Monday, March 1, 2010

The court petition and Dominica’s entangled relationship with France

By Dr Emanuel Finn

There has always been a French presence and involvement in Dominica since the Europeans arrived in the West Indies in the 15th century. That influence and reality continues today. One poignant example is the current Prime Minister holding dual Dominican and French citizenship.
dominica map

Dominica is sandwhiched between the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique.


The geographic location of Dominica of being sandwiched between the French Overseas Departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique invarialby means that Dominica’s cultural, economic and historical ties, including disputes, have been closely intertwined with the French.

None other than the various musical genres tell the story of the connection and influence that the French islands had and have on Dominica. In 1973 on Guadeloupe, Dominica’s premier band, Exile One, lead by Mr. Gordon Henderson, started the transition of Zouk.

The music which means ‘party or festival’ has a pulsating rhythmic Anglo/Francophone style with origins deep inside the African jungle. Zouk employs a combination of Calypso, ‘Gwo ka’ of Guadeloupe, Bele and Quadrille from Dominica and Haitian Cadence (a derivative of Compas).

Exile One moved to Paris and transformed Cadence-Lypso and started a global interest in Creole music.

Other bands such as Grammacks, Midnight Groovers of Dominica and Les Aiglons of Guadeloupe and others have layed a foundation for Zouk a la 'Kassav'. The ‘Kassav’ band from Martinique has emerged as the undisputed leader in this musical genre with a global following.

In spite of all the similarities and close connections, our immediate neigbours to the north and south for a very long time have viewed us as a needy neigbour and at best as a step or foster child/brother, or an embarrassing, ugly and troublesome cousin.

They haven’t afforded us the respect which we deserve. However, lately that pattern has begun to change but vestiges of the past still remain.

This writer could have easily been born in Les Abymes or Point- a-Pitre instead of Dominica as my parents, a young handsome man from the red dirt of Castle Bruce and an attractive teenager from the La Plaine valley, met in Guadeloupe in the mid- 50s.

In the 30s, 40s and mid- 50s, Guadeloupe and Martinique were the gateways for young migrants from the Dominican country side before the mass rural migration to the U.K began.

So that’s why I sympathize with the embattled Skerrit on this specific issue of dual Dominican/French citizenship.

But if the strong and serious allegations about Skerrit on the issue of French citizenship proves to be true and he still wins the court petition, then the Dominican constitution will be devalued significantly and will not be worth the paper it is written on.

If that unfortunate outcome occurs, I have four suggestions: They are: His title should change from ‘Prime Minister’ to ‘Prefect’ and Roseau designated a ‘Prefecture. Dominica’s official name should become ‘La Dominique’ and July 14th declared a holiday to celebrate Bastille Day.

I also think that the law should be reexamined closely given today’s global village and the migratory nature of residents of developing small island states like Dominica. In spite of this reality, current laws must be obeyed and enforced.

So if the PM became a French citizen well into his adulthood, then he cannot have his cake and eat it too- he can’t have it both ways. He must resign and leave office.

Dominica is a member of the League of Nations and as a result is a nation of laws and these laws must to be obeyed and adhered to by both the powerful and the powerless.
The PM of Dominica said that he got his French citizenship in 1972.

What is or was France’s immigration policy on children who were born outside of France and its territories acquiring citizenship instantly?

Were both his parents or/and either of them citizens of France in 1972 and if either of them migrated to a French territory what year did that occur?

Skerrit was born in June, 1972 in Dominica. Did Skerrit ever serve in the French military or was he a member of Gendarmerie or the French Foreign Legion?

My uncle Peter’s son Jean Claude, who was born and raised in Guadeloupe, performed his mandatory military service in French Guiana at 19 years.
Military service was required of every French citizen from the ages of 18 years to 40 years prior to 1996.

France suspended peacetime military conscription in 1997, but French citizens born before 1979 have to complete their military service. Did the French ‘Ministere de la Defense’ or Interior make a mistake and overlook Skerrit?

Was he a member of the “Cadets de la République” which prepares young men for the French national police?

Was he exempt from service for some unknown reasons like a child hood illness? Or was he only a Dominican citizen and had not acquired French citizenship as yet and it is and was a moot issue?

Did Skerrit acquire French citizenship while serving as Dominica’s Head of State in 2006, or did he really become a French citizen in 1972 as he claims?

If these questions are not answered in the Dominica’s constitution's favour, then ‘might’ does not mean ‘right’ and exemption from the laws of the land.

