The Minister for Finance, Dr. Irving McIntyre, has issued a statement to clarify the recent purchase of a government vehicle valued at $184,500, which was purportedly for the transportation of the Prime Minister’s children. The matter, stemming from a memorandum issued on November 11, 2024, by the Ministry of Finance which authorized the purchase, generated significant public outrage and some media scrutiny in Dominica.
The memorandum, which was issued on behalf of the Financial Secretary, stated that the Honourable Minister of Finance approved the purchase of a vehicle to be used for the transportation of the Prime Minister’s children. The vehicle was to be acquired from J. Astaphans & Co. Ltd at the cost of $184,500, with expenditure to be met under recurrent head D30 M100 M11 45001.
Lennox Linton, president of the United Workers Party, criticized the government’s decision to purchase the vehicle, calling it an illegal and wasteful use of state funds. He said this expenditure violates the Constitution, which requires parliamentary approval for such charges, and contravenes the Finance and Administration Act and the Procurement Act, which mandate economical spending. Linton pointed out that the state has already spent over $1 million on luxury vehicles for the Prime Minister and insisted there is no legal requirement for this purchase, which he deemed an outrageous misuse of public resources.
Linton further condemned the decision as a blatant violation of procurement processes and an attempt to keep the purchase secret from the public. He accused Dr. McIntyre of acting in bad faith and called for the vehicle to be reassigned to a public service area or returned for a refund. The former Marigot MP urged Dominicans to demand accountability and warned against any attempts to victimize whistleblowers, emphasizing the need for transparency and proper governance.
Former Member of Parliament, Joshua Francis, also raised serious concerns over the use of state funds to purchase the vehicle to transport the Prime Minister’s children. In a statement titled “Approval May Be Lawful but Not in the Public’s Interest,” Francis highlighted the growing frustration among Dominicans with the dismal economy, rising cost of living, and increasing outmigration. He maintained that the funds could have been better allocated to essential services such as fire stations, police stations, hospitals, and public offices lacking basic supplies.
“This is a flagrant abuse of the state resources for self-appeasement. The vast majority of Dominicans are appalled that the Minister of Finance with the full support of the PM has decided to use public money for the private gain of the PM,” Francis declared.
He described the incident as part of a disturbing pattern of misuse of power and resources, urging Dominicans to demand accountability and justice.
In his statement, Dr. McIntyre emphasized that the vehicle was included in the 2024-2025 Budget Estimates and that the cost difference of $52,500 was addressed in accordance with the Finance Administration Act. He gave the assurance that every step taken adhered strictly to the Constitution and the Financial Administration Act and denied that the vehicle was intended for the exclusive use of the Prime Minister’s children. He explained that it was requested by the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force for official state duties. The vehicle’s “primary function includes a national and security component, supporting essential government operations and ensuring the mobility and safety of key personnel, including visiting heads of state,” McIntyre said. He added that it replaces an older vehicle that was no longer fit for purpose.
The Minister also stated that Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit was not involved in the decision and has instructed that his children will not use the vehicle under any circumstance. Dr. McIntyre stressed that the Prime Minister did not request any vehicle to be purchased specifically for the transportation of his children to and from school.
“Our government remains committed to transparency and proper governance. We urge the opposition to refrain from misrepresentation of the facts and to engage in constructive dialogue that benefits the people of Dominica,” Dr. McIntyre concluded.
However, UWP president, Lennox Linton, has fired back. He calls McIntyre’s claims blatant lies and accuses the Finance Minister of being “totally out of order to be urging the opposition to refrain from misrepresenting facts and to engage in constructive dialogue that benefits the people of Dominica.”
Linton argues that the expenditure for the vehicle in question was not included in the 2024-2025 budget estimates and that the budgeted amount of $132,000 for machinery and equipment is being misused to cover up misconduct. He claims that the approval was for the entire amount of $184,500, indicating that the vehicle was not provided for in the budget, and accuses McIntyre of violating the constitutional rule of law and acting in bad faith to benefit the Prime Minister at the expense of Dominicans.
Linton further condemns McIntyre’s statement that the vehicle was not intended for the exclusive use of the Prime Minister’s children, citing the memo from the Financial Secretary that he says, explicitly states otherwise. The UWP president asserts that the opposition’s constructive dialogue has benefited Dominicans by reversing McIntyre’s reckless actions against the public interest. He insists that the responsibility for the misrepresentation of facts lies with McIntyre, and calls for accountability and transparency in government actions.
The initial memo from the Ministry of Finance and the Finance Minister’s statement can be read below.
Home 🏫 schooling can save this island a whole lot of money, and save the children from bullies in the school yard. How about that? 🤑
After all, it’s a 3rd world country with poor agricultural practices that can’t even feed itself.
Well, except the kids will be going to school there in long traffic lines in an expensive car. No benefit .
Tme to stop behaving like African country governments placed there by those western countries to benefit themselves only, whereby only politicians they put in place , complete with elections 30-60 years are millionaires, have 💰 and can afford anything.
Too many fine ants in the Ministry of Finance consuming the country’s financial resources for their personal gain.
