Thursday, December 31, 2015

Happy New Year

Brace Yourselves; 2016 will be a wild ride.

By: Mas In The Cemetary Staff

As 2015 draws to a close, we here at Mas In The Cemetery would like to wish all our readers, their families, friends, etc., a very Happy and Prosperous New Year. 2015 has indeed been a challenging year, and we have no doubt that 2016 will be just as, or even more challenging. We hope and pray that we will all come out better induviduals when it comes to a close as well.

In 2015, we witnessed countless instances of malfaesance in the administration of our lovely country. We've had numerous promises of ground-breakings for a hospital that we were supposed to have had years ago. Our Cabrits National Park has been broken up and a piece handed over to Middle Easterners who promise to build a hotel with money from the sale of our passports, while still owning the hotel. Now Dominicans, how does that work for you? You have allowed a crooked prime minister to hand over a piece of your land as well as your indentity to sell, make money, build a hotel, and the people he gave this to still owns the property? What degree or level of stupidty do you call that? And just as bad, the man who put this National Park together, without raising concern, just leaves with his tail between his legs, off to Barbados, and leaves us all in this mess. Wonderful.

We've seen a Speaker of the House of Representatives continue to diminish the institution. Others who have preceded her must be horified. We have no doubt that she will continue to pursue her evil ways in this new year, but as the saying goes, time will tell.

We were struck by a devastating storm, one which we will take some time to recover from. Our brothers and sisters in Petit Savanne were devastated, and they continue to experience this devastation in other ways to this date. In the meantime, their representative in parliament cannot seem to muster the political will to do what is right for them. Isn't that something?

Let us not forget that our detestable prime minister thinks so well about our health system that he had his wife give birth in a foreign country again. And some of you think that's right. Also, do you all realize that Roosevelt Skerrit spends as much time out of the country than he does within? Think about that for a minute.

And who could forget Baroness Sousay Sel? We think that name is going to stick to her. It should too. Is she ever going to tell us how much money, if any at all, was raised by her for us in her position as International Relief Coordinator? Baroness Sousay Sel might believe that she can escape the press in Dominica, but when she assumes the post of Commonwealth Secretary General, she will have to face the international press, and we will do our part in ensuring that somebody asks her about this. Let's see if she will tell the press to sousay sel too.

Our diplomatic passports are headline news again with this corrupt former Nigerian Petroleum Resources minister. We want you to know that we are pursuing this with our contacts in London; we will report to you when we have credible information.

This new year we commit to bring you all the information that we believe you should be aware of. Our Editorial Director, working with our London contributor, have uncovered very facinating bits of information about monies that need to be explained. The story is being put together now and we will be releasing it within weeks, so stay tuned, you will want to read this.

Once again, we at Mas In The Cemetery would like to wish you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year and we look forward to playing our task in informing you and keeping you abreast of developments that relate to our country.

N. Adams, C. Lowe, Lizzy, T. Blaize, K. Thomas, J.A. Scotland

Friday, December 25, 2015

Dominica & LIAT: A Marriage made in Hell

So I'm thinking of carnival 2016 and I'm in pain; I need to take a mortgage to pay for my airfare. Anyone traveling to Dominica from North America knows that it is just as expensive to fly from, say, New York to Melville Hall (DOM) as it is to fly from New York to Tokyo, or close by. The point is; we all recognize that LIAT is going to extract one of our kidneys while breaking both of our legs the moment we decide to fly on their aircraft. So how can I reduce the possibility of going into that operating room?

While on Facebook, I came across a post from Dominica's illustrious Tourism Minister, Robert Tonge, pushing a story from dominicavibes.dm about lower airfares to the Caribbean that will be beneficial to Dominicans. The story is about Norweigian Airlines planned service from the eastern seaboard of the US to the Caribbean. So with a bit of consternation (Norweigian Air, as the name implies, is from Norway, not the US, so I was intrigued) and curiosity, I delved into the story.

