The response of Opposition Leader, Lennox Linton, to allegations that the United Workers Party (UWP) allegedly sold diplomatic passports in the past was described as ‘revealing’ by Senior Counsel, Tony Astaphan.
Linton has asked for evidence to substantiate the claim, which was made by hotelier, Sam Raphael, but according to Astaphan, no evidence was ever produced when the government was accused of selling diplomatic passports by the UWP.
“I find that a very revealing statement because he is prepared to challenge an eye witness to produce documentary evidence. Linton, who is not and have never been an eyewitness to any of the alleged transactions he’s been referring to,” Astaphan told state-owned DBS Radio.
The UWP has long accused the government of selling diplomatic passport, with Linton saying recently that CBS 60 Minutes has uncovered evidence of such transactions.
The government has denied the allegations and the matter took another turn when Raphael dropped a bombshell, saying he was present when the UWP sold diplomatic passports in 2005 and 2009.
“The opposition party, Sam Raphael is stating, he was present when the opposition party, at the highest level sold diplomatic passports,” he stated.
According to Raphael, the party took money for the passports from six individuals who wired it to Dominica to fund the UWP campaign in 2005 to the tune of $3-million, “and in the same vein in 2009.”
But Linton shot back and said his own investigations revealed Raphael’s allegetions were wrong and he challenged Raphael to produce evidence to back up his claim. He did say that in 2005, and probably 2009, Raphael “received money for the campaign of the UWP” but he has been told and he believed that Raphael has “not received any money from anybody on any promise from anybody in the UWP that they will be a recipient of a diplomatic passport.”
Astaphan said the UWP never took the position of producing evidence when it accused the government of selling diplomatic passports.
“Linton response to him is that, well I don’t want to know about you receiving money, I don’t want to know about the monies you in fact transferred to people here. I want you to produce a signed memo of understanding and a signed agreement showing the UWP had agreed to sell diplomatic passports conditionally and on the basis that they may win the election 2005,” he said.
Astaphan noted that the UWP “has not produced a single MOU, a single signed agreement, a single transfer of funds to support and establish any of the allegations that they have made from (Ali Reza Ziba Halat) Monfared to Alison Madueke going down the road.”
“Sam who is an eyewitness is being told to produce documentary evidence,” he remarked. “Those who are no eyewitnesses and have never been eyewitnesses and could never be eyewitnesses are making allegations without proof.”
well , what I am seeing is that since 1995, date when I arrived in Dominica to live,there is NO industry, NO jobs, NO VISION ! it seems that No one grows, no one takes initiatives , NO ONE is Opened to the world, ‘NO HOPE for our youth! NO communication ! every little thing is a battle!
it is time to change those NOS in HOPES!
or we are going straight to the wall!
Astaphan please come back to your Labourite plantation please. The brainwashed Labourites are being educated. You need to come and manage your slave before its too late.
Oh oh, now that’s a first… Tony only gets 5 comments… and it’s the weekend, he must’ve done a ‘right back at U’ with this article that shut many ppl up man. Brrr unbelievable
w 
Politics I tell U, trust not a politician.
Mr Iinton whenever they ask you about where you get money for campaign, tell them is none of their DAM!! business!!!! GO TO HELL!!!!
that would not be good for his image because he is not that person
AA, you “alive” then? I thought Rev. Dr. Watty had “buried” you for good!!
Tony, listen tomorrow on Q95 (the big station) for the evidence.
Well tune in tomorrow 6-8pm Q95
Lang zo coumencer ka bat.
Lennox seem to have one set of rules for himself and his gang of lying fake news creators and another set for other people. After all the many wild accusations the uwp have made with NO evidence they now want to ask an EYEWITNESS for proof and evidence. Message to UWP present proof for all your stupid talk and then we’ll provide ours.
With all the HATRED virtually all your vile commentaries are spreading on HONOURABLE LINTON, I wonder when you will address and give a possible solution to the high levels of crime, hopelesnees, frustration of our youth, which cause the country to lose vital human resource, since many migrate to other countries. What about job creation? While this is beyond you to address, because of your limited knowledge about the matter, but at least it wont hurt to give an idea. Have you ever defended a poor man from the street in a court of law? Have you walked the poor communities in Dominica? The answer to all these and a myriad of others is NO, NO, NO!!! Why is it then that you would believe that you can make me HATE Honourable Linton? While you are a lawyer, I have taken more schooling that you Tony.
