Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said he will be writing to the French government to seek clarification on reports in the Agence France Press (AFP) that Dominica has been blacklisted by France.
He said the news had shocked the government.
“It has taken us by total shock and surprise of that news item coming out of Paris,” he told the media on Wednesday. “We believe that there is no basis and justification for that action, if it were to be true. Because the French has never sent any advisory to Dominica raising concerns about inadequacies of our legislation to address the issues pointed out in the media release.”
French officials said on Monday that Dominican banks and those from other countries on the list will be banned from distributing development funds from France, according to a report.
They say the move is justified because there is a lack of transparency in Dominica and the other nations on the list. They also pointed out that poor and developing nations are the main victims of fraud.
However Prime Minister Skerrit government has not yet received any formal communication from France on the matter.
“I contacted the French embassy yesterday and they had no formal communication from its government in Paris on this. It is a report from the media out in Paris. I intend to write to the government of France, seeking clarification on this matter. Because France has never written to us, emailed us, called us on any concerns that they have with respect to Dominica,” he said.
Skerrit said Dominica has implemented a number of measures to the satisfaction of its peers in respect to efforts to combat money laundering and improving the banking system in Dominica.
“We know our banking system is supervised by the ECCB and people who do business in our banks will tell you of the rigorous processes in so far as monies coming into the banks and transactions foreign exchange,” he added.
The prime minister said recent laws pertaining to money laundering recently were part of government’s commitment to the international financial community.
“I believe that, if the French Government hase taken a decision like that, they would have taken such decision with total ignorance of what this country and this government has done in addressing issues in ensuring that we have a well structured and legislated financial environment and jurisdiction in Dominica,” he stated.
Skerrit said government has also signed a sharing of information with the French government, “so if there were issues relating to information, under this agreement, they could seek information on anybody…”.
He admitted however, that France has black listed other countries without informing them.
“France did that to Barbados when (Former Prime Minister) Nicholas Sarkozy announced at G8 Summit which was in a large measure ill informed because the British Government came out the following week and said they had no issues with the financial services in Barbados..,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the nation will be informed when the French government makes an official statement on the matter.
Meanwhile, the French Foreign Minister has denied news reports that said the Philippines was among the 17 countries blacklisted.
In a statement, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the Philippine government had sought clarification with the French government regarding the matter.
“I have been officially advised that this information is totally inaccurate,” said del Rosario, adding that while there was indeed a new list of blacklisted states, the Philippines is not among them.
Del Rosario further said the misinformation apparently stemmed from an interview of a civil servant by a French newspaper.
On Wednesday, reports came out that France had blacklisted the Philippines and 16 other countries that do not help investigate foreign aid fraud.
According to the reports, the countries which France included in its list of “non-cooperative states and territories” were Switzerland, Botswana, Brunei, Nauru, Guatemala, Lebanon, Panama, Costa Rica, the United Arab Emirates, Dominica, Liberia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vanuatu.
The French 50% tax is about what is above one million euros made in one year by one person, actually (the 1st million is taxed “normally”).
Whatever job you’re doin’, i think you won’t ever need that much money as a citizen. After you buy let’s say two houses, two cars, get expensive holidays, eat caviar everyday, you’ll always have some pocket money left.
COMMON we talk ONE MILLION EUROS…
IN ONE YEAR !!!
Every year for some of them (a lot more too for some other ones).
NOBODY needs that kind of money, seriously.
When your business makes that kind of money you should have to give your workers a fair share and give some for those in needs, right (in a perfect world, i gotta admit).
So, I have to agree, I’m french, and France is wicked right now. It’s getting tougher to find a job around here, and poverty, joblessness and homelessness are becoming more and more of a reality for many, sadly. Violence, drug addiction (narcotics or pharmaceutics) and alcoholism are more common than ever. From a younger age too. And we have our ghettos here as well. They just don’t show them too much on international TV. Just the poor gets poorer and the rich gets richer, same as any country, but it’s going down heavily right now.
Seriously, next step is civil war, probably. Many can’t be good sheeps no more (And all they cared about was gay marriage… Seriously?!)
