More than a week after a Roseau magistrate dismissed passport fraud charges against former Dominica attorney general, Bernard Wiltshire, for want of prosecution, he has been summoned to court again on the very same matter.
Wiltshire has received a summons on Wednesday charging him with defrauding the state of passports with “unknown persons.”
He was originally charged together with Nash Mitchel, Kimana James and Lyndon Marie.
Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Evelina Baptiste, had indicated to DNO that she would review the file and make a final determination on the matter.
Wiltshire is not taking the matter lightly describing it as “a clear abuse of process.”
“Most reasonable people will feel that it is an abuse of process to bring back the same charge which the prosecution could not bring forward in three and a half years, and that this is just another example of how the law is being used to victimize those who are not in the government’s political camp,” he said in a release.
According to Wiltshire “there is not limit to persons whose heart is set upon injustice and spite, political or personal.”
“In the meantime the real criminals are getting away,” he stated. “The public should not forget that there was a serious bobol which involved fake birth certificates being issued by the Registry which were used to obtain fake passports from the Passport Office at Police Headquarters in a conspiracy that also involved the Dominican High Commission in London and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dominica. No police officers have been investigated or charged. No body in the administration has been questioned. Instead the police and the prosecution are looking for scapegoats to cover up the crimes of passport fraud that is going on still in Dominica.”
He stated that he has always been against the selling of Dominica’s passports “in circumstances which place the long term security of the people of this island at risk.”
“Selling citizenship like that is tantamount to selling the country, and it is those who are benefiting from this evil who should be on trial, not those like myself who are trying to protect the county against this the danger this poses,” Wiltshire said.
He pointed out that by bringing up the old charge, “the prosecution hope to neutralize any attempt to get redress in the courts for the malicious prosecution to which I have been subjected.”
“Conspiracy involves two or more persons actually agreeing to commit a crime,” the former AG noted. “No one on this earth can ever truthfully say that I agreed or conspired with them or through them or through anyone else to obtain a passport for anyone. On the other hand it has been widely rumoured that other lawyers have signed many of these passport forms, but they have not been questioned, let alone arrested or charged. There are many instances of biased enforcement of the law in Dominica.
Wiltshire said there is a need for a public enquiry “to go more deeply into these matters and to see what part was played by the various government departments in this bobol and to recommend ways to prevent future abuses as a matter of national security.”
I sincerely hope that the change that we are asking for involves the eradication of political tribalism. This one sided /bias analysis of issues is exactly the reason why we have corrupt politicians , particularly those in government. Why it is that supporters of the UWP were cried foul when the DPP was being victimized by the government – the same UWP supporters were on radio stating that the current DPP was well suited for the job and that she is no ones puppet. Let the DPP do her job irrespective of who the offenders are.
The reason we get rotten politicians is because those dirty politicians know that our people are so ignorant and party loyal that they the politicians can do no wrong.
Francisco Telemaque
We need your comments on this issue.
I do not like it when you go cold turkey on us!
Over to you!
DNO
Has the issue of the P M’s dual nationality been resolved?
If not, in the interest of fairness, will this be reopened?
?????????
Well, well, well… all of a sudden the DDP get new evidence to finally nail Bernard Whiltshire… Look nepotism, corruption and bigotry in the system… the truth will prevail.
DNO must call for a National Inquiry into the issuance of Dominican Passports. I am particularly in this case…
DLP leave the man alone! dannit! Isn’t there way more important things to do with the court’s time and the people of Dominica money?
I had a court case when someone robbed us 3 years ago. One person went to prison and the other gentleman who had signed statements and the stolen items at the time stating he had robbed us. Has never been punished by the courts however, the young man who already went to prison for the crime was summoned again! I have been asked to go to the court again when they threw the case out over a year ago. It just shows the total incompetence of the law courts here in Dominica. I expect Mr Wiltshire is undergoing the same incompetence!!
hmm I feel sorry for those of us here. ah mahgway sah
The learned lady prosecutor said that she would review the file and has done so using the scales of justice for a judge to determine once and for all that the matter be given finality.
