The Dominica Air and Sea Ports Authority (DASPA) has rejected claims that eight thousand overseas voters arrived in Dominica on charters and regular flights to participate in the general elections held on Friday, December 6th, 2019.
In his post-election speech on Saturday, December 7, leader of the opposition, Lennox Linton, accused the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) of bribing thousands of Dominicans who reside to come to vote which he claims gave the DLP the advantage of winning the elections.
However, DASPA management issued a press release on Monday which describes the information which it says is being circulated, as “incorrect, exaggerated and mischievous and is part of the fake news establishment being channelled through social media and other news mediums.”
The release stated that the airport and seaport activity into Dominica from the December 1st to December 6th shows that at the Douglas Charles airport, there were fifty-seven scheduled flights which brought in one thousand and twenty-six passengers and seventeen non-schedule flights that carried five hundred and five passengers.
The Canfield Airport brought in eleven flights which only carried six passengers.
DASPA stated that in total, one thousand five hundred and forty-five (1,545) passengers came into Dominica via eighty-nine flights within that time period.
During that period, according to the DASPA release, one thousand one hundred and seventy-two persons (1,172) persons were brought by ferry into Dominica bringing the total number of persons who arrived in Dominica via Dominica’s air and seaports to two thousand seven hundred and seventeen (2,717).
DASPA states in its release that, by comparison, from December 1 to December 6, 2018, one thousand one hundred and fifty-two (1,152) passengers came into the country while four hundred and seventeen passengers during that same period bringing the total passenger arrivals during that period to 1, 589.
DASPA said if one were to assign all the passengers who arrived on the island during that period including children, visitors, business persons, it would still be impossible to arrive at a total figure of 8,000.
“Based on the information provided, it is very unfair and irresponsible for persons who should know better to make these unsubstantiated statements as it relates to passenger arrivals without first seeking to get the facts,” DASPA admonished in its release.
The full release signed by DASPA CEO, Benoit Bardouille is posted below.
You people are funny.
Calling Lennox a liar… Calling skerro a liar.
All politicians ARE liars. When they do tell the truth, you should be afraid. Something bad is attached
Workers are now associated with idiots.
Labour is now associated with high scale theft…
Dominicans… they BOTH must go go go!
We can’t be picking out poisons. Red poison or blue? Which will kill us faster? We are still dead in the end.
Wake The F Up!!!
Taking sides for men hungry for power of a meager nation is lower than pathetic!!!
Get the youths to do what needs to be done. After all, they ARE the future!
These old men and women don’t care about us. When your rich who needs peasants?
Free yourselves from mental slavery… Doesn’t just me social media, money and sex. The creator did not want us to harbor leaders parading as FALSE gODS!!!!
And if you think I’m lying… Take a step back and look at yourselves minus their sweet words if ruin.
Their light is fake and…
Fact checking works every time.
So, given the road blockages in Marigot and Salisbury during the week of Monday, 2nd December, where did these thousand overseas voters, leaving the airport, pass to go throughout the island?
Where are the photos or videos of buses taking them from the airport en masse to predetermined locations?
At which hotels did they stay during their visit?
The responsible thing to do is to bring all evidence to the relevent authorities.
https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/homepage-carousel/in-pictures-marigot-main-road-today/
DNO seems to have printed what ever was sent to them. Although they may have brought people in, this pic is clearly fake. That tamack cannot hold 7 passenger planes lined up except on the runway itself. Fake pic.
ADMIN: We have eyewitness accounts that corroborate that picture. We will also post another picture of the scene from a different angle to give some perspective.
DASPA, why you providing information nobody asked you for?
You must be guilty of something! 
A lot of the planes landing at Canefield are cargo flights which usually has one pilot but no passengers hence the reason why the report shows more flights than passengers, in that field.
Also not because an aircraft’s max is 40 or 70 passengers does it means that once it lands in Dominica it brings 40 or 70 passengers to Dominica. Usually the number of passengers disembarking in Dominica is far less than the aircraft’s max. A lot of the times the flights are just not maxed out on arrival in Dominica, and to add to that there are passengers on board whose final destination is simply not Dominica.
The figures in the report are not estimates or figures based on assumptions. They are the actual figures like it or not.
Thank you very good points! I forgot about all the other destinations and Dominica is not usually a direct flight from the other islands.
#factsmatter
#opinonsarenotfacts
This is no point. Direct or indirect all entries and exits must be recorded by DASPA.
