Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said that a meeting held recently at the Intercontinental Dominica Cabrits Resort with a delegation from the European Union (EU) “went very well.”
The meeting was attended by heads of Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Units and attorneys general from countries with CBI programs, namely Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua, Grenada, and Antigua.
The European Union (EU) has reportedly expressed apprehension over Dominica’s low-cost/high-volume model of its Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program. This is according to a report from the online migration industry newspaper, Investment Migration Insider (IMI), which said EU representatives, including its head of visa policy and its liaison in Barbados, met with representatives of countries in the Caribbean with CBI programs in Dominica last week to discuss concerns about their programs.
“The Head of the Visa Office of the European Union came to visit us along with other members of his team. That meeting went very well. They went to the CBI Unit, they went to the immigration, they went to the FIU [Financial Intelligence Unit],” Skerrit said while speaking on Kairi FM’s Heng Program recently.
He continued, “They did their own auditing, their own investigations. By and large, they were really satisfied with what we have done and what we are doing.”
Skerrit described the meeting as very constructive.
“I think they have a completely different perspective in many respects regarding the CBI Program because they rely on what they hear and what they are told,” he stated.
Furthermore, Skerrit stated that visiting Dominica themselves in their fact-finding mission and going through the system and questioning various persons who are involved in the processes, “they said they left Dominica with a better mindset than when they came, and so we are very grateful for that.”
Skerrit went on to state that the new legislation that was passed is very helpful, and it addressed some of the issues the EU raised in the past, “we are addressing those things.”
“We are strengthening the regulations regarding the marketing and the promotion of Dominica’s CBI program; we are addressing those,” he noted. “We look forward to their recommendations which were submitted to us, and whichever additional action we have to take, we are prepared to take them.”
In recent times, the EU Commission has been publicly expressing concerns over CBI programs in the Caribbean. A report issued on October 18, 2023, gave for the first time a glimpse of the magnitude of these programs in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia. It said at the time of the report, 88,000 passports have been sold by these five countries with Dominica selling 34,500 which is four times more than what the government of Dominica has publicly reported.
This high rate of the sale of passports which offers visa-free access to member states can, according to the EU, “result in risks or threats to the public policy or internal security of the Member States, including those related to infiltration of organized crime, money-laundering, tax evasion, and corruption.”
In October 2023, the European Commission sought to revise regulations surrounding Caribbean CBI programs, as passport holders are granted visa-free access to the EU. The commission aims to simplify the process for the suspension of visa-free travel from countries that offer citizenship to foreigners.
The objective is to prevent misuse of the visa waiver program and address risks posed by individuals who obtained their citizenship through a CBI program.
The EU visa waiver program permits nationals from 60 countries to visit 27 Schengen Zone countries for up to 90 days for tourism and business purposes. The proposals, made in the 6th report under the Visa Suspension Mechanism, suggest expanding the grounds for suspension, including non-EU countries not fully aligned with the EU’s visa policy and visa-free non-EU countries operating investor citizenship schemes. The proposals also recommend extending the procedure duration to allow more time for remedial actions and strengthening the commission’s monitoring and reporting obligations to any visa-free countries where challenges are identified.
Despite the concerns by the EU, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Grenada, and Antigua and Barbuda want their CBI programs to continue because of the massive amount of money it brings into their coffers. A report published by the business newspaper, Bloomberg, on January 11, 2024, stated that sales of passports from these five countries bring in a whopping $579 million a year.
“Our national economic prosperity hinges on the robustness of our CBI program,” Terrance Drew, the prime minister of Saint Kitts, said in December. “This program must be protected at all costs.”
Prime Minister Skerrit said that citizens of the island have benefited more from CBI compared to any other country in the world.
“There is no country in the world, and I say so without any fear of contradiction, no country in the world, where the citizens have benefited more from the Citizenship By Investment Program,” he said. “There is no country in the world who can show you [more] visible signs of the Citizenship By Investment Program than in Dominica.”