In the process the scale was not calibrated. You know the police go to shop every yr to check if any shop is giving U 14 ozs per Lb instead of 16.
Wiltshire hold strong, its the same way they trying to jail mr linton for leaking out their own documents
Hmmm when you see the wrath of GOD come down on some people they will say “say mal yo faire moi’… if that isn’t harassment and a clear abuse of power I want to know what is!!!! Who for them to arrest and charge for selling Dominican birth right to unsavory characters and registering illegal boats banned elsewhere etc etc while pocketing the state funds they have him like their golden boy. Saddam did more than that, Qaddafi was tougher, and John Gotti was dubbed the teflon don….
People let the prosecutor do the work that some people don’t want done. There are reasons why the magistrate was quick to discard the case.
The prosecutor is just showing those conniving manipulators that all crime is crime and that all birth certificate scammers must be prosecuted. In other words don’t deliberately discard one case just ti protect people who are some way tied to friends and associates of the party in power. Keep your ears open
I thought once charges were thrown out you could not bring someone back on the old charges–someone educate me 1
The person can be brought back to court on the old charges if there is new evidence.
The matter was not thrown out or dismissed all together. you see, there are legal terms that we must become acquainted with.
So long Gon Emmanuel want justice and they reopen who they want to nail, skerrit boy
Alas Papa Bon Dieu!!!
I have to say that the news coming out of Dominica is very depressing. How can a nation and people live like this? After most reading articles on this blog may times I have to hold my head and sometimes cry. Cry for my homeland and what it represents or rather what represented ( past tense) to me.
With development comes change……change in the mindset and actions of people. I must add though that many of you out there think that bad things happen only in Dominica when worst things are happening just outside your door whereever you live in the DIASPORA. Living beings usually adopt and adapt to what is happening elsewhere so do not make it look like DA is the worst place on earth. PEACE!!!!
war
DNO stories making you cry? Eh bien you shiyan papa. Well, just doh read DNO and save your tears.
LMAO @ “shiyan”… Long I haven’t heard that word. My dominican people. I just love you guys.
I thought that the news over the entire universe is depressing.DO not single out Dominica
Dominique qui do
Dominica’s depression is self inflicted!
We are no longer a democracy, but are now ruled by Idi Amin’s son!
Sal
I share your sentiments.
Those of us who are fortunate to be away from our beloved homeland, should pray for the emancipation of the oppressed at home.
Our beloved country is unrecognisable. This is so sad and unfortunate.
But of course, the D.P.P will reinstate Inspector Corbette case: because the Magistrate only dismissed the matter without prejudice, for “wanting of prosecution”. Therefore, let us all wait and see.
To support your point there is what is known in legal circles “Without prejudice” meaning the matter can be retried. The Constitution also gives the DPP the authority to retry or not to retry a matter. Let us deal with the legal aspect of Wilshire’s action.
Guess what all the bush lawyers from the Kangarro and DNO Law School on this blog must represent Wilshire at no cost.
Some of you people never take time out to read with a full understanding the things or matters being discussed.
Sadly every matter in this country is either politicized or linked to religious beliefs or denomination.
First to begin with, DNO misled readers when in its headlines it was stated that, “Court clears former AG, others in alleged passport scam.”
In reading the headline, one would have been brought to the understanding that the matter was either dismissed or after taking evidence from witnesses and summations from lawyers during trial, the accused was found Not Guilty or acquitted, neither of which is true in this particular case.
Although the Magistrate scolded the Prosecutors for their lack of preparation and readiness to proceed against the accused persons, realizing the seriousness of the offenses with which they were charges, rather than DISMISSING the case, he ordered that the matter be struck out. In other words, it is safe to say that he instructed his clerk to have the matter stricken off or removed from the court list. In that way he thereby allowed the prosecutor’s office the liberty of returning the matter to court, when the matter is ready and the case file complete. The normal way of returning the accused to court is to have him or her summoned, much like has been done in this case.
Even Ms Dyer herself had argued in the following manner before the Magistrate’s action: “In this circumstances the matter should be struck out…when they are ready they will prepare the bundle and come back to court.”
