Dominicans hold millions in Swiss bank accounts

hsbcA leaked document has revealed that between 2006 and 2007, millions of dollars were being held by Dominicans in HSBC’s private bank in Switzerland by some 28 Dominicans.

The document shows that 24 of the accounts were held by foriegn nationals with Dominican passports but four were being held by ‘local’ Dominicans.

The documents, from 2006 to 2007, were leaked by whistleblower Hervé Falciani, a former employee of HSBC in Switzerland about three years ago but a report was released by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists this week.

The report shows that the 28 Dominican passport holders had accounts totaling US$40.9-million.

The report indicates that all the accounts were beyound the reach of government authorities.

There were account holders from other Caribbean islands but but none were considered ‘local,’ meaning they were held by people with passports from these countries.

With four ‘local’ Dominicans with accounts in the bank, the island topped the list in the English speaking Caribbean.

According to the report there were two from Jamaica and one from Grenada.

HSBC is a financial institution that caters to the very wealthy.

See the full list below from around the region.

list

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129 Comments

  1. Greg
    March 22, 2018

    Usual incitement of people to sow communist views!

  2. jack loach
    July 13, 2015

    Swiss Bank Accounts.—- July. 2015.

    Is your monies safe in these accounts —- definitely NOT.
    Would you get your money back if every body decided to withdraw all their accounts – NO WAY.
    Economic Experts say that there would only enough money to repay 50% of their clients.
    Are you going to be in the 50% — that loose your money.– Get it out NOW.

    2012 — – June. — Published in Anglo INFO .Geneva.— USA Trust Fund Investors were sent false and fraudulent documents by Pictet Bank.Switzerland. in order to collect large fees. ( Like MADOFF) —Even after the SEC in the USA uncovered the fraud Pictet continued to charge fees and drain whatever was left in these accounts. Estimated that $90,000,000 million lost in this Pictet Ponzi scheme.

    2012 – – – July. — De – Spiegel. — states – Pictet Bank uses a letterbox company in
    Panama and a tax loophole involving investments in London to gain
    German millionaires as clients.

    2012 – – – August —- German Opposition…

  3. eileen helen
    February 19, 2015

    8-O hope the poor was not neglected for this.

  4. eileen helen
    February 19, 2015

    8-O 8-O hope the poor was not ripped of for this account

  5. Francisco Telemaque
    February 16, 2015

    BARBADOS WAS RANKED 44th among the countries with the largest dollar amounts in Swiss bank accounts, according to leaked files that were made public last week.

    In all, 14 clients and 33 bank accounts were attributed to Barbados, accounting for about US$1 billion. Seventeen of those accounts were opened between 1997 and 2006, with the maximum amount of money associated with a client connected to the island being US$804.3 million.

    However, none of the clients was actually a Barbadian citizen or possessed a Barbados passport.

    – See more at: http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/63599/swiss-bank-funds-linked-barbados#sthash.UsmN7rj3.dpuf

  6. Francisco Telemaque
    February 15, 2015

    “Francisco, DNO is a medium, not a “media”, which is the plural form of medium. A lot of people get that wrong especially in the U.S.A “(PS).

    How can I be wrong when you actually defined media as medium? Try this; “media” is a medium of cultivation, conveyance, or expression. Anything DNO print and upload on the Internet, is a method of conveying information to the public. So both of us are correct. Note: The singular media, and its plural medias, may have originated in the field of advertising about fifty years ago; they are apparently still used without stigma in that specialized filed. In most other application, it is used as a plural. The popularity of the word in reference to the agencies of mass communication is leading to the formation of a mass noun. …………. ……

  7. Layba Ka Twavay
    February 15, 2015

    Skerritttttttttttttt boyyyyyy

  8. Shine the Light
    February 15, 2015

    Now i can guarantee you this money has been there for quite some time now and that this has been happening for YEARS! since in the 80’s. Sometimes some tings just need to be left unknown. Welcome to the Real world, money talks. If y’all want to understand how this works, visit Tortola,or ask a friend about Trust Companies.

    Basically these wealthy people are hiding their money through means of companies registered in Dominica or under the use of Dominican Passports. This is how this works.

    Now as for Dominica, these (4) are most likely economic citizens. the sale of passports has been going on since the 80’s, guess they were not aware of what dangers this posed. The hand is stuck in the cookie jar, there is no way out. Too much to come to light.

    So my people, if fingers need pointing, 10 fingers are not enough and you may need to resurrect the dead.

  9. Titiwi
    February 15, 2015

    Eh eh, imagine and we have not even talked about Dominicans having money in offshore accounts in Caymans, Belize, Panama, Vanuatu and U.A.E. itself. Boy oh boy , if and when that story comes out!!

    • To Modara
      February 15, 2015

      Doesn’t a Sr Lawyer and Skrit’s advisor have a passport office in the UAE? Do their banks give infor can we find a whistleblower?

  10. Da
    February 15, 2015

    Ignorance will is consuming Dominica! You are poor yet you are condoning people who abuse your laws to get rich! What a mess we have in Dominica!

    • Greg
      March 22, 2018

      Explain me one think if in example rich man from Germany will came to Dominica, will pay 100.000 USD for passport, and later keep his money in Switzerland, you will be still poor because of him? How? He gived 100.000 USD for government and from government gived him only one document with value 50 USD. That’s why you are still poor because you think he must to give you his all money? Because he must to work for you? Really?! Are you communist?

  11. February 14, 2015

    It is not a matter of if it is legal to put your money anywhere. It is a matter of who those accounts belong to and how did the account holders make that amount of money. In the face of massive corruption by politicians in power, Dominicans know the holders of those accounts and where they got the money from. But neither Saddam nor Gaddafi saw it coming. But there are Dominicans who see it coming.