The laws of the land also apply to a popular Prime Minister, affluent citizens and those with people in high places who ‘pull strings’ for them and the narco-traffickers (big drug dealers and drug lords).

The laws should not only apply to the drunk (‘parro’) in Roseau or to lazy and petty thieves, the recreational drug users, the young and poor citizens. What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.

But is the underlying aspect of dual citizenship and when it was obtained an issue about lack of supreme respect, trust for one’s country and its values?

It is certainly not an issue of politics, or which party or person is better able to lead our country, or of economic management. This issue transcends and is much bigger than politics and social order.

Regardless of the petition’s outcome, the issue of dual citizenship and those who govern us (opposition and party in power) should undergo a lenghty and in-depth constitutional review and if needed, maybe constitutional reform and amendment.

As law abiding citizens, we all must always strive to uphold the laws of our land in spite of our strong and loyal political affiliations, identities and allegiances in order to set precedence and standards by and from those who have been bestowed with the responsibility and privilege to govern and oppose.

Also to ensure that we always have a civil, law abiding and functioning society built on laws and not on popularity and/or social ranking.

The important court case against the sitting PM is a necessary evil to safe guard the integrity of our country.

In January 2004, Prime Minister Pierre Charles (affectionately called Pierro) dies from a heart attack.

A young, untested and inexperienced upstart named Roosevelt Skerrit ascends to the position of Prime Minister at the age of 32 years. That transference from Pierro to Skerrit was a grief stricken and emotional transition of power.

My small island home was politically fatigued after the deaths of two sitting Prime Ministers (Douglas and Charles) in less than the five (5) year term in office from 2000 to 2005.

Unlike Skerrit, the two deceased leaders struggled on the political scene and were in the consciousness of Dominicans for over 40 years combined speaking to the important issues of the day. It was sad to see them ‘go’ so quickly when they finally attained politcal power.

On December 18th, 2009, Skerrrit won the general elections by a landslide after allegedly spending huge undisclosed record sums of money (from closely guarded undisclosed sources) to ensure victory.

He was sworn in as Prime Minister of Dominica for a 3rd term. In January 2010, opposition forces filed court petitions to remove Skerrit as Prime Minister on the basis of his French citizenship.

Other important dates and time lines of Dominica’s entangled relationship with the French include the following:

In 1632, the French Company des Isles D'Amerique claims Dominica and other "Petite Antilles" for France, but no physical occupation takes place.

In 1653 the French retaliated for a Kalinago attack on a French settlement on Mariegalante. Captain Du Mé attacks and massacres a Kalinago village on Dominica's north coast village of Anse Du Mé.

In 1715 a revolt of "poor white" smallholders in the north of Martinique, known as La Gaoulé, causes an exodus to the southern part of Dominica to places like Delices and Laronde. French poor whites from Guadeloupe also settled in the northern communities.

In 1727 the first French commander, M. Le Grand, takes charge of the island with a basic French government thus making Dominica formally a colony of France.

The island is divided into districts or "quarters". The Jesuit religious order operates a plantation at Grand Bay.

The Battle of the Saintes, which was fought in April 1782 between the French navy under Admiral Compt de Grasse and the British Navy under Admiral George Rodney, takes place off the north coast of Dominica. The British defeated the French.

In September 1778, French forces under Marquis de Bouille capture Roseau and occupy the Island. Marquis Duchilleau appointed governor.

Five thousand (5000) French soldiers are left in Dominica. In 1778, laws are passed against the British inhabitants.

The Treaty of Versailles which was ratified in September 1783 returned Dominica to the British.
The last French attack on Dominica is mounted in 1805 by General La Grange from Martinique.

Roseau was captured and burned. The members of the legislature were taken hostage. A ransom of £20,000 was demanded but only £8,000 was paid.

During the Second World War (1940-45), thousands of Free French refugees and fleeing resistance soldiers from Martinique and Guadeloupe escaped to Dominica from the Vichy region of central France (250 miles from Paris) after fascist French Marshall Henri Pe’tain collaborated with Hitler and aided the German Nazi army.

Among those was Frantz Fanon, one of the twentieth century’s leading intellectuals, who spent six months in Dominica.

General Pe’tain and German Occupied Forces conducted a vicious, repressive and vindictive ruthless campaign against the French resistance who were fighting against the Nazi occupation.

The refugees stayed in Roseau and surrounding villages until 1944 when Paris was liberated after the Germans’ surrendered to the French 2nd Armored Division under General Philippe Lecler and allied forces marched triumphantly down the Champs Elyse.

