Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has said that there are other machinations other than the rule of law that has motivated Attorney Cara Shillingford Marsh to challenge the Integrity Commission on a matter relating to a personal gift.
Last week, the High Court in Dominica ordered that Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit stop the use of his Wrangler Jeep until a legal matter is settled. The court also ruled that its registration number be suspended.
The vehicle, costing EC$194, 000.00 which was a personal gift to Skerrit by ‘Moosa Navsa’ is being challenged by attorney Cara Shillingford-Marsh.
On June 12, 2023, High Court Judge, Justice Bernie Stephenson delivered a decision in which she granted leave to Shillingford-Marsh, who is also a member of the Integrity Commission in Dominica, to file a judicial review challenging a decision of the majority members of the Commission of February 12, 2021, to allow Skerrit to keep the gift.
The claim was brought by Shillingford-Marsh against Stephenson Hyacinth in his capacity as chairman of the Integrity Commission, and Thomas Holmes in his capacity as a member of the Integrity Commission, and the Integrity Commission.
But Skerrit explained at a press conference today, that the complaint was brought against the Integrity Commission and not against him as the prime minister.
He explained that the Integrity Commission wrote him a letter informing him that he can retain the gift.
“It is clear that I have complied with the law…The facts are clear. In the interest of transparency, I declared the asset to the Integrity in 2021, whose members in their wisdom determined that it could remain in my possession”, Skerrit said
He quoted from a letter written to him by the Integrity Commission, which states in part…” Having due regard to section 35 4 (b) of the Act, in light of the fact that the gift was not trivial, but was apparently not intended to be a motive or reward for doing or abstaining from any of your official functions, you are directed to retain the gift”
Shillingford-Marsh is alleging that the Commission acted illegally, irrationally, and unreasonably when it allowed a person in public office, namely Prime Minister Skeritt, to keep the gift of the Jeep Wrangler without conducting an inquiry into the circumstances of the giving of the gift.
She argued that the Integrity Commission was required to do so under the Integrity in Public Office Act.
She further argued that the decision of the Commission was in breach of its international obligation, in that the Commission failed to give effect to Article 5 of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and that the decision flies in the face of the provisions and in fact, amounts to the sanctioning of corruption.
She is asking that the gift be handed over to the financial secretary since the gift is property of the state and cannot be retained by the prime minister.
In the decision which came two years after the application was filed, the court granted leave to Mrs. Shillingford-Marsh to proceed with judicial review against the Integrity Commission but struck out the claim against Stephenson Hyacinth and Thomas Holmes.
Shillingford-Marsh has fourteen days from the date of the court’s decision to file her claim.
The Integrity Commission was represented by Lisa De Freitas and led by Senior Counsel Reginald Armour while Cara Shillingford-Marsh is being represented by her husband, attorney Wayne Benjamin Marsh.
DNO, it is clear to me that this story is a case in which you can very easily help your readers by referencing the relevant sections of the IPO Act, not to discourage the usual ant-Skerrit posse (this gang can never be dissuaded) but for the benefit of those who genuinely need to understand this story.
My god Putin, how can a single person be so corrupted by that man that can’t even speak proper fluent English? Get out of here, Mo..n
Skerrit i heard you at a press conference and in the end you said ( i quote) Helen Ambo who sign the letter that gave you the green light to keep the jeep.
Skerrit those two young ladys grow up together in the same yard, they bathe together they played like little girls together what you trying to do, is to put these family against each other ,come again skerrit that will never never happen dont throw that one in there. Cara Shillingford -Marsh and Helen Ambo grow up in the same yard.
We from that area know exactly what you trying to do skerrit we one step a head of you .