  12. I am Dominican
    February 14, 2015

    Some people are pretending that they
    forgot that Dominica passports were first being sold by Eugenia Charles and then by Edison James. Who knows if the owners of these accounts did not buy their passports before Labour came to power?

    • Recollector
      February 15, 2015

      I recall a lawyer walking around with hundreds of US 100 notes in his shirt pocket during the UWP days in office.

    • Greg
      March 22, 2018

      But you have better roads, bridges, schools, … because foreigners have Dominican’s passport. You want to have theirs money and don’t give them nothing? Do you want just rob rich foreigners like communists?

  13. CLARITY
    February 14, 2015

    Talking about research by Angelo Alleyne I can now understand PIERRE CHARLES.”that Dominican wear their ignorance as badge of honor”
    Now we have HSBC ..THE RICH class use this bank including persons who are Dominicans .
    DNO fully covered the BITCOIN story late last year . when BITCOIN promoters announce that they contacted a Minister not the PRIME MINISTER about an event in DOMINICA called BIG DROP then which was announced publicly ..The government was not interested for whatever reason the matter died then..LAST YEAR!!
    BIT COIN REPS announced publicly that they have refunded their sponsors of the promotion for lack of coordination and interest – what does the ranting of ANGELO have to do with this ?so where is the corruption ? how does a public free event corrupt Dominicans who only was offered tokens free which is paid for throughout the world for money transfers and trading ?
    HSBC -BANK OF AMERICA and and the stock market like BITCOIN..will have corruption and…

  14. clarity
    February 14, 2015

    So here we are again BITCOIN and now HSBC…..This is the IST World 1% money leaders who own 90% of to the worlds, wealth ..
    For your information whilst kakarat journalists claim to expose BITCOIN and titiri bloggers seem to support – MICROSOFT worlds leading technological company and owned by the savviest man on the planet Bill Gates has just endorsed BITCOIN.
    .SPAIN has end of January 30th accepted BITCOIN as an official money transfer mechanism .
    The US has accepted trading of BITCOIN as a commodity The same people who save in HSBC do the same deals on the stock market .
    This is the world of the super rich .. the.top 1%
    There will be crooks like SANFORD who traded in US CURRENCY not BIT COIN and there are crooks in offshore banks in TORTOLA CAYMAN ETC
    They will buy BITCOIN the new world currency which defies control by the US TREASURY ..US and other 1ST WORLD Governments will strike at this mechanism but where does Dominica feel it is involved in this WORLD…

  15. kawat Roseau
    February 14, 2015

    Admin. I have a few questions. Can you investigate or find a ‘leaked document” that will reveal how much money(in USD) is held in all the financial institutions in Dominica on behalf of account holders? And inform us how many account holders are local, foreingers with Dominican passports and foreigners?

    Have an enjoyable Carnival!

  16. Phoenix
    February 14, 2015

    Since the 1980’s we have had all kinds of rich Dominican economic citizens – Asian Tigers, Russians etc. Why is it so amazing that there are ‘Dominicans’ with lots of money in Swiss banks? You people defy logic..

    • True Dat!
      February 15, 2015

      Right on Point! Forgive them for they are ignorant of the facts.

  17. One Day for Justice
    February 14, 2015

    MPs have already called HSBC chairman Douglas Flint to give evidence on February 27. But Treasury committee member John Mann said it would summon Lord Green ‘if the committee believes it needs more answers’.
    Yesterday HSBC (up 1.8p to 598.2p) chief executive Stuart Gulliver revealed in a leaked memo to staff that he has also been called to give evidence.
    He said he shared staff’s ‘frustration’ that the ‘media focus on historical events makes it harder to see the efforts we have made to put things right’.
    But he added that HSBC ‘must acknowledge we sometimes failed to live up to the standards the societies we serve rightly expected from us’. Information leaked to HM Revenue & Customs in 2010 identified 7,000 British clients, 1,100 of whom had not paid their taxes. Some £135million in tax and penalties has since been recovered, but only one prosecution has been brought. (www.dailymail.com)

  18. One Day for Justice
    February 14, 2015

    Under pressure: Lord Green faces some awkward questions from the Treasury Select Committee
    Chairman of the TheCityUK’s board Sir Gerry Grimstone said: ‘Stephen Green is a man of great personal integrity who has given huge service to his country and the City.
    ‘He doesn’t want to damage the effectiveness of TheCityUK in promoting good governance and doing the right thing so has decided to step aside from chairing our Advisory Council. This is entirely his own decision.’
    Meanwhile, a senior Bank of England official has warned it may investigate HSBC. Sir Jon Cunliffe, deputy governor for financial stability, said the allegations, which focus on the bank’s Swiss private banking arm, ‘raise serious questions around HSBC’s conduct’.
    He said they pose questions about the bank’s management and culture, adding ‘this is certainly something that could be of relevance to us’.

  19. One Day for Justice
    February 14, 2015

    Former HSBC chief Lord Green quits banking role amid claims of tax dodging under his watch
    By Daily Mail City & Finance Reporter
    Published: 21:42 GMT, 13 February 2015 | Updated: 15:25 GMT, 14 February 2015
    The former boss of HSBC Lord Green has quit from a banking lobby group amid claims that the bank’s Swiss arm facilitated tax dodging while he was in charge.
    Lord Green, who was chairman of HSBC between 2006 and 2010, today resigned his post as chair of TheCityUK’s Advisory Council, as he faces being dragged in front of the Treasury Select Committee to explain his role during the scandal. The Tory peer, who served as David Cameron’s trade minister, was chief executive and then chairman of HSBC while it is alleged to have sheltered millions of dollars of assets for clients in Swiss bank accounts between 2005 and 2007.

