Following a damning report on Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program, paid articles have started appearing in international publications defending the program and its positive impact on the island. An article on Dominica’s CBI has appeared in Mint, which described itself as an “award-winning business publication from India,” as well as Hindustan Times, a daily English newspaper based in Delhi, also in India.
Under the articles in both publications, there is a disclaimer that reads, “This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s), etc., stated/featured in the same.”
It is unknown who paid for the articles in both publications and the government of Dominica has remained silent on the matter.
The Hindustan Times focused on the international airport which is now under construction here on the island, saying that it is funded primarily by the island’s CBI program.
“The international airport is poised to be Dominica’s primary global gateway, with funding primarily sourced from the Dominica Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Program,” the article reads. “This transformative airport project presents investors with a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in its construction.”
The articles noted that the $1-billion airport is slated for completion by 2025 and “stands as a beacon of progress for the island nation.”
“It will also have the capacity to welcome long-haul flights and will play a pivotal role in making Dominica more accessible to the world,” the article said. “The international airport project signifies the country’s dedication to progress and prosperity. As construction kicks off, Dominica eagerly anticipates the positive transformations that will follow, solidifying its reputation as a top-notch tourism destination in the Caribbean.”
The article praised Dominica’s CBI program saying Dominica owes much of its success to the program.
“Dominica’s CBI Program plays a pivotal role in funding diverse development initiatives on the island, spanning sectors from housing to education,” the article stated. “With one of the Caribbean region’s fastest-growing economies, Dominica owes much of its success to the highly regarded CBI Program. This program enables carefully vetted investors and their families to participate by contributing to a government fund or investing in pre-approved real estate on the island in exchange for citizenship.”
It described the island’s program as having a “stellar reputation” which it said “is largely due to its rigorous due diligence process and thorough evaluation of potential investors, ensuring that only trustworthy and credible applicants are accepted.”
The article in Mint is entitled, “Dominica’s Women: Breaking Barriers and Achieving Greatness” and focused first on the newly elected president of Dominica, Sylvanie Burton and later on Marie Therese Johnson, which it said is “the newly appointed head of Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment Unit.”
“The Citizenship by Investment program of Dominica is one of the most respected and coveted programs in the world,” the article reads. “That is probably why Marie Therese Johnson has been chosen to lead it, following a very successful stint as the General Manager of the AID Bank. As the General Manager of a large financial institution, her responsibilities included strategically guiding the Board of Directors, establishing a robust risk-compliance system, governance framework management, and heading daily
operations.”
According to the article by Burton and Johnson, “Dominica has now set an example for the world to follow.”
“That is an example of an egalitarian state where men and women have the right to opportunity, and women can shine in their preferred fields,” it said.
Despite the glowing reviews given by both articles on Dominica’s CBI program, the investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) in conjunction with 15 international media entities, paints a different picture. Investigators were able to obtain the names of roughly 7,700 people who have purchased Dominica passports in recent years. Many of these people reportedly had “dark pasts” and included a former spymaster in Afghanistan who was accused of human rights violations, a convicted millionaire and former Libyan colonel, and a former nuclear scientist for Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein.
The investigation also revealed that nearly a dozen people fled their countries over criminal charges and convictions after buying Dominican citizenship. This is despite the fact that the government in Dominica has been constantly saying that the island’s CBI program has a vetting system that “is multi-layered and handled by top-rated due diligence agencies based in the U.K. and the USA.”
“Dominica has taken the lead in this region in seeking regional coordination on the various [citizenship-by-investment] programs and in discussing ways to safeguard all of these programs,” Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit once said.
But a report from the investigation pointed out that experts say, “passports such as those sold by Dominica can be an attractive prospect for fugitives looking to set themselves up in jurisdictions beyond the reach of authorities back home.”
“If you’re a government official embezzling public funds or a businessperson making dodgy deals, chances are you’re worried about future prosecution,” Eka Rostomashvili of Transparency International was quoted as saying.
“When the going gets tough, a golden passport in your back pocket allows you to skip town. New citizenship — and potentially a new identity — comes in handy if you want to evade law enforcement and prosecution efforts.”
Links below lead to both articles.
The government of Dominica and more to the point the chief passport seller have nothing to say in their defence. What could they possibly say? I mean apart from their usual line of defence which is rhetoric, lies and cheap propaganda. This tactic might work sometimes in DA but it most certainly won’t work with accusers that know what they are talking about and have evidence as backup. Skerrit will never willingly attend a press conference that hasn’t previously been briefed in detail by his GIS. How many times did Lennox challenge him for an open debate? He ran away every single time. Why? Because he knows he is guilty as charged. All we would get is umh and aah and amh and a bit of smirking thrown in for good measure. This man has been fooling and betraying the people of DA for over 20 years. Some still haven’t noticed!
