Dominica/PC

(E-198/01)
September 27, 2001
NEW ENVOY REAFFIRMS DOMINICA'S CONDEMNATION OF TERRORIST ATTACKS

In his maiden address to the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) on Wednesday, Dominica’s new Permanent Representative, Ambassador Swinburne Lestrade, commented on the September 11 terrorist acts in the United States, saying the "government and people of Dominica share in the absolute horror and disgust."

The ambassador, who presented credentials at OAS Headquarters earlier Wednesday, spoke of the government's "unequivocal condemnation of the perpetrators." Pledging his Caribbean nation's "total cooperation in doing what is necessary to bring the perpetrators to justice," he detailed how his government had reaffirmed its commitment to fighting the scourge of terrorism, during the negotiations of the United Nations resolution of September 12, 2001 and the OAS resolution adopted this past September 21.

Turning to development matters, he noted that Dominica was one of the least developed of OAS member states, in economic terms. He cited OAS Charter commitments to increased agricultural productivity, diversification of production, expansion of employment opportunities and promotion of private initiative and investment, saying "these issues are of particular importance to the smallest countries of the Caribbean, and in particular to Dominica."

He went on to explain that Dominica's problem is complicated by its "considerable dependence of banana exports," and said the country is still reeling under the ravages of recent global economic developments. He pointed as well to the prospect of "more economic hardship as a consequence of increased trade liberalization and its likely adverse consequences on the smallest and most trade revenue-dependent states of the Caribbean."

Lestrade urged the OAS to help these countries "grapple with the fundamental challenge of capacity-enhancement… a challenge made more manifest in the context of the increasing demands deriving from the change in the global economic environment."

On October 1^st, the Dominica Ambassador will assume the OAS Permanent Council chairmanship, succeeding Costa Rica's Ambassador, Hernán R. Castro, who presided at Wednesday's session.

********