Robbie Tonge's Idea For Boosting Tourism

The story says that Norweigian airlines will be having low airfares from the US; but it's to Point-a-Pitre (PTP) and Fort-de-France (FDF), from Boston (BOS), New York (JFK) and Baltimore-Washington (BWI). Then it suggests that upon arrival in the French islands, you have a choice of taking Winair, LIAT or the ferry. Ferry? Really? Why not suggest I could choose to swim across the channel as well? It is an option, isn't it? Anyhow, as much as this new air service sounds promising, in my opinion, the fact that the tourism minister is promoting this convoluted travel route to Dominica instead of looking for more viable options for Dominicans tells me how bankrupt of ideas he and his government is. Didn't they learn anything from the prime minister of Grenada when he said that getting to Dominica was like doing complicated math equations? (something like that).

It is not a secret that I have major issues with the manner in which the country is being run. The people in charge are corrupt and have no idea about what they need to do to bring the country out of the doldrums they've put it in. Here is a tourism minister pushing for Dominicans to do a hop, skip and a swim to Dominica; I guess that's better than not having the international airport the country so desperately needs, right? But I'm going to do Robbie a favour; I am going to point out to Robbie how he could soften the systematic carnal abuse of travelers to Dominica by LIAT.

Robbie, your government has been plunking millions of dollars into LIAT with practically no positive returns on that investment. You jump for joy when LIAT decides to add another flight to Dominica at their whim. You play trumpets when the airline lands at Melville Hall at 6:30pm. Here's a better idea; why don't you use your tremendous financial stake in the airline to force changes in its operations that would significantly benefit us? And if they don't want to, withdraw your investment. What are they going to do, pull out of Dominica? Their most profitable route? I doubt it. You're a businessman, you ought to know these things. I have some ideas; take a look Robbie.

Instead of relying on Antigua (ANU) and San Juan (SJU) for most of our connections, why not give us the option of using Barbados (BGI) and St. Lucia (UVF)? For example, jetBlue flies from New York into BGI and UVF frequently. These flights land in the early afternoon, anywhere between 1:00pm and 2:00pm. Why not have LIAT schedule a direct flight mid-afternoon from either of these airports into DOM? For one thing, it would be very convenient and would alleviate issues at ANU and SJU. Furthermore, it will be a lot less expensive for us. Robbie, take a look at this; let's see if you can grasp what's at stake here.

New York - Tokyo on United Airlines

I decided to look for a ticket from JFK to DOM for Carnival 2016. I'd leave NY on January 28, the last Thursday in January and return on February 10th, Ash Wednesday. So I pulled up jetBlue's system and plugged in the dates. The cheapest flight I could find with one stop costs US$1,367 through SJU. That is slightly less than a round trip direct flight from JFK to Tokyo using the same dates. That's sick. Then I looked at a round trip direct fight from JFK to UVF, same period. I'd leave NY around 8:00am and arrive in St. Lucia around 1:30 in the afternoon. The cost is $368.20.

Round Trip Comparisons: JFK, SJU, UVF, DOM

WOW! That's $1,000.00 less. Surely it cannot cost US$1,000.00 to travel from St. Lucia to Dominica round trip, can it? No, not even close; US$236.94. Now added together, that's US$604.10 round trip; a savings of US$762.00.

LIAT airfares, SLU, BGI, DOM

But there are three problems; First, I'd have to leave UVF and travel to SLU to catch my LIAT flight (you see, the geniuses at LIAT cannot figure out that it makes sense having a flight from the same airport the big jets land at, so I have to leave the big one in the south of the island and take a taxi to the north of the island to catch my disconnecting flight. Sharp people running that airline, can't slip anything by them). Secondly, I'd have to overnight because the one flight from St. Lucia to Dominica leaves Castries at 10:00am. Thirdly, my flight from St. Lucia to Dominica, a distance of 107 miles, lasts 5 hours and 20 minutes, longer than the flight from New York to St Lucia, a distance of 2,011 miles, because it first takes me on a tour of Martinique and Barbados before I arrive in Dominica. That is incredible.

Which brings me back to Robbie Tonge. Why can't Robbie exert sufficient influence on the board of LIAT to operate a direct flight from UVF around 3:00pm to arrive into Dominica less than an hour later? Common sense, right? To you and me yes, but not to these imbeciles in the Dominica government. Too much brain work.