If there was fraud and the prosecutor has the evidence then let justice flow. I do understand the people’s lack of confidence in the system. I stand in wait to see the prosecutor pursue ALL passport and Birth Certificate scammers.
As for me I enjoy putting my neck on the line for no man. What I know for sure is that this passport business has been a fraud not just under Roosevelt Skerrit. Not surprised at the allegations at all cause I know that during the period of the alleged crime boxes of passports were being taken out of the country by politicians. I saw it with my two coco zeur
We never really know someone until they make headlines!!!!
It appears that the matter was set aside because the Magistrate felt that the proceedings had been adjourned one too many times due to the inability of the prosecution to present a formidable and winnable case based on the evidence collected and compiled. In my understanding, he felt that under the circumstances, that it would be contrary to the principles of fairness and of justice to allow a man to be tried and convicted when he had made every necessary appearance is court and before other authorities with that was requested of him but was repeatedly was denied the opportunity to prove his innocence. The prosecution again was requesting extensions due to staff failings and shortages. So how is it that now, out of the blue, this has been so quickly ‘resolved’ in a way that may, yet again, not be convenient to the defendant? Hmmmmmmmmmmm
I am n ok lawyer and so I wonder whether the fraudulent sale of passports and diplomatic positions can be prosecuted . What about the garbage bin fraudsters; what about the land tax bandits. Can they all be prosecuted. Oh what about the money laundering P.I.G’s( Politicians In Government. )
Good try on trying to impress with words, just words JA
When are the real criminals going to be arrested?
You know them so come forward with the evidence
Justice for one is justice for all. Let the courts decide on the facts.
Boy if you not strong in this country..dem people can kill you…..Wiltshire hold strong…The dictator has struck again…Keep courage..Justice must prevail…
There is definitely something not right with the issue of our passports .We have Caricom passports like our OECS partners in Antigua for instance. However, whereas they can get visa free entry to E.U. countries and Canada, we are restricted. That can only be if the authorities there do not trust the integrity of our documentation, things like birth certificates and so on. Like they are not sure that people holding Dominica passports are really the person to whom the passport is issued but they have false identity. Any other explanation does not make sense.
I don’t know if mr. Wiltshire is implicated in that but if he is he should be punished but not only he because it is not he, who issues birth certificates in the first place. Has anybody been selling documents through the back door? This needs to be cleared up because right now all of us holding Dominica passports are under suspicion.
Mr. Wiltshire, Jesus suffered for doing good on earth he was crucified for good doing. What you have done for Dominica no one else have done it, use your own money to get trail on the move today it is a tourist attraction and will be there forever. Be of good cheer, you will surely get over that. Indeed Dominica is a one sided state may God have mercy on us.Be calm b.e cool, that rope most come to an end
Please do some research on that I issue to educate yourself. You are so wrong. Dominicans can travel to canada and the EU without visas for years now. We only prevented between 1995 and 2000
Bring an International Airport to Dominica and watch that place jump I have been all over the world and that island nation still stand tall in beauty stop playing politic with the peoples lively hood and open that country to the world people shouldnot have to go to the bottom of the Caribbean to get there Dominicans your day is coming Jerem:29:11 g God is talking to you
livelihood
What’s going on with Nash Mitchel, Kimana James and Lyndon Marie?
Everybody is being charged again so stop making Wiltshire the only one suffering. All the others and their families have to go through it again. It just isn’t fair.
Thanks DNO and by extension DA for the jokes I enjoy after a long hard days in this here concrete jungle NYC.
I pass by my D/can folk who are not Neo-DLP or DLP nor the dead DFP ites. We laugh our souls out. At the end we wanna cry for our land of birth. It funny and sad.
We have known better days when we lived in DA. it has all changed maybe we are to take some of the blame for living our love ones at the mercy of those heartless scondrells in office .
my friends that is what you get when you give your home over to your young kids
We did not have a choice. Who knows where we would be today, also our children.
Hogwash! There is always a choice: To stay or not to stay. You chose not to stay. And don’t worry. We know that many of you on here running your mouths criticizing Dominica, ran away from the long arm of the law too..
Yes, I said it. Now go run tell dat.
