COMMENTARY: The Picture Becomes Clearer

Dwyer Astaphan

 Unfolding events, utterances and information since my article of February 6th, 2017, on the Dominica situation, and further reflection on prior events, have made the picture even clearer to me.

 
Over the years, I’ve been one of the more vocal spokespersons in my country on economic citizenship, as a supporter of the concept and an advocate for discipline, efficiency and transparency in it.
 
About a year ago, having read some of my writings on the matter, the people at National Public Radio (NPR) in the United States sent a lady to St.Kitts & Nevis to conduct interviews.
 
I was one of the persons interviewed. But NPR didn’t air a single word that I’d said to them. Instead, they were more interested in having a former Financial Secretary who became an economic citizenship service provider sing the national anthem of St.Kitts & Nevis for them.
 
Then, also about a year ago, claiming  to have read some of my writings, a producer of the CBS Television program ‘60 Minutes’,  contacted me to discuss economic citizenship, telling me that they would send a team to do interviews, and that the team would contact me when in St.Kitts.
 
She and I communicated a number of times thereafter by email and phone.
 
The first arranged visit by the ‘60 Minutes’ team had to be put off, because, if I recall correctly, someone had become ill. Thereafter, although the producer and I communicated on several occasions, she never told me when the team would be coming to St.Kitts & Nevis.
 
Then she contacted me last December to advise that the item would be aired on January 01, 2017, not telling me that the team had already been to St.Kitts.
 
Clearly, despite the communications between the producer and myself,  ‘60 Minutes’, like NPR, had no interest in airing my thoughts and perspectives.
 
I wasn’t entertaining or titillating enough for them. Perhaps I had told them nothing that they could turn into a circus story. They would get nothing from me that they, or whoever encouraged them to come, could use to torpedo the economic citizenship programs of these countries, or at least make us look like a bunch of clowns and pappy shows.
 
The essence of my responses to both was as follows:
(i)                I have been, and I remain, a supporter of the concept;
(ii)              I expressed concerns with regard to the administration and management of the program in St.Kitts & Nevis, and with regard to transparency and good governance; and
(iii)            I stated that while the former Administration in my country had done much to build up the program, they had also done much to hurt it, and that they had not used the massive proceeds from the program to lay a solid foundation for the substantive, transformative and sustainable economic and social development and stability of St.Kitts & Nevis.
 
The truth is that since Dr. Denzil Douglas was  rejected by the voters of St.Kitts & Nevis on February 16, 2015, much remedial action has taken place, and the program is in far better shape, in terms of efficiency and transparency, than it was when he was in charge of it. And efforts are being made in earnest, perhaps, and understandably, even more strenuously than ever before, to recover and grow market share that was lost because of looseness.
 
Looseness that made St.Kitts & Nevis, and now maybe our OECS sister states, the target of pressure from powerful governments and the objects of ridicule from influential media, perhaps with some collusion between the two, and perhaps also with some encouragement from foreign business plunderers.
 
Such has been the extent of the destructive legacy of the former leadership in St.Kitts & Nevis.
 
But in fairness, there are other reasons. And in this and in the next three paragraphs, I’m speaking in general terms, and will not point a finger at a specific country or leader.
 
Unconscionable foreign business plunderers are also guilty. When they don’t get their way, they’re quite willing and able to engage mercenary individuals and media to nasty up the names of the country in question, to foment disaffection, rage and even instability, and to cultivate political opponents. And  when they do get their way, due diligence may be bypassed or ignored upfront, even in the case of diplomatic passports.
 
Win-win for the plunderers, lose-lose for the host country.
 
This information comes to me because my interest in economic citizenship globally has allowed me to be apprised of instances several years ago in a particular country (not Dominica) in which some Russians, Chinese, Nigerians, and Iranians who would have failed due diligence were nevertheless able to secure economic citizenship of that country, and in some instances to obtain diplomatic passports.
 
And do you know that the undermining, the nastying up, the fomenting, and the cultivating are sometimes encouraged by other countries which have their own economic citizenship programs? Not all of the players are guided by the Golden Rule, you know. Some prefer the ‘dog eat dog’ approach.
 