Round Trip Comparisons: HFJ, SJU, BGI, DOM

The situation is similar if traveling through Barbados; JFK to BGI costs $403.20 on jetBlue. It costs $340.13 from BGI to DOM, but here too we unwillingly embark on a tour, first flying past Dominica on our way to Antigua, and then back to Dominica. The JFK to BGI flight lands in Barbados before 2:00pm, so here's an idea; why not have a LIAT flight from BGI around 3:00pm landing in DOM 45 minutes later? Am I asking too much here?

Come on Robbie; do the math. When will your government stop the rape of the Dominican traveler by LIAT? When is this going to end? When are you going to exercise our vote on the board of LIAT to the benefit of Dominicans; in fact, all travelers, including the tourists we will so desperately need to fill the hotel rooms that are going to be constructed in the phantom hotels your government say they're going to have built? Sir, please stop posting pictures of a Bailey Bridge over a gorge in Boetica and concern yourself with your job, which, in case you have forgotten, has to do with tourism, not public works construction projects; leave that for the minister responsible for that government department. LIAT has millions of our dollars; if they are not willing to work with you, withdraw our money. It's as simple as that.

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

The Politics of Divide and Conquer

Disgraced former Trinidad and Tobago Justice Minister and Kamla reject Herbert Volney, a Dominica national, apparently dissatisfied with the abrupt demise of his own political career in TnT, has decided to enter the political discourse in Dominica.

Herbert Volney

Apparently feeling a bit unfulfilled and probably unappreciated with just crowing on Facebook for quite some time now, extolling the virtues of Roosevelt Skerrit, Volney has taken to sharing his opinions on Caribbean media. In a commentary best suited to be amidst the excrement at the base of a septic tank but given life on the widely-read news site Caribbean News Now (www.caribbeannewsnow.com), this certified liar starts off by stating that he is writing about the opposition United Workers Party's preparing to mount a mid-term challenge to "wily and shrewd Roosevelt Skerrit and the Dominica Labour Party". First off the bat; what makes Herbert Volney believe that the UWP is planning to mount a challenge to the DLP prior to expiration of this current term? Where did he get that from?

Volney continues to flush by stating that he does not expect Skerrit, who he describes glowingly, almost pubescently, like a teenage girl going out on a date with her first crush, as a man with "abundant political mojo", to leave office nor does he expect him to "back himself up into an electoral corner". What he does expect, however, is for Skerrit to call a snap election "when he's ahead" in order to catch the UWP flat-footed.

Excuse me. Is Herbert Volney looking for a job? Having been fired by Kamla Persaud-Bissessar, his political fortunes laying in the same septic tank as his opinions, is he angling for a job with Roosevelt Skerrit? Surely he is aware of Skerrit's propensity to align himself with persons possessing not-too-stellar reputations; is Volney trying to muscle himself in on the action? It sure seems that way since he's been shovelling this crap for some time now, but I doubt it. So, what is he really up to? On one hand, here is it that he's stroking Skerrit's ego, inflated as it is already, telling him that "when he's ahead", call a snap election. When he's ahead? Is that an admission that Skerrit is in the pit now? Interesting.

But after that kiss, he proceeds to give Skerrit the finger, all the while winking. He opines that the Skerrit government appears to have a misplaced sense of priorities; he pontificates "how, for example, can government splurge on a 1,000 invitee reception for Dame Scotland, if reports are true?" Dame Scotland? She's no longer a Baroness? And what should I make of "if reports are true"? Didn't this dolt see the government's own pictures of the event all over the cyberspace he says that they dominate? It's all over Roosevelt Skerrit's Facebook page, the same one he refers to as being filled with signings and "prospects for national development".

Speaking of "prospects for national development"; Is this barrel of flatulence referring to projects like the hospital that has been on the slow boat from China for 10 years now? Wasn't that hospital signed for as part of the 4-pillars projects when Dominica switched from Taiwan to China? Weren't we supposed to have had a few ground-breaking ceremonies for that hospital some time ago? And now we have another signing ceremony for that same hospital? What were the ground-breaking ceremonies for then, if the signing took place only a few days ago? Herbert needs to go ask his master Skerrit that question.

