Astaphan vows to continue defending the Prime Minister

Astaphan

Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan said he will continue to stand in defense of the country’s political leader, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.

Astaphan, who is one of the Prime Minister’s main legal advisors, was named the Sun Newspaper’s ‘Man of the Year’ for having dominated the news in 2011.

Astaphan said Monday that he will fight his causes and legal cases to the best of his ability.

“Several people have tried their very best throughout the Caribbean to malign me and dehumanize me and vilify me, but these things don’t mean a thing to me. I am doing what I think is right and I do it with commitment and I will continue to do so unless I am convinced that there is evidence as oppose to allegations of hatred and rumor-mongering,” he said.

According to Astaphan, as a trained lawyer and as one of the leading members of the OECS bar, “I know how to smell a rat, I know the distinction between an allegation and fact and I know the difference between a fabrication and the truth”.

He said regardless of what anyone said, “Roosevelt Skerrit has been the subject of a sustained partisan and deliberate campaign to vilify him on rumors, speculations, lies and manufactured stories and if I am to get ‘Man of the Year’ for defending him, then I say thank you”.

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41 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    December 23, 2011

    wellsa allu not easy nuh were papa allu making me laugh dominican style

  2. patriot
    December 21, 2011

    Men and boy of the year..

    SPAGGS IS BOY OF THE YEAR

    EDDO IS GRANDFATHER OF THE YEAR

    PREVOST IS ELDER OF THE YEAR

    Alas Dominica,what have you come too?

  3. Eagle Eyed
    December 20, 2011

    I remember playing football alongside Tony When he kept goal for ‘HALCYON’ on Goodwill Savannah. Most of us saw him as the ‘bourgeois’ boy, fresh from University, just wanting to mix with the rest of us working class, but Tony was serious about his goalkeeping and represented Halcyon/Goodwill well in the big games at Windsor Park, especially when playing the likes of Kensborough and Harlem. Little did we know then that he would become the best legal mind in DA. Well done Tony for your accolade and well done ‘Sun Newspaper’ for bestowing on him. Unlike many other Dominicans who went to greener pastures to further their ambition once they became qualified Lawyers, you stuck it out and contributing immensely to the advancement of this nation. You are a true Dominican. God bless!

    • Tan Biten
      December 21, 2011

      I take it Tony you and your one of your split personalities have made it over here to commend your ownself. Only Tony or his bizawell with a gripe could say that. Talk about going over board. Papa met

  4. December 20, 2011

    This is a big Joke.Tony is no example to our young people and thats how man of the year should be considered.
    shame

  5. December 20, 2011

    Man of the year.. Alas Dominica,what have you come to

  6. Doc. Love
    December 20, 2011

    I HAVE ABOLUTELY NO PROBLEM WITH TONY ASTAPHAN DEFENDING HIS FRIEND SKERRIT AND ONE HE LEGALLY ADVISES.I,TOO,SUPPORT OBAMA TO DEATH,IN FACT OBAMA CAN DO NO WRONG AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED.THE DAY THAT OBAMA BEGINS TO DISRESPECT OR DEHUMANIZE PEOPLE BY CALLING THEM COCKROACHES,COCONUT HEAD,ALI BARBER AND THE FORTY THIEVES,PATHOLOGICAL LIARS,TALIBAN,JOKERS, SCAVENGERS, NIN COM POUP,TRYING TO PUT A VEGETABLE IN SOMEONE’S BACKSIDE, DEFINETELY, I WILL WITHDRAW MY LOVE AND SUPPORT.

  7. .
    December 20, 2011

    I only have to say i am not reading Astaphan’s garbage.

    • Anonymous
      December 20, 2011

      Then how are you suppose to make an informative comment

  8. Marcel
    December 20, 2011

    “Man of the Year” is usually reserved for someone who for better or for WORSE had an impact on newsmaking during the year.

    Let’s not forget who was “Man of the Year” ten years ago(2001):- Osama Bin Laden.

  9. dominica at heart
    December 20, 2011

    They are the ones u have to listen to,sinless people tony they just cannot take us down,all the way with the pm and u,they donnot like,let go to bed,all the way with labour18_3

  10. ?
    December 20, 2011

    Defend papa defend. Hope you doh leave him cranana and run Miami when you cannot defend him anymore.

  11. John
    December 20, 2011

    The bigger question is WHY does the PM need defending. I thought that only applied to guilty people.

    Lies can’t live forever and only the truth can set one free.

  12. Donald Tusk
    December 20, 2011

    Who cares

  13. Anonymous
    December 20, 2011

    I hope Astaphan and Skerro leave Dominica on the same pwi pwi.

