Dominica targets EC$30 million in 2015 from citizenship programme

Prime Minister Skerrit says this year " we aim at proceeds of $30 million from less than 200 citizenships"
Prime Minister Skerrit says the goal this year is $30 million from less than 200 citizenships. Photo: courtesy Investvine

Dominica is aiming to raise some EC$30 Million for 2015 in the Citizenship By Investment (CBI) programme, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has said.

The Prime Minister made the remark during an interview in Bangkok on November 7th 2015, with Investvine, a business news site in South Asia.  He is said to be leading a Dominica delegation to various international forums, convened for the promotion and marketing of Investment Immigration and various other forms of what is commonly referred to as Citizenship By Investment programme.

On this current itinerary, the Prime Minister will be making virtual whistle-stops in Hong Kong, Thailand and Vietnam, promoting Dominica as an ideal place to invest and live, under the economic citizenship programme.

“The government is setting annual budget targets for the programme. This year, we aim at proceeds of $30 million from less than 200 citizenships granted,” he said.

Skerrit stated that the CBI is designed to grant investors a second citizenship and a Dominican passport in exchange for foreign investment.

“This can be done either by investing directly into a government development initiative or by purchasing property on the island, be it a holiday home or a fractional ownership of a hotel or resort development. There are different title deeds offered for such investments. Our second citizenship is used by people who need to travel a lot and can do that with a Dominican passport easier than with their home passport.”

Meantime the Prime Minister insisted that the program is a “very transparent” one which undertakes a “robust due diligence” and comprehensive back ground checks.

He told the interviewer, Arno Maierbrugger, that applicants do not need to show up in Dominica in person but can be facilitated through brokers, such as the Harvey Law Group, who is the organizer of his current trip.

However, he pointed out that if someone is on a sanctions list, then “I’d say it would be difficult to receive a Dominican passport.”

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53 Comments

  1. Dan Tanner
    November 12, 2015

    Dominica can become like to Comoros: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/11/the-bizarre-scheme-to-transform-a-remote-island-into-new-dubai-comoros?

    “The reason for the officials’ trip to Kuwait was economic: their country was completely broke, and had been that way for as long as they could remember. The Comoro Islands, which lie in the Indian Ocean about 200 miles off the east coast of Africa, is one of the poorest nations in the world; the last time a poverty survey was conducted, in 2004, about half of its 800,000 citizens were living on less than $1.25 per day.
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    Earlier that year, the Comorian government had received a proposal from some visiting Arab businessmen. What if the Comoros started to sell their citizenship to raise funds? There was a great demand for passports in the Middle East, the men explained; for starters, wealthy individuals saw a second or third nationality as a shortcut to make travelling and doing business…

  2. Dan Tanner
    November 12, 2015

    The program makes a travesty of citizenship. And of the country itself.

  3. The Calabash
    November 11, 2015

    Well, the program is fine as long as it is transparent, honorable in its intent and execution, and all benefits go to the treasury.

    However, beyond that what is actually needed are more people. People of self reliance, creativity and industry (not of money). We should set a population goal of 85k in ten years and 100k in 20 years.

    I would begin by immediately taking two thousand Syrian refugees. They meet the criteria above, would enjoy the peace of mind of Dominica and find ways to exploit our natural resources. I would follow up with 1K per year from a diverse set of countries like India, China, Haiti, Ghana and white Europeans.

    It is time for bolder initiatives to develop a self sustaining economy…….one farther removed from donations, charity and ‘begging’ as some like to say.

  4. too late
    November 11, 2015

    In the mean while as the Pm is out there say he looking to sell passports i just read this on inner city press

    (“Ng’s and Skerrit’s connections go back at least to 2004, probably 2002 in Barbados; in BVI court transcripts involving Skerrit, Ng is referred to as “Mister Wu,” go figure. We’ll have more on this.”)

  5. Jahisreal
    November 11, 2015

    Matthew 5:7 – “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’, ‘No’. For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” “VERY TRANSPARENT”??!! If it were only so Mr. PM. We don’t know where you go and what agreements you sign in our name. We don’t know who you are dealing with on our behalf, or who will profit at our expense. My dear PM, God has blessed you with many talents, you must answer to Him if you do not work in His name to help your countrymen who trust and believe in you.