Dominica is not what it was previously. First of all many generations have been born and now have grown up. The manner in which they view situations is different from others of those days.
Secondly, consider technology. Then, some of them are not as loving and just as previously. There are more. . .
You support a Party and it is to be expected that you will be against the other Party. Does this mean that this Party is the worst one which D/ca has ever had and will be the worst one in the future? They are no more scoundrels than some of previous years and those to come in the future, whenever that will be. Who is better than whom?
The problem with some people as you, you hear; you read and you limit yourself “to thinking for yourself” and now allow others to influence you. It appears many who oppose DLP are doing just that.
Some people will pay for their words. In time, they will. They, too, their day is coming. None will be exempt; none will escape. One way or the other what people sow they shall reap in time. Hope next year the joke will be on you and those who spread them.
FYI The Facts
To the contrary lady am home x2/.yr so am on the ground and just to inform you this is the worse Gov’t ever in terms of ethics, moral pedigree just name three. They have to go by any means necessary. Danny should not have spoken maybe NIKE would be better you are saying?
I am sure you go to church weekly and sin as soon as you step out the little box people like U are suetiweh
The first scondrell was you for running away instead of staying to develop and put good people in office. Stop staying out there and yapping
Thanks that would make me come like you a steady RED clinic regular fan. ad infinitum.
I did not want to end up like you.
okay mammie! Wednesday was clinic day did you go ? ooops Skerro out of state clinic closed you have to suck salt till next week poor you.
Keep ur fingers crossed he is asking development partners for massive cash injections to return to inject people like you mammie. Keep fingers on both ur hands crossed oops almost forgot don’t forget to keep ur toes crossed too lol!
That’s another factoid which beats ur truth
@ No Laughing Matter
And don’t you think politics in America is worst? As an American I can say it is worst with the way the right wingers are behaving. The thing is, you all live Dominica and go elsewhere all just want to bash on those who are there. That’s not right. the craziest part is some of those in foreign bashing of Dominicans back home living in basement in New York in that rat infested, dirty place, working like a slave just to make ends meet.
Stop looking down on fellow Dominicans and try to figure a way in which you can contribute some way or another.
So stay out of d/can politics American Dom in a can lol!
U doh make sense next time say it like the sorts who say Dominican American .That’s what U wanted to say fool?
No different in Canada. I do think that every country has its share of scandals. There is some good and bad and more bad than good. We have our share of political scandals and a lot of it. Some politicians are in Court for inflating their travel costs and other expenditure. Some have paid back what they owe. Some have resigned due to this.
No laughing matter is judging me. He/she does not know me yet note what he/she stated. No laughing matter is the pot calling the kettle black and appear not to know or ignore what Our Lord said, “Judge not that you may not be judged accordingly” and two-fold.
If only he/she would stick to the issue and not judge and insult people and those whom this person does not know. It is the height of ignorance. Nevertheless, God will not exonerate this person.
No Laughing Matter
So true.
Some of us in the U K are crying and wailing for our friends and family in Dominica.
I am afraid that this is just the tip of the iceberg. Alas, it will only deteriorate further, if the despots are not removed from power.
Dominican, I am praying for your safe delivery.
That’s not only breaking news ! It’s breaking bad too lol!
Lawyer Wiltshire, like the restl of us, is not a faultless man; but in all the years I have known him, I have never known him to be a fraudster.
Well, hmmmmm…. he is…..
We are really in a dictatirship in Dominica
Make up all you minds Dominicans. When the state was going and hire the prosecutor from foreign all of all you said that the local Lady was better and how she would do a good job!!!!!
So what happen she not doing a good job again? Has she lost her eyesight? has she lost her objectivity? Does she care less about the court of appeal these days?
The learned lady prosecutor said that she would review the file and has done so using the scales of justice for a judge to determine once and for all that the matter be given finality.
Friendly letters are never sent by a Court of Law. One is always summoned to Court. If one fails to comply with a Court Summon , he/she will be served with a bench warrant and a possible fine including confinement.
Nothing extra-ordinary has occurred thus far. The man has not been arrested again ; he is not on bail; his liberties remain intact and can travel the world so long as he makes an appearance on the Court date.