The cabal is really worried about the prying eyes of international media taking a close look at the CBI or golden passports from Caribbean countries. As a result the EU is going to clamp down on the misuse of the visa free privilege which affects the security apparatus of EU members. The Skerritt administration has been hiding the public data from Dominicans and has reported only 7700 people who received citizenship by investing and the media investigation estimates that number at 19,000. The EU data suggests that the 19,000 is 80% below the true figure. Visa-free access to the EU should not be used as a commercial commodity to be sold and bought the report said. Selling passports to countries with a high level of perceived corruption will not be tolerated by the EU and the US. These corrupt buyers claim asylum when they get into the EU. Holding press conferences and vilifying the opposition will not cut it with the EU. Skerritt you killing the goose.
Further publication issued today from the Guardian. Whilst it mentions other Caribbean islands, Dominica is mainly featured…
EU raises security concerns as it reveals five Caribbean states have sold 88,000 ‘golden passports’
European Commission says it will revise rules on visa-free travel after scale of trade in citizenship exposed
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/oct/19/caribbean-states-sold-golden-assports-eu-citizenship-travel?CMP=oth_b-aplnews_d-5
It is not only the Clown,it is the people of Dominica who don’t believe your lies,fake news and propaganda. It is for that reason and your level of stupidity,Skerrit will remain in power for a very long time.As for scumbags,first I attended DGS with Goodrich as principal then Gough,I do not need an ahole like you to tell me words.The Clown worked in the USA,and with US dollars built a beautiful and comfortable house in Dominica,unlike you who hate Skerrit because you did not get crumbs form his table.Lazy UWP scumbags,beggers and losers.
The articles noted that the $1-billion airport is slated for completion by 2025 and “stands as a beacon of progress for the island nation.”
Is this the joke of the century? Well let’s see who will get to 2025 first, Vince Henderson geo-firma of Roosevelt Skerrit international vep-port!?
This is just an extract from Skerrits propaganda bible. It’s just a barrage of words without a shred of evidence or facts. All of us were told initially that the ‘airport’ would be financed by CBI money, as a response to persistent questions about the proceeds of the CBI program. When it became clear to most of us that a billion EC$ wouldn’t build an international airport, he paddled back to his very first statement that China would initially pay for the airport. You see he makes it up as he goes along, worse even, his notorious mouthpieces regurgitate his nonsense on each occasion. This people have no shame or character. Hands up, who still believes them.
Nothing but cheap propaganda originating from, of all places, India. They haven’t got a clue. They state that the new Airport is primarily funded by the CBI program. What a shameless lie. This is a desperate attempt by Skerrit to save his skin. In true fashion, a whole sack full of lies. What a pathetic creature the PM of DA is!!!
Skerrit and the DLP is in power for 23 years,because the majority of the PEOPLE believe everything Skerrit say.Here we have a Jacka called ZANDOLI posting nobody will believe them.I guess nobody is Ibo,MEME,Juanita,Telemakak,RankyX and Jonathan.It is not believing,it is seeing,and the evidence of what is being done with CBI money is plain for every normal person to see.One of the reasons Skerrit is in power for so long is because the PEOPLE are benefitting from the CBI.Case in point CBI money built $250,000 $300,000 and $400,000 houses and apartments that were given to thousands of Dominicans free.The 2,700 senior citizens that are being paid $300 monthly,is paid with money from the CBI.The Marigot hospital was built with money from CBI.So Mr.Zandoli you and your handful of blue blind bats stay blind.Everything Skerrit do with CBI money he tells Dominicans,but UWP and supporters are too LAZY to hear.So you think Dominicans are blindly voting Skerrit?Only a Jacka will believe that.
@Lin clown, everything that Skerritt tells you, you believe so you want to force other intelligent people into believing the numerous lies he’s been telling. Skerritt told us that a percentage of money from passport sales was being put into an account at NBD towards building the airport, but when he was asked how much was there instead of thousands he said less than $100.00. Numerous times he said that the Chinese would be paying for building the airport but in the end it’s sale of passport money. Where is the loan he took to build the airport? He told of a bypass road to Canefield, where is it? what about the cruise terminal? what about the rebuilding of Roseau? how is that going? Clowns are easily fooled but not intelligent people. The EU and Britain don’t care what he does with the money from passport sales, they care about their security apparatus when potential criminals come easily into their countries. Skerritt didn’t start the CBI program but he made it corrupt.
