Economic Citizenship Program vital to economy – Douglas

Douglas said the Economic Citizenship Program is nothing new
Douglas said the Economic Citizenship Program is nothing new

Member of Parliament for the Portsmouth Constituency, Ian Douglas, has described Dominica’s Economic Citizenship Program as the linchpin of the island’s economy.

According to the dictionary, a linchpin is “a person or thing vital to an enterprise or organization.”

“Do not get discouraged brothers and sisters because the Economic Citizenship Program is the linchpin, brothers and sister, upon which the economy sits on going forward,” he said at a Dominica Labour Party public meeting in St. Joseph on Tuesday night.

He pointed out the program is nothing new in Dominica.

“It is nothing new, you know, the Economic Citizenship Program is not no magic,” he stated. “Mamo (late Prime Minister Mary Eugenia Charles) had an Economic Citizenship Program in the 1980’s, it is nothing new brothers and sisters. Mamo and Grace Tung started the Layou River Hotel right across the road under the Economic Citizenship Progam.”

Douglas stated that Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit had always said Dominica cannot depend on local resources alone for development.

“Honorable Skerrit always told us we need to use our foreign policy to drive our national agenda and that is what we have been trying to do with the Economic Citizenship Program,” he said.

He accused the opposition United Workers Party of trying to stop the development of Dominica.

“They do not want to see any kind of development come to Dominica under the Labour Party and Roosevelt Skerrit, brothers and sisters,” Douglas remarked.

In 2014 Douglas described the VAT as ‘the backbone’ of Dominica’s economy.

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37 Comments

  1. Dan Tanner
    February 4, 2016

    In other news, the bribery program will continue.

  2. Doc. Love
    February 4, 2016

    I don’t usually agree with Skeritt, but I agreed with him when he said, and commented by Ian Douglas, “Dominica cannot depend on local resources alone for development.” However, because of that program, many of our diplomatic passports are sold to crooks and criminals. I hope Ian Douglas is familiar with persons holding Dominica’s passport such as Ng lap Seng, Frank Lorenzo, Giampaola Pioli, Alison-Madueke and what has happened to them. If Ian considers the Economic Citizenship Program to be so vital to the economy, it must be a Dominica thing, and not a Ian or Skeritt thing. Why is it, the Government of Dominica cannot give us a monthly or half yearly report of the activities of the program. It takes Mr. Angelo Allen, a talk show host, to report all activities of the program on a weekly basis. By the way, Ian, the $124 million Vince reported which was received because of the program, is Alison-Madueke cash part of that money.

  3. HA!
    February 4, 2016

    Prostituting our future is vital to the economy.

    Wasn’t it in 2000 that these Laborites were chanting down the Economic Citizenship program? Now under DLP it is VITAL to the economy.

  4. vibes
    February 4, 2016

    why do Dominicans always find it necessary to define English words for us? aren’t we an English speaking nation? or are certain people just trying to say that we are too stupid to understand certain words? ridiculous!

  5. 4cars
    February 3, 2016

    The passport money making one set of people fat.

  6. Tjebe Fort
    February 3, 2016

    Why can’t we, born and bred Dominicans who already have our passports by right, invest in any of your Projects mr. Douglas? Is it because they are not real an all you are interested in is cashing money for passport sales? That sounds like a typical ponzi scheme to me.

  7. "B"
    February 3, 2016

    Mr Douglas nice to know because now you just convinced me NOT to renew my DOMINICAN passport. It is over 15 years since my D/can passport expired. I used to invite people to DA. Always listening to DBS and Kairi with them to encourage them to visit. But what they are hearing on the Nation station they say it is too good to be true and wanted to hear for themselves what Q95 had to say as well. They made their own decisions. They did not like what they heard from your leader. The handwriting is on the wall.

  8. skepticalONE
    February 3, 2016

    If this program is so important to the economy then why don’t you prove it by being transparent about what money has reached the Consolidated fund of Government and what development has been finished? Also show us how this so called development is going to be sustainable. Using the Layou River project just proves that this whole passport scam enriches many but does NOT lead to finished projects.

  9. February 3, 2016

    My parl rep has the biggest eyes in parliament but he that more blind. Every other parl rep is given a chance to act as PM except Ian. So you mean a bigtown like Portsmouth doesn’t deserve better. Omg

  10. February 3, 2016

    Skerrit gav Ian permission to talk and he forget what he told us last year, about vat being the backbone they cant keep track of their lies :-D :-D

  11. love I
    February 3, 2016

    Where are the monies….where is all the money. .and the names of some called new Dominicans….Ian get a better life

  12. Mark
    February 3, 2016

    Ian is a very smart fellow. This is no slip of the tongue. First he talks about VAT as the backbone now he’s chatting about ECP as the ‘linchpin’ of the economy? And all those ‘new laborites’ are screaming and clapping!