    • ?????????????
      December 20, 2011

      Does DA belong to you? They will leave and you will be the captain of the pwi pwi!

      DA has been designated to the Heavenly Father take note and it is his country and not yours. Learn to love and not preach hatred!

  14. bambi
    December 20, 2011

    And u know how to tell a lie…

  15. mouth of the south
    December 20, 2011

    one ting i not a hater… if u good u good… this guy is brilliant at what he does… hate it or love it.. agree or disagree… but agree to be disagreeable….

    • Drake
      December 20, 2011

      Agreed the question it is that he does? Lying
      To cover-up corruption ;care about tony and tony only. I d like to see him return the money he was paid to pursue UWP alleged corruption.

  16. So Sick & Tired
    December 20, 2011

    You wouldn’t know the truth even when it hits you in the face Tony! We Dominicans know that very well.. This statement about truth in itself is more proof!!

  17. DD
    December 20, 2011

    Congrats Tony!!! Forward we go!!!!

    • patriot
      December 20, 2011

      CONGRATS TONY ! BACKWARD NEVER !

      • December 20, 2011

        WELL WE JOLLY WELL CANNOT GO FURTHER BACK THAN WE ALREADY ARE, CAN WE?

    • Anonymous
      December 20, 2011

      congrats for calling you cockroach!

  18. Channel 1
    December 20, 2011

    Lol…whooii allu…:lol:…look Tony say he knows how to smell a rat, he knows the distinction between an allegation and fact and he know the difference between a fabrication and the truth:lol:. But what I hearing dere nuuhhh:lol:.

  19. investigate
    December 20, 2011

    so how comes your mouth shut now, word on the street is that you lost the case, is it tre tony? why wait for January 10th to tell us?

  20. VOTE SPRAGGS
    December 20, 2011

    FELLOW BAWI ITES

    iF i WAS HECTOR SPRAGGS THATS WHAT I WILL DO

    get Brisbane to finance my campaign for leadership of uwp in january

    ask tony astaphans for legal advice

    get an expalanation from the party why is it that edison is not connvinced that I am capable of leading the party at this time and hence throw his support behind me

    ask the party why is it that I am good enough to be leader of the oppostion and not good enough to be party leader

    I want to find out why is it that we cannot get a lawyer like tony to support our party the way that he supports the dlp

    I am prepared to put my name in the hat for leadership if i dont it would mean that i would accept the assumption/perception that i am not leadership material

    my people in salisbury needs an emergency TOWN HALL MEETING to get to know what has happened, is happening and will happen. They need an explanation before we in bawi makes an EXCLAMMATION!

    WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO TIMOTHY AND WE DONT WANT TO FALL IN THAT BOOGY TRAP.

    SINCE I SMALLL I KNOW TONY IS A BIG LABOURITE AND THE ASTAPHANS HAVE BEEEN ALL THEIR LIFE SINCE THEY TIME THEY/WADDDY CAME INTO DOMINCA. TONY IS A REAL POTO LABOUR AND HE IS A PRINCIPLED VERY BRIGHT BUT SEEMINGLY CONTROVERSIAL NO NONSENSE PERSON AND IS HONEST AND USES FACTS VERY WELL. i WANT A LAWYER LIKE DAT WITHIN THE UWP.

    SO IM APRT OF THE VOTE SPRAGGGS MOVEMENT

    SALISBURY DESERVES BETTER

    SO ITS WE THAT MORE UNLUCKY THEN EARL HAD TO RESIGN AND NOW THEY DONT WANT HECTOR ALTHOUGH HE IS LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION. WHAT DOUBLE SIGNAL ARE THE SENDING ? LOOK AT HOW THEYRE DESTROYING THE POLITICAL FUTURE OF A YOUNG PROMISING MAN.

    FIRSTLY THEY NEVER EVER GIVE HIM A CHANCE TO BE A TRUE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION. SO THET HIDE BEHING THE DOOR OF FREE AND AFIR ELECTIONS AND PEOPLES PARLIAMENT AND VOTER ID CARD AND HENCE BOYCOTTING PARLIAMENT. WELL I WAS FOOLED. NOW AM SEEING THE TRUE MOTIVE BEHIND ALL OF THAT. IT WAS TO KEEP HECTOR OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT VIA LIVE BROADCAST SO THAT HE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO CREATE AN IMAGE FOR HIMSELF AS LEADER. THE OTHERS GREEN AND EDDO WERE WELL KNOWN ALREADY ! I NOW SEE THE DECEPTION. ITS NO WANDER THAT TONY ASTAPHANS WAS SAYING THAT EDISON IS EYEING A RETURN TO THE LEADERSHIP ALL THE TIME. TONY KNEW VERY WELL WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. THATS WHY ITS GOOD TO LISTEN TO THE OTHER SIDE TO GET SOME INVALUABLE INFORMATION…LABOUR PARTY LEADERS DO LISTEN TO THE HENG AND ALL THE POITICAL SHOWS ON Q95 U KNOW.