@Lin clown, you say that houses are given to Dominicans free. You can’t back that up, fella. Just go to anyone living in these apartments and ask to see the certificate of title which is the only legal document which conveys ownership. Go ahead, clown, and then tell the reading public how many people have certificate of title for these apartments they live in?. You brag that you have a home in Dominica. Do you have a certificate of title for yours? If you don’t then explain how you obtained it and what proves it’s yours. Clown!!.
Funny how you don’t link to the articles which look at the CBI scheme critically
Like https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/oct/19/caribbean-states-sold-golden-assports-eu-citizenship-travel
The report by the EU states that Skerrit has sold as many as 34,500 passports since 2015. Assuming that the average cost would be in the region of US$150,000 per passport and considerably more for a diplomatic passport, that would have yielded a gross income of just over 5.2 billion US$. Bearing in mind that fees have to be paid to all those greedy agents, it can be safely assumed that the treasury of Dominica should be swimming in approx. 3-4 billion US$. By my calculation that would mean roughly a net yield of 50million US$ for each citizen of Dominica which means each of you should be multi millionaires. The nacked truth, however, is a different one, some of you still live under tarpaulin, others are living from one day to another, while Skerrit lives the live of a king.
All you think this is fair? Why hasn’t your PM presented independently audited accounts to all you? Now you know why!!
“By my calculation that would mean roughly a net yield of 50million US$ for each citizen of Dominica which means each of you should be multi millionaires.” So, the proceeds from the CBI should be channeled to the individual bank accounts of each citizen? Why don’t we do the same for the taxes that we collect then? You do realize of dumb this sounds, right?
“Why hasn’t your PM presented independently audited accounts to all you?” This is a red herring. If however, it matters so much to you, why not have the Opposition (in Parliament) table the relevant questions and requests? Doing so would surely force the Executive to commission the audit and the near defunct Public Accounts Committee (Linton placed it in the hole) would pore over the report and you would be happy, or maybe not. I thought your heavy hitting journalists were supposed to unearth the missing beeleeyons.
Has your master lost his voice? Shut up then. I asked the organ grinder and not the monkey.
Quebec ca,Skerrit tells Dominicans everything about the CBI.You and the other UWP scumbags are so buried in listening to the lying,fake news and propaganda media whore,you never listen to Kairi fm.Skerrit has said over and over again the CBI is not going to be there forever,so make full use of it.Unlike you and the other aholes smart Dominicans know the CBI is not for ever.So stop your BS because patriotic Dominicans know it will die and they expect it to die.JACKA.
@Big Clown. I see you love the word “scumbag” very much. You recently started using it since after I introduced it. You do the same thing with all of your nonsensical rubbish. When last did you sleep in peace? How is your health? You stand in front of the DNO office door long before the office is opened. Who’s paying you to stick your head out so far in the fire 🔥? Come 2024 you will catch a break because, instead of going to DNO’s office to throw your garbage 🗑 you may have to pay a plane ✈️ fare to go visit your god. But you won’t be allowed beyond the Maximum Security Facilities. So enjoy your wildness and craziness now on DNO. Time is winding down, your Bozo. And stop your plagiarism of my uncommon used words. VOLEH.
Lin clown
I am so HAPPY that you are getting mentally SICK. You have supported corruption too much. Imagine a political party has someone like you trying to defend it!!
@Lin clown, the use that Skerritt made of the CBI program is to buy patronage from supporters who received largesse from the cabal. The passport sellers, those who are living rent free in the country’s apartments,those ex government ministers who are kept on the payroll for doing very little for the country, he bought the religious establishments, put many square pegs in round holes in the police force and elsewhere. It’s a cesspool of mismanagement, nepotism, corruption, victimization and folks like you fanning the flames.
@Lin clown, recall that when Skerritt agreed with Linton that the figures in the budget was understated by $1.4 billion. Skerritt agreed, even if some of his acolytes like “smart a**” Sam Raphael, tried to denounce Linton and explain that he was wrong. Skerritt promised to correct the shortfalls and up to now there isn’t any accounting for the $1.4 billion. Where is the money, Clown? The country deserves answers even if you don’t care. Maybe someone got some crumbs? That’s not how it’s supposed to be.
Skerrit and his gang have no credibility. They can publish these advertisements in The Heaven Times, no one will believe them.
Roosevelt is outstandingly corrupt. It’s as though he operates the CBI program from inside a dark dungeon away from the prying eyes of the public. There is only one reason for this – CORRUPTION.
Whenever a government operates in absolute darkness and secrecy thievery and other wrongdoings are rampant.
