Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has expressed confidence that Dominica will not suffer permanent harm due to a visa restriction on holders of passports from the island by the United Kingdom due to its Citizenship by Investment Program (CBI). In an address to the nation on Thursday, following the British announcement on Wednesday, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit described the decision as unfortunate but believes it won’t bring long-term harm.
“The decision by the British government is unfortunate and it hurts,” he said. “But it shall not be a permanent harm.”
He said Dominica takes the matter seriously and “will increase our efforts in showcasing our robust due diligence and risk mitigation efforts on all fronts.”
Skerrit stated that Dominica has the most proactive and robust due diligence processes which vet anyone who wants to attain a Dominican passport
“This vetting process is multi-layered and handled by top-rated due diligence agencies based in the UK and the USA,” he said.
“Dominica has taken the lead in this region in seeking regional coordination on the various CBI programs and in discussing ways to safeguard all of these programs. Our nation implemented six CBI principles proposed by the US, including implementation of mandatory interviews for applicants 16 years and older for the CBI program.”
Following the British government’s announcement, Skerrit said Dominica will continue to strengthen its due diligence processes.
“We will continue to evolve our due diligence processes, as we are already doing, to ensure that they do not only meet international standards but alleviate any security concerns,” he said.
He stated that Dominica now has ” fresh impetus to go back and re-look where it can do even better in terms of its CBI program in order to give its international partners confidence in its security measures, which according to him, is “already the most robust in the world.”
“As a matter of fact, we shall engage the services of a European-based entity who shall come in a do a comprehensive review of our entire program and so advise us of any additional changes which we ought to make,” the prime Minister said.
“We will continue to engage the United Kingdom on the matter as we will do with other nations, like those of the European Union and the United States of America.”
Skerrit acknowledged the visa imposition will be an inconvenience for many Dominican travelers who visit the UK for vacation or to visit family or in transit but said it does not prevent them from entering the European country.
“Dominicans are still welcomed to the United Kingdom,” he said.
“To reiterate their desire not to impede the efforts of Dominican residents at home to enter or transit the UK, the
British government has instituted a program where it will accept applications online and set up an office on demand here in Dominica to allow applicants to submit their biometrics and finalize their applications. Dominicans who do not reside in Dominica can also request entry visas at UK consular offices nearest to them.”
Since the announcement by the British government, many Dominicans have taken to social media to say that the island’s CBI program was coming to an end and its economy, which relies heavily on the program, was going to suffer.
However, Skerrit said Dominica will continue investments that have direct link to the island’s CBI program.
“At home, we shall continue to invest in people, whether it is through housing, bolstering the health sector or expanding more educational opportunities, the extension of the Douglas Charles Airport, while we usher in the construction of our new international airport,” he remarked.
“These investments have a direct link to our CBI program. Our development agenda is a Dominica agenda and in the pursuit of an even more caring society, I will continue to place our people first as we continue towards realizing a truly
dynamic Dominica.”
The prime minister pointed out that Dominica will rebound and will put into effect the necessary changes to the CBI program.
“And we shall continue to punch our way back from all that have beset and impacted us over the years,” he said.
“Dominica is resilient, Dominica is a fighter and as nation and as a government we shall do what we must to protect and promote the interest of our resident and diasporic communities.”
On Wednesday, the British Home Office announced that it was imposing a visa regime on Dominicans due to concerns over the island’s (and another country, Vanuata) Citizenship by Investment Program (CBI).
“Careful consideration of Dominica’s and Vanuatu’s operation of a citizenship by investment scheme has shown clear and evident abuse of the scheme, including the granting of citizenship to individuals known to pose a risk to the UK,” Home Secretary,
Suella Braverman, said in a statement to the British parliament.
I would like to ask the CM if he knows a person that goes by the name of Vergie Strasser. Mr. CM, do you know that person?
Remember the quotes above could be more than twenty years ago rather than thirteen. And so so I need to remind you that you all pay anything like almost $200.00 for less than a half pound of meat warped in plastic, in a bit of Styrofoam, with more blood in it than meat.