    Under pressure: Lord Green faces some awkward questions from the Treasury Select Committee
    Chairman of the TheCityUK’s board Sir Gerry Grimstone…

  20. truly confused
    February 14, 2015

    ok I needed to read for my self and not depend on ppls account. nothing said it has to do with govt officials right?

    now i feel like a fool. stupes. the spin ppl put on things *smh*

  21. real possie
    February 14, 2015

    All I will say about this is, when you all it’s who you think might be the one with the Swiss account come to find out is you all same beloved GBACKS people, hope you all don’t say is not true.

  22. Zuma
    February 14, 2015

    Who ever is busy spreading this malicious propaganda, should name the names of the Dominicans and stop letting peop,e speculate. If you have part of the evidence you should have all

    Bring the names forward or else stop with your malicious attempt to devide the nation. Dominicans are assuming that they know who are the holders of these monies when all they are doing is, ass u Ming. Making an ass of u and me. Which is what assuming means. So enough of this nonsense and mention the names… This to me is another attempt to blacken the good names of certain individuals. Stop the division in Dominica.. And find some thing productive to do. Whilst you Re are so involved in doing bad others are moving on making a decent living so who is more corrupted

    If you have the concrete facts bring it forward or else you are a coward and trouble maker hiding behind wherever you are…

  23. The Facts
    February 13, 2015

    At first I thought, all that money resident Dominicans have in Swiss Banks? It figures that those who hold D/can passports or the majority of them may be the ones.
    If I am not mistaken, approximately one or two years ago, I heard HSBC discontinued doing business in Canada or Toronto. There is a reason behind it. I must do some research about that.
    The Canadian government is also trying to get those countries where Canadians have off- shore banking, to expose them so that they will pay taxes here; and also return some of that money they made in Canada and sent them to the banks in those countries in order to evade taxes. With all that money offshore, the government is losing exorbitant sums of revenue.
    Isn’t Cayman Islands one of them? What about Bahamas? There are a few of them in the Caribbean.

    • Me
      February 15, 2015

      Facts, you must be living in a time warp. HSBC Bank Canada is the largest foreign owned bank in your country, with a head office right down there at 70 York St. in Toronto. If I’m not mistaken they have branches in practically all provinces. Get off your seat and do some walking. You may learn something before posting comments to embarrass yourself.

      • The Facts
        February 15, 2015

        When you comment, be respectful as you expect others to be respectful to you. For one, you do not know who you are insulting. It may be someone whom you know very well and vice versa. Therefore, be careful of stones that you throw. Watch your words and be gracious. Some of you put on a nice, smiling face when you meet others but behind them and behind closed doors, you are like the devil in disguise. :twisted: :mrgreen: :twisted: :mrgreen: :twisted: :mrgreen:
        There is another one which commences with “H” which I remember has closed business in Toronto. I will look into it.
        We are all entitled to make an error. I do not bank with HSBC and have no interest in doing so. If I won a lottery, it will never be given to HSBC. I still will do my research on it. As you should know which you should, be broadminded. HBSC deals with only rich people. It is obvious that HSBC encourages off-shore banking and evading taxes. I will contact my MP and MPP.

  24. DFR
    February 13, 2015

    before one jump the gun remember that DA was also selling passports. So it may well be that the holders of these accounts are non-nationals .

    • PS
      February 14, 2015

      Once people have obtained a Dominican passport by legitimate means i.e. through Govt. channels, they are full fledged Dominican nationals with all the rights of a native born Dominican. They can vote, own property without limit, yes even become Prime Minister if they give up their citizenship of birth. You will soon find this out when we get the anticipated influx of China born Dominicans.

      • The Facts
        February 15, 2015

        It is unfair to Dominican-born and also business-owners residents.
        Deviating from this, governments of the world are not usually fair.
        We have a system that refugees who came to this country of Canada of all; no exception the US and probably Europe, receive more money than those who have worked their guts out in this country, paid their taxes and are now pensioners.
        Government and bank employees are also fully aware of it.
        Someone sent me an email which showed how much those refugees get. It is in circulation. They also get a fully-furnished house or apartment, depending on the number of family members and a well-stocked fridge and kitchen cupboard of food and other amenities, tax free. With that type of income and amenities, they do not have to work; it is not encouraging for them to work.
        Canadians (it means all those who work or have worked in this country; some are now pensioners) who are aware of that are, seething mad/angry but cannot do a thing about it.

    • Recollector
      February 15, 2015

      what about the agents who became very very very rich over night built houses bigger than they can utilize then have to end up renting it to Chinese residents and go rent in St.Aroma?
      Wasn’t the funds which built the mansions from the Passport sales? I wonder if they have Swiss accounts too. If their gay sons move away then the mansions became empty nests. LMAO

  25. joking
    February 13, 2015

    reading the comments OMG
    RIP Dominica
    Most of these ppl have No judgement at all :(
    fools have greatly outweigh wise thinkers

    enjoy the 5 more years
    so proud and happy i did not vote labour

  26. truth
    February 13, 2015

    Imagine one little boy had 1.2 millon in a side bag, who knows? Just for deeper thinkers. Just imagine ?

  27. Lougawoo Mem
    February 13, 2015

    After a time is an other. Enjoy it while it’s sweet.

