Dominica cannot be developed by selling passports former AG says

Wiltshire describes the selling of passports as a shame
Wiltshire describes the selling of passports as a shame

Former Attorney General and founder of the 12th of July Movement, Bernard Wiltshire, is criticizing the much talked about Citizenship by Investment (CIB) Program, arguing that Dominica cannot be developed by selling passports.

He made that statement while addressing the 203rd Anniversary of the Death in Battle of Maroon ‘Chief Jacko, held at the Old Market Square on Sunday.

The CBI Program offer investors the opportunity to legally acquire a new nationality or second passport.

“Look at our country. What are we doing? We are selling the country off,” Wiltshire argued. “We think we can develop the country by selling passports. What a shame, what a disgrace. In effect, they are giving the country away. What happened if you say you are depending upon selling of citizenship? Total strangers with equal rights to every single one who was born in this land and you continue to sell and sell because you want to make more and more money. What will happen? You don’t have to think hard about it.”

Wiltshire indicated that a time will come when there are more people who bought their citizenship than there are citizens who were born in Dominica.

“And that is how they will be dispossessed finally and we will deserve it,” he stressed.

According to him the Bible says, “those who have more will be given and they will have in abundance but from those who have not even the little that they have will be taken away, because they have ears and they cannot hear, they have eyes but they cannot see and they have no understanding.”

He then called on the spirits of the ancestors to assist Dominica.

The country’s CBI program has been stoutly defended by the government.

During a meeting in Soufriere on May 23rd 2016, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit defended its legitimacy saying it has met international standards for due diligence.

The Prime Minister has previously described criticisms of the program as malicious and unfounded and promoted the program as an important tool of economic activity in Dominica.

In January 2016, Dominica’s Ambassador to the United Nations (UN), Dr. Vince Henderson said the program was managed properly and it had raised about $124-million in six months.

Dominica’s CBI program gained the last spot in Henley & Partners’ Global Residence and Citizenship Programs for 2016. Henley & Partners is a residence and citizenship planning company. However, the report was trashed by Founder and President of Apex Capital Partner, Nuri Katz, who said Henley is only interested in promoting its own products. Apex Capital Partner is working with the government of Dominica on its CBI Program.

St Kitts & Nevis and Antigua & Barbuda are the two other Caribbean countries that are part of the CBI Program.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

46 Comments

  1. Josef
    July 14, 2016

    I am an european and got the dominican passport. This because i love the island and, maybe, when I am retired, I would like to pass the winter, which is very hard in our mountains, in Dominica. I payed 100000 USD. A dominican family , where I made holiday, lost their house in the last hurrican and I helped them financially. Dominican people should not be afraid of too many foreigners in there country because the economic citicenship ist not possible to inherit. My advice is, to put the money earned from selling the passports into a social fonds and invest the money for future social security. And I believe, there are economic citicens like me, loving the people and the island, would give more money for the country. maybe we should found an “club” supporting Dominica. Josef

  2. The Believer
    July 14, 2016

    They gave Wiltshire a chance and he is back at it again, Pretty soon he is going to get arrested. Some people just cannot learn and understand. If you aim high you go higher and if you aim low you even get lower. Now the country is moving forward rapidly you have to find a way to stop it.

  3. bigger
    July 14, 2016

    Is’nt it the same Wiltshire that was taken to court for alledgedly selling passports? now he seats on his high horse spewing verbal diahrear (excuse my spelling) like issuing the Castle Bruce Dollar

  4. Papa Dom
    July 14, 2016

    Reading some of the comments here I am bewildered and ask myself whether persons really understand English. Whether we truly understand what is meant by the term economic activity or what is involved in growing an economy. People are taking umbrage to the term “evoking the spirit of our ancestors” as always any statement taken out of context will lead to misinterpretation, so rather than viewing the statement in the context of the function in which it was uttered, the result is silly comments. In these times of economic morass what is required is a fighting spirit, I spirit of hard work of can do rather than waiting on others to do for you(spirit of ancestors).
    The CBI programme has not resulted in any stimulation of economic activity in the country and I challenge those who are saying different to prove me wrong. So unless you are a blind supporter of skerritt, with nothing better to do with your time please refrain from bashing others for speaking the truth.

  5. Delvin Castro
    July 13, 2016

    Call dem Wiltshire call dem on Skerro Call dem.