Now this reject comes to us telling the UWP who it should have as it's leader? Are you serious? Herbert Volney is a troll. Herbert, Kamla rejected you. Herbert, Kamla held on to Jack Warner until she could no longer. Now think about this for a minute, Herbert; if Kamla held on to Jack for so long, yet rejected you as soon as she batted one eyelash, what does that say about you, Herbert? Take some time, sit, and ponder on that for a few.

As if trying to influence division within the ranks of the UWP wasn't good enough, Herbert Volney is making an overt attempt to initiate class warfare among Dominicans; the classic Town vs. Country garbage that has been a legacy of colonialism. Here it is, a light-skinned member of the Roseau social class, stoking racial and class tensions between the Roseau bourgeoisie and the black people of Marigot and Veille Case. After tickling Skerrit with one finger, he uses another and gives him the finger when he says "the power rests with the people of Roseau and not in Veille Case or Marigot". I think Herbert Volney thinks Skerrit is a fool.

Which brings us back to our original question; what is Herbert Volney up to? Is he trying to push his friend into the leadership of the UWP with the hopes that he can position himself to exert undue influence on him and thereby plunk the bourgeoisie back in the seat of power in Dominica? Is he trying to peddle his stained credentials, being a former judge, on to the young, smart lawyer? Does he see himself as a father figure to Joshua Francis? What is Herbert Volney really up to?

Dominicans need to be reminded of the story of the demise of the city of Troy. For 10 years, the Greeks tried to penetrate the walls of Troy, to no avail. The Greek king Odysseus, decided to build a huge wooden horse and had it placed at the gates of Troy. They then sailed off on their ships. The Trojans interpreted the horse as a gift; they thought they won the war. They brought the horse within the city and when they went to sleep, many of them drunk, Greek soldiers creeped out of the horse and opened the gates to the city. The Greek armada came back and killed the Trojans and burnt the city. But they were warned about the Greeks by a priest. "I fear the Greeks even when they come bearing gifts". He begged them not to bring the horse into the city, but he was ignored and the result was the destruction of the Trojans from within. It is from this tale that computer viruses are referred to as trojan horses.

The moral of the story is this; when your opponent comes to tell you what you need to do and who you should have leading you so that you can beat them, run. RUN!

Sunday, December 20, 2015

A cover up in the works

Roosevelt Skerrit has been caught with his pants down. With investigators in the United Kingdom and Nigeria closing on on ex-Nigerian Petroleum Resources minister Diezani Alison-Madueke's trail of corruption, the issue of Ms. Allison-Madueke's possession of a Diplomatic passport from Dominica has become a major sticking point for law enforcement. Ms. Alison-Madueke was reported to have been issued a Diplomatic passport in May 2015. In what can only be characterized as an attempt to save face by the Roosevelt Skerrit government, the Office of the Prime Minister today issued a statement that they hope will put the issue to bed. But we have more questions.

The report from the investigators indicate that the passport was issued in May 2015, yet in the statement issued by the OPM says;

"Prime Minister Skerrit explained that in May of this year, during a routine stop-over visit to London, Madueke was introduced to him as the immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources in Nigeria and also immediate past President of OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. These discussions however took place well before any question of an investigation by the relevant authorities arose."

The statement goes on further to say:

"So, on the recommendation of a number of outstanding individuals of note, and after thorough due diligence studies were undertaken, the Government of Dominica agreed to the appointment of the former Nigerian Government Minister as Trade and Investment Commissioner for Dominica, with the specific remit of promoting and marketing the trade and investment opportunities of Dominica."

