respective Parties. They also sought to advance the participation of young people in the political process.
In the 1970’s and 1990’s the following high ranking officials of the Barbados Labour Party were the featured speakers at the convention of the Dominica Freedom Party i.e. Ms. Billie Miller – castle Bruce and Londonderry, Mr. Henry Ford – Portsmouth and Mr. Owen Arthur – Soufriere.
Dominicans must now ask themselves what has transpired between Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica and his Labour Party and that of the Barbados Democratic Labour which has made Mr. Owen Arthur perform a complete turnaround to find himself in bed with one of his main political opponents, Mr. Hartley Henry? Mr. Hartley Henry was the chief political advisor to the late David Thompson whose Barbados Democratic Labour Party is sister Party to the Dominica Labour Party. Has Mr. Hartley Henry fallen out with the current Leader of Barbados Democratic Labour Party and engineered the ‘relationship’ between the Dominica Labour Party to undermine the present political leader of the Barbados Democratic Labour Party?
One should recall that following the last General Election in Barbados, Mr. Roosevelt Skerrit was the guest speaker at the inauguration ceremony of the Barbados Democratic Leader Party government, led at that time by the late David Thompson. Remember his famous speech when he promised that Dominica would supply Barbados with all its agricultural produce and vegetables. Following the 2009 General Election in Dominica the late David Thompson Prime Minister of Barbados was the guest speaker at the inauguration ceremony of the Skerrit led Dominica Labour Party government
Has Mr. Owen Arthur given thought to the loss of his credibility and respect in Dominica, the OECS and Caricom for speaking at the delegates conference of one of the most anti – Democratic and corrupt government that Dominica has ever seen? Why would Mr. Owen Arthur want to come to Dominica to promote a party that does not subscribed to the principles and philosophy of good governance, respect for the rule of law, honesty, transparency and accountability.
Does he not know that Mr. Roosevelt Skerrit may have lied to the people of Dominica and the world about his qualification to contest the last General Election in Dominica and is presently awaiting a decision from the OECS court of appeal in that regard?
Has Owen Arthur arrived at an accommodation with Hartley Henry in light of his bid to be re – elected at the next election in Barbados? Is addressing the DLP Convention in Dominica a quid pro quo for such an accommodation? Let Dominicans and Barbadians ask themselves those questions!! Take heed and remember that politics produce the strangest of bedfellows!
i had so much respect for that man when he came to Dominica to tell us what we needed b4 regional integration i listened attentively wonder what he is going to say to us this time around on DLP political platform all Politicians jump ship for the this sign $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Are Hartley Henry, Owen Arthur and Roosevelt Skerrit in bed?
Hartley has never been hot with the current PM of Barbados. The question is whether he has made or is making a new political bed with Owen Arthur?
It alleged that Owen had some serious dynamite to blow up the ruling party at the next election and it involves a lot of the corruption that Hartley is alleged to be involved in.
This weekend, Owen Arthur is a guest and feature speaker at the Dominica Labour Party party convention. Coincidence?
Owen Arthur has been close to the Dominica Freedom Party and the United Workers Party so is it shocking that he is at a DLP convention and not even informing the party leaders.
It is alleged that In the past, Owen Arthur has been brutally critical of Roosevelt Skerrit.
My thoughts entirely Trevor. However, needs (…..and money) make strange bed-fellows.
Away with Ambrose Sylvester, welcome home Martin Charles.
when i was growing up in D.A. i looked up to govt. officials and ministers to day these people have no backbone they are immorals no values no ethics all they see is money Don’t they understand that they have to answer to a Higher Authority. naked we come naked we leave.
here we go they going to fool st joe people, because thy know st joe is the most poorest place on the island, help them lord to see the light,and who tell them that Skerrit will make way for anyone one of them to be the leader tand again none of his cabal has what it takes to be a leader thats why they will not throw thier hats in and this is why Skerrit will continue to ride over them.
one man party skirret party there is not a dlp any more skirret run things all the ministers are afraid of skirret
It will be interesting to see whether Hartley Henry, the political advisor to labour parties in the region who is member of the ruling party in Barbados and close friend and advisor to the late Prime Minister David Thompson will appear on the same platform as Owen Arthur. Indeed, politics has its own morality!
Same I dere saying wee. Dem man cutting on both sides.
But u have to realise that Hartley was more supporting Thompson personally than the party. As soon as Thompson died he resigned immediately. He can’t cut corners with the new pm who is above board and won’t tolerate underhand dealings.
So either Hartley has jumped sides or Skeritt is tactically trying to block the Dominica opposition from getting close to the influential Barbados opposition.
The Barbados connections with political advisers? Remember DNO, about the wikileaks revelations to Dominicans and the rest of the world, regarding the former Chairman of CLICO and donations to the DLP (Dominica) 2005 elections campaign?
In the Barbados press, news were also revealed of CLICO boss donating thousands upon thousands of dollars to both political parties of Barbados for purposes of election campaigns. CLICO is now down under. Transparency/accountability out of the window.
Dominicans lose millions from CLICO. Bosses were spending the monies of Caribbean people, who had invested into CLICO, lavishly. They hired jet. Politicians and execs took free jet rides, political parties received huge sums. Many equate CLICO’s scandal and fiasco as a PONZI SCHEME.
DNO and readers should research, check the Barbados Nation or Barbados Free Press to read for yourselves and to see if I am not being truthful. Integration? The CLICO scandal and corruption has made the lives of thousands more stressful. Economic integration? Our agricultural sector is neglected Big Time inspite of consistent concerns from Dominicans that Govt. should invest seriously into the productive sectors using our natural resources. so that we could begin to earn revenue. But to no avail.
Already, the sad fate of CLICO, the corruption that took place, the lavish life-style and bad management of people’s monies, the huge loss being experienced throughout the Caribbean,in Dominca the $190,000,000.00 lost by DSS, Credit Unions, NBD and individual investors, can never augur well for any economic development here or elsewhere.
The Truth must find them out. Let the truth be told at all times. Truth must prevail.
Expect Mr Arthur to give us 1,200 reasons why we should not think of building an international airport, especially now that AA Eagles will not be landing in Dominica by middle 2013, and also, expect him to give labourites 1,500 reasons why we should not be hosting international cricket.
@ as I see it
Your take is not far-fetched. Bajans were very critical and resentful of the International Airport being built in St. Vincent now. So one should not be surprised if their leaders promote the under development of the “smaller isles” by discouraging ventures which they fear may reduce their comparative advantage
yeah;none of your buisness
Dominica business is my business.
I hope that Skerrit will tell us the people of St Joe the reason why he removed Ambrose Sylvester Chairman of AID BANK and put Martin Charles.
Is it that Martin is more competent than Ambrose?
Is it because Ambrose (Jeff Joe’s uncle) and the rest of the family didnt give the DLP permission to run nightly political sewinal with Jeff’s body in St Joe?
We need to know in St Joe, because that move to put Martin as chairman of AID BANK was a slap in the face of every reputable professional in Dominica.
Why do we have politicians from other countries coming to speak on behalf of our national parties?
Is this a manifestation of our Caribbean habit of putting your nose into someone else’s business? Can’t the local party hierarchy not speak for themselves? I have nothing against Owen Arthur personally but would have thought he has enough to conted with in his own backyard.
Is not your business what we laborites do. It is laborites delegate conference and we can take who we want to talk to us.
of course you can but my comments apply to any political party, regardless of their colour or home base. And by the way, it is all our business if the party represents a govt. that rules on behalf of all of us. I may even be a labour supporter myself, who knows?
I am sure he would not be speaking if he had not been invited