Where the Citizenship By Investment (CBI) Program-funded projects are concerned, there has been no “slow down” or “stoppage” during the COVID-19 pandemic.
That’s according to Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit who made the statement during his weekly Anou Palay programme on the weekend.
The prime minister said, however, that in the initial months of the pandemic, there was a decline similar to the decline in tax revenue since people couldn’t file applications.
“Everywhere was on lockdown, so there were no government departments open, people couldn’t get their police records…people couldn’t file applications,” Skerrit continued. “The good thing about Dominica is that we have an online portal, so we were able to still get some of the applications uploaded during the shutdown period.”
He said while the CBI program has been impacted to a certain extent, the government has seen a gradual improvement in the numbers because there has been a reopening of the borders in many countries.
He added that this is unlike a hurricane where only Dominica is impacted and the rest of the world is fine.
“We are very hopeful that we will see a continued improvement,” Skerrit stated.
“The good thing about this is that, notwithstanding the decline, all of the projects that we have of the hotels they will never stop moving on.”
He said that Jungle Bay Resort & Spa used the opportunity during the shutdown to complete the property in building additional villas, a new restaurant, an additional swimming pool and other amenities, Hilton/Curio Tranquility Beach Resort in Salisbury ramped up construction, “and they are doing well.”
“The housing never stopped, the Marigot Hospital and Health Centres continued during the pandemic,” Skerrit added.
“Where the CBI funded projects are concerned, we did not see a slow down, we did not see a stoppage up until today,” the prime minister maintained.
This man’s face is getting scarier by the day. And look! He is flashing the demon Illuminati Sign. Dominicans are in for a bumpy and rough ride. Well, they are use it, I guess. Granny say, “even the longest rope has an end.” Thank you granny.
Definitely a Red Clown “Man who Bites Dogs” woof woof, that’s his barking words and in denial of the level of corruption, Endless Bobol and Abuse of our States funds.
So ” Well done failed incompetent Skerrit, you have failed us”
Man Bites Dogs (woof woof), you’re blind to the level of corruption and Bobol deceitfulness going on in this failed incompetent Labour government, and Immature so called Odd Minister called Skerrit and his blind loyalists.
You’ll have failed us and reduced our people to begging and crying out for jobs where this current inmature failed incompetent Questionable Labour government.
Our Nature Isle Dominica needs decency in politics and decent, trusted, Visionary and committed mature Dominicans to raise the level of our people and our Cherished Nature Isle Dominica.
Dominicans please let’s get of this Fake Labour government and its failed incompetent failed Skerrit. Skerrit isn’t politically correct and he is not of leadership material. Get…
PM, I know your boys are perusing these comments: Please be focused and BUILD the GEOTHERMAL PLANT, before all these side projects and Int’l airport.
Lower electric rates will go further to earn the country as much money as lowering customs duties would bring, in foreign direct investment & increased local consumption. Seriously, very seriously! Be brave! don’t just depend on what these panels of doctors will tell you, help them earn their pay, stay focused.
So if that’s the case, the students overseas shouldn’t be under the pressure they are on now for unpaid scholarship fees and the 40% loan debt relief should have been paid to students already. Letters have been sent out for months and there hasn’t been any payment! All they want young people to do is to continually beg them.
Fed up
Hey Mr Prime Minister, when are you going to get back the Dominican parrots that were kidnapped under your watch after hurricane Maria? Did you have something to do with the kidnapping of the 2 Sisserou and 10 Jaco which are now in Germany outside Berlin? Was any money received?
As a Beggar Nation, Dominica have to account for all monies given by those international donor agencies. The Island is doing kinda alright with the money given, a lot of +s, that will surely put political smiles on the faces of the Dominica Gov’t. The selling of Passports, though it has and continue to put Bread on Dominica’ table, have left a Sour taste in the mouths of many. Hawaii was one of the first Countries to Initiate what Dominica is presently into, USA’ rich Wo/Man of that era took full advantage of this opportunity, later, they would overthrow the Native People, and Americanize the entire Hawain peninsular. The Bad Human Elements seeking and buying Citizenship from other Nations, are packaged with all the Negatives of Immorality. Mr Skeritt made a valid point , the show must go on, and move on, that’s all he has to hold on to. The Prime Minister and the Dominica people should not have to go through this by themselves , England did Create and exploit for own benefit.
