Missing man in Canada once involved in plot to overthrow Dominica government

Weapons that were to be part of the invasion of Dominica 35 years ago
Weapons that were to be part of the invasion of Dominica 35 years ago

A piece of Dominica’s past is rearing its head in Canada with a man, who was once involved in a failed plot to overthrow the government of Dominica in the early 1980’s, being reported missing after a farmhouse fire.

Urmas Aarni Polli, 59, was involved with a group of U.S. and Canadian mercenaries who tried to overthrow the government of the island in 1981.

The plan failed when the FBI was tipped off and the ship hired to transport the men never left the dock in New Orleans.

Media reports indicate that Polli and a woman was in a house near Annan, Ontario which was destroyed by fire last Friday evening.

One body was found and the search continues for a second. The identity of the victim has not been confirmed by police.

It has been confirmed that Polli was part of the plot to takeover Dominica about 35 years ago.

In what became known as “Operation Red Dog,” the plan was to overthrow the government of Eugenia Charles and restore former prime minister Patrick John with the help of Canadian and American mercenaries who were largely affiliated with white supremacist and Ku Klux Klan groups in both Toronto and the southern United States.

John was forced to resign in 1979 after a popular uprising against his Administration.

The invasion was also meant to transform Dominica into a white supremacist nation.

The group was led by an American Mike Perdue, along with German-Canadian neo-Nazi Wolfgang Droege and a Barbadian weapons smuggler.

U.S. officials learned of the plan, infiltrated the group and arrested those involved at the dock in New Orleans where they had planned to board a ship for Dominica.

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39 Comments

  1. Setup
    February 5, 2015

    I never believed the story that PJ planned to overthrow the government. Patrick John was doing good for the poor people of Dominica, and the rich people did not like it. Many people have been framed, with all evidence pointed at them. People have been sent to prison, and hanged, because evidence was pointed at them. If someone plans a crime, they will always have an alibi. When a person is innocent, they have no alibi.
    PJ was a very humble man, he used to eat at everybody’s home no matter how poor the person was, and the opposition did not like it. No matter what he did they opposed.

    • Francisco Telemaque
      February 5, 2015

      Yes, we have to agree that some things he did were good, i.e. organizing the Dominica government owned development bank among other things, he was somewhat a visionary, nevertheless, he allowed his ego to get the better of him, that is precisely what we see is happening to Roosevelt Skerrit at this moment. Do not forget in order to consolidate, and hold on to power, he unleashed his defense force on the people, Dominicans were killed in that civil war! In politics, sometimes one should know when to quit. “He who fight and runaway usually live to fight another day.” Had Patrick John simply tender his resignation, and leave the country to those who overthrew him, he might have a chance of making a comeback that happens in politics very often.

      His worst mistake was to try to bring the KKK to Dominica to overthrow Eugenia Charles; that sealed his fate, and you better believe it: he engaged the KKK to do damage in the country, if they succeeded, John would have become Dominica’s…

  2. February 4, 2015

    Are you sure he’s missing? Search the Island, he might already be home exercising the completion of his plan to overthrow the Government. Could that fire be a diversion?

  3. February 3, 2015

    I am waiting for my friend Dennis to write about the attempted plot to over throw a Democratic Elected Government. Come on Dennis do the right thing. I have read all your articles.

  4. RASTAFARILEADSTHEWAY
    February 3, 2015

    not worth comment. Too low for my standards.

  5. Love All
    February 3, 2015

    This event has been buried by our historians and political talkers but they will not stop talking about Charles Saverin and the 1979 event as though he was the only one involved. All of us who were there and participated new what was happening in the Labour party government and Dominicans had to do something. My point is stop painting Saverin as a bad person when most Dominicans were in favour of what happened. To this end I would like the advice P.M. skerit to Chang the name of his party since Saverin is the president.

  6. Francisco Telemaque
    February 3, 2015

    “The invasion was also meant to transform Dominica into a white supremacist nation.”

    You know I think the statement above is nothing more than hogwash! At the time of the uprising, the population was practically 100% Black; all Dominica born. So, unless the black people of Dominica intended to modify their appearance, by painting their body white, I do not see any chance of Dominica becoming a white supremacist state, in 1981. Another thing to remember, the mercenaries were paid by elements in Dominica to overthrow the then government; no American, Canadian, or German got up one day and said let’s take Dominica! That was the wish of a power hunger Dominica politician. And to the person who said lot’s of people would like to take Dominica, I say that is total nonsense! Very few whites are interested in Dominica. A study will prove that White people preference all the islands of the Caribbean in comparison to Dominica, and that’s all because of our backwardness.

    • The Facts
      February 3, 2015

      While I recognize that anyone could use a word if they know it and have the intelligence to use it, I recently used a word in one of my comments, you copied it in your comment and you called me a dunce in one of your articles? Figure out the word. :twisted: :mrgreen: :twisted: :mrgreen:

      • Francisco Telemaque
        February 5, 2015

        Facts Machine, I doubt there are any words in the English language that I am not familiar with, unless they are words created less than a few months ago. Secondly, I doubt I would use any word invented or deduced by you to enhance my vocabulary except if I decide to insert four little green, and yellow head objects into my submissions.

