Hotelier and agent of Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment Program (CBI), Sam Raphael has said it is important to preserve and protect the program which he believes is such an important part of the economy.
He was speaking as a guest on State-owned Radio DBS ‘Talking Point’ Program on Tuesday.
According to him, the CBI Program is a unique opportunity to bring in revenue into Dominica and other Eastern Caribbean islands.
“In my mind, it is important to preserve and protect this program as much as possible, because it has replaced direct foreign investment, it has replaced so many things,” he said. “It is now the largest source of revenue coming into our economy, the largest source of discretionary income for the government.”
Raphael continued. “Could you imagine if one day we got up and we didn’t have the CBI, not just Dominica but the Eastern Caribbean, not having investment capital in the region even for development or re-development, how this would be?”
Raphael went on to say that he is not comfortable sitting back and being dependent on CBI to go forward but “quite the opposite.”
“I am saying use CBI as a tool to build a sustainable economy, which is what we are trying to do at Jungle Bay and the Kempinski and so on…,” he stated.
Raphael added that the CBI Program is a unique window that “we really need to do everything we can to preserve,” whether people see themselves as directly benefiting from it or not.
“For me, I am one of those on the frontline of this, not just for my business personally but as someone looking for economic development for Dominica and how it affects people,” he explained.
Furthermore he said the CBI Program is such an important part of the country’s economy and yet people literally don’t know about it.
“You have some detractors that are just bad minded people that will take things and twist it and deliberately create confusion,” he stressed. “If people really know how the program worked I think you would have a large majority of the people in this country fully supporting the CBI Program.”
Raphael noted that notwithstanding these programs, including Dominica’s, have challenges that pop up from time-to-time that need to be dealt with, “but it is a program that brings in a tremendous amount of resources to build the country.”
However, Raphael was not always an admirer of Dominica’s CBI program.
In 2010, he questioned where proceeds from the program were going.
“Unfortunately…the Economic Program has always been viewed as something sinister and negative. So it’s always been cloaked with secrecy. And with that people really don’t know what is happening; we do have an ongoing citizenship program. People are becoming citizens of Dominica even now. Where are the proceeds going?” he said.
He added, “There is no transparency there, and so I think it was better when it was a clear program when the proceeds were earmarked to the productive sector and if you have that on a certain level of transparency I think that would do better. But where you have the people becoming citizens and paying monies and the public has no way of knowing how many people are becoming citizens and how it is impacting, I think that’s where the problem lies.”
But of course it must be protected! This is your source for funding. You benefit highly from it and sad to say not the poor malaway.
What is wrong with this man can someone
Please call Dr Shamma and Benjamin for
This political falsifier
The CBI program IS important. Any educated individual will agree that countries like Dominica must take advantage of a CBI program while they can, to collect funds to help build other more long term sectors. But the best way to protect the CBI program is for the government to be transparent with it. The debockle caused by the issuing of diplomatic passports to unsavory characters was a result of a lack of transparency and mismanagement. Transparency and openness with the public guarantees the public’s confidence in the program and thus protects the program.
lol! Sam you a funny guy, so now CBI is D/ca major way of bring money in…. ok so how much is the passport cost to be bringing so much money? how does the CBI program works? who are the individuals with those passports? what investment has those passport holders invest in? Finally!!! How does Toilets, Uncalled Bridges, Handouts bring back money to the country after CBI done? i can assure you 99.99% of those supporting the CBI cant give a reasonable explanation to those simple question …
It should be protected for you to make more millions? in the end all what you guys have taken from the public purse will be confiscated, and i mean all of you guys.
That CBI thing is a curse on Dominica, Everything stop and is only CBI
Wow! When a person is unprincipled he can easily be bought by dangling a few ‘shiny objects’ to his face. Raphael went from one extreme to the opposite extreme strictly for personal aggrandizement. People like him who seemingly have no core positive values are the enablers of bad governance. For him to advance such a narrative about the country relying almost exclusively on the CBI program for its economic survivability is a ‘good thing’ is a monumental insult to our intelligence. The CBI program is unsustainable in the long run . We have to unleash the entrepreneurial and creative juices in our people to become more self-reliant and build our economy mostly by ourselves and become less dependent on foreign intervention.
