Parliamentary Representative for the Roseau Central Constituency, Melissa Poponne-Skerrit has announced her intention to challenge those who seek to “smear my name and reputation” as she is refuting claims of her involvement in an Easter concert where Trinidadian artist, Prince Swanny was expected to perform.
On April 9, 2023, the dancehall artist whose real name is Taryll Swan was carded to perform at the “Dream” Easter Bash concert at the Stadium Forecourt. However, upon his arrival in Dominica on April 7, he was not allowed to disembark and was flown back to Trinidad where he was arrested on arrival.
His management team cried foul over the incident and many fans were left confused. Nevertheless, police officials in Trinidad confirmed that his arrest stemmed from alleged gang-related activities and inquiries and a breach of a High Court order.
According to the reports, “Ag. Cpl Durity obtained an order from the High Court which ordered “Swanny” to provide his passwords for his electronic devices and social media accounts.” However, he failed to do so and was subsequently charged with failing to comply with a court order.
After the artiste’s arrest in Trinidad, organizers and promoters of the concert expressed optimism that he would make it to the island to perform on Easter Monday night instead as Prince Swanny applied for leave to pursue judicial review and interim relief on April 8.
But his application was denied by the High Court Judge and Swanny was subsequently charged on April 11, for breach of a High Court order and granted bail in the sum of TT$80,000.
Succeeding news of his arrest and charge, reports surfaced alleging that the Roseau Central MP funded his performance in Dominica which amounted to EC$135,127.50.
Via an article published on the ‘Mas in the Cemetery’ website Poponne-Skerrit was alleged to have been directly involved in the show. The article further alleges that she arranged to pay Prince Swanny $50,000 for the Easter Saturday night event.
However, the Housing Minister is now disputing these allegations.
“I state categorically and without fear of contradiction, that I was not involved in the organization or the promotion of the show,” Poponne-Skerrit declared in a statement to the media.
“I have no association with the artist or his team, nor have I ever held talks with the local promoters of the show or the artist’s Trinidad-based management team. I have never met or spoken to Prince Swanny in any capacity,” she averred.
There were further claims in the article that Mrs Skerrit attempted to use her influence to sway immigration officers at the Douglas – Charles Airport to not comply with the repatriation and grant Prince Swanny entry into Dominica which she has also debunked.
“I also reject the accusation that I made calls to the Immigration Department demanding the artists be granted entry into Dominica. This is completely false. I take this opportunity to condemn the dishonest acts of certain individuals within our society, who consistently seek to tarnish my name with innuendo, misplaced criticism, and in many instances blatant lies.”
She opined the allegations are yet another instance of a lie created to associate her with a situation in which she had no involvement whatsoever and has declared her intent to challenge the claims.
“Be advised that these lies and deliberate attempts to smear my name and reputation will not be allowed to stand unchallenged.”
Poponne-Skerrit further posited that she will continue to function in her capacity as a Parliamentary Representative for the Roseau Central constituency and now the Minister for Housing and Urban Development “for the good of the Dominican people. I asked for the support of all in my quest to implement appropriate policies and programs to improve the lives of our citizens.”
Sue their backs*&#, Mel, and go after all the media that allow them to broadcast their filth. Si i pas ni soutiweh, i pas ni vole!
I will check you out with free legal advice.
Don’t be silly my man. She would have to testify in court and I bet the press would have a field day with that. She made a mistake sticking her head above the parapet and Roosevelt will not be too pleased with that.
PS. Look up the definition of a “peeping Tom”. Not very very salubrious, is it
Keep on peeping my friend.
I personally never knew Melissa had any reputation worth protecting. Give me a damn break! Sue who? What? When Where? Why? Keep on dreaming while Melissa keeps on lieing like her husband. Mem bet mem pwell!