    SO WE THE PEOPLE OF BAWI HAVE TO SET UP OUR MEETING NOT TO MAKE ANY UNDUE NOISE TO BREAK UP OUR PARTY YOU KNOW. BUT OUT OF RESPECT WE HAVE TO KNOW WHATS HAPPENING.

    WE STAND FULLY BEHIND SPRAGS BUT WE HAVE TO GET HIM TO CONVINCE US AS TO IF HE SUPPORTS WHATS HAPPENEING AND WHY AND IF HE DOES NOT LET US KNOW WHAT WE WILL DO ABOUT IT.

    I THINK SPRAGGS MUST CONTEST THE LEADERSHIP AMD WE ARE PREPARED TO SUPPORT HIM . IF NOT ITS BEST HE RESIGNS AS LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION.

    PARTY LEADER AND LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION MUST BE IN ONE PERSON

    MY GOD I WANDER WHO WILL PREVOST SUPPORT IF THERE IA A FUSION OF THOSE TWO POSITIONS?

    BOY WE IN CAR CAR

  21. WIKILEAKS
    December 20, 2011

    According to Astaphan, as a trained lawyer and as one of the leading members of the OECS bar, “I know how to smell a rat, I know the distinction between an allegation and fact and I know the difference between a fabrication and the truth”.

    You are correct. I guess this is why all the governments of the Caribbean look to you and even Lennox did at one time

  22. Peeping Tom
    December 20, 2011

    “‘I know the distinction between an allegation and fact and I know the difference between a fabrication and the truth’. And, this is where so many Dominicans seems to fall flat.

    A valiant man. Hats off! I am with you, comrade! Let us fight the good fight.

    La lucha continua.

    • December 20, 2011

      Mr. Astaphan, I am glad you are able to know the DISTINCTION BETWEEN ALLEGATION AND FACT,so by the hand and justice of God, it is this very knowledge that will condemn you.

      SO LET IT BE SAID, SO LET IT BE WRITTEN

      MR ASTAPHAN, you also DO know that most of the blind supporters of this “rogue” regime are incapable of knowing the difference between allegations and facts
      SO THEY SEE ALL OF THE FACTS AS MERE ALLEGATIONS.

    • real vibes
      December 20, 2011

      yah man tony u really rite enno. all the years of workers u was fabricating and vilifying and was even given 400,000 to find corruption and come up empty handed so u really know about lies and rumors and about truth. i personally feel that that award was given sarcastically. they just trying to tell u dat u talking too much its time we hear our prime minister on pertinent matters. u like a cricketer dat blocking de wicket with how much lbws and your team win so best dey give u man of de match.lol.

      • Peeping Tom
        December 20, 2011

        “Empty handed,” real vibes? You really do not know the vibes on that matter do u?

      • real vibes
        December 21, 2011

        @peeping tom: apparently ’empty handed’ because here is the former prime minister now winning cases based on info from the said report which has no basis and the mastermind tim tim who was so vilified that he should be in jail is now part of the current regime and to add to that not one single person has been reprimanded from the said report. so i will say again ’empty handed’

    • 100fuegos
      December 20, 2011

      Para que estan luchando? I hope they are taking care of you too.

  23. Papa
    December 20, 2011

    Thanks Tony , you have help me to see that these guys are haters.

  24. election observer
    December 20, 2011

    Mr. Astaphan is it not factual or is it an allegation that Mr. Skerrit and Mr. St.Jean wrote to the french authorities to denounce their french citizenship AFTER nomination day.That one looking jam tight, looking like it cannot spin thou matter how much lubricant you put in.

    • Fairplay
      December 20, 2011

      It is not about citizenship but holding a passport. I am a citizen of four different countries but only applied for a Dominican passport.The court has to determine if they applied for a French passport.

      • Peeping Tom
        December 20, 2011

        “The court has to determine if they applied for a French passport.” Well said, Fairplay. In the realm of public noise and slander, such critical pieces of information do not matter to the loud minority in Dominica.

  25. Anonymous
    December 20, 2011

    I agree with you, doh matter what continu to defend him….Tony there is a higher power than you and the PM…The longest rope sure has an end

    • Peeping Tom
      December 20, 2011

      “‘I will continue to do so unless I am convinced that there is evidence as oppose to allegations of hatred and rumor-mongering.’”

    • December 20, 2011

      PRAYER AND FASTIBNG WILL DEFEAT ALL EVIL

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