It has replaced the economy! You almost said it by accident, Samuel Raphael: “In my mind, it is important to preserve and protect this program as much as possible, because it has replaced direct foreign investment, it has replaced so many things,” he said. “It is now the largest source of revenue coming into our economy, the largest source of discretionary income for the government.” Selling passports and citizenship!? How productive are we today? What is the measure on Dominica’s economic productivity today?
Scary, very scary!
Is there room in the cabinet for more empty suits?
Hello and good morning my people. Well Mr Raphael can you please explain to us how you qualify to receive CBI money. I am certain that you born in Dominica so what citizenship are you getting. The proceeds are going into your hotel but can you tell us where all the citizens going to stay when they move to Dominica or are they going to stay in your hotel since their money is being used to build your hotel. Who will own the hotel since public funds are being used to build it. I will hire a lawyer to have the courts determine who own the hotel.
Sam after 17 years of CBI the only development you can point to are Jungle Bay and Kempinski with the resulting disgraceful loss of agriculture,the demise of the infiant manufacturing subsector,an increase in poverty and dependency,a struggling tourism sector,an increase in criminal activity in the country,a failing healthcare system,an over dependence on China for development assistance,and to add insult to injury,a government which each day does out large amounts of money in a effort to buy loyalty.Don’t worry Sam if I was you milking the CBI cow for personal gain,I’d say the same thing
Sam, three things I need to say to you:
1. Those who tell falsehoods sooner than later find themselves in deep water.
2. Any excuse will serve a tyrant and
3. You have no right to what is not rightfully yours.
ABRIGADO!
Alas pm little boy singing for supper
The best way to protect the CBI program is to remove the government of Dominica ‘aka’ Roosevelt Skerrit from office. On his way out, he can take the rest of his sycophants with him.
Twas spoken.
THE END.
MASSACRE! The greatest of all is love, you are so good at nourishing but completely missing love. With a language such as this, how do you reduce on crime?
What no one is observing is that we are selling of the sovereignty of the country. The only inheritance we got from the brutality of slavery was a nice piece of real estate where we have independent political control. And yet, how readily third world leaders like ours are to sell of our inheritance of economic and political control for a pittance. Who gives them the right to sell of our inheritance and those of future generation so easily? How can we sit by, while they sell our collective inheritance and pocket the large chunk of the proceeds from our collective property? In no civilized, proud nation would this even be conceivable, yet here we are praising such foolish, reckless behavior as a development strategy? I am so ashamed of us as a country.
Sam here is the quote….“Unfortunately…the Economic ….Citizen….. Program has always been viewed as something sinister and negative. So it’s always been cloaked with secrecy’
That was in reference to sometime in the past..Is there more tranparency and less secrecy with CBI and sale of diplomatic passports now ???..While I agree with you that CBI could be an important vehicle for investment in productive enterprises the concern of the critiques is that the programs have attracted crooks and encouraged corruption and self enrichment.
What about the DASS!
There is one thing about investments through the CBI programme that irks me no end. It would appear that Dominicans, who are citizens by birth or through their parents, are precluded from participating in these investment opportunity. For instance, when I ask whether I can invest in one of the units in the new Jungle Bay development I am told that is only for foreign investors, who make a contribution to the government. There are plenty of Dominican citizens with roots in their mother country, who would be interested in such an investment but who do need to buy a passport first. Why are such “real” Dominicans shunned?
In other words Sam is telling me,even if its just a few benefitting from CBI,suppoit him…Sam I am smarter than you,and I CANNOT be bought,let alone to go and garble foolishness on radio…CBI has made some MILLIONAIRES,but the poor barefoot man has to humiliate
himself,sacrifice his DIGNITY,cover his face at a RED CLINIC.
WHAT A DOGGONE SHAME!!!