DNO wiff mista track record allyou not checkin him den and ask him for the minutes of that meeting,,,
Mista suppose to be acting on behalf on All Dominicans so wllyou need to ask mista the relevant questions!!!
Allyou doh ready yeh nuh, Soh much lie mista come and tell allyou should have mista on a fact checking instant replay system to point out when he telling lies or not,,,
How come there was no notice before the meeting was held!!!
they ca never be satisfies with FIU and immigration ..that unit is a bunch of incompetent lazy political motivated people.. how can u have a FIU and have all that financial curuption goin on..all that money laundering and no one taken to the court.. so what are these people getting payed for??
Skerrit you a the biggest disappointment in the caribbean,you are a joker in a pack of cards.
If we have an opposition in parliament, then it’s their duty to dig into and find the information which could justify or nullify what Roosevelt have been saying to the Dominican people. They should contact the EU forthwith and get back to the patriots of Dominica with the truth and facts. If the opposition remains under a rock like crabs until the next general election to come out and bla bla then it will be too darn late. The opposition in parliament are being paid with our tax dollars to do what? Dominicans must rise up against the opposition for not doing their job. Are they also being bribed by Roosevelt? Skeritt is not just a LIAR but a bribery machine also. The Dominica opposition needs to be investigated for money laundering and corruption and abatement. Dominica is being sucked by parasites on either sides. Let’s not just blame the labor government. I’m not for either party. My allegiance is to Dominica. I cannot be bought, and I cannot be sold. Dominica all the way.
Before Roosevelt became Huncho of Dominica, he was as poor as a church mouse. The man couldn’t even buy a used scooter. Now he is easily the richest civil servant in the entire western hemisphere.
The CBI scheme as been tremendously profitable and monetarily enriching for Roosevelt. So much so that he will fight even on his dying bed to keep it alive even as it is presently very problematic to the citizens and residents of Dominica.
For any civil servant to become so unbelievably wealthy like Starboy of Stupidity only from his salary, is practically impossible. CORRUPTION is the operative word here. This notorious law-breaker should never be allowed near public funds now or in the future.
Were there any member (s) of the opposition parties who were invited to this high stake meeting? If Not then Why? We may not want to ask king Liar that question but the other parties may want to inquire as to the reason they were not invited. For the normal citizens, we’re you aware of such meeting? Journalists Matt and Carliste know Baptiste were you aware? I guess Not. This was not Bef. Who really know what the King of lies said or presented to the delegates who unfortunately shook his hands before the meeting.
Those are very pertinent questions. The regular media just accept and publish every word verbatim that escapes from Roosevelt’s lying tongue.
Dominicans are so docile and indifferent to local happenings that should outrage them. The PRESS that has so much influence with the public is even worse. An active media is what helps democracy to flourish in any country. As the press goes (dead), so does democracy.
Skerrit is a waste of time. This guy have no class, he lacks comprehension and diplomacy skills
Does anybody believe a word Skerrit says? I don’t.
I am not sure how many meetings Skerrit has had with these types of people, but from my experience dealing with high level executives, words are just a small part of the process. You have to see action after those words to be sure you are on safe ground. Very often, these people are very polite at those meetings. One should not take that polite demeanor as an indicator of success.
You remember when God told Adam that the moment he eats the forbidden fruit he would surely die? Well when the serpent came he simply turned the words of God around and said you shall NOT die. Satan is still doing his old tricks , lies and deception to deceive Dominicans, but remember Jesus told us in John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
So if all you want to believe Satan that’s all you business but I don’t listen to or believe a thing he says. In fact his friend Andrew FAHIE told us several times that he was innocent until we all saw the evidence of his lies and deceptions
I agree with you… no country benefiting more than Dominica…and also the one who are selling it….is like they won the lottery….Mr pm…please put people back to agriculture…and try to have industries who can employ the local….not the local depending on you for survival….and giving your lazy bunch big increases and the ordinary man has it hard to survive….wake up…
@truth It sounds like you are begging – that is what Roosevelt like. To hear babies cry. Unless we come out in droves in demand of change in leadership nothing will happen. Every single day you all post the same nonsense: “Skeritt is a liar, Skeritt is a liar.” And Skeritt has not changed his ways. It’s like crying every night saying: “ Bedbugs biting me, Bedbugs biting me.” But the Bedbugs keep biting your rAs. Go get some spray ur!!! Nuff stuff out r fu Bedbugs.
what about UK visa??????