I SHALL NEVER EVER HATE HONBOURABLE LINTON, he is the quintessential representation of what a patriotic Dominican should be and do for country.
SKERRIT MUST GO
SKERRIT MUST GO
SKERRIT MUST…
If what Sam said is true then UWP had alot of money to campaign in 2005, and 2009, then why did they loose. I don’t believe what Sam said, he wouldn’t be the first person giving a false report. What’s revealing is Astaphan in his reply mention the names of international criminals who had diplomatic passports given to them by the government of the day. Are you saying these were not sold? Tell us Mr astaphan how did these people get those passports? Tell me Mr A why the PM can’t tell us when he appoints diplomats and why, giving their credentials?
Skerrit must go and you should leave with him.
Ray for your information, the last election the opposition won three seat at the expense of Roosevelt Skerrit’s party. Yes, they doubled their seats and lost none!
The minister without portfolio is at it again. DNO stop publishing his undocumented speeches.
I find you take well long to open your mouth again since get that blast from Rev. Dr. Watty.
Tony, I know you have plenty more sense than this: Your rhetoric Tony, is beneath you, you know well that Skerrit’s Government is involved in the selling of Dominica diplomatic passports, why are you lowering you standards to such low level.
You are destroying your character, while supporting Skerrit and his government corruption. You know dam well that Dominica diplomatic are sold, you for a fact that people are arrested internationally, while they have Dominica diplomatic in their possession, and presented, hoping to evade arrest. That is a fact Tony, and there is no point of trying to deny that,that is the only evidence needed.
CBS 60 minuets investigation cannot be denied. What is wrong with Tony; have your lost it; why are you humiliating yourself, by supporting this corruption in Dominica.
What shall your legacy be. Attorneys must take a case for a living, but you conduct goes exceeds practicing law!
Mr. Astaphan, we know very well that the Linton/ Skerrit antagonism is a distraction. It is well known that they are playing off the same free masonic hymn sheet of ‘order out of chaos’ (just like Clinton/ Trump and Corbyn/ May).
Therefore, those wishing for the removal of Skerrit will find that will only serve to bring on board another who, one way, or the other, will do the same thing.
By the way, has Linton settled the Privy Council demand yet?
Tony is this the Same Sam Raphael that once said
Labor party corrupt and went up for election as an
Independent Candidate this GUY is not to be trusted
Captain examining your horns
Does anyone take this guy serious? Sure makes me laugh. Everything that comes out this guy’s mouth is a lie, even ‘a’ and ‘the’.
Understanding the single Most Destructive Human Behaviour.
Nobody knows for sure why people LIE so much, but some who knows them best says it’s common, and that it’s tied to deep psychological factors.
It’s tied in with their self-esteem. It’s said that as soon as they feel that their self-esteem is threatened, they immediately begin to lie at the highest levels. It is said that they practice from Animals – who are also known to be capable of deception.
Wow, he said that on DBS radio. Well this guy is really the boss of Dominica. The opposition does not have access to dbs but likkle Tony asstafan does.
The UWP did not see this one coming. It is like playing baseball; the UWP was expecting a fast one but they got a curve ball. The UWP and its supporters are in damage control mode but are oblivious to what is happening.
Trashhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
According to Sam Raphael, he was a witness to the receiving of money for passports. According to laborites, it was to be in the form of a layaway. I wondered, if an individual was to make the statement Sam made in court, and Tony was to question that individual, would he just accept the statement without some serious cross examination and in the process ask for concrete evidence. Maybe when Tony has his red cap on, he thinks differently, in comparison to when he has his black robe on.
Have you ever asked Lennox and the rest of the Uwp cabal for evidence for all the stupid things they say? you all sound sooo stupid. Like drowning men willing to grab on to a straw.
Why cant he just go away
“I find that a very revealing statement because he is prepared to challenge an eye witness to produce documentary evidence. Linton, who is not and have never been an eyewitness to any of the alleged transactions he’s been referring to,”
Yes, because if the witness is right and by his own admission – there is a paper trail! 3 (or maybe 6 because the witness said the persons wired 3 million in 05 and 09) million is a lot of money to have wired to Dominica. Presumable the said witness was there as a testament of the good faith and would have the names of the others who were present – that at least is evidence. The names of the UWP members who were present and the names of the persons who were promised Diplomatic passports – EVIDENCE (Maybe not in a court of law, but definitely in the court of public perception, which is where this case is being heard and tried).
