Dominica named among ‘major money laundering’ centres

Dominica and “all major Caribbean and Central American countries” have been listed as “Major Money Laundering Jurisdictions”.

That’s according to the latest US International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) – Volume Two, dedicated to money laundering – for the year 2018.

The offending countries – listed in alphabetical order – have been identified as follows: Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Maarten, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.

However, the INCSR points out that despite the devastation of Hurricane Maria, Dominica made some progress in its Anti-Money-Laundering or AML regime in 2018.

The report states that with the assistance of a donor, Dominica has begun a National Risk Assessment (NRA).

“Dominica reports there are currently 13 offshore banks regulated by the Financial Services Unit (FSU), which also licenses and supervises credit unions, insurance companies, internet gaming companies, and the country’s economic citizenship program,” the report says.

According to the report, the government of Dominica indicated early on that narcotics and cyber crime are the major sources of illicit funds.

“The country’s geographical location and porous borders raise risks for narcotics trafficking,” the report states.

Additionally, foreign nationals from Europe, South America, and Asia have used automated teller machines in Dominica to skim money from European bank accounts by exploiting security deficiencies.

“The preliminary vulnerabilities identified by the NRA are inadequate AML training for the judiciary and the prosecutorial authorities, lack of awareness of new AML/CFT procedures by key law enforcement agencies, and ineffective supervision of DNFBPs,” it stated.

The report is accusing Dominica of not consistently using available regional mechanisms, such as the Joint Regional Communications Center (JRCC), to properly vet candidates under its Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP).

It said the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CBIU) does not always deny citizenship to those who are red flagged or given negative dispositions from the JRCC and other institutions.

“There are also increasing concerns about the expansion of these programs due to the visa-free travel and the ability to open bank accounts accorded these individuals,” the report stated.

The INCSR also pointed out that the only Caribbean/Central American countries left off this year’s INCSR are the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico – both US protectorates – along with Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana, all overseas departments of France.

The US even added itself to the list of major money laundering jurisdictions along with the United Kingdom, Spain and The Netherlands – all founding members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) – which works closely . . . with the European Union (EU) on tax-avoidance issues and creates the “Tax Haven Blacklist” that seeks to name and shame and then penalize countries it determines are tax havens and money laundering centers.

The US is a founding member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the international financial crimes watchdog that also works in conjunction with the OECD on tax avoidance and tax-fraud-related matters.

Read full report… 

 

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41 Comments

  1. Fuente
    April 18, 2019

    So how comes no US state not on it????hhhhhmmmm… U see that America there, they not easy. Only they good. They more holy than thou.

    I have no faith in anything America publish

    • Pipo
      April 19, 2019

      Well, they also punlish Uncle Sam dollars. Guess you have no faith in them either and will refuse next time someone offers you some? Maybe Bolivars better for you?

      • Neville
        April 20, 2019

        Yes but by the time he reach the bank it devalued already!

  2. Man bites dogs
    April 17, 2019

    Now if I didn’t know any better i would have think it was Lennox Linton and his loonys supporters who wrote such crap. I didn’t expected the American authorities to come out with such a crap it stinks so badly it must be coming out from the white they are trying to split the carribbean nations then you know what comes next. Having said that Linton and his loonys supporters will be having a sing and dance about it bloody traitors i would not put nothing pass that lot.

    • Ibo France
      April 18, 2019

      This is not meant to lampoon. Give more attention to your comments. Many are fraught with errors and indecipherable gibberish. You can continue to criticize Mr. Linton and the UWP supporters. When you do so just stop embarrassing yourself with your poor spelling, poor grammar and poor sentence construction. For when you are bent on maligning someone, you have to be almost impeccable. Don’t try to get back at me now for two reasons:
      1. I have a thick skin
      2. My intention is for you to improve

      • chick
        April 20, 2019

        one word..”RUBBISH

  3. RandyX
    April 17, 2019

    Once upon a time Dominica was a well respected member of the church international community. With Skerrit that’s all gone to my he dogs. He prefers the company of the likes of China, Russia, Cuba, Venezuela etc. who have very few standards when it comes to their individual citizens. Unless one is a member of the inner circle of these countries the citizens have little chance. As Skerrit himself said a while back: …no law and no constitution… We all thought he was joking but I now know he was deadly serious. He is planning to rule Dominica by his own laws and rules. Whoever doesn’t like it find themselves in jail quicker than they thought. Welcome to Skerrits Dominica.

  4. kubulol
    April 17, 2019

    Most of the time, CBi programs are an open gate to dishonest foreigners for money laundering.
    I guess DA is no exception.

  5. April 17, 2019

    These lists are ridiculous, and the countries named should cooperate to push back against this bullying as strongly as possible.

