Here's something to talk about!

[SF5]

Hey Guys

This is a story causing quite a stir in Dominica and the region. I dont know about you guys but this intimate relationship Skerrit is cultivating with Chavez has me quite concerned. Think of the implications of all of this for our vulnerable little island.

Chavez calls for anti-US alliance
By James Ingham
BBC News, Caracas



Chavez has been keen to mobilise anti-US opinion in the region
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has called on other Latin American and Caribbean countries to form a military alliance against the United States. The vehemently anti-US leader says Nicaragua, Bolivia, Cuba and Dominica should create one united force. Mr Chavez, a long time critic of what he sees as US imperialism, made the comments after a summit of its leaders. Despite constant US denials, Mr Chavez is convinced it poses a serious threat to South and Central America. Venezuela's socialist leader has long been a critic of what he sees as US imperialism. He has recently accused the country of trying to destabilise the region by forging stronger links with Colombia.
Mr Chavez has some key allies in his fight against capitalism, globalisation and the US.

Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua and now the Caribbean island of Dominica are all members of a trade alliance known as the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas, a group that takes its name from South America's independence leader, Simon Bolivar.

Mr Chavez has urged them to draw up a joint defence policy and create a united military force against US imperialism.

"If the US threatens one of us, it threatens all of us," he said, "we will respond as one."

Now I personally don't care too much about politics or politicians, they are all the same IMHO. Now Dominicans have a way of playing petty politics. This I feel is serious matter. Once again we in nonsense.

[punch]

When did this article come out? This could just finish d/ca

[scientist]

BBC published that article quite a while back....its a big stir.

Govmt announced they only signed on to the trade part of ALBA

[ceelos]

they lie.... is only cause ppl talking now...

[DGLOBE69]

BBC published that article quite a while back....its a big stir.

Govmt announced they only signed on to the trade part of ALBA

ladies and gentle men i will say it again we need business minded pple to run the country, you see chavez is a good business man that's why he has some stupid pple eating from his hands, ladies and gents there is corruption every where you go and in everything you do, a good business man makes it work towards his benefit.

one problem i will leave for you all to figure out. it is simple but we always ignore it. even rite here on this site it goes on but do you all see it.


the move on our pm to make his alliance with chavez so public was reckless.

D/ca needs help but i never thought we were so desperate, because when he (skewo came to FL he said d/ca doing ok, economy has never been this good and now we result to this.) we resulted to beggers, we once had the ability of holding our head high to say where we from, "Dominica located between gwada and martinique, no not Republic."

what mr. skewo need to realise is, if for some reason he wish to have america cut off d/ca, we as dominicans leaving in america cannot do as we please in relation to sending items to d/ca?, contacting d/ca ect, resulting in more stress back home aswell. (will i be allowed to bring down my car, and come home to build or are we to become like cubans?)

he ask that the diaspora come home and contribute to the economy but how are we to take such chances, with d/ca economy seeing what crazy decisions that he undertakes, the value of the dollar and its reutrns, what of our american business partners how are they to comply with such regulations that may be at hand. how about american investors/loans how are we to obtain them, would albah and the venezuelan bofa's be willing to become investors in d/ca.

from the conception of skewo giving away bird island i knew something was not right, this was something that all PM's before fought for to try keep this island. and skew gave it away like a grain of rice for nothing (or so i believe)

the oil refinery is somthing that needs to be thought of intensely, and i do hope they undertake all necessary steps before they go ahead and invest in this venture. our tourism, our nature, recent changes in atmosphere global warming etc. how many job will it provide, how many will it also take away, what cost on our tourism ("nature island of the world untouched except for the oil refinery") hmm,

we can find alternative routes towards d/ca development, we as the pple got to be open to new ideas. ( this will be the fall of d/ca), market to overnight tourist, extend business hours generate a greater circulation of money & create new jobs too, governtment needs to get additional income earing potiential - build/own/ hotels, taxi business, recreational area-activities, farms ect.

in relation to the government, i believe pple need to stop vote for party and start putting educated pple to run this country. if this means that we choose the best three educated person of each party to form a governtment then we should.

that my opinion.



I was a supporter of labor unfortunately they did not prove their point in what they wanted to do with d/ca, you know what; I should say the previous PM's did not get the chance to make it happen.

[scientist]

I've always wanted to talk about that refinery thing.