What we will find is that at no other time, can we find so many flights into Dominica, whether they were cargo or not. I wonder why so much cargo right around the election. Hmmmm
I count 6 small twin engine planes which carry about 20 people. Thats a maximum of 120 people in that picture.
Have you been to the airport when there is 100 people there? They can barely fit so where would 8000 people come in and how many planes would it take. Come on folks. please stop the hating and use good old mathamatics please.
Bardouille is obligated to respond to such ridiculous information because it involves the organisation that he is the CEO of. 8000 is just ridiculous so he felt it necessary to clear the air… So why is every single person, organisation, place or thing that sing a different song from Linton are liars or fakes? (And these days it seems like every independent organisation are singing a different song from Linton)
So the difference in arrivals this year for the period of concern is about 1100. Its likely that some of that figure has nothing to do with the election. Also some were related to the election but not voters; like media persons and even observers. Others came to vote for UWP. Others came to vote for Labour but bought their own ticket. Considering all this, the amount of tickets paid for by labour may well be under 500.
Linton you lost, accept it and stop spreading your toxic behavior to your supporters. You keep making up ridiculous and totally baseless figures. Stop it.
DASPA is saying 17 flights brought in an average of 30 persons per flight and 57 flights brought in an average of 18 persons per flight. So whoever spent those monies on the chartered flights seems to just had money to throw away.
“DASPA stated that in total, one thousand five hundred and forty-five (1,545) passengers came into Dominica via eighty-nine flights within that time period,” I would like to know what type of planes were those. Cause 89 flights carrying an average of 25 persons would equal 2,225. A commercial flight would definitely be carrying more than 25 persons but just for argument sake to demonstrate how silly DASPA argument is. Plus seeing some of the large jets which landed at Melvin hall it’s only logical to say that you DASPA has doctored the statistics of passenger arrivals.
Well based on what I saw in terms of how quickly persons were disembarking the planes and coming out of immigration. This might very well explain why this was so. It seems that the people were not even being documented by immigration. These guys are so slow on a normal day, yet with hundreds of people on Thursdays night, scores of people cleared immigration within minutes from landing. So if they are being honest based on their records, then, it means they were not documenting loads of people that came. These numbers are bogus based on just December 5 alone. And Yes I am Speaking someone who was there.
I guess they were flying in all through night also. hundreds of thousands. How many taxes and buses is that by the way to carry them?
What more evidence, if there was ever any needed, is required to confirm that yet another election was bought by the Skerrit regime. Having said that, many more ‘voter’ were brides in Dominica. I’m truly ashamed of my greedy fellow countrymen.
and water is not wet….such lies
The truth is Alll these institutions believe that Dominicans are ignorant and most gullible human beings on earth.. No other nation is like Dominicans..
After the election results, the best thing to do is to allow Dominicans to bath in their poverty n hardship whilst their parents Mr n Mrs Skerritt enrich themselves..
Give them rum, free food, money, cool out, free house, fool them n you got themmmm.
Daspa please tell Dominicans that only one plane came in n 5 overseas voters…..
I remembered a former professor saying that Dominicans just don’t know better….
Right now, 5 more years of misery, hardship n they love it just like dat…
Just don’t call elections leave skerritt suck dem dry. Ohhhhh wat a nation of shame…
Skerritt can do no wrong. N a stupid n brain dead labour pal reps. They have nothing to offer…
Sellll passports, selll dem,
5 more years of passports sales. You alll willlllll suck salt from alll corners… Misery for u allll.
So to those people that came to just vote for Skerrit and leave, and to those that paid for those chartered flight,,,
How is this Skerrit administration going to advance whatever cause you have going on which made you come to vote???
And arguably speaking so over 2000 people came to effect an election that is not going to affect their wellbeing whatsoever in whatever Domicile they call home which is not Dominica,,,
Linton this is your case right there!!!
The record is clear now there is a record of those who came, so the passenger list must now be vetted and anyone whom have not been in Dominica for the last 5 years prior to this election ballot must be thrown out!!!
According the the voter registration rule/law doesn’t it state that anyone whom have not been to Dominica within the previous 5 years of the election period should be taken off the voter registration list???
http://electoraloffice.gov…
Think clearly. How many times have any one seen more than two planes at Melville hall? I that that pic was newarl nj airport.
It is clear that people will believe whatever fits their preferred narrative irrespective of the facts.