  6. DAPossieMasse
    April 16, 2019

    Ah ah JAH KAL, the only places the train landed in the Caribbean, within that context, are in Jamaica: Michael Manley, Guyana: Walter Rodney, Grenada: Maurice Bishop.
    The US does not involve itself in Caribbean affairs if it involves dictators-the ones not branded as communists.
    If change is to happen in Dominica, it must come from Dominicans, not the US.

    WAKE UP DOMINICA… It is all about you not continuing to being a laughing stock in the Caribbean. Sometimes I am even nervous to tell people where I am from because of our government. We are popular for mostly bad reasons. Thank the Lord for creole fess.

  7. RastarMarn
    April 16, 2019

    DNO if allyou bringing people information bring the whole ting nuh!!!
    https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/290502.pdf
    According to that report: Dominica Hosts 13 offshore banks???
    Marn Wonders where are those branches located,,,

    • Pipo
      April 17, 2019

      Yes, 13 of them bro. Check fsu.gov.dm/registered-entities/offshore-banks
      Off shore bank does not need to have a high street office, it can be a virtual bank, existing on paper only. That is not for the average Dominican, those who even have an account with a well known high street bank such as NBD, RBC, Scotia, credit union and so on. This is for moving big money by big “business men” only, know what I mean?

  8. Rasta lives on
    April 16, 2019

    Whats the point of that rubbish? Even the country that produced the report is part of it along with the whole carribean.

  9. FBI Agent
    April 16, 2019

    Money laundering, Drug trafficking & human trafficking. When the plane from Santo Domingo crash landed in Dominica last week, with undocumented Haitians coming to Dominica in broad day light, I wonder if it caught the attention of the US and other international countries like France? On this report we were blacklisted for money laundering resulting from our CBI passports. However don’t think we are not in the spotlight especially with Venezuela….

  10. Take Warning
    April 16, 2019

    I know some will say is not Dominica alone…. the US even on the list. However, the US does not depend on Dominica for anything and so too are the rest of Caribbean countries. But Dominica, Skerrit will cause you all to not get a visa to travel to the EU, Canada, the and the US. All I am saying to all you is, Melissa is a US resident that only came back to Dominica after the Bank of Skerrit was opened and both of their children are US citizens that can run to the US when they want and can even hold political office in the US. People, Skerrit is destroying all you future and if all you don’t wake up all you will feel

  11. Crebd
    April 16, 2019

    You guys will jump at anything that the us puts forward, which country is more corrupt than the us ? Starting with their president. America will look for all ways to cripple any country who disagrees with them, Trump claims that there is corruption in PR why aren’t they on the list?
    All you guys want to do is to negative about your country. The saying is true from the older person s, when you in a good house a bad house always calls

  12. Ross Apartments.
    April 16, 2019

    Major Money Laundering is a big problem in Dominica as said by the international community, and Dominicans are still supporting this regime? What other signs are they waiting for before the door is closed on them? The boys in Govt are only about themselves and their bank accounts overseas in other peoples names.
    Dominicans lets take back our country.

  13. Massacre
    April 16, 2019

    Soon and very soon we are going to see the end of this corrupt regime spoil the name of Dominica all over the world. Because of these guys greedy and lazy ways we have been branded for all the wrong reasons.
    Skerro family party will be elected out of office. Dominica needs a break to breath again.

  14. KaliNeg
    April 16, 2019

    Why are the Americans and European countries taking so long to indict the one-man rogue regime prime mistake, impose sanctions and prevent him from traveling internationally :?:

  15. Joe de plumber
    April 16, 2019

    It seems any thing people hear or read about they quick to jump and put Dominica down. It feels like because people hate a man or a party they hate Dominica to. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but why must our opinion be against our country because a bell rang. They don’t even know or care if there is an agender but they full onboard, I just wonder if is black people that so because of the power other races have over, we believe everyone else but our people, stand for everyone else but our race. Alas!!!

    • Neville
      April 17, 2019

      Plumber, every time Dominica receives bad press and is blacklisted left, right and centre it’s curtesy of Skerrit and Co. Of course the country gets a bad name in the long run. Skerrit and his goons are above the law in Dominica and his reckless passport trading machine gives Dominica a bad name internationally as well. Constantly known criminals are hunted with Dominican passports in their possession and more then not they even hiding in DA.

  16. Anthony P. Ismael Minister of Free Pampers
    April 16, 2019

    No surprises here. Everyday is a brand new mess with our country’s good name. That Labor Party is bad news for us in every way shape and form.

