UWP president calls for external assistance to investigate money laundering matter

UWP president Isaac Baptiste 

President of the United Workers Party Isaac Baptiste has called on Acting Police Chief Lincoln Corbette to request external assistance to investigate the recent issue of money laundering in Dominica.

Baptiste’s comments followed reports that money laundering, work permit fraud in the Labour Division and theft at the Government Treasury are among matters being investigated by the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (CDPF).

During a press conference on March 31st Corbette reported that members of the CDPF along with officers from the Custom and Excise Division executed a search warrant for cash at an apartment located at Comfort Cottages in Terre Platte, Paix Bouche.

He disclosed that during the search, a large quantity of United States currency equivalent to  Eastern Caribbean dollars, one million, three hundred twenty-two thousand, six hundred sixty-seven and twenty-seven cents (EC$1,322,667.27) was recovered.

As a result, two men, Aronnie Armstead Stedman of St. Joseph and Kendel Sylvester of Woodford Hill, were arrested on suspicion of money laundering.

“While we are talking about the question of money laundering, we are aware that the capacity to investigate money laundering in Dominica is very limited,” Baptiste said while speaking on Q-95 Radio recently. “We are aware of the numerous allegations you might say for now [of] money laundering taking place in Dominica…will you Mr. Chief of Police ask for outside assistance, technical assistance, given that you now have a serious matter to investigate re: money laundering, over US$1 million.”

Baptiste added, “Will you call for external assistance to investigate this matter as it may lead you to many other issues of money laundering in Dominica.”

He continued, “I beg you that you request such assistance just as you did in respect of the gentleman who allegedly died in the custody of the police.”

In March 2021, Corbette reported that three investigators from CARICOM’s  Regional Investigative Management System (RIMS) had arrived in  Dominica to begin investigating the death of Kings Hill man, Kerwin Prosper.

Prosper, aged 36, died in police custody over the carnival weekend whilst assisting the lawmen with an ongoing investigation.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

8 Comments

  1. click here
    April 7, 2021

    Al-Jazeera already told you all about the scale of money laundering going on in Dominica years ago in their documentary. But Dominicans totally ignored the 98% that focused on PM and his people. It pointed out international money laundering on a grand scale which included our CBI program headed by Nanton. Instead all Dominicans could speak about was 2% of the video which spoke about some signed papers made by Mr. Bruney (lawyer) that implied Linton promised to sell diplomatic passports if/when he becomes prime minister (which to me makes absolutely no sense). This has been happening for years now and Dominicans have purposefully turned a blind eye because they have benefitted in one way or another. whether it was a free house, scholarship, materials, business, vehicles, increased business opportunties etc. SomeDominicans even believed that if they speak up and say something their roads and helath centers would not be repaired so they kept quiet. Dominicans have become cowards. 1978.

  2. Ibo France
    April 7, 2021

    This ruling regime is married to …………… For this reason, it should not only be the recent cases alone but it should be from the time Mr. Skerrit ascended to the apex of power in 2004.

    Aljazeera has the ‘goods’ on Skerrit and his renegades. The present CBI program, where reported billions have vanished in thin air, should be the initial focus of any investigation by any credible investigative organization. All the other investigations pale in comparison to what obtains in the Citizen By Investment program. Dominica is a haven for international crooks, bandits and fugitives where they come to try to escape from the long arms of justice.

  3. En Ba LA
    April 6, 2021

    @%
    But why would you want to petition the US Embassy? They have their dilemma, besides the rioting they have a National Security issue or concern this is looming. They FBI may need assistance themselves in figuring out how to deal with it.

    There are quite a few things we adopt from the US and they are all not in our interest – they are big guys and we seem to think that all is well like they have not problems and that their system is FLAWLESS – this cannot be farther from the truth.

    The US and these first world countries – we place a lot of confidence is them sometimes too much – it overshadows our ability to break away when we need to.
    Following with full confidence that you follow blindly and miss the breakaway point.

  4. eyeronee
    April 6, 2021

    Cue a raft of personal insults from hambone Austrie.

  5. lin clown
    April 6, 2021

    Hope they investigate MONEY LAUNDERING of two $470,000US by UNCLE,his LAWYER and the BUSINESSMAN.

    • VereTere
      April 7, 2021

      Bring it on! The UWP and their leaders have NOTHING to hide, unlike your PM and his Cabal.

  6. %
    April 6, 2021

    I fully support the call from Mr Baptiste for foreign assistane to investigate the money laundering issue on island..Dominicans have for years now been hollering at things they see and hear of on island, which fits the definition of money laundering, but the police is fast asleep. Some Dominican leaders can build two or three homes in a flash, build homes for side chicks, buy them cars, take expensive holidays and junkets.The police is asleep…
    I think the FBI and Scotland yard combination would discover a lot, and put a dent to this criminal activity, but does Corbette have the will power?
    Failure to act, i suggest concerned Dominicans should append their names to a petition to be submitted to the US Embassy showing our disgust and concern!!!!
    By the way, did Skerrit say most of his governments transactions are with dry cash???? Really????

  7. Marlon
    April 6, 2021

    I agree but it should not be a unit from Caricom but rather a unit from the FBI or a British unit.

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available