Former Antigua PM linked to UN bribery scandal

 Former Antiguan diplomat John Ashe is accused of accepting bribes
Former Antiguan diplomat John Ashe is accused of accepting bribes

A “former Prime Minister” of Antigua & Barbuda is being cited as having received portions of the bribes paid to ex-diplomat John Ashe, in the recently announced UN bribery scandal

On Tuesday, Dr John Ashe, Antigua & Barbuda’s former ambassador to the United Nations (UN), was arrested in New York on charges related to a long-running corruption scheme, headed by a Chinese developer.

These claims come directly from a criminal complaint form/charge sheet, signed by representatives of both the United States Magistrate Court and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).

According to the report, Dr Ashe received US $800, 000 from “various Chinese businessmen”, and in return “supported these businessmen’s interests within the United Nations and within senior Antiguan government officials, including the country’s then-Prime Minister, with whom Ashe shared a portion of the bribe payments.”

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36 Comments

  1. Arri Mayers
    October 10, 2015

    This Ping-pong-gate affair could implicate many of our Caribbean politicians .

  2. Dominican
    October 9, 2015

    Keep bavaying for skerrit’s arrest, you have to drink plenty water because you will be bavaying for a long long time. go back and check for how long you there bavaying for that :mrgreen:

  3. Da Massive
    October 8, 2015

    I always wondered, but how comes those people just arrived in Da and set-up shop after a week? OHHHH , so now I know the reason for such! it was thru some under the table deals that made that possible! Bussiness people pay this man and this man pay our caribbean politicians to force us out of our old store fronts!
    Well mouth open and story jump out!
    Poverty is a crime! But we have to maintain our dignity.

  4. October 8, 2015

    If according to the Antiguan PM, that Mr.Ashe was replaced in 2014 who therefore is he representing at this UN conference on August 25th 2015?

    • Titiwi
      October 9, 2015

      He was on mr. David Ng (Lap Seng)’s payroll at that time.

  5. way papa
    October 8, 2015

    Dumnicans wake up!

  6. Shaka zulu
    October 8, 2015

    DNO I saw my comment was deleted or not posted. I did not think it was that bad. Bob Marley say time alone will tell.

  7. Alethea
    October 8, 2015

    Vince Henderson has been very quiet recently. Imagine Vince not saying a word these days? Not even calling the Animal Show to boast about how much money he raised from his billionaire friends.
    DNO the photographs of the birthday party in Macau are all available, why don’t you publish them? Let the world see the company of our beloved P.M in the cake cutting ceremony with NG Lap Seng, and the other two arrestees.
    Please DNO show the pictures and it will save all of us 1000 words and your moderator a lot of energy moderating our stupid comments, like the saying goes; A Picture Says a 100 Words, and there are 17 pictures.
    One love DNO.

    • Alethea
      October 8, 2015

      A Picture Says a 1000 Words, sorry, and there are 17 pictures 17000 words, that’s a book on our PM’s Macau fiesta the day before Erika, with NG Lap Seng.

      • AH LICK IT TWICE
        October 8, 2015

        lol, that a good one 17000, words. with all that words someone cannot be wrong hahahh

  8. I, Me, & I Alone
    October 8, 2015

    Read this: http://antiguaobserver.com/calls-for-spencer-to-step-down/

    I wonder if there are secret calls from members and friends of the Dominica Labor Party for anyone whether in their government or opposition to resign?

    Anyway when the BREAKING NEWS will be out, the FBI will not depend on their calls

  9. Born Again Christian
    October 8, 2015

    If former Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister, Honourable Baldwin Spencer is involved in any wrong doing in regards to this scandal then he should face the consequences lake every body else… so even though his photo not in the pictures shown he can be implicated if he was involved. NO MAN ABOVE THE LAW… NOT EVEN OUR VERY OWN.