By the way I forgot to say if she is so innocent why don’t she go and sue those accusing her of salivating over the Atlanta/ Roseau Tora who visits Dca regularly to ensure her lawn is well cut and watered? That would be a case that will give her credibility if she can win. So you see, Melissa is no saint Mr. Peepeeing Tom. Hold your brakes partner before you will make the flood gates open and allu will blame DNO. In the mean time I will drink my water and try to mind my business when it comes to Ma Lie-onel.
What if that fake prince had really got entry into the country…..the show would go on…..big with hoopla…..and Melissa would go onstage to receive flowers…..and just imagine that after the show he returns to Trinidad and it all blows in her face
If one sleeps with dogs he/she should expect to be covered with fleas even after they bathe in their whirlpool bathtub
Petty. Not every tabloid deserves a response. Melissa should pick sense from nonsense. also that response was lack lustre. “those who wish to smear my name..blablabla” STFU noone cares Melissa. Tridel and Rangi were the faces of the event so they take the blame for the poor organisation. end of story. let ma boyd and the tabloid people say what they want. if you know you wasnt involved just check your vibes like you normally do. Besides, We are at a state in Dominica where the politicians can slap an old lady infront of everyone and they owe us no explanation or response. 2 chaybay sau will pass and the people have forgotten.
There is a saying when you play with dogs you “will” get fleas. The lady told us that she had “navy seals” and knowing the character of her “navy seals”, no wonder her name and character are being associated with low life, low character persons like this guy. Taking people to court will not clear up the perception that the system is corrupt if the wife of the country’s leader is in the mud pit with “navy seals” and criminals. Turn away from the course things are on and seek to create a new, honest and dignified pathway for the youth of the country. Course correction is better than threats of court action.
Well according to her maybe she herself did not contact or pay the law violator artist. But remember she she told us that she has snippers and navy seals and snippers and navy seals to conduct the dirty work for their agent
Most artists these days are law violators of one kind or another. But only in Dominica we like to act more holier than thou. We are the perfect spotless white sheet like Jesus garment. Hypocrites. Who cares if Swanny comes to perform for our people. Buju came, Jah Cure came, Mavado, Alkaline and others came. You not even going to the show but you want to make judgement. When melissa dem bring that crook and seller of Jesus, Sinach, none of all you does open all you mouth though.
“I have no association with the artist or his team, nor have I ever held talks with the local promoters of the show or the artist’s Trinidad-based management team. I have never met or spoken to Prince Swanny in any capacity,” she averred.
That’s laughable you know. So Melissa do you have someone inside the organization that you planned with and he or she did their thing on your behalf?
So many things happening in this damn country and nobody seems to see or seems to anything
comprehension is a hell of a thing for many of us Dominicans. The woman just said, you even quoted in the start of your comment, but you still asking the same question. Ill answer for her, revert back to your initial quotation. she can say what she want, but the fact of the matter is that she already answered that question of yours. she said no.
So who Melissa Skerrit thinks she can fool? Not all Laborites are doltish you know Stupes
Girl gimme a freaking break. You are involved self; stay and hide in the background and pretend.
Who else in Dominica have that kind of money to spend on promoting?
Okay let us say that we believe the Minister, Melissa Poponne-Skerrit. Let us ask ourselves this question. Considering the role of government and the demanding development necessities of this nation Dominica, why is any Minister or the Government of Dominica so involved in any performance artist coming or performing in Dominica be they local or international?
In the past this was down to promoters and the private sector. All of a sudden since Labour Party come to power they want to be involved and incharge of every petty business. Focus and concentrate on the development of the nation. Most of these performance artists are negative vibes and negative influence on our children and society. Okay let us say this time you are not involved. But other times when you and your husband are crying on stage you all are involved. Your husband in Parliament talking about his power breakfast Sukie Burn Brain. Enough. Stop it. Nasty lyrics. Nasty country. Nasty Ministers.
Melissa, truth be told, you are a lightning rod for controversy. You are a much better event organiser than a parliamentarian.
