Proprietor of Jungle Bay Resort and Spa Sam Raphael has criticised the government’s Economic Citizenship Loan program, saying it lacks transparency and has been “cloaked with secrecy”.
Raphael, who spoke at a cheque presentation ceremony at his lawyer’s office this morning, said that many persons are unaware of the Economic Citizenship Program Loan and this hinders the true potential of the loan program.
“Unfortunately…the Economic Program has always been viewed as something sinister and negative. So it’s always been cloaked with secrecy. And with that people really don’t know what is happening; we do have an ongoing citizenship program. People are becoming citizens of Dominica even now. Where are the proceeds going?” the resort owner said.
“There is no transparency there, and so I think it was better when it was a clear program when the proceeds were earmarked to the productive sector and if you have that on a certain level of transparency I think that would do better. But where you have the people becoming citizens and paying monies and the public has no way of knowing how many people are becoming citizens and how it is impacting I think that’s where the problem lies,” Raphael said.
He said that through proper management and making people aware of the program, the Economic Citizenship Loan could be effective.
Today, Raphael presented a cheque of $100,000 towards the repayment of an Economic Citizenship Loan granted to him by the Govenrment of Dominica for the start of construction of the Jungle Bay Resort and Spa.
These funds will now be held in the escrow account of his attorney, Singolla Blomquist-Williams, who upon receipt of proper documentation from the government, pay the funds to the treasury of the Government of Dominica.
According to Raphael, Jungle Bay Resort and Spa will repay EC$100, 000 every February and August for the next 20 years. He said that this payment of funds this morning was in response to an article posted in the Chronicle newspaper, which states, “PM urges defaulters to pay up.”
roprietor of Jungle Bay Resort and Spa Sam Rafeal has criticised an Economic Citizenship Loan program which is offered by the government of Dominica by stating that it lacks transparency and has been “cloaked with secrecy”. Rafeal who spoke at cheque presentation ceremony at his lawyer’s office this morning, said that many persons are unaware of the Economic Citizenship Loan program, and this hinders the true potential of the loan program. “Unfortunately...the Economic Program has always been viewed as something sinister and negative. So it’s always been cloaked with secrecy. And with that people really don’t know what is happening we do have an ongoing citizenship program. People are becoming citizens of Dominica even now, where are the proceeds going?” the resort owner said. “There is no transparency there, and so I think it was better when it was a clear program where the proceeds air marked to the productive sector and if you have that on a certain level of transparency I think that would do better. But where you have the people becoming citizens and paying monies and the public has no way of knowing how many people are becoming citizens and how it is impacting i think that’s where the problem lies,” Rafeal said. Rafeal said that through proper management and making people aware of the program the Economic Citizenship Loan could be effective. “So if there’s a clear program clearly defined and well managed it can be a very effective tool,” Rafeal stated. Today, Rafeal presented a cheque of $100,000 towards the repayment of an Economic Citizenship Loan granted to him by the Govenrment of Dominica for the start construction of the Jungle Bay Restort and Spa in 2006. These funds will now be held in the escrow account of his attorney, Singolla Blomquist-Williams who upon receipt of proper documentation from the government, pay the funds to the treasury of the Government of Dominica. According to Rafael Jungle Bay Resort and Spa will repay EC$100, 000 every February and August for the next 20 years. Rafeal said that this payment of funds this morning was in response to an article posted in the Chronicle Newspaper “PM urges defaulters to pay up.”
You people are so ignorant of all things that was said at this press conference the only thing you guys can say is he get it in secret now he scared to PAY COME ON PEOPLE
GET OUT OF THIS NARROW MINDEDNESS GROW UP FOR CHRIST SAKE.
PEOPLE you all must realize that Dominica is a COUNTRY And its a BUSINESS like any other country, I hold shares in this country and I too deserve to know what steps and regulations are being done to ensure I get my profits,
I commend the Government on Calling on the people to Make their payments this shows effective leadership and I too commend Mr. Raphael For making his payment Public cause that set a precedence for his company (name)
I believe if we made more info like this public it would be easier for the country to move forward, less secrets and less rumors and more productivity. All of you who responded out of ignorance can any of you explain how this program works and please I would like all contact information and procedures please.
Sam needs to be commended for his entrepreneurship but I will boo him for his politicSHIP. You see once again these people have some BUSH lawyers giving them advice and all that does is expose their behind. No body knew where he got his money (secret then) now he has to pay back (secret must come out) Sam the world does not revolve around you and your disgruntled colleages. Move away from that and concentrate on your multi-million business you hear.
