Friday, December 4, 2009
Former Dominica Chief Minister condems rapid wealth accumulation of PM Skerrit
By Ambassador Frank Baron
It is with extreme sadness that for the first time in my public life, one which has spanned over 65 years, I have decided to write a personal statement to my fellow Dominicans.
I served in the Roseau Town Council in the 1940s. I served in the Dominica legislature in the 1950s. I served as Dominica’s Chief Minister in 1960.
I served in her Majesty’s opposition in the 1960s. I vigorously opposed the Labour Party in the 1970s. I served in the Diplomatic Corps for nearly 15 years in the 1980s and 1990s.
I have fought many long and bitter political battles. I have made numerous public addresses in my time.
I started a newspaper in 1951 to wage a political fight against the likes of R.B. Douglas, Earl Leslie and Harrison Peter, all of whom have since gone to their maker.
I fought Edward Oliver LeBlanc on what I regarded as a neglect of Dominica’s economic well-being.
I fought side by side with Mary Eugenia Charles against what I perceived to be corruption under the United Workers Party government.
I fought through my newspaper, against corruption in government in the 2000 campaign. Ms. Charles and I were united in our opposition to corruption in government.
I have been sued numerous times because of my unflinching stance. I have been called every name under the sun. I proudly bear the financial scars of all those fights and campaigns.
BUT TODAY, IN THE MIDST OF A DEAFENING SILENCE FROM FORMER POLITICAL FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES, I RISE, LIKE A WOUNDED KNIGHT, TO WAGE THAT FIGHT ONCE AGAIN!!
My body is not as strong as it used to be. But I am not, to borrow a phrase from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, “declining into dotage.” I am not ignorant of the things that are taking place in my country, things we have fought long and hard to prevent.
I have not forgotten the battle waged in the 1970s or the reason why the Dominica Chronicle, as it was known then, was firebombed.
I have not lost hold of my senses.
In the early 1990s, when internal dissent threatened to destroy the Dominica Freedom Party government, I wrote to my close friend of over 40 years, Mary Eugenia Charles. I warned her to take control of her government.
I warned her that selfish ministers were eating away at the innards of her party. I warned her to silence the conspirators and to pursue an economic programme that would benefit the people.
I warned her that to avoid political defeat, she should pursue a development strategy conducive to capital formation and job creation.
On other occasions, I also warned her that she should beware of Greeks bringing gifts. I warned her about the perils of economic citizenship and its potential for abuse.
I warned her about becoming pawns in the hands of foreign powers who would use Dominica for their own selfish reasons. I warned her, as her then U.S. Ambassador, about the problem in Grenada and the fact that it could happen in Dominica.
Today, in the name of Mary Eugenia Charles, in the name of the cause of freedom, dignity and integrity in government, I must severely reproach Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, a man I have long admired, for corruption in government to an extent I have never seen.
If I do not do so, then my tenure in government would have meant nothing. If I do not do so, then the ghost of Mary Eugenia Charles would haunt me like the ghost of Shakespeare’s Banquo.
If I do not do so, then I would be telling Dominicans that as long as the government did something, government officials would get away with everything.
If I did not do so, then the fight I waged against what I regarded as corruption in the late 1990s would have been in vain.
I simply cannot look away from what is happening in government today. Mary Eugenia Charles was virulently opposed to any of her ministers profiting at government expense.
As an Ambassador for almost 15 years, Miss Charles refused to pay me a salary; she said that I had enough money. When Ms. Charles told me before she died that she was not going to make a will, I got angry at her. I couldn’t believe that she had so little regard for money.
This is why I feel compelled to condemn the rapid accumulation of wealth by our young Prime Minister. This is why I must now condemn his receipt of gifts of land, worth tens of thousands of dollars.
Mr. Skerrit, if you are an honest man, do what Mary Eugenia Charles, my friend and Prime Minister, and also Edward Oliver LeBlanc, my political foe, would have done. Turn them down! Give the land to the Nation!!
If you were a leader in the mould of Ms. Charles and Mr. LeBlanc, you would not have any interest in villas worth millions of dollars. There would be no “garbage bin bobol,” or inflated invoices for fertilizer.
There would be no allegations from a Dominican ambassador of free gifts including sexual favours. This is wrong! This is wrong! This is wrong!! I cannot stay silent in the face of this wrong!!
Many of my political friends say to me: “So what if he makes a little money on the side!” It is a slippery road to hell! It sends the wrong message! It creates a culture of crime!
It erodes respect for law and order in Dominica! It undermines the enforcement duties of the police! It robs the government of its moral authority to fight crime! Government becomes a proxy for greed!
It puts a price on all the values that we hold dear. It threatens to destroy Dominica as never before! It creates a dangerous precedent! It makes Dominica a pariah nation. A banana republic. That is why it is wrong!!
The Prime Minister and the government ministers are employees of the people. No right thinking business would continue to hire an employee who personally profits over and above his income, while doing his employer’s business.
No right thinking businessman would tolerate this. Writing in my newspaper in 1998, Waddy Astaphan, one of our most successful businessmen, wrote that “government is a company owned by the people, the voters and it is the people who vote/elect politicians on the Board of Government.”
Waddy went on to advocate the criminalization of corruption in public office. If unjust enrichment is not corruption in public office, I do not know what is.
Where are the Freedomites who fought corruption in the 1970s? Where are the Freedomites who won three successive elections in the 1980s and 1990s? Where are those men with whom we fought, in every village, warning them about integrity in government?
Lord Acton said that “Absolutely power corrupts absolutely.” No one seems to have the guts to say that to our Prime Minister. I, Frank Baron, say that to him now!! The enemies beside you, Sir, are greater than those who oppose you.
Those who feed your ego and lust for ever more power and financial gain are those who will abandon you and disown you at the earliest opportunity.
I take no pleasure in this. One of my sons supports the opposition. I have close family and friends who support the government.
I have nothing to offer except my years of service and my role as custodian of all that is good in Dominica! I have nothing to expect except the censure and criticism of others. I have nothing to gain but the pain occasioned by this decision.
But I must now sound the alarm. Dominicans!! Save your country!! Save your self respect!! Save your reputation as an honest and law abiding people of distinction!! History will judge you harshly for your silence!!
It is with extreme sadness that for the first time in my public life, one which has spanned over 65 years, I have decided to write a personal statement to my fellow Dominicans.
I served in the Roseau Town Council in the 1940s. I served in the Dominica legislature in the 1950s. I served as Dominica’s Chief Minister in 1960.
I served in her Majesty’s opposition in the 1960s. I vigorously opposed the Labour Party in the 1970s. I served in the Diplomatic Corps for nearly 15 years in the 1980s and 1990s.
I have fought many long and bitter political battles. I have made numerous public addresses in my time.
I started a newspaper in 1951 to wage a political fight against the likes of R.B. Douglas, Earl Leslie and Harrison Peter, all of whom have since gone to their maker.
I fought Edward Oliver LeBlanc on what I regarded as a neglect of Dominica’s economic well-being.
I fought side by side with Mary Eugenia Charles against what I perceived to be corruption under the United Workers Party government.
I fought through my newspaper, against corruption in government in the 2000 campaign. Ms. Charles and I were united in our opposition to corruption in government.
I have been sued numerous times because of my unflinching stance. I have been called every name under the sun. I proudly bear the financial scars of all those fights and campaigns.
BUT TODAY, IN THE MIDST OF A DEAFENING SILENCE FROM FORMER POLITICAL FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES, I RISE, LIKE A WOUNDED KNIGHT, TO WAGE THAT FIGHT ONCE AGAIN!!
My body is not as strong as it used to be. But I am not, to borrow a phrase from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, “declining into dotage.” I am not ignorant of the things that are taking place in my country, things we have fought long and hard to prevent.
I have not forgotten the battle waged in the 1970s or the reason why the Dominica Chronicle, as it was known then, was firebombed.
I have not lost hold of my senses.
In the early 1990s, when internal dissent threatened to destroy the Dominica Freedom Party government, I wrote to my close friend of over 40 years, Mary Eugenia Charles. I warned her to take control of her government.
I warned her that selfish ministers were eating away at the innards of her party. I warned her to silence the conspirators and to pursue an economic programme that would benefit the people.
I warned her that to avoid political defeat, she should pursue a development strategy conducive to capital formation and job creation.
On other occasions, I also warned her that she should beware of Greeks bringing gifts. I warned her about the perils of economic citizenship and its potential for abuse.
I warned her about becoming pawns in the hands of foreign powers who would use Dominica for their own selfish reasons. I warned her, as her then U.S. Ambassador, about the problem in Grenada and the fact that it could happen in Dominica.
Today, in the name of Mary Eugenia Charles, in the name of the cause of freedom, dignity and integrity in government, I must severely reproach Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, a man I have long admired, for corruption in government to an extent I have never seen.
If I do not do so, then my tenure in government would have meant nothing. If I do not do so, then the ghost of Mary Eugenia Charles would haunt me like the ghost of Shakespeare’s Banquo.
If I do not do so, then I would be telling Dominicans that as long as the government did something, government officials would get away with everything.
If I did not do so, then the fight I waged against what I regarded as corruption in the late 1990s would have been in vain.
I simply cannot look away from what is happening in government today. Mary Eugenia Charles was virulently opposed to any of her ministers profiting at government expense.
As an Ambassador for almost 15 years, Miss Charles refused to pay me a salary; she said that I had enough money. When Ms. Charles told me before she died that she was not going to make a will, I got angry at her. I couldn’t believe that she had so little regard for money.
This is why I feel compelled to condemn the rapid accumulation of wealth by our young Prime Minister. This is why I must now condemn his receipt of gifts of land, worth tens of thousands of dollars.
Mr. Skerrit, if you are an honest man, do what Mary Eugenia Charles, my friend and Prime Minister, and also Edward Oliver LeBlanc, my political foe, would have done. Turn them down! Give the land to the Nation!!
If you were a leader in the mould of Ms. Charles and Mr. LeBlanc, you would not have any interest in villas worth millions of dollars. There would be no “garbage bin bobol,” or inflated invoices for fertilizer.
There would be no allegations from a Dominican ambassador of free gifts including sexual favours. This is wrong! This is wrong! This is wrong!! I cannot stay silent in the face of this wrong!!
Many of my political friends say to me: “So what if he makes a little money on the side!” It is a slippery road to hell! It sends the wrong message! It creates a culture of crime!
It erodes respect for law and order in Dominica! It undermines the enforcement duties of the police! It robs the government of its moral authority to fight crime! Government becomes a proxy for greed!
It puts a price on all the values that we hold dear. It threatens to destroy Dominica as never before! It creates a dangerous precedent! It makes Dominica a pariah nation. A banana republic. That is why it is wrong!!
The Prime Minister and the government ministers are employees of the people. No right thinking business would continue to hire an employee who personally profits over and above his income, while doing his employer’s business.
No right thinking businessman would tolerate this. Writing in my newspaper in 1998, Waddy Astaphan, one of our most successful businessmen, wrote that “government is a company owned by the people, the voters and it is the people who vote/elect politicians on the Board of Government.”
Waddy went on to advocate the criminalization of corruption in public office. If unjust enrichment is not corruption in public office, I do not know what is.
Where are the Freedomites who fought corruption in the 1970s? Where are the Freedomites who won three successive elections in the 1980s and 1990s? Where are those men with whom we fought, in every village, warning them about integrity in government?
Lord Acton said that “Absolutely power corrupts absolutely.” No one seems to have the guts to say that to our Prime Minister. I, Frank Baron, say that to him now!! The enemies beside you, Sir, are greater than those who oppose you.
