Two public officers, Deputy Labour Commissioner Eric Mendes, of Leopoldville and a Ministry of Health employee, Clartus Jefferson Charles also known as ‘Big Jeff’ of Point Michel, are now on bail after they were arrested and charged in connection with a Haitian work permit fraud.
The men appeared before the Magistrate Court yesterday where the charges were read to them. However, they were not required to enter a plea as the charges are indictable offences.
Mendes who first appeared before the court had nine charges preferred against him by the police which included, uttering, forgery and possession of forged documents.
It is alleged that on February 24, 2021, at the Government Headquarters in Roseau, Mendes did maliciously for the purpose of deceit, uttered to one individual, nine work permits in the name of Haitians, which were forged.
Menes is also accused of uttering, on the same day at Government Headquarters, two work residence permit approval letters purporting to be of the Division of Labour dated April 28, and May 28, 2020, in the names of two Haitians as well as nine memorandums purported to be from the Division of Labour dated February 15, 2021, to the Comptroller of the Inland Revenue Division directing him to issue work permits in the favour of nine Haitians which were forged.
As it relates to the charges of forgery, between April 27, 2020, and February 25, 2021, at Government Headquarters Mendes is accused of maliciously for the purpose of deceit forge by printing work residence permit approval letters dated April 28, and May 28, 2020, purporting to be of the Division of Labour in the name of two Haitians.
He is also said to have between December 30, 2020, and February 25, 2021, forged by printing work permits in the name of nine Haitians and later between February 14, 2021, and February 25 forge by printing nine memorandum dated February 15, 2021, purported to be from the Division of Labour directing him to the Comptroller of the Inland Revenue Division to issue work permits which were forged, to nine Haitians.
The Deputy Labour Commissioner was also charged with three counts of possession of forged documents which he is said to have had in his possession between December 30, 2020, and February 25, 2021.
The other accused, Charles, had six similar charges of uttering and possession of forged documents preferred against him by the Police.
According to information from the court, on February 24, 2021, at the Inland Revenue Division in Roseau, Charles “did maliciously for the purpose of deceit, uttered nine work permits, two residence permits approval letters and nine memorandums all in the name of Haitian nationals to an Inland Revenue employee knowing the documents to be forged.”
He has also ben charged with having in his possession on the same day at Government Headquarters, forged residence permits approval letters in the name of two Haitians as well as forged memorandums and work permits in the name of nine Haitians.
At the court hearing, the prosecution did not object to bail the accused. Hence, Mendes was granted bail in the sum of $100,000.00 with Goddard Austrie as his surety while for Jefferson Charles bail was set at $50,000.00 with Ray Charles as his surety.
As part of the bail conditions imposed by presiding Magistrate Michael Laudat, the men are to report to the Roseau Police Station every Wednesday between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and surrender all their travel documents to the court. They are also prohibited from interfering with any of the prosecution’s witnesses, must not apply for any travel documents from the government of Dominica not including a driver’s license, and they must not leave the jurisdiction without first applying to the court.
The matters were adjourned to August 30, 2021.
Mendes was represented by attorney-at-law Gina Dyer-Monroe whilst Charles’ attorney was Joshua Francis.
The Problem in Dominica is that we have tolerated and even celebrated corruption in our Gov’t for many many years. Under this current administration we have seen and heard multiple egregious incidents of corruption and misuse of Government funds, National resources plundered and squandered at will by those in Power and they are aided and abetted because they just happen to be of the “party” that we support. Dominicans this is a national problem and embarrassment. Do what is right for country. We cannot continue like this and expect things to get better. Every well meaning Dominican must think on what’s best for country. Those inside well corrupt already, and probably there is no salvage in that Political wreck.
I hope the police will investigate the leaders of the country now. Let’s wait and see…
One by one. The secrets are coming out. I have said it for almost 10 years now. millions and millions of dollars floats through Dominica on a daily basis. But none of it reaches the people. These people in high places appointed due to their allegiance have all taken their que from the head. People charged with upholding offices of integrity turning out to just be thieves. We have laws, policies, regulations, rules that these people know about but completely ignore when it suits them. Their morals are selective. Also what is the update on the party supporter from the Fisheries Division that also stole money? One by one these kinds of people will reveal themselves. When the government alligns itself with known criminals, what else do yu expect? Its officers will be influenced.
When the head is wrotten the body stinks.
Monkey see, monkey do.
Hang them, Pan-Yoe, Pan-Yoe, Hang them lay ban “accused” Volaire! The former Labor Commissioner must be filing from ear to ear now. The evil that men do live with them. Somebody should tell the accused volaires that Haitians have nothing on Vielle Case people
if you go the right one. Vielle Case people don’t get caught easily.
Shame on Mr. Mendes. Shame. Shame on all the others involved in such despicable acts against the Dominican people. I pray that good sense prevails and you all are given the maximum punishment for these acts. Shameful.
These are the few of the leaches sucking the country dry. They know the amount of corruption going on. People do nothing so they figure we might as well get our share. Some building mansions and their Parl reps even getting mad their apprentice homes are bigger than thiers. Some boast how much thier homes worth and insist on they deserving BMW and other luxury. The leadership in DA needs to be removed. Thomas letang needs to vacate his post because for years gov abusing workers and not one strike. How can anyone be working 14 years without and appointment? Dominica need a cleanup.
Since we are in the spirit of Easter, the Holy week as we call it, let me share a bible story with you, from 2nd Samuel 11.