But still, i think that these tax stuff happening will get a little money back from rich people making money breaking the poor ones’ backs. They’re CEOs, corrupted politicians, people working at the heads of banks (same as anywhere else, right?), pharmaceutics, and they probably deserve that. Some of them are also the same guys behind drug trade, international weapon selling, so really they deserve this, THOSE. They need to be put aside and out of the way.
And this won’t go to the poor people, after all. It will go to pay the “debt”, right?
Ah, they really got us for good this time…
Then they’ll serve themselves on our bank accounts…
Like it happened here and there already in many countries…
When you know ONE OF OUR MINISTERS (you wanna laugh? he was what? BUDGET Minister!!!) just dismissed because some journalists discovered he had a lot of undeclared money hidden in Singapour (he probably has a lot more in other places), i think that having an eye on those people’s money (which is the nation’s money by the way, most of the time) is not a bad thing… I won’t even start writing about those at the heads of our banks who should be in jail by now with all the money they made with bad financial products for years taken back. It’s very well and rounded organized crime.
There’s obviously a big problem about this around here (as in most of the places where man lives on this globe though). Corruption is simply everywhere. But truth will prevail.
As i read here somewhere, yes, France is rotten.
And broke.
China and Brasil are the future, probably.
Still, i don’t understand what’s really happening about that black list. I hope it’s a misunderstanding. Never heard of Dominica being a place to bring dirty money. Switzerland is more common since like ever. And closer. I hope PM is honest with you too… It’s all politics and business anyway…
So in the end, we’re all the same, watching the devil getting more and more power, from our very own points of view, helpless.
Peace Dominica. Much love to your country and all of you beautiful and generous people. Your island could be heaven on earth and is the most beautiful place i have ever been at.
Let’s stay with what’s essential.
Their business is monkey business and the devil’s work.
So let’s pray the lord so we find ourselves in harmony with him…
Sorry, it might be slightly out of subject and quite too long, but i wanted to tell you that France is a ship that’s going down, right now, answering more to the comments i read than to the article.
These “blcklists” are a joke. – just tools used by these large countries to meddle whenever they want.
When they call for info or with an instruction – DO IT! – Legal or NOT, or end up on a “list”.
They should really be called “blackmail” lists.
I recall not long ago, a lone broker (ha!) in France causing about 50B in fraud and losses. (the bosses had NO idea where all that profit was coming from?)
… and about a year ago. The LIBOR scandal in UK … and the HSBC scandal in US, it goes on and on…
Where was their “transparency” and “standards” in preventing any of these?
Dominica and caricom should start blacklisting these countries when these happen.
Sarkozy was president back then… (like something really changed since
before we use every thing to make political millage let wait and see where the true is please consult u bains people
Gordon Henderson is in France right? Is dis the same Gordon who interviewed Lennox in France? Ok just asking dats all. Let’s wait and see weather there is any truth in this. Because the USA posted two reports in 6 months and DOMINICA WAS IN GOOD BOOKS. So let’s see wat France has to say after our PM write to them.
Transparency is what’s missing…corrupted government time always do catch up with dishonesty
Fact if the matter is, France has increased taxes on its rich. It is trying to collect from them big time. Any country with banks that are not transparent enought, to show how much money are in their banks from foreigners are being attacked, not only by France, but many other EU countries. (That’s why the Swiss are on the list too). France wants its taxes. But France slightly wicked. 50% tax is a bit much. Although the UK had it, but it worked in a more linient manner. Even for the rich that’s a lot. People aren’t working strictly to pay taxes. Wth
Tell them to go to hell, go to hell, it none of there dam business.
He was willing to go to the Izpzo and boy did he show up to answer the questions, he was going to write the police to investigate the hacking of his emails and boy did that happen. He was going to investigate the garbage bin fraud and oh boy did that ever appen. The only letter we know that you wrote is the one to the French embassy asking for revocation of your passport and citizenship.
Nope! I do not believe that our PM knew nothing of the situation with France before this decision!