Your rhetoric is repetitive; it is total nonsense: while you starve your puppet master Roosevelt and his household saves billions!
Food for thought I wonder how much kickback someone will get back from the Barbados construction work in Dominica?
Such are the intriguing questions you should be asking yourself!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
July 25, 2023
You write the same foolishness all the time!
Who the hell cares about the Dominica pennies you are braying about?
You so ignorant before you write such nonsense asks the poor in Dominica how much do they have to pay for less than a pound (lb) of meat in a shop in Dominica?
You big-mouth, this was thirteen years ago.
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Serser28
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5. Re: Food costs
13 years ago
Save
Apologies for delay… been busy island hopping and not had internet access.
Hope I’m not too late but here is an approximate costs for basic food in Dominica
Sliced Loaf $5
Mastif (little French loaf) Bread – $2
Cheese $10 per 450g
Margarine $8 450g
Eggs $4 per half dozen
Local Fresh Whole Chicken $35
Fresh Fish $7-8 per pound
Lettuce $3
Carrots $5 per pound
Bananas $1 for three
Bottled Water $3 per litre
Kubuli (local) beer –…
It looks like Gucci is below under the podium. His facial expression surely points in that direction.
I wonder what she is doing under the podium. Did he drop a coin perhaps or is it something more sinister. Just asking.
Do you all know that Europe has put in for people to obtain a visa to visit even when coming from the United States?? Why can’t other countries do what they have to in order to protect their borders. You all think it’s only Dominica that is being affected because of the sales of passport. Smh. https://www.afar.com/magazine/us-citizens-will-need-a-visa-to-travel-to-europe
UK is purely pushing politics for one there might be various reasons like we being fully sovereign what they did after all their industries packed up as well as the other countries wanting to cut ties.
Now not us only even the USA as well so they
US Citizens Will Need Visa To Travel To Europe in 2024
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/us-citizens-visa-travel-europe-154500534.html
@EnBaLa Just to confirm, the UK is NOT one of the ETIAS countries that will require US travellers to have an EU travel authorisation. American citizens do not require a visa to travel to the UK and are able to visit for up to six months without a visa.
No permanent harm in UK visa restrictions on Dominica says PM Skerrit! They will be ok why should I care about that I still selling passports I’m the PM boy. Dominica Dominica wake up!!!
Lin clown, you are the real enemy of Roosevelt Skerrit, the Kill of all Liars.
If you are his friend, pick up the phone from New York and put some sense in his head…
The United States and Canada will soon be doing the same thing. Yours truly the illustrious PM has no idea who he sold passports to.
The U.S.A.and Canada already require holders of Dominica passports to obtain visas before granting them entry. These requirements have been in place for some time.
It’s interesting to see that the Prime Minister of Dominica thinks selling passports to terrorists is a laughing matter….!!!
Is a good thing I didn’t eat my school fees. The British Home Office announcement states ” Dominica’s and Vanuatu’s operation of a citizenship by investment scheme has shown clear and evident abuse of the scheme, including the granting of citizenship to individuals known to pose a risk to the UK”. What is so hard to understand here that irrespective what the “I’m-the-people” leader says he’s due diligence efforts were not robust. He doesn’t have to convince me that the double honorary doctorates he was given aren’t worth the paper they are written on. He can’t decide what the friends of the UK will do in the future therefore his attempt to reassure are empty. Doesn’t he know that the US and EU countries will make their own decisions in the future and will take into account the reasons that the UK has given as well as past discussions on the matter. Boasting of the due diligence efforts after the restrictions of the UK is like cow pats.
I think governement of dominica can ask youtube to block the videos where are showing lot of Dominica passport like fruit in the market.
The passport is the tresor of the country and should be not using as marketing
This my opinion
God bless Dominica
The whole world knows Skerrit is a crook, but they have bigger fish to fry. The only people with their heads in the sand are Dominicans themselves. And he is laughing at them.
