Taiwan’s contribution to Dominica prior to 2004 continues to be compared very unfavorably with the current contribution being made by mainland China over the past eight years.
Tourism Minister Ian Douglas, speaking in his capacity as Portsmouth MP at the Dominica Labour Party’s (DLP) delegates conference at St Joseph on Sunday, suggested that Taiwan’s contribution to Dominica when Taipei had diplomatic relations with Roseau, was miniscule when compared to Chinese assistance.
“Can we go back to Taiwan brothers and sisters?” Douglas asked party delegates at the conference.
“I mean I don’t have any problem, I am not against a little pawpaw, and a little pineapple brothers and sisters, that them fellas (referring to the Taiwanese’s agricultural help to Dominica in the past) were planting,” Douglas observed.
Making reference to assistance for infrastructural development given recently by mainland China as well as ongoing projects, the Portsmouth MP said “we cannot compare that to the stadium (multimillion dollar Windsor Park stadium built by China), to the highway (West Coast road rehabilitated and renamed Edward Oliver Highway in honor of the country’s first premiere), to the college that is being built brothers and sisters,” Douglas said.
He said relations with Beijing yielding multimillion dollar assistance to Dominica represents the vision of party leader Roosevelt Skerrit, the country’s prime minister.
PM Skerrit was instrumental in getting Dominica to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan and open relations with China.
The opposition United Workers Party (UWP) continues to criticize the Skerrit-led DLP administration for abandoning Taiwan eight years ago and singing the praises of the “One China policy”.
But the DLP government insists the move was an inspirational one that has provided a tremendous impetus to Dominica’s continuing development.
The UWP and other critics of the government continue to press for the prime minister to publish in full, the memorandum of understanding his government signed with China when the two countries became diplomatic allies in March of 2004.
My Granny taught me, if you are hungry and someone gives you a banana, say thank you very much. Don’t complain.
Ian’s statement is very ungrateful. Ian could have praised China without ‘mal parlaying’ Taiwan.
Stupees…..
Teach a man to fish and he will earn a fortune……….give a man a fish he will return to you daily!!!!
Mr. Douglas should have taken into account the relationship that would bring more long-term and sustainable developmental to the country; the diplomatic relationship that results in a healthier Dominican economy; the one that contributes to a higher living standard and greater prosperity for the citizenry. Mr. Douglas must focus on the contribution that provides Dominica with the greatest opportunity for business development, economic confidence, higher employment and income generation. He ought to have focused on the diplomatic relationship that produces more and deeper fiscal dividends and contributes to a growing economy and /or boosts the tax revenues that flow into the Dominican treasury. He should have concerned himself with the diplomatic relationship that evinces a greater devotion to the protection and improvement of our environment and ensures the prudent use of our natural resources. Mr. Douglas must know that the true benefits of diplomatic relationships are not necessarily through infrastructural projects. Therefore, his statements are unfortunate, shameful, reckless and immature and utter rubbish
Guys have you notice that that character PROF WIKILEAKS only come in to defend Skerrit. Notice that he did not come to Ian’s defense. WIKILEAKS you from Portsmouth come defend your parl rep you sycophant
Uh oh, talk about gratitude boy. Tilapia and other food crops still selling even with the chinese presence. I go on puppet. De stadium collecting rust in less than 10 yrs. With my kniwledge of construction project management this is the junkiest 30 million stadium I have seen. There is no way in HELL that the west coast road can cost more than the road going thru gleau gommier. The figure for monies spent on both the stadium and the west coast road are obviously inflated. The chinese do that all the time in every developing country that they go to.
Stop putting enmity among my people between China and Taiwan. Are they not the same people. All u too like to separate/divide people.
All chinese projects get official recognition on GIS. What about we Dominicans? What about de interior road? Doesn’t it deserve some publicity? Can’t I see my people working hard too. Are u all ashamed of the state of the project? Are u ashamed of hard working Dominicans or do u believe that only chinese that does work hard. Stupes!!!!!!!