@ Stupid above, Just you waite and see very soon we will blow you dopeys out of the waters!
look some thing to shut U up,
Which milliner that is so stupid to take his money and PUT in the hands of a man on PROMISS, where as he can approach the incumbent and get his business right away, U giving UR. money to a party that may never come to OFFICE what foolishness is that?
It’s only people like U SAM can give those hot POTATOS to hold in UR. mouth, keep holding it ma Dominique child
Get hook on Phonics
Mr. Astaphan please address the real issue, the issuance of diplomatic passports to the likes of Francesco Corallo, Alison Madueke, Ng Lap Seng, Alireza Monfared etc. But you are moumou on that. Also, please get your client to proceed with his defamation suite, on the same subject, he took out against Dr. Fontaine in 2011. Again, you are silent on that one. Remember, inaction or silence can be taken as an admission of guilt in the public eye.
If you take the time to find out the facts about issues you wish to comment on you will discover that the defamation suit you refer is being vigorously pursued by the Claimant but Dr. Fontaine and his legal team are delaying the progress of the case.
Old news. We have addressed dat many many many times. We voted against that in 2009 and in 2014 handsomely.
So that old news about NG lapsed Allison Susan olday and all dam trash can’t hold water.
The real issue is the direct accusation Sam made. Where millions was transferred to the UWP to fund campaign. And also that UWP SOLD DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS WHICH HE SAM WAS PRESENT FOR SIX 6 sis says #=#_{. I gave the amount in Spanish English even chinies.
Dat is the issue.
Checks numbers and amounts were give. Ask Mallon y he was vex with UWP in 2009. And he was very well aware the old man get money.
And also he know in 2009 Lennox was there as well.
Those are the issue.
U all wanted to burn down the very Dominica all u “CLAIMING ALL U LOVE SO MUCH” bcus the novice said labour sold passports and u all more guilty dat Satan.
And all u asking Sam to produce evidence right? TAN TOE TAN TOE. ???.
Be very careful what u ask for eh. Cus a cannof warms about to…
Dominican, the last i checked the matter is still ongoing…
I know that joe, but why is it still ongoing after all this time? Did Tmomson Fontaine call Roosevelt Skerrit’s bluff< which the latter did not expect?
You took long to come on here with your usual cesspit of garbage.I thought Dr Reverend Watty’s response to your WEAK and FRAIL defence of BRIBERY and TREATING,had sent you under Intensive Care in a Martinique hospital!
Honourable Linton needs NO MOUTH PIECE,he has INTEGRITY,and he is well LOVED,to the extent that if election 2014 was FAIR,he would be our PM. You and your ilks invited him into the ring,whether you like it or not,he will be our next leader.
GO BURY YOUR FILTH away from those of us who love our country.
SKERRIT MUST GO
SKERRIT MUST GO
SKERRIT MUST GO NOW!
%, You are SICK and need help!
Linton do need a mouth piece. If he had a mouth piece, a good one at that, he would never ever be facing all these legal challenges and tbe ac companying fees and penalties.
Astaphans not easy, Man is you who told us that the labour party sold a diplomatic passport to susan oldie and you said the moneys were spent in the labour party campaign , now you are asking for evidence, Man you really ate something when you was small as you said, that is affecting you now,
The old saying ‘hung by his own petard’ should apply to this joker by his many spontaneous statements. He has probably forgotten his Susan Oldie statement will be held to account at some point, he has forgotten his accusations of the opposition regarding the guns-in-barrel case, he spouts so much crap to semi literate people that he thinks he will never be held to account.
When the realities of prosecution, loss of assets and imprisonment appear on the agenda, we will see a lot of DLP inner circle loyalty fade as each man tries to save himself from being the sacrifice for Skerrit.
These people have been taking advantange of Dominica to line their pockets by fooling a lot of poor and simple people, but they have been aided and abetted by smarter ones who are just as greedy and corrupt.
But the difference, and just in case the slow folks have a tough time understanding (as they usually do), there is public irrefutable evidence that the DLP has illegally sold diplomatic passports without due diligence.
Public irrefutable evidence??? The only thing public is that Lennox admit on Huffington Post and on CBS that he has no evidence
Huh??
You need to talk to some people. This would be interesting to bring out in the public domain.