Dominica will finally receive Hurricane Maria concert money after two years

Darwin Telemaque is Chairman of the Dominica Antigua Relief Fund

Dominicans affected by Hurricane Maria will finally receive the funds generated from a relief concert, approximately two years after the event.

On October 29th a concert dubbed Caribbean Strong was held to raise funds for Dominica and also Barbuda, but the organizers apparently had some difficulty in delivering the money.

The Chairman of the Dominica Antigua Relief Fund (DARF), Darwin Telemaque, said the first payout will possibly be made next week.

He made those comments to OBSERVER Radio after Prime Minister Gaston Browne demanded that the funds be paid out.

 “We will be giving the money for Barbuda to the Barbuda Council, and we will be giving the money for Dominica to the Tourism Minister, Robert Tonge. We could see that happening as early as Monday on the Barbuda end,” he said.

Additionally, he said fifty percent of whatever is in the Scotia Bank account, as per the auditor’s statement, will go to Barbuda and fifty percent will go to Dominica.

Telemaque explained the challenges that the organization faced in getting the auditor’s report. He provided a timeline from the conception of the concert to the delivery of the auditor’s report a few weeks ago.

The DARF chairman said that once the concert was over, the members met with BDO – the firm that had agreed to complete an audit of the entire event at no charge.

He reported that they gave BDO everything they asked for, and a month later, Cecile Hill, a member of DARF’s finance committee, “was sure and clear that the BDO partner had everything that she needed to conclude her audit report.”

But months later, still, the audit report was not forthcoming.

 “It just kept lingering on and on and on. So, it was just a continuous stalling and she finally, just about a couple of weeks ago, provided us with the final report which shows the revenues, the expenditures and the balance that should be in the bank account (which is in the bank as well),” Telemaque stated.

Regrettably, the Chairman agreed, it took too long but he explained that DARF didn’t think it fair to go the legal route since the service was being conducted free of charge.

Telemaque hopes that the negative publicity brought on by the almost two-year wait for the auditor’s report does not influence the trust and integrity that volunteers have given to DARF over the years.

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21 Comments

  1. Casio
    September 16, 2019

    Weh boy. Them man does take people money and act like is theirs and is a favor they doing for you. Not to put no money in them man hands please. You see what skerro do with the money Chavez put their for the Kalinago? No noone can see because nothing is accounted for,

  2. Frank N Stein
    September 16, 2019

    Why is the money being given to a minister? Send the money to rotary or Kiwanis and let them donate it to Bahamas.

  3. Past DARF Volunteer
    September 14, 2019

    DARF should be dismantled
    As a past volunteer of that organisation

  4. RasB
    September 14, 2019

    Darwin, In life there are three options, one can only have two at any one time.
    Options are good, cheap and fast. Things that are good and cheap are not fast, hence the delay in the report. Things that are cheap and fast are not good and things that are good and fast are not cheap.

  5. Mary
    September 14, 2019

    Another mess they trying to steal the money when will this end . Why Robert that money should go to the people to help those in need

  6. Star
    September 14, 2019

    Pretty sure he’s from Marigot/ Welley area and has some kind of relation to the UWP.

  7. Wesley nayga
    September 14, 2019

    Darwin again? Hmmmmm up to now I haven’t gotten paid for my produce.

    Darwin boy hmmmmmm

    Someone said in Matt show u and Lennox is related.

    So I seeing why all you name always around money

    But when u coming down to vote in Wesley walk with money to pay me my $320.00

    Because I will want it’s

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      September 16, 2019

      Say in what way is Darwin related to Lennox!

      I know Darwin mother, Davena; I know his late father Terry, one of Darwin brothers in New Jersey works with my younger brother in construction.

      I know his entire generation; I also know Lennox Linton,  unless there is a link that I Mr. Know it all:

      Hahahahahahahahahahahah!

      Anyway where it pertains to family roots I don’t know about perhaps; for the record you can let me know.

      His mother was born with the surname Henry, his father was the late Terry Telemaque, his mother and I sat in the the same elementary school in Wesley many moons ago.

      The last time I met his brother at the home of my brother in NJ; I was told their mother lives in NJ too.

      Why is it you people like to lie; vindicate yourself and tell me the relationship between Lennox and that boy, the only way that could happen is if his mother and Lennox late mother are related!

  8. Stupes
    September 14, 2019

    :lol: Darwin, you think we stupid man? So if the Antigua PM didn’t order you to pay the money you would still have it making interest in a bank?

  9. Still Waiting
    September 13, 2019

    Finally………………..

    And what about the $500.00 per child that was promised to Dominicans living in Antigua…Which was suppose to be a monthly contribution.

    DARF…you all tried you best after Maria but my biggest issue with you all were the EMPTY PROMISES

  10. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    September 13, 2019

    So, Darwin I don’t know where you got that from; nevertheless, if the FBI wants me; all they have to do is plug my name into a computer, or go to the DMV they will find several cars registered in my name, at more than one address.

    Why look for me in Antigua?