  28. Rebecca Theodore
    February 13, 2015

    Again, a partisan press in Dominica has turned an important news bulletin that is circulating globally into fiction… This is not the original transcript and this published piece has been seriously tampered with to further confuse the masses and to protect the powers that be, but my question to you is: If it is alleged that the prime minister of Dominica is a French citizen with a Dominica passport and Tony Astaphans is a Canadian citizen with a Dominica passport and the prime minister’s son is an American citizen with a Dominica passport and the PMs wife is an American citizen holding a Dominica passport, aren’t they all foreign nationals holding Dominica passports? But the question is not about nationality per se, it is where did they get the money from? I’ve simply asked a question. I’ve used the word alleged…Logic is concerned with inference: does the truth of the conclusion follow from that of the premises?

    • A Doubting Thomas
      February 13, 2015

      It would be only fair to assume you and all your relatives have only one passport and that is a Dominican Passport and none are citizens of any other country? None have ever travelled to another country, far less to have a bank account anywhere else. Good for you.

      My children are dual citizens because their parents were born in the Nature Island and I for one, I am happy for their dual citizenship. God Bless Dominica for affording us the luxury of Dual Citizenship.

    • polibureau
      February 14, 2015

      actually i thought the original story had more to do with the question of tax evasion and not the legality of the source of the funds.Also it is widely known that the pm has revoked his french citizenship sometime ago.

    • mine
      February 15, 2015

      You might be surprise they might be some of you own.

  29. femmedominique
    February 13, 2015

    That’s how and why Haiti arrived as it is right now. It started with only ONE (1) Haitian opening his Swiss Account on the backs and vulnerability of hard working Haitians and the end result we all know now. Haiti has yet to recover from that. I have shared my concerns with some other Dominicans that I see Dominica arriving either at the stage of Haiti under Papa Doc & Baby Doc or like some of the other African Countries (States) and they seem to think I am “over thinking” just wait as I pray that they are very right that ‘I am over thinking it”

    • point
      February 13, 2015

      What is wrong with having a Swiss acct or a US account for that matter. I personally know of many Dominicans who have overseas accounts(not Swiss accounts) and quite substantial amounts, is this a crime?

      • Helas!!
        February 13, 2015

        Answer the question yourself , wise guy!!

  30. DEAL or NO DEAL
    February 13, 2015

    DNO, what really is your motive for publishing that article? Is it a crime for a local Dominican to have an account in a HSBC bank overseas? Can you tell us the public what is so disturbing about those accounts that Angelo wants to play politics with?

    ADMIN: Stories based on the leak are being published in newspapers around the world. Just run a Google search.

    • Rebecca Theodore
      February 13, 2015

      Isn’t DNO a a free press? Are you further clarifying that it is a partisan press?

    • Francisco Telemaque
      February 13, 2015

      DNO will not argue with you; I will, the motive is simple, DNO is a media, and anything which makes the news must be told to the public via the media. You should be concern when people are showing up in Switzerland caring Dominica passports, and depositing millions of dollars in the Switz Bank. Thieves vagabonds and scamps usually put their money in storage in Switzerland.

      Dating back to the Nazis of Germany during the Second World war. Even Hitler hid money, and paintings valued Billions of Dollars in Switzerland. The reason Switzerland remains an nonaligned nation, is specifically for that purpose of, protecting criminals and thieve of Dominica from prosecution. I think all that will change since there are nations of the world who are pushing to get Switzerland to corporate in exposing the crooks who use their country to hide the money they stole from their country. One day we may know the names of the Dominica politicians who hid their lute in that bank.

      Its a matter of…

      • The Facts
        February 13, 2015

        Francisco, I suppose you mean “loot”?

      • PS
        February 14, 2015

        Francisco, DNO is a medium, not a “media”, which is the plural form of medium. A lot of people get that wrong especially in the U.S.A. where they also say bacteria when they mean bacterium and using much when many would be more appropriate. Blame sloppy education.

        PS. And surely you meant “loot” ( instead of “lute” (a musical instrument)!

      • DEAL or NO DEAL
        February 14, 2015

        @Francisco ,Me with you! Argue with yourself not me. Desperate people will do desperate things…Proverb.. Go read that proverb!

      • Felix AAron
        February 14, 2015

        Would it matter to you if the accounts were in the names of members of the opposition? What your window when you decide to throw stones in the dark.

      • Bomboclat
        February 16, 2015

        Hahahaha! I myself was expecting to see your name there because you said you are worth millions! But anyways ease up on DNO, you not seeing people fed up with you! You disgust us!!

    • Lougawoo Mem
      February 13, 2015

      DNO, I’d let the fool believes whatever. He sounds like he’s in La-la land.

    • February 13, 2015

      Dominicans cannot keep burying their heads any more in the sand because some folks in Dominica are among the names and some day they will come out that’s what happens when we deal with countries that are not stupid like us. I would suggest you read up about Papa Doc & Baby Doc of Haiti when the wheels of justice start coming down on them they run check and you will learn because it’s time to start thinking about Dominica first , We Dominicans didn’t want change we spoke about it but when it came to making the choice we decided to remain in corruption now it’s coming out to bite us and their is more to come it’s just the beginning .. God help us all in Dominica going forward..

    • Views Expressed
      February 14, 2015

      Deal or NO Deal……nice name….DNO admin has responded well to you questionable question….
      .I expected you to ask an intelligent question, but with your ignorance and blindness, Telemaque has answered the questions and issues of this matter correctly.
      Please read carefully and read twice and welcome to the real world of corruption.

    • Recollector
      February 15, 2015

      Deal or none are you one of those holding an account there are you a Shark? Do U have a Tank?

  31. Ma Moses
    February 13, 2015

    Good God help us. Dominica has been sold to China for sure.

