Dominican offshore banker, Julian Giraud, has confirmed in an exclusive interview with DNO, that he is the holder of two Internet Gaming licenses which were issued in 2004, mere months after he returned to Dominica from prison in the United States.
Giraud, in 2002, was sentenced to 37 months in Florida after he, along with US national Brian Boeger, pleaded guilty in a Miami court, to charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
There’s been concern that government minister, Ambrose George, who was traveling with Giraud at the time of his arrest in 2002, was the one who, as acting Prime Minister and Minister for Finance issued and signed the Internet Gaming licenses in 2004, just after Giraud’s release from prison.
Speculation was rife at the time about George’s involvement in the money laundering matter but no charge was ever brought against him.
Now Giraud is dismissing suggestions that George, with whom he is closely associated, has any links to his gaming company. “No, no, no, Ambrose George has no involvement in that and he issuing the license, is pure coincidence. I did all my work through the ministry,” Giraud stated.
“All you not giving me a break, I am doing so much for the country and all you all do is giving me blows… I have two licenses which were issued to me in 2004 and they are First International Holding and Eagle Sports Wagering and they are both Internet Gaming licenses. Big Bang is operating under the Eagle Sports Wagering and I have formed a partnership with them,” Giraud said.
He disclosed that these licenses allow him to do internet gaming and lottery “but in those days, things were bad and so people were not investing but is now people are investing,” the businessman stated.
Opposition leader, Hector John has said publicly that his main concern with the issue has to do with the non-involvement of the Dominica National Lotteries Commission in the process and the effect that Big Bang, as another licensed lottery operator in Dominica, could have on the business of the Commission.
However, Giraud believes that the Internet Gaming venture is a good thing for the country.
“Big Bang I tell you is a good thing for the country, we already have 50 people employed. We are in the process of putting two shops in Portsmouth that will employ a further 72 people plus 14 in Marigot where we are going to be opening a shop and the same 14 in Grand Bay. Also we have agents on the ground and they will be paid 10% of their gross rates,” he said.
He explained that all internet gaming licenses are issued on what he called “clause 2” which provides for the license to be assigned to a “partner.”
According to Giraud, it must be made clear that he was instrumental in internet gaming coming to Dominica. “You have to get that and make it clear that I brought internet gaming to Dominica in 1995 when World Wide Wagering came here. They operated here for a long time and employed almost 46 people during their stay. That company did a lot for Dominica and trained staff,” he remarked.
Giraud was arrested in Puerto Rico while traveling with then finance minister Ambrose George in 2002.
In addition to the jail sentence, he and Brian Boeger were each fined $7, 500 and ordered to jointly repay $194, 000 in restitution after they pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in May following their arrest by FBI agents.
One could argue many ways regards Mr. Ambrose and Mr. Giraud, however, the facts demonstrate BOTH men are loyal to their Country and seem to have a long history for helping the economy of Dominica. One cannot proceed through life absent a mistake or two. Local information is keen to point out neither of these men have ver claimed to be perfect. Therefore, if they are successful in securing badly needed employment for citizens they ought to be afforded the chance to succeed.
There are lots of things one could say about this story above. But I will keep what I have to say very short.
“This one is to tough and the Government needs a long.long time to explain away this monster” “This one is too tough for our spinners”. “Cat got your tongue?” “You cannot say that Gov’t ‘rubbishes’
this one”.”This one stinks to high heaven”
give me some water please i am thirsty these two fellas should answer some questions i always believe these people had something hiding from us labour party is on the last step of the ladder u never clime down a ladder dat is it finibat out you go i am felling funny i believe these fellas have a lot of qestions to answer we papa bondier
Ambrose again?
DNO I made a comment and you failed to post it eh! why? what I don’t understand you write a story about people,things or events and say any and everything about it,but when people make a comment you sensor it….why DNO? there are comments that are worst than or the same as mines and they are posted.
The answer is simple, avoid the truth at all costs anything that may even slightly upset the the men in power is screened, the problem with that is it serves only cretae conspirracy theories,
The fact is Giraud never paid the fines imposed by the FBI ever, The careful omission over the real reason Ambrose went with Giraud ” looking for a none existant bank” and from a man in his position and no mention of the FBI arresting Ambrose and only releasing him due to diplomatic status, the two are partners end of, that is why Ambrose willingly granted the licence as money is the main item of both their agendas, as we saw when Ambrose got sacked, Giraud was pressured into making a statement he has a brass neck he is an experienced ex convict
Hello and good afternoon my people. Well this is the first time am hearing about Mr Giraud but am wondering how can someone who pleaded guilty of Conspiracy and Money Laundering receive a license for Internet Gambling. It’s like putting a thief in charge of the books and expect to get a different result . Don’t you all understand what happened in Antigua with Internet Gambling where billions was wagered and no one know if any taxes was paid plus they don’t have any lasting development. In St Thomas where millions are being spent but the Virgin Islands Lottery can’t account for the money. Don’t you all know that you can’t beat the house and this is just an off shore scam which will drain the little resources of our citizens .