Hope they will reinstate Corbette case too.
And i hope you will agree with me that they should reinstate PC Durand case too, the one they get with the gun on his vehicle on the port. That gun was gone missing for over five years from the police armory, we know what he is preaching in the public .
What the Fire Under Coffee Kettle is going on in our legal system?
This is local can we imagine regional when cases will be deceided over Henessey and other types of whisky?
Exactly my fear with this CCJ business !
Readers please excuse the little typos ej to 4 too etc
Thanks I trust the idea is received. For our sake. we need some men and women to save us other wise at the rate this cabal and opposition are functioning we will be like St.Marteen .South Africa too has gone to the dogs after such human loss the brothers have and continue to screw all nelson et Al fought for being corrupt they are now only interested in diamonds.
some people are hungry for positions and will do anything.
Isn’t there enough crap going on to make Dominicans Bouyon & Sewo happy?
So the new DPP could not get this right the first time and after throwing out the case charges are being reinstated? lol
Am no lawyer but is this incompetence or what?
Now we have moved to the CCJ is this an ej of what we are to expect from that body?
These recent development on the island from whence I came is rapidly declining into a fail state. Incompetence is abundant let alone corruption of every facet, scale and morphology. We have had too many over the last decade.
Beginning with the land transfer of our P.M which ought to be a matter like Wiltshire’s case to be revisited and charges of fraud re: applied. N.B the amount defrauded was repaid blaming it on the lawyer who advised the P.M. In Dec 2010 this very lawyer was to b( position)e arrested and tried. No such luck.
Then came the GON Emanuel case, the fertilizer bobol the garbage bins, the arrest of a DLP & Neo DLP supporter along with a minister who was saved by his bell diplomatic immunity it is called? The poto went to jail in the USA.
Now there are rape allegations from the Solid team/Team DA and counter allegations of the former TV host/radio announcer, investigative journalist, former DCP/Colgate Palmolive public relations man alias Starlight, once our Local Larry King impersonator turn politician now party leader of the liquid or gaseous team.
We have graduated to threats of our country being to free from no constitution can stop me RS from being…………. to emotional emanating threats by the Roseau North senator which were taken up by a sr.Counsel and nothing done about those similar threats by an ex- Priest turn Lawyer -politician and would be gobbles for the cabal in power. Not incharge as the former UWP? solid team leader once told us they were on stage and in-charge ( which was not for long) lol
By the dawn of Pierro’s death the authentic DLP was transformed overnight to a team called Pirates of Dominica a hybrid of ex-DFP-ites and confused DLP -ites paralyzed by the death of two of it’s non pirate -like P.Ms.
DA is in FLUX our population( politicians as citizens) need Psychiatric intervention we need Political Power Addiction specialist treatment like yesterday. I never allow people’s opinions to override or cloud the existence of facts in my analysis. The range of debates spouted by both Gov;t and opposition have been absurd. Soon and once again when election day is announced Dominicans will vote & behave like the Indians Vote for a cast so to speak. WE again end up with a dysfunctional group guys and gals until the next open season when we will continue to insult ,assult each other as foreigners purchase our real estate .
Masterville Labard was my neighbor and decades my senior we were on different ends of the ideological spectrum.
His statement resonates : Time will tell it always does but seems to be telling at a quicker speed. The time is right for a take over and restructuring of a once promising land but who’s gonna do it for us? The authentic are either dead Rosie Pierro Parra is tired and aging. The able ,bright ,honest have long left our shores and have become where are they nows lol The youth are materialist and not committed leaving opportunits pirates to enjoy the bounty be it large solicited cash injections passport sales whatever makes their boats float.
That’s what you call verbal diarrhoea.
Anonymous:
Shut up, if you only knew who wrote that you might burn your ten fingers so that you could never write such rubbish again. That person can trample you into a pulp academically, you are no competition for that person.
You are a labor party poppet, maybe but you can’t touch that person!
FET what ur take on your 4 laughs partners’ piece?
“Do u want me”
It took me a while to figure who you were, that is why I did not respond. However, those words ” Do you want me thing” only three people knows about that.