General Charles de Gaulle - leader of the Free French, declared that the war was over and Paris was freed. Soon after, the refugees departed, leaving the Dominican economy in near collapse.


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Comments:
Great Article Dr. Finn. Reading your postings feels like sitting in a lecture hall for graduate studies.

I thank God for you and pray that you and your family remain blessed. Keep up the good work. You are loved with the Agape love of Jesus Christ.
 
Brilliant! Poised, informative and considered. You have outdone yourself Finn. This attempt has been far more Dominican and far less UWPian. Way to go. Recommended to politician, student and layman.

[email protected]
 
YEAH YEAH

And just your point exactly? You just could not resist putting out your hatred for the beloved Prime Minister. I fortunately happen to be from the Beautiful village of Itassi and happen to know the Skerrit family rather very well. I also happen to know Ezord (Skerrit's Grandmother) who lived in Guadeloupe with her french husband. All of her children were born to this french man and are therefore french citizens. Skerrit's mother happens to be one of them. French citizenship was something automatic for the Prime Minister, as his mother is french. Must i inform you that had it not been French Citizenship, the Prime Minister would have been an American Citizen much like Rhon Green is? Yes, his father is an American citizen. This young man has been living and working on the island ever since, save for the time when he left the island for his studies in the US. Upon completion of his studies, the young man returned to the island to work as a teacher at PSS and then the State college. what exactly might your point be man. Hasn't your arhse been in the US for countless years. What are you contributions to the country? Do feel free pointing them out.
 
Anonymous, rather than resoting to the negatives at the end of your response maybe you can tell us since you have the inside information WHY AS A FRENCH CITIZEN THE HONORABLE PM DID NOT DO FRENCH MILITARY SERVICE AS WAS REQUIRED BY ALL MALES BORN BEFORE 1996. And if he did, where and when. We awaityour response.
 
Anonymous @ 6:28 p.m. Please do not burst a blood vessel or raise your blood pressure so high that you resort to cardiac failure. This is an open discourse meant to bring out a very valid concern held by many Dominicans. In civil society civilized people have discussions about matters concerning the welfare of their individual countries or places of residence/birth.

We all make a contribution to our beloved country whether on the ground (meaning staying at home) or by the financial and material support we provide for our loved ones at home. I do not by any means want to defend Dr.Finn, he is quite capable of soing so himself; nonetheless let me inform you that Dr. Finn is, believe it or not, a very modest and discreet individual and he will never disclose to you or anyone else the countless persons or causes he has contributed to financially in Dominica or for Dominica. This is not his modus operandi.

Let us, as educated and civilized human beings set aside our raw emotions, take a deep breath and discuss this very important matter that have serious and long lasting repercussions on our lovely island. Believe if our current sitting Prime Minister is found eligible after the courts have heard his defense of the allegations we will breathe a sigh of relief and continue to be supportive of him.

I happen to know the Prime Minister very well and appreciate, even though I do not always agree, all the positive things he has done for Dominica during his tenure. However, I will not aid and abet him or anyone else in any attempt to subdue the constitution of Dominica just for the love of power. No one is above the law. As Prime Minister Skerrit himself said, "Let the courts decide". I caution anyone who might have the urge or tendency to try this matter out in the court of public opinion to be very careful. This does not prevent concerned Dominicans to ask the pertinent questions and discuss the matter in a scholarly manner.

God bless the Prime Minister and his cabinet and most of all God bless the Commonowealth of Dominica. Dominica will be there long after we are gone let us aspire to protect her integrity.
 
Dr Finn, what is this obsessive compulsion that hastens you to preclude the rulings of a court of justice?

Resorting to excerpts of Dominican history that has neither bearing nor consequence to your dillema, is a poor substitute for your vaunted narcissism.

To those ignorant of the history of their country,your article is informative; to make a correlation between the history of the political domination of Dominica and the status of the Prime Minister is as convoluted as claiming that your parents were handsome.Why can you not learn to write objectively?
 
Dr. Finn Tries yet again.

From another angle this time.

Why only negative articles about the PM or Labour Party posted here....?
 
Anonymous what is negative about dr finn's article? Why can't you reason devoid of party lens?
 
" Dominica is a member of the League of Nations", what rock have you been hiding under? Dominica was never a member of the League of Nations. Do your own research for a change, instead of plagiarising from the publications of others. The league of Nations was replaced by the charter that created the United Nations of which Dominica became a member upon gaining Sovereignty.
 