This things doesn’t work so! Proper protocol must be followed, a period of time to submit relevant information must e given, a deplomatic structured way of doing things must have set base, if Dominica didn’t meet the request, maybe didn’t provide te relevant information required, then this is e penalty! So no, I do not believe the PM knew nothing! Stop trying to fool us, we smart too!!, well, most of us.
The chickens have come home to roost…don’t mess with Karma!
Uumm France u really think the UAE needs u,
riggghhhtttttttttt!!!!!!!!!!!
LIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Talking about bad marketing. Dominica is ridiculed by the legislation on homosexuality. Similar laws are in Uganda, Kenya and Tansania in Africa and people in Dominica think they are more forward and developed. Same backward medieval control of the pious/clergical elite and the people in a haze of religious fundamentalism. Who cares about dubious monetary issues, that is in every country.
u tell so many lies like the bin bobol. how do you expect anyone to believe you?
Only your supporters believe you sir. You’ve got zero credibility in those who know your track records.
Is that your pic?
The Pond Casse to Melville Road and the Geothermal Testing Phase were funded by the French.
The road was a loan and the Geothermal was grant.
Lack of Transparency. Since June 2012, the road should have completed. What stage is it right now?
Both projects are mentioned on the website below.
http://www.afd.fr/home/pays/amerique-latine-et-caraibes/alc/antilles-orientales
SHOCKED? Sa sot ki fe mweh led
There is nothing worse that being black listed. Wake up DA others are watching
more and more i seeing our politics is fake and fraud!
If my memory serves me right, i remember there was an article written by some journalist about Dominica and he had no face and no address. I wonder what going on this time and how come is this source that come out first.
Interesting. The new french socialist govt. does not know where Dominica is located. I think the PM should let the public know how much funds have Dominica received from France and how much is still ongoing.The govt just received high marks from the EU. Very very strange. French govt and their citizens conduct business in Dominica. Dominicans say they are more french than english. It is very disconcerting not to have received any warning from France before this action was taken. We should take France to the international court
France blacklist us again! Is so we come then? When will we be bold enough to blacklist a nation which subscribes to things which are ethically and morally against what we stand for? For example, France now permits same-sex marriage and the first male couple to wed under the new provisions are expected to exchange vows today. Our country does not have such vile and repulsive provisions. As a matter of fact, our government just this week confirmed adherence to male-female relationships and again refused to bow to the pressure of gays and lesbians. So let’s blacklist France! We may go even a bit further and say with a loud voice “To Hades with France!”
Something else is at stake here – just 2 weeks ago we were removed from the list…now we are backlisted?
what was the straw that broke the camel’s back?
Something is rotten in the state of France.
we are so quick to just accept that our PM or our gvernmetn has done something wrong.
why the sudden turn around by France?
https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/business/dominica-removed-from-list-of-non-cooperative-states-and-territories/
WOW…DNO missed its own story…couldn’t have DNO even place that there…alas.
Padnah that article was from 2012 we in 2013 wheel and come again
Dominica removed from list of non-cooperative states and territories
Dominica News Online – Wednesday, May 16th, 2012 at 9:53 AM
Please read and educate yourself properly
France blacklisted Dominica and not an the OECD or FATF
“This list focuses only on transactions involving French government or its banks, and is separate from other blacklists released by Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.”
http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/may-28-2013-edition/switzerland,-ph-in-french-blacklist-for-foreign-aids
We paying 15% Vat, 30% income tax, the least u could do is be honest with your people instead of paying a bajan to write a speech for you on a very serious matter affecting our country, where is your conscience?
Morihei, you forgot to mention the IMPORT DUYY that is killing us (unless you can get a waiver from Mr. Omnipotence of course!).
Mr. P.M. what are u hiding? Tell we about the Soufriere Project. The French has their investigators and spys on D.A. There is still money laundering going on in this Isle of Ours. This need to stop now, otherwise French aid will come to a halt.