Skerrit done said no law or constitution can stop him from doing what he wants, even if we are to get the best lawyers in the region. The law is Roosevelt Skerrit and Roosevelt Skerrit is the law. If he were to be charged for breaking the law he would fire the chief and even the magistrate for charging him. Skerrit owns Dominica and everything in it
Quote the law and section of the law which say’ s it is an offence or crime for the Prime Minister to accept gifts.All the man has to do is declare the gift,not take it in secrete.Are you UWP bums saying if somebody gives Skerrit a gift of land and house valued at $10,000,000 he should refuse it?Bs as usual coming from uninformed idiots.The bottom line is the integrity commission including Cara Shillingford was told Skerrit had received the gift.That case is going nowhere,just like all the others.Another one fit for the gabbage pail just like UWP.
Man you a real clown ,your name speaks for it self, man it’s unbeleivable.
This clearly shows vindictiveness and a portrayal of the ego in pursuit of bolstering a legal career combined with a political agenda, very cunning, that’s all it is. Let us suppose that the vehicle was donated to the State instead of a personal gift to the PM, would that make any difference if bribery was the intention of the donor. What we looking at is Ethics vs. What is Legal, not confined to perception.
What this also shows is that the checks and balances are in place and working in Dominica, and let us not forget that it was This PM
who introduced The Integrity in Public Office Act, finally, bribery has to be proven in a Court of Law, not by perception.
Of course, he did. As required by law, he declared the gift and its value. Done!
It is no surprise that diehard supporter of this despicable character sees nothing with a $200K gift from a shadowy Middle Eastern figure as perfectly normal.
Even a one eyed, oafish scallywag should know that this smacks with corruption.
The guy is still finding nothing wrong with accepting the gift of over 100k as a public servant. Making excuses about he did not break law. This is a sick bastard. DNO a bastard is a child born out of wedlock. This tell me that all the stories of unexplained wealth is true. It is a confirmation there is nothing honorable in this clown and dominica needs to rid itself off this virus and prevent all others like him who seek to use public purse for personal wealth. Be it labour UWP or any other party. It is the character of the clowns who take advantage of the people. Despicable!!!!!!!
Skerrit only in Dominica. Skerrit who gave you the Jeep the people want to know, man when you a in public office you cannot accept personal gifts .
Skerrit when you speak you like to mention America, but in America that cannot happen thats law.
Their been 46 President in America and every gift they get have to stay with the goverment and people of America, but in Dominica skerrit think he is boss, such a fool, only in Dominica that can happen , Skerrit karma is a capital B people wake up.
That Cara Shillingford, woman want to be careful whose fingers she steps on while climbing up the ladder it could be very wet and slippery at the top!!
As usual, you are offering up a nothing burger on this forum.
Cara Shillingford is a lady of unquestionable high morals and rare intelligence. If Dominica had many more people of Cara’s impeccable character and rare intelligence, the country would be in a most enviable position in the whole of the Caribbean region.
Maximum respect to Cara.
I totally agree with your statement.
Yes Ibo Alcock and Brown, I have told you many times before whenever I say ***t jump on my spade,
When you are a fool, any thing is gospel, continue biteing dogs, people like you that dont know better that’s why Dominicam is last in the caribbbean.
She is a little giant, she come from Bawi, that’s why people like you skerrit anothers cannot do anything about it ,she is a lawyer with integrity and very independent , and dont you and others forget she have the hole community behind her. She is Bawi champion.
This woman has filed and lost more cases on appeal than any other lawyer in Dominica.Bad ratio.Playing politics with the intention to be the next leader of UWP.Already the claim against Stephenson Hyacinth and Thomas Holmes has already been dumped in the gabbage pail.Now her husband is representing her husband.
@Lin clown
Which woman in Dominica is called “”this woman””? You are so ……, you dont even know what you are writing?
Shameless clown!
Your ears must be in the wrong spot, or you just foolish .
Ask your god skerrit, ask your desciple tony astaphan, ask skerrit adviser Ralph Gonsalves, what that little giant been doing to them .
When they come before her they have to come ready or else she shredding them like paper with the law ,that where she strong .
Clown is there any other lawyer in dominica that whould take time off to file a case against skerrit ? only the little giant from Bawi , and her husband is also if you didnot know is also from Bawi. De Lion, and, De Lioness.