That said, there’s no doubt that security is a genuine concern, and the US, Canada, the UK and other countries, including our own, must do our best, individually and co-operatively, to ensure that what US Immigration and Customs Legal Adviser, Peter Vincent, describes as a “gaping hole in the global security architecture” is not exploited through our economic citizenship programs.
 
But it doesn’t mean that we have to be reckless and destroy the programs.
 
Let’s get to the important matter of Dominica.
 
Kenneth Rijock claims that Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit is under investigation by the US Justice Department for the sale of a diplomatic passport to Iranian Alireza Monfared who is alleged to be an international sanctions violator and to be facing charges in Iran for embezzling state funds.
 
As an aside, I note that Mr. Rijock has responded to my article with an another article of his own in which he suggests that I’m seeking to discredit him ( I’m not), and he makes reference to his introducing in the 1980s a Colombian Drug Lord to the late Dr. William ‘Billy’ Herbert in relation to an application for St.Kitts & Nevis economic citizenship.
 
Frankly, I don’t know how Mr. Rijock’s open confession concerning his Drug Lord connection helps to advance the discussion on the Dominica situation.
 
What also don’t help him in his response are: (i)  his erroneous reference to Dr. Herbert as this country’s Foreign Minister back then;(ii) his claim against a man who has been dead for the last nearly 23 years and who is unable to respond; (iii) his suggestion that Dr. Herbert was “reportedly assassinated” by the IRA  (Irish Republican Army)—I wonder if Mr. Rijock was kind enough to assist Scotland Yard when they were investigating the matter; and (iv) his ridiculous claim that if Dr. Herbert had not been “assassinated”, he would have eventually become the Prime Minister of St.Kitts & Nevis.
 
As I said, let’s get to the important matter of Dominica.
 
What’s the sequence of events?
 
On January 01, 2017, there was the ’60 Minutes’ program.
 
On January 27, 2017, Mr. Rijock wrote his article.
 
On February 05, 2017, Mr. Rijock wrote another article, this time hitting  Dominica and St.Kitts & Nevis, and, of course, bringing Iran into the picture.
 
On February 06, 2017, I wrote my article.
 
The UWP meeting was held on February 07, 2017. I heard a clip of Mr. Linton’s address at that public meeting, and from his words, some, or many, of his audience could’ve concluded that either they had the right to carry on with the meeting beyond 3 pm, or that they would do so anyway, in defiance of the arrangement made with the police.
 
And I’m told that he began his address at about 2:50 pm, that he continued, that the police reminded him of the agreed time to end the meeting, but that he continued speaking until after4:00 pm, and that other speakers followed him until about 5:30 pm.
 
That is the politics of confrontation. And while I have no problem with confrontation, there must be good and just reason to defy the law, always ensuring that the message sent by your defiance, as well as your encouragement to the people to be defiant ( if that’s what you’re doing), and the probable consequences of the defiance are carefully weighed.
 
Dr. Martin Luther King defied the law, but was never seen by right-thinking people as a lawless man, or a bad role model. He was seen as a man of justice. And I can name many others.
 
Why did the Opposition have the public meeting? The explanation, as far as I’m aware, was to demand the resignation of PM Skerrit, based on allegations of mismanagement of the Citizenship by Investment Program, issues relating to the grant of diplomatic passports and allegations of Government complicity in the breach of UN sanctions against Iran.
 
Presuming that these were good reasons to hold a meeting, were the rhetoric on the platform at the meeting, and the ‘D-Day’ hype prior to the meeting justified? Did they serve Dominica’s best interests?
 
Then did the defiance by the UWP leadership in relation to the meeting cut-off point do any good for Dominica?
 
And is it probable, even remotely, that the hype, the rhetoric and the defiance could’ve been enough to  embolden people, and  give people a sense of licence, to do the damage that they later did? Regardless of whether or not the culprits were political supporters or youth looking to blow off steam?
 
And what good would that damage have done for Dominica?
 
