On 7 March, 2022, Dominica and the Syrian Arab Republic signed a communique establishing diplomatic relations. Signing for Dominica was Ambassador Loreen Bannis-Roberts, Permanent Representative of Dominica to the United Nations, and for Syria, Ambassador Bassam Sabbagh, Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic. As of today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not released any information about this agreement.
The United Workers Party (UWP) deplores the establishment of diplomatic relations with Syria and calls for an immediate reversal of that abhorrent decision which has exposed Dominica to the contempt and ridicule of the civilized world. Diplomatic relations with Syria can only be considered by Dominica if and when Syria reaches an amicable multi-party resolution of its civil conflict.
We note with dismay that the Government of Syria has a most egregious human rights record, and bears responsibility for a civil war spanning 12 years which has resulted in more than 500,000 deaths, and displacement of 13 million Syrians. For us, the most heinous act of the Syrian regime was its use of chemical weapons on its own citizens for which it should have received the unanimous condemnation of the entire UN Security Council in 2017. Unfortunately, Russia and China exercised their veto power to prevent unanimous Security Council punitive action against Syria.
The agreement establishing diplomatic relations between Syria and Dominica makes reference to the universal ideals in the Charter of the United Nations. But it is abundantly clear that the Syrian Arab Republic has no respect for the Charter and is willing to violate its provisions with impunity.
Syria is one of the four States that joined the Russian Federation in voting, on February 28, 2022, against the Draft Resolution of the Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly on Ukraine following the military invasion by the Russian Federation. By supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Syria gives no credence to Article 2 of the United Nations Charter which states:
“All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations.”
The United Workers Party is of the view that the Dominica Government’s establishment of diplomatic relations with Syria is an act of desperation driven by questionable connections to the brutal regime of Bashar Al-Assad and the operation of Dominica’s Citizenship By Investment (CBI) Program in Syria.
Given the current scrutiny which the CBI Program has attracted in the European Parliament and in the United States Congress along with attendant planned measures to remove visa-free access to the Schengen Area of Europe, the diplomatic relationship with Syria will only contribute to further isolation and blacklisting of Dominica in the international community.
*Editor’s note* DNO has reached out to the government for comment on this matter.
Dominica just officially joined the list of rogue governments. Just a glimpse to show but a few: Russia, Syria, North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, Belarus…
I agree with Zulu.What is UWP trying to do to Dominicans re the CBI is worst than what Bashar is doing in Syria.Bashar is fighting for survival.Putin is fighting for security.UWP is fighting for the destruction of it’s own country Dominica.UWP should take a back seat.A party bent on destroying and seeing it’s own country is worse than Putin and Bashar.Dominicans made UWP pay for destroying agriculture,they will pay for destroying the CBI.This piece of BS from UWP is nothing more than to destroy the CBI,and they are saying it in public.
I expect anything from Roosevelt ‘Special Ed’ Skerrit but this one has floored me. Signing diplomatic relationship with Syria is synonymous with someone bearhugging Satan. Skerrit is the perfect personification of Lucifer.
All other countries in CARICOM and and most throughout the world treat Syria like a leper nation. In fact, Syria is the epitome of a failed state. What do the Dominican people have to benefit from this relationship? The sheep-like, clueless, spineless ambassador signed on behalf of the Dominican people when the citizens had not even the slightest idea. The disrespect and utter contempt meted out to the citizens and residents by this dimwit is unspeakeble.
It’s inevitable that the direction in which Roosevelt ‘Arab Worshipping’ Skerrit is leading Dominica, the country would soon become a pariah nation like North Korea which is most likely Dominica’s next diplomatic ally.
This is a clear case of a very objective position being taken on a national issue devoid of any partisan slant. The disclosure made on Syria as per the blatant and unmitigated brutality and slaughter of its citizenry aided and abetted by Vladimir Putin and supported by China should alarm and concern every right thinking Dominican. Syria is among the handful of nations including the undemocratic and rogue nation of North Korea to give the murderous regime of V!admir Putin avowed and resolute support.. We are surely losing our geopolitical sense of bearing. The eyes of the nations will be upon us. May God help this country.
I am vehemently opposed to the Government of Dominica establishing diplomatic relations with Syria the Prime Minister of which is a total thug, Bashar Al-Assad. He has decimated his country, killing all of its people rendering them expendable and with no regard whatsoever for its women and children. I am hoping that the Government of Dominica upon reviewing its decision will rescind its diplomatic relations with a thug country, Syria.. Bashar is a thug and a dictator and is desperately clinging to power by summarily executing and lynching his people.
You are known by the company and friends you keep. Birds of a feather flock together. Dominica is a very closed ally of the worst dictators in the world – Putin, Xi now Al-Assad. No other OECS leader would even think about this.
If it is good, I am all for it. If it is bad, I have to say it is bad. That is just me. Didn’t you sometimes disagree with your parents if what they said or did was wrong but, you still loved them, Right? That is about the same thing.
Ibo, you are a sick old dog,. Just take a look at whom you are frequently with and ask yourself that question am I a sick mug or what then go into a dark room the answers will be awaiting for you my old man!!!!!!
What inducement was offered to Skerrit to get into that agreement because I know that boy does nothing for nothing. This is insane man and suicidal. And you want us to be proud of being Dominican then. I bet he did not even discuss that with his cabinet before telling his lakey in N.Y. to sign and promise our UN vote in return for what? I hang my head in shame.
UWP should take a back seat on this one. What is going on in Syria is not a civil war. Let us not be brainwashed by Western media propaganda. The West placed so many sanctions on Venezuela and Iran, look now they begging them for their oil. hypocrisy
I am totally in agreement with the views expressed in this statement.
When Dominicans travel to foreign jurisdictions they will be viewed with much suspicion. Are these people agents of Bashar Al-Assad?