What about UK visa you Arshia, you seem to have a problem in your backside about it please tell us something that we don’t already know!!!
Truth be told, Roosevelt is Trump-like, a compulsive and instinctive Liar. He tells lies effortlessly without thinking of the consequences.
Any news source that is worth its salt should ALWAYS double, triple and quadruple check Roosevelt’s statements for conformity to facts for they are ever often made with falsehoods.
The EU still has grave misgivings about the CBI programs in the Caribbean. As long as Roosevelt is the head of government and Dominica is involved in this program, there will be never-ending problems. Dominica’s program is tarnishing the others. Of the five OECS countries with this program, the CBI program of Dominica is the only one that has attracted sanctions from the UK.
All Dominicans MUST relentlessly demand the whereabouts of the missing multi-billions of the local CBI funds.
Shame on you IBO are you really serious? why do you always make Dominicans look the worse. here is other countries involved but because of politics we have to look like the scum bags. Why would anyone be compared to Orange head Trump? This man is evil and would not be surprised if he was involve with Russia in placing this Nuke Devise into Space. Be wise this would affect the whole world. We have to be attentive and all eyes on TRUMP not Poor PM. Hate is skin deep IBO and pray for your territory.
what about UK visa 🇬🇧?
I don’t think it’s back not before 2 years?
What you doing in or going to the UK without a visa or a waiver?
You know Skerrit is on record as being the most stupid Caribbean leader! He is easily decieved, easily coned, easily entrapped…The EU is no friend of yours or the other passport selling countries Skerrit. Anytime it interferes with their internal security architecture, passport sales end.
It’s only a LAZY, and VISIONLESS Prime Minister like you, that can depend on passport sales (not under his control), to run a country.
By the way it’s not only labourites you are addressing. Stop taking everyone for your “darn” FOOL….Did you elaborate on the negatives that EU officials discussed with you? Are you a journalist? Do you have the capacity to speak the truth? Sure NO!!
You will one day account for the missing monies. I am sure, 100%, that you can’t, because it’s not you controlling it!
Your evil and wicked human being!
Hello, if Pm Skerrit, is the most stupid leader in the Caribbean my God, what the hell would ugly lenny, be like if we had given him the chance to be prime minister of Dominica what a joke it would be, Hello, having said that your comment is a pre-school joke, Get out of it you are STUPID.
, “They did their own auditing, their own investigations. By and large, they were really satisfied with what we have done and what we are doing.”
Skerrit…….these are just words from you like de words you uttered about de Moroccan Hotel.
I prefer to see de money myself
I prefer to see de result of their own audit and investigations.
De EU have their own credibility. I’m sure dat you’re not their spokesman.
In their own words they could have already dispatched a glowing report giving you, Skerrit all de praise and praise and praise……right? and speak of de visible signs of economic development like de ghost investor big building on cork street?
your chat is very cheap …………worth pennies or a lollipop
you sound so insincere and unable to provide real details
not even a media shot with de EU officials
you trying to maintain relevance
@dessident
Your comments have hit the nail precisely on the head like how a marksman hits his target.
Roosevelt feeds the media with outright lies and distortions, and they swallow line, hook and sinker without any verification. So this habitual Liar is given carte blanche opportunities to continue to lie with immunity.
Don’t you think that a news outlet which is serious about its image, its articles should be well-researched, informative, unbiased and insightful? It will refuse to publish any information given to it by a serial liar.
The local news outlets have the collective power to influence good governance and rule of law in this country. They continue unashamedly to drop the proverbial ball.