St. Kitts Opposition Leader faces court action for allegedly holding Dominican citizenship

The Attorney General of St. Kitts-Nevis Vincent Byron has filed an injunction against Opposition Leader Dr. Denzil Douglas for allegedly holding dual-citizenship and a diplomatic passport from Dominica, which is against the laws of that country.

On Tuesday this week at the sitting of the National Assembly, Byron announced that on Monday, January 22nd, the government filed a fixed date claim for the court to rule on the matter.

“I’d like to report that having had advice from senior counsel on this matter, the Office of the Attorney General gave instructions to institute legal proceedings in this matter and so yesterday, January 22, a fixed date claim form was filed in the High Court Registry to initiate a matter to get the court to make certain declarations and findings,” he said.

Byron also asked the court to rule on whether by his alleged actions, Dr. Douglas has vacated his seat.

He is seeking a declaration from the High Court “that since the election to the National Assembly on February 16, 2015, Dr. Denzil Douglas disqualified from being elected as a member of the National Assembly and was accordingly required to vacate his seat in the National Assembly by reason of his becoming a person who by virtue of his own act in accordance with the law of the Commonwealth of Dominica, under an acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state, namely, the said Commonwealth of Dominica.”

He told the House that Douglas was issued diplomatic passport No: DP 0000462 by Dominica, which recorded him as being a citizen of the island.

“This is borne out by a certificate of exhibits thus filed among the papers at the court,” he said.

Byron also told the House that “the law of Dominica requires all citizens to swear an Oath of Allegiance upon being registered as a citizen” and that “by the Common Law of Dominica, a person who possesses and/or travels on a Dominica passport is under acknowledgement of allegiance to Dominica.”

He said that Section 28 (1) of the Constitution of St. Christopher and Nevis and Section Six (6) of the National Assemblies Act both provide that “a person shall not be qualified to be elected or appointed as a member if he is by virtue of his own act under any acknowledgment of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power of state.”

Media reports indicate the passport is stated to be valid until July 29, 2020.

Meanwhile, Douglas, who is a former Prime Minister of St. Kitts-Nevis, told the House that he has no intention of vacating his seat and his only allegiance is to his country.

“Even though I am aware that persons are very much uncomfortable with me in this parliament, I have not resigned and I shall never resign,” he said.

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41 Comments

  1. marie-claire R Skerrit
    January 25, 2018

    Take him down. Give him the maximum sentence in addition with Skerrit.. The good saying goes what goes up must come down.

    • Barbara Saunders
      January 25, 2018

      DNO
      There is only one thing missing. The date of the issuance of Dr. Douglas’s passport so that I can make an informed comment.

      ADMIN: Reports by various media outlets indicate the passport was issued by Dominica on July 30, 2015. Read the following article to view an image circulated via social media: http://wp.caribbeannewsnow.com/2017/10/19/st-kitts-nevis-pm-now-revealed-hold-dominica-diplomatic-passport/

      • Barbara Saunders
        January 26, 2018

        Thanks DNO

        Now I wonder why opposition leader Dr. Douglas as well as Prime Minister Harris would want Dominican “citizenship/Passports”. Is that a compliment to Dominica? An explanation is needed, I agree.

  2. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    January 24, 2018

    Denzil boy, I heard the St. Kitts AG  read the law as written in St. Kitts, Nevis constitution; which governs citizenship, and people serving in St. Kitts government. It so simple, any illiterate person can interpret the law which you have violated.

    You are now a Dominican who have sworn allegiance  to Dominica which is a foreign power to St.Kitts,  you became a citizen of Dominica on your own accord, while in a sound mind when you swore allegiance  to our country, giving up all of your birth rights in St. Kitts to become a Dominican.

    There are always consequences to suffer when people are crooked, and corrupted. Was it worth it to obtain a Dominica diplomatic passport, for whatever purpose, when you could not get a diplomatic passport from your own country. Why couldn’t you get a St. Kitts diplomatic passport?

    You are finished, the court is compelled to rule against you, there is no alternative, unless the court in St. Kitts is a crooked as it is in Dominica. 