Local, regional and international journalists should not ease up their investigations until all the corrupt practices of this sinful maladministration are exhumed. Every cent of public revenue that was siphoned off by these arch villains of this plutocracy must be found and placed in the consolidated fund.
The Mint and Hindustan newspapers didn’t print anything about the story circulating from the OCCRP!
If Skerrit wants to create an impression that is worth salt he should pay his public relations firm to print a response to the stories directly on The Guardian, Miami Herald, OCCRP, Forbes, La Monde etc. As someone seating in the seat of PM these publications appear to be lame and immature ….coming from “a little boy”. It doesn’t make direct reference or answer any of the questions remaining open to speculation.
pure waste of good money…Dem people can’t defend Skerrit. dem fellas making money on Skerrit….it appeals to the characters that get our citizenship then their dark past is revealed!
That world boss image is flying in de wind!!
$10,000 designer suits won’t save/clean your image skerrit.
And that cheap public relations campaign will be reduced to dust in time to come soon.
tic tok Skerrit
These guys know they have committed with our passports and they turning around with our money to coverup their crime and and the police of Dominica not saying a thing. But if Tony Astaphan would call the police and tells them he thinks he saw Lennox Linton standing by the financial center at 1 am although they know is a lie, those police would go after him and harass the man at 2:am. Wicked sons of hell you are
Honestly, there isn’t anything glowing to say about the CBI program when the Island hasn’t seen initiatives of any substance for the local people or respectable projects completed to an exceptionally high standard.
BTW, of all the news outlets in the world, why do you choose to comment on 2 virtually unknown publications outside of India, to obtain positive quotations.
The disclaimer they use for ALL their articles, tells you they only collect info from other sources and are clearly not willing to stand by the “glowing reviews” stated as a matter of fact.
Disclaimer: Neither Red nor Blue
“Honestly, there isn’t anything glowing to say about the CBI program when the Island hasn’t seen initiatives of any substance for the local people or respectable projects completed to an exceptionally high standard.” Then, you either do not know Dominica or you are confusing it with the DR; same difference. Heck, even supporters of the UWPwee would find this statement alien to reality and utterly preposterous.
Here is something very simple.If as the opposition say,Skerrit was making hundreds of billions of dollars from the sale of passports for he and his friends.You can be sure the Dominican people would remove Skerrit and the DLP from office.The reason Skerrit is there for so long is because the majority of the people view the opposition as liars,lazy,crooks,traitors and scumbags.A dead political party of hypocrites.A man campaigning on a political platform of anti- corruption,at the same time he is involved in a conspiracy …………………..into Dominica.A former Prime Minister was sentenced to 12 years in jail,charged with conspiracy.MEME the crack head is call this UWP man an honourable man.Typical UWP shameless.
@Clown
Dominicans living in Dominica have always been rejecting Skerrit, but he gets people like you and others living unemployed in the USA, pay you US$50.00 put you in a targeted constituency to vote to corrupt our elections.
The CCJ itself has called Dominicas election as CORRUPT!!
This one have DNO hopping mad.DNO also have disclaimer and awaiting moderation which allow them to post more comments against Skerrit and the government and more comments in favour of the opposition.I am sure this headline:Defence of Dominica’s CBI,is the work of DNO.The report of the investigative group is a conspiracy to destroy the CBI.In their report they never mentioned the hundreds of millions spent in building $250,000, $300,000 and $400,000 houses and apartments from the CBI.But,Harari found it fit to say Skerrit sold a few properties to Anthony Haden.The people of Dominica are satisfied with what is being done with CBI money.The construction of the internation airport has been discussed at length.The construction of the Marigot hospital was discussed with the people.The Roseau west bridge,the people know was built with CBI funds.The $300 given to senior citizens monthly is paid with CBI money.To say Dominicans are not profiting from CBI funds is fake news,coming from liars.
@Lin clown
You seem to be the most wicked Dominican alive. Did you shamelessly mention $300.00 being to elderlies? Well Skerrit gets close to $100 000.00 each month, for house and utilities. Think of that. Hundreds of million spent on housing is not the way you account for missing monies! No wonder you yourself chose the name CLOWN to describe you!!
I support the move. However, I still think you need to get a life cause your type of antics are costing him credibility due to your demeanor.
@Clown
Dominicans are NOT benefitting a fat from CBI revenues, except for a few peddlers of the passport. Not even a stimulus package Dominicsns got after hurricane Maria.That’s how terrible a leader Skerrit is. You got your stimulus package and you are getting your food stamps!!
