Obama to offer alternative to Venezuelan crude oil

obamaBarack Obama will become the first US president to set foot on Jamaican soil in more than three decades Wednesday, as the United States bids to check Venezuelan influence in the Caribbean.

Obama will arrive in Kingston for a meeting with the 15-member CARICOM Caribbean bloc, the first time a sitting US president visits the island since Ronald Reagan in 1982.

Obama will be keen to offer an alternative to cheap Venezuelan oil, which has enticed many of the region’s struggling economies, but looks set to end.

Obama will have to woo countries that while geographically close to the United States, sometimes feel politically distant.

“We absolutely feel that the CARICOM region does deserve greater attention and engagement from the United States,” said senior Obama advisor Ben Rhodes on the eve of the visit.

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46 Comments

  1. Truth
    April 9, 2015

    Dominica, and all my Caribbean neighbors, stay far away from the U.S. If what the U.S. has done in Haiti is an example of Aid, no thank you!!

  2. forreal
    April 9, 2015

    when he offers same sex marriages as part of his deal,i hope you all will keen on his Caribbean visit.

  3. Anthony P. Ismael
    April 9, 2015

    Although far from perfect, I always admired Skerrit for his shrewd diplomatic move that led to the current relationship with the People’s Republic of China. The projects that the China has undertaken in Dominica, would never have been done by the U.S.

    Skerrit should be cordial and diplomatic and “IGNORE” the empty rhetoric from President Obama! There is absolutely nothing in this summit for the region, except a fare well kiss goodbye to the region.

    During the warm summer months, U.S. oil prices rise dramatically. It’s an annual occurrence like birds flying south to escape the brutal winter months in the North East.

    Of all the needs that the region has, the only item on the table is an alternative to Venezuela’s crude oil, there by further isolating our neighbor. I hope that regional leaders are far more savvy than that. Allow the empty rhetoric to enter one ear and out the other as quickly as possible.

  4. joan
    April 9, 2015

    I lived in D.A. since D.A got these oil tanks at Jimmit and gas was rolling out inthe island the price of g asoline never decrease the cuts that the people was suppose to get went into the pocket s of the Head of D.A. and the exbody cutter who worked at Ross. you should see their bank accounts Dominican wake up.

  5. too late
    April 8, 2015

    hmm mr obama watch it eh. mr skerrit will let you have it about the way you treat Venezuela. and mr obama please dont think u can mess with skerrit because mr skerrit body guards from the ssu will be present.

  6. hard cure dca
    April 8, 2015

    stuppss the pm will never make it public the out come of that meeting so who cares

  7. I love Obama
    April 8, 2015

    Welcome to the Caribbean Mr. President, but you have a lot of talking to do, to pull some of these scrupulous leaders to your side, because some of these leaders have become bed fellows with Venezuela. Maduro has bought them line, hook, and sinker.

    • I love Obama
      April 8, 2015

      typo: unscrupulous

    • Titiwi
      April 8, 2015

      Surely you mean UNscrupulous leaders brother!?

  8. Rabbit
    April 8, 2015

    I think it’s called freedom of speech. If you or DNO think you all should filter comments then remove the comment section all together. It is hypocritical to ask people for comments then claim it is in bad taste. If you ask people to comment don’t tell them what to write.

    • joe
      April 9, 2015

      Rabbit it’s call REGULATION!!!!!!!!

  9. Mamzel X
    April 8, 2015

    OBAMA OH LAHW TAY YAY???

    Now let me very clear: I did NOT vote for the Labour Party and Skerritt in the last election. However, on this issue, I’m firmly with the Prime Minister. When Dominica and the whole Caribbean was bawling under America and their little game of chess with Iraq and the other OPEC countries during the last recession, Obama never turned around and spit on us, far more to give us water to drink.

    Now the price of oil falling with no end in sight and we benefitting, now he want to come and make deal?? No Deal I say!!

    Obama is just trying to safe-guard the big boys’ money that controlling the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve.

    Let we in the Caribbean benefit for once. It cannot always be America behind the driver’s seat every day.

    I say let Venezuela supply us with their oil. SHATE!!

    • Mamizoo
      April 8, 2015

      Ignorance and emotions reaction play no significance to the advancement of civilization. Obama’said gesture is not about vendetta with Venezuela. It is quite timely as Venezuela is one longer able to support the Petroleum Caribe.The US is now able to supply oil thru it’s own domestic oil extraction (read about fracking).
      Instead of getting emotional we should educate ourselves. We should be welcoming the gesture by the united states. Since 2013 the supply of fuel thru the Petro
      Caribe program has been lessened every year.
      The bubble is deflated somewhat for Venezuela and while we thank and remain forever grateful we must face reality

  10. joe
    April 8, 2015

    You people make me shame with your level of discuss on here!!

    DNO: Please do more filtering these comments targeting Skerrit in the most denigrating manner is becoming annoying and upsetting to say the least….. Unless you enjoy reading them yourself.

