BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The Barbados-based Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) Friday said that it stands by its original story broadcast in its prime time television newscast “Caribbean Newsline” regarding the ruling handed down by a Dominica High Court in the election petitions brought by the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP).
In a statement, CMC said it had reviewed a media release issued on Wednesday August 25, 2010, in which “Mr. Charles Jong, claiming to be acting on the instructions of the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit and his legal team led by Anthony Astaphan, S.C., challenged the veracity of the story”.
Jong’s release stated that the broadcast was “totally and absolutely inaccurate and completely and comprehensively misrepresents what was actually held by the learned trial judge” in two petition matters brought by the UWP against Skerrit and his Education Minister Petter Saint Jean.
“CMC wishes to state that, contrary to Mr. Jong’s assertion, our broadcast report neither states nor implies that the trial judge made any findings that either the Prime Minister or the Education Minister was in possession of any foreign passport or was disqualified from being elected to the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Dominica.
“It should be noted that the story does not even contain the word “passport”. The CMC did in fact state that the Dominica High Court ordered Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and his Education Minister, Petter Saint Jean, to stand trial on dual citizenship charges as pointed out in the 65 page judgment issued by Justice Errol Thomas.”
In his ruling the judge said that “in all the circumstances, the Court agrees that the elements of disqualification have been pleaded. And it is the further conclusion of the Court that the First Respondents have been made aware of the case they have to face, namely disqualification; and further still a cause of action has been made out”.
CMC also points out that “Mr. Jong at no time contacted the News Producer who is responsible for CMC’s television news output to highlight the so-called errors in the story. Instead, Mr. Jong contacted CMC freelance reporter Leroy Adolphus who is not authorised to retract a published story. Mr. Adolphus neither spoke nor purported to speak for the Agency on the matter.
“The CMC is satisfied that Mr. Jong’s substantive claim is totally unfounded and without merit, and constitutes an unwarranted attack on its credibility.”
But CMC said that it was correcting two elements of fact in the story.
It acknowledged that the television item did suggest that Saint Jean had sworn allegiance to the United States instead of France. Reference was also made to five other petitions before the court when in fact there were three, CMC said as it released the full scri pt with two corrections.
“The Dominica High Court orders Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and his Education Minister, Peter Saint Jean, to stand trial on dual citizenship charges.
“Today, Judge Errol Thomas upheld petitions filed by the Opposition United Workers Party, which claimed that Skeritt’s election in the Veille Case constituency and Jean’s in La Plaine, were null and void.
“Today, Judge Errol Thomas upheld petitions filed by the opposition United Workers Party, which claimed that Skerrit’s election in the Veille Case Constituency and Jean’s win in La Plaine, were null and void.
“The UWP petitions charge that at the time of his election, both the Prime Minister and Minister St. Jean had sworn allegiance to France. (Corrected).
“Attorney General Francine Baron Royer is however confident both government officials will be victorious.
“She contends the allegations are not sufficient to disqualify Prime Minister Skerrit or Minister St. Jean.
“The government however got the court’s favour in three other petitions. (Corrected)
“Justice Thomas threw out the remaining allegations- key among them charges of bribery in the December 2009 general elections and unequal access to the state-owned Dominica Broadcasting Service
“Legal Affairs Minister Ian Douglas says the court’s ruling confirms there was no basis for the petitions.
“Meantime, St. Joseph MP, Kelver Darroux, whose election was also challenged but dismissed by the court, was not surprised about the ruling in his favour.” (End of text)”
DUMB_IN_I_CANS… NUFF said
Who is Charles Jong? Is he for real?