We have a few questions for the Prime Minister:

Sir, if you were in the United Kingdom on a stop-over in May, and the passport was issued in May, exactly what kind of "thorough due diligence" study was done on Ms. Alison-Madueke?
Mr. Prime Minister, any "thorough due diligence" on Ms. Alison-Madueke would have turned up an investigation on her over a year ago by the Nigerian House of Representatives for having misappropriated an estimated N$10 billion on the chartering, maintenance and associated costs of at least 3 private jets for use by her and her family to fly all over the world. Did you get that in your "due diligence" report? If not, why? If you did, shouldn't that have raised a red flag?
Also over a year ago, Ms. Alison-Madueke has been accused by the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi of embezzling of some N$20 billion of oil money from the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, accounts held at the Central Bank. Did you not get that in your "due diligence" report as well?
The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ajjampur Ghanashyam, accused Ms. Alison-Madueke of having swindled an Indian businessman of $25 million in a shady oil deal. This too was before May, 2015. Did that not show up in your "due diligence" report?

As you can see, Roosevelt Skerrit chicken's are coming home to roost. We at MITC sincerely hope that the national press in Dominica take up this issue, among others, and finally, FINALLY confront this man.

Nigerian under investigation has Dominica Diplomatic Passport

Dominica's Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit is reported to have bestowed diplomatic credentials on ex-Nigerian Petroleum Resources minister Diezani Alison-Madueke who is under investigation in the United Kingdom for corruption. The passport, issued earlier this year, in May, was accompanied by a letter from Skerrit stating that Diezani should be allowed to "pass freely without let or hindrance and afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary.”

Diezani Alison-Madueke

Ms. Alison-Madueke also has a job waiting for her when she arrives in Roseau. The story below.

From The Nation, Nigeria (http://bit.ly/1m0nRPH)

Diezani plots to relocate from UK

Posted By: Yusuf Alli on: December 19, 2015

Embattled ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, is on the verge of leaving her present abode in the United Kingdom for the Commonwealth of Dominica where she reportedly acquired the citizenship.

Mrs.Alison-Madueke is currently under investigation in Britain for alleged corruption while in office.

Investigators in the UK and Nigeria were shocked by the discovery that she had secretly acquired the citizenship of the small Caribbean country of only 72,000 people.

But sources in the UK said the National Crime Agency (NCA) was already keeping monitoring her movement.

It was learnt that the lid was blown open by some anti-corruption and civil society groups in the UK.

Alison-Madueke’s new citizenship was confirmed in a May 29, 2015 approval letter by the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit,according to a document obtained by one of the groups.

The letter also claimed that the ex-Minister has been appointed that country’s Trade and Investment Commissioner for the Republic.

Although the letter indicated that the appointment was without salary package, she is expected to help in promoting and marketing Dominica as a trade and investment domicile.

In the diplomatic passport, DP0000445, the Dominican Government said Diezani should be allowed to “pass freely without let or hindrance and afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary.”

Issued on May 21, 2015, the diplomatic passport is expected to expire on May 20, 2020.

The granting of citizenship to the ex-Minister, whose passport indicated was born on 6th of December, 1960, has attracted diplomatic concerns.

“I think the NCA is suspecting that she acquired the citizenship of the Commonwealth of Dominica with the intent to relocate to this country. This has opened a fresh bend into our investigation,” a source said last night.

“It is not impossible that she had planned to escape to Dominica ahead of the inauguration of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari because her appointment ought to be effective from June 1, 2016 for an initial period of three years.

“She has been placed under stricter surveillance in the light of the latest development.

“While the diplomatic aspect is being handled by the appropriate quarters, I can tell you that the NCA is collaborating with many agencies to bring her to account for any allegation against her.

“The NCA is conducting extensive investigation into the oil deals during the tenure of Diezani, irrespective of her ongoing treatment for cancer.”

The International Corruption Unit (ICU) of NCA on October 2 arrested Diezani and four others.

All the suspects are being investigated for alleged bribery and money laundering.

“On Friday, October 2, the National Crime Agency’s recently formed International Corruption Unit arrested five people across London as part of an investigation into suspected bribery and money laundering offences.

“All five people arrested were released on conditional police bail later that evening, pending further investigation both in the UK and overseas.

The investigation commenced in 2013 under the Proceeds of Corruption Unit and transferred to the NCA earlier this year.”

The Press and Public Relations Officer of the British High Commission in Nigeria, Mr. Joe Abuku, had said: “Five people between the age range of 21 and 60 years were arrested by the NCA for bribery and corruption, but they have not given us the details of those involved.”