What hard work we do? we go to work for 9am and want to be home for 2pm to talk crap with our buddies. And if i am not mistaken some international fans DA had one of the best cricket stadiums
Yes my hardworking gardener gives me 2 hours for $40 and manages to clean a patch of 10 square feet. Very hard working!
forgive him puppet master
The so called master negotiators couldn’t even see past the personal benefits, the millions of dollars, . China gave us 400 million dollars but over the last 6-7 years they have made much more than that of the backs of poor people in Dominica. First of all the 55-60 % of the funding went back into the Chinese pocket through the Chinese labor on all the jobs. This is a fact .Although the MOU remains a secrete to the people it is quite obvious that special arrangements were made to accommodate Chinese imports and to date we can safely say that we are importing over 120 million dollars of Chinese goods annually. Ladies and gentlemen after you multiply that 120 million dollars by 7 years ( I hope WIKILEAKS AND OTHER CAN DO SIMPLE MATHS) ASK YOURSELF WHAT DID WE EXPORT TO CHINA, not withstanding the fact that more than 200 million dollars of the stadium, and west cost road project went right back into the Chinese coffers. I sure hope that people like PROF WIKILEAKS , BRAINS and other apologist pass the common sense math course . Go figure and while you are at it take a step out of this cold place /the refrigerator a new conscience might just be out there waiting for you guys . As for Ian Douglas and the rest of this baneful administration I trust that one day the Dominican people will hold you accountable even if it means incarceration .
but the fact is that chinese merchandise is much cheaper. if we import goods from other countries, we shall pay more money for our daily live.
Here is to wishful thinking!!!!!!!
While it may be true that we can all see the road, Windsorpark, and the $27 million palace built by China my question is, at what cost?
We all knew the MOU we had with Tiwan but somehow, we have no idea of what is in the MOU with China. It is so much of a big secret that not even Ian Douglas knows about because knowing Ian, if he knew anything he would have leaked it out especially when under the influence. So that is very frightening my brothers and sisters!
It is one thing to boast about infrastructural development with those Chinese in compared to Pineapple, pawpaw, and agricultural help we got from Tiwan but the truth is, at what cost?
How much has any of those projects taken from us? Are our people employed? These are the crucial questions we cannot avoid mr Douglas.
In your portsmouth constituency, right next to Longhouse, we had a fishries plant where over 100 of our young people were employed; where is it today? Gone! employment? Gone! Gone! Gone!
When you take jobs from you people and cannot create new jobs, you have indirectly told people to go steal or deal drugs to pay their bills. No wonder the crime rate has incresed by over 75% mr. Douglas and Possie is very much involved.
It is true that the Tiwani’s taught us to plant pawpaw, pineapple, build fish ponds and errect nurseries for our adricultural produce; but the truth about it is, we could all earn a living and contribute to nation building rather than depending on people to give us handouts as is so common in Dominica these days.
What, and how much did we export to Taiwan during our diplomatic relationship?
The same as we are exporting to China. Nothing, nada, zilch, zero! But that is and was our challenge. Not theirs.
A response to suc pathetic comments by someone charged with our tourism product is NOT worth my precious time. Therefore I will
So wait a while, can we eat the road? Can we eat the how much million dollar president’s palace? Can we eat the bridges? Can we eat infrastructure?. Taiwan taught us how to plant, hell yeah! I rather plant than have the four fou dogs on a bridge. Taiwan taught us about fishing, they brought the prawns, they did so many things for us that could have benefited us in the long run but as soon as your government headed by Mr Skerrit game in, “kai-poule kwassay”!!! Proverb for Taiwan, ” Teach a man how to fish and you will feed him for a lifetime!” Proverb for Skerrit, “Please beg and depend on me!”
I FEDDUP WITH THE CHINESE. WE NEED TO GO BACK TO TAIWAN!!!
THE TAIWANESE HAD MORE RESPECT OR US
THESE CHINESE ARE NOTHING BUT AGGRESSIVE INVADERS USING BREAD INSTEAD OF GUNS
came**
I’m trying my best to ignore the Ians sickening and childish comments. Can people feast on infrastructure? what are the Chinese giving to Dominica that they are not reaping in huge profits for foreign currency export back to mainland China? Do they buy anything from the locals to circulate currency or even pay taxes and social security?
The Tiawanese believed in the philosphy of teaching a man to fish, instead of giving him a fish for a day and have him begging the next. Their contributions to agriculture and fishing industries generated much revenue in foreign exchange from exports that lined the coffers of the state, kept local businesses afloat and provided employment. Ian you must be fair and balanced when you speak, if Dominican leadership had an iota of international diplomacy they would be benefiting from both the Chinese infrastructure while keeping them out from establishing local business, and the Taiwanese education and development programs which the rural areas in particular saw much growth from.
IAN PLEASE DON’T WASTE YOUR PRECIOUS TIME JUSTIFYING THE GOVERNMENTS POSITION WITH RESPECT TO TAIWAN AND CHINA.