        Now to that professor by the name of “peopleareHilarious” whatever that means, whenever you decide to respond to any of my comments, find something sensible and truthful to write, let it be something to improve on my intelligence, the rubbish you wrote is beneath my intelligence. What does antebellum have to do with a politician in Dominica who lost power, and wanted to siege power by force? The definition of antebellum is “before the war.” The word was first used in 1847: denoting existing before a war, or existing before the civil War. Are you and others suggesting that John invited the KKK to take Dominica in order to enslave him and his black…

    • peopleareHILARIOUS
      February 3, 2015

      “At the time of the uprising, the population was practically 100% Black; all Dominica born. So, unless the black people of Dominica intended to modify their appearance, by painting their body white, I do not see any chance of Dominica becoming a white supremacist state, in 1981.”

      you’d be typing this from slave chains RIGHT NOW had the white supremacists taken over and transformed dominica into an antebellum-styled nation at the expense of all black people who couldn’t escape.

      “And to the person who said lot’s of people would like to take Dominica, I say that is total nonsense! Very few whites are interested in Dominica. A study will prove that White people preference all the islands of the Caribbean in comparison to Dominica, and that’s all because of our backwardness.”

      seriously-they’re not interested? riiiiiight. that’s why so many of them have cashed in their savings, “retired” and come to live like royalty at the expense of native dominicans.

      • I am
        February 4, 2015

        good point people… especially the last one

    • February 4, 2015

      Most Americans prefer Caribbean islands to have three things we lack: long sandy beaches, all-inclusive resorts, and low cost nonstop flights to get there. It has nothing to do with perceptions of backwardness, especially since culturally speaking, most of them can’t tell Caribbean islands apart anyway.

      • Francisco Telemaque
        February 5, 2015

        Steve, give me any other reason besides backwardness, why we do not have an International Airport in our Country! Give me a sound reason why there are no Tourist Resorts, no Gulf Courses on the island; when the mentioned should be an attraction, and a pull to bring visitors to the country? The backward mind of our leaders are the cause! Rosie Douglas, Athie Martin, and company including Skerrit, shut down an International Airport which was already under construction, compounded with Ralph Gonzales advising Skerrit not to build an international airport, however, he saw it fit to ensure he built one in his country, backwardness, the backward thinking of our Labor Party leaders are the cause of no development, people are not interesting in any country where people act as if they are existing in the thirteenth, and sixteenth century. That is our problem Nature island is the problem!

    • February 6, 2015

      Francisco: This is good thinking.

      I can see them plotting to overthrow the then government but not to turn Dominica into a white supremacist state. This is so stupid it is totally off the charts even for a white supremacist! It would be impossible for the reasons you have mentioned.

      I have heard of white supremacist organizations in Canada. They seem to be short lived. I have never heard of the KKK being represented in Canada. This movement is so diabolically evil and satanic
      I do not think they would have a chance in Dominica. But then they are so mentally de-arranged it is hard to know what they might think they are capable of.

      We are trying in Canada to eliminate racism. Nobody with a known supremacist mentality is welcome here. I for one love the Caribbean and its people and have been invited time and again by black pastors to conduct evangelistic services for churches in the islands. I hope someday to visit Dominica.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International…

      • Francisco Telemaque
        February 6, 2015

        In spite certain setbacks I am sure there are lots of things about Dominica will love. Our island has every potential to become one of the most popular tourist destination in the Caribbean, but how can that happen when, all they do in Dominica is talk about tourism, while doing nothing to attract people. Some people entertain the idea that because there are not miles of sandy beaches on the island that is a setback.

        The fact is there are a few good beaches on the island, all that is needed is to develop around what we have. It is all about cheap talk, and no action. I’ve been to Niagara Falls on the Canadian side many times, there are no beaches however, that place in packed every summer. The fall draws people, the boat rides into the mists of the water draws thousands of people per day, there is nothing else to do there except going into one of the casino’s and gamble. Mr. Hill nothing is wrong with Dominica, the problem is the people!

  7. JOHNNY
    February 3, 2015

    The Barbadian Weapon Smuggler or Gun Runner was the notorious Sydney Burnette Alleyne. Errol Barrow and Tom Adams feared that man. I remember he had a bank in Barbados called Mercantile Bank which P.J John visited in 1975.

  8. Harry Mack
    February 3, 2015

    DNO, your reporting should be more accurate, if you say 35 years ago, it means 1980 and this is incorrect. The information is readily available for your journalists, in the same way that they went out of the way to give the other information, please check the facts.
    A student will cite DNO as their source of information and will end up being wrong. We cannot play with historical facts, this is history and it must be reported correctly. If you are in doubt say about 35 years ago and it will pass.
    Sorry for the lecture but I trust that it will be taken in the spirit that it is written. I wait to see if it will be deleted or await moderation forever.
    One Love.