“Mr Skeritt made a valid point, “the show must go on…” That is the point with this failed incompetent Prime (Odd) Minister. It is obvious now and exposed that this failed Skerriot and failed Labour Government operate in a Pappyshow-who says blindly that “the show must go one”. How despicable, how immature, how so irrelevant, and moves with absolutely without any substance. Skerrit has over-stayed his welcome. We have had enough of this failed Prime Minister and loose Labour Government.
“Anou Palay programme”, my foot.
“The Island is doing kinda alright with the money given, a lot of +s, that will surely put political smiles on the faces of the Dominica Gov’t.”
“Kinda alright!!? Are you for real? After twenty (20) long years our people are suffering, our agriculture is dead and going nowhere. It’s not doing well, with an oversize Government and our people and our Dominica is going nowhere after 20 years failed yeas of Skerrit and this failed incompetent oversize…
Mr. Skerrit is an DCONOMIC and FINANCIAL TERRORIST. Since his advent to the office of the prime minister he has blown up the economy, destroyed manufacturing, agriculture and the service industry. He also has raided the CBI funds, corrupt the electoral and justice systems, used the police force like his private army and impoverished the nation.
The country is on the brink of complete economic collapse. When was the last time you heard about the availability of good paying jobs? Can’t remember!
Well done Mr Skerrit, go ahead with your plans take no notice of those booboo ha ha mentally ill so-called Workers clowns and idiotic boom-boom – flies we labour supporters are with you all the way “One love ‘One Skerrit”
Definitely a Red Clown “Man who Bites Dogs” woof woof, that’s his barking words and in denial of the level of corruption, Endless Bobol and Abuse of our States funds.
So ” Well done failed incompetent Skerrit, you have failed us”
Man Bites Dogs (woof woof), you’re blind to the level of corruption and Bobol deceitfulness going on in this failed incompetent Labour government, and Immature so called Odd Minister called Skerrit and his blind loyalists.
You’ll have failed us and reduced our people to begging and crying out for jobs where this current inmature failed incompetent Questionable Labour government.
Our Nature Isle Dominica needs decency in politics and decent, trusted, Visionary and committed mature Dominicans to raise the level of our people and our Cherished Nature Isle Dominica.
Dominicans please let’s get of this Fake Labour government and its failed incompetent failed Skerrit. Skerrit isn’t politically correct and he is not of leadership material. Get…
Despicable Nonsensical, ridiculous blind thoughts from this failed incompetent “Man is who goes about Biting Dogs” Woof Woof. Keep buying these fleas on the rotten Dogs.
Stop being Skerrit Dirty Dogs Jobs and cleanse yourself away from this rotten, dirty, failed incompetent Questionable Corrupted Labour government and its incompetent leadership of this questionable failed Prime Minister.
The worse be failed incompetent Questionable Prime (Odd) Minister we have seen in Dominica.
Skerrit must “,Go to Hell… Go to Hell..”….,It’s our Damn Business, we therefore are protecting the office of the ‘Prime Minister” …and our government and our people.
Skerrit you are the biggest Pappyshow in office. Please go away, you have nothing to offer us.
“<Go to Hell…" It's our Damn Business. Out!
Afterall, why would you want to slow down your money generator Mr. PM. There you making your real dollars. The country on a whole will get over inflated housing and hotels that will stay watching us, you will get your farm and your mansion and your boats etc, and the fools who support you will go back to being unemployed and asking for hand outs to support their families. CBI will bring plenty more jobs for foreigners, there will be a little spending in DOminica, but not enough to make an impact as workers will send money back to their homes in other countries.
VAT not making money like it used to, i remember u saying if not for VAT you wouldnt be ale to do this and that. now Is CBI what is the saving grace in a billion dollar economy of “70,000” people (i say 55 thousand) but unemployment is past 30%. Exports are next to nothing, manufacturing is at an all time low, tourism is left wanting and is low in standards, graduates leave in droves every year. So yes, CBI….
well the money going straight in your pocket eh Uncle Skerro, so of course you not stopping.
Big up on the local projects but what about the local pockets?
Where the money to go in the local man pocket? Where the juice processing plant to make use of our natural resources? Coffee processing? Why not legalise marijuana so the farmers can get rich just like you?
The way the economy set up is to benefit you alone wi uncle.