WHY SHOULD WE SETTLE FOR BREAD CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE WHEN WE CAN GET THE ENTIRE BAKERY TO BAKE THE BREAD ?
IAN PLEASE DON’T WASTE YOUR PRECIOUS TIME JUSTIFYING THE GOVERNMENTS POSITION WITH RESPECT TO TAIWAN AND CHINA.
WHY SETTLE FOR BREAD CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE WHEN WE CAN GET THE BAKERY TO BAKE THE BREAD ?
Mr douglas proves himself as an emberrasment… It goes to show how low he thinks of their supporters… The level of discussion held by our politicians is emberrassing…
Yep..it goes to show how low he thinks of Anti-hate and them. Garcon you must hear the man by Ma Boyd. I does feel sorry for the people supporting them fellas. They really view them as idiots, believing in everything said in defense of anything. It even amazes them sometimes.
In St. Lucia The Chinese have not taken over the local business community. St. Lucia has two stadiums, one in Vieux Fort built by the Chinese, and a bigger and better one built by the St. Lucian Government in Beausejouse. The Government of St. Lucia negotiates the assistance they want with the chinese. The Government of Dominica on the other hand are dictated to by Chinese. In St. Lucia you have never seen Chinese workers doing work Lucians can do. Dominica’s relationship with communist China is to the benefit of Skerrit and the Chinese government it has nothing to do with the people of Dominica. The Stadium at Windsor park for example is used by chinese residents on a daily basis for recreation while the young people in Roseau are struggling for a place to play football. The West Coast road was constructed to link the china-town in cotton hill portsmouth to roseau for Chinese to conduct their trade. Public Works Department next to the Deep Water Harbor is now owned by the chinese so that will end up controlling the Port, already they don’t pay customs duties. The State house (State malice) is built for Skerrit who hopes to become the executive President. The proposed new hospital and the new State college building are all being put in place to deal with the thousands of chinese on their way to populate and displace Dominicans. COMING EVENTS CAST A SHADOW. We already have chinese doctors working at the Princess Margaret Hospital who can’t speak a word of english. The Chinese with the help of Skerrit are well on their way to colonize Dominica like they did to Tibet and enslave its people. OPEN YOUR EYES. THERE IS NONE SO BLIND AS HE WHO WILL NOT SEE.
yeah and we are fast catching th
em up with our crime rate now there is progress
A Bird in the Hand is worth two in the bush.
Teach a man to fish he will be able to feed himself for the rest of his life. Give a man a fish and he will be begging for the rest of his life.
We cannot eat infrastructure.
But if we get free infrustructure we can then use taxes collected for education, health and other social services. And by the way, now that the roads are so much better, have you calculated how much less you spend on vehicle maintainance and so have more money to spend on food?
While a man is learning to fish he still as to eat, how do you suggest this can be accomplished within your narrow perspective?
Gravitas your really are a lightweight! How are we going to pay tax if we are not earning anything? People that have no jobs pay no tax and without tax we cannot even maintain that infrastructure. Even jobs in Govt. dependent on tax. You think Govt. have a machine that just printing money?
But Gravitas can’t you see what they are using the tax money to do. In the state we are in do you think we really need a state house. For what.
I hope you are seeing the number of people dying from the hospital these days. Do you ask your self Why?
Think about that instead of talking nonsense.
WHY DOESN’T DOUGLAS GO LEARN TO SING THE LABOR PARTY SONG PROPERLY AND LEAVE THE TAIWANESE ALONE, IT’S ALMOST TWELVE YEARS SINCE SKERRIT FIRED THOSE PEOPLE.
WELL SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL ME WHAT DOMINICANS WANT HOW TO PLEASE THEM OR SATISFY THEIR NEEDS.
look who talkin about Contribution. papamet. Pot calling kettle black.
This is just shameful on the part of Ian Douglas.A people must be able to feed itself and generate revenue from its productive sector. Sad to see we have lost that independence gained from hard work and sacrifice and have picked up the bowl of the beggar.
My parents taught me that everyone who is good to you is not always good for you!!
Be careful what company that you keep!!!
All that glitters is not gold.
Ian Douglas don’t you know that ingratitude is a sin and Karma is a bitch
These same Taiwanese provided MEGA support to us farmers. A little pineapple,pawpaw and corn was not only food security and healthy food source but it gave us a steady stream of income. Those few Taiwanese were far more effective in transforming our Agriculture than the entire ministry of Agriculture has ever done for us in the last 20 years.