  9. advice
    February 3, 2015

    sell dominica :-D :-D
    we’ll be better off tht way than being a selfish independent bit*h :-|

  10. Doc. Love
    February 3, 2015

    The time has come for PJ to tell Dominicans and in particular the young people, the truth that he was not involved with the Perdue KKK gang. I believe every effort was used to bring down PJ, even concocting a story about the KKK and a Bajan. PJ was well loved by the people of Dominica and he knew if he was to give his blessings for such an overthrow, many Dominicans would die and the aftermath would be more of a disaster then a triumph. When the accusation of wanting to cause mayhem in the country failed, then came the mother of all strikes. Is it a coincidence that the mastermind behind of the real over throw and leader of the constitutional coolwash brigade was first put under heavy manners as soon as PJ was out of the way. He was given a job in the Prime Ministers office and subsequently shipped to a foreign land for several years.

    • The Facts
      February 3, 2015

      Where were you in those days? Were you born, still in diapers or too small to know what occurred then? This news made headlines in Canada/Toronto.
      Contact the Toronto Star of all and you will receive this information from their archives. Toronto Star of all printed the information in its huge pages. It was also broadcasted through TV Media. It was no lie; no concocted story.
      Media throughout the world has their contacts in all countries. They report significant occurrences just as what occurred in Grenada in those days.

    • too tough
      February 3, 2015

      PJ was not involved? LOL

  11. Cyrique
    February 3, 2015

    The Lord said “touch Not my anointed” Dominica is blessed! God will keep us safe from evil.

  12. real overthrow
    February 3, 2015

    the only object of overthrowing a Government is to enslave the locals,what did our prime minister in the parliament very openly say ……… madam speaker the people too free.today Dominicans afraid to speak of their oppression. Roosevelt Skerrit and police commissioner ready to use Deadly force on the people

  13. Observer
    February 3, 2015

    Just a small reminder of Dominica’s checkered history in the immediate aftermath of having gained political independence. The historical records are there for all to see. Now for all those who pray every day for a “replay” of the events of 1979 in Dominica, the plan to bring in foreign mercenaries et all to over throw the duly elected government of Dominica was hatched back then. By the way Mr. Denis Joseph has been promising Dominicans a separate and different account of what transpired in Dominica back in 1979. If I recall the book which was due to b eon the book shelves in 2012 would have given an account of the events as seen through the eyes of the Patrick John Labour Party of which Denis was and still remain a faithful member even if it has engulfed by the UP now Team Dominica. I would be the first to get a copy.

  14. Lang Mama
    February 3, 2015

    DNO a little more details . What about a popular uprising led by the now president and firmer minister of immigration and Labor. A ministry that is responsible for the administration of visas to all to include the Haitian brothers and sisters.- Wooosh too toosh.
    Anyway it is still nice to remind us that once an agitator against the Labor Party now an insider leeching the cow

  15. A Doubting Thomas
    February 3, 2015

    New organization for democracy and missing person who once wanted to take over Dominica all on the same day. Coincidence? Maybe.

  16. Tdot
    February 3, 2015

    Dominca oh please! Let the (OPP) finish their investigation then come on here…I live so close to Barrie and they are still investigation.

  17. JOSHUA 4 DEPUTY
    February 3, 2015

    leave PJ and our UWP out of all you nonsense

  18. February 3, 2015

    I am sure there are still some over there, when you start to see all white gated communities, its a warning sign. Lots of people would love to take Dominica.

    • anonymous2
      February 3, 2015

      The Chinese already have. Open your eyes.

    • Funnybone
      February 3, 2015

      Not really. What does Dominica have to offer for someone to want to take it over, except as a refuge for criminals?

      The only reason the Chinese are helping the country is that the government has pimped out Dominica’s UN vote to the highest bidder.

  19. February 3, 2015

    This incidence needs serious enquiry ,,,,and autopsy ,,,no dead man breaths smoke into their lungs,now then only one body was found,,,the teeth is the hard part of a humans body ,,,lets look and wait for the continuation of this story,it smells doubt….99 days for the thief and 1 day for the owner,,,

    • marigot
      February 3, 2015

      :?: :?: :?: :?: :?:

  20. $75 million worth
    February 3, 2015

    The attempted overthrow of the DFP administration was wrong and ill timed. Now we sure need some help to help protect our democracy.

    • future
      February 3, 2015

      Lol, ikr. But Dominican aren’t ready yet

    • Righteous
      February 3, 2015

      @$75 million worth, you are an idiot and so is everyone else who like that comment. Be very careful for what you wish. There are a lot of gangsters and in Las Vegas who would love to make Dominica a gangster paradise.

      One Love Dominicans!!!!

      • The Facts
        February 3, 2015

        With specifically establishing casinos in Dominica? I do think in bygone years some of them did just that with no questions, no investigations into their past life where they originated from.

    • Free and Fair
      February 3, 2015

      For Heaven’s sake, don’t look to COMMUNIST China for that assistance.

    • LJay
      February 4, 2015

      Really? A government was democratically elected and some of you want to use force to take over the ministry and you call it fighting for democracy? You guys are ready to kill people for supporting a party because it is not your party and its Serrit that is the dictator? Open your eyes and get real!!!!!

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