Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit has indicated that there will be no investigation into the issuance of visas to Haitian nationals in Dominica.
There were calls for government to launch an investigation into claims of alleged irregularities at the Labour Division on that matter after a memo, purportedly from the Labour Commissioner, Matthew Leblanc was leaked.
The memo stated that efforts at dealing with the alleged irregularities in the issuing of visas to Haitian have been “vetoed.”
Commenting on the matter on state-owned DBS Radio’s Talking Point last week the Prime Minister said “certain systems” are being put in place by the government to prevent “certain things” from happening.
“I don’t think there is a need for any criminal investigation,” he said. “I mean you identify a problem, you know the problem … it is a matter for you to put certain systems in place to prevent certain things from happening. So this is where the government is in regards to the visa issue matter.”
Skerrit continued, “A report was asked to be prepared in regards to the situation involving the granting of visas, now there is nothing illegal in any Dominican citizen offering a service to anybody who is applying for any government service. So you as a private citizen, there is nothing wrong in filling a form for someone and taking the application to the relevant government department and charging a fee for this. There is nothing in law that is opposed to that.”
The Prime Minister stated however, that there is a problem when people are not provided with the service that they require.
He noted that systems are being put in place “to avoid any of these things happening within the government system.”
Additionally, he stated, that there is a structure within the public service and the administration of the public service to investigate certain allegations made against certain public officers.
As it relates to the memo being leaked and sent via the media, Skerrit said, “That is what the country has come to… people believe that whatever they do, whatever information they have in the public service, it should be in the hands of the public. It’s unfortunate, that’s what we do.”
He mentioned that the government is managing the affairs of the country in a very transparent manner.
“So anything in the public service the public has its hands on is fine with me, it’s just the manner in which it is done, which is wrong and unethical,” he stated.
Skerrit warns that persons must respect private documents and communications made by the state.
“Sometimes people allow their own political parties and views to get to the fore of national development and their own professional responsibility,” he stated.
These things, he says, “always end up catching up on these individuals, so it is a matter of time it will catch up with them.”
It is has been echoed in some circles that, to get anything done in Dominica the palms of influential individuals and politicians must be greased very well. And while this might be great news for those who benefit personally, it stinks for the image of Dominica.
Despite the lies and propaganda that permeates through this administration, the proof of the pudding is always in the eating. If there is evidence of wrong doing, then by “George” investigate and bring those culpable to justice. Everything is swept underneath the table time after time.
Danny was correct when he stated that, “There are some highly connected people and some politicians” who do not have Dominica’s best interest at heart. That’s always been the case. This government is the poster child for “Bobol.”
They investigate nothing, solve nothing and do nothing except enrich themselves and travel via “Private Jet.”
You should have lived in the era prior to Dame Eugenia Charles being Prime Minister of Dominica. What would you have stated then? Where were you? Were you not yet born or were you still in diapers or too young and also uninterested to take note?
It is high time some of you commence not judging and what you have not personally witnessed. Too many make statements which they are not sure of. I have stated previously and will reiterate, many of you should be sued for libel. It could be done but I suppose the PM cannot be bothered. God will take care of people as you. Repeating the words, “What you sow you shall surely reap” and twofold.
There a some people are just saying what they want all of us inn Dominican know the pm is doing a perfect job as a pm
I hope we all realize what the P.M. has just done. He put a warning shot across the bow of anyone, who has evidence or suspicion of malpractice in govt. affairs to bring it to the police. He, and he alone will decide whether an investigation and due process will ensue. How may people will trust themselves to report any wrongdoing to the authorities now without fear of being vitimized, or ridiculed at the least?
Birds that fly “high”, must come down to die, grandma always told us!!
HOTEP!
The PM said he has evidence that can lead to arrest now he is saying there is no need for an investigation. If this is not the sign of a diabolical administration one that is on par with the administration of Khadaffi, Sadam, Idi Amin, Mobotu, Hitler.
But who am I to denounce what the people deserve as government in Dominica.
He mayb fraid those haitians hahah. Just being funny..
Dumb people do dumb things.
All carribbean islands voted out their incumbent Governments, except for Dominica. So suck all you salt.
You are not smart to make such a statement. Could you foresee what state D/ca would have been in if it were a different government.
Some of us have a sixth sense. You have none. You should pray to God to give it to you so that you can utilize your good judgment.
Does the PM even understand the word transparency ? and the government’s document is the people’s document so the PM knows who he protecting talking about transparency
Do you all ever wonder why this country do not attract any legitimate foreign investors? This is the reason right there, the corrupt practices by the government of the day. No legitimate investors will invest in a country with such a climate. And he have the balls to threaten the civil servants, the nerve of these thieves
You have civil servants accepting bribes for processing documents, politicians have their hands stretched out to investors and this labor government have totally destroyed the integrity of this country.