Sam really over doing it now!!!! And worst of DNO covering this rubbish!!!
but wat am i hearing with sam??????????sam wen u were getting the money u never called press confrence u did all wat u had to do with out paying any interest now ,now that the prime minister called on dominicans to pay up u calling press confrence??????????????
who u think u fooling ? people like u sam ,u live in big counrties u should know better than that u coming and talk ,wat u think is in the prime minister pocket the money going ? hell no .
it is going to the government treasury to help build the roads and other stuff.
It is just too little too late for that keep the press confremce for wen u will become a millioner then u will ring the bell of a millioner .
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
SAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM GEEEEEEEE HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE .
i would like to know more about this program and how it is done. can someone with the true info enlighten me?
BOY MR RAPHAEAL, U NAH EZ,,,,,,,,, AFTER U TAKE THE LADY (DA) MONEY IN SECRECY, NOW U NEED NEWS CONFERENCE TO MAKE PAYMENT TO DE LADY……….NO WONDER PEOPLE SAY DOMINICANS BOLDFACED.
NEVER BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS U
@ Nye or anyone else who can answer:
I thought along that he was a Dominican. Where is he from then? I am just asking because I live off island and I am not too familiar with his background
BOY MR. BOLDFACE WE? WHY HE DID NOT JUST WALK UP THE STEPS OF THE TREASURY AND PAY TO THE CASHIER THE MONEY AND OBTAIN A RECEIPT INSTEAD OF PAYING IT TO HIS LAWERS? THE ACCOUNTANT GENERAL WOULD TO WELL WITH THAT MONEY EH.
AS FAR I AM CONCERN THE MONEY HAS NOT BEEN PAID TO THE GOVERNMENT. THE LOAN IS STILL DELLINGQUENT. WELL SAM YOU HAVE RORO
expose them sam, expose their devious behaviour.
Sam will you just shut up pardna!!! Jeez . pay up and shut up. If uwp had win you would not pay a dime. Ish carval God not Sleeping. Paye loan ou and just shut up. Les sackway voler. Making big gesture and even have lawyer making grand entrance, Garcon just move on my computer tan.
Yes I you got it under secrecy and now to pay back is an issue eh Sam,. ou pa feb norr Sam..
alas…see ignorance…..people making comments on something they cannot even explain or understand…
lord help Dominica…
Sam, got his money in secrecy and said nothing about it, until the government pressure you to pay up.
Sam please pay us our money
I will NEVER understand Dominicans. It is like you all had comments ready before the article was published.
Ask for the info. Get to know wha is happening in the Land. My people,,,, stop thinking in a box.
Why is Sam boasting he should tell us how rich the program has made him!!!!
The money from the ongoing program goes to the government coffers to maintain our roads, hospitals, pay salaries and give public servants their increase, where else he thinks it goes IN SKERRIT PERSONAL ACCOUNT??
WHATS WRONG WITH THAT MAN AND IS FOOLISH UTTERANCES ??
WHERE HE THINKS THE $100K WILL GO?
His payment was in response to an article where the PM urged defaulters to pay up?? WTF. I thought the loan agreement supposed to be your motivation to pay up. WHat about being a proper citizen and your conscience? Are these not good enough reasons to repay?
Yes as a matter of fact I quite agree with Sam that there is too much secrecy in the Economic Citizenship programme, after all we should have known a long time ago that he owed this country of ours all that money. That should not have been kept a secret either!!!
i tell you alrready sam people not noticing you. Stuuuuupes
Hmmm, yes I. So now he’s talking about secrecy. I wonder if the monies he obtained would have been REPAID and PUBLICLY so as he did today had he gotten into government.
The leader of DFP is another one too. I guess another press conference will be called soon.
But don’t worry, Skerritt alone dat voleh, deceiving and lying. Sakway toneh.
If it was not for Dominica your jungle bay would just have been an idea or a jungle. Say thanks ….You the reason Dominica don’t want to help it’s own……our thanks is always a slap in the face.
Well, Sam got his loan in secrecy, he said nothing at the time. After making his money, now he can oppose the government at will by having a news conference just to make his payment. My question to mr. Raphael is why didn’t he have that same ceremony when he received his loan? Dominican are not that stupid to not see what he is getting at……….
But what nonsense is that nah… next time people go and pay their loan by Credit Union they should calla press conference!!!!! sam like to much noticing!!!
Just another political platform for Sam. Probably all Dominicans who pay their loan should call a press conference to announce that. I will still commend him as a business man but he need to stop all that political nonsense.
Man pay up and shut up….what wrong wit you
why is it only now cloaked with secrecy, he got it to use and because he now has to repay its cloaked with secrecy. People if you have your country at heart you will not criticize just because you dont support a party.