I swear this guy is the LIAR that reside in hell with lucifer or maybe lucifer himself! Skerrit STOP Lying with a straight face to your people. Do you really believe your own lies? I wonder? One day Dcans are going to awaken to the realities of what you have done to once blessed land and it will not be nice. You have taken us for granted long enough so I hasten to remind you and your spin doctors that when karma catches up with you it will be a bitch X(times) 10. Mark my words bro. You see Newtown already have swimming pools? I wonder who might soon be bathing in that same pool for all to see?
CaribbeanNewsNetwork
@caribbeannewsuk
#UNITEDKINGDOM: Following this, plans are to annul the visa-free agreement with #StLucia in August and subsequently with #Grenada in September. In a similar vein, #Antigua, Grenada, and St Kitts and Nevis will face the same action in October, November, and December respectively.
Misery likes company. You are wishing that other OECS member countries will suffer the same consequences as Dominica has as though this will vindicate Roosevelt from the pain and international embarrassment he has caused Dominicans.
Clearly Dominica does NOT have “the most proactive and robust due diligence processes which vet anyone who wants to attain a Dominican passport”
When you say Dominica does not have “the most proactive and robust due diligence processes, it just shows your ignorance regarding the matter, ludicrous statement, do you know how the due diligence process is done https://best-citizenships.com/2020/10/07/best-due-diligence-firms-for-citizenship-by-investment-checks/
https://best-citizenships.com/2022/04/17/how-dominica-applies-due-diligence/ Why make such statements and display your misunderstanding of the due diligence process.
Gary pls. grow up. You know as well as I do that whereas CBI applicants are billed for due diligence this is not always actually carried out and the proceeds simply pocketed by the agents and lawyers. Greed has taken over Gary.
US Citizens Will Need Visa To Travel To Europe in 2024 so what is up with this as well
“No permanent harm in UK visa restrictions on Dominica says PM Skerrit” (Roosevelt Skerrit).
Roosevelt, how you manage to come to that conclusion is beyond commonsense!
If you were thinking from a sound mind, or a natural state of mind, and not completely delusional, you would have come to the realization that; you based Dominica’s economy on the sale of passports to all who presents you and your passports sales men and women a fist full of dollars.
The people who buys your passports, and citizenship, do not do so because they love you and Dominica, and wish to make Dominica their home; mostly criminals buys Dominica citizenship, for the purpose of traveling to places where they are “persona non grata.”
They use Dominica passports to enter nations where they are not welcome; the Europeans found them out, hence they impose this travel visa in order to keep the criminals out of their country.
Your source of revenue is in jeopardy, but all you see is the rubbish you boast!
Your foolishness always seems to amaze me. Do you know how the PM came to the conclusion you are questioning, evidence based. The new budget will soon be tabled in Parliament. Look withing yourself, castaway your political partisan politics, and your ignorance of not understanding The CBI, where would Dominica economy be today, not mentioning Tourism and the capital infrastructure surge that has taken place with social, health and economic upliftment. Please, can you tell me an alternative rational method as to what the Government could have done to bring about what we see happening today in spite of Hurricanes, Storms, COVID-19, and all the other geopolitics events that have affected the global economy.
We know there are forces at work trying to destroy the advancement made by this Government working for the people, and so I’m not naive that there will more of these complex geopolitical issues, so long for your delusional and irrational use of your mind.
Gary, my foolish words does not fall to the ground!
Usually, everything I write concerning Roosevelt Skerrit actions, and behavior, and expected results are alway premonitioned!
I am predicting a total collapses of the country; if you believe the British are joking, your brain is none functional: What other source of revenue; you and Roosevelt have to run Dominica, besides the sale of Dominica’s passports? Before you make a fool of yourself, read Ralph Gonsalze comments regarding the matter.
He once said “St. Vincent passports are not are sale,” so even if the people of St. Vincent will suffer the same fate as Dominica, due to Roosevelt stupidity, they will still be able to obtain visa entry to Britain, and the rest of Europe, while everyone with a Dominica passport seeking entry into Europe, and in particular England will remain suspect, and shall be denied entry.
It is my understanding there are criminals in England noted as terrorists holding Dominica passport!
