Volume No. 2 Issue No. 30 - Friday, February 29, 2008
“No Devil” in Bolivarian Alternative to the Americas (ALBA)
 By Thomson Fontaine
Presidents Fidel Castro, Evo Morales (Bolivia) and Hugo Chavez at the ALBA signing on April 29, 2006.
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Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit told the people of Dominica in a radio and television address that there was “no devil” in the Bolivarian Alternative to the Americas (ALBA) agreement.
His remarks came amid rising concern from many quarters within Dominica about that country’s recent signing of the agreement involving Venezuela, Cuba and Bolivia. Of particular concern was a call made by President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela for Dominica to “join a military alliance against the United States.”
In responding to the charges Prime Minister Skerrit was emphatic is his denial saying “my friends, I can reassure you that this government has not, and will not enter into any military alliance against any country. ALBA is one further reflection of Government’s proactive foreign policy—foreign policy in support of Government’s determination to promote growth, employment generation and poverty reduction in our country. This is what ALBA represents, plain and simple.”
Dominica’s relationship with Venezuela has come under close scrutiny of late especially following the publication of an article by the Council for Hemispheric Affairs (COHA) titled: “Dominica – The Caribbean’s Next Terror Island?.”
In the article, Nicolas Kozloff highlighted Dominica’s growing ties with Venezuela as one of the reasons why the authorities should ‘watch out’. According to Kozloff, a McCain presidency was very likely to lead to confrontation with the Dominican leadership as the US president seeks to roll back ALBA and the Petro Caribe agreement.
In his address to the Nation, Skerrit highlighted the tremendous benefits that Dominica’s relationship with Venezuela had realized. He pointed to assistance received for education, energy, housing, and helping to fight poverty in Dominica.
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