My knowledge of CBI, it’s to create jobs, and help the economy improve. Those who buy the passports should be starting and investment in the country, to build the economy, not to just pay an amount and hold a passport. That’s my understanding of CBI
To: Marve
Hello and good afternoon my people. Well you have a good understanding of how the program suppose to work but we know that’s not what’s happening . People with questionable background are purchasing our passports as security rather than creating businesses that would create jobs. One day we will locate the master list that contain all the names of individuals who purchased our passports.
I have been noticeing their have been a lot of criminals coming back to Dominica recently they are everywhere on radio on TV even in church they’re all after our CBI program monies, That is why big Sam Raphael, is saying CBI program must be protected, What is wrong with that, PLEASE Mr Sam keep the good work going we have had too many negative impact on this island of Dominica.
In 2010 Sam said that the program has always been cloaked in secrecy and with that people really don’t know what is happening. Well Sam, it is still the same today but you have changed your tune. Look, if you want to open a little rum shop you have to put a notice in the paper before you can get your liquor license and if you want to claim tittle to a property is the same. But with ccitizenship it only gets published in the Gazette after it is granted. That is way too late, Something serious like that why don’t they publish the application in the paper also? Is it a secret to know who wants to buy our citizenship if it so kosher? I think we should have a say in that. Why not?
Sam Raphael, which player on this T20 / ODI team or CBI team you would drop from the team to tour the USA for the grand final: 1. Roosevelt Skerrit-captain and very fast bowler 2. Emmanuel Nanthan-wicket keeper 3. Alick L 4. Sam Raphael 5.kenneth Darroux 6. McIntyre 7. Aliereza Monfared -CEO 8. Francine Baron-scorer, 9 Baronesses Scotland- secretary/ treasurer 10. NG Lap Seng 11. Diezani Madueke 12. Reza Zarab 13 Tony Astaphan-manager /coach 14. Dr. Peters physio and Hon. Lennox Linton Commentator, whose job is to describe the game to us. Remember this team will be touring the USA, where the wicket is very green and bouncy, unlike Malaysia where wicket is slow and turning. So please pick the best team
Sam here we have a CBI program bring in allegedly approx $200M yearly and we have the weakest ECOCOMY in the OECS…..While on the flip side St.Vincent does not have a CBI program and their economy is far stronger than Dominica.
Please explain that to the poor people of Dominica and bring the GOVT along to HELP!!!
I believe Dominicans are asked to protect the CBI for the personal benefit of a few men.
Sam is the man with a plan! stay tuned,
2017 to 2018 IS EXPOSING TIME!!!!
Mr. Raphael make right. He speak from his heart. Stay on earth and do not speak the truth. If UWP didn’t promise sale of diplomatic passport, he would not say it. Spell it OUT.. UWP leaders needs to come out with the truth. Mr. Lennox pretending and hungry for power. Mr. Skerrit is another one.
Them Dominican SO Called Leaders, Has NO Respect. But there is a God that knows and see everything!!!! We all need to pray for Dominica. Put politics behind and move forward. We are in the end of time. We should all Pray, share, care and love one another.
Sam, the parrot man! flip flop, the way to go, Win, Loose Or Draw, sing Sam,Sing. The ends justify the means, swallow the hands that feed you, Sam I am, The man with the CBI Plan. We like it so, the way to go Sam. Build it and they will come.
Sam, there is no difference between CBI and the sale of diplomatic passport, though they may carry a different name, just as ODI and T20 are the same game of cricket but slightly different limitations. Sam, let’s talk ODI and tell me which of these ODI players are not on the T20 team to tour the USA soon. We know they would perform well in Malaysia, but conditions are different in the USA. 1. Alireza Monfared- right arm fast; 2. Roosevelt Skerrit, captain and left arm fast; 3. Emmanuel Nanthan wicket keeper; 4. Alick L, first slip; 5. Sam Raphael: long-on; 6. Hon. Mcyntyre- mid – on; 7. Hon. Kenneth Darroux- part time spinner; 8. Baroness Scottland-2nd slip; 8. Francine Baron-2nd slip; 9. Dr. Peters- fineleg; 10. Diezani Madueke
-All rounder; 11.NG Lap Seng- all rounder; 12.Reza Zarrab- all rounder 13. Tony-manager/coach 14. Lennox Linton- commentator
It must be protect becasue D/ca will COLLAPSE without it, how allu running the entire country on what most countries would consider a secondary source of capital
Yes Sam you need help and cannot do it alone. We talk about our children and young generation, if we truly mean what we say ,CBI MUST BE protected, if we don’t the people will leave the country and go find jobs else where. Come on Mr. Fix it ,and give it your best shut. PM WE NEED YOUR HELP on this one sooner the better.