At the risk of you not understanding this, you really have a weak mind. Defending the wrong doings of Skerrit is doing yourself and your country a disservice of grave proportions.
So Skerrit wants to make us believe that the chairman of the Integrity Commission, a person who he appointed is impartial and everything is above board.
OK Skerro, point taken.
Okay let’s give the Prime Minister the benefit of the doubt on this one and agree with him here. It now begs the following questions:
So what was the reason for the gift? Why was the gift given? And why did the Integrity Commission not establish this fact as a matter of law and principle of good governance?
Is ‘Moosa Navsa’ in love with our PM? Why give a stranger such a valuable gift? What do you want or expect in retuirn? And don’t tell me you want nothing! When I give a woman a gift, I know what I want! I mean, who does that?
These are the questions that the inquiry by the Commission would elucidate. The law does not require Skerrit to provide these in his declaration.
@Peeping Tom
What about gifts fom Ali Reza Zibahalat Monfared? This too shall be investigated.Its early days still. Your fetid accomplice of evil deeds!
Very pertinent questions that the stuttering dunce can’t even begin to respond to in his usual inarticulate way.
Dat mister accepting, a man who needs to have security? Oh boy, can I offer him a lovely looking igloo to erect in Roseau, on a hot afternoon?
The State takes care of his security. That vehicle is his private vehicle. The two are separate and different. Got some brain cells?
Private vehicle to go where, Canfield airport ..from Morne Daniel, what are you smoking?
He needs to legalize cannabis to imagine her hair flying like dem white girls.
I do appreciate you coming to clear the air during the press conference to update Dominicans on the national action plan in preparing for tropical storm Bret. However, are we to trust any correspondence from organizations you control? Mr. Skerrit it’s simple ethics as a leader or one in certain positions, refrain from accepting gifts.
I work with an investigation bureau in the United States and our investigations often take us to corner stores, restaurants and clubs where we are offered water or some beverage and the instructions are to say, no thank you. But you accept a whole car.
“Are we to trust any correspondence from organizations you control?” Such ignorance!! Pathetic. I suppose you will not comply with laws passed in this Parliament, which is dominated by a Skerrit-led majority, because it is dominated by a Skerrit-led majority. Where do you guys come from, really? Are you all that shallow?
You clearly can’t comprehend English and you’re obscured by blind loyalty. I have none of these defects and is free to speak my mind. No organization in Dominica is independent of the government which is led by Roosevelt Skerrit. You are fully aware of that. You just jump over because Labour won so you could get free stuff. I was there when they were nothing in the 80s and 90s. Now they I not leading right, I chose to distance myself from this. Enjoy your lollipop while you will never be able to own anything. Tete calbas
@Peeping Tom
How can a greedy man refer to another man as shallow..A greedy man thinks in a shallow way like sticky fingered Peeping Tom. Reasons why you are failing, but trying you damnedest in defence of skullduggery.
Shameless!!
You know it may very well be “LEGAL”. But for me as a Dominican this is irrelevant.
The fact that the Prime Minister thinks it’s OK to accept such “GIFTS” is troubling and mind boggling.
In any other properly functioning democracy the Prime Minister would be forced to resign. And that’s just the minimum. Not to mention a criminal investigation into the circumstances of the granting/receiving of the “gift.”. Because Prime Ministers don’t just get expensive “gifts” because someone likes them.
The Prime Minister has gotten away with so many allegations and “scandals”, at this point he just thinks he is invincible. He is convinced that he can talk his way out of anything.
I’m also convinced he is emboldened by “his belief” that the opposition lacks any real political influence to be able to escalate these transgressions into anything nearing political fatality.
Nothing wrong in accepting gifts. It is actually impolite to refuse gifts, genuine and “clean” gifts. Every head of state receives gifts, public and personal. Civilized societies like ours simply have laws that govern the acceptance of these gifts. Resist the orgasmic tendency to cast mud on Skerrit and use your head!