  32. Weh Weh Weh
    February 13, 2015

    See right where I bring my money and hide and alu still come and look for it????

  33. Voice of god?
    February 13, 2015

    Boy Dominica good wee. We really making progress under Skerrit boy. god is Good wee. You mean to tell
    me out of 30 nations, ONLY 11 have more money in bank than Dominica? We better than Venezuela, Haiti, Antigua and Babuda, St. Kitts & Nevis, Bahamas and others? Boy Skerrit good gason

  34. Malgraysa
    February 13, 2015

    It is not inherently illegal to have an offshore account in foreign currency.
    However:
    Tax evasion is illegal, whereas tax avoidance is not.
    Some countries, such as the U.S.A. demand that their citizens declare their income and assets world-wide. Hence the number of Americans, who give up their citizenship for another one, a Dominican one for example.
    Some countries, like the U.K allow their citizens to have off-shore accounts and if they are not domiciled in the U.K. the income from such accounts is not taxed.
    There is one over-riding rule. The funds in such accounts must be proceeds from legal activities. If for instance, a politician is found to have such an account with funds that can not be accounted for by his/her legally declared income there would be some serious questions asked and prosecution and confiscation may follow.

  35. true corruption
    February 13, 2015

    h S B C hope you all know the is hong kong shanghai banking company it is a Chinese bank

  36. Peace
    February 13, 2015

    “The report shows that the 28 Dominican passport holders had accounts totaling US$40.9-million.”

    Of the 28, only FOUR are “local” Dominicans. Truth be told, I think that’s a crying shame. With a country so blessed, we can’t manage to have more than four millionaires holding Swiss bank accounts??? Talk about not making use of our gifts and talents.

    • Outside Looking In
      February 13, 2015

      Well “Peace”, if you go ahead and open an account in HSBC Bank, then that will make it FIVE ‘local’ Dominicans to hold an account there.

    • Me
      February 13, 2015

      In that case you must ask yourself why keep that money in a foreign account instead of having it in Dominica? After all, the interest on deposits paid here is much better than in most overseas countries, especially if locked-in long term. I also understand that bank interest is not taxable in Dominica. Maybe these people do not want the locals to know about their wealth, which would be understandable in such a small society but that would be a hell of a price to pay and does not make real economic sense.

      • The Facts
        February 15, 2015

        If bank interest is not taxable, surely they would pay interest on the principle. Therefore, Dominica is losing an exorbitant sum of revenue from those who bank off-shore. This is not fair to Dominica and to nationals. You do know all financial institutions also utilize the funds from the savings of customers who bank with them.
        Consider the D/can government receives financial assistance, grants and loans from certain organizations. If all that money was invested in Dominica, in the banks, the country and nationals would be better off.
        Therefore, when you blame the government and as some say he begs for money abroad, think of those who claim to be D/cans with D/can passports who bank off-shore in Swiss Banks – HSBC. I would think they are traitors. They care nothing about Dominica. Their passports should be rescinded.

    • THEY ANTI DOMINICA
      February 13, 2015

      stealing gifts or talents, which one you mean

  37. point
    February 13, 2015

    The many comments here are not supprising. It seems that only the US and its citizens are supposed to have wealth. We cotinue in Dominica to act like saints, the countries which we look up to including the USA, built their wealth by plunder the chore of which was the slave trade. The USA and some European countries are still plundering the middleeast for their oil. While we are talking look at the 4 names the addresses are local but the names?

    • THEY ANTI DOMINICA
      February 13, 2015

      what are you saying, you blaming the slave trade yet you condoning theft, which breeds poverty. the slave trade made us poor and the corrupt politicans doing the same thing. so where do you place the right and the wrongs.

      • point
        February 13, 2015

        @THEY ANTI DOMINICA, the same countries who were involved in the slave trade are the same countries who are now regulating the banking system and telling people in developing countries how they should run their banking operations. Money laundering is a creation of the US govt. When money launderers were flooding the US banks with laundered money it was all good, but when banks in foreign countries started to benifit it became a crime. Look at Africa one of the richest continents, plagued by poorverty that can be termed criminal. So yes I am blaming slavery and codoning theft as long as the stolen money goes towards uplifting the poor and down trodden.

      • LANGLu
        February 17, 2015

        @POINT. if you do some googling into that whole saga you will come across an article where an african minister have 270 million hidden in that bank… so if stealing from your country and hiding it in some HSBC bank can help the down trodden then i cant see your POINT. IT would be better if they build villas and apartments and give it to the poor; not those plastic and wooden house wihout toilet they giving to people.

  38. FAST N FURIOUS
    February 13, 2015

    All You take time to mention the PM name….
    If you all want the names of the 4 locals go ask Angelo. He is the best person to answer that question since he is the one revealing the story.he should be in a better position to investigate to have the names of the 4 locals.

    • February 13, 2015

      Don’t try to put the blame on Angelo the story was out in the world long before he told us and the reason why he had to is because Dominicans do not read or listen to world news including yourself In Dominica the only media house that brings the messages to the people it’s the one and only Q95 radio station and I must say that’s a wonderful station They do not sugar coat the messages they tell it as it is and with supporting documents, why don’t you ask yourself this question, how is that no one have ever sue him does that mean what he is reporting is the truth.

  39. FAST N FURIOUS
    February 13, 2015

    Is it illegal to open an account in any bank you wish?
    In the US there are many of those HSBC banks and anyone can open an account…So what’s the problem if those 4 locals decide to open an account in that bank? Give me a break!
    People have credit card accounts affiliated with HSBC BANK; Is that a problem too?