@ Francisco, Why are not talking about when Canada did the same to Crooked Edison James, so-called useless
Government with all the nastiness that was going on in his government corruptions after corruptions Dominica was a joke 🤣 worst than a banana republic, today who is better off under Dr.Pm Skerrit, we are old boy, Ugly Lenny, and his mad aholes including you are a disgraceful hypocrites bunch of blue monkeys going nowhere only to the gates of hell burn you b*****ds.
Do you expect me to dignify such silly, and unfounded comment?
I will accommodate you by telling you more than a dozen years ago, I was in Canada, when two passenger aircraft touched down in Toronto filled with Chines posing as Dominicans, all traveling with Dominica passports.
Not one of the criminals spoke a single word in English; not one understood a word of English; they were returned back to China, or where they embarked their flight.
That did not happen in the less than four years Edison was prime minister of Dominica.
Guess who was prime minister then?
Ready for the answer?
Well, it was the Sir Knight, the triple doctor, that Mountain Chicken Carpaud crapo Mentality that corrupted crook that damn thi.. Roosevelt Skerrit eh!
Hahhhhahahahahahahahahahahahah!
How about that?
Oh yes I forgot you were one of the customer officers at the time the Chines came into Toronto Canada, Get out of here!
A consequence of the UK action resultant from unvetted Dominica CBI passport sales is a drastic decline in the desirability of Dominica passports. This, in turn, will result in inability to finance continuing construction of the international airport project. What happens to the land that was expropriated then? How did Dominica get to this sorry stage? A dictum with Old Testament origins seems appropriate at this time: “In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is King.”
The prediction you are making, how do you arrive at it, lol, it sad reading your comment, asking of What happens to the land that was expropriated then. Why do you believe that your dictum taken from Old Testament is valid in context of the matter or issue. Don’t you think it is more appropriate to think and have a rational comment rather than being a parrot repeating words from the bible to support your belief, I’m not saying that you are not entitled to your opinion, off course you are.
You statement are not worth jack-….. Be a good boy and get out of here. You are a waste of space!
Even though the UK has very serious and grave concerns with Dominica’s CBI program, StarBoy of lies still felt compelled to praise this said program for its robust due diligence. He has apologised for nothing. He takes blame for nothing he has triggered.
His national address was for the ears of his ignorant, gullible, born yesterday groupies and brown-nosers. No Dominican with even an atom of common sense will believe him.
This man is like an arsonist. He burns down everything good. He has a record of this. He has set fire to and destroy the economy, agriculture, manufacturing, small local businesses, the once robust Middle Class, he destroys everything local.
He likes nothing Dominican. His wife – Canadian, his children – US citizens, his confidants – Arabs. Dominica is just his ATM.
I’m no big fan of Skeritt, but how can we today support England still dictating to us who are or should not be our citizens just because we want Skeritt out? We didn’t pull the plug on Americans traveling here on the basis of crimes committed by a missionary with an apparent trailer worth of guns. These people are no saints
they commit the most mega atrocious crimes against us and humanity. Twisted 
You should know better!
This recalcitrant buffoon has been warned repeatedly throughout his tenure about the lax due diligence with the sale of Dominicans passports. Per usual, he dismissed these warnings.
How laughable he comes now after two decades of stubborn arrogance and resistance to talk about making the necessary changes to beef up the security of the program from illicit actors.
The wise does at once what the fool does at last. Roosevelt is the latter.
I am afraid that mr. Skerrit’s assurance to the nation does not provide us with any confidence at all that we business will continue as usual and this development is a mere hick-up. The fact is that our economy today is for the most part reliant on the income from our CBI programme. There is hardly any incentive now for foreigners to acquire our passport when they can get one from St. Kitts for example without such encumbrances. Indeed, some of our CBI agents have outlets in the other OECS countries, like the chairman of our electoral commission and CS Global themselves. How is the government going to fund the expenditure in the budget that will be presented next week. Or how is it going to pay the salaries of our civil servants? Boy wonder put all his eggs in one basket the bottom of which has fallen out and the broken eggs are not fit to even make an omelette.