Your accomplished LIAR….
When anyone is a leader he must be seen to be above board. Your God has time and time again been duped by others, because of greed. You too epitomises greediness. He knew the gift wS wag in excess of $1000.00…The onus was on him to refuse whatever it is that the IPO was recommending, and to be clean.
Your corrupted apologist!!
I think the question is, what ‘presents’ did those two members of the Integrity Commission receive from Skerrit in order to motivate them to write him a letter to inform that the ‘gift’ could stay in his possession. Incidentally, has anybody seen that letter? Furthermore, the fact that the case took two year to be heard speaks volumes!
Is this very expensive gift a case of quid pro quo? Who gives a gift such as that wit no strings attached?
This secretive, untrustworthy Liar needs to be thoroughly investigated. Many more skeletons will fall out when the closet door is opened.
Lastly, Roosevelt, the two other members of the Integrity Commission gave you the green light because you handpicked them to do exactly this.
It is said that every man has a price. Roosevelt’s price is $194 000 and up.
What price did those foreigners of Aljazeera infamy demand of that oft-rejected former political leader? Can you please inform us, Ibo? Garsan, I told you already, YOU, of all persons, cannot point fingers.
@Peeping Tom
How much was paid to the private jet Ali Reza Zibahslat Monfared hired to take your God from Malaysia to China. That was a gift.. was it declared to the IPO??? How much was channelled to a gas station up north by Ali Reza Zibahalat Monfared.. Classic money laundering. Stop putting your two dirty and corrupted feet in your mouth.
Your ………Think before writing garbage!!
Of course it’s clear you complied with law. Why break the law? just change it or get it to bend for you. Notice how he throws the integrity commission under the bus.
A man buying a woman a 8$ drink at a bar want something but gifting someone an almost 200k vehicle and they “dont want nothing”. Come on, all of allu maybe born last night. What investigation was carried out to arrive at that conclusion?
The thing about gifts is, if someone gives you such a gift, if anything comes up you’d be inclined to rule in their favor and forgo INTEGRITY. So the person cannot come and say “Sign that for me nuh, I give you a 200k gift”. Which is why I thought there was an INTEGRITY commission but not even that working.
If a 200k vehicle is an ok gift, i’d like to know what gift would not be ok.
The Holy Book says “whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his way crooked will be found out.” (Proverbs 10:9)
Corruption is generally defined as the use or abuse of public office for personal gain. Was the $194,000 personal gift by “Moosa Navsa” of personal gain to the PM? In a democracy, public office holders should know that they are holding the office in trust for the people. It is not their personal property. That said, today it was good to see some squirming rather than the usual smirking.
The job of an elected member of parliament should be service to the people not to serve oneself as Roosevelt believes.
In any other well governed jurisdiction this rascal will be wearing a pair of silver bracelets and peeping through a tiny window with iron bars.
Whatever happened to “strive for honour, sons and daughters, do the right, be firm, be fair? These words from our National Anthem make a powerful statement about integrity – the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. That the Integrity Commission allowed the PM to keep a $194,000. personal gift may speak to the integrity of the commission itself. Was allowing the PM to keep the gift the honourable thing to do? Were they satisfied with the character and integrity of the gift-giver “Moosa Navsa” and that there was no quid pro quo? Did they even look up the meaning of integrity? Thanks to Attorney Shillingford-Marsh, there was someone with integrity to challenge the almost total absence of that quality on the commission.
Whether or not the integrity commission initially allowed the gift, the court has clearly noted that there is a discrepancy in the matter. Hence the suspension of the registration of the vehicle, which means this vehicle ought not be on the streets. It’s institutional corruption…. real gangsterism…!
Where is the “institutional corruption?”
The vehicle has been off the road since nannay kanelle, you dim@*t!
DNO, your bloggers are so uninformed! Put a fact-checker before allowing posts, even including mine.
Your comment shows sure signs of guilt of a tormented mind. This is precisely what happens to people who try to defend the indefensible.