Skerrit better you had said France meant Dominican Republic…..Hahaha
hahahahha nice one
The French gouvernment is in dissarray, with all the killings in Marseille and Corsica. The lies of some of his Ministers hiding their money in other countries in Asia in fear of losing every euro in heavy taxes. Many popular artists are running away from the country with their honey and money.People are marching the streets against the abominations of the gay marriage. The President popularity is very low so they are in search of some black sheep ! Why Dominica ? It’s a small island not well known by the French people, so they will easily believe that the gouvernment is doing a great job catching big fishes. DOMINICA WILL DO WELL BY THE GRACE OF GOD !
it was Roosevelt Skerrit’s predecessor who told us that “Some of us wear their ignorance as a badge of honor”. Perhaps that good gentleman knew more than we gave him credit for. May his soul rest in peace.
So true and right on point!
Putting all human rights entitlement aside fr a while people like you should be arrested and educated in a prison camp. Your mind is a danger to por countries.
Dominica and RooseveltSkerrit is a big fish weh papa. Most French people know Dominica. Weh papa. Mst French people don’t even knw were Guadeloue andSrtinique is but they know about Dominica – weh papa.
Anyway let us all uphold human rights cause some people never Tavel, some people don’t read, some peope depend on hand outs and some peope simply are daft so even if they travel you need explosives and mining equipment to open up their minds.
or by the grace of skerrit
Yeah good one! Soooo, the President of France is losing popularity and decides to blacklist Dominica to gain notoriety…yeah I can see that happening. Oh, don’t forget to wrap up the bridge I just bought from you…paper not plastic please…
I believe the PM. The nation needs to know what France have to say. Why would France be investing in road projects in Dominica and also the Geothermal Project? .
They don’t expect this Administration to be there forever that is the answer!By the way You did not hear that it is a No Go on the Geothermal?without ant reason given.Maybe Skeritt was trying to hide it from us
you also believe he is god…idiot
Haha, you can fool stupid Dominicans, but you won’t fool the people who pay the bills. France is the first. Developing countries ran for independence so they who are in power can fatten their pockets. There is no transparancy.
“The nation will be informed when the French Govt. makes an offical statement on the matter”. It is hard to believe the incrudility of our P.M.
– We are already informed, through the media.
– The French Govt. already made an offical statement through their Cabinet Minister for Development, Pascal Canfin.
How “offical” does the P.M. want the message to be? Does he need a personal missive from the French President himself? In France, Ministers are allowed to run their departments and make statements without vetting every word first with their leader.
It is not credible that our Govt. has not been aware of investigations going on re. the disbursement of aid funds. However, it is altogether possible that the relevant people may not have informed the P.M. in order not to incur his ire when presenting themselves as messengers of bad news. His public expression of shock may be an indication of his isolation, created by his own demeanour.
malatete,
you are nothing short of citzens of fools pardise. you found every thing wroong with france and nothing with you hero in dominica.
History of the FATF blacklist (NCCT jurisdictions)
June 2000 report
The plenary list, consisting of fifteen countries regarded as uncooperative in the fight against money laundering, was published in June 2000, viz:[3]
Bahamas
Cayman Islands
Cook Islands
Dominica
Israel
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Marshall Islands
Nauru
Niue
Panama
Philippines
Russian Federation
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
That was caused by UWP
N i got my information from Wikipedia
Man, that was 13 years ago! Forget about that. We dealing with current issues that are alive now.
BOI we never forget in Dominica cause we still talking bout how it was under UWP which was 13-18 yrs ago
Forget about that?!Damn bias UWPITE!Do do it Let me do it!
I die nu, who said anything about UWP but you? I still remembering fondly my nennen cooking on twa roche but that does not mean I want that in my kitchen. My point is, we can not change the past, only learn from it. But we can influence what is happening tomorrow.
My dear if you do not know Wikipedia is not always right,you and I who may believe we know the truth about something can edit the information given on wikipedia if we so please.
Who die must bury labor get black list by France that need to bathe
what’s your point mr. vex. this is archaic info
yes they said that we were holding money in our banks for french nationals. mr pm there has been talk about that u forget;
It is very sad when the prime minister has lost credibility among his constituents. There has been so many false and misleading statements in the past that it is impossible to believe anything that this man says.