If the Citizenship by Investment Program isn’t being properly run, then can’t the UWP rally the various stakeholders in Dominica for a national discussion, and press for change? And if sufficient citizens and interest groups hold the view that the Prime Minister needs to go, can’t the Opposition organize and galvanize public sentiment robustly but carefully (to avoid the worst for the people) in order to effect the change that the people want?
 
Just asking. As I said in my previous article, I don’t have a horse in the race, and as far as I’m concerned, the people of Dominica have the right to choose whoever they wish to lead them, as well as the responsibility to keep their leaders, on both sides of the political debate, on their toes at all times. But words, actions and  consequences need to be carefully weighed, because after the fact is too late.
 
Especially in small and fragile societies and economies like ours.
 
I walked out of a ministerial post here in St.Kitts in 2008, and battled for seven years for a change of Government. I helped to found a group of political and social activists. We held marches, rallies, went on radio, we wrote articles, we agitated, we engaged individuals and groups, we galvanized, etc. We could’ve caused things to happen like what happened in Dominica last week, and worse, but we were careful not to do that, concerned mainly about the probable harm to our people and our vulnerable little country. So we were forceful, and relentless, but careful. And our efforts helped to win the day.
 
I saw a Press Statement from the Dominica Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated January 25, 2017, concerning Mr. Monfared. It stated that the gentleman had applied for a passport in 2014, that the due diligence report on him by an internationally recognized US due diligence firm “showed no areas of concern in any jurisdiction or country, including Iran, and he passed all other security checks. Additionally, the report found no pending legal or other matters against him anywhere”.
 
The Press Statement went on to state that Mr. Monfared “was at the time found to be a respected businessman with substantial business ties in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, and that he demonstrated a great desire to be of assistance in promoting Dominica and sourcing investment opportunities on behalf of Dominica in that part of the world”.
 
That’s a clear and clean Due Diligence Report.
 
The Press Statement continued by stating that a diplomatic passport had been issued to Mr. Monfared on March 13, 2015, and recalled on January 20, 2016, (that’s over a year ago) upon the Dominica Government receiving information that he might be a person of interest to authorities.
 
Now if the Government did not make this information public at the time, then maybe they deserve to be pulled up for that, because these things ought to be put in the public domain, and expeditiously. After all, it is the people’s passports that are being issued, all the more importantly so,  diplomatic passports.
 
That said, the Press Statement of January 25, 2017 was issued well before the UWP meeting. And if there are other persons holding Dominica diplomatic or other passports who the UWP believe to be of questionable character, or under UN or other sanctions, or are wanted in one place or other, then pressure could’ve been applied, as in the Monfared case.
 
But that’s not the way things went. The rhetoric, the hype and the defiance were followed, whatever you may feel to be the cause, by the looting, the vandalism and the rest.
 
Then what happened after?
 
The very next day (February 08, 2017), there was an article in  World Tribune under the caption‘Unrest roils Dominica after reports reveal Government’s collusion with China, Iran”. And on the front page of the World Tribune article is a photo with PM Skerrit and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Not a photo of Mr. Skerrit by himself or with any other leader. No, one with Mr. Maduro. That’s part of the plan.
 
Then today, Mr. Rijock is at it again with an article entitled ‘Dominica’s Armed Secret Police Arrest Opposition Leader at Radio Station’ in which he speaks about the arrest today of opposition Senator Thompson Fontaine and claims that Dominica has fallen under the influence of Iran and China.
 
This story is set up to paint a picture of Dominica as a place in which the US may have to intervene, perhaps even in a muscular way, in order to remove this alleged influence of Iran and China, much as was the case in Grenada in 1983, as Mr. Rijock calls upon the Government of Dominica to resign en masse. Not just Mr. Skerrit, but the entire Government.
 
This is deliberate and dangerous rhetoric, and the people who will suffer most from it are the poor people of Dominica.
 
Whatever your political view, it shouldn’t  be difficult to see that powerful people are putting their hands in Dominica. Putting their hands so that they can get the chance to plant their feet there. And they are using operatives and pawns, both inside and outside of Dominica, to achieve their objective.
 
And as the picture becomes clearer, it may be that neither Mr. Skerrit nor Mr. Linton will have the final say in this matter.