Well it seems that this article has generated lots of discussion and debate and I think that’s good for democracy and it is great for Dominica. To all those who like the article thank you. To all those who don’t like it and criticize me needlessly or pointed out ways I can improve-also thank you very much. I am glad you took time to read it.

Please allow me to say this: Be political if you may but just remember the larger picture is Dominica. Yes by full disclosure I am a Ron Green advisor and confidant but that does not cloud my judgment when I am ready to write a balanced article. So I understand where you are coming from. Politics like war is often times emotional, noisy and messy by its very definition.

Also I would like to clear up some misconceptions about how I feel about current political leader of our country and I ask you to trust me on that. I have nothing personal against Mr. Skerrit. I have the outmost respect for the office of the Prime Minister and the constitution of our country. And this is what maters folks. As one blogger wrote, we all cannot be for the PM and we all cannot be against the opposition. If that is not the case then we just all move to North Korea. I do say a prayer from time to time for the PM and also for the leader of the Opposition.

Write and attack me personally –that’s cool with me: but remember that larger picture is Dominica. Not China, Taiwan, or Venezuela or any body else.

Yes sometime I write and I fall short and other times I do better work— like anything else. But just know I will continue to write and speak to the issues of the day in print the best I can.

Some one suggested that I am not at home: You are correct I am not- but not all of us can be in the middle of Roseau or in La Plaine my friend—that is the reality. Also not all of us can be bought by the government or sold to the opposition as well. We all have our convictions I suppose.

So criticize and personally insult Emanuel Finn all you can, just know that will not stop me- in fact it does the opposite- it encouragers me because I know there is so much more work to be done.

One last thing: I sign my name when I write and you sign Anonymous.

Thanks & have a good day.

Emanuel Finn
 
Dr finn, thanks for this and for taking the time to write...that in itaself is a great contribution to Dominica. Although I dont always agree with you, I appreciate your honesty and standing up for what you believe in.

Frankly, I could care less for those who attack you personally and lack the courage and moral fortitude to sign their names to the attacks.

Like you, I agree that the focus must be on dominica and not the misguided devotion to any one man!!!
 
Anonymous, what's wrong with the quote "Dominica IS a member of the League of Nations". This statement used in the present tense simply means that we are not a country unto ourselves. You mistake it for the ancient League of nations. Relook at the context. Where is the plagiarism that you speak of???

Relating history is plagiarism....well well well......Stop the personal attacks man and contribute something worthwhile that we can all learn from.
 
Please understand the English language. When League of Nations is capitalized, it refers to an organization and not a defined status as in league of nations(lower case).You people think that everyone who rebuts the voluminous and garrulous postings of the conservatives must be uneducated.Dr Finn might be a fine professional, but his writing and communication is scrambled.
 
Dr. Finn

Thank you very much for the above article. My concern is not with what is being written but the downright political bias that is being displayed in your articles. They tend to border on direct hatred of one individual Roosevelt Skerrit.

The above article no matter how cleverly written ( and I will agree that it is well written) displays that one-sided biasness. That is your right and I respect that.

The overall debat here is about dual citizenship and the contesting of elections in Dominica. All your articles have attempted to condem Mr. Skerrit for contesting the elections as a dual citizen. I agree that if Mr Skerrit obtained French Citizenship as an adult he should not be allowed to hold the Vieille Case seat. The same goes for Mr. Petter Saint Jean of the Laplaine Constituency.

However, Mr. Finn where we differ is that in your writings you have failed to accept that your man Ron Green along with five (5) other UWP candidates are also dual citizens and hold valid foreign passports which they obtained or renewed as adults and continously travel on as adults.

Therefore if Mr. Skerrit is disqualified to hold his seat, then so to is Hon Eddison James because he is a British Citizen with a valid British passport which he obtained and renewed as an adult.

If Mr. Skerrit and Mr. St. Jean breached the constitution when they constested the elections then so to is Mssrs Ron Green, Eddison James, Bobby Frederick, Bernard Wiltshire, John Bruno of the UWP. They all hold dual citizenship with valid foreign passports.

In this regard we can't be selective and see only one side because of our political biasness. I believe that you could avoid all this negative if you had taken an unbiased posture in this debate.

I strongly believe that one should renounce ones foreign citizenship if one is putting his/her self for elections in Dominica. And for me that goes across party lines. It is not that it is not good for the goose but good for the gander.