It takes brain power to discuss issues and implement solutions to solve the plethora of prob!ems negatively impacting the country. You do not have the intellectual capacity to do this.
I made a bet with a friend. If Melissa were to ever show me an authentic certificate of her level of education, I will kneel before her and d
eat my shoes.
Her essay, her glamour, please pardon my grammar, but she is everything school boys dream. And many a time Skerrit thought of leaving but he bit his lip and turned around cause she is the warmest thing he has ever found.
What can one say, once again you proof that you are sick in your head.
Tee hee hee
. Boy Molly lying with a straight face just like her husband. You remember when he said he did not own a french passport knowing full well he had one. Since then I refer to him as Lio-nel and now will have to call her Ma Lie-onel. You see, when people can look you in the face and flat out lie without blinking you know its time to get rid of them. Tee-way-yo souplay Dcans. Lets us all join forces and demand they leave our country and never return. Enough of these liars
Melissa have reputation to tarnish? 😁😁😁😂😂😂😂😁😁😁😂😂😂😂😂
Dominicans don’t know what Mamsell got up to when she stayed in NY. OMG!
We just witnessed the murder trial of Alex Murdaugh who killed his wife and son. All along Alex Murdaugh was adamant that he didn’t kill his wife and son until a true investigation with undeniable evidence and a grand jury took very little time to find him guilty.
We are not dealing with a criminal case here but criminals and rich liars are never guilty until they are found guilty.
We just celebrated Easter and Easter is about the arrest, crucifixion death, burial and resurrection of Christ. But you know after Jesus was arrested the great Simon Peter said he didn’t know him although he was with him from day one? Infact he cursed them out and swore that he didn’t know him until the cork crowed three times.
Melissa instead of making legal threats in a court system owned by Skerrit, what about using your influence to call on the police department of Trinidad or Jamaica to conduct an independent investigation so we will all see where the chips fall
Go after those crooks,traitors and liars,make them pay.I can bet not one of those UWP aholes will come forward with concrete evidence.Gossip,gossip,gossip and lies.That is why the are in the yard.Take the best lawyers,Labourites will help and file a lawsuit.I hope you are recording the media whore on Q95.Remember Cleville Mills sued the media whore and Q95,and was awarded $85,000 in Damages.Alleged he was paid $135,127.50.Alleged he was paid $50,000US.She ATTEMPTED to sway immigration officers.Allege is to say without facts and those UWP criminals cannot name one immigration officer,although they know all the immigration officers,so they say attempted.This report was put out by DNO without evidence.We spoke to sources in Trinidad,we were told that Melissa Allegedly paid.Who is we.Melissa alone cannot organize any event in Dominica.That is why the crooks,traitors and liars cannot mention names.
ADMIN: DNO did not publish the original report.
We are reporting on the article containing the allegations and Poponne-Skerrit’s response.
Melissa Poponne-Skerrit has announced her intention to challenge those who seek to “smear my name and reputation.”
What reputation are you talking about Melisa, when you do not have any! If you want to be reminded of your residential address in America, your marriage and all till you got your green, there are people who knows more about it than this crap you are farting and crowing about!
Melisa ……. can only defend when their hands are clean, if you take someone to court for anything such as libel and slander, all they have to do is get a private investigator who can find all sort of things about you in America, and Dominica too, which could expose your true quality.
You can’t do squirt to anybody beside what you do best running your dunce moth off!
When a thief steals from a thief, the thief stolen from never calls the police because of fear they will find out the stolen goods were also stolen!
Savey?
This is interesting because apparently there is an entry in the New York marriage licence index of a Melissa Poponne tying the knot with a Brendan Hyson on 17 July of 2004 on a license issued in Queens N.Y. Maybe this is pure coincidence and if Mrs. Skerrit was married to someone else before she became Roosevelt Skerrit’s wife it would be no crime of course, umpteen people divorce and re-marry and there is no shame attached to that. Odd though that the Dominican public apparently is not aware of this, even more so because apparently no record of a divorce can be found. Is Melissa Skerrit the same person as Melissa Hyson. Maybe Melissa Skerrit can give clarity here if only to stop the rumour mill.