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53 Comments

  1. anonymous
    February 15, 2017

    there is no need for due diligence when the man ran a scam against the entire country in that of My Dominica Trade House, claiming all sort of fraudulent projects yet he was given a DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT..SMH..! how much further do you need to look. it’s a known fact the MDTH was a scam and what consequences did Monfrad face for such a crime? the phases of Roosevelt Skerrit an his administration!

  2. Just Asking
    February 14, 2017

    So Monfared, the Nigerian lady and who knows how many others sailed through Dominica’s due diligence tests. Hmmmm! Were they pure one day and tainted the next? Obviously the due diligence tests Dominica paid for were worthless. How much does D’a pay for the flawed tests? Are they vulnerable to crooked millionaires who can easily afford to buy a clean sheet or bypass the system altogether? Does due diligence screening err on the side of caution? Imagine the results if Skerro is screened and unproven allegations are discarded. Shouldn’t concerned citizens hold Government responsible for a palpably porous CBI system accountable and campaign forcefully for it to be administered by more capable and trustworthy persons?

  3. John Jules
    February 14, 2017

    Very good article

  4. Dante Jones
    February 13, 2017

    Man you write some pretty long articles in this topic for someone who “doesn’t have a horse in this race”. Sounds like you’re at least betting some money on a few

  5. Eliza
    February 13, 2017

    Singing for super. Rejected by the St Kitts people, have time for Dominica. Please save your time and energy. D/cans stay focus just ignore this man.

  6. Bro
    February 13, 2017

    This is a well articulated letter. before I comment im not red or blue. this guy was a former opposition member of St. Kitts and presumably a supporter of the current govt with whom Linton has, links with. So this advice should be duly noted the opposition.

    the D Day label of the rally was in poor taste. Such an ultimatum always had the hint of a possible ‘disturbance’. I fully agree that such a meeting should also have involved other local stakeholders such as unions, and businesses. It end up being just a UWP and DFP thing. A politically motivated event rather than a unified Dominican front. Is the UWP sure of winning a next election- then demand early elections. But in the end the meeting was a failure becuz we deviated from the issues at hand to avoid blame for what happened.

    What is needed is patience, an extensive education drive in villages and then press for solid changes. It hurts when I hear naivety of ‘skerrit running scared’ when he will win an election if…

  7. Dwyer, I read all of what you wrote, sometimes I could not make any sense of what you try to convey, but I concentrated a bit on all you said pertaining to Dominica, and it seems to me as if you have not yet got it all together right.

    As a lawyer; or are you the doctor, it seems to me you have written an opinion on the matter, but even people with judicial, and medical skills do get it wrong half the time. I have decided to be very brief and not to say anything to you that might offend you. My reasons are, I cross path with you and your late brother Jimmy, in Dominica, back in 1963 or 64, when both of you did part of your intern in Dominica, I would be sent by one of your aunts, or uncle Johnny to drop one of you off at the High Court, and the doctor at Princes Margaret Hospital.

    I believe you rendered me a favor, and because of that I will contain myself. As I said before, you and Jimmy were the two first Syrian descendent who made me understand that Syrian were not…

    • Finally:

      As I said before, you and Jimmy were the two first Syrian descendent who made me understand that Syrians be they from a Dutch speaking Caribbean island South America or the Middle East were not untouchables; they were just ordinary people unlike the way your relatives behaved and treated their workers at J. Astaphan & Co.

      I am if you remember Francisco Telemaque

  8. TORKSPEC
    February 13, 2017

    Dwyer Astaphan if you are looking to start a new Carrier as a Spine Doctor ,let me be the first one to tell you
    please change your mind, you are doing a terrible job at this one, Stop and take care of your yard before you try to clean Dominica’s own .

    • The man is part Dominican you know; his father was or is brother to Tony Astaphan father: The late Waddy Astaphan as his uncle, and as such he can hold dual citizenship! So he has a right to have some sort of interest in the country okay!