People often protect things that are valuable to them and in this case, the wider society. We the people of the Commonwealth of Dominica have been advocating all along, that international crooks, criminals and scoundrels should never be issued with Dominican Diplomatic Passports, to evade international justice and here by tarnishing our good name. This has always been our argument from day number one Sam. I think you’re singing too much now for your supper.
This guy is the biggest nuisance I have ever heard.
I would not say that but he certainly blows with the wind.
Sam Raphael has benefitted more than entire communities and their inhabitants. while farmers are bawling to have their roads repaired for them to earn a living from working on their farms, while the rural communities are reeling in poverty,
Sam alone: $4 million – insurance money.
$6.5 million debt right off
Agent now for SELLING our PASSPORTS to make more millions.
Kempinsky?
Range Development, a foreign firm was given 15 ACRES of our CABRITS National Park.
Range Development, that foreign Co. was also given our passports to sell to make millions.
When or If the hotel is built, who will be the OWNER? Our land that was given free. Our Passports was given free to sell. Whose FOOLS are you Dominicans?
Meanwhile Dominicans arte experiencing more and more POVERTY. DAPEX, a local co. assisting the farming community was allowed to be closed down. PWC finish…
Wicked SOULS.
Too much greed, selfishness and wickedness. Allen Sandford was a billionaire, where is he now?
NG Lap Seng, a billionaire, where is he now?
Madueke, millionaire/billionaire, where is she now? All of them have to pay for doing those EVIL DEEDS to others. GOD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of evil ways of those wicked human beings.
Think you all could continue to be so evil, so greedy, so selfish and escape the WRATH to come?
Ask NG Lap Seng, Madueke and the others, who were given our DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS in those SECRET DEALS.
In 2010 he was not getting any of the proceeds so he was not happy. Now he is an agent and a recipient of CBI funds hence his support. Sam is displaying the typical characteristics of the African man why we will go nowhere. No principle by this I mean stand for what is right irrespective of the cost. Sam is more concerned about his personal benefits than that of the country. How can you state that CBI is our only hope and not acknowledge that this is a very bad place to be economically? How can you not reprimand the government for putting us in this place? We know from your previous Revelation you cannot be trusted at any time. If Dominicans want to accept that is all they are worth and cannot do better then I am sorry for my people. Sam the qualities of a human involves being able to identify the wolves amongst sheep. You my friend are good at sucking the corrupted system.
By the way Sam discretionary revenue or income is money left for spending, investing, or savings after paying taxes and necessities. It includes money spent on non essential items such as vacationing, luxury etc. I guess that’s why it is used to finance your personal business. If it is the largest source of gov revenue and if gone the country crash how can it be discretionary? Further more why would the government of Dominica have you involved in the single largest income revenue generator in the country, part of which is used for your personal business? Am I the only person seeing something wrong with that. What role does the permanent secretary in the ministry of finance play in the finance of the country. He/she is the one paid and mandated by our constitution to safeguard the country finance. The last I check that person was not Sam. This place is a mess.
So, because Sam does not sing your tune and that of your ilk, you come out here to sully his name. Sounds like the typical opposition tactic to me.
Keep talking, Sam!!
When he did it for workers he was good now he doing it for the present party he bad? How do things like you think????????
if you were sam u would do the same thing.
Don’t judge others before looking in the mirror.
In the past have you questioned where the CBI funds were going to, and now you advocating for the preservation of the program. When you said in 2010 that the CBI program was “cloaked with secrecy,” it’s still the same as of today. I know you have to keep singing for your supper, but with your affinity towards contradictory statements, you have lost all credibility.
sir how does Barbados and St. vincent survive without CBI
Survive you say? Go ask the Bajans or better yet, do your research.
when u provide your real name i will respond to your comment, coward.