Dominica has the all natural resources to prosper without resorting to the dubious sale of passports. All that is required is a different mindset in terms of infrastructural priorities and social values.
Man you have no Shame. It look like they need to add another word to your name Shameless Starboy of Stupidity. The British CLEARLY STATED, they did not mic words, that Dominica continue to Bring Questionable Criminal Characters to their Border and possess a THREAT TO THEIR NATIONAL SECURITY. You guys even trying to justify it by saying it’s not Dominica alone. You are their BIGGEST CONCERN, Dominica was STRIPPED WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT. All the other countries have larger Grace Periods and they made it CLEAR its the CBI. SHAMELESS STARBOY OF STUPIDITY you need to stop LYING. The world saw and You are still LYING and the STUPID Laborite keep believing you while they allow you to continue to take Dominica to the GUTTERS
I hope the poor people realize there is no hope for them in this present state of this economy.
Now Dominica cannot account for over 7 BILLION DOLLARS and we have people with ACCOUNTING DEGREES, Supporting this CORRUPTED STEALING SHAMELESS STARBOY OF STUPIDITY.
Wow, how many times have you used the S word, yes stupidity. Do you think that such multiple usage of such word gives you comment validity to the statements you are making. To sit behind your computer and repeat what was said that Dominica continue to Bring Questionable Criminal Characters to their Border and possess a THREAT TO THEIR NATIONAL SECURITY, where is your intelligence to question such statement made by the British Government. Oh, it is not 3 billion missing, it 7 billion now wow,
you people and the nonsense propergated
As to your statement quote “hope, the poor people realize there is no hope for them in this present state of this economy.” from your comment regarding the issue at hand it is silly of you to make such prediction it carries no validity other than to satisfy your political partisan beliefs, that’s all
Who are these ‘due diligence agencies’, Skerrit? The various market stall holders in Pakistan and Bangladesh who sell our passports? Man, you haven’t got an ounce of credibility left in DA nor with the international community. Just keep on waffling. Nobody is listening anymore.
They were warned multiple times, told they will cancel visa waiver and saw how EU reacted to Vanuatu program and still didn’t have a clue to stop giving passports without proper due-diligence checks, getting money from criminals. Such a shame! Greed prevailed and long-term suffering begins!
When Roosevelt Skerrit comes with a message like this it is time to run for the hills folks. If he thinks that all Dominicans are dummies he is mistaken. We know very well that most Dominica passports are used by foreigners to circumvent the restrictions they face if they use the passport from their place of birth and have no intention of visiting our country. Please Roosevelt stop treating us as if we are all idiots.
Skerrit all that them people telling you, you cannot see is stop they want you to stop your madness of selling citizenship so arbitrarily!!!
What you mean you going to re-look what you doing wrong!!!
It’s a poor way to calculate your Gross Domestic Products!!!
So you is a Duck-tor right???
So you make a Shell Company register it and give it to some Canadians and some Arabs to run,,,
Then you use that Company to Clean cloth$ from Dirty people,,,
You do that by building housing units for those Clothe$ you wash,,,
Then you give those houses to people who cannot afford their Utility bills much less for a repayment of a Home loan,,,
With all this you doh have no infrastructure established or in the process of organizing noffing to make those Home Owners get out of Poverty,,,
So why you think them EnglishMan dem will want your Poor people to come to their country???
Cause that’s what they trying to avoid,,,
The influx of poor Dominicans coming to…
Is all you that have time to listen to Skerrit talk his nonsense. I am tired of this evil man’s all you keep worshipping so I won’t say anything
Read this
UK and European countries are cracking down in all not only Dominica
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/07/22/date-travellers-will-have-to-pay-etias-fee-to-get-into-europe-including-greece/
Nationals of any of these visa-exemptEN••• countries need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation.