  3. Jonathan Y St Jean
    January 24, 2018

    Can Skerritt tell the citizens of Domibica how come Denzil Douglas has a diplomatic passport issued to him by the government of Domibica,meaning Skerritt.I am awaiting an answer but not with baited breath

  4. Doc.. S.h
    January 24, 2018

    But skerrite I find u come out eh boss man. .. Boss explain to the people why this man have a diplomatic passport from Dominica boss man? ?? Answer us bossman!!! Time for u to get your ars out of here now man… all u better run when all u losee that election because is jail all u goin…

  5. J.John Charles
    January 24, 2018

    I hope the government is not like the UWP taking The PM to court for holding dual citizenship and want Skerrit to prove their case,that he is a citizen of France

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      January 24, 2018

      Charles, once again you blowing hot air, in any other place on earth, Roosevelt would be proven guilty of a crime: The court ignored the truth and facts of of the matter, rendering an illegal bogus verdict in Roosevelt favor.

      I am sure unless Tony was told of result  of the judgment before it was handed down, Tony would not have cried when he heard the verdict!

      He cried because he knew the case against Roosevelt was strong, and thought he had lost it until he heard the verdict, he cried tears of joy!

      It is not too late to have Roosevelt investigated: That matter can be perused in an International Court of law because it is a criminal offense, and the French government can be subpoenaed   to present documentation as to when French citizenship granted to Roosevelt Skerrit.

      Stop talking; there is always a way to find things out: it may not be all over yet, all it takes is a government to come to power, bring in the FBI, and INTERPOL to investigate Roosevelt!

  6. Anonymous
    January 24, 2018

    I’d love to see Tony Astaphan act as defence counsel for Douglas on this one and see how he spins it with his alleged maverick virtuosity.b

  7. January 24, 2018

    By now the Caribbean should be one nation, but we are making a fuss about a kittitian who says he is a citizen of Dominica. Our passport is a Caricom passport perhaps Douglas is just ahead of his time.

    • Anonymous
      January 24, 2018

      Caricom one nation? You are joking of course. Why then do our so called brothers and sisters from Haiti, a Caricom member, need a visa to come to Dominica?

    • Pas toutes D'cen aveg
      January 24, 2018

      You should help Toni spin in the future , Nice one. Are you a Saunders too? Sarah Huckabee spins well but foolishly for trump.So does Barbara for who ever she supports. Barbara who did U vote 4? Bush as McCabbe who he voted for. He replied he did not vote.

      • LMAO loud
        January 24, 2018

        That was to be Trump not Bush my bad lol. It’s not funny. our Barbara gave up the kitcken
        She surrendered after being exposed as a Skerrit supporter like Sarah Saunders nee Hackabee.
        Sarah is the mouth piece for Trump.

      • Barbara Saunders
        January 31, 2018

        Let me get this straight. Did you really think that only the UWP supporters have democratic rights under the constitution? I know that is how you folks behave but to actually pen a post which clearly indicates that a Skerrit supporter has to be “exposed” as if having done something wrong is very telling.

        Actually, I have not yet decided who I support because six and one half dozen seem to me the same so what I try to do is weigh the characteristics of each half dozen and try to strike a balance when people posting here try to make one half dozen weigh more than the other.

        You are right, I left the kitchen for those who have time to wallow in shallowness rather than face the issues with some kind of analytical perspective.

  8. January 24, 2018

    Those illiterates that are voting for Skerrit, have they ever ask themselves what is he doing with all the money after the passport sales? We are still relying on donations.He said that these donations cannot be delivered like abracadabra which is a fact but, the passports monies are given like abracadabra. Skerrit is putting his feet in big man’s shoes, one has been sentenced to death and here we go again some are awaiting judgment.Why is it Dominica welcome people with evil intentions or criminals that are wanted by Interpol? Dominica will be a ….hole for foreign criminals that are running from the law or for those that are in search of a place to hide after they will commit their crimes. Skerrit must go because Dominica is progressing in the reverse in deep …..Haven’t Dominicans realized that Skerrit is promising a lot more after hurricane Maria? He is looking at a people the very same way he is looking at his dog with a bone in his hands.His plans are to secure ballots.

    • January 24, 2018

      More foolish propaganda. Before Maria where was all the money coming from to build roads, bridges, pay for NEP and yes we care, provide money at reduced interest rates for the commercial sector and allow the government to realize a surplus of over $400 million in its last budget? This surplus in large part is what has helped Dominica after Maria. Not because you hear of pledges been made that does not mean that the monies have been received. Where is the money is coming from to pay salaries?

      • Neville
        January 24, 2018

        Do you actually know how many passports and Diplomatic passports have been sold up until then and at what price? No you don’t, YOUR PM did not tell you the same way he did not tell us. Has this specific account (CBI and other passport sales) ever been audited by independent auditors? No it has not and now I have to wonder why. Suffice to say that the estimated income from the passport sales is closer to $800 million than $500 million. So where might that difference ended up and where might the U$100 million missing from PetroCaribe ended up?? I believe that bottom line all included some EC$ 500 million remain unaccounted for.