  6. Da
    November 11, 2015

    When a country has a \”boy\” as its leader , what do you expect?

  7. November 11, 2015

    I am in contact with many people who would like to invest in dominica including myself who would like to open a maggot laboratory for diabetics , but these people are pre-occupied mentally with the excessive amount of import tax that they should pay at the dock.I must tell them as it is so that they may not get disappointed ,there is no need of charging people more import tax than the cost of the goods that they have purchased..when the gov’t will decrease on the high import cost and port workers should be scrutinize on their criminal behaviour when goods are lost…or stolen

  8. FORKIT
    November 11, 2015

    how can a pm or head of state(president) in this modern times want to build a country so it can stand financially with the likes of st kitts Antigua and st lucia, BY SELLING PASSPORTS with not manufacturing, no agriculture, failing tourism and rampant corruption….
    I giving it one more year and some of us will want to run to Haiti.

  9. from my CorruptionHouse.com to Crooks & Criminals
    November 10, 2015

    Oh what a ting! well, not surprised. Oh what a bloke!

  10. Selling the Nature Isle
    November 10, 2015

    Show us Dominicans the “investments” made to develop the country, after decades of seeling our passports and sovereignty? Layou River 5 Star-hotel?

    That opaque scheme of passport selling, first misnamed : Economic Citizenship Program, (ECP),then Citizen-by-investment programme, (CIP), has put the entire country and its people in more problems that we envisaged.

    Only a few making plenty, plenty, money. Millions. There is absolutely no transparency or accountability. Dominicans have been asking questions all the time. How much have the country made from those sales? who the passports have gone too, especially our diplomatic passports, where all those millions have gone? where are the investments?

    Several foreigners with questionable dealings, money-laundering, fraud, as revealed, possess our diplomatic passports. A few are in jail for criminal acts. God knows who have, in their hands our Dominica passport. People in the dark. DA selling. Poverty rising.

  11. UserName
    November 10, 2015

    The article states the the PM is leading a Dominican delegation but with no mention as to the composition the PM undertones by saying that the Harvey Law Group is the organizer of “his” current trip not “the delegation’s”. More worrying were the following remarks: “…be it a holiday home!!!!!! or a fractional ownership of a hotel or resort development.” PM a holiday home and that cheap!!!!! Does this programme cater for agro-industries and other non-tourism related investments or is it exclusively for the hotel sub-sector. The other worrying remark was “Our second citizenship is used by people who need to travel a lot and can do that with a Dominican passport easier than with their home passport.”… it easier to travel with whose passport.. are we assimilating what was said!! And to top it up, if someone is on a sanctions list, then “I’d say it would be difficult to receive a Dominican passport.” Not PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE but difficult. A lot of vision and creativity in…

  12. LifeandDeath
    November 10, 2015

    I am privy to information regarding financial services contribution to certain economies annually and I swear EC$30 million is ridiculously cheap..and worse for close to 200 passports….Besides, check the statistics department and see how much Agriculture used to bring into dominica ten years ago..30 million sounds a lot like 30 pieces of Silver..coincidence??

  13. too late
    November 10, 2015

    roosvelt boy gadhafi gone, chavez gone,morocco not completing the hotel, lapseng gone inner city press in your tail what will u do now boy? You thought that you would just continue to run for money overseas pass it around to poor dominicans and continue to win elections? my boy your days are coming to an end

  14. sandra
    November 10, 2015

    Is that money going to be used to rebuild the country or for the Government members to enjoy. Some people are so wicked and heartless..

  15. too late
    November 10, 2015

    skerrit boy i just saw lennox’s letter to you on inner city press. inner city press in your tail boy i wonder if tony will take legal action against them. with contnous pressure from the press one day Dominicans will know what u have been signing

  16. enough is enough
    November 10, 2015

    30 millions, not bad. we must congratulates our PM Guys!! seriously, when you have a quick check on the assets and wealth that this politician was able to raise ( or accumulate, what ever you prefer) with such a ridiculous salary in less than 10 years , we can only be impress….
    I wonder why we do not the same kind of result with the 450 millions he is managing on a yearly basis as a minister of finance…why ?? it is strange no? does he have special financial recipes for himself and do not want to share it or apply it for his own people?? people that put him where he is today ? anyone knows ?