    • derp
      February 13, 2015

      exactly even in Dominica I or anyone for that matter (ok, well not everyone, but the average working Dominican) can set up a HSBC bank account but according to the admin “HSBC is a financial institution that caters to the very wealthy.”

      • Malgraysa
        February 14, 2015

        Derp, sure HSBC is active in retail banking but certainly not in Dominica. I challenge you to open up an account with them as an average working Dominican, if you are in the States you may try and do that with their U.S. subsidiary Bank U.S.A. N.A. and let us know how easy that is. They really specialize in banking for “high net-worth” individuals, corporations- & even governments and are big in other related financial services too, like insurance (LIFE U.K. insurance company for example) and the securities market (Bonds etc.)

    • February 13, 2015

      are you serious? did you read what you wrote? of course there HSBC banks in the USA and of course anyone can open an account there. the difference is the branches in the US fall under the rules and regulations of the US and so operate under different set of rules than those outside of the USA (Switzerland) That is precisely why the criminals and unsavory politicians and others who does not want to comply with the rules and regulations of the US government send their monies to Switzerland. that is why the US government is lobbying the Swiss government to release the names of the American citizens who hold accounts out there..

  40. udony
    February 13, 2015

    So the rich do it to evade payingi taxes all the time
    Wonder if the owners even know the money exist. HSBC used to be a local bank in the U.S
    They went out if business a long time ago.

    • Marcus Hill
      February 13, 2015

      Do we really have to wear our ignorance like a badge of honour? Come on!!

    • Titiwi
      February 13, 2015

      Sorry, but you are dumb. That bank is a British bank and very much alive and has subsidiaries all over the globe and sometimes they shut down local branches or sell them to others. They had an operation the Caymans till last year and that was sold to a local bank.

    • Ohhh Dominica!
      February 13, 2015

      How long is a long time ago….?

  41. TRUTH
    February 13, 2015

    you all are a bunch of wicked people with you all comments. do a simple research it will lead to the four names of the persons involved .. you people only speak with informing you all selves.
    https://offshoreleaks.icij.org/search?country=DO&q

    tell me if these names should like local dominicans to you.. or unless we living in a different country

    • alas
      February 13, 2015

      well we have good friends out there eh
      remember de silvestri’s who represented us at de winter olympics?
      dem Chinese sounding names are Dominicans just as well
      The names may sound Chinese and the connections do in fact go as far Hong Kong
      But they are Dominicans
      They have our passports…they may well be economic citizens……but citizens just the same

      • A Doubting Thomas
        February 13, 2015

        How many Dominicans are citizens of other countries? Dominicans want to go all over the place to live, school and work and yes save; bring their families in their new country and take up other countries citizenship but they do not want anyone else except born Dominicans to be citizens of Dominica. Are Dominicans the new racists?

        It is as if what is yours is mine and what is mine is mine. And while we keep what is ours, who will continue to develop Dominica if not the new immigrants? We did that in other countries you know, help develop them and we benefitted from that, didn’t we?

        We have an ageing population and the very young; most of us in the middle feeling the squeeze. So I hope all the rich Dominicans with money in the Swiss Bank can help develop Dominica because we still have a long way to go to attain first world status. And why shouldn’t we strive for that.

        Dominica nice boy if you have money come and spend it in Dominica as long as you do it legally.

    • Felix AAron
      February 14, 2015

      Alex Chou
      Gikorse Corp.
      Lucy MA
      Steven Chou

      just malicious rumors

  42. The Evangelist
    February 13, 2015

    Before I say anything today I want to take some time to thank Mr. Angelo Allen of Q95 for all of his brilliance and bravery. Most time we only give people flowers when they are dead; but Allen deserves all the flowers his basket can hold today. Thanks Mr. Allen and do keep up the good work.

    Dominicans in HSBC’s private bank in Switzerland by some 28 Dominicans.

    Ok, so little Dominica has $40.9 million dollars, but interestingly enough, it does not seem to belong to Dominica, or is it? I get the impression that it belongs to so- called Dominicans, a total of 28 nationals. Now out of those 28, 24 of them are accounts held by foriegn nationals with Dominican passports? My God! Who are these guys? Are they members of ISIS, criminals, crooks or, I don’t know? We need Mr. Skerrit, who is the PM and minister of finance to clear the air immediately! What about four ‘local’ Dominicans? Do we have names yet? Can I guess who they are? Time will reveal what’s done in darkness.

  43. Titiwi
    February 13, 2015

    All shall eat….and some shall eat all!

  44. Righteous
    February 13, 2015

    That is some good news. At least there are a few Dominicans at least 4 locals who are securing some money. On the bigger scheme of things, that is roughly about .6 million a piece if we divide that equally. So before anyone come on here and think that it is some bobolists, think again. That may be a few people in countries like England, and the US trying to avoid paying really high taxes. It would be great to refer us to the actual article so we can see an entire list of countries.

    One Love Dominicans and May God Bless this Commonwealth of Dominica!!!

    • Frenz
      February 13, 2015

      Yeh man keep trying to protect criminals in Dominica. Toton mackout if the four Dominicans were Dominicans in England then these people would be Included in the group of people with Dominican passport and living elsewhere.

    • The Evangelist
      February 13, 2015

      @Righteous, your comment is so damn unrighteous and foolish that you have literally caused me to ban the word righteous.

      • Righteous
        February 13, 2015

        @Evangelist can you and anyone else on here tell me what is so wrong with having money in a Swiss bank account if it is monies earned legitimately besides evading taxes in certain countries? All I am saying is that let us not jump to the conclusion that these individuals are all criminals.

        One Love Dominicans and May God continue to Bless this Commonwealth of Dominica.