Those who feed your ego and lust for ever more power and financial gain are those who will abandon you and disown you at the earliest opportunity.
I take no pleasure in this. One of my sons supports the opposition. I have close family and friends who support the government.
I have nothing to offer except my years of service and my role as custodian of all that is good in Dominica! I have nothing to expect except the censure and criticism of others. I have nothing to gain but the pain occasioned by this decision.
But I must now sound the alarm. Dominicans!! Save your country!! Save your self respect!! Save your reputation as an honest and law abiding people of distinction!! History will judge you harshly for your silence!!
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// posted by TheDominican.net @ 9:31 AM
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WOW!!!!! This gladens my heart to an extent I cannot find words to describe!! Please those of you who are afraid, but want to, follow the momentum, don't remain on the wrong side of Dominica's history.. Dominica will not forgive or forget, you, if you don't
Shirley Allan- The tiggress for democracry, and transparency in Government!!! The vigilant, and virtuous, will be vindicated victoriously!!!!
Shirley Allan- The tiggress for democracry, and transparency in Government!!! The vigilant, and virtuous, will be vindicated victoriously!!!!
# posted by 
: December 4, 2009 10:19 AM
: December 4, 2009 10:19 AM
Simply powerful. Clearly the momentum have shifted and it is only a matter of time before Skerrit resigns.Now when he does do we want Ambrose George to be our leader. No wonder Timothy found such ready refuge in Skerrit....
# posted by : December 4, 2009 11:12 AM
: December 4, 2009 11:12 AM
It is good that a man of Mr. Baron's calibre and pedigree would speak up at this critical time in our country's history. I urge other distinguish Dominicans to follow, Mr. Baron's example and speak up, before it is too late. Remember our country's future is at stake, we cannot afford to let Skeritt and Tony Astaphan destroy this beautiful land of ours. Our democracy is at stake, so we have to do whatever it takes to preserve it. It is time to reclaim our country and bring back some decency and respectability to our land.
Debbie Douglas
Debbie Douglas
# posted by : December 4, 2009 11:30 AM
: December 4, 2009 11:30 AM
wow.... wow... wow... Mr. Baron is an outstandng citizen.. His article is rather touching and nothworthy.
# posted by : December 4, 2009 11:34 AM
: December 4, 2009 11:34 AM
I want to congratulate Mr. Baron who I always respected as a man of INTEGRITY! This is the kind of friend one needs, one who says it as it is. THANK YOU MR. BARON. GOD BLESS YOU!
# posted by : December 4, 2009 12:59 PM
: December 4, 2009 12:59 PM
I don’t know if it is old age, greed, or just some form of being senile that Mr. Baron is presently suffering from that one can use to explain his current behavior. First, he comes here and say how great of a friend he and Mary Eugenia Charles were yet for the past months he has been fighting her scholarship foundation for the land that his printing place is on, claiming that she sold it to him (although no record that such a sale took place nor can he produce a receipt or bill of sale) and now this load of rubbish! Can you imagine a paper-worm like MAMO who keep records about everything, not keeping records of the sale to her property…especially property she willed to the scholarship foundation to help send poor Dominican children to college? Magwa Ca, Mr. Baron!!
Yes indeed, Mr. Baron has served Dominica well and much has been return to him for such patriotic service but now he seem to be on some last personal wealth rejuvenation (the world economic situation must have hit him hard). Like Sam Raphael, the Christian brothers, and many others, they all thought that the Chinese and Venezuelan aid money is there to be shared privately. They all started singing for some hopeful supper but when PM Skerrit stood firm and openly decided to use the aid money for the betterment of the whole country, they are all now hitting back at PM Skerrit and his government with all sought of unproven corruption stories. You see, Mr. Baron lived in an era where there was a class system in Dominica and people like him (who were, don’t ask me why, considered to be in the upper class) always got the first share of the pie. Today this class nonsense does not exist and Baron just can not handle that fact. He can not comprehend that Dominica is for all Dominicans and we all have the same rights and deserve the same privileges. Poor people and country people also deserve the rights that have been afforded to the Bojwa of Roseau!
Mr. Baron, you have served this country well and your name will always be remembered but please do not spoil this life worth reputation with simple personal greed and crooked politics!
Yes indeed, Mr. Baron has served Dominica well and much has been return to him for such patriotic service but now he seem to be on some last personal wealth rejuvenation (the world economic situation must have hit him hard). Like Sam Raphael, the Christian brothers, and many others, they all thought that the Chinese and Venezuelan aid money is there to be shared privately. They all started singing for some hopeful supper but when PM Skerrit stood firm and openly decided to use the aid money for the betterment of the whole country, they are all now hitting back at PM Skerrit and his government with all sought of unproven corruption stories. You see, Mr. Baron lived in an era where there was a class system in Dominica and people like him (who were, don’t ask me why, considered to be in the upper class) always got the first share of the pie. Today this class nonsense does not exist and Baron just can not handle that fact. He can not comprehend that Dominica is for all Dominicans and we all have the same rights and deserve the same privileges. Poor people and country people also deserve the rights that have been afforded to the Bojwa of Roseau!
Mr. Baron, you have served this country well and your name will always be remembered but please do not spoil this life worth reputation with simple personal greed and crooked politics!
# posted by : December 4, 2009 1:12 PM
: December 4, 2009 1:12 PM
I love and I am glad that someone has spoken up about the ill-managment in Dominica right now. Dominicans dont be afraid, vote wisely.!!
# posted by : December 4, 2009 1:13 PM
: December 4, 2009 1:13 PM
The Gestopo is ranging Mad, Mr. Baron get your security, they have the propensity to send mercinaries to people's house's to put the fear of God into them. They will even kill to protect their ill gotten gains. Yes this is what Skeritt and his band of robbers, mafias. Lukcy Luciano,s, Al Capones and John Gottis, have brought Dominica to.
# posted by : December 4, 2009 1:30 PM
: December 4, 2009 1:30 PM
Debbie Douglas, what the hell you mean by "pedigree?"..this is DCA 2009...tell Baron wheel and come again. All those who are now crying foul did not receive what they wanted from Skerrit. Sour grapes, Gabu and all of them. Pedigree my ass, how many children he has all over de place, great pedigree. What has Baron done lately?
# posted by : December 4, 2009 1:47 PM
: December 4, 2009 1:47 PM
Really! ask Mr. Baron or can he tell us how he was able to obtain his wealth over these years.
# posted by : December 4, 2009 3:26 PM
: December 4, 2009 3:26 PM
Frank Baron should and must remember that creole song
Si ou te Noway sau te ke fe
Mon te ke geye ou earoplane
This song documented the corruption under the Baron's colonial regime.
Today he is condeming the Prime minister on mere allegations without an iota of evidence. What a shame.
Jude Nicholas
Stock Farm
Si ou te Noway sau te ke fe
Mon te ke geye ou earoplane
This song documented the corruption under the Baron's colonial regime.
Today he is condeming the Prime minister on mere allegations without an iota of evidence. What a shame.
Jude Nicholas
Stock Farm
# posted by : December 4, 2009 3:59 PM
: December 4, 2009 3:59 PM
Anonymous 112 waht are you talking about we all are in the same class. Go to FLY CITY, GUTTER etc. tthen take a trip to the mansion in Vielle case. So much poverty in Dominica.
PM Skerrit lost a golden opportunity to turn this country around. He had all the support and goodwill of great dominicans like SAM, GABE etc.; he choose instead to enrich himself...now he has to pay for that letdown. History nor Dominica will not forget!!!!
PM Skerrit lost a golden opportunity to turn this country around. He had all the support and goodwill of great dominicans like SAM, GABE etc.; he choose instead to enrich himself...now he has to pay for that letdown. History nor Dominica will not forget!!!!
# posted by : December 4, 2009 5:14 PM
: December 4, 2009 5:14 PM
There have been many Dominicans who have served Dominica well and who were not supporters of the Labor Party. Frank Baron was in government very long and served himself well. The word "bobol" came into use during his administration.
Because many people are too young to remember this bully; the only one who could bully Baron was Mary Eugenia Charles.This is a man who has lost several libel suits against his newspaper and insulted the court system by refusing to pay his fines.
Yes, he is such a patriot that he prints his newspaper in Barbados, rather than provide employment for young Dominican printers.
Some of us remember his contempt for the police and how he came by his wealth. This is no honorable man! beating his breast in defiance of anyone giving testimony to his violent disposition.
Because many people are too young to remember this bully; the only one who could bully Baron was Mary Eugenia Charles.This is a man who has lost several libel suits against his newspaper and insulted the court system by refusing to pay his fines.
Yes, he is such a patriot that he prints his newspaper in Barbados, rather than provide employment for young Dominican printers.
Some of us remember his contempt for the police and how he came by his wealth. This is no honorable man! beating his breast in defiance of anyone giving testimony to his violent disposition.
# posted by : December 4, 2009 5:46 PM
: December 4, 2009 5:46 PM
We must come to realize that it is up to us to undertake the necessary changes to move the country forward. We all must stand for above all, integrity and honest representation in all corners of the government.
It does not matter who we support, but if we genuinely look deep within ourselves, we will know the proper way forward and guide our actions accordingly. There always comes a time when we cannot take nor see injustice in our eyes and not speak as is the case with Mr. Baron.
For us to just sit on the shelf and cast a blind eye is in itself making us as equally guilty and for this history will definitely not forgive not forget us. .
It does not matter who we support, but if we genuinely look deep within ourselves, we will know the proper way forward and guide our actions accordingly. There always comes a time when we cannot take nor see injustice in our eyes and not speak as is the case with Mr. Baron.
For us to just sit on the shelf and cast a blind eye is in itself making us as equally guilty and for this history will definitely not forgive not forget us. .
# posted by : December 4, 2009 8:34 PM
: December 4, 2009 8:34 PM
Baron knows very well how to acquire wealth very fast. He did it when he was Chief Minister.
Remember the patois song about Noway. Some of you too young to Remember.
Si ou te Noway sau te ke fe
Mon te ke geye ou motor car
si ou te Noway sau te ke fe
Mon te ke geye ou bycicle
Si ou te Noway sau te ke fe
Mon te ke geye ou earoplane
The word Bobol started with Frak Baron as Chief Minister. That is how he acquired all his wealth. Today at his old age he is acusing some one of the same thing. Where is this man's morality?
Remember the Layou River hotel? which was owned by MS Charles and Frank Baron. They sold the Hotel to Grace Tung and David Shui. Dominica's passport money was used to pay them for the hotel.
That was not corruption because it was Ms Charles and Frank Baron who did it. Ms charles was Prime Minister using Dominica's passport money to facilitate the purchase of the Layou River hotel owned by Frank Baron and herself. When Eddison James spoke about it we condemmed him because Ms charrles and the same Frank Baron could do no corrupt act.
Soon after Skerrit secured 51% of the same Layou River Hotel for Dominicans, Frank Baron comes out of retirement to Call Skerrit corrupt. Is this a coincedence?
What is sad is that many of us poor domincans will support Baron and lynch Skerrit. This is a disgrace. Poor black children who are sucessful are corrupt. But guess what Frank Baron and Ms. Charles had integrity, they were smart people. They only knew how to make money.
My heart bleeds at the destruction of another Poor Dominican.
Nassief Polydore
Remember the patois song about Noway. Some of you too young to Remember.
Si ou te Noway sau te ke fe
Mon te ke geye ou motor car
si ou te Noway sau te ke fe
Mon te ke geye ou bycicle
Si ou te Noway sau te ke fe
Mon te ke geye ou earoplane
The word Bobol started with Frak Baron as Chief Minister. That is how he acquired all his wealth. Today at his old age he is acusing some one of the same thing. Where is this man's morality?