So people rest assured that this country will continue to deteriorate and will continue to be last
Is Mr. Skerrit for real? What exactly did he say? I must have an issue with the English language because besides the phrase “there will be no investigation”, I understood absolutely nothing. Oh, I’m sorry! “He mentioned that the government is managing the affairs of the country in a transparent manner”. Well that might be true but the things that Skerrit says are so confusing they are just too opaque for me to make any sense out of them. I was waiting for him to say one word that I didn’t hear. The word “racketeering” would have certainly made a lot of sense to me. He used the word “racketeering” a couple months ago, when he asked for the labour commissioner”s report. That day, I understood that word so well. I didn’t have to look up its meaning in the dictionary because he spoke so plainly. I understood what the word meant and I was about to call him “HONOURABLE”. Now I’m very confused.
The letter was not meant to be in public. It was a letter meant for the PM and some unprofessional bloke leaked the information to a station and someone it was not meant for. That never got the support of the rest of the media no matter how much the individuals called for it because media people are smart and know when they should mind their business. This will teach the individual a lesson. Does he or she want a piece of the pie? I know he/she would do well with it. When a man or women reaches a certain age he/she should be independent and have what he or she wants and stop envying what other people have and how they got what they got. The people leaking out the information need to mind their business and get on with their lives and pay their family dues. Stop minding people businesses and how much jeeps and houses they have and try to build a house for yourself. Some people have too many children all over the place and are unable to give them a balanced diet. Leave PM alone.
peter, if this is the way you ignorant dominican reds think, you all are doomed.you are all thieves and liars.where is your tablet?
that’s the dumbest comment I have ever wasted my time to read.
Whoever leaked the information is a traitor. This person should be fired and tried. He/she has proven to be an irresponsible person who cannot be trusted..
When things like that occur, it should first be reported to the internal authorities; not to the Media. This person is also not a smart one.
Wow racketeering does nt require an investigation? But I understand very well -Dominica is under siege , the people are fast asleep or way too Paro and or drunk to be aware of what is going on.
They ‘Drunk in Love’ with their PM…
Get use to our system of government people.We do whatever we want. even if there is obvious corruption Dominica will still vote Labor cause we have the people right where we want them ; poor and dependent on us
Skerrit said a country gets the government it permits. We are truly witnessing it here in DA.
Some of you love to twist and turn the words of the PM. You never do so with Linton. You are too biased.
You also do not want to read/hear the truth. Some of us are broadminded enough to know and state what we did.
You act as if you are not exposed to the outside world although you have the Internet. If you are residing in D/ca and have not yet traveled, lived and worked outside the country, the Internet and TV will assist you to broaden your mind and become intelligent. Make good use of them, intelligently.
As stated by the PM, “Additionally, he stated, that there is a structure within the public service and the administration of the public service to investigate certain allegations made against certain public officers.”
My view is, these matters should first be handled internally. When the investigation is completed, if it is serious enough then, the Media will be notified and in turn the public. This is the process on how these matters are usually handled and should.
There are some things we should be concerned about and some things we should not be concerned about and not make it our business. Allow the proper authorities to first conduct the investigation.
any one who can afford one .it ought to be $200k if a rich Saudi, Siryan, lebanaese whoever pays $1million what happens to the other $800K?
When bins are purchase at Lowes or Home depot in the suburbs of the misty woods of PA purchase price being $19.95 and. sold for $100 plus EC, Land transfer payments are delayed until the press finds out. Now no investigation into the visa rakettering while Dr.Willy was arrested & re arrested now these crooks who pretend to be DLP-ites.Get 1/2 loaves slices and other crumbs from the DFP- rejects turn DLP- redceives depending on rank and position in the Medard’s hybrid party. Corruption wins,
Poorly rated because the majority of those who comment are pro-UWP. Many of us know that anything to do with the PM, whatever he states they will criticize. They are not fair and broadminded. By reading my comment, sensible people know that what I stated is the truth.
The world consists of more wicked, illiterate and biased people than the reverse. You have depicted this very well. These are they who do not have the interest of Dominica at heart while they accuse the PM of it. Your comments give you away.
I would not want to be in a room with you and have a discussion. Note your comments, they leave much to be desired. What is worst, those who read them conclude that you are not smart people and ask where are the smart Dominicans? Why do they not comment? This Website does not seem to have many. I pity you.
God has taken note of your comments. Mark my words, one day you will live to regret them as imbedded in your heart, mind and soul. God is patient.
How are we to discourage people from violating the laws, rules and regulations if we continue to sweep wrongdoing under the carpet, Prime Minister? Your Labour Commissioner reported that you said there is racketeering. Why don’t you invite the Police to carry out an independent investigation? You are charged to safeguard the people’s assets and to be accountable to them. Follow the example of Prime Minister Kenny Anthony who has launched an investigations into allegations of extrajudicial killings by the police in St Lucia. Be a statesman for once.