The EFCC also raided the posh Asokoro residence of the ex-minister and retrieved some documents and expensive jewellery.

One of the clues on the ex-Minister which the EFCC is looking into is the alleged spending of $6.9 million to buy three 40-feet mobile stages for use during mass public speaking events.

The cost of the stages was allegedly inflated and there is no evidence yet that any stage was purchased at all.

It was learnt that the process of procurement of the three mobile stages was neither known to extant Nigerian laws and due process regulations, nor were the offices of the Auditor-General and the Accountant-General of the Federation in the know.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Reginald Austrie on the mend

Housing minister Reginald Austrie, the parliamentary representative for the Cottage constituency, is no longer on his back; he has been spotted for the first time in weeks. Since his sudden departure from Dominica several weeks ago, Mr. Austrie has not been seen in public, but he has met privately with family, friends and colleagues. We are happy the minster is recovering well and we hope to see him at government HQ in the not-too-distant future.

Reginald Austrie

Mr. Austrie was rumored to be in the one of our neighbouring French islands; speculation is that he was in Marie Galante, while some placed him in Guadeloupe. It was said that he was undergoing treatment and surgery for issues surrounding his feet. Speculation is that he has had an amputation and may be now fitted with prosthetics. As you can see from this photograph, Mr. Austrie is upright without any visible signs of being held up with crutches. That is excellent. We wish Mr. Austrie well and look forward to seeing him back in Dominica.

We also hope that Mr. Austrie takes it upon himself to be a strong and vocal advocate for the immediate improvement of the health services sector in Dominica. Mr. Austrie, in his capacity as a government minister, was able to avail himself of medical services in a foreign country because he could not have received comparable care in Dominica. Numerous instances of poor service, shortages of medical supplies, inadequate attention, among other problems, are well documented. Mr. Austrie has now undergone what appears to be a total makeover, healthwise. We're hoping that this makeover extends to his disposition as well, having famously referred to himself as a "Rottweiler". We're hoping that Mr. Austrie will embrace this opportunity to make amends with the Dominican public for all the vile things he's said about certain citizens, including but not limited to "if you're ugly, say you damn ugly" and his references to who likes beef, undoubtedly two of the least of his transgressions. It is quite evident that life throws each and every one of us a bouncer when we least expect it; the question now is what lessons do we learn from the experience. Also, in light of the fact that the cost of Mr. Austrie's expensive overseas treatment is being borne by the Dominican taxpayer, we insist that Mr. Austrie demands of the Ministry of Health that they begin to immediately resuscitate the Marigot Hospital. This is a vital piece of Dominica's infrastructure; we simply cannot have the people of the North-East languishing in the manner that they now are.

Welcome back Mr. Minister; good to see you again.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Baroness to Dominicans - Suck Salt

Fresh off her victory of having been elected as Commonwealth Secretary General Designate, Baroness Patricia Scotland of Asthal paid a visit to her country of birth, Dominica, and promptly delivered a message to detractors of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit; "suck salt".

PM Skerrit (l), Baroness Scotland (r)

The Baroness was delivering a speech at the dedication of a primary school in her honour. The school, located in the village of Veille Case, which happens to be in the constituency of prime minister Skerrit, sits on the picturesque north-east coast of the island. Mr Skerrit was the Baroness' lead sponsor at the recently concluded Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Malta and this visit is somewhat of a victory lap of sorts.

The prime minister came under heavy criticism for having pushed Baroness Scotland for the post. Although she was born in Dominica, the Baroness, age 60, last resided on the island when she was 2, which makes her "dominant nationality" English, according to rules governing the selection process in the Commonwealth, a fact that should have prevented her from being elected to CSG. As fate would have it, it didn't, and Baroness Scotland, a highly accomplished woman, is now the incoming CSG.

Baroness Scotland, in delivering her remarks to the crowd gathered at the dedication ceremony, proudly emphasized her Dominican roots, speaking in alternately in both English and French Creole, both of our languages. She went on to praise prime minister Skerrit profusely and had a very "classy" message for Dominicans who oppose him; "go suck salt", then promptly gave the royal wave; ta ta!