Remember the Layou River hotel? which was owned by MS Charles and Frank Baron. They sold the Hotel to Grace Tung and David Shui. Dominica's passport money was used to pay them for the hotel.
That was not corruption because it was Ms Charles and Frank Baron who did it. Ms charles was Prime Minister using Dominica's passport money to facilitate the purchase of the Layou River hotel owned by Frank Baron and herself. When Eddison James spoke about it we condemmed him because Ms charrles and the same Frank Baron could do no corrupt act.
Soon after Skerrit secured 51% of the same Layou River Hotel for Dominicans, Frank Baron comes out of retirement to Call Skerrit corrupt. Is this a coincedence?
What is sad is that many of us poor domincans will support Baron and lynch Skerrit. This is a disgrace. Poor black children who are sucessful are corrupt. But guess what Frank Baron and Ms. Charles had integrity, they were smart people. They only knew how to make money.
My heart bleeds at the destruction of another Poor Dominican.
Nassief Polydore
# posted by : December 4, 2009 10:32 PM
: December 4, 2009 10:32 PM
Well Well Well... my dear mother would say 'a deep hole'. This is exactly where we could be headed too. The saying is 'wool has been pulled over your eyes' but i am convinced now that some folks have had sheets of zinc roofing nailed on thier eyes...... sheesh how can folks be so blind
# posted by : December 4, 2009 10:53 PM
: December 4, 2009 10:53 PM
now i am really thinking because skero making everybody get out of the woodworks so now Baron join it look like something relly happening and i am relly beginnig to think that The little boy Skero with his Physco,,,,,,,degree working everybody now and seeing who is who and those that were trying to take advantage cannot take advantage and they vex.
people we must read those letters and those chanting against corruption carefully.
it is amazing tnat one of the statements of mr Baron is htat he is condeming the rapid accummulation of wealth by mr skerrit and even advocating that mr skerit give the land to Government. AH AH AH Maguai ca. i guess mr Baron can relate MAYBE HE SHOULD TELL US HOW HE GET TO OWN ALL THE LITTLE POCKETS OF LAND IN PORTSMOUTH THAT CRIPLE PORTSMOUTH DEVELOPMENT ,AND WHY HE NEVER SELL FOR malwee the price he would give them was crazy........ By the way why he doh lead by example give away all the rest he own.......I love people who lead by EXAMPLE>>>
another thing he cAll Mr Leblanc his foe i wonder if is by extenion Skeritt is now a foe too or because he is a little boy from the contry. i think thats part of the problem skeroo ensureing that a lot of "country boys" becomming like mr Baron and the other "Previlegd"names PAPA BONDIE CA KA FETE NON........
it look like since everybody coming out skero will have to call on ROSIE and PIERO because it look like he go need their help before the election over.
Anyway people read carefully ,agree to disagree at the end of the day i think we all want the same thing for DA. peace and love my people
people we must read those letters and those chanting against corruption carefully.
it is amazing tnat one of the statements of mr Baron is htat he is condeming the rapid accummulation of wealth by mr skerrit and even advocating that mr skerit give the land to Government. AH AH AH Maguai ca. i guess mr Baron can relate MAYBE HE SHOULD TELL US HOW HE GET TO OWN ALL THE LITTLE POCKETS OF LAND IN PORTSMOUTH THAT CRIPLE PORTSMOUTH DEVELOPMENT ,AND WHY HE NEVER SELL FOR malwee the price he would give them was crazy........ By the way why he doh lead by example give away all the rest he own.......I love people who lead by EXAMPLE>>>
another thing he cAll Mr Leblanc his foe i wonder if is by extenion Skeritt is now a foe too or because he is a little boy from the contry. i think thats part of the problem skeroo ensureing that a lot of "country boys" becomming like mr Baron and the other "Previlegd"names PAPA BONDIE CA KA FETE NON........
it look like since everybody coming out skero will have to call on ROSIE and PIERO because it look like he go need their help before the election over.
Anyway people read carefully ,agree to disagree at the end of the day i think we all want the same thing for DA. peace and love my people
# posted by : December 5, 2009 12:06 AM
: December 5, 2009 12:06 AM
i know Frank Baron he is a very greedy man he's saying that just becuase Skerrit is a enfant maleweh from Vielle Case
# posted by : December 5, 2009 12:37 AM
: December 5, 2009 12:37 AM
This elections seems to be a battle for dominica soul. I have never seen get so bitter and toxic.
# posted by : December 5, 2009 2:58 AM
: December 5, 2009 2:58 AM
If Dominica was not considered a Banana Republic before this travesty that is occuring in Dominica right now, it should be now, never if my entire life have I been witness so much political and civic illiteracy.
Dominica has regressed in mental development apparently, despite the stadum, the retaining walls, the roads, the buildings, and whatever else China and Chavez gave Skeritt to give to Dominica, and in spite of the RED CLINICS, many of us have been asking as what price? It is so obivious now that the price is THE MIND OF DOMINICANS, no wonder they declared war on me when I made the presentation "Empowering our Citizens through CIVIC Education at the conferences in NY and Dominica..Mr. Baron Sir, I commend you and I hope for the sake of our beloved country some more will follow your prudent path. Dominica will remember you as one who did not remain silent in time of her moral crisis.
I don't know what ever happened in Dominica to make it so, but MOST Dominician's political thinking is akin to that of Haiti and Nigeria! Lord help us, where can this take us but in the direction of dictatorship? My heart really bleeds for my country..
I cannot believe what I am reading and hearing. Is this really coming from Dominicans? Yes! Yes! yes! What a blasted shame.
Shirley Allan
Dominica has regressed in mental development apparently, despite the stadum, the retaining walls, the roads, the buildings, and whatever else China and Chavez gave Skeritt to give to Dominica, and in spite of the RED CLINICS, many of us have been asking as what price? It is so obivious now that the price is THE MIND OF DOMINICANS, no wonder they declared war on me when I made the presentation "Empowering our Citizens through CIVIC Education at the conferences in NY and Dominica..Mr. Baron Sir, I commend you and I hope for the sake of our beloved country some more will follow your prudent path. Dominica will remember you as one who did not remain silent in time of her moral crisis.
I don't know what ever happened in Dominica to make it so, but MOST Dominician's political thinking is akin to that of Haiti and Nigeria! Lord help us, where can this take us but in the direction of dictatorship? My heart really bleeds for my country..
I cannot believe what I am reading and hearing. Is this really coming from Dominicans? Yes! Yes! yes! What a blasted shame.
Shirley Allan
# posted by : December 5, 2009 9:23 AM
: December 5, 2009 9:23 AM
Well Shirley, tigress of democracy ( learn how to spell), why don't you make the most prudent move of patriotism and move back to DA, get active, be on the ground, offer your civic mind to benefit those who do not know better. Get involved, lend a hand, big talk and quoting from books has never and will replace actual activism....you are talking in a vacuum. By the way when last have you been to Dominica? Can you return? Have you given back the money you stole from the insurance company? You all over the place rambling, calling all radio stations rambling...put words to action...go down to DA, let the poor, ignorant masses embrace you ... and like Moses, lead your people out of ignorance. Where the hell were you when we were fighting for independence and now you have over-achievers like JnoFinn giving the US authorities the names of Dominicans. Why isn't Arthie and Ron Green, paragons of "black power" and "the movement for a new Dominica" not crying bloody murder on this action by the UWP and DFP.....
# posted by : December 5, 2009 9:53 AM
: December 5, 2009 9:53 AM
See what I mean! You have just re-inforced my point! Forget about ny spelling, look at the bigger picture! What are you doing to SAVE your country? but feeding the monster that devourers it? ALL you want to Lure me to Dominica to kill me? I know that there are mercinaries out there. I am staying where I am safe under the protection of uncle Sam. All that personal life history of people I am not interested! My mission is for democracy, accountability, and transparency to prevail in Dominica!!!!!! And don't tell me how to pursue my mission. I got it covered!!Let freedom reign.
Shirley Allan
Shirley Allan
# posted by : December 5, 2009 10:08 AM
: December 5, 2009 10:08 AM
What about this fact as an election issue INSTEAD of false, unproven accusations and innuendo against the PM? Read the following:
Caribbean stabbed in the back – A former regional trade negotiator Friday described as a “stab in the back’ for region, the agreement reached between the European Union and Latin America for ending a 16 year banana trade war.
“The European Union wants this thing to go away. They don’t want to have to be bothered anymore about Caribbean bananas (and) they don’t want to be fighting arbitration at the WTO (World Trade Organisation) with Latin America, so they have come to an agreement,” said Sir Ronald Sanders, a former diplomat and regional trade negotiator.
The new accord slashes import taxes on bananas from Latin America from Euro 176 Euros (US$262) a tonne to Euro 114 (US$170) over the next seven years.
“That makes Caribbean bananas totally uncompetitive in the market because at that tariff our cost of production, shipping and all that simply can’t make it there,” Sir Ronald said predicting that “we will be wiped out of that market”.
Earlier this week, CARICOM Secretary General Edwin Carrington said that the decision by the Latin American countries to consistently seek to reduce the position of Caribbean banana producing states on the European market “raises for me a peculiar question”.
“We are in the process of speaking about closer cooperation between Latin America and the Caribbean. We met in Jamaica on the sixth of November…and many of the countries that are party to that discussion… are the same parties whose struggles are pushing us out of the European market, our very limited access to that market in terms of quantity.”
The CARICOM Secretary General said these Latin American countries, such as Ecuador, already enjoy “massive benefits of the market…and yet we are being pushed out while we on the other side are speaking about cooperation and fraternal relations.
“It does really raise some serious questions in my mind as to how we are going to reconcile those two positions,” he said, noting that in Jamaica there was agreement for a meeting to be held in Mexico in February next year at the level of heads to bring about coordination and harmonization between the Rio Group of Countries and CARICOM.
continued ....
Caribbean stabbed in the back – A former regional trade negotiator Friday described as a “stab in the back’ for region, the agreement reached between the European Union and Latin America for ending a 16 year banana trade war.
“The European Union wants this thing to go away. They don’t want to have to be bothered anymore about Caribbean bananas (and) they don’t want to be fighting arbitration at the WTO (World Trade Organisation) with Latin America, so they have come to an agreement,” said Sir Ronald Sanders, a former diplomat and regional trade negotiator.
The new accord slashes import taxes on bananas from Latin America from Euro 176 Euros (US$262) a tonne to Euro 114 (US$170) over the next seven years.
“That makes Caribbean bananas totally uncompetitive in the market because at that tariff our cost of production, shipping and all that simply can’t make it there,” Sir Ronald said predicting that “we will be wiped out of that market”.
Earlier this week, CARICOM Secretary General Edwin Carrington said that the decision by the Latin American countries to consistently seek to reduce the position of Caribbean banana producing states on the European market “raises for me a peculiar question”.
“We are in the process of speaking about closer cooperation between Latin America and the Caribbean. We met in Jamaica on the sixth of November…and many of the countries that are party to that discussion… are the same parties whose struggles are pushing us out of the European market, our very limited access to that market in terms of quantity.”
The CARICOM Secretary General said these Latin American countries, such as Ecuador, already enjoy “massive benefits of the market…and yet we are being pushed out while we on the other side are speaking about cooperation and fraternal relations.
“It does really raise some serious questions in my mind as to how we are going to reconcile those two positions,” he said, noting that in Jamaica there was agreement for a meeting to be held in Mexico in February next year at the level of heads to bring about coordination and harmonization between the Rio Group of Countries and CARICOM.
continued ....
# posted by : December 5, 2009 10:21 AM
: December 5, 2009 10:21 AM
continued ...