  17. Ibo France
    April 16, 2019

    The US and the EU spare no efforts in stripping the Caribbean countries of any economic advancement. Every time these countries comply with their anti-money laundering demands, they move the goal posts. This is a clear cut case of neocolonialism. Their intention is to totally strip is of any economic independence.

  18. Lin clown
    April 16, 2019

    These UWP idiots will never learn epecially double idiot % The USA a place you admire so much sell passport.A Green card holder has to spend $780 a passport.Invest $ 500 000 you get citizenship.And the USA has more criminals than any other country.Progress UWP loose.Destruction UWP win.Lazy Blue Bugs always wishing the destruction of your country.We are moving ON.TREASONOUS TRAITOR

  19. Bring back the kudnapped Dominican parrots
    April 16, 2019

    Has anyone talked to the illustrious Prime Minister about this and how much laundered money he has handled? He may have millions stashed in his overseas bank accounts.

    • Pipo
      April 19, 2019

      What you mean? The Prime Minister is also the Minister of finance, so stands to reason he must have sanctioned all this.

  20. Christopher Columbus
    April 16, 2019

    Cheating is wrong no matter who does it. But my problem is, you go to Barbados, Antigua, St Lucia, St. Kitts and all the countries named in the money laundering business and you see development to the point that Barbados could take our baby Ross University from us. But when you come to Dominica you not seeing any developments except that of Skerrit and very close friends of his party. In fact Dominica now is probably like the days of Christopher Columbus man

  21. OpenMind
    April 16, 2019

    Well, not being surprised is one thing, but why should anyone be? Why are the US & British and French & Dutch territories not on the list? And if should these countries not be setting an example? Oh and by the way, given the majority of drugs are destined for Europe and the USA, what’s happening to all that money? Besides, such security cost a great deal of money, unless EU, US are prepared to put the money in, then you can’t ask for more.

    • Pipo
      April 17, 2019

      The UK is on the list and so are the Netherlands and Spain, all members of the European Union and how about St. Maarten and Curaçao in the Dutch Antilles, Please, read again. We have that nasty habit of blaming others to excuse our own failings”

  22. JAH KAL
    April 16, 2019

    Skerrit look out the train is coming and it will be running in every cornor of dominica and they will be picking you all up one by one , we will hear more later.

  23. Alibabar & The Forty Thieves
    April 16, 2019

    Not at all Surprised. But first thing we need to take note of is that of the island of Grenada is not named. Are they not in the Caribbean? What are they doing that we in Dominica cannot do?
    We all know Dominica is deeply involved in money laundering of every kind. In fact Dominica might have more foreign ambassadors arrested or wanted by international authorities, for money laundering with a Dominica Diplomatic Passport. I am just surprised that Skerrit has not created a Ministry of Money Laundering and have a minister run that thing for him.

    • April 16, 2019

      Where did remember that story.U must be within my age group. old folks

    • Me
      April 16, 2019

      He has not found the right detergent yet.

  24. Lava
    April 16, 2019

    The U S is also on the list.

    • derp
      April 16, 2019

      Interestingly enough Grenada isn’t not even on their long pdf

  25. %
    April 16, 2019

    When passport selling is a country’s major economic activity, example Dominica, money laundering must be engaged in.!
    Skerrit Must Go
    Skerrit Must Go
    LAZY Skerrit Must Go Now

    • 💕Me💕
      April 16, 2019

      Typical of you %, 👀like the street DOG 🐕, just waiting for a fly or a bone 🍖 to drop so you can jump over it. Your lyrics are stale, be creative and give us a new lyrics 👠⛑👛👄

    • April 17, 2019

      Read more than the headlines, practically the whole world is included. As usual the home and capital of money laundering the hypocritical USA forgot to include it self.

  26. helloooooooooooooo
    April 16, 2019

    well i’m not surprised, there were different criminal acts among money laundering within the years in Dominica.

    • My bad
      April 16, 2019

      I wonder who from Dominica is responsible for all this dirty laundry in the international laundry and where the hell they have the money hidden? How do they Lauder these monies with so much cameras and high tech equipment that’s able to detect hidden things? Do they use one diplomatic passport with a fake birthdate say January 8, when they leave for their mission and a different diplomatic passport with fake date of birth, say june 8, when they coming in? Whoever is destroying the good name Dominica once enjoyed should be investigated and when found guilty, give them a new address for life.

      • DA best interest
        April 18, 2019

        Exactly, why would the PM of a country need two diplomatic passports and to top it all with different birthdays?? Why does the PM of a certain country refuse to inform its citizens where he is travelling on his endless travels?? Why does that same PM refuse to account for his travel expenses?? Let’s face it, that same PM spends over 50% of its time outside the country that pays him to do a job!! Can anybody explain please?

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