If it is true that internet gaming licenses were issued to the convict Mr julien Giraud by Mr Goerge in 2004, then why are we only learning of this now?.Where is the Prime Minister, Mr Skerritt in all of this.
There used to be a time not long ago when things were done above board with persons of good reputation so as not to appear to be corrupt.What has happened to such honest and honourable practices? Now I guess good reputation does not count for much anymore but show me the money!.
If it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck then it is a duck and a corrupt one at that.
And all that happening when Charlo is President hahaha!! boy look a turn of events – Patrick John just made a mistake to think of doing gambling and having a northern free port zone and Charlo was ranting and raging; today Charlo seating pretty and have all kinds of things happening under his nose first as National Security Minister and now the big Pres.and eh saying or doing nothing; History will not be kind to people like that trust me.
That have to be a joke. what, Dominicans open allu eyes. allu to tebah
Ambrose pwen cowir – cowir Ambrose cowri cowir Ambrose cowir cowir pour laviw
“Big Bang I tell you is a good thing for the country, we already have 50 people employed. We are in the process of putting two shops in Portsmouth that will employ a further 72 people plus 14 in Marigot where we are going to be opening a shop and the same 14 in Grand Bay. Also we have agents on the ground and they will be paid 10% of their gross rates,” he said.
All u still open for business na?
AA Antilles, all you still open for business nah?
Jah will never give the power to a ball head to run come crucify the dread, Oh time alone, Think you’re in heaven but you living in hell. Bob Marley. Feb 6 1945 to May 11 1981.
I do hope that we as a people can rise above petty politics and moved forward with sustainable development of human capital and improvement in the standard of living.
So fellow Dominicans, whether labor, Freedom, UWP, pappy, independence I do not care. Push your politicians for at least 3 Televised debates moderated by outside entities with no axe to grind, ensuring that all questions are fully answered and then and only then should we make an informed voting decision.
Ambrose pon coowi….lolololol
The Ambrose Factor strikes again!! This is not a simple situation, it is a very wide net and I am waiting for that drag-net to be brought in.
Dominicans, Wake up! Open your eyes!
Those in office must tell Dominicans the truth or they will be very sorry……..when God dispenses justice it is justice well dispensed!! man could be fooled but god cannot be fooled.
I am still wondering why in 1998 or was it 99 Skeritt made a cabinet reshuffling and said ”you will notice absent from the list is honourable Ambrose George” in other words he was discarded but after the election he was given a ministry.
And the financial unit had the guts to hunt down and punish some kids who were working for the king Pin money Launderers in the country. The kids who were getting paid a few hundred bucks aught to have mention names but guess what the king Pins are running around in suite and air conditioned vehicles.
Injustice never done – Dominicans got to be sleep walking to allow a corrupt regime to rub the house high day.
Did Mr Giraud have a fair trial in the US? Does any foreigner get a fair trial in the US?Do black people get fair trial in the US.
Very ignorant comment!
yes they do
B.S stop your crap and deal with the issue – Mr Giraud pled guilty. You Laborites are always trying to create smoke screens.
Did Ambrose ever come out and state that Mr Giraud was wrongfully arrested instead he was in church crying and begging for forgiveness. did Mr Giraud ever come back to Dominica and declare his innocence. What we had happen is that Giraud was picked up by government officials at the airport after he was deported to Dominica right from the pen.
This is all you Laborites are worthy of – pure distraction and deception, spin and lies. Now you want to comment on the morality and legality of issuing Giraud the license even without the permission of the lottery commission?
Is the President of the U.S.A. a black man? That is all the excuse you have?
He was lucky that his trial was in the USA. In some other jurisdictions, he would still be behind bars.
the man pleaded guilty. what fair trial a u talking about.
I a small country like Dominica we have such level of unscrupulousness – that is crazy. First off how the heck is Ambrose in government after being fired twice by the same administration. My only guess is that he Ambrose has a leash on the rest of the dogs and anytime that leash is severed then the dogs will run into incoming traffic .