  17. too late
    November 10, 2015

    I remember the days of mamo , edison, rosie and pierro. Whether we liked them or not, supported them or not, never did any of those leaders expose our country to such international scandals and crooks. never did these leaders take us through bin bobols, visa scandals, diplomatic passport scandals ,fake hospitals, my Dominica trade house, fictitious children’s hospital, CIT airline, bit coin, villa scandal,1.5 million dollar scandal, racketeering, red clinic, alleged sexual abuse, immorality,fornication, adultery, impregnating young girls,bribery, nepotism and cronyism.

  18. hard cure dca
    November 10, 2015

    hope all that you guys do is dca that will benefit the most from it, dont just do thing like hungry men. remember the root of evil is money. please have pride for dca, one day our turn wil come to rise so have pride. dont sell our soul for money.

  19. Mitch
    November 10, 2015

    Selling passports in the new thing now. I just want to know how much commission do the agents get? Or if you may what is their cut?

  20. Roseau River
    November 10, 2015

    Probably just me, but something never feels right about the economic citizenship programme, especially the way it is currently structured.

  21. Shaka Zulu
    November 10, 2015

    DNO please permit me to say this. Dominica needs a revolution. I will tell you why. There is an old saying numbers don’t lie. According to the above story the Government is trying to raise EC 30 million with under 200 citizenship. It was my understanding that the passports were sold for US 150k according to attorney general. Someone please correct me.

    Ec 30,000,000÷150= 200,000
    Ec200,000÷2.68= US 74,627 per passport estimated based on the less than 200 citizenship.
    Let’s assume again that our passports are indeed US $150k
    US 150,000×2.68= ec$402,000
    ec30,000,000 ÷402,000 =75 passports

    Please tell the Dominican public what is the real price of our passports. I am getting freaking aggravated because I am the one going to pay for the excess harassment when all kids of crooks use my passport to travel this is a gross disrespect for our country and no different from Patrick John trying to sell the North to the kkk. If the Caribbean is a body Dominica must be the rectum.

    • Shaka Zulu
      November 10, 2015

      In recent news in the US the university of Missouri president and vice chancellor resigned because people came together and realized they have the power. They did so peacefully and got change. I taught in Dominica 15 years ago at a high school and made $1779 a month before taxes. I also raised pigs which we sold at $2.50 cents live weight $6 slaughtered. Today price of everything has blown the roof. I know teachers today that make lesss than $1600 dollars 15 years later. Just because they ask for a raise in pay they were threatened to be harrased and their lives to be made uncomfortable. I am angry writing this. Not one person walked out. You guys make me sick. When will we remove the shackles from our necks. Someone please tell me I am making this up. When will we stand up for our freaking selves?

    • Shaka Zulu
      November 10, 2015

      By the way don’t tell me that our passports are sold for ec $150,000 /us$55,970.

  22. Concerned Citizen
    November 10, 2015

    $30 million by 2015?? There are only six weeks remaining in 2015 and you expect to raise $30 million?? In which universe?

  23. Just Me
    November 10, 2015

    I wonder what was the point in appointing agents to sell the passports. How much are these agents being paid? And why are they not the ones promoting/advertising the “product”?

  24. Jahisreal
    November 10, 2015

    Matthew 5:7 – “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’, ‘No’. For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” “VERY TRANSPARENT”??!! If it were only so Mr. PM. We don’t know where you go and what agreements you sign in our name. We don’t know who you are dealing with on our behalf, or who will profit at our expense. My dear PM, God has blessed you with many talents, you must answer to Him if you do not work in His name to help your countrymen who trust and believe in you.