Are you insinuating that you are such a good person and do no wrong? Your assumptions and accusations are incorrect.
These statements seems to suggest that at some point the persons responsible for putting matters within the public service out in the hands of the public will suffer the consequences of such actions. This sounds like a threat to me…. ““Sometimes people allow their own political parties and views to get to the fore of national development and their own professional responsibility,” he stated.
These things, he says, “always end up catching up on these individuals, so it is a matter of time it will catch up with them.”” I am not at all surprised at the fact that the PM does not see the need to have an investigation as important or urgent. After all, every time he claims to have knowledge of a crime having taken place and knowledge as to those responsible, nothing comes of it. Where is the investigation of the fire at the communications building in the hills above Melvillehall?
But amazingly when the story of Gon Emmanuel’s house being burnt, they were ALL on radio talking…
Staff who divulge internal matters to the Media and public deserve to be punished. I wonder if the person was paid for this information?
The authorities probably know who it is and will deal with the person accordingly.
But wait nor lol but not the same pm that say that said that it is racketering? Now he saying he doe see no law that say that this is wrong. Lol . look madness. Rqcketering is organised crime. Isnt this a criminal offence?
Mr Skerrit what you are saying is so true, Skerrit just a matter of time for it to catch up with you, just a matter of time, as we all know what goes up must come down keep on fooling yourself for you are not invisible, time will tell Skerrit time will tell. Dominican wake up my people wake up for it’s not too late to do so
If you have a problem with Skerrit’s decision you know what you can do…go pray!!!!
I guess Doubting Thomas and FAST N FURIOUS will agree too that there should be no investigation.
Why does this surprise any one?
I was not aware that the P.M. has the authority to decide whether an investigation would be in order or not. I always thought this is a decision for an independent police authority but who knows, seems the P.M. even appoints the President!
I think he does not want to remove the plaster from a festering wound in public and to my mind that can only mean that any disclosure would be either damaging to him personally, so called friends or his regime. In any case, it stinks!
The reason there is an Attorney general and a DPP is to perform legal functions be it, interprete or enforce the law. The Prime Minister is not the one to determine what should and should not be investigated. If somthing seems wrong then the DPP or relevant authority has to investigate and come to a conclusion based on the law. If someone is convicted and the President decides to Pardon that is fine, but the prime minister cannot and Absolutely should not be determing what gets investigated in this country. This is Authoritarian, abuse of power, and interference. Every time I read some news about PM on DNO about Skeritt I see how Low minded, uninformed and coward our people have become. We are already down the Pit Latrine,
Shut up already!! Where in the document have you read that he is the one who made that decision? Please direct me to that script. You people like to twist things to suit yourselves and then see how much “thumbs up” support you get from readers. An issue of this magnitude would have had to be discussed with his government and other relevant parties before such a decision could be made and then votes would have been taken…for or against. I know that you are fully aware of how these things are done, so stop trying to play on the minds of the lesser educated.
Tell me on which planet you live. Where do you ever hear government meeting to vote on whether to investigate a crime or not. All crimes or suspicions of crimes must be invetigated independent of government interference. No matter what the situation may be.
Your own DPP acquit murderers. The man who murdered the Bertrand man in Laudat was arrested and charged with murder. The DPP gave him permission to leave the country. He was to return in September. Ask the DPP if he has yet returned. You think these people are smart and have the interest of Dominica at heart?
Some of you are so biased and wicked. You look at one thing, one person and not the others. Shame on you! You give Dominica a bad name due also to your type of comments. Take a back step!
This is just laughable. Anything goes in Dominica. Everybody just do as he pleases. LOL just laughable.
Is the Prime Minister telling us, Mr. Wilshire don’t have to appear in court. I agree with the Prime Minister, it there is an investigation, his cabinet and other top Government officials would bring a serious embarrassment to the country and maybe could bring down his administration, therefore, let sleeping dogs lie. Put a pad lock on Pandora’s box.
If the government is so transparent than how come the PM has not made public the MOU between DA & China?
There are some things which are none of your business. For crying out loud, you are not the government. Know your place and stay out of what does not concern you as a member of the public. You do not have to know everything. It takes a broadminded person to know that.
By the way, how much income tax do you pay and some others who comment on this Website that you criticize the PM consistently and in such a manner?
These things, he says, “always end up catching up on these individuals, so it is a matter of time it will catch up with them.”
You right about that.. in a matter of time yours and everyone else will catch up with you all as well…
They just don’t catch up fast enough. 15+ yrs. and counting.
what things? will catch up with who? when? How? and you say there is no need for an investigation. Boy I tell you only in Dominica; I thought things were bad but it is worst than I thought man. KI SA PAPAMET!