The thing is...we have soo many Dominicans here out of a job who are qualified to run a refinery. Most of them returning students from Cuba. There are other benefits that it can bring, including the manufacturing of plastics and finally help give Dominica a viable Industrial Product. I know everyone is saying it will tarnish our nature image, but lets be realistic. We Dominicans tarnish that image on a daily basis. Just look around us with the things we do. We aren't offering any ground breaking product that other countries do not have to offer. Its just like someone they interviewed on the radio on carnival Monday, He said he likes it here but rather spend his time in Antigua. He can still view wild life, more beaches, play golf etc which Dominica just does not offer. We make no effort as a country to back up what we preach. There is no incentive for cleaner burning vehicles, There is no incentive for alternative fuels. Heck we haven't even considered the Viability of E85 etc in Dominica. They not even offering concessions on cleaner burning products or even hybrid vehicles. Who are we really trying to fool?

There are other countries which base their self as nature escapes and guess what...they have refineries too!
Dominica itself is not open to new business ideas or attractive for upstarts to help increase the diversity of its economic portfolio. Just look at actual costs of setting up a business, Dealing with the port, dealing with certain banks which at the end of the day rob you of your money. ok i ranted for a bit too long so i will stop now

[DGLOBE69]

IAM NOT SAYING THE REFINERY IS A NO NO, IAM JUST SAYING SERIOUS THOUGHT MUST BE PLACED INTO IT BEFORE WE RUN TO MAKE RECKLESS DECISIONS.

[punch]

But sci, for the same reasons u point out are the same reasons y d/ca cannot promote greener cars and fuels. D/ca cannot afford it, but as to ur point on the refinery it is tru that it will help the economy a bit and in business and anything for that matter u must sacrifice some to gain some. But ! the question is.. is this alliance worth the risk of being totally barred by western powers? Imagine when Ross pull out and cruise ships stop calling. We all kno American Eagle lookin for excuses to stop landing here and travel is already a bitch. From the time i see chavez put up statues of Simon Bolivar I kno start shake my head. It is not that simple eh, cuz at the same time nothing else workig out for d.ca so i dont want to come on and jus ramble about wut we shouldnt do because i think i understand the situation. The thing is can i come up with something better? Is anybody else? But i still think this chavez thing is a badd move. Jus my 2c

[punch]

D/cans need to start step up for themself too, stop makin the govnt do everything man, Ive seen some ppl trying but thats just a few and on top of it d.can ignorance want to cry them down. Das another thing that kills me, where d/cans get that attitude from wanting other ppl to fail insead of tryin to get piece of the pie themselves. Some ppl where sayin how they glad Astaphans burn because they have too much already. Now who is one of the cheapest retailers in roseau? Is not them same d/cans they catering to? D.ca not gunna see any glory day unless that change i can tell u that no matter wut skerrit or anybody do.

[DGLOBE69]

But sci, for the same reasons u point out are the same reasons y d/ca cannot promote greener cars and fuels. D/ca cannot afford it, but as to ur point on the refinery it is tru that it will help the economy a bit and in business and anything for that matter u must sacrifice some to gain some. But ! the question is.. is this alliance worth the risk of being totally barred by western powers? Imagine when Ross pull out and cruise ships stop calling. We all kno American Eagle lookin for excuses to stop landing here -- The thing is can i come up with something better? Is anybody else? But i still think this chavez thing is a badd move. Jus my 2c

THE QUESTION ONE SHOULD ASK ARE====

DOES RUSS PROVIDE JOBS IN D/CA?

DO WE REALLY NEED AMERICAN EAGLE IF WE NOT TRAVELING TO AMERICA?

DOES AMERICA HELP DOMINICA IN ANY WAY?

HOW MUCH MONEY DOES VENEZUELA HAVE TO CONTINUE GIVING D/CA?

WILL THIS VENTURE AFFECT O.E.C.S/CARICOM OTHER ISLANDS.

DO WE NEED THESE OTHER CARIBBEAN ISLANDS.

IF YOU WERE TO GIVE RECOMENDATIONS WOULD PPLE BE WILLING TO LISTEN?

DO WE NEED THE LITTLE MONEY THAT THE CRUISE SHIPP PASSENGER BRING?

FOOD FOR THE MIND

ONE THING TO THINK OF WHEN CUBA WENT AGAINST AMERICA THEY HAD THE BACKING OF THE SOVIETS, WHEN THE SOVIETS BROKE UP CUBA STARTED SUFFERING, ==== THE SOVIET HAD WAY MORE MONEY THAN VENEZUELA, THE SOVIETS WHERE TRADING WITH CUBA ON A REGULAR BACK THEN TOO.