Trinidad and Tobago’s trade minister Mariano Browne, speaking in Geneva on Wednesday on behalf of the CARICOM countries, criticised the banana accord telling journalists the fact remains that the resolution of this long-standing trade dispute will result in the decline of a major CARICOM export.
But he said that even though the Caribbean was willing to agree to the conclusion of this dispute it was insisting that the outcome on bananas cannot be divorced from the treatment of other preference erosion products and that there is a package, carefully crafted among African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP), EU and the Most Favoured Nations (MFN) suppliers that addresses the treatment of 62 agricultural products should be favourably addressed.
“CARICOM considers this to be a final package and will therefore not accept any attempts to alter its provisions, in particular with respect to major CARICOM export products, such as rum and sugar,” said Browne.
Browne said that CARICOM was also demanding that the EC-funded Banana Accompanying Measures (BAM) should be at an appropriate level for the budget period 2010-2013.
“The CARICOM demand for financial compensation is also based on Paragraph 150 of the draft Agriculture modalities that calls for preference granting countries to provide adjustment measures to mitigate preference erosion in affected developing countries.
But Sir Ronald said that the Caribbean’s position of the EU compensation package to the ACP grouping “will be very small” and agreed with demands that Europe should increase its compensation package to Euro 250 million (US$371.3 million).
“Frankly I think that is just about as much as they would get from the European Union,” he said, adding that the game is now over.
“After this 200 or whatever million they give, there will be nothing further. So the Caribbean really now has to become serious about agriculture….they have to look for niche markets outside of the Caribbean if they can but they also have to find a way of selling some of the agricultural products that they produce either domestically or within the region”.
Sir Ronald said that Caribbean countries that have agricultural capacity “ought to be selling it to the countries that don’t “ citing as an example, Antigua and Barbuda “that will never be an agricultural country…but could become a market for agriculture for Dominica as Barbados could be a market for agriculture from Dominica…”.
Kibosh
Trinidad and Tobago’s trade minister Mariano Browne, speaking in Geneva on Wednesday on behalf of the CARICOM countries, criticised the banana accord telling journalists the fact remains that the resolution of this long-standing trade dispute will result in the decline of a major CARICOM export.
But he said that even though the Caribbean was willing to agree to the conclusion of this dispute it was insisting that the outcome on bananas cannot be divorced from the treatment of other preference erosion products and that there is a package, carefully crafted among African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP), EU and the Most Favoured Nations (MFN) suppliers that addresses the treatment of 62 agricultural products should be favourably addressed.
“CARICOM considers this to be a final package and will therefore not accept any attempts to alter its provisions, in particular with respect to major CARICOM export products, such as rum and sugar,” said Browne.
Browne said that CARICOM was also demanding that the EC-funded Banana Accompanying Measures (BAM) should be at an appropriate level for the budget period 2010-2013.
“The CARICOM demand for financial compensation is also based on Paragraph 150 of the draft Agriculture modalities that calls for preference granting countries to provide adjustment measures to mitigate preference erosion in affected developing countries.
But Sir Ronald said that the Caribbean’s position of the EU compensation package to the ACP grouping “will be very small” and agreed with demands that Europe should increase its compensation package to Euro 250 million (US$371.3 million).
“Frankly I think that is just about as much as they would get from the European Union,” he said, adding that the game is now over.
“After this 200 or whatever million they give, there will be nothing further. So the Caribbean really now has to become serious about agriculture….they have to look for niche markets outside of the Caribbean if they can but they also have to find a way of selling some of the agricultural products that they produce either domestically or within the region”.
Sir Ronald said that Caribbean countries that have agricultural capacity “ought to be selling it to the countries that don’t “ citing as an example, Antigua and Barbuda “that will never be an agricultural country…but could become a market for agriculture for Dominica as Barbados could be a market for agriculture from Dominica…”.
Kibosh
# posted by : December 5, 2009 10:22 AM
: December 5, 2009 10:22 AM
I didn't even see the "money Stolen fron Insurance Company part, guess what "IT WAS A MISTAKE" lol. I learnt that from your PM, if it works for him ALL the time, it ought to work for me. This is so much crap if you are sure that you have the facts, do me a favour and just as I do, sign your name to what you write! Don't be a coward, after all libel and slander only occurs if what one is saying is false.. Sign your name please.
Shirley Allan
Shirley Allan
# posted by : December 5, 2009 10:53 AM
: December 5, 2009 10:53 AM
There we are as Dominicans both at home and abroad fighting and worrying about the well being of our country and still people are attacking each other just because they hold different viewpoints. Tell me what is the purpose of these personal attacks. Are they making things better both for country and the people involved? As far as I see, the answer is NO. So please stop the personal mudslinging. This is so low and immature. FOCUS PEOPLE, FOCUS. OUR COUNTRY IS AT STAKE. BLESS UP. OH BTW, THANK YOU MR. BARON FOR SPEAKING OUT. WAITIKUBULI AND MANY OF HER CITIZENS ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SMALL PART. GOD BLESS.
C.K.
C.K.
# posted by : December 5, 2009 11:28 AM
: December 5, 2009 11:28 AM
HERE is something else from a book you should think about SERIOUSLY "The deliberations of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 were held in strict secrecy. Consequently, anxious citizens gathered outside Independence Hall when the proceedings ended in order to learn what had been produced behind closed doors. The answer was provided immediately. A Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia asked Benjamin Franklin, "Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?" With no hesitation whatsoever, Franklin responded, "A republic, if you can keep it." What do we have in Dominica? You guys have no problem in selling the country for 30 pieces of Silver. SHAME!
By the way on the question of me operating, or making my contributions away from Dominica, Hartley from Barbados is doing a fine job is destroying Dominica from wherever he is!
Shirley Allan
By the way on the question of me operating, or making my contributions away from Dominica, Hartley from Barbados is doing a fine job is destroying Dominica from wherever he is!
Shirley Allan
# posted by : December 5, 2009 11:42 AM
: December 5, 2009 11:42 AM
Ambassador Frank Baron wants to know - "where are the Freedomites who fought corruption in the 1970s? Where are the Freedomites who won three successive elections in the 1980s and 1990s? Where are those men with whom we fought, in every village, warning them about integrity in government?"
Mr. Baron after your selfish years in office and did not appear on a platform or in campaign in 1979/80 - you got an appointment as "Ambassador" - most of us Freedomites saw you and a few dominate 15 years of power - while most of us had to go into exile to earn a living.
Eugenia Charles did much for Dominica - granted; but she did nothing to bring new people into office or parliament over 15 years in office. Most of us "young" Freedomites were told we were NOT NEEDED!
I spoke on every platform in 1979 / 1980 election, mobilized youth all over the country - I had to pay my way out of Dominica for an education and a job. Received not even a thank you, acknowledgment or encouragement.
The current PM is the first to say - COME BACK HOME - LET US DEVELOP THE COUNTRY! Look at how many new people are running on a Labour ticket in the coming election - FRESH faces mixed in with some of the old. It is called renewal!
NONE of the list of innuendo or allegations of unjust enrichment or corruption has been proven. To fool us again - you will have to come with much more concrete FACTS & EVIDENCE - proven in a court of law.
Born Freedomite in SUPPORT of Skerrit.
Kibosh
Mr. Baron after your selfish years in office and did not appear on a platform or in campaign in 1979/80 - you got an appointment as "Ambassador" - most of us Freedomites saw you and a few dominate 15 years of power - while most of us had to go into exile to earn a living.
Eugenia Charles did much for Dominica - granted; but she did nothing to bring new people into office or parliament over 15 years in office. Most of us "young" Freedomites were told we were NOT NEEDED!
I spoke on every platform in 1979 / 1980 election, mobilized youth all over the country - I had to pay my way out of Dominica for an education and a job. Received not even a thank you, acknowledgment or encouragement.
The current PM is the first to say - COME BACK HOME - LET US DEVELOP THE COUNTRY! Look at how many new people are running on a Labour ticket in the coming election - FRESH faces mixed in with some of the old. It is called renewal!
NONE of the list of innuendo or allegations of unjust enrichment or corruption has been proven. To fool us again - you will have to come with much more concrete FACTS & EVIDENCE - proven in a court of law.
Born Freedomite in SUPPORT of Skerrit.
Kibosh
# posted by : December 5, 2009 11:45 AM
: December 5, 2009 11:45 AM
Kibosh, this is so true. Look the people who are going up for DFP, people from 30yrs ago...where are new faces, this is a new era and generation in Dominica. New ideas, let Shirley and her cohorts think they can control DA by remote control..come down we waiting for them. What did Eugenia leave in DA? With all her money she didn't even finance a scholarship, not a public building in her name, not a housing scheme nothing...all dem petit bourgeois in Roseau think they are only ones that can represent DA, they harangued PJ, now they on the war path for Skerrit. Shirley is a hurry come up, she has never been in the trenches, never made no sacrifice for DA, but she wants to be the one speaking on behalf of Dominicans? She is only prepared to quote and cite American issues as if we give a damn about American Law. Dominica is an independent country and we will handle our issues within the purview of our legal system. How many people did Shirley teach to read and write in her comminity? Where was Shirley when I was taking my tear gas in Roseau? Where was Shirley when I stood outside DBS during the Papa Dee crisis...Shirley you have a righ to your opinion and so do I, but please don't try to be know it all, because Dominica's political history was not enriched by people like you.
# posted by : December 5, 2009 12:01 PM
: December 5, 2009 12:01 PM
Somthings that are very familar/simalar: They came from Hitler's henchmen- do we see some simairalities in what some Dominicans say implicitly and sometimes explicitly? Be careful people! Are you are a part of creating and or feeding a monster?
We are under the great obligation of recognizing as a holy work of our Volk's spirit the laws signed by Adolf Hitler's name. Hitler has received his authority from God. Therefore he is champion, sent by God, of German Right in the world.
-Hans Frank, Frankfurt-am-Main, 30 October 1935 (Aurel Kolnai, The War Against the West)
We have a feeling that Germany has been transformed into a great house of God, including all classes, professions and creeds, where the Führer as our mediator stood before the throne of the Almighty.
-Joseph Goebbels, in a broadcast, 19 April 1936
God gave the savior to the German people. We have faith, deep and unshakeable faith, that he [Hitler] was sent to us by God to save Germany.
-Hermann Göring (Hitler's Elite, Shocking Profiles of the Reich's Most Notorious Henchmen," Berkley Books, 1990)
How shall I give expression, O my Führer, to what is in our hearts? How shall I find words to express your deeds? Has there ever been a mortal as beloved as you, my Führer? Was there ever belief as strong as the belief in your mission. You were sent us by God for Germany!
-Hermann Göring (Reden und Aufsatze, Munich, 1938)
Shirley Allan
We are under the great obligation of recognizing as a holy work of our Volk's spirit the laws signed by Adolf Hitler's name. Hitler has received his authority from God. Therefore he is champion, sent by God, of German Right in the world.
-Hans Frank, Frankfurt-am-Main, 30 October 1935 (Aurel Kolnai, The War Against the West)
We have a feeling that Germany has been transformed into a great house of God, including all classes, professions and creeds, where the Führer as our mediator stood before the throne of the Almighty.
-Joseph Goebbels, in a broadcast, 19 April 1936
God gave the savior to the German people. We have faith, deep and unshakeable faith, that he [Hitler] was sent to us by God to save Germany.
-Hermann Göring (Hitler's Elite, Shocking Profiles of the Reich's Most Notorious Henchmen," Berkley Books, 1990)
How shall I give expression, O my Führer, to what is in our hearts? How shall I find words to express your deeds? Has there ever been a mortal as beloved as you, my Führer? Was there ever belief as strong as the belief in your mission. You were sent us by God for Germany!