A plane landing at Canefield holds about 20 passengers maximum. 10 flights into Canefield will only land 200 passengers. Basic maths.
Seven planes in Melville Hall will land about 420 people. Basic maths.
Today is 8,000, another person raise the figure to 10,000. Soon it will be 15,000 people who came in to vote.
Believe what you want to believe.
No surprise, Lennox is a notorious liar!
The only way the election could be deemed rigged is if there were illegal voters but all who voted were registered voters because all the different agents and observers at the polling stations confirmed or verified the same. Allu lost so accept that nuh. Sacre tonnay.
Some folks like to play the numbers game by manipulating the figures to support their agendas.
Please bare in mind that Dominica is and has been a very transient country where the citizenry often travel regionally and internationally for both personal and business purposes. This phenomenon accounts for the relative lack of population growth in past few decades.
That being said, I believe that the reported 8,000 returning voters is very doubtful. A more realistic figure is between 1,000 to 1,500 which is more reflective of a 20 to 25 percent absentee mail-in ballots in countries with that provision.
Very true. Taking into account the numbers who DID NOT vote…
It is pathetic that people are coming up with numbers that don’t exist.
If we had such an influx of people… Why did it not reflect in communities, the city or freaking rentals? Hmmm?
Again… If it were not Linton leading workers… They would have stood a better chance.
Here is the reason why your count was soooo low for UWP seats… The delinquent behaviour leading up to elections, worked in favour of Labour.
Insufferable idiots! You all cost yourselves the elections.
And again… I do hope there are investigations into who did what and where. Jail time too!
You call Labour a rogue regime… Charging a toll to pass an illegal road block seems rogue to me. Beating people, setting fires to block planes… Acts of terrorism.
Why have the police not started on this? And you want a raise?????!!!! Just as pathetic really.
Linton is a liar and apparently a their… Select a better leader… Mayhaps…
Interesting that 8000 people from overseas just hate Lennox Linton. None of the passengers rejected the offers of so-called bribery. That alone should tell a story about the leader. Persons need to refocus their priorities.
DASPA admonished in its release’ Sir the damage has been done and it may have very long term consequences far beyond- yes election matters- now have your nice job ad eyry thing else is inconsequential.
The world is watching and laughing at your mess and folks are shaking their heads at you nonsense.
DASPA management do you trust Roosevelt Skerrit? Then I have a bridge in Newton to sell to you……..shame
This statement should not be acknowledged. Pure rubbish
you know I have been waiting patiently to hear one of the spin doctors state that these were toy planes ,computer enhanced to appear real, as fake news, and Bad will almost did .
You want to keep your job, pay your bills, and take care of your children……..
If you man/woman enough to go against Skeritt, just like the arrogant fatso, anti-man in Barbados, you are gone, because you know darn well that just like Dominica has not seen a fair election in the last three times, there is no freedom of speech in Dominica, only intimidation and your little donkey is so scared……. So you see I doh blame you for what you wrote.
But what has me seething is that Melisa can threaten bug men with her hit squad, and on said if you hit us we will hit back. So Charles who understood your disposition and called in RSS, the day he spoke to all u, and had already taken a que from intellectualiz-ers who intellectualize the Dominica problem from all over the globe, while these goons attacked this village and did not expect a response because they know the same-long-ago-timers, would intellectualizing the problem.
There was alot of uwpes in Dominica who came down to vote.
the UWP voters came to vote legally that is the difference with the paid DLP persons voting for corruption and dishonesty.
Yes ssah!!, supporters of the uwp really something else. Once the facts are against them it’s a lie. You all starting to resemble you all’s leader. FIVE MORE YEARS.
Please Amin, check to see if this is a typo error or… because it tells me there were more plans than passengers! “The Canfield Airport brought in eleven flights which only carried six passengers.”
Do the math: 1545/89=18. so you a saying that there were 18 persons per flight?
i went to school in la.pie vieillecase under the mango trees.
ADMIN: The release is from DASPA not DNO and on the surface ,based on the figures provided, the math may not seem to add up.
What we do know is that some flights ,particularly at Canefield, carry cargo only.
When will these dishonest people tell the truth?So i guess all the videos are false also,Skerrit continues to steal the election,one day it will come to and end,the money has to run out.