  6. James Noel
    July 13, 2016

    Dem fellas just appearing and no sooner after having started a fire, they disappear as quickly as the showed up. Where was Wiltshire after Erika? I cannot recall him saying anything or bringing anything to the table for discussion on the national theme “Build Back Better”. he was in “club absentee land”. He re surfaces again with grand fanfare with a not so subtle bashing of government and even demanding certain things are done – his way. and as is usually his style, still he has not identified the source of the resources that is required to do what he wants government to do. They have all the isdeas on how to develop our country, but when they get the opportunity, they run away. Like Athie Martin, Wiltshire must be asked to state what was or is his legacy, having served as Attorney General for this country – albeit for a short time. Guess what? He has nothing, absolutely nothing to show. What has happened to his big “Halls of Justice Idea” he had, Did he leave with the idea?

    • viewsexpressed
      July 13, 2016

      Wiltshire and Athie are honourable men and patriots who have served Dominica and Dominicans well . There are no questionable deeds assigned to their names where one can accused them of meddling with Dominica’s finances and democracy. They, among others are the leaders who have championed our cause and should be the ones who leading, guiding and directing Dominica`s development. This current Labour party government is rotten and corrupt to the core.
      So James, wake up and have a good look around your neighbourhood and tel us where is the development? We are competing with Haiti and Venezuela to see who has the best corrupt leader and government and highest rate of poverty.

    • %
      July 13, 2016

      You are most likely a Chinese or a Venezuelan to be questioning Wiltshires contribution to Dominica…Man go bury your long RED head in the sand.What Wiltshire has contributed to Dominica you will not be able to do,from Waitikubuli National Trail,to Tutor at what was then known as Extra Mural Department,to politician,to lawyer,etc,etc,….You should have been doing all the work after ERIKA..Have you asked Skerrit to account to the nation about monies collected after Erika? Stop your idiocy and go and learn.!!!

  7. Peg
    July 13, 2016

    So what are they supposed to do to bolster economic activity, sell Dowasco like his gang sold Domlec?
    Having posed that question, I do hope that money $124 mil is being accounted for and transparently too.

    • lightbulb
      July 13, 2016

      You forget his gang was selling passports too!!!

  8. amanda
    July 13, 2016

    I am still waiting for information on jobs provided by the programme. Is there no one in government having knowledge of this web site? Or do they have their heads in the sand. Names of passport holders, do they reside on island, how are they contributing to the islands’ development?Or is it just pay the money, get the passport, and thats it. Can someone provide the development that has happened as a result of this programme. We might soon get outnumbered, and it will not be very good. Or can someone provide the name of the minister to get some information.

  9. Paul
    July 13, 2016

    Mr Wiltshire

    It is inevitable that Dominica is relying on CBI as the Minister of Finance is as knowledgeable about finance as I am about flying to Jupiter!

    Labour is not working, Labour is begging!

  10. ABOLOR
    July 12, 2016

    Who planted the seed will reap the fruits. All you boling and crying and going crazy now and don\’t know how to remove this shit government – But is all of you who erected it. Now you are unable to remove it. GO HIDE ALL YOU SELF. ALL YOU WHO THINK YOU HAVE BRAINS. How long now since skeritt is pm? Why now we are having people crowing like a rooster? Talk is cheap. The people of Dominica needs action. Not eloquent talk and speeches!!! Call for a march, a demonstration, a boycott, a strike, a walk-out from the job; then, and only then we\’ll know who has balls.

  11. latitude e5550
    July 12, 2016

    the whole world is selling passports for economical reasons,should we be left behind, any thing that makes the country better you oppose. what do you recomend, some thing that can really help da.you were tried tested and you fail so give me something that can work. not a fantasy

    • viewsexpressed
      July 13, 2016

      Tell us where this country has been made better. Tell us, list. Come on?
      If not your latitude position is way out. Think right

  12. Tell the Facts
    July 12, 2016

    Is this man a Christian or has he given up Christianity? Woe to him if he did. How could he call on the spirits of our ancestors? Let the people’s souls rest in peace.
    Let us see, West Bridge construction, Feeder roads for Salisbury Heights, Carholm and Lindo Park will be developed. More will be forthcoming. Where is the money coming from if not in this manner?
    Wiltshire, what else do you propose for developing Dominica? Is this all talk and no suggestion from you?
    As a holy person said: “Speak more to God and less to people.” Have you considered praying with a humble and contrite heart for Dominica and its development rather than calling on the spirits of departed ancestors? The latter is displeasing to God. It is something we should never do. It is an offense to God. They cannot help us.

    • %
      July 13, 2016

      @ The Wicked Facts…When people like you want to refer people to God i laugh,because your black heart is unparalleled to none…I am not surprised that you mentioned the West Bridge…An untendered project which
      could have gone to Dominicans. So no wonder i often refer to you as a depraved,wicked and evil individual..You are also a hypocrite,playing Christlike but your heart harbours a lot of garbage.