      When I was a young lad, I returned to Dominica; Conrad Andrew from Wesley got me a job at J Astaphan & Co, during that brief period, I crossed path with Dwyer and his late brother, and I can tell you I did not find one single bourgeoisie bone in neither of them!, unlike the so called Syrians of that day in Dominica. Through them I saw a different kind of Syrian decent than those which dominated Dominica, and lived like untouchables. I know that has since change.

      You all do not like Tony, but give him credit to shed the Syrian superiority complex. At lease he did that by marrying a black Antigua woman, now we find Black Astaphan’s in Dominica, so do not try to insult Dwyer, I doubt he mans any harm; he may be a politician, but I doubt he…

  9. The Eel
    February 13, 2017

    This is what we call an OUTLINE,BEAUTIFULLY stated and can be presented any where. This stands out well. Don’t matter the comments, it cannot be broken. There are many beautiful people in this world and the world “THANK YOU”

  10. SN
    February 13, 2017

    Mr. Astaphan, you are an intelligent man. I expect you saw the cancelled stamp in the passport furnished to DNO to show the passport was cancelled. What is interesting is that the stamp had no identification as a gov’t stamp; it looked like an ordinary stamp. I imagine the gov’t would use an authenticated stamp. Besides, it was not the gov’t which provided evidence of the cancelled passport with its letter; it was Tony Astaphan. Now if you look at that picture, you will see a reflection of a flash in the picture, indicating that picture was taken from the computer screen of the news story showing the photo of the passport taken when Monafared was arrested. The stamp was later applied and scanned. This leads to the question, if government had the opportunity to stamped the passport cancelled, would it not have been best to keep the “revoked” passport?
    As to UWP going beyond the 3 PM deadline, if this is true, they went beyond the scope of the permit and that was wrong.

  11. Are you dense
    February 13, 2017

    Wow!!! Honey from Bees are found in hives and it seem like most hunters know a vulnerable situation when they see it. Dominica leadership seem to exhibit signs of the aforementioned, and even dense appliances like a “DRIER” are requiring servicing from a Technician. The said equipment is hearing others are getting served on a platter with niceties and everyone is unloading on a poor country to make off with whatever they can from the serviceman before he goes on retirement. Well, I cannot fault them because Dominicans who do not have the right brand name cannot get served, so go on “DRIER” with your bad self through your new awakening. Good Luck!!!!

  12. 4progress
    February 13, 2017

    Mr Astaphan, GOOD TRY!!! Unfortunately some of us are clever too.
    This whole article is designed to blame Linton and UWP. How things could have been done differently, different tactics deployed. consult/discussed with different groups. Since you have “labelled” yourself as “Expert” would like Lonton to contact?

    I do not think that DOMINICANS at home and Abroad need your advice, with a NAME like yours. We understand very well the nuances and intricacies of the issue at hand. We need to constantly and repeatedly highlight the corrupted activities that is going on LOUD AND CLEAR. The PM has over the past years has display a behavioral pattern where he is a law unto himself. He seem to adversed to sharing or providing information to ALL DOMINICANS.

    Transparency, accountability, respect and progress has got to be the order of the day otherwise corruption, despair and increase in criminal activities will ensue.

    So Mr Astaphan if you truly want to help, like DNO carry your…

  13. Feup #1
    February 13, 2017

    Mr Astaphan: while I appreciate your comments re powerful gov’ts, you have failed to address what has many Dominicans disturbed – our Diplomatic passports in the hands of many criminals. Last week’s events appear to be a diversion from the burning issue as to possible sale of our passports to crooks & the possible harboring of a fugitive. This regime is operating exactly as Denzil Douglas was in St Kitts. Who feels it knows it.
    Could you please let us know about your involvement if any in 1993 to bring down a democratically elected gov’t, not because of any corrupt acts like our PM is accused of but because the St Kitts Labour Party decided that they would not allow a legitimately formed coalition by a party in St Kitts with one in Nevis, which was perfectly constitutional. I can see why you would gladly buy into that coup story of our PM. We had to face bottles & stones for weeks in 1993 & clear incitement from your leader. Stop the hypocrisy.

  14. Dorian Shillingford
    February 13, 2017

    Sad….and for a program that all sides claim to support. I certainly do. So why can’t we have transparency and good, parliamentary, governance on this and other issues?