I guess the videos says more than actually figures, no wait a man sitting or standing in his living room “getting reports” and pulling figures out of his head know, that’s who to believe a proven liar, someone you probably helped to pay fines for lying
% you right aboput this one…”The Al JaZeera documentary, told us a lot about diplomatic passports, and who are selling them in the OECS!” And the answer is:
YOUR ANGEL LENNOX LINTON!!!!! we have signed copies of the MOU!!!!!
@Joe Linton
The Al JaZeera documentary told us about Ali Reza Zibahalat Monfarred, NGLapseng, Alison Diazani Madueke, all Skerrit’s good friend..All in possession be of Dominica’s be diplomatic passport.
Engage your empty brain before you puff out garbage, or be prepared to expose yourself as a jack ….. Are you one? Yes it seem so!!!
By the way Joe scatter brain Linton, Monfarred was trying to dodge the authorities at Morne Daniel..
Skerrit
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
@joe; I’m not here to deny your accusation against Lennox. But didn’t the Aljeera documentary featured more of your one-man rogue regime prime mistake being involved in diplomatic passport racketeering
Why don’t you condemn your one-man rogue regime as well 
But no,you refuse. Maybe it’s because you are profiting 
In the eyes of wicked souls like you, wrong is only bad depending on who does it!!!
Joe Linton did you even read the document of which you speak? It shows here that you didnt. It is customary for Skerrit sheep followers to repeat anything they hear and you are now confirming this. Good thing we cant see the egg on your face.
Bardouille is a Liar!
Please go back and open an mathbook, if not use the calculator on your smartphone.
On the contrary my friend who has been caught telling lies on numerous occasions and had to pay for their lies?
Asking supporters to donate monies to pay fines
Take into consideration that liat can only carry a maximum of 60 passengers, and if the plane only carried Dominican, do the math 8000/60 =133 , so Liat would have had to make 133 flights into Dominica. Such nonsense.
Unclear
you are sure as blind as you are unclear , look again and tell me is LIAT planes you see waiting at Melville Hall.
Thank you! Its basic math. Are people so blind to follow a dishonest leader like Linton who pulls out false facts and fake news like Donald Trump?
It’s sad when people can’t think for themselves and do math.
Check Liats schedule and tell me when have they ever landed that many flights in one day. lol. SMH.
Every good government has a good opposition, so please find an young well educated leader to replace Linton. Please, Please, Please!!!
Trump 2020! Please prepare for it! Thank you and may God bless!
So were all the planes lined up ONLY Liat planes? Really?
DASPA, is somebody accusing you of wrongdoing? I am trying to understanding your defensiveness. You know what DASPA, keep talking. If you only recorded 1, 589 passengers in that time period, it means, that you did not record the rest. Why didn’t you record ALL the people? Why?
The beautiful thing about a democracy is that we are completely free to choose to remain ignorant even when faced with facts; to accept lies and deceipt over the truth and to choose to live the life of a fool instead of one of reason.
*Deceit*
(typo)
The beautiful thing about a democracy is that we are completely free to choose to remain ignorant even when faced with facts; to accept lies and deceit over the truth and to choose to live the life of a fool instead of one of reason.
@Keep talking, and what is your point?
“Why didn’t you record ALL the people?” This question has no substance. It is very foolish!
So tell me where did the leader of the opposition get his figures? Were the protesters at the airport counting the amount of ppl that came in and conducting a poll as to where they going to vote or what is their purpose for coming into Dominica?
You know what’s even more ridiculous the airport doesn’t even have a website, to at least show you departures and arrivals or what amenities the airport provides smh. If the airport closed you either have to go there, call. or you’re hearing from word of mouth that the airport closed….
Why is DASPA being so defensive? Whether people say it’s 8000 or they say 800, how does that affect DASPA?
DASPA, do you have something to hide? That is usually the case when people answer questions and explain things they have not been asked. 😒
“Whether people say it’s 8000 or 800, how does that affect DASPA?”
@What going on here? You people should practice keeping quiet when you don’t know how to phrase your opinion or idea. Take a look at the statement below:
“In his post-election speech on Saturday, December 7, leader of the opposition, Lennox Linton, accused the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) of bribing thousands of Dominicans who reside to come to vote which he claims gave the DLP the advantage of winning the elections.”
Did you notice the name of the person in that passage, who made that claim, that it was not just from people, as you understood?
Do you understand that the “DASPA CEO,” has to provide facts to convince or dissuade (to believe or not believe) the allegations of that certain person–who in this case is Lennox Linton?
Lennox accused theDLP; the DASPA is the “prime agent” to provide proof of his accusation. They have nothing to hide, they provided the facts.