We must be aware that there are children involved and while they are not responsible for their parents’s deeds they have to live with their reputation. However, it would be a scandal if it turns out to be the same person, who got married by the Catholic Church without an annulment.
Boy as I said when someone steals from a thief, the thief stolen from cannot call the police, because of fear that the police will find out the goods are stolen from someone else.
Some people do married to get green cards, and in a certain person case if that is what she did, their green card becomes null and void, so the children she dropped in America, citizenship might be null and void too!
Pipo if you found it that easy, imagine what an hired investigator can do, never know what they can turn up on the Sir. Knight and triple doctor Roosevelt and that butter color woman looking like a professional prostitu:
I think someone need to be quiet about suing people for damaging their character when they have none none; and dirty skeletons hiding under their bed.
Her husband’s love for her is immeasurable, his respect for her immense. Her ageless, timeless, grace and fineness, her beauty and elegance; her rhapsody, her comedy, her symphony and at play. She is every love song ever written, don’t see the reason why you hate her so much. is your wife as beautiful and intelligent and finesse like Melissa? Does she have that same dorty mouth that you possess?
I don’t have the objective facts so I refuse to accuse Melissa of involvement in this very unsavory affair. But organising and promoting functions of this very nature is her forte’. She has a history of this as keeping fetes is her greatest ‘academic’ ability.
I laughed uncontrollably when Me!idea accused others of lying on her. This is similar to a skunk calling a sheep malodorous.
Now you trying to clear your name after your face done dutty up on de issue?
You that out of touch?
De horse has left de stable……go Trinidad and make those same threats!
Is we you and skerrit feel all you can clean all you dirty shoe on for all you to look fresh and groomed.
Do you have an axe to grind with someone in particular?
De same way you stay far away from Choksi in Antigua you staying far from Trinidad though.
And by de way de gangster glorification in your constituency is blaring loud right in our faces…….you can run and make threats of taking people to court…….but you can’t hide
Your own lowly supporters not members will sell you out for a dollar
Dominica’s administration is rotten to the core with corruption now operating at an institutional level. With no opposition or investigative journalism to properly investigate, challenge and hold them to account, these people are doing what they want, completely driven by grred, self enrichment and ego. Dominicans need to wake up.
Well unless Ma Skerrrit can prove otherwise I will believe the articles. We know you will get people to lie on themselves so we have no choice but to believe…
She has already denounced the article. What else do you not understand? What part of the English you do not understand? I know you are part of the Skerrit haters, Mr. Frankinstein.
she didn’t show factual evidence of nothing
she didn’t show how it is that she isn’t related to the event
i not putting my hand in fire for Melissa……she have a husband to do that for hee
Frank N Stein, You can believe what the hell you like you people useless UWP followers are parasites virus spreaders criminals and all sorts of nastiness, having said that it’s time Mr Skerrit, start suing the pant of that disgusting ugly Lenny, and his scavengers that is always consuming decaying biomass ” in other words a bunch of disgusting sewage rats.
Make them pay, Ma Skerrit! It is about time that those who use social media and other forms of public communication to smear, vilify, persecute, and destroy are made to pay for their mischief. The only way to arrest this burgeoning culture of character assassination and unchecked incendiary rhetoric in Dominica is to hold the culpable accountable.
Melisa is a dunce joke, nevertheless, she has a name!
Who the hell are you calling yourself Putin, want some Rusian mod mistaken you and give to you what the intended to give to Putin.
Shut up you damn ignorant.
Who the hell can Melisa sue, you perhaps.?
I wonder if you were verbally and physically abused when you were a kid, maybe sexually too. Have you ever been psychoanalyzed? You often remind me of one of those little gattaywasses that always bark and make a lot of useless noise in the hope that it will intimidate others.
