CLOSER LOOK AT PM SKERRITS COMMENTS ON CARICOMS' ACCEPTANCE OF DOMINICA JOINING ALBA

CARICOM Accepts Dominica’s Membership With ALBA By Jozef Faddoul- Friday 14th March 2008 Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is generally accepting of Dominica’s decision to join the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA). Prime Minister Skerrit spoke to local media Thursday, after his return from a CARICOM Intercessional meeting held in the Bahamas. He said the Caribbean Community has shown appreciation for Dominica’s initiative to developing itself. “Signing of the ALBA accord was discussed among heads, and there was general acceptance of the explanation by Dominica, that this was in furtherance of its national economic interest…Indeed fellow leaders indicated their appreciation for the forthrightness of Dominica, in laying its cards on the table. None questioned the commitment of Dominica to Caricom, and the work of the organization.” Prime Minister Skerrit added: “It was pointed out that Dominica, under this Dominica Labour Party administration is always among the first countries in Caricom to sign on to instruments that advance the interest of Caricom.” >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> In the article above PM Skerrit is quoted as saying “Signing of the ALBA accord was discussed among heads, and there was general acceptance of the explanation by Dominica, that this was in furtherance of its national economic interest…Indeed fellow leaders indicated their appreciation for the forthrightness of Dominica, in laying its cards on the table. None questioned the commitment of Dominica to Caricom, and the work of the organization.” Below is the link to the complete “COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE NINETEENTH INTER-SESSIONAL MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF HEADS OF GOVERNMENT OF THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM) 7-8 MARCH 2008, NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS” Please note that there is no mention of the Dominica/ALBA relationship in this Communiqué. Had this been the subject of any serious discussion at the meeting it would be included in the official Communiqué. Note also Skerrits comments that there was GENERAL acceptance not ACCEPTANCE. This in no way qualifies the idea now being presented by government members and pundits that the CARICOM heads are in agreement with or support the decision. Further note must be made of the fact that contained within the communiqué are issues dealing with even non-CARICOM member nations such as Ecuador and Columbia. Which suggest again that if at all, the Dominica/ALBA discussion was held in OFFICIAL capacity as is being suggested by PM Skerrit, would it not have been included in the communiqué?