The garbage bin boboll was real!!!!
all you really going through great lengths to explain/coverup
so de financial secretary was misleading then?
Both Skerrit and McIntyre are misrepresenting the financial secretary memo LITERALLY
caught dem red-handed again
This situation reminds me very much like that of the former female ambassador and the Syria diplomatic curfuffle. The lady, just as Dr. McIntyre has done, took the blame for the unconscionable, lying heathen (Roosevelt).
Dr. McIntyre’s version of events is riddled with falsehoods. It’s unadulterated nonsense. He has become morally bankrupt. Lies and corruption have become a staple of this scandal scarred administration. All members of cabinet have a depraved disregard for the truth.
The saddest thing is Dominicans will carry on their daily life as normal. They have literally surrendered the country to a despotic egomaniac.
It would be best that no one even comment on this because nothing will happen.
The only response should be to hit the streets and demonstrate this vacabone immediately be removed.
This has been happening many years now.
They keep asking we the people to “prove it” so now that there’s proof this should be what breaks the Carmel back.
This must be stopped immediately:
Dominican please take back your country
Why do Dominicans continue to refer to these reprrobates, liars and gang bangers as honourable? There is nothing even remotely honourable about anyone in Roosevelt’s cabinet of deplorables. Pathological Liars!
Kudos again to Mr Lennox Linton and the whistleblower for supplying the beleaguered Dominican people with these unquestionable facts. The lethargic, complicit, compromised, !local media houses need to do much more digging to unearth many more serious breaches and violations of the c
constitution.
Hospitals lack medical supplies, schools lack basic needs, roads in serious state of disrepair, electricity and water services need a serious injection of funds for stability, but yet, Roosevelt’s American born children get priority over the long suffering, native born children and elderly citizens.
Something has to give. This ubiquitous corruption and wanton waste of the people’s money on one family must be discontinued. Unbelievable!
The once highly respected and revered medical doctor now makes outrageous lies into perfect truth.
The doctor has foregone his integrity for a few pieces of silver and gold. By his lame attempt to shield his demigod from public condemnation, the doctor will go down in history as an opportunistic, bare-faced Liar.
this is incredible. the backpedal is topnotch.
Thanks honourable Linton for continuing to be a good, responsible, caring and vigilant citizen of you/our country. The evidence is in front of our eyes and thousands of Dominicans have lashed out at Skerrit’s abuse of Dominica’s money resources in all sorts of excesses. Skerrit is aware of that, so his sycophants and attack dogs are on the offensive, but the horse has long left the stable.
What a wicked and heartless leader. Is that his 7th vehicle? and maybe 3 or 4 houses that we know of?
Vowas! Greedy! Wicked! Heartless!
What a nasty, corruption infested DLP!
You know, Irvin behind should be looked up charged for malfeasance, and charged for abuse of misappropriation of public funds!
Roosevelt children are not in government service, they are not elected to serve in government, it’s not the people’s responsibility to provide transportation for Roosevelt children.
Even if the government provides transportation for Roosevelt, that would be for official business only and not for the transportation of his children!
Roosevelt needs to stop bleeding the nation, and use his legitimate money paid by taxpayers to buy a private motor vehicle to transport his children.
Corruption in Dominica has no limits, or boundaries. Just because that half dead old quack, Irvin said he authorized the purchase, doesn’t mean that is legal.
So, Irvin, quote me some part or parts of the constitution which authorizes any financial minister of the Dominica government to purchase a vehicle specifically to be used in the transportation of ones private family.
Well said, Francisco! You are absolutely on point. In a truly law-abiding country, Minister McIntyre would have been promptly arrested. Lawlessness permeates the entire government. This what happens when a government stays in power pass its expiry date.
@Francisco Dods Telemaque
I don’t always agree with you, but this time, you are spot on.
“In his statement, Dr. McIntyre…denied that the vehicle was intended for the exclusive use of the Prime Minister’s children.”
Yet the Memo from he himself explicitly states otherwise!. how much more sick can these ppl get?
In a time when Dominicans cathing hells to put food on the table y’all blatantly misusing public funds, y’all choose to serve one man rather than Country. Shame on you Sir.
Many Dominicans can’t fend for themselves, thanks to the whistleblowers standing guard.
Dr Mcintyre bro please stay in your lane medicine is your forte and don’t allow the Star-boy-of Stupidity to take you down this corrupt slippery slope, remember Ambasador Lauren Bannis, she made a fool of herself and paid the price.
Many former patents knew Dr McIntyre as an unassuming, honest, hardworking doctor. Ever since he has become a member of the Roosevelt’s fold, he has caught the Lying disease. He his now a dishonorable individual. He has morphed into nothing more than a mere lapdog who parrots Roosevelt’s fairytales.
Look out for some fantastic promises/happenings to distract from present colossal scandal directly surrounding the scandal scarred leader and his sorry cabinet.
Roosevelt has taken $64 000 each month from the treasury for three consecutive years, the monumental salaries each month for himself and his high maintenance wife, the $184 000vehicle for his children and many others, raping the treasury while the majority of citizens live from hand to mouth.