    • alas
      February 13, 2015

      doh try dat…..
      For all we know these 4 individuals could have 5 million of their own and the rest will share for the other 24.
      i don’t see why we should be protecting anybody in this thing
      De bank has a history of hiding money for criminals!!
      Why isnt that de point of discussion here!!!
      I once had an account at HSBC as well.
      I didn’t have one that would allow me to transfer millions and evade taxes!!!

  45. Too Hard Too Long
    February 13, 2015

    So how much did the four “local” Dominicans have in HSBC?

    • THEY ANTI DOMINICA
      February 13, 2015

      remember that was way back, so by now they maybe all a 100million going

  46. clarity
    February 13, 2015

    Dominicans welcome to the real world people …HSBC has shown that we have arrived in the real world.
    Being innocent and naive with huge expressions of disgust is simply pure ignorance and a demonstration of immaturity .
    CASE IN POINT IS THE BiTCOIN so called expose’of Q95 and the RIDICULOUS comments on the DNO online of the withdrawal of BITDROP.GOVERNMENT COULD NOT ACCEPT -SO THE DEAL WAS OFF
    The GROWTH OF MIAMI -CAYMAN ISLANDS -BAHAMAS AND TORTOLA was through the privacy use of funds and transfers and in the case of MIAMI AND PANAMA were drug related..MAJOR US BANKS WERE INVOLVED as well as off ashore BANKS.
    SWITZERLAND- ISLE OF MAN -etc have been havens by flight ..US DOLLARS EUROS .
    BITCOIN is simply another new age mechanism to avoid direct control by the US TREASURY AND OTHER GOVERNMENT CONTROL similar to the internet feeding into the international demand for privacy of wealth .
    BITCOIN AS DID HSBC provides this but in addition also competes with MONEY…

    • Frenz
      February 13, 2015

      Ok you said all this to say what? Wht is your point smart pants. This is not about how Cayman Islands were built. It is people like you with your blind allegiance to political party as oppose to country. The fact is that there is $40.9 million US hidden from the government of Dominica and the discussion has to be about the taxes that are hidden from Dominica. It brings up the question of the sale of our passports; money laundering etc. where did this money come from and how it got to HSBC.
      Stop the distortion and for once keep the conversation on track

    • derp
      February 13, 2015

      bitcoin puts you in control of your own money, that is why so many institutions hate it some much, it was created by individual(s) for the people, no one owns or controls bitcoin, it cannot be controlled something which people seem to not grasp is regular money is not your money, it is controlled by the issuing institutions

    • Titiwi
      February 13, 2015

      Editor, we had this self same Bitcoin fanatic spinning his stuff yesterday under Agacious and Amazed. I thought there was a rule against CAPITALS anyway. People like this are too smug and never talk straight.

  47. Can't help but say
    February 13, 2015

    Cont’d
    However, the reverse is investigated by the US gov’t for it’s foreign born citizens who try to hide their funds in their home countries.
    Bells rang out it my head , being an avert listener to D/can radio and reader of the written media.
    I have heard ,read and in private discuss, so many allegations on D/can’s elevation into corruption and bribery with many being well substanciated.
    The old adages never fail upon analysis .Ej, no smoke with fire etc. Meditating post listening, I was left to make analogies which fit so nicely with the allegations re: DA They remind me daily of the lock & Key hypothesis.
    This aforementioned report alludes to and sort of solidifies or lend ears to arguments of many an allegation.

  48. Ms. Educator
    February 13, 2015

    I’m not even surprised.
    The only thing I’m surprised at is that it’s only four ‘locals’. I expected more ‘locals’ than that.

    And those blind bats refuse to see….smh. Until we come like Haiti with Papa Doc and Baby Doc those blind bats will not see.

  49. CC
    February 13, 2015

    I hope they can publish their names for everyone to see

  50. Can't help but say
    February 13, 2015

    Re: Dominicans hold millions in Swiss bank accounts.
    GM fellow citizens not denizens. It is with much interest that I add my 5 cents piece( as one of our local Investigative journalists would say)
    Be it ,co-incidence, chance, a casuality ( call it what you will ),I happened to be on lunch break and went into my car and turned on my wireless to WNYC-radio. Low and behold in retrospect the topic of the hour was Shell Companies ( not to be mistaken with the oil company.) purchasing real estate in Manhattan NYC. moreso luxurious apartments for millions. The interviewee a female real estate person and lawyer mentioned the number of foreigners Chinese, Arabs etc etc even islanders purchasing million dollar buildings. She went on to explain dig as they may they found it difficult to id the real owners in many a case. ( A former D/can lawyer- politician once remarked” I know how to cover my tracks”.)
    What stood out to me was the emphasis she placed on the welcoming of foreign…

  51. natural dominican
    February 13, 2015

    we already knew that and we have a pretty good idea who and why :wink:

  52. alas
    February 13, 2015

    i read that story yesterday
    Thank you very much Admin!!!!!!!!
    Who really watching our back?
    CCJ or Privy Council?
    We are our biggest enemies!!
    4 Dominicans?!
    I wonder if de PM our Minister of Finance knows who these 4 Dominicans are?

  53. Lougawoo Mem
    February 13, 2015

    Let’s not forget that the report only covers the years 2006-2007. It’s alleged that the accounts and greed have tripled throughout the years. There’re no surprises here. The law abiding, God fearing Dominicans who toil, scratch to make ends meet, have every right to be inflamed to know that certain privileged people continue to get richer at the expense of the poor. As the saying goes, “what happens in the dark shall be revealed in broad daylight.” Sorry!