Notwithing anything said the competent court of Law will decide after examining all the available evidence.

Jude Nicholas
Stock Farm
 
League of nations, community of nations, family of nations, whatever, is that the basis for a comment? Good grief! You simply got the point the man is making.
Lets face it good people, Finn's paranoia is not without foundation. Skerritt's activities, behavior and utterances have certainly been questionable. His associations even more alarming (Chavez et al). However, we are prepared to give him a pass on those shortcomings with the belief that only he can get the job done. But there in lies the problem. That type of collective mentality is exactly what births a tyrant and repression. When we believe and act like only Skerritt can run Dominica, we are prepared to do anything to keep him and subverting the laws and constitution will only be the first step.
So Finn is acting like the proverbial watchman, but Finn devoid of political refinement is wielding a cutlass instead of a scalpel. He therefore appeals to the more viral opposition and is dismissed, but we would do well to give him a hearing. Not all pills are sugarcoated.
 
p.s.

It is said the difference between Napoleon and George Washington is the American Constitution. The constitution is written to protect us from the excesses of perverse men. To suspend or subvert it in tolerance of one man, is to leave us naked to those very excesses to which it is meant to guard.
 
Jude you keep trying to misinform. Holders of Commonwealth passports such as Edison James and Bernard Wiltshire are not in conflict with the consitution (my view is that this should change).

So too is Ron Green as he clearly indicated in his Radio interview on thedominican.net. He was queried in 1995 by no other than the learned Judge Sir Brian Alleyne. It was subsequently determined that he obtained his green card as a child, before the age of reason. He is therefore NOT in violation of the constitution.

If on the other hand Skerrit got his in 2006, which is plausible since there is no record of him doing French military service, then he IS in violation of the constitution (I have no proof that this is the case). As the premier politician and guardian of that same constitution he must be taken to task for a wanton disregard of the rule of law!!!!
 
Jackson, you are doing the same misleading. Check the facts on Ron Green and you would not have comment the way you did...lol

You Dominicans talk alot and alot of pachi-coco too
 
Jackson,

Do a Google Search on Daryl Vaz verses Dadoub - Jamaica. and read the court judgement.

In that judgement you will find that even if you receive citizenship an an infant, once as an adult you on your own accord renew that passport or travel on it, as in the case of Mr. Green then you are found to be in breach.

Again the constitution does not distinguish between commonwealth and non commonwealth states. I know you will try to find an excuse to cover Ron Green and Edisson James. You need to stop that political biasness.

Jude Nicholas
 
Proverbial Watchman in reference to Finns persistence I am refering to Isaiah 62:6-7.
 
Read the constitution of Dominica and you will see clearly that there is a difference between Dominica and Jamaica.

The court has the brief filed by the UWP. If the ruling is in UWP's favor, that means that UWP members will be affected as well.

If it comes in DLP favor, then my reading of the constitution is correct.

Obtaining a passport is not the act/order that makes one a citizen. It is simply a right afforded to a citizen who is in good standing for purposes of travel and or identification. When one applies for a passport, he/she has to prove he is a citizen as passports are mostly issued to citizens.

Anyone born in Dominica has to provide a birth certificate to get a passport. This birth certificate is what proves one is a citizen, not a passport because he or she has not obtained it yet.

Someone born outside of Dominica to Dominican parents, must submit a birth certificate and that of the parents if he/she is a Dominican citizen and needs to obtain passports for their child(ren)

Too much contingencies here....but the Constitution needs to be ammended and made clear that one must born in Dominica and renounce all other citizenship before being nominated for elections.

Irrespective of when one obtains citizenship other than of Dominica.

A judge will decide and then move on.
 
Guys, the 2009-2010 elections is over and a new government is in place. For Dominica's sake, lets put our partism coat down and come together to nation build. I wish people like Dr. Finn would use all that build-up energies to actually nation build than just be a Proverbial Watchman!!

Do we want to take our country forward by working together or just seat and wait for something to complain about in the name of being a good Proverbial Watchman?
 
In the name of Democracy there needs to be watchmen to prevent a dictatorship in Dominica people. Everyone has been bought and there is hardly any one left. Those who don't understand that don't understand how a dictatorship begins and a police state forms.

More energy to folks like Finn and others who have the ability and insight to put country first. Those on the 'siwo' train do not and cannot understant that-you can't fault them- survival first and everything else is secondary.
Love live Dominica.
 
Kcuf forward also means safeguarding our democracy and constitution.
 

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