Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit and Opposition Leader, Hector John, will be among the delegates representing Dominica at the first Sitting of the OECS Assembly set to begin on March 26 in Antigua.
Other members of the Assembly from Dominica’s parliament include Rayburn Blackmoore, Ambrose George and Dr. Collin Mc Intyre.
Dominica’s Commissioner and Ambassador to the OECS, Felix Gregoire, will also attend the Sitting.
At the Sitting, the Assembly will adopt Rules of Procedure and debate a motion on “The Challenges to Free Movement of Persons Within The OECS Economic Union” and an amendment to the Civil Aviation Regulations.
“Under the OECS Economic Union we have an arrangement for an original Assembly …in Dominica’s case there are five representatives, four on the government’s side and one on the opposition side who will attend the session,” PM Skerrit explained.
He noted that the Assembly gives the opportunity for members of the OECS to forge ahead and confront, in an apolitical manner, issues and matters affecting the union. “Not withstanding the political divide that which exists from time to time, we as politicians, we as members of parliament must look at the wider picture and the wider picture is creating a better way of life for our OECS citizens,” the prime minister said. “We must not always see things in a partisan way, we must see things in a global manner.”
He said he looks forward to the meeting since it is being held in a ‘difficult and challenging environment.’ “Every single country in the OECS has its own challenges, some may have it greater than others, but everybody has it… it is a situation in every region in the world,” Skerrit said.
In preparation for the Sitting of the Assembly, a seminar is planned in St. Johns, Antigua today (Monday, March 25).
Following remarks from OECS Director General, Dr. Len Ishmael, and host Prime Minister, Baldwin Spencer, the Members of Parliament and associates will review the Revised Treaty of Basseterre and the significance of the OECS Assembly as an organ of the organisation.
The group will also consider the legislative competence of the OECS Assembly, as enshrined in the treaty.
The OECS and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and how both constructs interface, is also on Monday’s agenda.
Other housekeeping matters, like the Assembly prayer, rules and procedures of the House and guidelines, will also be the subject of dialogue.
The Assembly and seminar are expected to take place at Parliament’s Building in St. John’s, Antigua.
glad dno will be streaming and dbs will be on also on one frequency. good enough we’ll hear and see how vibrant and eloquent our ministers are or are they just back benchers in other meetings or even stommering moumous. we’ll watch and hear. one thing we know blue whiskey and well done steaks will be billed on tax payers pocket.
more talk shop and fine dining
Spags should not be involved in this. If Edison wants to be the next PM, the leadership of the UW P must be unified. There is no time to waste. Eddison should be the one tagging along. Damn UWP. You all are simply not ready in opposition and certainly not for government…Get our act together.
As many can go to Antigua, as long as they gain something from their experience!
I hope by the time they set foot out of LIAT’s 787, or 747; you know those large LIAT high flying, long distance jets that Dominicans seem privileged to travel on; by the time they stand on the ground in Antigua, they turn around in a three hundred-sixty degree circle whiles doing an physical eye survey to see how much more advance the one hundred-eight (108) square miles of Antigua are in comparisons to the Nature island of Dominica.
Perhaps someone should take them on a round the island tour to see and come into the knowledge that Antigua is practically a fully developed island. Perhaps someone should draw to their attention that there are no banana plantations on the island of Antigua, nor any other agricultural farm from which agricultural products are exported.
The delegation should take a good look at the architecture on the island and compare what they see to what we have at home, finally perhaps they will realize that Antigua’s total economy is supported mainly by the International Airport, and the tourism industry; perhaps if they listen closely to the ground they will find out that the Antiguan’s these days refers to Dominica as the desert of the of the Caribbean.
Perhaps the delegation will notice how crowded is the island, of which approximately 35% of the inhabitants are Dominican born who migrated to Antigua.
Food for thought!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Did you just say “the desert of the Caribbean” and then we are considered by many to be “The Nature Isle of the Caribbean” I think I will go off that name.
Yes we are not developed as Antigua, which means, far less crime. We don’t have their white Sandy beaches, but I would take our rivers anyday, wish they had some of ours. Stop critizing your country and come work towards developing it. Be the change you want to see in it….
I hate to do this, but perhaps you do not know, but there are more crimes in Dominica right now than there are in Antigua okay! I lived in Antigua as a young lad too, all of my children are born on the island of Antigua; I have lost two relatives to murder on that island.
Incase you have not yet heard; my late biological brother Inspector Almoore Robin was murdered while he was still a member of the Antigua Police Force; he was gunned down in Browns Avenue for absolutely no reason. Less than three years ago a young relative of mine was also raped and murdered on the island.
In view of all that, I contend that there are more murders taking place in Dominica, along with other petty crimes than there are in Antigua; again if you have not heard I will tell you not too long ago someone murdered my nephew right there in Wesley!
And mind you the killer is still at large on the loose and perhaps has already killed another innocent person in somewhere in Dominica.
As for the person who advised me to return to Dominica and help to build; be informed the kind of business that I could invest into would require Dominica to have an International Airport beside standing on the outside looking in, and saw Dominicans actually stole Marpin Television from my personal friend Ron Abraham, I doubt I would want to get myself in the same situation.
We are a jealous, and vindictive people, our jealousy and hate of progress is not encouraging for people like me to return to dabble in such nonsense talking about I am going to invest in a place that the majority are contented with the status quo.
As for the person who mentioned Antigua beaches; you need to know that there are places in the world which are similar to Dominica, and has a very vibrant tourist industry. The thing about the government and people of Dominica is that we make everything difficult, we see the glass half empty all the time rather than seeing it half full.
We admire everything about the neighboring islands, we talk about how great things are on the neighboring island; nevertheless, where it pertains to our own welfare we step backward simply to prevent that change that could lead us to success.
So, one talked about Rivers, rather than beaches?
What’s the point of having rivers when there are no development on the banks of the rivers? The rivers of Dominica can be an attraction for the tourist if properly developed.
We are a conceited people, who glory in others, and leave our nations resources to go untouched!
And by the way when the Antiguan’s refers to Dominica as a desert, they do not mean it lacks water, they are suggesting that it is an undeveloped place; where nothing important happens economically.
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
I agree with everything you just said. Dominica is one of the biggest islands in this side of the Caribbean (Guadeloupe, Martinique & Trinidad are the only bigger ones), yet most of the other islands are doing better off than Dominica. Look how tiny Barbados is, yet they’re doing better than Dominica economically, more tourist etc. There’s a difference between wanted and needing something, in this case Dominica NEEDS an international airport. I want Dominica to get one & that’s because they need it, it’s getting ridiculous now, smaller islands doing alot better than Dominica stupes. Also, Dominica always has excuses about not building or changing something because they want to be an ‘nature’ island, but if you go to the developed islands, they are STILL NATURE! Jamaica for example, they’re more developed and modern than Dominica, and there’s STILL a lot of nature there, trees, flowers etc, so Dominica’s excuses are all nonsense and I can’t take it anymore. That’s all I have to say (for now)
I am living in Antigua and your very cry is the same cry of the Antiguans. They speak of antigua as the most backward country in the caribbean. Stop crying down your country and promote it instead.
All of these ministers MUST be there? Will they not only be sitting ? Couldn’t the PM and Opposition do it alone? Wouldn’t this help the economy a bit . Less travelling
That is what the OECS secretariat dictated. Four from the government side and one on the opposition side. So chill, it was not “El Supremo’s” idea, if is that you are trying to get at.
Hahahahahaha
Trust me …Ignorance is worn like a badge of honour for many on this site. Hatred for “El Supremo” will keep them locked in the crab in a barrel mentality