      • January 25, 2018

        Any country who is relying on loans to pay workers is a failed country.You must be self-sustainable in order to develop a country. Dominica is a small place, very few people are working for the government.

    • Man bite dogs
      January 24, 2018

      CBbarryb, You are a joker and a stupid loser idiotic skonk my prime minister don’t need criminals to secure ballots .Dominica Labour party government can and always give you lots so-called workers calamity party a good hiding anytime time of the day, and Will be sending you lots back to the trees where you all belongs. By the way i don’t blog for thumbs up or down it makes no difference to me bye my beloved losers.

      • Droid
        January 25, 2018

        Gahaa man bite dog.. u actually have no likes on your comment.. man u are real jack ars… now u graduated to be a real labour rat.. hahaha … man u labourite are bloody idiots

      • January 26, 2018

        You must be contagious because you are biting dogs.You knew that nobody loves skunks an idiot like you. Skerrit was skin and bones before he was a PM because the majority of the very poor voted for him in order to get handouts. Hide your face; never forget that PM P.J did worse than Skerrit during his reign.Where and how is he now?

  9. A love affair
    January 24, 2018

    People it’s nothing more than a love affair involving two big, rich men that fighting for a woman that is not loved and appreciated by her father and as a result, her father has his friends taking turns on his good for nothing daughter. Here is the interpretation: The Pm and opposition leader of St. Kitts fighting for Dominica passport. Our passport seems is that daughter that is not loved and appreciated by her father, pm Skerrit and as a result he has rich men all over the world take turns on her to the point that two foreign leaders going before the court to see who has next turn

  10. Ibo France
    January 24, 2018

    Great probing questions Mr. Rossnof. Are Dominican passports now being given willy nilly to Mr. Skerrit’s friends and acquaintances? Where is the outrage from patriotic Dominicans? How much longer would the masses allow this one man to soil the country’s name with impunity? Sunlight is the best disinfectant for good governance. This government is suffering from photophobia as most things are done in complete darkness. Skerrit has all the signs of an Exhibitionist Narcissist. He only gives approval when he is being worshipped. All the media houses should put pressure on him to divulge reasons for the issuance of a diplomatic passport to an opposition leader of a member state of the OECS. Imagine that!

    • LMAO loud
      January 24, 2018

      Not when ex-policemen who cut off rasta’s locks with cutlass turn REALITY specialist Then Crusader ( like LL after living dinning playing board games with the real exploiters )(when they never bought nor inherted land set up themselves illegally. Go on radio when they are fix open their literally BIG MOUTHS when the heat is turned ed on give up the struggle when their big mouths are needed most.

      • LMAO loud
        January 24, 2018

        My penname could have been PHOTOPHOBIA PHOTOGRAPHER Been taking their photos every morning noon and night on radio newspapers etc.

  11. zandoli
    January 24, 2018

    Why would a sitting member of parliament and former prime minister at that want a diplomatic passport from another country?

    I have heard stories about this many with people who did business in St. Kitts and it does not surprise me that he would knowingly do the wring thing. This man is as corrupt as it gets.

  12. Dominican
    January 24, 2018

    This is very interesting. I wonder in what capacity Dr. Douglas was appointed by Roosevelt S Kermit. If accredited by St. kitts Asa bona Fidel diplomatic representative I believe he would be exempt from local taxes in the recevingcountry. Perhaps these Doctor fellows are getting too smart for their own good?f

    • LMAO loud
      January 24, 2018

      Since Skerrit became a Dr. the bubble burst. The Dr Stock value/bubble just evaporated. Everybody is/ wanna be doctor now. When I became a doctor many,many,many moons ago There was dignity, pride, trust add yours reader. Now it like hot cake you can purchase upon leaving the airport. People who have difficulty expressing themselves (and need speech therapy) have Dr. before and after their names. I was in the process of doing another one but i change my mind lol.
      These Drs are everywhere in gov’t ,in schools, even in the misty woods of PA as another Dr. put it.

  13. Anonymous
    January 24, 2018

    Well, well, well. Aided and abetted by Skerrit no less. Dentil must have thought if you can get away with it so can I. I hope they throw the book at him.