-Hermann Göring (Reden und Aufsatze, Munich, 1938)
Shirley Allan
# posted by : December 5, 2009 12:47 PM
: December 5, 2009 12:47 PM
Anonymous : December 5, 2009 9:53 AM AKA SPELL CHECKER! I am not done with you yet.. I am very glad, and proud that I missed the spelling classes and took the critical thinking classes instead. Better to think critically, than to spell well! What about taking some critical thinking classes? That would serve you well, meanwhile I will remember to utilize the spell checker on my computer.
Shirley Allan
Shirley Allan
# posted by : December 5, 2009 1:14 PM
: December 5, 2009 1:14 PM
The Issues at hand is not about Mr Baron, it is about the dishonestly of Sheritt and his band of hooligans and the level of corruptions in Dominica, this is typical Dominican whenever someone come out and expose the parties that they are supporting, this people are being threaten, their family members are called all types of names including their kids,even their ages and health are being questioned, this is very shameful the way that Dominicans are conducting themselves during election time, Dominican wake up no one is perfect, same apply to Sheritt, he is not perfect looks are deceiving, his wrong doing needs to be expose and this is what Mr Baron is doing, like it or not, Dominican do not like to hear the truth and the truth always offend, also it is very sick and shameful to used Mr baron's age, his children and his personal life affairs into play by him expression his democratic rights, exposing Sheritt and his followers, this is the type respect being impose of Seniors and people with disabilities in Dominica, this is something that be happening for a long time in DA, whenever election is approaching, since growing up in DA this is something that is always happening during election, supporters of present ruling party never want to hear the wrong, dishonesty, misuse of funds and all the bad thing that their party government is doing. all they do is suck it up with a grain of salt the they need to realize is what goes around comes around and this is what Sheritt is facing now, so far he is the worst corrupted PM to ever lead Dominica, before i left Dominica, beofre Miss Charles was elected as PM, i could remember people saying that she will not steal money since she have millions of dollars, she did not for sure, but Skeritt is becoming a millionaire in their eyes stealing funds that are being send to help build the country and his supporters wants others to remain silent, no way, again i could remember Madam Minister of Education in Newtown involved in fights with Labour supporters since Miss Charles gone she become Ladour, Dominican speak up people need to know the wrong that Sheritt is doing
Dominican/UK
Dominican/UK
# posted by : December 5, 2009 2:15 PM
: December 5, 2009 2:15 PM
WHAT!This is a written example of critical thinking. Pardner your first paragraph should be a road map of what you want to say. In English if you 'doh noh' the meaning of a word then the whole sentence or paragraph is off. So tell me again what you trying to say, because you lost me.
# posted by : December 5, 2009 2:29 PM
: December 5, 2009 2:29 PM
I am still wondering why Skeritt thinks it is right for him to accept lands from miss Shillingford as a gift as he said,build a multimillion house in his village as is his right to do but refuses to pay me for my late father's 28 acres of land at wesley acquired since 1998 or to pay Mr Fenton Telemaque for his land at melvilhalls but uses the treasury as his person piggy bank to give away money with the intent of buying votes so he could continue his arrogance
Hector Marie
Hector Marie
# posted by : December 5, 2009 2:30 PM
: December 5, 2009 2:30 PM
More Ereely familiar fanaticism to ponder on!
"You take an oath to a man whom you know follows the laws of providence, which he obeys independently of the influence of earthly powers, who leads the German people rightly, and who will guide Germany's fate. Through your oath you bind yourselves to a man who--that is our faith--was sent to us by higher powers. Do not seek Adolf Hitler with your mind. You will find him through he strength of your hearts!
-Rudolf Hess, in his speech, "The Oath to Adolf Hitler," 1934
We believe that the Führer is fulfilling a divine mission to German destiny! This belief is beyond challenge.
-Rudolf Hess, speech, 20 June 1934 (Reden, Munich. 1938, p. 25)
I swear before God this holy oath, that I shall give absolute confidence to the Fuehrer of the German Reich and people.
-Heinrich Himmler, reminding his hearers about the oath taken by all SS men as well as by the military forces (Hitler's Elite, Shocking Profiles of the Reich's Most Notorious Henchmen," Berkley Books, 1990)
You Einsatztruppen (task forces) are called upon to fulfill a repulsive duty. But you are soldiers who have to carry out every order unconditionally. You have a responsibility before God and Hitler for everything that is happening. I myself hate this bloody business and I have been moved to the depths of my soul. But I am obeying the highest law by doing my duty. Man must defend himself against bedbugs and rats-- against vermin. -Heinrich Himmler, in a speech to the SS guards, (Hitler's Elite, Shocking Profiles of the Reich's Most Notorious Henchmen," Berkley Books, 1990)
We commit ourselves, and we demand this commitment not only from the elected representatives of the church, but above all from all Protestant men and women, to service in our communities! We want to serve: through tireless recruitment to our worship; through chivalrous intervention for the poor and needy, through defence of our faith;... through true Evangelical witness in public.
-Erich Koch, as quoted in Scholder, Churches, [cited from Richard Steigmann-Gall's The Holy Reich
Offered for contemplation by Shirley Allan the Tigeress for democracy, freedom, accountability, and transparency in Government.
"You take an oath to a man whom you know follows the laws of providence, which he obeys independently of the influence of earthly powers, who leads the German people rightly, and who will guide Germany's fate. Through your oath you bind yourselves to a man who--that is our faith--was sent to us by higher powers. Do not seek Adolf Hitler with your mind. You will find him through he strength of your hearts!
-Rudolf Hess, in his speech, "The Oath to Adolf Hitler," 1934
We believe that the Führer is fulfilling a divine mission to German destiny! This belief is beyond challenge.
-Rudolf Hess, speech, 20 June 1934 (Reden, Munich. 1938, p. 25)
I swear before God this holy oath, that I shall give absolute confidence to the Fuehrer of the German Reich and people.
-Heinrich Himmler, reminding his hearers about the oath taken by all SS men as well as by the military forces (Hitler's Elite, Shocking Profiles of the Reich's Most Notorious Henchmen," Berkley Books, 1990)
You Einsatztruppen (task forces) are called upon to fulfill a repulsive duty. But you are soldiers who have to carry out every order unconditionally. You have a responsibility before God and Hitler for everything that is happening. I myself hate this bloody business and I have been moved to the depths of my soul. But I am obeying the highest law by doing my duty. Man must defend himself against bedbugs and rats-- against vermin. -Heinrich Himmler, in a speech to the SS guards, (Hitler's Elite, Shocking Profiles of the Reich's Most Notorious Henchmen," Berkley Books, 1990)
We commit ourselves, and we demand this commitment not only from the elected representatives of the church, but above all from all Protestant men and women, to service in our communities! We want to serve: through tireless recruitment to our worship; through chivalrous intervention for the poor and needy, through defence of our faith;... through true Evangelical witness in public.
-Erich Koch, as quoted in Scholder, Churches, [cited from Richard Steigmann-Gall's The Holy Reich
Offered for contemplation by Shirley Allan the Tigeress for democracy, freedom, accountability, and transparency in Government.
# posted by : December 5, 2009 2:50 PM
: December 5, 2009 2:50 PM
Leblanc was attacked and harrassed on a daily basis. The same thing was done to Patrick John. Today is Skerrit turn.
Accusation/Allegations with no evidence.
The Destruction of the Dominica Labour Party is not going to happen again. The statement of Baron has just served to mobilize and infuriate True Labourites, Old young and not so young.
There will be no overthrow of the Dominica Labour Party again in Dominica.
Patrick John was overtrown with the assistance of the Children of Labour. It is not going to happen again. December 18 is the day when The Children of Labour will rise up and teach the detractors a lesson that they will never forget.
Labour is a movement an institution being lead at this time by Roosevelt Skerrit. We will defend our movement and its leader. We are not going to be divided again. It happened once NOT AGAIN.
Ottis
Accusation/Allegations with no evidence.
The Destruction of the Dominica Labour Party is not going to happen again. The statement of Baron has just served to mobilize and infuriate True Labourites, Old young and not so young.
There will be no overthrow of the Dominica Labour Party again in Dominica.
Patrick John was overtrown with the assistance of the Children of Labour. It is not going to happen again. December 18 is the day when The Children of Labour will rise up and teach the detractors a lesson that they will never forget.
Labour is a movement an institution being lead at this time by Roosevelt Skerrit. We will defend our movement and its leader. We are not going to be divided again. It happened once NOT AGAIN.
Ottis
# posted by : December 5, 2009 2:52 PM
: December 5, 2009 2:52 PM
The Labor Party is the only serious political party in Dominica. Where is the constitution of the other parties or their philosophy of government?
Freedom party wants to protect the status quo; so they look after themselves. U W P? no sense of judgment or timing for that matter.So they cry Corruption!!!
Freedom party wants to protect the status quo; so they look after themselves. U W P? no sense of judgment or timing for that matter.So they cry Corruption!!!
# posted by : December 5, 2009 3:11 PM
: December 5, 2009 3:11 PM
Ottis one thing you must know about the children of labour. They will NOT under any circumstances support coruption. Maybe you are too young to know. AS such LABOUR is out!!!!
I heard a desperate labour suporter cling for the DFP to support LABOUR POWER..there clearly is no labour power. Skerrit has destroyed the party..
I heard a desperate labour suporter cling for the DFP to support LABOUR POWER..there clearly is no labour power. Skerrit has destroyed the party..
# posted by : December 5, 2009 3:53 PM
: December 5, 2009 3:53 PM
To the person who wrote this "Where was Shirley when I was taking my tear gas in Roseau? Where was Shirley when I stood outside DBS during the Papa Dee crisis...Shirley you have a righ to your opinion and so do I, but please don't try to be know it all, because Dominica's political history was not enriched by people like you." Obviously you don't know anything about Shirley Allan. You making me laugh, You have no idea, but unlike you, I don't care to blow my trumpet here. Let the record speak for itself!
Why do you guys insist in talking about people and things you don't know about!
Shirley Allan
Why do you guys insist in talking about people and things you don't know about!
Shirley Allan
# posted by : December 5, 2009 6:21 PM
: December 5, 2009 6:21 PM
"Dominica is an independent country and we will handle our issues within the purview of our legal system." Anonymous : December 5, 2009 12:01 PM I support this statement 100%, now could you please tell that to Skeritt and the other rouges in his regime? Please make him understand that. I would be so happy if you would have told that to Skeritt 8 years ago, but I suppose it is too late now.. Guess what I was right next to you on both occasions as a school girl taking the tear gas, as to my contributions to my community and my county in general, do you really want to know? or are you just bluffing as your PM did with his challenge to Ron for the debate.. LOL! NIce one eh?
Shirley Allan
Shirley Allan
# posted by : December 5, 2009 7:39 PM
: December 5, 2009 7:39 PM
My! My! My!I never knew the morality police named Shirley Allan had skeletons in her closet. Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.
Remember girl...when you live in a glass house you don't throw stones
because the window you break might just be your own.
OH SHIRLEY! SHIRLEY! SHIRLEY! SHAME ON YOU.
Remember girl...when you live in a glass house you don't throw stones
because the window you break might just be your own.
OH SHIRLEY! SHIRLEY! SHIRLEY! SHAME ON YOU.
# posted by : December 5, 2009 10:18 PM
: December 5, 2009 10:18 PM
Shirley will you stop over using the word "transparency"
Maybe if they had those measures in place people like you would not have gotten away with what you've been accused of.
By the way, were you thinking of those Dominican people when you were defrauding the insurance company?
Woman, you are just a joker.