  10. I, Me, & I Alone
    October 8, 2015

    The Antiguan Observer: “Prime Minister Gaston Browne has already said that the arrest of Ashe on Tuesday has “serious implications” for the island and that the United States can be assured of his administration’s support.” Read full article: http://antiguaobserver.com/former-prime-minister-to-issue-statement-on-arrest-of-former-antiguan-diplomat/

    “Former prime minister Baldwin Spencer said Wednesday he intends to make a formal statement on Friday regarding the arrest in the United States of former Antigua and Barbuda ambassador to the United Nations, John Ashe on bribery charges.”

    In Antigua we have heard from both Former PM Baldwin Spencer and current PM Gaston Brown. In fact Mr. Brown said it will have serious implications for Antigua.

    In Dominica we have heard from the opposition but nothing from Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, the DLP or any of the leading local media. I wonder why? According to Jimmy Cliff “Time will tell, time alone will tell

    • Ma Moses
      October 8, 2015

      Even Matt appears to be avoiding the issue. This morning he filled his program so that the topic could not be discussed when before he promised the Brain and Brian would be there. Maybe he has been scared off but he used to call himself an investigative journalist and these days he is just relying on bits from his sidekick Carlisle. Come on Matt. We do not like to think you are a coward or lazy. I am not going to listen to your hot seat if you come so.

  11. Mamizoo
    October 8, 2015

    Dominicans who like to read please go to the link and read the FBI report. You wl notice the immensity of emails. Now if the FBI had acccess to the emails of Lorenzo,Ashe,Yin and Ng then surely Skerrit’s communication with the above noted must be of interest to the FBI

    • Titiwi
      October 8, 2015

      Let me tell you, they have access to all Skerrit’s cell phone conversations and texts.

  12. October 8, 2015

    The Prime Minister of Antigua is not the only Prime Minister in the Caribbean invole in this fiesta, not too far from now the names of the others will be reveal, those who in the past who accepted all the gifts from Ng Lap Seng, all those who whine and dined with him Ng for the wall is beginning to crumble down. Also those involve with the other fraudsters and money laundering all over the place, lately the small Caribbean Island is pregnant with curruption left right and centre, greed all over the place, we all know that it’s just a matter of time for those who think that they are untouchable, no names no warrant

  13. Pondera
    October 8, 2015

    Let the chips fall where they may.

  14. The spirit of FEAR
    October 8, 2015

    Interestingly UWP held a press conference today, where MR. Linton made mention of some of the things in this same article and at the end, he opened the floor for questions and not one person asked a question about this.

    I mean they asked questions about which ministries need to be closed to reduce the size of cabinet and another foolish question that a child would not even ask their mother; but no one asked him to explain how the arrest of John Ashe could possibly affect Dominica.

    Dominica is lost and is dominated by the spirit of fear. We are so badly damaged in Dominica that I even think we are too far gone to find our way back on track.

    Regardless of how one looks at it, Dominica is in serious trouble!!!

  15. Politburo
    October 8, 2015

    I wonder if the FEDs will indict former President Bill Clinton who received substantial amounts of money from Lap Seng for the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Library. Lap seng was even invited to the White House for a photo up with the President and First Lady.

    • Politburo
      October 8, 2015

      OK The Clinton Foundation did declare the amounts received from the Asian Billionaire

      • October 8, 2015

        @ Politburo, good observation. However we are trying to drag Skeritt into the story because of his association with NG not for any tax declaration or lack thereof. If there is a tax issue that is an issue for the Dominican IRS and if Mr. Skeritt was bribed, the question is bribed to do what? Skeritt has zero influence in the USA. We must not forget that for many years Dominica was assisted financialy by Taiwan to push its agenda at the UN was this bribery. I do hope that all Political parties will declare all their income received including campaign donations and their sources, let us be transparent.