For those unaware of local customs and parlance, when someone uses the term "suck salt" in dispensing advice, there is very little nuance in the meaning; the term means "go to hell", "stay in your misery", "get lost", "starve yourself to death", or any derivative thereof. Dominicans know what she was saying, she knew what she was saying, and it wasn't pretty.

It is worthy to point out here that Baroness Scotland, in her speeches subsequent to her having been elected as CSG-designate, made it known that one of the things on her agenda as CSG was the eradication of official corruption. Roosevelt Skerrit has been engulfed in the fog of corruption since becoming prime minister of Dominica over 10 years ago. Out of numerous instances of graft, nepotism, malfeasance and the infamous visit to the Labour Department, where he told the Labour Commissioner that "there is racketeering going on in this department (regarding the Haitian work permit scheme), fix it", there's also the unresolved Layou River Hotel project in which Skerrit conspired with his Ambassador to China David Hsiu and his business partner Grace Tung, to defraud investor Felix Chen of his US$20 million investment in that project. Skerrit personally testified in court in the British Virgin Islands in 2008 where he declared that he was on his way to Macau to borrow that US$20 million from a "Mr. Wu" in an effort to pay off Mr. Chen, who's still waiting for his money.

From left: Ashe, Lorenzo, Skerrit, Ng

"Mr. Wu" is none other than Chinese billionaire Ng Lap Seng, an accused Macau crime lord and triad member, who so happens to be now under house arrest in New York after being apprehended by the FBI in September for money laundering and tax evasion. Ng is also at the center of a massive bribery scheme at the United Nations. Ng is accused of bribing former General Assembly President John Ashe and former Ambassador Francis Lorenzo from the Dominican Republic to get the UN to steer business his way, apparently to build a huge UN center in Macau to be run by the UN Office for South-South Cooperation. Two days before Tropical Storm Erika struck Dominica on August 27th 2015, Mr. Skerrit was photographed with John Ashe, Francis Lorenzo and Ng Lap Seng signing documents, the contents of which the UN is yet to disclose, despite repeated requests. It is noteworthy that Skerrit was the only head of state at that meeting, one which was designed for lower-level officials. Why was Skerrit really there?

Furthermore, Baroness Scotland was appointed by Skerrit days after the passage of TS Erika to be the country's International Relief Coordinator, tasked with drumming up financial resources for the rebuilding effort. She is yet to deliver a report on her efforts, and neither has Skerrit. How much money did you get for us Baroness? From who? Where is it? And now you come tell us who criticize Skerrit to go suck salt? Really?

Lizzy the Blogger in Dominica coontributed to this story

Monday, December 14, 2015

He Finally Speaks

This morning, our learned Dr. Lennox Honeychurch came out with a post on Facebook lamenting that he was confused as to why the oppostion United Workers Party was boycotting the ceremony to be held for Baroness Patricia Scotland.

Dr. Lennox Honychurch

In a piece entitled "The visit of Baroness Scotland to Dominica", the recent contributor to the persistent Brain Drain epidemic in Dominica opines that he is at a loss as to why members of the political opposition have chosen to take a stand and recuse themselves from any outlandish celebratory events in light of all the challenges the country faces as well as the prime minister's own documented disdain for the world seeing us whining on a woman. Take a look.

"THE VISIT OF BARONESS SCOTLAND TO DOMINICA.

I am a bit puzzled here. I am getting mixed messages. Is the UWP against Baroness Scotland because she was elected by the majority of Commonwealth States to be General Secretary? Or are they against the government of Roosevelt Skerrit for laying on a costly reception? Or both?

When I was an Opposition member in the House of Assembly we were told by our leader, Miss Eugenia Charles (she was not Dame yet) that we should always act as the alternative government, the government in waiting. If we had a contention with the government it should not be carried over towards a visiting dignitary, be they an Ambassador, High Commissioner, member of the royal family or such like.

We would have our issue with the government, yes, but we would meet or correspond with the visitors, be cordial and explain our issue to them. This was because, if or when we did form the government, our relationship with those persons and the organisations that they represented, would need to continue in a businesslike manner. To act immaturely would reflect badly on our capacity to take on the responsibilities of power".