Maybe if they had those measures in place people like you would not have gotten away with what you've been accused of.
By the way, were you thinking of those Dominican people when you were defrauding the insurance company?
Woman, you are just a joker.
# posted by : December 5, 2009 10:36 PM
: December 5, 2009 10:36 PM
Sign your names PLease, Please, please!! Sign your names, Oh not the credit union alone the Insurance to?/ Hahahahah.. Dominichein Famie Waychein, zot par feb.. You want higher standards from me than you want from you PM? is that it.. All you wicked eh? I was on the Social Security board to.. How much money did I steal there to.. OH you guys forgot about this one!! and in the PTA, and in LUAD, and in the Village council in Laplaine, and in the church, I worked with Dr. Williams to, how much did I steal there? All that to protect a corrupt dictator. That's the mondus operandi. Discredit, malign, and disparge, everyone who dares to dissent. But one thing you henchmen will not demoralizem, drag me through the mud as much as you like, but you are going to have to kill me to shut me up. God did not give me my conscience to surrender to unsrcupulous men. WOOO beyond to who has surrendered their souls to those unscrupulous men.
Shirley Allan
Shirley Allan
# posted by : December 5, 2009 11:58 PM
: December 5, 2009 11:58 PM
For almost twenty years I, my wife, Marjorie, and our children enjoyed our life's best time; that of living in Dominica. Hurricane David took us out. I knew then as I know now, wonderful Dominica was protected from so much of the rest of the world's missteps in governing, primarily because of the leadership of Frank Baron and Mary Eugenia Charles. I know of no country that has had the good fortune to have had such superb governance through their times. Pete Brand
# posted by : December 5, 2009 11:59 PM
: December 5, 2009 11:59 PM
Sorry there is no way in hell that Skeritt can be compared with Patrick John, Skeritt is far worsat than Patrick John and the Labour party of the 70s this is not the same labour party that Skeritt is leading and to the person who questioned my thinking and the first paragraph of my comment English is not my first language and i give a rat behind what you think about my comment i have the same right as you to express my democratic and constitutional right as a born Dominican, and keep on singing for your support from Sheritt, when Patrick John Government was overthrown i was standing next to the then CSA President when he was pelting stones at the Government Headquarters, who was a minister in the Skeritt Government, my entire family were labour supporters since in the days of the DUPP, i voted labour four times,and i have to let you know that if Sheritt need one vote to win this coming election it will not be my vote he need to go, too much corruption, i would like to know if Skeritt is the luckiest PM to ever Govern DA, if he was in the USA he would be surely charge for all the money laundering the gifts that he is accepting for his own political gain, also the money that he is receiving for the country that he is pocketing, where did he work to be building a multimillion dollar house, he is a servant of the people of the country he should be working in the interest of the Country and it's people and not for his pocket thank you, and again my first language is not English, the truth always offense and this is exactly what is happening to all Skeritt supporters, he must go
I did not pledge allegiance to Skeritt, I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag of the Commonwealth of Dominica, True Dominican Thank You
I did not pledge allegiance to Skeritt, I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag of the Commonwealth of Dominica, True Dominican Thank You
# posted by : December 6, 2009 12:00 AM
: December 6, 2009 12:00 AM
I read with interest Frank Baron's Article and the comments that follow I really don't see how can Baron be called a greedy and corrupt individual.By the way was he the devil before he rebuke the PM? or after he said.
"I cannot stay silent in the face of this wrong"and "No one seems to have the guts to say that to our Prime Minister. I Frank Baron, say that to him now,THIS IS WRONG.
Baron serve this country as Ambassador to the OAS and the UN for 15 Yrs.without receiving a salary. Can we say the same to anyone in this administration? Take for example Tony Astaphan who have received Thousands of dollars from our impoverish country for every nonsens.
He is being accuse of using economic citizenship program to sell the Layou River Hotel owned by Miss Charles and himself.But if you read his article he said.
"I warned Her (Miss Charles) about the perils of economic citizenship and it's potential for abuse.
There is a saying which goes like this."You never too old to learn".I was not aware that Layou River Hotel was owned by Frank Baron and Miss Charles, I am not F. Baron and certainly I cannot be Miss Charles but do you know that I Julius John Charles was a shareholder of the hotel?
I have being following politics since 1961 when my brother Vanoulst contested against the Labour Party in the St Joseph/Mahaut constituency and I am yet to see an administration more corrupt than this one.This DLP deserve the gold silver and bronze
Julius John-Charles .....New Jersey
"I cannot stay silent in the face of this wrong"and "No one seems to have the guts to say that to our Prime Minister. I Frank Baron, say that to him now,THIS IS WRONG.
Baron serve this country as Ambassador to the OAS and the UN for 15 Yrs.without receiving a salary. Can we say the same to anyone in this administration? Take for example Tony Astaphan who have received Thousands of dollars from our impoverish country for every nonsens.
He is being accuse of using economic citizenship program to sell the Layou River Hotel owned by Miss Charles and himself.But if you read his article he said.
"I warned Her (Miss Charles) about the perils of economic citizenship and it's potential for abuse.
There is a saying which goes like this."You never too old to learn".I was not aware that Layou River Hotel was owned by Frank Baron and Miss Charles, I am not F. Baron and certainly I cannot be Miss Charles but do you know that I Julius John Charles was a shareholder of the hotel?
I have being following politics since 1961 when my brother Vanoulst contested against the Labour Party in the St Joseph/Mahaut constituency and I am yet to see an administration more corrupt than this one.This DLP deserve the gold silver and bronze
Julius John-Charles .....New Jersey
# posted by : December 6, 2009 4:23 AM
: December 6, 2009 4:23 AM
Julius John-Charles I know your brother Vanos (Vanoulst) - he is a fine gentleman. I campaigned with him in the 1979/1980 election cycle.
Vanos would ask for facts and evidence - not innuendo and unsupported accusations. Fran Baron serving unpaid for 15 years is crap. He made lot more money / deals being called Ambassador - than not. By the way - his term of Ambassadorship is unremarkable. What benefit did he provide to Dominica?
In the meantime - as he occupied the seat of Ambassador - a bunch of younger, more qualified and public spirited Dominicans did not get the chance to be Ambassador or even an apprenticeship position.
For the 15 years Freedom (my parents party) was in power - their was no renewal - the same faces for 15 years - while we the "Young Freedom Movement" - Skerrit was a member - who elected the the Freedom Party to office were not brought into "fold" to learn and experience office.
Barron is to blame as much as Eugenia, Brian, Charles (Maynard & Saverin) et al for the non renewal of the Freedom Party. Your brother Vanos always decried this lack of empowerment of the Freedom youth!
Kibosh - born Freedomite in Support of Skerrit!
Vanos would ask for facts and evidence - not innuendo and unsupported accusations. Fran Baron serving unpaid for 15 years is crap. He made lot more money / deals being called Ambassador - than not. By the way - his term of Ambassadorship is unremarkable. What benefit did he provide to Dominica?
In the meantime - as he occupied the seat of Ambassador - a bunch of younger, more qualified and public spirited Dominicans did not get the chance to be Ambassador or even an apprenticeship position.
For the 15 years Freedom (my parents party) was in power - their was no renewal - the same faces for 15 years - while we the "Young Freedom Movement" - Skerrit was a member - who elected the the Freedom Party to office were not brought into "fold" to learn and experience office.
Barron is to blame as much as Eugenia, Brian, Charles (Maynard & Saverin) et al for the non renewal of the Freedom Party. Your brother Vanos always decried this lack of empowerment of the Freedom youth!
Kibosh - born Freedomite in Support of Skerrit!
# posted by : December 6, 2009 10:14 AM
: December 6, 2009 10:14 AM
i wonder what francine have to say to all this dirty comments on her father . dominicans bad francine just stand with skirret in the bvi court case
# posted by : December 6, 2009 4:51 PM
: December 6, 2009 4:51 PM
Hector you people are greedy and ignorant and all for all you selves and i can attest to that cause i am from wesley. You people don't even consider the poor in the community neither do you people contribute anything to you village so keep your opinions to yourself and leave Mr.Skerrit alone and come and look after the lands you people have i wesley bringing all kinds of pest and rodents in the community.
GREED!! GREED!! GREED...YOU MR MARIE....GREED
A VILLAGER....
GREED!! GREED!! GREED...YOU MR MARIE....GREED
A VILLAGER....
# posted by : December 6, 2009 4:57 PM
: December 6, 2009 4:57 PM
Hector Marie, In 1998 your land was negotiated by which Government...The UWP Government of Edison James....Ask him to pay you cause when he win elecshuns, he gonna build international airport.
# posted by : December 6, 2009 7:00 PM
: December 6, 2009 7:00 PM
I will post this again - maybe she missed it’s reference or point because I did not mention her name. My post was in response to the posting that Ms. Shirley Allen keeps putting to show that she is intellectual, capable, of sound reasoning and critical thinking. “ WHAT! This is a written example of critical thinking. Pardner your first paragraph should be a road map of what you want to say. In English if you 'doh noh' the meaning of a word then the whole sentence or paragraph is off. So tell me again what you trying to say, because you lost me. This was directed to you, Ms. Shirley Allen.
To copy quotes and passages from books that most people don’t or will not read (I’m glad for you – means that you are well read in German philosophy) especially quotes from Hitler’s era is nonsense. How do you even reference or even parallel the two? Do you even remember who Hitler was? A human being responsible for killing six million other human beings! Are you saying that if Dominicans choose to elect PM Skerritt again that there exists a possibility he might be worse that Hitler? Your reasoning is based on all these unproven allegations of corruptions against the incumbent government. Come on, you should know better than that. Don’t try to match wits or intellect with those who got an education and have done good for themselves, but forgot that they were the very ones who would “chant down Babylon” and call people who lived in St Aromat “bourgeois”. Now that they are educated they sound and act worse than those so-called “bourgeois” they complained about in the 70’s. I’m now middle-aged and have seen this cycle before in my lifetime. They all seem to have contempt, anger and envy towards the PM.
To copy quotes and passages from books that most people don’t or will not read (I’m glad for you – means that you are well read in German philosophy) especially quotes from Hitler’s era is nonsense. How do you even reference or even parallel the two? Do you even remember who Hitler was? A human being responsible for killing six million other human beings! Are you saying that if Dominicans choose to elect PM Skerritt again that there exists a possibility he might be worse that Hitler? Your reasoning is based on all these unproven allegations of corruptions against the incumbent government. Come on, you should know better than that. Don’t try to match wits or intellect with those who got an education and have done good for themselves, but forgot that they were the very ones who would “chant down Babylon” and call people who lived in St Aromat “bourgeois”. Now that they are educated they sound and act worse than those so-called “bourgeois” they complained about in the 70’s. I’m now middle-aged and have seen this cycle before in my lifetime. They all seem to have contempt, anger and envy towards the PM.
# posted by : December 6, 2009 9:08 PM
: December 6, 2009 9:08 PM
I am even more shocked now, if the country is allowed to be governed in such recless disregard, do you think that we will eventually end up with Embargoes and face import restrictions as Cuba and others?
# posted by : December 7, 2009 11:56 AM
: December 7, 2009 11:56 AM
Hi
When plunder has become a way of life for a group of people living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it.
Eugenia Charles
When plunder has become a way of life for a group of people living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it.
Eugenia Charles
# posted by : December 8, 2009 8:47 AM
: December 8, 2009 8:47 AM
Attorney-at-Law Alix Boyd Knights responds to Frank Baron's 'Front page comment'
Dear Mr Baron,
I have read with consternation and enormous disbelief an article allegedly penned by you which, also allegedly, you sent to Gabriel Christian to circulate on your behalf.