Now we have handed over our commerce to a bunch of Chinese…yes that’s our power as a nation. Roseau is just a Chinese cesspot not paying there fair share of taxes and social security. They hire their own even for construction. Yes this is like the Kalinago who gave their land for a few glass beads.
DUMB! DUMB!DUMB!
Ian so long we want you to come out there…make someone else come n go up for labour…still wining..is not nuttin good you doing…intead u be thankful of the helping hands..you trying to compare..how fat do you want your pocket to get?????????
the PAWPAW and PINEAPPLES gave us EMPLOYMENT and EMPOWERMENT.
show me how to fish not give me a fish
The details of this document have not been made public but have been referenced by the Chinese ambassador Zonglai in Dominica during a recent speech. He stated that “while most people highly commend the fruit of bilateral relations between Dominica and China, a few harbor certain misgivings largely due to misunderstanding and a lack of information.” He continued “China’s foreign aid is based on the principles of equality, reciprocity, common development and non-political-preconditions.” What level of reciprocity and non-political-preconditions exist between the two countries? That is the question!!!
the taiwaneas were teahing us how to make money remember this saying it is better to teach me to fish than to give me a fish
“The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments.”~William H. Borah
I see nothing wrong with Dominica receiving aid from China. Many of us will ask at what cost. In the world of political and economical advantages, obviously China has some political/economical/strategical advantage in having ties in that area of the world..The US does the same thing to give them a strategical advantage in other parts of the globe.
As long as the Government is not selling the country at the expense of political advantage, I am cool with the infrastructural development with the aid from China.
“As long as the Government is not selling the country at the expense of political advantage, I am cool with the infrastructural development with the aid from China.”- How do you know that they have not already done so? Stop being naieve and join the choir asking for the MOU to be made public instead of “playing” blind, deaf and dumb.
So why dont yuou call on the GOVENMENT to release the MOU so you can see how much of our lovely DOMINICA have been sold dont you believe that’s somthing is suspicious why PM are refusing to let us read it their was a Poll where a high percentage voted ” YES to releasing the MOU ” and that didnt move them so please open your mind you seem to be a very intelligent person, WE NEED TO READ THE MOU PM WHAT IS IT YOU ARE AFRAID OF?
That was a great speech on how we can boost TOURISM ARRIVAL into Dominica. ONLY IAN can do the bidding of his God so well.
Reasons wht you all can NEVER EVER fool me again.. I AM A SMART MAN NOW!
pawpaw and pineapple….i guess those attending had a great laugh….and the saga continues….Dominica doing well!
Skerrit must give you a volay cool lian. A big man like you ….
**BEING UNGRATEFUL**
No government official especially a minister should ever MINIMIZE and RIDICULE the help recieve from another government no matter how small you think the help might have been!!
Needless to say Hon.Ian Douglas, your comment/statement about the Taiwan’s help to us the people of Dominica and Dominica as a nation is Shameful,regretable,unprofessional and most of all UNGRATEFUL!!
But from me and all Dominicans let me say “thank you” to the Taiwanes people for the help you have given us all these years. It was your tax dollars and your resources that have helped us to be a more developed nation!
We look foward in your assistance in the future!!
You are not man enough to say anything therwise, for you boss and God Skerrit will scold you. He won’t only ask you to sing the party song twenty times on the trot, but he will peel your butt with a strap also. So what else do we expect from IAN.
And I ask again, what did we promise Red China in return? Show us the MOU PLEASE!!!!
We need to know what is going to hit us and we need to know quickly so we can prepare for it!! This “Chat en sac” business is scary! China is rapidly colonizing the world. The majority of Dominicans have no idea how much the values we hold dear to us have been compromised.
Alas poor you singing for your surpa Ian, but dont’t worry i hope you gettin ready to pack your bags because you is the first on Skerrit list to go he have news for you, only now you finding that the pawpaw and pineapple was of no use to us the famers of this land, Ian why you peopl so ungreatful but God willi you all in dew time, and that M O U you all hiding it will come out in dew time.
you must be sure that when you are addressing the crowd you are in the right frame of mind because there are some things that cloud our reasoning.
That is a very low blow. When Taiwan was giving assistance from whatever they had we were happy to have it. Maybe if the Taiwanese were giving more under the table they would be respected. Maybe you need to state your personal benefits from the Chinese in comparison to the Taiwanese. None of us gave them anything to hold for us. you too ungrateful the pawpaw you used to it find out what drink it nutralize. Bondieu modi un engras.