The international journalists told the world that our government sold our passports to criminals and monies from the proceeds of these crimes are hidden outside of Dominica, on the names of private foreigners and now Skerrit is using from that same to try to cover the crimes committed and our police officers have not called Roosevelt Skerrit or any of his handlers to answer questions. Think of that. Shouldn’t our local police be working closely with those international journalists to get some local and international criminals arrested? Man this is very disturbing to say the least and although I don’t endorse lawlessness but this kind of behavior by our local police and government calls for national lawlessness to see what the police will do
That’s what the police should do. Unfortunately, the CM is their Commander in Chief. They won’t do anything, they will turn a blind eye. Dominica is a lawless corrupt place, courtesy of the CM.
What really hurts me is Roosevelt Skerrit is using our own money to defend and protect thieves, corrupt people, and wanted criminals that should be in jail where they belong , while the majority of poor Dominicans can’t eat a healthy meal and so many can’t put a sheet of galvanize on their house that’s leaking sing after Maria in 2017
Skerro is obviously feeling the HEAT…In public he must put on a farce to show that he is above board, but the guy most likely can’t sleep at night…Thing is he is well hooked, because he just can’t give ANY explanation, audit, or even a credible figure of the total amount that has been sold!!!
Skerro go find our money for us garcon!
Vowas! Vowas! Vowas! Vowas! Vowas!
The fraudulent Passport Sale is the Straw and nail in the coffin. The Passport sale was so popular in the labor government, I hope it gets a state’s funeral after all. Some will surely cry and say, “It wasn’t me.”
After UK visa waiver cancellation program is dead, Skeritt must be crying at nights with cold sweat that his money laundering machine died and law enforcement is eventually after him soon. So many reports past week and NOT A SINGLE WORD about it! Puppet lEADER.
@Quebec CA
The greedy peddlers will cry. The economy will crash, because this government is lazy, cannot think of anything else to help the tanking economy, even when it has the largest cabinet in the world. Why can’t the Starboy of Stupidity ask big belly Ralph how St Vincent is doing it without selling passports? ..Dominica’s wicked Starboy gave the young men small portion of “ZEB” to smoke their lives away, when the same “ZEB” could be grown and imported.
Dominicas dilema is 100% attributable to Skertit!
OOPS!!!
Could be grown and exported!!
I support this pro-active move wholehearted. More needs to be done ✔️, you don’t want to be at the mercy of the EU that wants to see you broke and dependent on them.
So you prefer Dominica to be selling passports to known criminals?
As an Island that long obtained its independence, you shouldn’t want any country to see DCA as broke and dependent on them. Unfortunately, it seems this is exactly the position the Island is in today, be it EU, CN or any other country.
Yes, more needs to be done by the Government of the people for the people and by the people.
Disclaimer: Neither Red nor Blue
pro-active my foot…..are you a comic?
if Skerrit wants to speak to the EU his message through his public relations campaign shouldn’t come from India.
what about de government of Dominica making an official statement addressing all of the issues
a lot of accusations….. Skerrit empty.
that basket can’t hold water
@Matt, pro-active move you say? do you understand the meaning of pro-active? It’s creating or controlling a situation rather than just responding after something has happened. Skerritt is running scared of what the EU and the US are going to do following the report so he’s responding. But alas, the horse has bolted from the stable. The Skerritt administration can’t put the vampire back in the bag.
And who the h*ll is the E.U but a bloated grouping that doesn’t want to rely on the U.S if a Hitler should happen again. But they shouldn’t use their current position to bully the less fortunate countries. That’s what they do best. So, we are bullied from both ends as the U.S did to Antigua and had to pay in the end.
What does having women in high places have to do with the legitimacy and integrity of the CBI program? Nothing!!. Then why did the British slap restrictions on access to those holding passports from Dominica? Note also that the regions where Dominica is most active in selling our birthright women aren’t regarded or treated highly by men. Does Skerritt want buyers of Dominica’s citizenship to come and reside here why it’s highlighting the elevation of Dominican women in Dominica. Considering that most families who fork out the money to buy our nationality don’t want to come reside here but use the passport for the access it gives to developed countries. If the reason was for their females to receive respect and more opportunities then we would have had a lot of the passport holders living here now. They want to go and live in America. Canada, Europe etc not in, as Trump described as, “s…hole countries”. The governance by Skerritt makes Dominica a “s… hole ” country.
So Skerrit and his boys selling our passports to known and wanted criminals, instead of bringing our money here to help us feed ourselves and families, he and his friends have our money on international accounts to do their personal business and when they are exposed by international journalists they taking our money to pay for the defense of done by them eh. Boy afforce these wicked fraudsters wicked