  25. November 10, 2015

    If there is one thing Dominicans know about our dear and precious Supreme Leader, the right and hounourable Prime Minister, Dr. Roosevelt M. Skerrit is that he knows how to get that MONEY!!!! Dr. Skerrit is a self-made multi-millionaire and certainly the type of man the Country needs in this time of rebuilding. Common sense would dictate that people would rather trust a self-made millionaire to handle their financial affairs rather than a so-called economic expert who is unable to build any personal wealth of his or her own. With nothing more than Christ-like intuition and divine wisdom our precious Supreme Leader has shown us how WE can start from nothing and build ourselves up to being not only rich but EXTREMELY wealthy. His gentle spirit and warm personality has charmed the international world. The world’s elite are clamoring to be in the presence of this great man and are willing to pay handsomely for that privilege. Our Supreme Leader for life! Labourites be proud!!!

  26. Tjebe Fort
    November 10, 2015

    That doesn’t make sense, it does not add up. Even I can see that. He said the E.C.30 million will come from the sale of 200 passports. Well each passport is min. U.S.220,000 so that would make a total of U.S.$.44 million already, which is E.C.$119 million. What happen to the remaining E.C$..89 million? E.|C.$.30 million is only 50 passports. Call me a dunce if you disagree.

  27. Cannot trust Ananias and Sapphira
    November 10, 2015

    I have no doubt the prime minister is able to raise $30 million before 2015 ends. In fact I would not even be surprised that he has already exceeded that amount by a long way. What concerns me is, will the Dominican people ever get to know whether or not it was raised and if so, the correct and honest amount that was raised.

    Another concern I have is with the currency. You see, here he threw ES$30 million. But the people he addressing knows nothing about ECS. They know USD$ because it is international currency. That’s important because we live in the era that monies have legs and can be accidently transferred into the accounts of ministers, even if we have photos of them receiving it; however, at the end of the day, like Ananias and Sapphira did in Acts. 5:1-11, they could come back and report they made EC$30 million dollars, whereas they made USD$30 million

  28. Bon Dieu
    November 10, 2015

    What was last year’s goal? And the year before that? Did we meet them? Where are the investments to show for it?

    Interestingly, when the reporter asked the PM about how CBI has benefited Dominica to date, he went mum.

  29. Francisco Telemaque
    November 10, 2015

    “Dominica is aiming to raise some EC$30 Million for 2015 in the Citizenship By Investment (CBI) programme, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has said.”(Roosevelt Skerrit).

    Skerrit you need to eat your apathetic words in the quote above. Your industry is the sale of Dominica passports under the of “citizenship by investment:” Nevertheless, you that Mountain Chicken Crapo Mentality cannot show or identify not one single company, nor individual who bought their citizenship,at the moment in Dominica doing business.

    Roosevelt (Me Almost Nearly Cousin Mount Chicken Crapo Mentality) Skerrit; I the kid Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque, challenge you here and now to tell the nation how many jobs has this citizenship by investment (the sale of passports) has brought to Dominica!

    Even if you try you cannot identify a single one which came under your administration!

  30. Views Expressed
    November 10, 2015

    Does anyone trust this man and his government. We seem to be spending endless travel, hotel :lol, taxi, meals, entertainment, personal emolument’s, pocket money etc on these so called travels……who is benefiting….not us Dominicans for sure,,,not us poor Dominicans….
    We are in this poverty for a long time…….we need to get rid of these gangster politicians holding illegal high office,,,whoever they are….please tell me someone…or just remind me of the bib bobo fiasco

  31. Anonymous
    November 10, 2015

    How much of this 30 million has been raised so far? 2015 is almost over. Has any of the “friendly governments” assisted in our 1.3 billion deficit required for rebuilding?

  32. Thorbjørn Jagland
    November 10, 2015
  33. cc
    November 10, 2015

    Why doesnt the government at the very least impose a residency requirement before issuing these people passports?

  34. Same old same old
    November 10, 2015

    Is Roosevelt Skerrit a servant of the people of Bangkok or a servant of the citizen of Dominica? The way this guy behaving sure lives me to wonder if he considers himself to be a servant of Dominica.

    I mean the man was in Dominica on Independence day where he addressed the nation. Why for goodness sake tell Dominicans all those things he said in Bangkok, so he could go with the blessings of the people he serves.

    Furthermore, in Bangkok and other foreign countries he takes questions from the media and gives long detail answers, whereas he hardly wants to face the local press, except when he wants to make a brief impression through the helicopter journalist.