  54. joe
    February 13, 2015

    What is the significance of this report?? Are the funds illegal?? DNO: ” HSBC is a financial institution that caters to the very wealthy.” IS NOT TRUE!!!! This is one of the biggest banks in the world and it caters to all and sundry, I had an account in that bank when i was in London, and have friends from Grenada and other islands working there.

    We all know that there are millionaires in Dominica and they have a right to invest there wealth in any bank of their choice so i cannot get the point of this leaked info!!!!!

    :mrgreen: :twisted:

    • Lang Mama
      February 13, 2015

      Joe the truth we don’t expect you to understand the essence of the report cause you are way to dumb

    • whoistoblame
      February 13, 2015

      Joe what happened to that account? How much did you have in there?Were you evading taxes?

    • Liberty
      February 13, 2015

      Joe,The Swiss branch of the HSBC deals with people who on the main ,wish to Hide there cash from the authorities .
      Also,the head office of HSBC is registered in the UK.
      The names of these people can be obtained from the leaked information given to the French and Uk authorities.
      We can look forward to a Big Can of Worms being opened,millions of euros have already been
      N recovered by the French Authorities,the UK are being very reluctant to follow this course.

    • Matthew George
      February 14, 2015

      Joe the point is that the money is in the swiss banks to evade tax.

  55. Erasmus B. Black
    February 13, 2015

    While our industrious and committed Police Commissioner is “keeping his eyes” on police vehicles, the eternal question is “Who is stealing the cookies from the cookie jar?” Then who? And who is keeping an eye on our Economic Citizens?

    Back in the 90’s the bestselling book “Millionaire Next Door” detailed ways in which many people become comfortably wealthy. For a rewrite, I submit the author visits Dominica. He’ll find some good stories about political innovatory and lucrative ventures like crab catching. Cinderella has finally made it to the ball!

    • But wait
      February 13, 2015

      Are you serious? We are dealing with one of the poorest countries in the Caribbean. If those funds were kept on island, they would circulate in the economy, allow banks to lend more, etc. Also, if this is a form of tax evasion, then this is an illegal practice. If all Dominicans kept their funds in Swiss accounts the fragile economy we have would collapse! And, of course this is all to ignore the history of poor countries lodging money in Swiss accounts!

  56. oh ho
    February 13, 2015

    where are the names, Dominica is the poorest island yet it high up on the list

  57. Wesley person
    February 13, 2015

    WAW! I wonder who they be????? SMDH

    • Wesley person
      February 13, 2015

      Is it US or EC. Because if its in US that’s over 100, 000000.00!

      • Titiwi
        February 13, 2015

        My friend, that is U.S. Dollars, believe me, non of these people will want to be holding that amount of money in E.C.$

      • Francisco Telemaque
        February 13, 2015

        Wesley Person, I am not trying to be in ting eh! Nevertheless, when dealing with the Bank of Switzerland, you have to talk in “United States currency” hence, forty million dollars in U.S., would appear to be equivalent to East Caribbean Currency to the tune of approximately EC$108,000,000.00 dollars okay.

        Any Dominican with that amount of money have to be a drug dealer, or a politician, perhaps; . One hundred eight million is not easily earned even if one operates a legitimate business, in our country, and no politician in Dominica can earn that based on their legal governmental pay! If a legitimate Business person in Dominica had that amount of money I doubt they word hide it in Switzerland.

      • February 14, 2015

        “Any Dominican with that amount of money have to be a drug dealer, or a politician, perhaps”—-Francisco Telemaque February 13, 2015

        There you go again, with your quest to put black ,marks on other people without understanding what you hear or read.

        For the sake of fellow Dominicans who do not think for themselves, I am pointing our that the money in the bank belongs to 28 people with the name of Dominicans –only 4 of them are local people. The news article do not speak about 1 person–I am just making sure that others do not read what you write and to repeat those fallible comments of yours.

  58. ?????????
    February 13, 2015

    The fact that we top the english speaking caribbean points to the number of passports we sell…

  59. Mamizoo
    February 13, 2015

    If it was me that say Fast N FURIOUS would say it is a lie,Real Porssie would say I luv my PM just like that. We are waiting to hear what the government has to say. Not only that I hope guys like Curtis Mathew ask the government for a statement preferably the
    minister of finance.
    But ah waiting and waiting and then boom the names of the fabulous 4 will be released. As for the the other 24 Dominicans all I will say is the truth is a stubborn SOB and the very same names that have been mentioned before will are on the list of 24.
    So Doctor Fontaine hold tight the Self implosion is here just a moment of time.

    • FAST N FURIOUS
      February 13, 2015

      So YOU ALL even want to tell people where to save their monies?
      HSBC is a bank. There are many in the US; anyone can open an account in the bank.

  60. ?????????
    February 13, 2015

    Ah wonder who r the 4 locals???

  61. Matthew George
    February 13, 2015

    ”HSBC is a financial institution that caters to the very wealthy.” Actually HSBC caters to everyone, there are branches on every high street in the UK. You need to make a clear distinction between their private Swiss banks and their whole organisation.

  62. derp
    February 13, 2015

    and of course by holding foreign accounts, they are evading taxes and other things….

  63. Patriot
    February 13, 2015

    Very Interesting…..Guess we all can point fingers to the four culprits……

  64. Pen noir
    February 13, 2015

    Lucky for them….If their wealth was achieved legally …. Congratulations….. If it was obtained illegally… Fire go burn them…

    • THEY ANTI DOMINICA
      February 13, 2015

      what fire?, domincans are a set of foolish docile people

      • February 14, 2015

        Sadly, foolish, docile and ignorant are apt descriptions of most of our people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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