ETIAS required countries
We will move on.We are not going to bend to the wishes of the UK,a country who captured and sold black people into slavery.F the British,they are not the ones who pay 2,700 citizens $300 monthly.They are not the ones who pay the 4,500 NEP workers.Let them continue sending billions of $$$ in arms to Ukraine to murder innocent people.To hell with the UK.If they wanted to tell Dominica what to do,they should not force it into independence.Dominica should retaliate by removing anything UK from our currency.Change the names of all streets and building with a UK name.Murderers of black people.Racial discrimination in the UK.
Is that really the best you can come up with? I feel sorry for you!
You write the same foolishness all the time!
Who the hell cares about the Dominica pennies you are braying about?
You so ignorant before you write such nonsense asks the poor in Dominica how much do they have to pay for less than a pound (lb) of meat in a shop in Dominica?
You big-mouth, this was thirteen years ago.
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Serser28
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5. Re: Food costs
13 years ago
Save
Apologies for delay… been busy island hopping and not had internet access.
Hope I’m not too late but here is an approximate costs for basic food in Dominica
Sliced Loaf $5
Mastif (little French loaf) Bread – $2
Cheese $10 per 450g
Margarine $8 450g
Eggs $4 per half dozen
Local Fresh Whole Chicken $35
Fresh Fish $7-8 per pound
Lettuce $3
Carrots $5 per pound
Bananas $1 for three
Bottled Water $3 per litre
Kubuli (local) beer – $4
Rum punch $13
All in EC dollar!
A…
If anybody vote you in the next election they deserve to go wherever you taking them.
Look at this man’s facial expression. Looks like a deer in the headlights to me. He is so embarrassed. A smiling face does not necessarily mean a smiling heart.
Shame and scandals have plagued Dominica since Roosevelt forced himself on the people of Dominica as their leader.
It has been scandals galore. The garbage bins, fertilizers, missing now $7B from CBI, missing $100M from Chavez for the Kalinago people, Syria diplomatic faux pas, the list of sins and transgressions is infinite.
Wow! Is the PM of Dominica playing the Ostrich game again? It is said that the Ostrich buries its head in the sand in order to avoid unpleasant realities. This is the same PM who described the Mehul Choksi matter, a transnational case involving Interpol as “a minor matter.” This is the same PM who is on record as saying that no law or constitution can keep him back. This is the same PM who is now saying that there is no permanent harm from UK visa restrictions. It seems the PM is cutting a mark for himself by burying his head in the sand. How about the integrity of the Dominica passport, Dear PM?
Juanita I knew something like this was inevitable. The cadavers that Roosevelt has buried will all surface. Truth buried to the ground will rise again.
This Prince of Darkness has to pay for all his atrocities. Unfortunately, he is taking Dominica to a hellish place with him.
This specific news item has made headlines all over the Caribbean region and outside. No permanent harm? This habitual Liar expressed these exact sentiments about the departure of ROSS from Dominica. Let’s not forget. LIAR!
This has done much reputational damage to Dominica’s CBI scheme and to the country itself. It exposes the widespread corruption of this putrid incumbency.
There is never a dull day when StarBoy is involved in anything. He just got the chairmanship of CARICOM and already it is being tainted. Roosevelt is so daft that he does not even have a rudimentary understanding of his role as chairman. He brings disgrace and dishonor to the position.
Wow no harm: are you kidding Mr PM-)
Sir kindy fix this problem at the earliast else as on Dominican pasport we will also need visa for syria or even Afghanistan:-)
PM you are taking things so easy.
Kindly fix problem with UK
The shameless Starboy of Stupidity still garbles about the CBI having a robust due diligence process! This man is an embarrassment to himself.
How did Ali Reza Zibahalat Monfared get through, how did Corolla get through, NG Lapseng, Madueke, etc, etc. Is it that their diplomatic passport were hand delivered by you? What was the (consideration) price? Did that $$$ reach our treasury? Man you are so darn WICKED and EVIL, that i don’t feel sorry for you, but your later years will land you in a place where you will be a solitary creature,regretting what you did to Dominica and your political opponents. Always remember those supporting you now and seeing no wrong in what you are doing are your real enemies, not me!
Overhaul the cbi program by requiring the passport sellers/buyers to help the economy by creating jobs, building things etc that will benefit the average Dominican rather than a few!