  15. February 13, 2017

    yes siree another astaphan another hired gun ? it appears that certain people just have a natural tendency to aid and abet in wrong doing. surprise ? no this is the astaphan way.

  16. anonymous
    February 13, 2017

    You have commented on the actions of the people of Dominica but what about the action of the PM secretly going behind the backs of the people with China and Venezuela to help the Iranians bust international sanctions and pocketing millions in the process? so we must standby in poverty while these corrupt politicians enrich themselves and create laws to protect them and their riches when they do leave office but in the mean time the people suffers. you also drew reference to Monfrad who was cleared on due diligence but lets look at things he and his organisation MDTH was exposed as a fraud (2015), claiming projects such as 4 hospitals which they constructed in Dominica. Why was his diplomatic passport which he received the same year not revoked immediately? there is no need for due diligence after a scam like this but yet Roosevelt Skerrit lead administration housed Monfrad here in Dominica for months before he was eventually captured in the Dominican Republic.

  17. Look It
    February 13, 2017

    all this.. but you have yet to speak on the the illegal selling of oil and how our PM and our Diplomatic Passports played a crucial role. Sure a longggggg and carefully constructed commentary but still swirling around some very very important aspects of this entire bizarre and disturbing report.

    STOP PLAYING WITH THE MINDS’ OF DOMINICANS.

  18. Tell it like it is
    February 13, 2017

    Lennox Linton is so bent on getting in power that he will do anything to achieve it… even endangering the lives of the people he claims he is serving. Linton is serving noone but himself. Lennox Linton is bad news for Dominica and the sooner Dominicans realise that the better a place will our country be. From this article it appears that the UWP leadership is allowing themselves to be used. I hope it is worth it at the end. Maybe we should start a campaign saying “Linton must go!”

    • February 13, 2017

      Tell it like it is you have your God given right to have your opinion but the truth of the matter is Skerrit must go, will go, shall go which ever way you want to look at it he must go. This is people’s power!!!

  19. arawak
    February 13, 2017

    its a lot of ramble and i got lost in translation because i am dumb.
    i wish these articles would just bring accross the main points for dumb people like me to understand clearly. after all i am a dominican and i need to be up to date too

  20. mine
    February 13, 2017

    Great article Sir. God put a helping hand help DOminica.

  21. carl
    February 13, 2017

    You are trying to hard. We can make our own research the government is corrupt and needs to stop selling our passport. Dominica is full of resources that we can make use rather than selling our passport. This government and anyone who believes in selling our passport in my opinion is brain dead and has run out of ideas.

  22. Changling irons
    February 13, 2017

    great comment.. i applaud your detail writing on the matter.

    but i would like to see you explain why so many have been arrested who once held diplomatic passports ?

    dont stray away from the topic and try to make a journalist who is bringing out a story piece look bad.

    why has the pm not given any statements on the matter ?

    greetings to you mr astaphans

  23. 1979 is forever....
    February 13, 2017

    Who is this man…..is he a Dominican??? he’s talking about powerful people, but since the people started demanding answers a whole bunch of underground and behind the scenes operatives crawling out of the wood work… you have to type a 500000 page apology to even start make a dent in the resolve of tbe Dominican people….Time is up ……. try to salvage what respect that remains for the astaphan name….

  24. Dominican
    February 13, 2017

    I see clearly what you are saying since having read the peace from the World tribune. There is something much sinister going on here, but our people are caught up in Politics.

    • Dominican
      February 13, 2017

      This Dominican would never mistake peace for piece or much for very! We do have educated Dominicans too.

  25. Jon Jones
    February 13, 2017

    A lot of words by another Astaphan that actually says nothing at all.

    • Me
      February 14, 2017

      End of a dynasty and all because Tony backed the wrong horse in a fixed race.

  26. Jannet Isles
    February 13, 2017

    Nice to see you working in conjunction with Anthony Astaphan your cousin to continue to try to pull wool over the eyes of your readers.
    You would know that all this hogwash is falling on death ears. Your ranting is useless because now Dominicans are fed up and the best thing for us right now is for skerrit to take his goons and go.