Anyone who even attempts to shelter an irredeemable miscreant like Roosevelt needs a psychiatric examination.
@Peeping Tom, I’ve got to breakout my verbal whooping stick to straighten you out for calling DNO bloggers “uninformed”.
Stop your peeping ways as it has been cautioned that peeping is a risky habit that can result in an eyeful of ashes. Please protect your eyes and temper your tongue.
But what is wrong with all of you?
Everything is a roro then,
All you think everything is a court case?
But the gift was declared to the commission.
Why do all like to create strife for no reason? Is it so political that is to hype the people who do not like a PM? These people cannot think for themselves. You say jump they jump. you say voleur they say voleur. You say liar they repeat. Are you all preying on the ignorant? Please go educate your supporters.
It is so sad that many people do not understand anything about government works. They mix up everything even all the ministries into one soup.
Please stop hyping people for wars and strife and teach them and also to respect others. The disrespect will be to you if you ever get in power. The good book says to respect authority. The ballot is where we speak.
Teach them to love one another too.
Remember the Creator is watching and knows and sees everything including our hearts.
When will you all stop this…
@Let the Truth Be Spoken
Pure unadulterated garbage from an enabler who sees no wrong, hears no wrong and accepts all wrong.
Skerrit is leader of the country, he must hold his position in high esteem…This is his IPO, because he dismantled the real IPO when the COWARD was ordered to answer questions concerning his alleged ownership interest in Blaire Court Property Development.
If Skerrit had any integrity, honesty and probity , he would say HELL NO..I am leader of the country, this will not go down well with the citizens. The gift exceeds $1000.00, i will declare it and pay the correct duty. But his GREED has already got him ensnared in so many entanglements, he seem not to care.
So stop being a corrupt enabler. If you love Skerrit, what prevents you from telling him “Skerrit you are too GREEDY stop milking the country”?
Roosevelt keeps on giving his critics fodder by his lying words and corrupt actions.
Where is your conscience, man? Anyone with integrity would donate it, not keep it. Pure greed.
I bet you think that Thompson Fontaine or Lennox Linton would.
@Peeping Tom
Shameless soul with sticky fingers trying to play acolyte for one with a deceitful and crooked track record.
Get out fron here man.
Are you a “Sac weigh teeth”??
Mister Skerrit i have a few questions directed at you sir. Please do not tell me “Go to Hell”!! Here they are:
Mr Skerrit the villas at SavannePaille just past Portsmouth, do you, or do you not have an interest in them?
Mr Skerit the lilac painted apartments at Picard, Portsmouth, do you, or do you not have an interest in them Mr Skerrit?
Mr Skerrit do you have an interest in a speed boat in this country?
Mr Skerrit do you, or do you not, have an interest in other houses in the 4 Roseau’s? (Roseau North, South, Central and Valley?
The churches will not you those questions, the bar association will not ask you those questions, you kindergarten ministers will not you those questions, the journalists at your ‘mess’ conferences will not ask you those questions, so i am asking you, on behalf of the people.
Again let me give effusive plaudits to Cara Shillingford Marsh. She is definitely a good citizen, and a good example for our youths to model on.
You Skerrit, did not comply with the law. As head of government you are a terribly bad example.I’ve said so adnauseam. You knew the gift exceeded $1000.00, if only you were above board, you would have rejected the offer to keep the Jeep.That’s what an honest leader would do. So to come crying, with you disingenuous and specious excuse, which is your modus operandi, shows how HYPOCRITICAL, deceitful and dangerous a leader you are!! Why do you like material things so much? Haven’t you accepted a gift from Dominicans of XCD$64000.00, plus electricity of XCD$10000.00?Did you accept any gift from Ali Reza Zibahalat Monfared? Was it declared to the IPO? Did you accept any gift from Susan Olde? Alison Diazani Madueke?That’s who you are?A VERY GREEDY MISLEADER.Now you need to tell Dominicans the MODEL of the Jeep! Is it 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013…