With all due respect to Dr. Honychurch, this rather simplistic analysis is not only disingenious but downright deceitful. Dr. Honeychurch knows very well that his synopsis is no where close to the truth, that the issues go far beyond what he's making them out to be. Furthermore, isn't this the same individual who, when the moment came for him to speak up against the desecration of the Cabrits National Park by this very government he supports, he chose to tuck his tail between his legs and scoot off to Barbados?

Dr. Honychurch, your behavior vis-a-vis the Cabrits fiasco is borderline treasonous. You sir have sacrificed what was once your "good name" at the altar of political malfaesance of the Dominica Labour Party. You sir, sat on your hands and dragged your ass when you should have stood up for the country you say you love. Quite frankly, after you put in years of hard work, you then watched while Roosevelt Skerrit began to systematically dismantle your very work and instead of voicing your concern, you turned tail and ran off to Barbados. Now you come back and have an opinion on what the opposition party, the party who cried then and continues to cry to this day about the destruction of your work? You have a set of balls, sir.

Lennox, The Cabrits was your life passion and you failed to voice any disapproval of the desecration of our National Park. That sir, is sacrilege. If or when you decide to write a book on the Cabrits and its restoration which you supervised with love and pride, for which I give you top marks, I hope that you will insert a chapter in there about your failure to protect that which you were so devoted to. I hope that you will be just as confused and critical about yourself as you are of the party that is carrying your luggage, the one you left back here in Dominica. And for your sake, I hope your conscience gets cleared up in the process.

Are We a Kleptocracy?

Did Roosevelt Skerrit strike a Faustian bargain with England by pushing, in defiance of his fellow Caribbean people and spitting in the face of Caribbean unity, English Baroness Patricia Scotland for the position of Commonwealth Secretary General (CSG), a woman who, after having been born in Dominica in 1955, emigrated to England with her family barely two years after birth and has hardly ever looked back ever since?

PM Skerrit with Baroness Scotland

And, considering that the Queen could not help herself in her address by basically telling the Commonwealth Heads of Government gathered in Malta that she wants her son, Prince Charles, to lead the organization in the near future, is Baroness Scotland the one who's going to lay the groundwork for that to occur? And what about Scotland's stated number one priority when she assumes the office? That didn't come from the Caribbean, and she's supposed to be the representative of the Caribbean, so exactly who's agenda is she peddling? And what about Antigua's Prime Minister Gaston Browne, after having stuck his neck out to help Skerrit get elected 12 months ago, we wonder how does he feels now that Skerrit has returned the favour by biting his ass with the same set of teeth that he uses to chew on Dominicans derrières too. Interesting times in the Caribbean are ahead.

We're convinced that Skerrit may very well have made a bargain with the British. How else do you explain the betrayal of his fellow West Indians? We know that these geopolitical shenanigans that have transpired which has led to the selection of Patricia Scotland as CSG-designate do not occur as a result of happenstance; there's always something questionable going on behind closed doors, the only question is what?

We've been taking a close look at Skerrit and his activities worldwide and we've unearthed a series of some rather peculiar financial transactions over the years that appear to possess all the qualities of an operation that sought to conceal illicitly obtained finances. Our investigations are continuing and we will bring our report to you very soon, so stay tuned. In any event, these transactions we've uncovered, it is not exactly impossible to believe that the British are on to him and made him an offer he couldn't refuse; "Boss, we have the goods on you so for our silence, we want you to push the Baroness for CSG, she's Dominican by birth so she qualifies even if barely, and in the meantime, we will work on the other countries". Think that's far-fetched? Not so at all. Have you wondered why, all of a sudden, hours before the votes were to be cast, an old report resurfaced in the Daily Telegraph on Sir Ronald Sanders alleging fraud against the Antiguan government, a bogus allegation if there ever was one, since he was never accused, let alone charged, with any crime? You think it was accidental that this report surfaces right before the vote? We certainly don't think so.

In the meantime, we encourage you to stay glued to this blog; we have some big stories coming down the pike that you're surely going to want to know about.

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