  13. Benediction
    July 12, 2016

    How on planet earth will Dominica improve economically when there is no effective stewardship of its internal and external affairs. The person in charge “One Man” is thick like a plank of wood – nothing, absolutely nothing to offer the country by way of it exploiting the individual’s skills set and knowledge.

  14. forreal
    July 12, 2016

    I wonder how Wiltshire and his then communist ideals would have developed dominica back the day MND…wow maybe puttin would have built a Russian international airport and dominica would a surface to air missile defence system…oh boy I can not believe these man and them went to study in capitalistic countries and come back dominica still with their painful ideas,the man has yet to state an other option…but instead the man gone pure obeah..well sa

    • %
      July 12, 2016

      You have nothing to contribute,so like so many RED idiots you are spewing garbage.The theme is you cannot have CBI as the growth engine of a failed state like Dominica.When you have nothing to say why not shut up…DONT SHOOT DOWN THE MESSANGER,look at the message…Wiltshire is spot on…It’s the recipe of failure…Why didn’t you list to us what Dominica has gotten from the programme?

      • forreal
        July 13, 2016

        Wiltshire is on spot by not providing an alternative,the Roseau bridge being constructed is as a result of the CBI program,i can bet you Wiltshire holds an American passport or some sort of American entry authorization which you ain’t got,they came back home after being graduated in the capitalistic countries, what have they really contributed to dominica after all those years,you need to adjust to the 90% and be educated

  15. What
    July 12, 2016

    Invoking the memoirs of our ancestors and the induction your political biasness is of poor and bad taste! You guys are phony as a $3 bill. That’s the only way you could get your political agenda through. You are entitled to your own opinion. Your political ideology was also rejected so chill.

  16. July 12, 2016

    Ok, let Dominicans continue to bury their heads in the sand like ostriches, while Skerrit and his gang sell Dominica under our noses, I believe our grandchildren will be ashame of us for not speaking out

  17. July 12, 2016

    Sorry any DA people are all over the world in their thousands with other peoples passports inclhding yourself so femme bouserw

  18. July 12, 2016

    Your Dominican peoplevim afraid Mr Bernard in their thousands witb our peopkes pasdport including yourself, I say femme bouserw

  19. Tj
    July 12, 2016

    Atty. Wiltshire you are correct and history will obsolve you. Hawaii is a clear of example to support your argument.
    And to call upon our ancestors for guidance is not obeah.

  20. Erasmus B. Black
    July 12, 2016

    “He then called on the spirits of the ancestors to assist Dominica.” Is this voodoo or obeah?

    Per the old adage, one should never put all of one’s eggs in one basket. And Dear Leader, after sixteen years on the job has been wise enough to have two baskets. ” It’s either economic citizenship or higher taxes PM says.” DNO – Tuesday June 8, 2915 at 10.28 am. Go figure!

    • Jon Jones
      July 12, 2016

      Hmm…..
      Abbatoir with no livestock industry…
      Coffee plant with no crop…
      Are these developments really meant to succeed?

      Selling citizenship to high rollers (who dont invest in our economy) when our population is so small with low incomes is not what I would call good governance either.

      Transparency in government finance would clear up the Panama Papers issue instantly. Will it happen anytime soon? Dont hold your breath waiting but Dominicans may well feel embarassed by how they have been duped and robbed without realising as it is happening.

  21. Roseau River
    July 12, 2016

    DA will only be developed when we collectively as citizens decide what we really what from this nation. Do we really want agriculture? Do we really want tourism? etc. Once we truly decide who we want to be, then DA will move forward by executing to be the best we can be in that sector. Today, collectively, we are simply talking about who we want to be as a nation.

  22. The CBI Program offer investors the opportunity to legally acquire a new nationality or second passport.”

    There is one very important word in the sentence in the quote above; perhaps the gullible Skerrit, and the Labor Party supports should take note of and learn the meaning of “investors.” Although the word “investors” may simply imply one endow with authority, as derived from the French word investir, or Latin word investire.

    Perhaps we should make it abundantly clear that when we associate the word citizenship by investment, we are implying the capital outlay of money for income; or profit, it could be simple as a sum of money invested, in the purchased of property.

    In any event the Citizenship by Investment program began in Ireland in the late 1960’s, when they opened their country to foreigners who wanted to invest money into their country, in the more economically depressed areas. To those who showed interest; citizenship was offered. No one person bought a…

    • Continuation:

      To those who showed interest; citizenship was offered. No one person bought a passport as part of the agreement.