    This to me is rubbish! he needs to meet with the press and allow them to question him and give answers. But when you not addressing the media, you not answerable to anyone, yet we see you signing documents on our behalf like a blank check and when we or the opposition push for answers, you and your liars are pushing law…

  35. 4-cars
    November 10, 2015

    He is not a job creator. He is just a beggar in a suit and tie. His job is easy – Don’t have to think of how to make Dominica better, or improve the lives of its citizens. All I ever read about is Millions here, and Millions there – Where are all these Millions going nah?

  36. Zuma
    November 10, 2015

    Do what is legally necessary to rebuild Dominica and make sure the Dominican citizens are in a better place during all this rebuilding.,

  37. miss Quinzy
    November 10, 2015

    Keep up the Good work Pm and your CBI workers..

    • Dieulafoy
      November 10, 2015

      How dumb are you ? selling out your country and your children…FOR WHAT

    • too late
      November 10, 2015

      what are u trying to say miss quinzy naive tebeh red clinic begging labourite . write properly, do some reading, and stop being in a frenzy about this paranoid PM

    • Joan
      January 28, 2016

      are you one of his women?

  38. Doc. Love
    November 10, 2015

    DNO, you forgot to mention a very important question during the interview. The Prime Minister stated that his Government had built over five hundred houses after storm Erika. Was he referring to the housing revolution of years ago.

    • Titiwi
      November 10, 2015

      Doc, to be exact he claimed that he had already rebuilt 574 houses. That is remarkable if he did but if true why not boast about this achievement during his Independence address at the Windsor Park stadium? If this figure is verifiable and confirmed|I take my hat off to him but in the mean time I would like to know where these houses were rebuilt (…after Ericka, of course!), by whom and when.

    • November 10, 2015

      Are you telling me that the PM was lieing to his teeth?

  39. too late
    November 10, 2015

    DNO seem to be hesitant to post this comment but there is in fact a gentle man who is always on q 95 accusing an adviser and lawyer of the Pm mr astaphan of defrauding the national bank. To this day we have not heard mr astaphan make a public comment on the matter. Mr pm if you have any morals and ethical standards you should ask mr astaphan to clear the air so that we can have more trust in you and your team in trying to seek funds overseas for the rebuilding of Dominica. If any staff member of DNO listens to q 95 they would have heard the gentle man so DNO there is no reason to be scared of posting this comment. Do not be intimidated by Mr astaphan.

    • MY 2cents
      November 10, 2015

      Mr Astaphan has responded numerous times to those false allegations. Even up to Saturday gone by he did again on the radio show. But that is you all workers people full of lies and conniving.

    • too late
      November 10, 2015

      DNO should also contact the gentleman and write about it i am pretty sure dominicans are aeger to know more about this astaphan story

  40. too late
    November 10, 2015

    MR Pm you lack credibility and its difficult to trust any decision you make on behalf of Dominica. you have not payed the truckers, you do not tell us about your overseas trips and what you sign on our behalf, you do not have your children born in Dominica, the people you issue our passports seem to be in trouble with the law, you haven not told us why my Dominica trade house announced that they had numerous medical facilities in Dominica, you have not declared what exactly was the exchange you had with bit coin, the man mr lapseng which you seem to have a relationship is now arrested , you have not sanitized the electoral list, you told the media on your trip that Dominica has rebuilt over 500 houses, you did not explain the 300,000 loan you said that you signed for, you cannot be trusted sir whether labour of love and Elizabeth Xavier like it or not.

  41. November 10, 2015

    When are we Dominicans gonna realise that this cbi program is not in our best interest ?

  42. FORKIT
    November 10, 2015

    beg beg beg, give give give…. we elected a government which has failed us in our business at home. no manufacturing, no agriculture, no nothing, yet all these men can do is beg beg beg and plunder the countries resources. it is so sad that many people do not open their eyes to the facts. they only depend on a no performing government for handouts… but woe be on to them for their future will be full of sorrow.

    • Joe
      November 10, 2015

      why don’t you invest in these sectors?

    • sad
      November 11, 2015

      so so true and sad sad sad

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