Yes but what happens to the farmers and his produce, and jobs on the island…when we plant what happens….oh sorry i ment we left with no choice but, to plant more weed-ganga to survive
Sam Raphael is a CBI agent and also depends on CBI money to build his hotel. So does anyone expect him to say anything different? CBI I is spelt See Be I, which points to ‘I’ and what it brings to I and me and to hell with the rest.
Is Sam an economist?
Is Sam a financial advisor?
This government can’t convince de regular voter about de effective contribution that CBI makes in our economy. We elected people to administer programs and to answer questions.
Sam is such a disappointment!
Why de head of de CBI, Emmanuel Nanthan can’t go to podium and convince de Dominican public of de effectiveness and contribution of CBI?
Sam you think I have time to take you seriously?
Who vote for you?
Who you speaking for…… Yourself??????
CBI has not done ANYTHING for the average Dominican. I am just hearing Skerrit giving out money,in every community,but poverty is still rampant,unemoyment still high,taxes are still high.If the ordinary man in 2017 still cannot build a toilet,then this is a serious indictment on this rogue regime,devastation of the country.Any other government after 17 years,and with SO MUCH MONEY,would make Da,the envy of the world.NOT WITH SKERRIT..He prefers to buy votes!!!! He personally gives it out to people,and thats the Chavezmo/Venezuela’s root to poverty..He and his cluster of idiots,and scarecrows have no idea on how to grow the economy,in order to arrest poverty.
Where the WICKED rule,the people mourn.
SKERRIT MUST GO
SKERRIT MUST GO
SKERRIT MUST GO NOW!
Anybody who needs a special effort to be convinced of the “effectiveness and contribution” of the CBI programme is either mischievous, living under a rock, or simply ignorant of what really happens in Dominica.
Choose your category, dissident!
Lets go UWP supporters fire on Sam for exposing ur party hahahaha. I remember when they were making noise for Sam not to pay back now they singing another story. Politics boi i tell u.
Stop being an IDIOT and be an intelligent Dominican, can a opposition party sell DIP. Passport or even promises the sale? U and your party wants the uwp to be accomplice to U ALL HIGH PROFILE CRIME,
BUT ALL OF u WILL END UP AT STOCKFARM WHEN THE TIME COMES NO ALA.
MI go get your facts correct then come again .. Sam made his bed he knew what he was up against when he joined the dirty dozen, they all believe the people are stupid so let’s treat then likewise will they were wrong, we have a lot of smart folks in DA.
. Dominicans must decide if they want the Island to move forward or keep embracing corruption as a mean of business .
DOMINICANS IT’S TIME TO SPEAK OUT FOR THE GOOD OF YOUR CHILFREN FUTURE.
Sing Sam Sing, like a canary
This is such BS!!! any recent poll in Waitikubuli … including the last general election shows that the current Government has majority support in the country (whether they deserve it or not is another question)… What really grinds my gears is that if anyone has the temerity to express an opinion which might be in line with a particular Government policy they are “singing for their supper” … such an inane and lazy statement. Nothing to do with the merits or demerits of the argument. It’s like this ‘singing for their supper’ thing is some kind of magic incantation which devalues a position … IT is transparently weak … and so heavily relied upon by our current opposition and its supporters , it makes me fearful for our level of discourse or the effectiveness of opposing the Government which is necessary in a properly functioning democracy
???????? all that to say what??? I think you are too smart for your own good
“You have some detractors that are just bad minded people that will take things and twist it and deliberately create confusion, yes i sam. SAM WHO HAVE CREATED THE CONFUSION?“If people really know how the program worked I think you would have a large majority of the people in this country fully supporting the CBI Program. SAM WHOSE FAULT THAT SOME PEOPLE DON’T UNDERSTAND THE PROGRAM.
Where are the proceeds going?” he said.