    Honestly i cannot recommend my friends and family leaving overseas to go on your website never mind foreign friends who may want to know whats happening on our beautiful island, only reason is your COMMENT section!!!!!!! Just like Q95 i cannot stomach it so won’t expose other persons to it!!!! TOO NEGATIVE AND BASHING ON A PRIME MINISTER—– BAD POLITICS.

    • Mamzel X
      April 8, 2015

      Joe…stop with your ignorant self….just on msn.com have so much Obama bashing it’s not funny.

      You even want to feel offended on Skerritt’s behalf? Skerritt need to develop a thicker skin as the PM.

    • %
      April 8, 2015

      @ Joe You are nothing more than an accomplished idiod.You are bashing DNO, but at the same time your filth is spewed on this very medium.

      • joe
        April 9, 2015

        % I am a PROUD ACCOMPLISHED IDIOD (Whatever that means) just for your information i never bash!!!!! not on this or any other medium, i think you people are getting out of hand and it is time DNO put in place stronger rules and regulations for comments. The 1,000 words limit is a good start but must go further!!!!

    • The Facts
      April 8, 2015

      You made excellent points. I do think DNO has lost readers due to this. People get fed-up of these negative comments which serve no useful purpose.
      I have commented about some of those comments consistently bashing the PM. They are also boring and not educating.
      In case you are not aware of it, this Website is pro-UWP. Some others have also observed it. The consolation is and with my confidence, nothing lasts forever. For now I am exercising patience which is a godly virtue.

      ADMIN: You are wrong. Our traffic keeps increasing every month. Funny thing is, you keep on coming back.

      • real
        April 9, 2015

        I like your response ADMIN…People want to tell others what to say and think . they even want to dictate to the media what or how to report.SMH. people,like The Facts why do you all always there to comment if you don’t like what you read.

    • Views Expressed
      April 8, 2015

      Joe, we have been surviving with a baaad stomach since Skerrit came into power. Now you telling us you cannot take our concerns , our democratic right, our tax money paying these clowns in office with allegations of corruption and bobol longer than the Layou River and you wanna talk about Q 95 and DNO the mouth piece of the suffering people in Dominica. YOu may be comfortable where yo are ,but we are not as Dominica slides into bigger and deep poverty with corrupt politicians sleeving our treasury and economy. They have no idea how to run a poor country. These guys are jokers and we are not laughing
      If you want something to do come help get rid of this corrupt government and clean up Dominica. If you do not like what you read, don’t read, if you doh like what you hear on DNO, don’t listen.
      The Prime Minister deserve the bashing, he has questions to answer, big time…we have to ask and if we don`t get answers we will “bash” – using your language…thanks for it, would be…

    • Lucia
      April 9, 2015

      Joe stop being a big damn baby. PM needs to stop using Dominica like his grandfather left it for him on his will and stop taking the less intellectual in Dominica as fools.

      You don’t need to come on DNO, you wont be missed, if somebody doing good you say that, if they don’t you say as well. Q95 is all about transparency, the others hiding the PM dirty laundry.

      Now, I have a friend who is old and sick and told me she wants to go on holiday with her husband, what is the medical like their if in case she falls ill. should I lie and tell her with have the best healthcare; I told her don’t bother, the hospital is like a GP surgery. it is what it is.

      Politics is a dirty thing, if you can take the bashing get out…..Dominica I now known as the begging island of the caribbean

      • real
        April 9, 2015

        I concur with you Lucia! Those people there like to pretend everything is great!

  11. Efficatious
    April 8, 2015

    Here we go! Dominica gov. only employ people for one year and then replaced them so if us comes in at least we will get full time jobs to improve our standard of living.

    • The Facts
      April 8, 2015

      For you have high hopes. :lol: :lol: :lol:
      Do not be deceived by Obama’s words.

  12. point
    April 8, 2015

    Just another example of America looking after its own interest. America is not interested in Caricom. Where was America when the islands economies were struggling as a result of a depression caused by American GREED? They now have a problem with Venezuela and they are trying to seperate venezuela from the rest of the Caribbean. Obama might be a black man but sadly he represents the interest of a very selfish nation.

    • LawieBawie
      April 8, 2015

      My sentiments exactly!!!!

    • The Facts
      April 8, 2015

      I no longer trust that man. I hope the CARICOM countries do not fall for that.
      Let us just state that he wants to visit Jamaica before his tenure as President is up.

    • Blue Angel
      April 9, 2015

      The Islands économies where suffering???. You maybe don t live in the islands

    • real
      April 9, 2015

      @point all countries are looking after their own interest. Venezuela is no exception!

  13. April 8, 2015

    Boy Obama u and skerro on different wave length. Skerro is 100 percent Venezuela and even though the ship is sinking he will still stand by his petrocaribe. The gullibility of a PM!