    Ian know’s exactly what he’s saying and why he’s saying it!!

    For those who are too slow to pick up on what i’m saying: Ian is deliberately exposing all the faults and flaws which, if not corrected, will continue to lead to the economic collapse of this country.

    Ian is using reverse psychology on Skerrits labor party and Skerrit and them are drinking it up like fine wine!! Ian you have them!!

    Ian Douglas for Prime Minister!!

    • LifeandDeath
      February 3, 2016

      :lol: :lol: Seriously..I roll over on that one wi..hahahha..Mark you make sense!!..Let Dominicans not open their eyes and see how vulnerable these men keeping the economy..sadly it may be that they simply can’t think to do better..

  13. real deal
    February 3, 2016

    The biggest disgrace and shame to we the people of Portsmouth is Ian Douglas. The Hon Mike and Rosie must be turning in their grave. Not even a statue of the two great he could at list put up of them in Portsmouth. Ian need to shut up period.

  14. Not So Fast
    February 3, 2016

    Ian you too sans honte.. by the way why you never smiled and clapped when the PM admonished people to refrain from excessive drinking this carnival? everything else you was clapping and having an orgasm over. Ian you smarter than Skerrit and see how Skerrit have you like a yo-yo.

    • LifeandDeath
      February 3, 2016

      omgooddd!!!..hahahahahaha…lol..woy!! Tori!!

  15. viewsexpressed
    February 3, 2016

    Douglas, please keep quiet, go to bed, have a rest. Stay away from this nonsense.

    Or, go play the tape where you talk about Skerrit……….recall, remember, focus

  16. NY NY
    February 3, 2016

    its beneficial to you all pockets……. and your friends’ pocket…….one of their friends didn’t recently buy a BENZ and because of so much whispers he pack it lol lol ……let Dominican continue to shout labour power for the few crumbs from Skerrit them tables.

    while we hope to get 10 ecd to pay bus passage them buy new trans like how we drinking water.

  17. Shaka Zulu
    February 3, 2016

    Comedy Central. Ok Ian I get you. Just tell us who, how much, when, and where the money has been used in a sustainable effort. That’s all we asking. All this ranting and fuming not gonna scare anyone or change the facts. Forget the opposition. We need accountability. Come clean or face the music!!!!!

    By the way why not use Hampstead estate. That would solve 1/4 of country problem

    • Markie
      February 3, 2016

      In addition to this comment, Ian Douglas should tell the PM that he the PM must be prepared to be transparent, accountability and be open to the Dominican people and prepare a statement giving details of all the economic by investment passports sold, to who and all the money received and deposited in the treasury. PM come clean to the people of Dominica. If as Ian Douglas and the PM claims that we need the money for the development, just come clean and give the Dominica a full account of passport sold. I am sure that every Dominican would like to know the full details as mentioned above.

  18. Ideal
    February 3, 2016

    Economic Citizenship Program vital to economy – Douglas…Yes it might be, but where is all that money going? We are not seeing any improvement in Dominica. We are the poorest nation on earth now. Is the money in you guys pockets? We just want the truth and see more spending on what is needed in DA.

  19. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    February 3, 2016

    Ian the so called economic program by name only has nothing to do with the economy of Dominica!

    You and Skerrit and the rest of your cabal are into the selling of the nations passports; that is a business, from which government ministers, and their agent makes money, becoming millionaires, while little or none of the proceeds makes its way into the government treasury.

    You have to defend the sale of the nations most valuable document with your life; because you know how vital it is to boosting your personal economics. Again I say I yearn for the day when some group of honest people will capture the reign of the country.

    Men, and women of honesty who will among of other things look into all the malfeasances and corruption which has been the order of the day dating back to the days of the collision. One way or the other the reign of corruption will eventually come to and end in our country!

  20. February 3, 2016

    Develop the natural resources in Dominica, plants, herbs ,food,fruit, drinks,craft industry, art ,music, hiking, sports (camps),fishing, geothermal energy,health spa’s, bottle water.Get Dominica working ,this l is displayed other at al, they couldn’t organise a drink up in a rum bar.All the above much start to happen to create growth on the island. To be fair to them over 15 years in office .can somebody tell me the growth rate per year for the last 20 to 25 year’s. I bet it’s not all. Since independence no government in Dominica history hap proven capable given the rich resources at their disposal. Jokers

  21. Nana
    February 3, 2016

    How can a citizen programme be the backbone of economy of a country? What was the backbone prior to its introduction? If that is the case show is how and tell us why.