BTW, that “dunce joke” is part of the team running things in Dominica today, and she is well-loved. So, eat your heart out and do not toofay while you are at it.
“Have you ever been psychoanalyzed?”
I supposed you have not taken the time to examine, and asks yourself that very question about you.
Now there is something called psychoanalysis which psychiatrist use to treat ignorant people like you, it is a simple method used in the treating of mental and emotional disorders in people like you, and so the psychiatrist allows the nut, to freely talk to themselves, especially reviling to themselves the trauma you suffered when you were a baby!
I was not sexually abuse by a man, whereas you may have; nevertheless, maybe I was sexually abused by many women because to this day I am still a damn handsome man, and if anything I like what they did to me.
I’ll tell you this anybody so ignorant to chose a name such as Putin must be a lunatic, and need some serious psychiatric counseling and treatment.
So, I advise you go see Griffin Benjamin, ask him for some: chlorpromazine, or trifluoperazine or fluphenazine, one should do you some good!
Russian despot, you most certainly was abused… mentally!!! It shows on here on a daily basis when you utter you BS. I feel sorry for people like you.
You do the same, your surrogates do the same while your big mouth is tightly sealed and plastered. In Dominica everything is done in secrecy, reasons why speculation is so rife. Example, Do you know all your ambassadors? No! It’s a secret. Do you know the arrangement we have with China? NO, you don’t..Do you know all the buyers of properties in Roseau? NO you don’t.So for you to come here and ask for poor people who cant even bury their dead or eat two meals a day to be sued, it shows how diabolical, desperate and wicked you are…!
Get the hell out of here! Your vile statement shows your dark heart is getting darker by the seconds.
@ Meme, Do you know of all the questions you just asked Putin? If that’s the case you must be buttocks
Cleaver.
@Putin
Do you know if she is being truthful???
You are such a disgrace!!
I have absolutely no reason to doubt her. Have you any evidence that she is not truthful?
Get out of here you sucker! Ma Skerrit is a gangster bride and a very good one at that. I said it all along, Dominica have their modern version of Bonny and Clyde.
Do you know what happened to Bonnie & Clyde in the end? They got shot to death with multiple bullets………………….
Exactly and that’s exactly what the modern version will get. You watch, I predicted this long time ago.
@Putin
You seem to be protecting something..Are you one of the greedies sucking Dominica dry? Are you one of those prepared to take a fall for politicians? Are you a lazy unemployed leach but still get your monthly payment?
Are you one of the snipers, navy seals or soldiers?
Melissa is a victim of her dumb pronouncements and irresponsible actions. Isn’t she the one who bragged about her snipers and navy seals, literally glorifying violence?
After making those ill-advised comments she has come under scathing criticisms, rightfully so. Some people were taken aback by this ‘tone deaf’ statement. I was not surprised. What should we expect from an underachieving person who has no other certificate other than a birth certificate.
Dear lady, I also did read the accusing article on Mas in the Cemetery of 12 April but must give you the benefit of doubt till the actual, unvarnished truth emerges. Must admit though that in my mind this affair had you prints all over it but nobody is guilty till proven so. You cannot have ownership of what is in someone’s mind however.
I am not accusing you but will reserve my judgement till such time your reputation emerges unsoiled and beyond reproach without a shadow of doubt.
Good luck.
Way papa. …………………. Who sponsored the show in the stadium tell us. If it was not Barbados who called Dominica, this guy would be on stage in Dominica performing and you would see who standing next to him and today they want to denounce their involvement.
Just a matter of time patience we must have.
This is precisely the type of comment that facilitates a culture of ignorance, hate, mind-bending, and libel. SMH! When she starts, I will be pointing her to this comment on DNO.
Your comments, by contrast, are precisely the type that encourage corruption and encourage the likes of Gucci and the CM to continue with their below par standards. Get out of here Russian Despot!!!