A certain lady, yours truly, and you. Elizabeth, that lady is not you so, do not get any wild ideas!
Hahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahah!
You need to give me a call, I’ve got something important to tell you, problem is I lost my little black book with all my numbers yours among them, that is why I have not called you. I hope you read this before the link runs out.
FET.
This is our story in a nutshell 4 laughs excellent, precise amusing, comical yet good prose.
You did not mention the police aspect I guess you are really fed up with these nut heads in high places who lack pedigree, class etc.
When UWP miraculously won by 1 seat in 95 A DFP contractor Donny said the horses had left the stable I wonder what he said after 2004 when the shit really hit all fans.
Great work!
Highly incendiary; the more I read it, it’s the more I like it. I could not have said it better; I can only hope for the best when it is all over. The danger here is that not many people views it as you know it: as such we may find that on election day the voters may decide to suffer from an acute bout with amnesia until they vote the culprits back into power only to suffer for another five years.
Indeed though you did not mention certain politicians name I remember the comment he made in reference to “our time.” Change they say is a must, I hope that the new perspectives will get the opportunity to serve, and hopefully bring about some change, the good thing about it is these are guys who have worked in the past, and knows how to earn a living without stealing. In life it is difficult to fined anyone who is impeccable, hence, If I were to chose between two evils I would much prefer to chose the UWP at the moment and kick the DLP into oblivion.
Let us not forget had it not been for the leader of the now new perspectives, the thieves would have gotten away with five hundred thousand plus dollars(talking about they were buying trash bins). They forgotten that Dominican’s live in the United States, and we know the cost of such things at places like Home Depot, and Lows, and such places.
As you commented, Dominica has become a place where the clowns in the Labor Party, conducts themselves in every dirty, and illegal way, where the police stand as wetness to their crimes, and do nothing, however, the second any member of another party speaks even if it is the truth as we all know, the powers that be uses the police, and the Courts to victimize the powerless.
That sort of behavior must cease in our country, and the only way this madness, and unfairness will end when the people get rid of the dictators who runs the country. Is is actually into a dictatorship, it took me a very long time to recognize that, nevertheless, they say it is better to be late than never.
We need to talk; give me a call: You must know about this, it’s imperative!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
The matter was “struck out”, no one was cleared of wrong doing, as some boldly claimed. There was ALWAYS potential for this matter to make it’s way back in the courts. As usual though too many ‘listen’ to respond – emotionally at that, instead of ‘listening’ to understand and fully comprehend.
I thought we were reading here?
Hence the use of the quotation marks with the words listen and listening. Your comment though proves the point! Thanks for that!
So let me get his for all these years you had no case or evidence to bring the matter to court but now you can re-file the case OK, you people need to stop this so all of a sudden you all have new evidence, just pay the man his money and move on nah some people sure likes to beat a dead horse LOL. Now don’t get me wrong if there is new evidence then ok but if you going with the same old then that’s wrong.
I am absolutely sure that if Wilshire was still the sitting A.G there would be no case and people like you would be saying that DNO and others are trying to embarrass the government. Tony A staphan would be spewing lies on K airi ; Bonnie would be pressuring her veins
very interested
The others have protection.
I smell a rat as usual.
The problem is the PM and DLP, Lennox L and Toney people of D’ica the power is in your hands so get up and use it or call on the USA or United Nation for help ..
They smell a big rat. They know they are going to be sued, therefore, they are just trying to drag the inevitable.
what in heavens has Mr. Wiltshire done to you people in this country eh? So many things that man has done for this country and willing to do more and you all not giving him a chance to do it. A very good example is the trail he created for everyone to enjoy, eh ! . GIVE THE DARN MAN A PEACE IN HIS LIFE MAN AND STOP THE HARASSMENT. A FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL ALL YOU AFTER LIKE THAT PAPA. Mr. Wiltshire if this gets approved by DNO I hope it does, take it easy man the longest rope has an end to it.
Intriguing DNO. Thought that was the end of the matter. Breaking news indeed like only you can! Would be interesting to find out the fate of the others.