I have carefully noted your reference to yourself as a "WOUNDED KNIGHT" which said reference puts your entire article in perspective for me. You are not a wounded "soldier". To yourself you are a " KNIGHT", and you present yourself as such to the world.
From where I sit, I perceive that if anything is wounded it is your aging ego. You, like many of your ilk, simply cannot accept that a poor young man could step into shoes that you once occupied and grandly surpass all that his predecessors combined (including you, the KNIGHT) accomplished.
It is not my intention to in any way sully my absolute reverence for Dame Eugenia's memory, but you and I both know it is untrue for you to suggest that Dame Eugenia did not accept extremely expensive gifts. In any event, should I be inclined to buy into your largely unsubstantiated allegations, for whom would you suggest that I vote?
Edison James of "quarry" and "bugging" fame? Failed hoteliers with no proven track record of any kind of success?
Or perhaps you would guide me towards those aged wounded knights with leftist leanings?
No, Mr Baron, I and everyone I can persuade to do so will vote for genuine progress as presented by the Dominica Labour Party; and while we do so, you have all the time in the world to lick your wounds in peace and to spray your rusty armour with W D 40.
Your unwilling, unrepentant "subject"
BY ATTORNEY-AT-LAW ALIX BOYD KNIGHTS
Dear Mr Baron,
I have read with consternation and enormous disbelief an article allegedly penned by you which, also allegedly, you sent to Gabriel Christian to circulate on your behalf.
I have carefully noted your reference to yourself as a "WOUNDED KNIGHT" which said reference puts your entire article in perspective for me. You are not a wounded "soldier". To yourself you are a " KNIGHT", and you present yourself as such to the world.
From where I sit, I perceive that if anything is wounded it is your aging ego. You, like many of your ilk, simply cannot accept that a poor young man could step into shoes that you once occupied and grandly surpass all that his predecessors combined (including you, the KNIGHT) accomplished.
It is not my intention to in any way sully my absolute reverence for Dame Eugenia's memory, but you and I both know it is untrue for you to suggest that Dame Eugenia did not accept extremely expensive gifts. In any event, should I be inclined to buy into your largely unsubstantiated allegations, for whom would you suggest that I vote?
Edison James of "quarry" and "bugging" fame? Failed hoteliers with no proven track record of any kind of success?
Or perhaps you would guide me towards those aged wounded knights with leftist leanings?
No, Mr Baron, I and everyone I can persuade to do so will vote for genuine progress as presented by the Dominica Labour Party; and while we do so, you have all the time in the world to lick your wounds in peace and to spray your rusty armour with W D 40.
Your unwilling, unrepentant "subject"
BY ATTORNEY-AT-LAW ALIX BOYD KNIGHTS
# posted by : December 8, 2009 8:15 PM
: December 8, 2009 8:15 PM
Charles Maynard's response to Frank Baron's 'Front page comment'
I have had an opportunity of reviewing this front page article by Mr Baron. As one of the four ministers who served for the full fifteen years in the cabinet with Dame Eugenia, I do not recall Frank Baron playing the kind of role of oversight and ‘overseer’ which he claims to have exercised.
I find a number of his comments and statements are both ill-advised and lack any foundation or merit. I find particularly distasteful the innuendos implied in his warnings to Dame Eugenia concerning “her selfish ministers”. The records will show (in fact in the words of Michael Douglas) that when Dominica was in trouble in the late 1970’s, people left their jobs and their professions to go and serve in the government. I have discussed the unfounded statement about selfish ministers with some of my colleagues who served then. They are quite alarmed at this unfortunate and unjustified outburst.
It is a pity Mr. Baron did not state what he meant by selfish ministers. I am convinced that those of us who left our business and professions did so at great personal cost to ourselves and our families and that is well known. As one who has devoted a very large part of my life to public service I find it difficult to understand what could have prompted Mr. Baron to make these allegations against Prime Minister Skerrit, because they are mere allegations.
Allegations no matter how often repeated cannot thereby become facts and Mr. Baron ought to know this. His repetition of these allegations does not make them become facts.
Mr. Baron would have been aware of the many unfounded allegations made against Dame Eugenia. It seems therefore highly irresponsible that without resorting to any facts he has sought to tarnish the image and reputation of the Prime Minister. It is not clear to me why Mr. Baron found it necessary to say that “Eugenia Charles was virulently opposed to any of her ministers profiting at governments expense”. Why does he find it necessary to refer to ministers and not to the cabinet as a whole, including Dame Eugenia herself. This seems a rather strange conclusion.
There is much more that one could say about Mr. Baron’s tenure as ambassador and his relations or lack of relations with cabinet .One thing that needs to be reversed is any suggestion that Mr. Baron was in the forefront of advice and knowledge of how the Eugenia Charles administration was run.
There are many questions here that can be raised about the code that ought to be observed between a minister of foreign affairs and an ambassador representing Dominica.
The most unfortunate stricture in Mr. Baron’s comments is the reference to “the rapid accumulation of wealth by our young Prime Minister”. What exactly does he mean by this? Is it because he is young that he should not have any wealth? Is it because he is in the public life of the state that he should not gain wealth as long as it is legitimate and proper? Does Mr. Baron share the view that people who serve in public office should have nothing? Should they die poor? Or should they merely rely on the state to officiate at their funerals? What kind of country do we want to develop if we are not concerned about proper returns to persons who put themselves up for public office?
All those are questions that we ought to discuss and debate in a mature setting and environment because all of us have a stake in ensuring that the country is properly managed. And one cardinal requirement is to have persons with the knowledge and skills and commitment to carry on this task.
BY CHARLES MAYNARD
I have had an opportunity of reviewing this front page article by Mr Baron. As one of the four ministers who served for the full fifteen years in the cabinet with Dame Eugenia, I do not recall Frank Baron playing the kind of role of oversight and ‘overseer’ which he claims to have exercised.
I find a number of his comments and statements are both ill-advised and lack any foundation or merit. I find particularly distasteful the innuendos implied in his warnings to Dame Eugenia concerning “her selfish ministers”. The records will show (in fact in the words of Michael Douglas) that when Dominica was in trouble in the late 1970’s, people left their jobs and their professions to go and serve in the government. I have discussed the unfounded statement about selfish ministers with some of my colleagues who served then. They are quite alarmed at this unfortunate and unjustified outburst.
It is a pity Mr. Baron did not state what he meant by selfish ministers. I am convinced that those of us who left our business and professions did so at great personal cost to ourselves and our families and that is well known. As one who has devoted a very large part of my life to public service I find it difficult to understand what could have prompted Mr. Baron to make these allegations against Prime Minister Skerrit, because they are mere allegations.
Allegations no matter how often repeated cannot thereby become facts and Mr. Baron ought to know this. His repetition of these allegations does not make them become facts.
Mr. Baron would have been aware of the many unfounded allegations made against Dame Eugenia. It seems therefore highly irresponsible that without resorting to any facts he has sought to tarnish the image and reputation of the Prime Minister. It is not clear to me why Mr. Baron found it necessary to say that “Eugenia Charles was virulently opposed to any of her ministers profiting at governments expense”. Why does he find it necessary to refer to ministers and not to the cabinet as a whole, including Dame Eugenia herself. This seems a rather strange conclusion.
There is much more that one could say about Mr. Baron’s tenure as ambassador and his relations or lack of relations with cabinet .One thing that needs to be reversed is any suggestion that Mr. Baron was in the forefront of advice and knowledge of how the Eugenia Charles administration was run.
There are many questions here that can be raised about the code that ought to be observed between a minister of foreign affairs and an ambassador representing Dominica.
The most unfortunate stricture in Mr. Baron’s comments is the reference to “the rapid accumulation of wealth by our young Prime Minister”. What exactly does he mean by this? Is it because he is young that he should not have any wealth? Is it because he is in the public life of the state that he should not gain wealth as long as it is legitimate and proper? Does Mr. Baron share the view that people who serve in public office should have nothing? Should they die poor? Or should they merely rely on the state to officiate at their funerals? What kind of country do we want to develop if we are not concerned about proper returns to persons who put themselves up for public office?
All those are questions that we ought to discuss and debate in a mature setting and environment because all of us have a stake in ensuring that the country is properly managed. And one cardinal requirement is to have persons with the knowledge and skills and commitment to carry on this task.
BY CHARLES MAYNARD
# posted by : December 8, 2009 8:17 PM
: December 8, 2009 8:17 PM
from Anthony Astaphan
to Roosevelt Skerrit
cc alick lawrence
hartleyhenry
date Thu, Mar 27, 2008 at 10:27 AM
subject URGENT
mailed-by gmail.com
hide details 3/27/08
Brother,
Please do not drift too far. Tried calling you again today and just cannot get through.
I spoke to Kondwani this morning. There is madness going on at the Commission. You need to call in Richard and Kondwani. I leave today. These guys are talking about reforms to inlude ID cards and COMPLETE REREGISTRATION! Such reforms will underrmine your reelection legacy as the opposition will say look, the Commission agreed with us; reform was required because of wide spread fraud!!!!!!!!!!
to Roosevelt Skerrit
cc alick lawrence
hartleyhenry
date Thu, Mar 27, 2008 at 10:27 AM
subject URGENT
mailed-by gmail.com
hide details 3/27/08
Brother,
Please do not drift too far. Tried calling you again today and just cannot get through.
I spoke to Kondwani this morning. There is madness going on at the Commission. You need to call in Richard and Kondwani. I leave today. These guys are talking about reforms to inlude ID cards and COMPLETE REREGISTRATION! Such reforms will underrmine your reelection legacy as the opposition will say look, the Commission agreed with us; reform was required because of wide spread fraud!!!!!!!!!!
# posted by : December 9, 2009 7:22 AM
: December 9, 2009 7:22 AM
Letter: My response to Frank Baron
Published on Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Dear Sir:
My first and second reaction to Mr Baron's rather emotional statement was one of astonishment. Mr Baron writes, or had written for him, a statement of several paragraphs on his remarkable achievements and fights and of derisive allegations of corruption but writes one single paragraph setting out the three or four allegations upon which he relies. Allegations mind you, not facts or evidence.
I am determined to be objective in this my response.
I fully appreciate Mr Baron's calls for a return to the days of Dame Eugenia Charles. Those were great days not just for Dominica but also for Mr Frank Baron. Times have changed since then. This is a new Dominica.
I have no doubt Dame Eugenia would view his subjective attack on Roosevelt Skerrit with raised eyes more so as Mr Baron seems to have forgotten the wanton allegations of corruption directed against both Dame Eugenia Charles and himself by the UWP and their acolytes in relation to the sale of Layou River Hotel to Grace Tung and David Hsiu. He appears also to have forgotten the wicked allegation of criminality directed against Dame Eugenia when Edison James, Ron Green and the UWP accused her of bugging the UWP's Headquarters.
I raise these allegations because I recall Mr Baron's outrage when he was the victim of scurrilous and politically motivated attacks. However, it seems that today, at a much older age, it seems that allegations and not facts are important and that facts are now meaningless. I wonder why the sudden change?
The tragedy of Mr Baron's statement is that notwithstanding his assertion that he was once proud of Roosevelt Skerrit, and had a good relationship with him, he has relied on mere allegations from partisan quarters to condemn him without the courtesy of a phone call to Skerrit to ask even one question of him as to these allegations or benefit of the doubt. Accusations by ambush are expected from political agents of all political parties. But certainly not from persons who claim, it seems, the exclusive moral high ground in politics. I wonder why the ambush at this time?