“There is no transparency there, and so I think it was better when it was a clear program when the proceeds were earmarked to the productive sector. THANK YOU SAM. SO WHEN LENNOX SAY WHAT U JUST SAID HE WRONG AND SHOULD NOT SAY IT. WELL GUESS WHAT SAM DOMINICA DOESN’T BELONG TO YOU ONLY ITS OURS TOO OK AND WHEN WE SEE DISHONESTY IN IT WE WILL SPEAK OUT.
why cant sam just go to a bank and present his equity and take a loan to construct his hotel instead of making the government act like a bank…..
with all that cbi monies, i should be driving on roads smooth as silk.. but instead money hiding in panama. i would really like to know how it got there
“why cant sam just go to a bank and present his equity and take a loan to construct his hotel instead of making the government act like a bank…..”
If he did that without Government’s help, you would be here or infront Financial Centre crying down the Government for not helping local entrepreneurs and for not creating the environment for investment!
Poppycock! Government’s own Investment Authority will tell you that they have granted more concessions to local entrepreneurs than foreign ones. You are doing your own government , and the people working for its agencies a disservice with comments like these. But I guess in the land of the blind one -eye is king.
Yes Sam; I concur. The program needs protection from opportunists like you
sam raphael has a us passport yet he selling dominica passport aint that some bull……….
Sam maybe working with the USA while pretending he knows about DA and CBI is used as a front for all his propaganda he’s adopted the style of Trump, that’s when they want to keep the people away from the real stories, so I would suggest that the folks demand answers from Skerrit and his men so keep the pressure on don’t allow them to get away with any thing . Students graduate but where do they go or what do they do after .
uncle sam is coming for those little sams in dominica. be very affraid
DNO, you are not being objective when you end this article with a quote from Raphael that is against the CBI program. That was a quote that he made a long time ago and, as you know, he no longer harbour’s those views. With that conclusion you are creating the impression that he still believes that the CBI is suspect.
Actually this is very objective. All media houses do that. Media in the US dig up quotes of Donald Trump from way, way back, even before he ever thought of running for president. It gives reader a snapshot of people’s thoughts and how those thoughts change.
You probably don’t know much about media, so I don’t blame you.
If only you had taken the time to read my comment. I am not concerned with the quote but with its location as the final word in the article. The conclusion is a direct contradiction to the subject matter. The past quote could have been placed somewhere else in the article. There is nothing wrong with the quote because many people change their opinions, perspective, outlook, etc. The most famous (in my mind) was Malcolm X.
I very much dissent with your observation. This is what objective reporting does. I did not think he is againis the program now.
What’s is clear to me is that he was against it then and is for it now.
He concerns was the transparency of the program read and understand right now its more transparent so he have no issues.
its amazing how grown men will can behave like the most common vagrant when money is concerned… i am calling it controlled chaos..lol
bought packaged and used
Sam can hardly be termed an independent assessor, since he is a direct beneficiary. The citizenship programme came into being under Eugenia Charles and I am not against it, provided there it is totally transparent and accountable. We do not need agents to sell this programme, the government could do this themselves direct and encourage people to invest in tangible projects or real estate and encourage residency. I can not accept that we supply Dominican citizenship and passports to individuals who are not even required to visit our country. The proceeds of this programme should be used for investment purposes only so we can build our own cashflow and finance social programmes from that.
Anyway, is Sam’s project a time -share scheme? If not can he confirm that investors get a certificate of title to the property they invest their money in?
“The proceeds of this programme should be used for investment purposes only so we can build our own cashflow and finance social programmes from that.”
Ah yes! Another Dumbminican who knows zilch about what happens in Dominica but thinks he/she has a valid opinion to share.
Inform yourself first!
So says the Oracle!!
Raphael continued. “Could you imagine if one day we got up and we didn’t have the CBI, not just Dominica but the Eastern Caribbean, not having investment capital in the region even for development or re-development, how this would be?”
Yes, I can imagine it. Dominica would be the only country crying because it is the only country dumb enough to be 100% reliant on CBI for government revenue! When for you to advise the state to engage in more meaningful and sustainable ways of generating long term income for the nation you perpetuating this nonsense theory?
CBI is not sustainable! It will always run its course! Banks de-risking, international regulations – all of those are out of the control of our little governments and thus keeps us at the mercies of larger countries where CBI is concerned!