Dominica to sign Samoa Agreement

ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Dominica on Wednesday said it intends to sign the Samoa Agreement that will serve as an overarching legal framework for the relationship between the European Union (EU) and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) for the next 20 years.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit told a news conference that while he is aware of the concerns being raised in several quarters, including the Roman Catholic Church, the agreement does not depart significantly from the Cotonou Agreement which it replaces.

“I don't think the document itself highlights what are being pointed out in the public domain,” he said, noting that “people will have different interpretation of the document, like we have with the Bible and so it will all be left for interpretations.

“In terms of the language I do not necessary believe that's the case. We intend to sign…I believe overall it is a good document. It could be more refined, in an agreement it is not everything you want you get, but it is a framework document that is not necessarily imposing any particular ills or views on us in the African, Caribbean and Pacific region.

“It is a framework document that is no different to other framework documents the world has signed on to,” Skerrit said, adding “in this world you always have to be vigilant and I am happy that the Catholic Church is vigilant on that”.

Skerrit said he wanted to commend the Trinidad and Tobago Archbishop Jason Gordon and his St Lucian counterpart Archbishop Gabriel Malzaire "for the very clear setting up of the alarms and forewarning."

“I prefer to consider it to be a forewarning,” said Skerrit, a Roman Catholic, who said he intends to discuss the issue with Archbishop Malzaire.

The Samoa agreement was signed last Wednesday in Apai and succeeds the Cotonou Agreement. It covers subjects such as sustainable development and growth, human rights and peace and security. Dominica was not present for the signing then.

The provisional application of the agreement will start on January 1, 2024. It will enter into force upon consent by the European Parliament and ratification by all EU member states and at least two thirds of the 79 OACPS members.

Archbishop Gordon in criticising the new accord said he was concerned that regional countries would have to sign an agreement that will “impose laws on their people that are not in keeping with the culture, values of us Caribbean people and it will be a colonial imposition one more time on small fragile states, on Africa, Pacific and us here in the Caribbean."

Gordon said that while the agreement is “written as a trade agreement and an agreement of support, financially, etc for the African, Caribbean and Pacific nations, embedded in that agreement and when it is signed it is for 20 years and cannot be revoked …is anyone who signs that agreement will have abortion legislation in their countries.

“They will have to impose abortion legislation, transgender, LBGTQ, comprehensive sex education, a whole range of values will be imposed because of the signing of that document,” he added.

But Skerrit told reporters that while he has the “greatest admiration” for Archbishops Gordon and Malzaire, he would prefer to “respond to the general concerns that have been raised.

“The point is we don't believe that the Samoa Agreement…. when you go to the Cotonou Agreement, articles clauses captured in the Samoa Agreement are similar in nature”.

However, Skerrit said “some of the things that are being pointed out in the document are really not in the document and I think people are looking at those sections and articles and indicating that there may be an opportunity for some of the things that we have concerns with may find themselves being implemented in  our countries.

“I respect the counsel of the Church and I don' think the counsel has been misplaced, I think what the Church may want to say to us is to caution us against going down that route, but it is not in the agreement," he said.

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