    • AH LICK IT TWICE
      October 8, 2015

      don’t be an idiot and show it… trying to say if Clinton can do it entell can do it too…. well Clinton foundation declared the money… I cannot say the same for entell

  16. Doc. Love
    October 8, 2015

    When Lennox Linton entered the political ring, he made an interested honest declaration. He said he was a novice in the political field. The labor supporters took that declaration and made maximum political mileage. Little did they know, the novice would be a big thorn in the side of the labor party and subsequently a major headache and sleepless nights to Skeritt. For instance, remember the Saturday afternoon show, between you and me. Remember who was the only reporter who was at the courts in the BVI when Skeritt gave testimony concerning the Layou River Hotel and the Chinese man EC $54 million. Remember who was the reporter who reported to Dominicans about Skeritt’s famous getaway and the reasons for the get away in order to full the Secret Service of America. Sometimes I wonder whether the statement of being a novice was deliberate.

    • Me
      October 8, 2015

      Good comment but the word is “fool” Doc, fool!

    • 101
      October 8, 2015

      Sometimes I wonder whether the statement of being a novice was deliberate.,YES IT WAS. IT WAS A GOOD STRATEGY HE USED. Now its STILL working :-P :-P :-P :-P

  17. Passing cloud
    October 8, 2015

    All this is said and no mention of prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, who is a friend of billionaire Ng Lap Seng, John Ashe, and Francis Loranzo, and was in photo with them in Marcau, one day before TS Erika did havoc in Dominica, according to these photos http://www.demotix.com/news/8734015/corruption-and-bribery-scandal-surrounds-top-un-officials#media-8734520.

    It is important to note that Minister Vince Henderson- Ambassador/Permanent Representative of … the Commonwealth of Dominica to the United Nations in New York, was also present and is in photo with them in Macau.

    “The report failed to provide a name, but based on the time periods listed (2011 – 2014), the “Prime Minister” at the time would have been Baldwin Spencer.”

    It is important to note that during piriods listed above, Roosevelt Skerrit was also the PM of Dominica and had already established friendship with NG Lap Seng.

    Skerrit needs to report to the FBI to clear his name before he can continue to lead us.

  18. mario
    October 8, 2015

    I’m not here to support Mr Ashe for his corrupt practices in any way.
    But isn’t it a fact that USA house and senate representatives receive millions of dollars from special interest lobby groups.?
    Like the Israeli Lobby for example . . .

    • Titiwi
      October 8, 2015

      Mario you are diverting. Contribution, donations, gifts have to be declared in order for them to be considered legal Dr. Ashe even fiddled his income tax return for the I.R. You must read the indictment….and don’t forget. Jesus Christ himself was a jew, an Isralite

    • Francisco Telemaque
      October 8, 2015

      Yes, the steal also, however when they are caught, they go to jail also. Their political connections does not prevent them from going to jail. You seem to believe that Ash, did nothing wrong!

      That is the problem, because one person did it is okay for others to do the same thing! That is why in Dominica the politicians continue to steal, and you people keep voting for the thieves keeping them in power, enriching themselves and friends, bleeding the country into bankruptcy!

      As I said there might be Dominicans politicians on the FBI Radar also, it’s just a matter of time!

    • Hans
      October 8, 2015

      Garcin pais gel ous sak sort.

      • AH LICK IT TWICE
        October 8, 2015

        victor behave yourself… to call a person sort means that your are smarter than them. but its another thing to later realize that the people you adore was deceiving your all the time. then you will realize who is really the biggest sort.

    • October 8, 2015

      And they are being sent to prison too, Americans do not cover up corruption like you Dominican, there are whistle blowers all over the USA, they are not allowing bribery and handouts to silence them, no are they afraid to loose their jobs unlike some Dominican seeing corruption racing them directly in their eyes and paying a blind eyes to it, wrong is wrong no matter in whatever country, stop comparing things happening in Dominica and the other Caribbean Countries with America with a population of over millions

      • piece of peace
        October 8, 2015

        Dude Did You just say that Americans do not cover up corruption??????????

        lol… funniest thing I ever heard!

    • AH LICK IT TWICE
      October 8, 2015

      allu will say all kinds of rubbish, but it simply wont help… if you are clean then the record will show

  19. Anonymous
    October 8, 2015

    See e par ni sou ti wey e par ni volier GOD don’t like ugly

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