lol…Look I see somebody making reference to Jamaica and talking about by-election. hahahaha. The constitution can be found on the government website you know. Read it nuh borjay….reaad and educate allu self..lol lol
@Valda Bruno – Durand: More questions. Do not expect any answers as usual. Did Jong get paid from our tax $$$$$$$$? That Skerritt guy not easy, nuh. He want to do all kinds of things, but he and his cohorts do not want anybody to write, ask questions, complain or express concern. Skerritt will deal with Supriya Singh, With Rudolph King, with David Hsui, with Hartley Henry, with Dr. Badi ( Iranian American selling DA passports), with million dollar Lotto people, with Dopwel, with Grace Tung, with……………. the list goes on and on and on. Skerritt not easy nuh. Those names are just the very few foreign names, a drop in the bucket, that we know about that have linked with DA and PM in one way or another for good or bad What did CMC do in that instance to come under the sword of Jong, who said he was working on behalf of Skerritt? Did the PM’s adviser(s) contact JONG to do that on his behalf and his legal team without the DLP and cabinet ‘s knowledge? The DLP leader has infuriated CMC and attacked its credibility for what? is from one to the next RORO with that arrogant bunch. Stop prostituting this beloved country Mr. PM with your high-handedness and arrogance. That shoe you’re wearing is certainly much too big for your foot. Please for God and the country’s sake simmer down. Where do you all want to take our beautiful country, to HELL? In fact, you are on borrowed time with your French passport. Is your allegiance with France? Why do you refuse to denounce that allegiance and be truly patriotic.
What a waist of time and money, three was thrown out and the last one will be thrown out to, they are waisting every one time. PM continue doing the good work keeping Dominica a float, and leave the UWP to the courts they will take care of them.
People try to put us d d d down (Talkin’ ’bout the Opposition)
Just because we are so st st st strong (Talkin’ ’bout my political affiliation)
Things they do are awful and co co co cold (Talkin’ ’bout the Opposition)
I hope they are gone before i’m o o old (Talkin’ ’bout the Opposition)
Why don’t they all just fu fu fade away (Talkin’ ’bout the Opposition)
We don’t dig what you have to sa sa say (Talkin’ ’bout the Opposition)
They trying to cause a big se se sensation (Talking bout the Oppositon)
But I say fu fu foget this oposition
Wilshere joined so you know what that sa sa says?(Talking bout the Opposition)
The party has one more man that’s ga ga ga grey(Talkin bout the Opposition)
John is leader no more Ro Ron( talking bout the Opposition )
Why not Sanford he fu fu for people old and yo young(Talking bout the Opposition )
Why don’t they all just fu fu fu fade away (Talkin’ ’bout the opposition)
We don’t care what they have to sa sa say (Talkin’ ’bout the Opposition)
They trying to cause a big se se se sensation (Taking bout the Opposition )
But fu fu forget this old ga ga grey Opposition.
De country running sweet leave the PM alone nuh
help me somebody who is this Charles Jong, is he the new Government press secretary? am asking because i really do not know. Thanks
@Godson: neither does skerrit for that matter Godson
@silent in your dreams sit down n wait.this is not just a political issue this is pure envy and hatred for the prime minister and that is very bad.you all are obeying the law of the land and disobeying god’s law which is keeping the sabbath.
YOU PEOPLE SEEM LIKE YOU DON’T LEAVE IN DOMINICA.KINDLY LEAVE OUR PM ALONE ,WE VOTED HIM YOU DIDN’T. WE ARE SATISFIED WITH HIS PERFORMANCE. THANK YOU.
A situation like that happened in Jamaica. The election was voided.The candidate then surrended the offending passport and won again in the By-Election.Long live PM Skerrit!!!
The mighty and powerfull is about to take an almighty plunge into a doze of reality and he will wake up just in time to find that he has to deal with all the mess he has created and which he has been trying to avoid. No one will be able to come to your aid at that time oh ye mighty man.
When mighty men like you go down, all you does go down hard….wait!
You don’t deserve a response. People becareful what you wish for!
The truth is Our beloved Prime Minister IS NOT an honest person . He has lied over and over to the ignorant people of Dominica . The ones who have coined him as their ” saviour , anchor and shield ” ….. It’s really sad that inspite all of the factual and incriminating documents ( emails ) which have been publicly published relating to the Prime Minister , Our people are still in denial . This is frightening ! I truly thought that Dominicans were clever people who knew what wrong is and defy wrong but unfortunately we seem to have embrace wrong doings and have define them as Right . When will we open up our intellectual eyes and see the snares of this current prime minister . Smiles are not enough . Looking sharp in a suit isn’t enough . Waving hands are not enough . We need a confession and apology from You Mr. Prime Minister ! God bless the people of my belove country ! Leonn in Barbados .