Actually the only thing the pandemic has slow down is your arrest
Thats a good one
Dominica’s financial and economic state is dire. Manufacturing, agriculture, tourism are all in rapid retreat. What do you expect when a man who has no formal training nor education in economic or financial matters is the Minister of Finance.
Before getting into politics, the good double doctorate ‘leader’ was just an English teacher and a very poor one at that.
The CBI program alone could never suffice!
But Dominica does not have Covid-19 to stop any work! It not stopping work in the US, Europe, UK, China that is infested with Covid-19, why should it stop work in Dominica with almost zero cases! I thought that was why we were opening for tourism because we had managed the virus well. PM make up you mind what credits you want to claim! You keep contradicting yourself every time you speak, are you okay?
Dominica have COVID-19 for the last 16 years slowing down general development and loosing job after job.
@Truth, my prime minister Skerrit, is not asking for credit lease of all not from scumbags so-called Workers supporters 🤡 ha ha ha send in the clowns!!!!!
Yes quite right, hotels like Jungle Bay and Secret Bay keep on spending our CBI money which Skerrit gave to them without preconditions. Once they have spent (wasted) our money and the construction is finished (see Kempinski) they will be shut down due to a lack of guests. That’s the economics Skerrit wants to sell us as a success story. Huge sums of our CBI money invested in Hotels – not a penny return on investment, huge sums of our CBI money invested in houses for DLP supporters, not a penny ROI. Skerrits palace no doubt was built with CBI money then a huge smoke screen got erected regarding ownership and guess what, instead the state receiving ROI from this project the state has to pay rent!!! Welcome to Skerrits CBI investment PONZI scheme…
I’d like to recall that the main threat with CBI programs, widely used in third world countries, is money laundering.
I am not saying that it is the case in DA, but government should be very careful with this “easy money” procedure
Quite often, “investors” are buying their tranquility so, by becoming citizens of countries where they cannot be chased !
You are not saying that that is the case in DA…
Well, think again, open your eyes and smell the coffee!
“Everywhere was on lockdown, so there were no government departments open, people couldn’t get their police records…people couldn’t file applications,” Skerrit continued. “
Roosevelt what police record are you talking about?
Are you talking about police record in Dominica, or from where?
If you required police record from anybody prior to selling them a passport, and Dominica, there would not be so many thieves and crooks including the Iran boy who perhaps long executed for thieving the government Iran money.
I’m talking about the one Iranian agents arrested right under your nose, and took back to Iran to answer for crimes of thief from Iran government.
If you sold an American a passport, I defy you to show me an American police record of anyone of the crooks whom you sold a passport.
In my years living in America, I’ve never heard of anyone told to go get their police record in order to prove whether they are clean or not.
Again you blowing fart to impress your…
Mr. Skerrit all that most Dominicans yearn for are good paying jobs so they can cater for their basic needs (food, clothing, shelter) and save enough for a rainy day.
This can be easily done if the resources of the state are shared and distributed equitably. Every mouth should be fed regardless of age, gender, religion, social status or political affiliation.
The CBI program is unsustainable. We, the people, have to rely on our own creativity, ingenuity, brain power and our natural and human resources to eek out a comfortable and satisfying life for ourselves.
Greed, selfishness, arrogance, hyper political partisanship, opacity and CORRUPTION have the trajectory of the country pointing in the wrong direction.
WAKE UP! STAND UP! and assert your rights to a rewarding life Dominicans.
Is mad Skerrit being questioned on his Anou Parlay Sot programme?
Where is the accounting for those projects?
Are those health centers for example, shown in the Public Sector Investment Programme?
Is it a case where those houses health centers, etc not the property of the state?
Where is our 1.6 BILLION dollars?
Are we darn Jack as…. Skerrit, so we will say that’s where the 1.6 BILLION has been spent?
The same day you leave that Prime Ministerial position, a forensic investigation must be commissioned to know what has happened to our money, and a myriad other egregious things you in particular have committed against Dominica.
You are a disgrace to leadership.
There was 2 billion missing from last year. Could it by and chance be that missing money finding its way into the country through construction because it cannot pass through banks. Are you trying to tell Dominica that all this construction is from CBI sales this year. When is the police going to start obtaining warrants to search these passport dealers and CBI director home?
PM, people that know they are under investigation should be very careful with what they say because the FBI and others are listening, reading and recordings, as evidence when that day comes.