If your currently a public servant the only thing you can do at the moment is sing for your supper. We all know that no information after such a heated election can be trusted, especially a government release. We all kno that if facts confirming the 8000 claim was released that heads would role. So the person who released this can be said to definitely making such his head is not on the chopping block
If no information after such a heated election can be trusted why is the words of a proven liar trusted, why u believe that 8000 ppl was brought in to vote?
I did find the 8000 figure sounded high. However, one has to analyse the figures to determine whether that extra 1100 votes, if strategically placed would have influenced the outcome of the elections.
DLP knew where they needed the extra support to carry them over the line.
To be clear, I am not totally opposed to Dominican nationals, wherever they live being allowed to cast their votes. Although we live outside the country, we are very connected to our homeland and should be given a say in how it is governed. I am most concerned about campaign finance reform where the parties would have to file financial statements detailing the source of their funds and how the money was spent. The parties should also be required to raise the money from within Dominica and from Dominican nationals so that we don’t have our government being beholden to foreigners.
zandoli “The parties should also be required to raise the money from within Dominica and from Dominican nationals so that we don’t have our government being beholden to foreigners.” that part made no sense… are you saying it’s okay for a party to beholden by a national… to be clear are you saying it is okay for a political party to receive large amount of campaign funds from a local say a business person, in return for a diplomatic posting if they are successful at the polls??? will that make it okay? I agree with you that campaign financing is of paramount importance in the reform process, but must be carefully mapped out to avoid political parties not being able to run effective campaigns.
Where then should the money to run a campaign come from, Skerrit’s pocket? Do you know what you would have if they were not allowed to raise funds locally? You would have people of Arab and Chinese descent forming the government and controlling the rest of us. Think about what you are saying for.
Where in the free world do not see locals contributing to the political parties of their choice. That is the essence of democracy. If people donate larger amounts of money, I expect they will want something in return. It may be tangible or it may just be to make sure the party of their choice get into power. I have no issues with that, but I would like to know who are financing the parties.
“Are you saying it’s okay for a party to beholden by a national… to be clear are you saying it is okay for a political party to receive a large number of campaign funds from a local say a business person, in return for a diplomatic posting if they are successful at the polls?”
@Joe Linton: I don’t see that part in Zandoli’s idea, you added it.
If I support a party, especially from my homeland, and I am well off financially, I will most definitely donate as much as I can to that party’s election campaign, with no condition for that donation.
And if Dominican abroad and at home would consider that fact, maybe that cost of an election campaign would not be so tough on the parties.
If we want our party elected we should think of helping them to present themselves as the winning party.
And win or lose, we will know that they tried.
Zandoli,
How much did you pay in taxes last year? How many times did you spend money by the market? You go calypso show? Despite your connection to Dominica, you are not actively adding to the development of the country and therefore should not be allowed to vote. Whether or not you have a passport from the country you’ve relocated to… you are not in the struggle and therefore should not be allowed to vote. We need to make amendments to the constitution, once youre gone for 5 years – you lose voting rights!
Are they any facts to any of these accusations? Linton has taught everyone to just make up stories with no facts backing them up. Sounds like a certain US president we all know and make fun of.
UWP opened up the right for people to come down and vote….
Bardouille go chill out..!!!
The question i keep asking is, since DLP does not do anything to raise one cent, where did they get the money to fly in so many (8000-10000) illegal voters to steal yet another election.
Were diplomatic passports sold?The Al JaZeera documentary, told us a lot about diplomatic passports, and who are selling them in the OECS!
Skerrit
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
Please stop the hating and do basic math and figure out how 8000 people would get to Dominica in such a short time? Cruise ship? Boing 747, to land where? Star Ship Enterprise and Scotty would beam people down?
It’s like Maria came and took away common sense also? SMH
“Since DLP does not do anything to raise one cent, where did they get the money to fly in so many (8000-10000) illegal voters to steal yet another election”?
@%, That is what Mr. Bardouille is telling you, that the DLP did not bring 8000 people into Dominica to vote for them, or else, where did they get that kind of funding?
So this is a question you should ask Lennox; Mr. Badouwille cannot answer it for you, because he doesn’t have 8000 travelers, to Dominica, on his list for December 01-December 06
I think you should be asking the person who actually signed their name on a document to sell passports if they had gotten elected. That person alone that can tell you where the imaginary money be.
Look good you will find it, special needs