Then the Julian Giraud factor – how daring or corrupt is our government to provide a convicted criminal a license to operate an offshore gambling operation – this is like giving Bernnie Madoff full access to run an investment company from prison or like giving Allen a knife to go jump up in carnival. That is crazy and believe it or not the FBI is fully aware of that cause money launderers are like crack heads – they got to get it.
If it is not diplomatic passport sales is money laundering, sexcapade, phatom owner of villas,slush funds. Sadly all of this while dominica is swimming in poverty, unemployment and underproduction.
Because when the head is rotten, the rottenness spreads throughout the body.
If you have money check this out
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2002/09/10/Funny-Business-Another-one-bites-the-dust/UPI-89081031691568/
I wonder how online gaming helps to develop countries, I know that Antigua has made billions on it but how does it work?
DNO lesais mwen Parlais pour noel mwen ce Santa Lang Mama and Lang Mama know when they are naughty and know when they are lying and conniving
I heard Matt playing a clip with Tony Astaphan condemning Ambrose and Julian Giraud for their dark cloud tag team operation but I know that the only reason why Tony did so is because he hate Julian Giraud to the core. Julian was not good to him in ways similar but not necessarily identical to the way the man in the Valley treated he Tony Astaphan.
Let us just say where there is casino there are Pimps. DNO I have been to Vegas many times and do you know that pimps make arragment for man and woman hook up – they does even make arrangement for man’s wife and gyalfren with odar man. If I was odar man I would be vex that pimp setting up my wife or woman.
DNO, if you all have employers and managers within your business that are older than 20 years then you all should know that this Giraud gentleman was in Antigua for many, many years doing his offshore banking and lotteries.
This man and his family experienced personal victimization and jail time under Eugenia Charles simply because he and his family supported the Labour Party.
When bananas was collapsing under the UWP in the 1990s UWP called this man back to Dominica and he Julien Giraud gave UWP the offshore legislation and IBC and ship registry legislation to guide Dominica’s version of these pieces of legislation.
UWP and a number of their lawyer friends knows this man and was in bed with him!!!
UWP takes credit that under their stewardship monies were in the hands of many young Dominicans. The reason form this was Julian Giraud’s linked businesses employed hundreds of young people in the 1990s. Why do you think TV personalities were advocating to liberalize the telecoms market in Dominica? Everybody wanted a piece of the internet pie.
Way Papa!!!! Mouth open!! Let me hear what spin UWP going and place on the truth.
We need to tell the FBI
that government is a. Ne faites pas cela permettez-moi de le faire.
means, don’t do it let me do it
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Is only coincidence!!!!! waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!! Dominica real sot you know…..give me a break all allyuh giving me is blow….waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! deep breath. Look jokes.
Am sorry but someone who was arrested and convicted for money laundering shouldn’t hold gaming licenses of any kind. What the hell is happening in DA?
who else do you expect to be interested in a gaming license?
be careful, cause you are talking about the BOBOL island of the world… ANY BOBOL IS POSSIBLE
His license should be revoked but again he is doing business in Dominica, Blank if you do blank if you don’t.
what the hell is happening?
Allu went and gave them 18 seats after there were so many signs and warnings.
That is the end result.
Did this guy say World Wide Wagering? I did not intend to comment, but did he say WWG? Well Giraud you own my nuff money. I was living in JA then and invested in this business as a young man without doing much research. When I visited Dominica one year I even pass by the office which I think was someone on Kennedy Ave. I was moved to tears one day I went online and saw all the money I invested was gone. Vanish along with the company.
I understand with investment someone can loose, but did not expect the company to disappear without even paying back the initial deposit. Forget the “profit” but if a company is going to close down I expected at least they would have returned my initial deposit. So I will certainly be following up regarding my initial investment with World Wide Wagering.
Thanks Mr. Giraud
Please tell that BS to the uneducated fools not to me….AWAH
This is recycled news. What happened the thought processes is dried up.
and Dominicans will still continue to support this corrupt government.. Lord oh Lord… what will it take for our people to turn to good.
Well bang-ba-dang, it’s pure co-incidence. Like Angelo would say, pure horse manure.
all must eat
DNO can you assist us by finding out whether there is an act dealing with gaming in dominica, are there regulations? Do we have a criteria for approving a gaming license? Thank you
Praaaa Praaaa Praaaa. Hell of a ting eh Sparrow.