President of the United Workers Party (UWP), Lennox Linton, has criticized Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit over his response to a damning international investigation that placed Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program under the microscope.
The investigation looked into fugitives, alleged criminals, and politically connected people who had purchased citizenship and passports from Dominica, according to the Washington DC-based Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).
The government of Dominica has been quiet after the results of the investigation were published in several major news outlets around the world and one of the journalists who worked on it, Switzerland-based Tony Harari, said the government consistently refused to answer questions on the program.
“If they have nothing to hide, the best option would have been to answer to us,” he said on an online forum.
Skerrit was quizzed on the matter at a press conference last week but he said he has no obligation to answer questions from anyone around the world, except the people of Dominica.
“I am answerable only to Dominicans,’ he stated. “I am prepared to have a conversation with people who want to have a sincere and honest and transparent discussion but these people are being paid by people who want to see this country come to its knees.”
But speaking on local radio station Q95, Linton said he is not sure what Skerrit meant when he said he is answerable only to Dominicans because Dominicans, like him and others, have been asking about the island’s CBI program.
He stated that when he was a duly elected member of parliament for two terms and leader of the opposition, he posed numerous questions to the prime minister in parliament on issues related to the program but “he ran around the issue.”
“The questions before the prime minister regarding the CBI program are still on the table and he hasn’t answered,” Linton said.
Linton repeated some of the questions that he said were asked of the prime minister.
“Number one, mister prime minister, how many citizenships have been issued under the program during your stewardship of Dominica?” he remarked.
“Or if you want to narrow it down, let’s go to the last seven years. How many? And how much money have we collected from the sale of these citizenships or from the issue of these citizenships? Of the monies collected from the issue of these citizenships, how much money has been deposited into the consolidated funds of Dominica, and how much remains outside of Dominica that is not under our control?”
He added, “We had raised those questions repeatedly and the prime minister refused to answer them. So when he says that his obligation is to the people of Dominica and he will answer the questions of the people of Dominica these are classic examples of questions from the people of Dominica, even the duly elected representative of the people of Dominica, he refused to answer.”
Linton believes there are two problems with Dominica’s CBI program.
“Problem number one is that too many of our passports are ending up in the hands of crooks and criminals around the world to do their dirty work and to commit their crimes against humanity,” he stated. “And secondly, the money that we have earned from the sale of our citizenships, the bulk portion of it is not in Dominica, it is actually linked overseas under the control of Mr Skerrit and his friends. What’s up with that? “
He continued, “So I am not sure what he (Skerrit) says when he tells you his obligations is to Dominicans to answer the questions because the questions from Dominicans as put forward by persons like myself have been clear and he continues to dodge them, he continues to ignore them…”
The entire Island is blanketed with all imaginable evils and corruption and problems that it’s almost impossible to get a handle on either one. It’s like cell proliferation under the human feet with no remedy to eradicate a fraction of the calamity.
You are hated from the heart and threatened by the parasites which feed upon the blood of this country. You are hated by your own household and members of your family when you speak the truth about such despicable and lawless practices in Dominica. Thus, making the situation more volatile than one could imagine.
The source of this disengagement derived from the power of demonic engagement which is overwhelmingly obvious in this administration as well as with many leaders and supporters of this present administration.
The evidence is clearly written on their faces even when they try to smile. Therefore, Dominica has become a place of turmoil and confusion. Oil and water don’t mix. Neither does Communist and Democracy
A total failure, disgruntled, full of envy and jealousy politician, who continues to foam at his mouth, who has completely dismantled his own pedestal and hope of becoming prime Minister. Lennox has failed miserably to find a legitimate case to bring to the court of justice an administration and a prime minister he has engraved in his heart hatred for what he can’t have. Has lost he position as leader and left him no order choice to crawl back to a confined cubical where he belong. One thing we know, this failure will continue his false allegations with no facts to result any victory.
Cases were legit. our local and regional courts dont seem to side against governments and people in power. When your DPP is bought, what do you expect? when the AG is one of the boys. what do you expect? when the chief of police is politically aligned. i mean who going jail? Opposition for standing up for Dominica and Dominicans. not the crooks.
Garcan stop your foolishniss!!!
All of allyou does go to the same blue house dere on Bath road!!!
You coming saying the same thing over and over again and you just dere making yourself look foolish!!!