    • The Facts
      April 8, 2015

      Look here! Dominica existed before all what you mentioned and all what is taking place today. It did not sink then and it will not sink.
      If you know D/ca’s history, do you know the meaning of Dominica, called Dominique in French/patois/creole? It was once called Sunday Island and Trinity Island. God is with D/cans. Keep up the Christian worship and spirit and all will be well with God at the helm – in control.
      Holy Scripture: “If God is for us who can be against us?”
      What you people, especially the indifferent ones need to do is to cooperate with your government.
      Where was America in those days?
      Do you know what America did to those who migrated in bygone years, even before you and I were born? They quarantined them on Ellis Island. They did not treat those people humanely at all. A dear lady who lived in the US informed me about it when she visited Dominica. She was one of those who was quarantined. I also saw the movie on TV entitled “Ellis Island.”

      • The Facts
        April 8, 2015

        Talk about slavery days in the US. I could also tell you much about what I was told. However, you should know about it. It is history and well-documented.
        Slavery days in the US is also not current news but the stigma will always remain on the US for the maltreatment of people which also led to many deaths. Lest you forget.
        Be respectful to Obama. If he wants to assist the CARICOM countries, so be it but they must be careful of their rights.
        Some of you speak of the Chinese taking over. You have not yet stated anything about the US taking over sometime down the road. You cannot see the future but the future will tell. May history not repeat itself.

  14. The voice of god?
    April 8, 2015

    I am very happy that PM Skerrit will be attending the meeting with president Obama because Mr. Skerrit has always been busy to make anti US statements in favor of Venezuela. I hope he lets Mr. Obama know exactly how he feels about US policies that he seems to have a problem with.

  15. grell
    April 8, 2015

    Mr.President your just wasting you time with these caricom,leaders starting with Skerrit,he will never side with America because he has made the deals with Venezuela and China.

  16. Thorbjørn Jagland
    April 8, 2015

    I am Dominican and i LOVE AMERICA, Obama is the best president in the world, the land of Dimitri birth.
    Thank you so much Mr.President for all you do for the caribbean.

    • Zandoli
      April 8, 2015

      America is good when it comes to aid for natural disasters. They are usually the first to respond. I applaud them for that. But when it comes to strategic alliances, only Israel can count on them. You never really know where you stand with America. When it comes to aid to build your economy, they are nowhere to be seen, until unrest begins, at which point they come bearing guns, which cost them 10 times more than if they invest in the human capital before the unrest starts.

    • SHAME ON YOU
      April 8, 2015

      This is a child. Please leave children out of your dirty politics. How many times does people mention the names of the Obama children in derogatory ways. Stop child abuse!

    • MY 2cents
      April 8, 2015

      @Thorbjørn Jagland What has he done for the Caribbean? Or even the US ever done for the Caribbean? The most the USA has ever done for the Caribbean is give the different islands a few coast guard boats. And that was more to benefit them than us, as they trying to stop the drugs coming to the US. Think before you talk or at least know what you talking about.

      • Titiwi
        April 8, 2015

        Did they not deliver Cuba from their Spanish colonial masters for a start? Learn your history my friend.

  17. Rakakak
    April 8, 2015

    I’ve always admired President Obama..he’s a skillful, tactical and cautious guy.
    Ronald Reagan was as “cowboy” and Eugenia Charles (like it or not) was an aggressive-action-lady…but unfortunately she couldn’t even trust her closest allies within her local circle…If she were here I believe D/ca would have benefited much more from the US. Our current leaders CANNOT negotiate..we only good at begging..and for what?..begging for the qwass our neo-colonists are giving us nowadays.

    • April 8, 2015

      Really, why did she not get Reagan to build an international airport in Dominica after her unwavering support for America’s invasion in Grenada. Some of us seem to be suffering from long term memory loss.

    • joe
      April 8, 2015

      tHE dAME WAS CONSIDERED A beggar TOO, JUST SO YOU KNOW!!!!!!!! You have no clue of what you talking about, tell us the difference between ‘BEGGING’ AND ‘NEGOTIATING’ YOUR D.A!!!!!!!!!

    • The Facts
      April 8, 2015

      When the others were begging, you call it negotiating. Today the PM is asking for help for D/ca, you call it begging.
      Were you ever present with all the governments when they requested help for Dominica that you can be sure the PM is only begging?
      The problem is your mind is warped and wicked. You are an anti-DLP and so whatever the PM does, you critic are against it and never satisfied. You stoop and look low which is what your words portray. You know how to debase a person. One day it will fall on you two-fold, sooner than you expect.

  18. derp
    April 8, 2015

    hmm interesting

  19. goodie
    April 8, 2015

    Only now you see that,ask the Dame, she did so much for the US she got ‘Jack shhhhh’.

    • %
      April 8, 2015

      @goodie. You do not know anything about the Dame. If she was still alive,we would have benefitted handsomely from the USA. Skerrit has plunged the entire country into poverty…He is a poor negotiator and mentally deficient to deal wiith Dominicas problems. I think that Honourable Lennox Linton is the best that we have presently. NOT SKERRIT!

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