    This is the only way much of the damage done by his reckless leadership style will begin to heal.
    As long as he remains there the wounds of have and division becomes even deeper.

    So I suggest you fade away with your bogus commentary.

  27. viewsexpressed
    February 13, 2017

    I quote Mr Astaphan, re St Kitts Passport scheme:
    “The truth is since Dr. Douglas was rejected by voters of St. Kitts on February 2015, much remedial action has taken place, and the program is in far better shape, in terms of efficiency and transparency, than it was when he was in charge of it. …”
    Also.. this statement or assertion is ridiculous & out of context. You are making this up as you go. Under 1979 revolution meetings went on with no hiccups of asking WHY?. The People are protected by the constitution not the application of impromptu arrest by the police, Under advice????, I question
    Astaphan, you talk of due diligence re this man. The principle thing we are asking that you continue to ignore is the accountability and secrecy of the scheme by Skerrit. We still awaiting & u r not helpful. Where is our passport money. Skerrit is loud now because UWP brought it out.
    Then did the defiance by the UWP leadership in relation to the meeting cut-off point do any good for…

    • viewsexpressed
      February 13, 2017

      ..Also, since when are you concerned for the people of Dominica? We have had enough and want Skerrit out. Where were you for the breaking news of the Bin Bobol and the Fertilizer Bobol? Hon Linton, then investigated this scam, Skerrit and his government/acolytes, the only thing they did not do to Lennox was pick him up for questioning and hang up a tree. Today you talking about the concerned for the people of Dominica. Skerrit and his corrupt government has a very long tail of poor governance, abuse of states funds, creation of the Red Clinic, by-passing the Welfare Division, its social workers, having people walking up to office to receive money for votes.. Where was Mr Dyer Astaphan when the people cried and we the civil servants’ could not say nor do anything because of fear of our jobs and mortgages to Pay. Dwyer, Skerrit must go, not tomorrow, not next year, but NOW. Do you understand this sir? No more nursery rhyme writings. Let us deal with the real issue on now

  28. Zandoli
    February 13, 2017

    Neither Skerrit nor Linton are good for Dominica. Skerrit and his group have become very wealthy and Linton does not have a clue about what he is doing.

  29. old ways
    February 13, 2017

    you made no mention of caribbeannewsnow caution and how skerrit was read his miranda rights from the us department of justice. this is biased writing

  30. Tell it like it is
    February 13, 2017

    Dwyer Astaphan: you are obviously being fed Labour propaganda by your 1st cousin in DA. You do not live in DA and are ready to give an account of all activities that have taken place there. The people of St Kitts do not trust you: why should we? At this time DA needs people who can mediate and bring peace to the country. Both you and Rijock are simple adding fuel to the fire. Stop your crap!

    • Tell it like it is
      February 13, 2017

      Replace “simple” with “simply”.

  31. Rosie
    February 13, 2017

    What are you really saying? A long, boring epistle to make a case for Skerrit. You are trying where your cousin Anthony has failed.
    We are not fools and the people understand quite clearly that this passport vending program is corrupt to the core. The Opposition only has to be more strategic in presenting their case to the Dominican people.
    We are more educated than you believe and money will not buy us, particularly blood money.
    An Iranian fugitive with a Dominican diplomatic passport, involved in breaking UN sanctions and you give credibility to the Government statement? You are shameful.

  32. My little take
    February 13, 2017

    But DNO where was this feller, that As-ta-phan prior to the CBS 60 minutes? Only now he wants to come from hiding? Where was he when Skerrit was exporting voters from the DIASPORA? where was he when Skerrit told us to go to hell, it’s not our damn business…? Where was he when Skerrit told us no law no Constitution could stop him from violating our laws? Where was he when the house of GON Emanuel was set on fire on Christmas of 2010, and our government officials were live on air calling names, yet never was questioned? Where was he when Skerrit told us he knew who set fire on a tower near the airport in 2014, and to date has not been questioned? Where was he when Skerrit told us to call members of the opposition traitors, whether in their car, funeral, on plane etc. Too late now and what I would like to tell you I won’t cause DNO will not post

    • 4progress
      February 13, 2017

      Amen….We have to keep saying it LOUD AND CLEAR, because some don’t want to hear it. They have one brain cell only. Too complex, too advance to take in.