File an official complaint in International jurisdiction where those CCJ fellows cannot be bias and bring the issue where Skerrit is damaging the Estate of Dominica and by Birth right it’s your obligation to protect what is Dominican,,,
You juss coming dere Yap-Yapping about what people know already!!!
Allyou doh see coming here and writing articles and getting people angry not working???
Allyou need to take this up another notch and officially file a complaint of Skerrit’s Abuse of Power and violation of Oath of Office!!!
Dat chick dat brought the case for de Free Jeep Skerrit got and was riding around Dominica like a Marjor,,,,
Garçan stop being afraid of Skerro he have to undress just like anyone to use the bathroom!!!
He will never be one of King…
Ugly lenny, always hiding behind white people to do his dirty work for him because that stupid b*****d is not clever enough and a coward as he is to fight his own battles, Come on Ugly lenny, bring it on my steel toe-cap boots size 10 will be on your head old man.
Thank you Mr. Linton. That man is a coward and has no accountability.
This man’s (Mr. Lennox Linton) investigative, journalistic skills and courage are second to none. He has unearthed numerous illegalities and corrupt practices of this Roosevelt fled scandal-scarred administration. Many of the illicit actions and excesses by this cabinet of shady characters would have gone under the radar but for this brave patriot.
In every country where the media and the journalists are inactive and cowardly corruption flourishes. Dominica is a prime example of this. Corruption by those in power goes unchallenged. Data and statistics that should be in the public domain are securely concealed from the people.
Billions of dollars from the CBI scheme that should be in the consolidated fund are unaccounted for. This should raised intense outrage. But many of the main media outlets seem to be in collusion with this morally bankrupt, pariah regime.
Most Dominicans will forever remain dirt poor if the self-serving parasites in power are allowed to continue.
Ibo, the Lucifer each I am bigging to like you each time I read your messages you make me laugh out loud, especially when you said Linton,” investigative journalistic skills ” I nearly die laughing my head off now this is the guy that went to London court of appeal and was kicked out for saying I think ” So” your man is a joke and a loser.
So the chief of Police is not seeing it’s time to put handcuff on Skerrit.
He the Chief wants Dominicans to arrest him for not doing his faithful job?
Brain Damage, you are a idiot do yourself a favour and get out of here!!!!!!!!
What else corrupted PM can say, he can’t disclose to whom he gave passports as he benefitted from those crooks and they will blackmail him straight away, i hope when eventually he is out from Dominica he will get a cold cell to spend the rest of his years for ambiguous corruption he created!
Linton is of course absolutely right in saying, why does he (Skerrit) refuse to answer all those questions if he (Skerrit) has nothing to hide. Skerrits remarks that he only answers questions to the people of Dominica are equally laughable. How many Dominicans asked these questions in the past? He didn’t answer them either! So for the record let me ask again: Mr. PM I want you to answer ALL questions regarding the CBI program and I ask you to account for every single cent of the proceeds. Mr. PM this was the question from a genuine Dominican, what’s your excuse now.
You resurrected!!!!!
LL you is the only man it look like that can handle MR. Best you take back leadership because right now it looking like is give up we have to give up on Dominica! All now we don’t even know if is a airport he really building, or if he just take them Wesley people land to give them Chinese.
You always had him under pressure. The Fontaine dude has made no impact. The Marigot padna look like he in love with Skerrit, after that statement on the Douglas issue, we not sure about Jesma.
Liar liar your pants on fire calypso cones to mind. Everything Satan says is lie lie.
Skerrit is lying as we all know the man accounts to no one and sadly he owns a police commissioner and force that will not force him to account. But our judgment day is quickly approaching and when it comes we will be left worse than Chavez left the people of Venezuela and Castro left the people of Cuba
“Skerrit was quizzed on the matter at a press conference last week but he said he has no obligation to answer questions from anyone around the world, except the people of Dominica.”
Ok Skerrit, I am a Dominican 100% and I am not Lennox Linton or a member of UWP and here are some questions I have;
1. Mr Pm how many CBI passports have been sold under your watch ?
2. Please give price for each passport
3.. Sir, what’s the total amount of money have we received?