    At least my name Telemaque is written; spell different ways on my registration plate eh; so I doh hiding eh!

    I am easily found, people from all over the world with the name Telemaque, are always contacting me when they are researching our name; I am not an authority on that, but this week someone called and questioned me about how Telemaque got to Antigua.

    Boy don’t believe everything you hear, Dominicans like to lie. If you wanted to know the truth, the person you talked with could have given you more than one telephone number where you could reach me.

    Peter Karam wrote his thing on face book; Dominicans picked it up and ran with it.

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telmaque
      September 13, 2019

      Darwin  one such relative contacted me recently; if you wish I can give you number to to talk him!In a message dated 9/9/2019 5:50:52 AM Pacific Standard Time, [email protected] writes:
      Good morning,   
      Can you please assist me?
      Several years back in 2002 there was discussion with a young lady (Shirley) who was researching the “Telemaque” name, which I am also a part of via my mother’s side of the family. I’ve been trying to get information on the “Telemaque” name and was wondering if you are able to share any updates from previous discussions, postings and responses:” I am sitting here with a Mauritanian colleague He says telemayet is the name of a season, rather than a surname, the kind of cold season which finds dew on your sleeping mat in the morning; he also says that Tejekanit(it sounds close to my ears) is also an ethnic group in Mauritania, an Arabo-Berber group, but certain among them say that they are close to Blacks.” 
      http://www.afrigeneas

  11. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    September 13, 2019

    “Dominicans affected by Hurricane Maria will finally receive the funds generated from a relief concert, approximately two years after the event.”(Darwin Telemaque).
    Darwin, you have contradicted yourself; in the quote you said “Dominicans affected by Hurricane Maria will finally receive.” Nevertheless, as I continue to read you said the money will be given to some tourist minister Tongue.

     If certain dogs have a habit of sucking eggs, if you make them keeper of the eggs, what do you expect to happen?

    I leave that to you to figure out, there are different factions in the country; red, blue, and; there are also colorless factions.
    Which shall be the benefactors?
    By the way someone from Antigua called my daughter and told her how you Darwin Telemaque told a relative of hers how the FBI looking for me because I threatened Roosevelt.

    (I doh know where you got that from, and who’s fabrication). Nevertheless, if the FBI wants me; they can find me as easy as people from:…

  12. Eddy A
    September 13, 2019

    …another one coming with some extremely lame excuses to justify deliverance of funds to Dominica. Well monkey see, monkey do. The PM of Dominica is just a bad example and all those little wanna be crooks say to themselves: whatever he can do, we can do better.

    • missy
      September 13, 2019

      I don;t know why people like you don’t HUSH! A totally private entity have their own thing going on but you have to make it political and say is the PM they following. smh

  13. My Little Take
    September 13, 2019

    Let me first start by thanking Mr. Darwin Telemaque, and his group for once again coming through for us. However at this time I suggest that the amount that is to be given to Dominica be sent to Bahamas instead, for the following reasons:
    1. Based on Skerrit, Dominica is NOT in need of money because money is not a problem
    2. It’s almost a sin to send money to a government that seems to have monies they trying to get rid of
    3.Austrie told us Skerrit had so much money after Maria that he literally bought a supermarket in Barbados
    4. Two years after Maria and Skerrit has millions for buying candidates and buying votes
    5. Just last month Skerrit hired boat and plane to take Dominicans to Antigua for a weekend of fete.

    So when one takes into consideration all of the above, it is fair to conclude that this money should be sent to Bahamas instead and Skerrit should double match every penny received. To make matters worse a government minister in the corrupt cabal receiving the…

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      September 13, 2019

      I agree with you a hundred and ten percent!
      Unless Darwin is a red shirt, red devil, he should realize that putting money into the hands of Roosevelt Skerrit, or the pizza delivery boy Tong “Tongue.” One who don’t know how his biological name is spelled, is a lost cause.

      Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!

      It would be more appropriate to give it  to the hurricane battered people of the Bahamas.

      Now those who doubt that the Pizza delivery boy don’t know how to spell his own name; let tell you all something, his name originates in Antigua one of his ancestors came to Dominica to worked as a peasant in the 1930’s when Dominica was a prosperous place.

      The other came and served as a police officer, when way back Dominica was part of the Leeward islands, even to this day his family in Antigua spells their name thus: “Tongue.”

      Dominica don’t need anything according to Roosevelt, where he boast $2.4 billion dollars in the sale of passports; $1.2 billion is missing!

  14. Flat Tire
    September 13, 2019

    And when they give it to tongue is a next story again for it to reach the people because you know dem fellas have to do their money magician thing

  15. Jerry
    September 13, 2019

    I don’t think that money should be given to the government. I think your team should work with local community groups and help those who are more in need. 2 years later we still have people under tapeline.

    • Jerry
      September 13, 2019

      tarpaulin (Correction)

  16. Proud Dominican
    September 13, 2019

    Transparency is key – Very good DARF!

    And, Freeness is worriness – so sad on the part of BDO.

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