      The arrangement was the foreigner invests into something industrial, which should employ no less than twenty-five people. That seems to have set the precedence, because even in the United States, that has become the standard practice!

      After the investment is made, free land may even be offered, as they did in Ireland, and a certain amount in millions deposited in a bank, citizenship is granted to the person or person’s who invested their money in the country. Skerrit game is far from the way Citizenship by Investment is carried out in the modern world; all Skerrit is doing is selling Dominica’s passport to the highest bidder. who are most likely criminals. If we had a citizenship by investment program in Dominica, in a country with less than seventy thousand people, there would be as many jobs in the country to employ everybody, and workers…

    • Conclusion:

      There would be as many jobs in the country to employ everybody, and workers imported.

      Here is the proof that we do not have a citizenship by investment program. Just before the bi-election, a Dominican by birth went into a certain constituency, and told the people he is going to rebuild his hotel that was destroyed by Erika in their village, and that will be accomplished through the Citizenship by Investment Program. How can someone make a statement like that when the person speaking is a Dominican born. How can a Dominican born become a citizen by investing in the country of his birth?

      I do not have the answer to that: maybe, I am to dumb to understand corruption when I see it! They say words spoken in English in Dominica does not mean the same as in other places, perhaps this is one of the moment where citizenship by investment means some different in Dominica!

      • eliminate hate
        July 14, 2016

        More dotisness again we. Mr. Dods. Where is your commonsense? Why can’t you ask a question if you don’t understand what is happening re this hotel. Stop the dotishness please!

  23. CC
    July 12, 2016

    He couldn’t have said it any better

  24. Not Interested
    July 12, 2016

    Lordddd…. calling on the spirits of our ancestors, really? You there quoting bible and wishing bad on Dominicans. Man relax yourself.

    • You have no interest because you are a fool!

      • Not Interested
        July 14, 2016

        Takes one to know one. # Peace!

    • %
      July 12, 2016

      This is not speaking bad a out Dominica,,,THIS IS SPEAKING THE TRUTH!!!

      • %
        July 12, 2016

        about Dominica. IT IS SPEAKING THE TRUTH!!!

    • Concern citizen
      July 12, 2016

      NOT INTERESTED,
      U NEVER COMMENT when ur lord Skerrit made all his illegal statement, now U are taking that to make an issue be guided accordingly man

    • Tell the Facts
      July 12, 2016

      It appears he is neither here nor there. As Our Lord Jesus Christ told us, “We cannot serve two masters. We will either love one and hate the other.” Wiltshire is confusing including confusing himself.

  25. Anthony P. Ismael
    July 12, 2016

    The country cannot be developed by selling passports, however the pockets of a few well connected Labor Cronies can become even bigger by engaging in this practice.

  26. Whistler
    July 12, 2016

    Fully endorsed the former AG’s view….

    sadly dominicans are not known to be a thinking lot, the island is crippled but yet, they’re in complete denial of the writing on the wall…

    dominicans are selfish and wicked, they are not patriotic as the claim to be…
    a brilliant minded society would have at least some success stories to be proud off…

    but alas dominicans are a unique bunch……

    thus the facts are deep, the poorest and slowest economy, low and poor wages, poor morale and highly illiterate society 70% , so it’s impossible to change that mindset..

    only in a dumb and dunce land mass would a society tolerate so rubbish as Governance.

    • Jon Jones
      July 14, 2016

      I hate to agree but this statement reads like an uncomfortable truth.

      Partizan fervour is being confused with patriotism by misguided people. This lack of unity is what allows others to progress at our expense and will only grow if not addressed. These so called aid and development programs are constantly lining the pockets of overseas interests and the greedy opportunists who say the are acting in our interests while getting backhanders.

      I will ask again ‘Why does the Dominica Government not fully disclose their Panama Papers investments? What is there to hide if it belongs to the people of Dominica? Is there another government with an account over there? Why do we have one? Who is responsible?

      If people dont realise by now that we are under a corrupt dictatorship then literacy standards must be really low.

      Remember Baby Doc in Haiti,
      Look what is going on in Venezuela right now. Our man has ceded rights to any stake we have in Bird Rock just lke that? Really? Why?

  27. Finally
    July 12, 2016

    Thank you sir! On the contrary. Dominica will be DESTROYED by the selling of our citizenship in the fish market.

    • viewsexpressed
      July 14, 2016

      Dominica is already destroyed. We are curious as to who really benefits from all this si called sale of our passports.
      God please look over Dominica and help us get rid of this incompetent PM and corrupt governement

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available