4. Please tell us how much the treasury has received, how much is in foreign accounts and on whose name they are. That’s all for now. I am asking because as a Dominican I want to know
Why should Skeritt talk to these people, when like the opposition UWP they have already formed an opinion based on the information given to them by the UWP. Why is Mr. Linton so concerned about Skeritt not responding to foreign journalists about Dominica’s CBI? Mr. P knows how much money that was collected through the CBI, he knows the foreign accounts In which billions were supposedly deposited, he knows it all. It is now time that he takes Skerit and his government to court to have these billions deposited to the Dominican treasury. Where were all these journalists after Erica and Maria and what about the Panama matter involving the potential sale of Dominican diplomatic passports by elements in the UWP opposition….bold face politician!!!
Roosevelt sheds no light on the finances of the state. He keeps this pubic information in a Black Hole.
There is a saying – ‘Night run until day catch it’. The Harry Houdini of Dominica will be caught, bound, and not be able to escape from the long arms of the law.
I realised he avoided traveling to the United Nations last September. Is he trying to avoid putting his foot on American soil? He travels almost everywhere else. Uncle Tom will eventually take him in, and his fate will be sealed. The noose is tightening around his neck.
@ibo France, read the budget, if you are not satisfied present your own budget including all the alleged dark money, the former opposition leader alleges that such monies are deposited in foreign banks, he can help you. This money is urgently needed for humanitarian needs, the completion of the airport and the geothermal project…….
Give it a break Ugly Lenny, You should be ashamed of yourself old boy you are not fit to call anyone corrupt because you’re the most corrupt person in Dominica, you make the Mafia criminal organisation looking like school boys so lay off our one and only Pm Skerrit.
Gassah you not any Party leader. Just Sour grapes that have you spellbound. Behave yourself and watch what is happening in the country. You were discarded as leader so you have no say. Tonneh.
There is a war going on between Russia and Ukraine all major news outlets are reporting on the war.Every one of them report on the Russian casualties none report on casualties suffered by Ukraine,why?Because the news outlets like the Guardian are paid by the government,not to report on Ukraine casualities.Trevor Johnson and the media whore knew about such a report was coming,weeks before it was published by the Guardian,how did they know because it was a conspiracy involving UWP.In an interview on Civic Vibes conducted by Loftus Dorand with Tony Harari,Harari told Durand that Skerrit had sold SEVERAL properties to Anthony Hayden,something all Dominicans know is a lie.Tony Harari got that information from the economic conspirators UWP.Linton is a jacka not to know it is because of what the CBI is doing for Dominica UWP cannot and will never win an election in Dominica.The majority of Dominicans does not want Skerrit to answer to economic terrorists,who are bent on destroying Dominica.
Also, Skerrit himself, with his pompous arrogance promised we Dominicans that de accountants at de Ministry of Finance was putting CBI figures together to make Mr. Linton be ashamed of himself and a laughing stock.
That was just like one of Skerrit empty election promises to fools.
Some of dem clowns still waiting for Skerrit to expose Linton.
If Skerrit was open and honest after all these years sitting as PM ………..when he goes out of Dominica who does he really give interviews to.
“Also, Skerrit himself, with his pompous arrogance promised we Dominicans that de accountants at de Ministry of Finance was putting CBI figures together to make Mr. Linton be ashamed of himself and a laughing stock.”
You do realize though that up to today Linton cannot tell you where those missing 7 (and then later, 9) billions are and who is holding them, right? I mean, not even after the weight of big shot “investigative journalists” has he succeeded in telling you convincingly the precise amount of money HE thinks is missing or even where it is located.
Linton is continuing to make himself a Jacka.Skerrit has nothing to answer.The burden of proof is on the UWP and the people making the allegation.Show evidence that Skerrit sold 34,000 passports.It was Lennox Linton who said Skerrit had a French passport,he had no evidence to prove what he was saying.Every smart Dominican know Skerrit has no access to Dominican passports.We all know the CBI is a programme with 35 agents,to get a passport the applicant must full out an application form which goes to the immigration department,where a record is kept.That is why the economic terrorists were able to confirm 7,700 passports were issued because the records are in the immigration department at Police Headquarters.One question to Linton and the UWP acolytes is,how does Skerrit get to sell passports.Dominican passports are not printed in Dominica,a record is kept of the amount of printed and sent to Dominica,and Dominica keeps a record of passports received………………………….
Where is Thompson Fontaine?
If Linton is still fronting for UWP, why does Fontaine hold that position?
UWP cannot win an election with a part-time leader.