    How is the United Workers Party stopping the development of Dominica. I am neutral when it comes to politics, but what I have heard is the United Workers Party asking reasonable questions of Skerrit, on the Citizens Programme etc. None of which have been answered.

  22. Country Woman
    February 3, 2016

    Poor Ian, up, down behind, he just cannot stand on his own, have to sing for his supper. :( :( :(

  23. Just Saying
    February 3, 2016

    Wow, just Wow!

  24. February 3, 2016

    Ian should ask himself how come i never get to act as PM. even johnny come lately Tonge was acting PM recently!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  25. El Chapo
    February 3, 2016

    I just watching and laughing… The longest rope has an end and what’s in the dark must come to light. Fly your kite still 8)

  26. February 3, 2016

    Ian Douglas is the only honest; dishonest politician in this DLP administration. He is the only one who said skerrit cannot be trusted; the only one to admit VAT is the backbone of our economy; the only one to admit geothermal not working any more; only one to admit ECP is the linchpin of the economy; at least give the boy credit for dat. But Ian where is the accountability and transparency that your Dad (Mike) and uncle Rosie promised to govern by? please tell the people what the Helllllllll! you and skerrit doing with the monies you all collect and how much. TRAITORS!

  27. Channel 1
    February 3, 2016

    :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: ………….folks, look jokes. First was that deranged, frightened, incoherent speech by Roosevelt Skerrit and now dis from Ian. So Ian, forget what he said just over 1.5 years ago about VAT being the backbone of Dominica’s economy????

    Monday, July 14, 2014 (Here what Ian said then) – https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/business/vat-backbone-dominicas-economy-douglas/

  28. Floridian diaspora
    February 3, 2016

    The economic citizenship program is vital only to their pockets, nothing else. Last night I couldn’t help but notice how the ministers were well buttered but their crowd looked hopeless and malnourished

    • 123
      February 3, 2016

      i thought u was a diaspora

      • Floridian diaspora
        February 3, 2016

        And I thought I looked at the meeting through live streaming on Facebook. Ever herd about the internet?

  29. Peter Potter
    February 3, 2016

    Douglas, whatever you are trying to sell us, we do not buy. As far as I am concerned all you and the other ministers are doing is: singing for their supper. That is all Skerrit needs you guys for, nothing else. All you are just making up the numbers. I would not like to know what he calls all you behind the scences? Puppets, suckers – those two spring to mind immedeately.

  30. February 3, 2016

    My Lord! Isn’t Ian tired of embarrassing himself in public? Ian Douglas is the same man who was recorded telling the world how treacherous Roosevelt Skerrit is, now he is back singing the praises of his “beloved” Supreme Leader! Mr. Douglas needs to realize that this statement is an indictment on the policies of this Administration rather than an endorsement. When selling passports become the “linchpin” of your economic growth it indicates that your Government has dismally failed in advancing the internal growth engines such as manufacturing, agriculture, tourism and trade. It states emphatically that in desperation you will sell your Country’s sovereignty to all and sundry as long as the money is right, regardless of the repercussions or consequences that may negatively effect your Country internationally. Furthermore, the questions are not about the Citizenship by Investment Program but about the way the program is being implemented. To much secrecy, too little benefits!

  31. Ma Moses
    February 3, 2016

    I don’t think it is so vital for our economy because we have so little already. But it is vital for those individuals and foreign agents that make big money out of it, that is for sure. And we shall see that when the U.K. and the E.U. introduce visa restrictions on our passports again, which I am sure they will because the U.S.A. is already talking about doing that for countries like France and Germany because they have so many immigrants coming in from the Middle East and N. Africa with questionable documentation or none at all. It could be vital if all that money was put straight into building our country and create employment. Right now most of that money is bypassing us.

  32. Tjebe Fort
    February 3, 2016

    Ian give it a break bro. First you tell us is VAT that is the backbone of the economy, now it is the citizenship programme. You are just like a wind-up toy for Roosevelt Skerrit but your spring broken long time. You have lost all credibility my boy and I don’t even know one person that would give you a job to do as a lawyer. You are sooooo dependent on Skerrit you even swallow the insults he throws at you. That man has no respect for you, you know that? For that is there anyone at all that still has respect for you? Do you have respect for yourself brother?

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