  14. I wan to know
    January 24, 2018

    If there is a passport scandal know Dominica is involved. Skerrit has the name of our country entangled in all types of mess with his passport business. What is the opposition leader of St. Kitts & Nevis doing with a Diplomatic passport of Dominica? Is he a diplomat Skerrit? Who did he replace? Is he on our pay roll? How much do we pay him? If he is the opposition leader of St. Kitts and Nevis why does he not have his countries diplomatic passport? Is it that he is scared of something and hiding behind our corrupt passport is his best way of escape just like Monfared?

  15. Dominica 1st
    January 24, 2018

    No time for this foolishness. We have a country, Dominica, to build back.
    My people need jobs and their homes back and it need to happen now. Stay focus, people.

    • Neville
      January 24, 2018

      Always close the eyes when things get tight for Skerrit. Or in this case ‘no time for foolishness’. Or are you telling me you don’t care what YOUR PM gets up to. You guys are in no small guilty of what is happening to DA.

  16. Erasmus B. Black
    January 24, 2018

    Dear Minister of Foreign Affairs and CARICOM Affairs of the Commonweatlh of Dominica: Your silence on the diplomatic passport issue is deafening and corrosive.

  17. Ibo France
    January 24, 2018

    This is what Skerrit does best. He instigates turmoil and conflict domestically, regionally and internationally. A country’s passport should be considered as sacred. Apparently, the PM doesn’t think so. It most definitely appears to him that Dominica’s diplomatic passports are like advertisement flyers to be given to anyone. Mr. Skerrit is an intellectual lightweight, he seems to be woefully ignorant about the deleterious and far-reaching consequences of his unthought-out decisions and policies. He is allowed to get away with his narcissistic behavior because of the appalling silence of influential people. The Cabinet Ministers are impotent to do anything. They are mere lapdogs of the PM waiting for their next instructions. Messrs.. Skerrit and Douglas should bow out of politics as they have become too bloated by self importance. Power has disconnected them from the ordinary people.

  18. Country Above Self
    January 24, 2018

    Juicey Byron and Unity must not tell lies so. Since after Hurricane Maria they have been on a smear campaign seeking to bring the name of Dominica in their foolishness. It is a fact that they are upset simply because the CBI in St. Kitts is no longer anywhere near the top. They have killed the program. And have tried to now call it “platinum” program……People hardly want it anymore and there in lies the sour grapes…..but I digress…… The fact that Dr. Douglas as the former prime minister and more importantly as the current Leader Of The Opposition has been denied the use of a St. Kitts and Nevis Diplomatic Passport is truly shameful, petty and childish. All because of politics? Go to the courts fools.

    • It's My Damn Business
      January 24, 2018

      @Country Above Self, that was a well attempted leg break from you but it was pitched too far pass the leg stump and the wicket not taking spin. But I can’t wait to hear the outcome of this case because I believe it would answer a lot of questions, especially if the verdict would go against Mr. Douglas. If it goes after Douglas and he is forced to step down as opposition leader then we in Dominica should blaze up the fire to ensure the French man gets out as well. I hope we get to know how he got our passport, who sold and delivered it to him, how much he paid for it and where the money went.

    • Anonymous
      January 24, 2018

      Oh, why does he need a diplomatic passport from St. Kitts if he has got one from Dominica already, which if we are to believe you is more valuable than the St. Kitts one?

  19. January 24, 2018

    I am not sure if I am missing something here, But the minister appears to be quoting the laws of Dominica to make a determination on qualification in St kitts. We should have been told what the St kitts and Nevis constitution says about that. Nonetheless, here we go again with our countries passport at the epicenter of a controversy. When will it end? Hope our response as citizens will not be too late.

    • Paul Rossnof
      January 24, 2018

      Not just an ordinary passport but to make matters worse a diplomatic passport. Skerrit answer the citizens of Dominica, why is this man in possession of a Dominican Diplomatic passport. Is he a Diplomat acting on behalf of Dominica? If so, in what capacity and do we pay him for that? We want answers, Skerrit!!

      • Russvelti Skerritoff
        January 24, 2018

        He is a Dominican Diplomatic actin upon acting on behalf of Skerrit & Neo DLP in what capacity of Skerrit’s friend in crime . No answers Paul No law nor constitution can have me answer any questions. Am above the law. Am like data in the cloud.

    • Mia
      January 24, 2018

      The article clearly states, “He said that Section 28 (1) of the Constitution of St. Christopher and Nevis and Section Six (6) of the National Assemblies Act both provide that “a person shall not be qualified to be elected or appointed as a member if he is by virtue of his own act under any acknowledgment of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power of state.”

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