I am almost certain that God is crying for His people in Dominica.
Not cause it’s “legal” means it’s “right”. At the end of the day…allu going in parliment and talk talk talk, you know the barefoot man maybe doe following half of what allu saying and just make law. You claiming it “lawful” to get a 180k vehicle when Dominicans have to go on beforward and see if we get a little cheap thing and customs doe kill us to drive. That 1 vehicle have to do everything and I refuse to believe the PM and his wife don’t have at least two vehicles in their yard park right now, but they need a third for the kids.
Then PM will come and talk about what other PMs getting, but what about other citizens? Other citizens get proper healthcare, other citizens (st kitts) get double bubble, you not seeing what other citizens the “world over” getting ? After you already not paying rent for 64k a month
1) Police request a vehicle and it was approved for police but somehow, PM children end up on it? Very random.
2) The vehicle was for police, had nothing to do with the PM children, but all of a sudden, he buying a vehicle for them. Second, If the vehicle is for police, why you have to “instruct” it wont be used to carry your children…”Nobody expected that?
3) Police is under National Security and have their own budget. How is it that police is going to Prime Minister’s Office to pay for a vehicle for them?
4) The vehicle is for “supporting essential government operations and ensuring the mobility and safety of key personnel, including visiting heads of state”
When you driving around, see the amount of fancy GA vehicles it have, you saying we dont have enough we need another one that costing 200k!?
Come on…all them fancy GA that passing me in Roseau not enough to carry Key Personnel?
Ya ok lol
Another non issue by the UWP president. Wether the vehicle is bought to transport vagrants, school children, police officers or government officials, it is a government owned vehicle it is not the PROPERTY of Roosevelt Skeritt or does the president of the UWP have information stating otherwise. Where was the outcry when vehicles were bought for prime ministers Edison James, O J Seraphin and Patrick John, there is no law requiring this yet the opposition remained silent as their former leader Edison James was a beneficiary of this huge Roosevelt Skeritt government hand out. Just a bunch of evil hypocrites. Once the goodies are flowing in their direction it is all good.
@Point
You must be a very sick idiot to call this humongous issue a non issue.
Whatever you are taking before you come on DNO to vomit you idiocy, you must stop it. You are an idiot with no comprehension.
You are another LIN CLOWN.
LIN CLOWN #2.
There are numerous families in Dominica who don’t even know where there next meal is coming from. Why one corrupt man, his wife and children must live in unimaginably opu!ence while 90% of the population languish in abject poverty?
The money used to purchase this prohibitively priced vehicle belongs to these same dirt-poor people who were not even given a stimulus package during covid-19, the most economic and financially trying time of their lives.
You are physically alive but spiritually dead. You are a soulless rascal.
@ ibo France, where was your outrage and concern for the poor when this Roosevelt Skeritt Government spent about 500k in purchasing vehicles for three former Prime Ministers including Edison and paid them a salary of $7500 monthly, for doing absolutely nothing… I guess once the goodies are flowing in your direction what you call corruption is OK. And what is wrong with Government providing transportation for the children of the PM? For your information this has been happening since the days of LeBlanc when police use to drive his children to school.
Liars do not even know when they are lying to themselves: who are you talking to? On what occasion did Roosevelt buy, in particular Edison any type or kind of motor vehicle?
You mind giving a description; make, model, year and color! Wherever, you one finds a liar, a thief is close by. You can’t justify Roosevelt corruption, and thievery by people in government to Edison four years in government as prime minister. You have forgotten Edison was in opposition in parliament until his retirement from politics. If you were not an idiot and a liar, you would know that government doesn’t provide opposition members of parliament with transportation!
So, how could Roosevelt spend half of a million dollars buying cars for former prime ministers and pay them for doing nothing?
Have you forgotten until recently Roosevelt had his goons falsely accused and arrested Edison? So, is it for love or hate why he brought him a car. James is honest, thieving goods is not his thing?
You are a fool!
Bro it’s not a non issue, there are people in this country that hasnt been paid in months. Yet a man can draw down a vehicle that price just to take his kids to school. No matter who you supporting…that just not right.
this doctor was well respected but since he join this carbal and the highness taught him to lie..Dominican are loosing trust in him….that’s y the highness put him in charge of finance just to lie and crook numbers for him….but with time those things will catch up with all u….bunch of worthless…one day all those wealth u all got under labor….will be vanished….because I know they are watching all u….when all get out of office…u all must be investigated
We desperately need better transparency laws in this country. These documents should be published online for public oversight. We shouldn’t have to depend on a gov’t employee risking their job to leak information.
In a country with a very active, investigative and probative media, the government ministers and functionaries will be more transparent, accountable and be more creditable in their dealings.
The local media is a colossal failure. Journalism should be a weapon against corruption particularly in government. Dominica should be thankful and be very appreciative of Mr. Lennox Linton for being the only one to consistently unearthing these fragrant corrupt practices and excesses of the Roosevelt-led kakistocracy.