Ian, think logically. Infrastructure against know how.
A BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH.
With fellas like you and the rest I do not think we will ever develope the way we should.
Ian are you losing your marbes? Tawain did alot for us since 1980…
They gaves us big watermelons and a lot of crayfish.
This is not miniscule..after we maake out crayfish jot, we can then wash that down with watermelon, then go to Prevo Cenemall and watch Chinese Karatee
Boss, you can make whatever comparisons you want my brother!! If we have ‘DEVELOPMENT’in exchange for ‘SECRET AGREEMENTS’that the government is afraid to open up to the public scrutiny which we, the citizens are entitled to give it, then SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THAT!!!!!!!!!!! If we are getting loads and loads of stuff and we have no idea what we get in exchange then watch out!!!!!!!!! The future may not be as bright as we think!!!! Wake up people!!!!!!! Ask questions of your government because you are provided that privilege by your constitution!!!!! If you allow that right to wither away, it may be the hardest thing to recuperate!!!!!!!1 Keep that in mind people!!!!!!
If there is a secret & you know about it// please disclose it//.
I copyright that as lyrics to a song lol
I don’t see anything wrong with China assisting DA. Look at St. Lucia, they have been receiving help from China for years and look at the island today. They have the biggest and best equipped sports stadium, Free Zone Area that will become a trans-shipment port for goods travelling to South America and parts of the Caribbean, a Fisheries Complex and Mental Hospital. I remember 20 years or so St. Lucia was in the same position as DA. Now Lucia has left DA behind. It would have been great to keep a relationship with both countries since they have different foreign styles, that could benefit DA, but we all know that is not possible because of their policy. I still believe that Dominicans should know what the agreement was between the two countries.
there is nothig wrong in china assisting … i agree with you on that one. but since i was a child i learned that freeness is worriness. the question is not so much their assistance but rather what are we giving them in return.
the government represents the people and the people have the right to know what is going on. this business about secret deals will not cut it. you see comrade, long after these present politicians will have become part of the fabric of our history, we will have to live and deal with this.
i would love to read your views on the governments decision to employ chinese on those projects in such large numbers
Observer PUH-LEASE!!!!! Stop comparing Dominica to St Lucia. Ugh! St Lucia is completely different from Dominica so wheel and come again with that statement. Okay?
There is nothing wrong in seeking assistance from other nations. However, it is possible to retain relations with both Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China as demonstrated by the U.S.A. They have merely replaced any reference to the ROC with the “the governing authiorities on Taiwan” and their Taiwan Relations Act even requires them to provide Taiwan with “arms of a defensive nature”. It does our image no good by Mr. Douglas making himself look small by implying that we judge our friendships only by the size of the “goodies” we receive and portraying us as a nation of mendicant carpet beggars in the process. It would have been better if he had said nothing at all. We still have a lot to learn in the diplomatic field.
What a bunch of idiots ;I know for sure that Dominica need to return to the country of independence where the people develop pride in developing their own country. The people need to get back to work; the merchants of Dominica need to compete on a level playing field. Yes we have a stadium and rehabilitated west coast road, and a state college but the stadium brought us what – a once in a while cricket game when Guyana politicians mess up; we had a functioning state college; l road rehabilitation comes with every government . Would I prefer to have the papaya, carrot, tomatoes , pine apple production as oppose to importing millions of dollars of the very same fruits and vegetables- absolutely.
Taiwan brought us self sufficiency China brings poverty , dependency and destruction- open up your eyes Ian. So we have we got 300 million from China what have they got from us
8- years of Chinese import at more than 100 million dollars of imported (sometimes duty free) Chinese product , plus the facilitation of Chinese to Canada and elsewhere using Dominica passports. The master negotiator is yet to sell one Loubiere water or mountain chicken to the Chinese ( remember any meat is meat for the Chinese)
$100 million a year multiply by 7 years.
At what cost Ian Douglas. At the cost of the Chinese overtaking Dominica? Stop fooling the people – diplomatic relations go much deeper than infrastructural development
Why dont you discuss the MOA between Dominica and China. Why is it so secret? What is contained in that document that Dominicans are banned from knowing its content.
It is very clear that the Taiwanese are long gone. We are not feeling any ill effects of the association. The real question is what would happen to Dominica is relations with China was to sour – where would we turn?
You”re a critical thinker. If only half of the idiots in Dominica would think like you, the country would truly be a paradise.