WE ARE BACK TO TONY’S AND SKERRIT’S TRICKERY AGAIN,IF IT IS NOT TO STRIKE OUT IT IS A DELAY TACTICS. IF THEY SUE EVEN THOUGH A VERDIT IS DELIVERED,THEY WILL ASK THAT SKERRIT STAY IN OFFICE UNTIL THEIR CASE AGAINST CMC IS CONCLUDED OR SKERRIT WILL APPEAL TO THE ALL THE COURTS IN THE WORLD.I CANNOT SEE SKERRIT LEAVING OFFICE ANY TIME SOON.WHERE HAS SKERRIT CASE AGAINST MATT PELTIER CASE GONE TO.
Treason is a serious crime.
Its only penalty is death by hanging.
This is why the judge threw out the other petitions.
Because he knew that the law WOULD BE Obliged to HANG Many for treason
And life imprison for many who are guilty of AKIN to Treason.
There simply is no option to pay a fine or go into exile
LOL
Who is the deputy DLP leader?
Or is it Divide and Rule?
Not a Dominican can do the Job
So incompetent that we must get chinese to build our roads,Lebanese to Fool us,… French men to lead us,
What a laughing stock.
18 incompetent seats. Not one deputy leader.
LOL
The only person capable of being PM is a non Dominican???
We are the laughing stock of the world.
DLP supporters are telling the world that they have such low self esteem that they cannot find a Dominican to
Replace a self professed French man who has fooled them for 3 terms.
LOL
Bajans must be LOL.
CARICOM must be LOL
That’s a sign of things to come, dictatorship is maturing. What is Skerro afraid of? He thinks that he is the best thing that happened to Dominica.
He must go back in history, Patrick John was the most popular man in Dominica in November 1978, the size of the crowd at the Windsor Park was incredible, he was cheered endlessly; six months later his government was stoned out of office. Skerrit better not take Dominicans for granted.
Some people cannot wait for Skerrit to FALL. Well Well Well hatred and envy is something else.
N E Way, who Jah Bless, No Man Curse
Skerrit is Blessed
“When you do something wrong and try to cover it up, it always comes back and bites you in the a.s!”
SKERRIT CAN LOSE IN VIELLE CASE!! ALL U SERIOUS MAN.THE SAME WAY EDDISON CAN NEVER LOSE IN MARIGOT.SKERRIT’S SEAT IN VIELLECASE CAN NEVER BE QUESTIONABLE
The PM does not get it. He is power hungry, and beleives that he can do whatever he wants with impunity. Time will tell and at the end the victory for Dominica will prevail.
The AG ought to spend sometime to study the constitution that she’s sworn to uphold and defend, not the the hungry power gansters who she has embraced and made a laughing fool of her country and herself. THE DAY OF RECKONING WILL SOON COME!
we leaving in d beginning of d end of timez!
That’s the begining of the slide or high-fall of the PM…wait!
Attorney General Francine Baron Royer dose not care about the Constitution of Dominica at all..
BUT WHY IS SKERRIT SO AFRAID NUH?……U MEAN BEING PM IS SO SWEET? YOU MUST TELL US WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr PM is there any local person you trust enough to handle the affairs and or matters of National Interest that relates to the office you hold as Prime Minister of Dominica? At every twist and turn you are embroiled in one saga or the next with some foreign entitiy or national that has no mandate to speak on or for Dominicans. Your situation is a national story not a Charles Jong saga to clear or fix up? If you are at odds with the CMC slant then have GIS or the attorney general who gets paid by Dominica handle the matter. Your PERSONAL issues are yours to deal with and involve whomever you want, but this matter with your citizenship is a Dominican public policy issue not a call a friend in favour named Charles Jong to clean up. You need to stop doing that, then your opperatives who know otherwise but refuse to see things for what they are, will turn around and say people jealous of the golden child appointed by God himself.
Haven’t you learnt any lessons from your over zealous, tight lipped, over indulgence with David Hsui et al? anyways as you were.. Jong & Jing will always clean up after you but at what cost?