  33. Dominican
    February 13, 2017

    I am sorry mr. Astaphan, it will not wash. Skerrit will have to go. his head got too big for him and it is hurting us, the ordinary citizens of Dominica. You can tell Tony that.

  34. Mexican
    February 13, 2017

    Just a lot of hot air. No substance at all. He conveniently forgot to tell the people that he is tony astaphans dear cousin.

  35. I Am Dominica
    February 13, 2017

    Too many skeletons in the closet that have come to light from all this . Whatever has transpied so far is that Dominica was a better place to live work and enjoy life .

    But with all this new money pouring in and no transparency to show how much revenue is collected and wher these monies are being spent is a problem everything seems to be back door .

    Since the CBS 60 minutes Dominica suddenly has embarked upon new projects every constituency is receiving monies to enhance projects which is a good thing but where is that money comming from we need to know .

    All the time prior to 60 minutes program mostly everything was run by ALBA now it’s CBI can anyone explain that .
    Is the program so robust if it is then we have a right to know .

    You see Sir the problem is this Government is not transparent and people have eyes Sir we see the way these ministers entered public life and we see that they have acciered significant wealth where did they get the money we need to know our…

  36. %
    February 13, 2017

    If we had a PM who was his own mouthpiece,and not one one hiding under the skirts of lawyers,(the ordinary man do not want to listen too,)the current situation would not exist…I am one who would like the USA to intervene,before a bad situation gets worst..I am sick of Skerrits hiding tactics,and even sicker when a lawyer NOT ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE,believes that threats of lawsuits WILL SOLVE THE CURRENT MATTER!Nothing tal go so!

  37. EnfantDiable
    February 13, 2017

    Commendable analysis!

    • Me
      February 14, 2017

      Diabolical!

  38. Marcus Hill
    February 13, 2017

    And what exactly is your interest in this matter in Dominica Sir?

    • Me
      February 13, 2017

      Blood is thicker than water.

    • Joe
      February 13, 2017

      Also ask Rijock what’s his interest in Dominica

  39. Silver Sliver
    February 13, 2017

    Maybe you should also say that these powerful external forces are responsible for directing the government to arrest Christian and Fountain, as part of creating a pretext for an intervention similar to Grenada!

  40. Lapawol
    February 12, 2017

    great piece .. would have been a lil better if you made the connection with maduro and how it led to Iran and china.. as depicted in the tribune

    • Barbara Saunders
      February 13, 2017

      Lapawol

      I guess the piece would have been too long. I have myself been analysing this deep personal interest of this Rijock man in Dominica, particularly these intimate details that he seems to have about Dominica, some quite inaccurate. At times he even seems to have a proprietary air and speaks about “us” which is strange for a person who Dominicans knew nothing about before now.

      His criminal background is also of some concern because although he appears to be working with intelligence agencies now, I am not convinced that all of his criminal tendencies have disappeared. People like him who do plea bargains to save their skins are pretty ruthless as they do not care who they take down so that they can reduce their sentences.

      Not sure that I would take anything this Rijock man says or writes at face value.

      • Dwyer, I read all of what you wrote, sometimes I could not make any sense of what you try to convey, but I concentrated a bit on all you said pertaining to Dominica, and it seems to me as if you have not yet got it all together right.

        As a lawyer; or are you the doctor, it seems to me you have written an opinion on the matter, but even people with judicial, and medical skills do get it wrong half the time. I have decided to be very brief and not to say anything to you that might offend you. My reasons are, I cross path with you and your late brother Jimmy, in Dominica, back in 1963 or 64, when both of you did part of your intern in Dominica, I would be sent by one of your aunts, or uncle Johnny to drop one of you off at the High Court, and the doctor at Princes Margaret Hospital.

        I believe you rendered me a favor, and because of that I will contain myself. As I said before, you and Jimmy were the two first Syrian descendent who made me understand that Syrian were not…

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