What a tradgedy, noy only for the PM personally, but for the entire country.
French development funds. Isnt the airport road being funded partly by the French? If yes, does the blacklisting affect the road project?
A very good question. I understand the French funding may have run out without the project having been completed and as it stands no further financing will be forthcoming from that source in a hurry despite the main contractor being French. We will have to find our own money to complete it.
Thanks for the response! If we do have to find our own financing how much are we talking? How much are we in already? As if we already took a loan from CDB?
I find there is so little information/reporting on such a massive and major project.
How late is that project ? You remember Mr Blackmore threatened the Contractor?But we know that they in a complo!
Mr Blackmore promised that this road would be completed by DECEMBER 2012.Another broken promise.
eh berre Roosevelt, you really convinced yourself you are in fools paradise. well my advice to you is to take France to court for defamation. thats all you have to do sir.
I can’t understand Why FRANCE of all the European Countries would include Dominica on its BlackList. Is this Persons or persons is jealous of our Buteautiful Nature Isle. Please come again Sir, Sirs maybe Messrs.
Believe me, it’s not just Dominica but part of a wider investigation (incl. in particular Guadeloupe) concerning the suspected fraudulent use of their aid money. I don’;t think this is the last we have heard of this.
Gaudeloupe is a department dummy, France don’t give no aid, France supports Gaudeloupe it is part of France.
Jealous? Garcon, if some French people know where Dominica is, even fewer have heard of Skerrit and care less still, except when they feel their hard-earned tax money is going astray in dubious overseas “development” handouts. We are not as important as we think, trust me.
Our water they want
LOL They jealous of PM Skeritt. That is the usual excuse
Your homie in town and carve a speech for you? All yesterday you had to speak on that, you were tight lipped,. Skerrit please! You all knew this 9 months ago and this is the reason you all ran last week with the hype about tougher laws. Tell Dominicans the REAL reason why France chose of all places to add to their list Dominica. You couldn’t even resist the Barbados clause. On another note you do right, because we get the government we deserve. You and your cabal run a mock,
SHOCKED?
I have to say that I was shocked as well when I heard the news in Quebec. When I heard Dominica, I taught that they were referring to The DR, only to realized that it I the Commonwealth of Dominica
This was all over the place in Quebec which is the French side of Canada
This is bad marketing for Dominica, when it is all said and done the PM and his crew will flee to some other counties and only the poor will be feeling the heat
Shame shame shame on those involve
Shocked! I tell you, Shocked!!!
Skewo knows what’s going on. That’s just another ploy to blindfold the people of Dominica.
Embarased Mr Skerrit? man tell the truth?
Don’t forget also France knows your bank account number to in Gaudeloupe !
snif snif
I expected to to hear more about that on Q95 today but did not. I wonder why…
oh oh.
Ok, so it is certainly possible that France made a mistake. But why Dominica, among all the countries in the Caribbean?
trinidad is on the list as well
Well, Trinidad can afford it. They have their own oil and natutsl gas (…which they will be exporting to Guadeloupe and Martinique soon)We are poor beggars.
Could it be DA has anti-gay laws??
my mummy ask where that coming in dat
It is because of our “French Connection”. Malgraysa.
If it was Antigua people from Antigua would say why Antigua, IF its a mistake it could happen to any country
There are no mistakes in such Thing
It’s not a mistake it’s another wake up call for Dominicans and it’s time we face the facts this was comming and what did the Govt did last week they run to put stronger laws in place so dont fool yourself PM is not giving correct information to the public because the Govt was caught with their hands in the cookie jar, Dominica is under the microscope in the International Communities for some time now.
that is because those politicans are to dam corrupt.. if you leave here and you cant see how them man rollin, some man have 5 houses and how much suv on those minister salary, and some of their cabalis supporters are to greedy…
people see they are overdoing it and those poor people still supporting that nonsense..
hmmmmm something fishy whos right or whos wrong? i wonder
Well said Roosevelt , I am awaiting their response.