One day the children of Israel went to war and Uriah, the husband of Bashebar left his wife at home and went to war. So King David sent for Uriah’s wife and ate the man’s cat until she got pregnant. When King David heard the man’s wife was pregnant he sent to get Uriah from war and gave him food and got him drunk and sent him home hoping Uriah would go home and have sex with his wife, so people would say is Uriah that got his wife pregnant. But David didn’t go home so King David gave David a letter to take to the one in charge of the army, asking that David be put in the front line of the battle so Uriah could get killed. So the head of the army did just that and Uriah, a friend of King David was killed and to cover the sin and crime David married Uriah’s wife.
So think of this bible story involving the king, the head of army, a fellow soldier and his wife
If all you think Satan, the evil one and his demons easy all you better think twice. You see when Satan got the police to act? Why did he choose the most holy week of the year to do all this? He realize we are are religious people so during the holy week people will be concentrating on the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, so Satan decided to go on the attack and just pick a few so people will get the impression that he is not involved. But folks what about the others? What about the letter the labor commissioner wrote since 2015, to the Hon. Prime Minister? Boy muster is something else you know. So now he wants to send someone to jail or get him scared so he will behave himself while minister eating his 🐈 CAT meat? Not me you fooling Satan. Off course I am referring to the satan we read about in the Bible.
Very happy they finally caught Mendes. This guy has made so many people lose money even in the cruise ship recruiting business. Let justice prevail.
God will always provide for us. We dont have to go to the extreme
The Skerrit Police Force must stop playing pick- a- boo with the people of Dominica and instead do their job as the police of Dominica that’s working in our interest. Notice the above arrests and charges were for crimes committed in December 2020. But what about this similar thing that we can trace way back from 2014, according to this letter written by labor commissioner commissioner “https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/general/questions-linger-in-issuing-of-visas-to-haitian-nationals/. Interestingly, the same players of 2014 are still holding same position but back then PM Skerrit said to “Fix it” and didn’t want his police to investigate it. So if the police really want us to believe they are working in our best interest, can they please go all the way and investigate that same incident all the way in 2014? In the letter of Mr. Leblanc he told the PM in no uncertain terms that some people were blocking his efforts to deal with it. So who and who they working 4?
Ok, so these alleged crimes took place from December 2020, which is just four months ago and the police force was able to arrest and charge two nationals. I am tempted to congratulate the police but as a farmer I understand clearly that you don’t kill a tree by trimming some branches. So let’s go to the root. A few years ago, PM Skerrit went to the labor division and he told us that the cocomakak that he saw was RACKETEERING. Yet he said he didn’t want it investigated by the police and asked them to” FIX IT”. So since we are at it can the police now investigate the entire matter and see who was behind it, since we know that may have caused many people who were not qualified to be on our voting list to find themselves voting? Also, you remember this incident of 2010 I’m St. Lucia https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/crime-court-law/haitian-st-lucian-charged-with-possession-of-counterfeit-dominican-documents/
Can the police please investigate them all?
These two gentlemen will suffer severe and lasting reputatational damage. What is even sadder is that their family members unfortunately will also be looked at with suspicion and disdain.
Short cuts to riches are usually short lived and bring distress and shame to the family. It’s always advisable to take the long, straight and narrow road.
Let’s this be a teachable moment to all even those in the highest authority. Ill-gotten gain does not pay eventually.
We need the Minister of Education and his failed questionable incompetent Prime Minister to get the Hell out of their offices and find their Butt at the State College that our Students remain at College and NOT Roaming the Streets of Roseau engaged in Drugs and gang war. This is a serious matter of interest that this failed 😲🤐 incompetent Questionable Labour government must Wake Up or get the Hell PUT hi of our government ASAP.
Can this Fake Skerrit’s Labour Government address this nonesensical behaviour going on at our State College affecting the Studies of our committed young students!? Where the Hell is failed Skerrit and the Minister of Education? Are you hopeless ministers distracted and focussed too much on our Commited Leader of the Opposition, Hon Lennox Linton?
“DOMINICA STATE COLLEGE (DSC) IS BROKE AND IS LITERALLY FALLING APART.
It would seem that the Minister of Education of Dominica would also like the students of the DSC to shake their pampalams to find the funds necessary to undertake badly needed repairs at the DSC. The condition of the facilities is rapidly deteriorating and is literally falling apart.
“As one notes from the inability to pay salaries for the month of March 2021, the current state of disrepair of the physical structure of the campus is just further evidence of the DLP Administration’s neglect of Dominica’s highest institution of learning.”
What afailed Skerrit and…
This is only the tip of Dominicas corruption iceberg. I wonder what happened. Both of them must be Skerrit supporters in order to have landed their jobs in the first place and usually Skerrit would go out of his way to protect individuals like that even if they are found out. Either they upset him badly or forgot to cut him in…!
I hope the investigations are very thorough for there are many more fish to fry. This just seems to be the tip of the iceberg.
Corruption in Dominica is evidently widespread in government and throughout the public service. It’s easy to spot. Anytime there is ubiquitous poverty, underwhelming development, stark inequality between the few rich and the ever-growing number of indigent citizens, corruption is responsible for this state of affairs. There is ample and glaring evidence of this in Dominica.
I seriously submit that if the police were to do a detailed inquiry into the fat bank accounts and the many earthly possessions of Ministers of Cabinet, many of them would find themselves behind prison walls.
By no legitimate means these men and women could become so filthy rich from a salary of a civil servant. Just think about it.
Now you mr police, madam police, mr commissioner…..corruption in our Dominican context always starts from the top, go after the big fish/fishes who flaunts their ill gotten gains in public now.
I think they are know by everyone!!!! Clue for you mr police, so that you can act quickly, is that those at the top stutter a lot of garbage and gibberish, everytime they speak.This network can never be limited to just two guys at the bottom of the ladder!!!! Hope those two guys talk about what they know!!!