The unfortunate and troubling aspect of Mr Baron's statement is that he relied exclusively on allegations advanced by the UWP and DFP without a shred of evidence to establish corruption on the part of Skerrit or show any acquisition of public funds by or diversion of public funds to Roosevelt Skerrit. Additionally, Mr Baron has either not been told of or discarded the (i) the involvement of public officers in and bin transaction and repayment of 156,000 USD on the 4th September 2009; (ii) the Ministerial explanation on the fertilizer transaction; (iii) the hacking and cutting and pasting of emails and the Prime Minister's categorical denial of ownership of any villas; (iv)the Prime Minister's written response to the former Ambassador's threat of blackmail and the Prime Minister's steadfast determination to give evidence in the BVI 13 months later and the finding of the Judge that the Prime Minister was a witness of the truth, and (v) that under the IPO Code of Ethics the receipt of gifts without more are not illegal or corrupt. I wonder why these things were not brought to Mr. Baron's attention or, why did he forget them?
Some how I get the distinct feeling that some one has convinced this retired politician (of I make and break the law fame) and successful businessman that the best way to judge Roosevelt Skerrit is by self serving allegations fostered by the likes of Gabriel Christian (who just happens to be the disseminator) and others, and not by facts or the tremendous strides made by this country under the Dominica Labour Party. Red Plastic Bag sings, "Something is happening". But in my view there is something very wrong happening here! At the same time, it is my true hope that this "wounded knight", who once had tremendous respect for Roosevelt Skerrit, also has an enduring conscience.
Submitted respectfully and with blessings!
Anthony W Astaphan,SC
Published on Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Dear Sir:
My first and second reaction to Mr Baron's rather emotional statement was one of astonishment. Mr Baron writes, or had written for him, a statement of several paragraphs on his remarkable achievements and fights and of derisive allegations of corruption but writes one single paragraph setting out the three or four allegations upon which he relies. Allegations mind you, not facts or evidence.
I am determined to be objective in this my response.
I fully appreciate Mr Baron's calls for a return to the days of Dame Eugenia Charles. Those were great days not just for Dominica but also for Mr Frank Baron. Times have changed since then. This is a new Dominica.
I have no doubt Dame Eugenia would view his subjective attack on Roosevelt Skerrit with raised eyes more so as Mr Baron seems to have forgotten the wanton allegations of corruption directed against both Dame Eugenia Charles and himself by the UWP and their acolytes in relation to the sale of Layou River Hotel to Grace Tung and David Hsiu. He appears also to have forgotten the wicked allegation of criminality directed against Dame Eugenia when Edison James, Ron Green and the UWP accused her of bugging the UWP's Headquarters.
I raise these allegations because I recall Mr Baron's outrage when he was the victim of scurrilous and politically motivated attacks. However, it seems that today, at a much older age, it seems that allegations and not facts are important and that facts are now meaningless. I wonder why the sudden change?
The tragedy of Mr Baron's statement is that notwithstanding his assertion that he was once proud of Roosevelt Skerrit, and had a good relationship with him, he has relied on mere allegations from partisan quarters to condemn him without the courtesy of a phone call to Skerrit to ask even one question of him as to these allegations or benefit of the doubt. Accusations by ambush are expected from political agents of all political parties. But certainly not from persons who claim, it seems, the exclusive moral high ground in politics. I wonder why the ambush at this time?
The unfortunate and troubling aspect of Mr Baron's statement is that he relied exclusively on allegations advanced by the UWP and DFP without a shred of evidence to establish corruption on the part of Skerrit or show any acquisition of public funds by or diversion of public funds to Roosevelt Skerrit. Additionally, Mr Baron has either not been told of or discarded the (i) the involvement of public officers in and bin transaction and repayment of 156,000 USD on the 4th September 2009; (ii) the Ministerial explanation on the fertilizer transaction; (iii) the hacking and cutting and pasting of emails and the Prime Minister's categorical denial of ownership of any villas; (iv)the Prime Minister's written response to the former Ambassador's threat of blackmail and the Prime Minister's steadfast determination to give evidence in the BVI 13 months later and the finding of the Judge that the Prime Minister was a witness of the truth, and (v) that under the IPO Code of Ethics the receipt of gifts without more are not illegal or corrupt. I wonder why these things were not brought to Mr. Baron's attention or, why did he forget them?
Some how I get the distinct feeling that some one has convinced this retired politician (of I make and break the law fame) and successful businessman that the best way to judge Roosevelt Skerrit is by self serving allegations fostered by the likes of Gabriel Christian (who just happens to be the disseminator) and others, and not by facts or the tremendous strides made by this country under the Dominica Labour Party. Red Plastic Bag sings, "Something is happening". But in my view there is something very wrong happening here! At the same time, it is my true hope that this "wounded knight", who once had tremendous respect for Roosevelt Skerrit, also has an enduring conscience.
Submitted respectfully and with blessings!
Anthony W Astaphan,SC
# posted by : December 9, 2009 8:53 AM
: December 9, 2009 8:53 AM
Don't worry be happy, the U.S. Army and Marines will be landing after the election. The United States is not going to stand by and let China build a Navy Base at Portsmouth with Hugo as mayor of the city.
# posted by : December 9, 2009 8:32 PM
: December 9, 2009 8:32 PM
It is nice to know that Tony is NOT interested in allegations and innuendos but in proof and evidence about corruption in the PM and his administration.But the same Tony Astaphan waged a relentless accusation of corruption against the UWP. Without an inch of evidence.Just allegations and figment of his own imaginations.
When the people voted out the UWP for corruption.The Labour Party administration gave Tony Astaphan the mandate to investigate the reigns of the UWP.He had all the records of their transactions while in government and after many years of inquiries THE LEARNED Q.C. CAME UP WITH NOT ONE IOTA OF ANY WRONG DOINGS.Instead he apologies and ask for forgiveness for destroying the names of the gentlemen, he had the audacity to ask Pierre Charles to send for forensic expert to investigate the same corruption he was sure of.
I want everyone to know that I have never supported the UWP.Last election I voted the DLP. I was on their platform speaking with Ed Ragiste and Crispin Gregoire. Not that I was a Laborite but because my party had no candidate in my area.
In the 1975 general election I had two brothers contesting for the DFP.Emmerson John Charles was one of them from the Mahaut constituency, My wife Tina contested in 1995 for the Dominica Freedom Party, against the now exiled former leader of the UWP.
So you see I am a proud Freedomite.
Julius John Charles
When the people voted out the UWP for corruption.The Labour Party administration gave Tony Astaphan the mandate to investigate the reigns of the UWP.He had all the records of their transactions while in government and after many years of inquiries THE LEARNED Q.C. CAME UP WITH NOT ONE IOTA OF ANY WRONG DOINGS.Instead he apologies and ask for forgiveness for destroying the names of the gentlemen, he had the audacity to ask Pierre Charles to send for forensic expert to investigate the same corruption he was sure of.
I want everyone to know that I have never supported the UWP.Last election I voted the DLP. I was on their platform speaking with Ed Ragiste and Crispin Gregoire. Not that I was a Laborite but because my party had no candidate in my area.
In the 1975 general election I had two brothers contesting for the DFP.Emmerson John Charles was one of them from the Mahaut constituency, My wife Tina contested in 1995 for the Dominica Freedom Party, against the now exiled former leader of the UWP.
So you see I am a proud Freedomite.
Julius John Charles
# posted by : December 9, 2009 11:45 PM
: December 9, 2009 11:45 PM
Interview of the three who want to be PM:
The opposition forces have accused the Prime Minister of accumulating vast sums of money and property during his time in office - a charge Skerrit, who is seeking to lead the DLP to a third straight general election victory, vehemently denies.
The DLP government has been dogged by several allegations of corruption, including a scandal surrounding the purchase of garbage bins for the Roseau City Council and another involving the procurement of fertilizer.
No one involved in the government been brought before the court to face charges or found guilty of corruption.
Skerrit, in an interview, charged that the opposition parties have so far failed to substantiate many of the charges levelled against him and challenged them to take any proof of wrong doing to the Integrity Commission, which he said is headed by independent people.
“If you have evidence that Roosevelt Skerrit or any of my ministers have been involved in corruption then go to the commission. But all this lilac buildings and so forth, they know, they know for a fact that this building does not belong to me; the apartments, they know they don’t belong to me; the boat, they know that for a fact but it is part of their strategy.”
Both the United Workers Party (UWP) and the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) have made the issue of alleged corruption in the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) administration a major campaign issue ahead of the December 18 general election.
Judith Pestaina, who is seeking to revive the once powerful DFP, admits that the opposition does not have any clear-cut evidence linking Skerrit to corrupt acts. However, she says if the Prime Minister has nothing to hide then he should answer the questions being posed to him.
“Come out and give us the truth,” she said.
“That’s what we are demanding and that is what we are demanding in government and unless you have a political leadership that’s willing to be open, to be transparent, I don’t think you can trust them and this is what the electorate is saying,” Pestaina told CMC.
The DFP leader said that people have been coming forward with increasing frequency, calling for Dominicans to take a stand against “this kind of affluence, this sudden wealth”.
Ron Green, states that “If a prime minister receives a salary in the vicinity of five thousand (US$3,000) for a number of years and it has been raised to eight thousand, the question is: how do you amass this wealth? How do you amass this level of personal wealth in such a period of time, where has that money come from?
“The pure fact of the matter is that accumulation of wealth…and how has that happened in a short period of time? Where has that money come from?” he queried in a separate interview.
“If he is claiming that it hasn’t come from the Treasury, then that is his claim,” said Green, adding “when the 19th of December comes around and a new government is elected we will get the true answers to those questions”.
The Integrity Commission, which is headed by independent people including a former acting Chief Justice in there; a former cabinet secretary in there; a former financial secretary. People of high standing and respect in the society who are responsible for the functioning of the commission, yet the opposition has not filed any formal charges.
Ain't that something?
The opposition forces have accused the Prime Minister of accumulating vast sums of money and property during his time in office - a charge Skerrit, who is seeking to lead the DLP to a third straight general election victory, vehemently denies.
The DLP government has been dogged by several allegations of corruption, including a scandal surrounding the purchase of garbage bins for the Roseau City Council and another involving the procurement of fertilizer.
No one involved in the government been brought before the court to face charges or found guilty of corruption.
Skerrit, in an interview, charged that the opposition parties have so far failed to substantiate many of the charges levelled against him and challenged them to take any proof of wrong doing to the Integrity Commission, which he said is headed by independent people.
“If you have evidence that Roosevelt Skerrit or any of my ministers have been involved in corruption then go to the commission. But all this lilac buildings and so forth, they know, they know for a fact that this building does not belong to me; the apartments, they know they don’t belong to me; the boat, they know that for a fact but it is part of their strategy.”
Both the United Workers Party (UWP) and the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) have made the issue of alleged corruption in the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) administration a major campaign issue ahead of the December 18 general election.
Judith Pestaina, who is seeking to revive the once powerful DFP, admits that the opposition does not have any clear-cut evidence linking Skerrit to corrupt acts. However, she says if the Prime Minister has nothing to hide then he should answer the questions being posed to him.
“Come out and give us the truth,” she said.
“That’s what we are demanding and that is what we are demanding in government and unless you have a political leadership that’s willing to be open, to be transparent, I don’t think you can trust them and this is what the electorate is saying,” Pestaina told CMC.
The DFP leader said that people have been coming forward with increasing frequency, calling for Dominicans to take a stand against “this kind of affluence, this sudden wealth”.
Ron Green, states that “If a prime minister receives a salary in the vicinity of five thousand (US$3,000) for a number of years and it has been raised to eight thousand, the question is: how do you amass this wealth? How do you amass this level of personal wealth in such a period of time, where has that money come from?
“The pure fact of the matter is that accumulation of wealth…and how has that happened in a short period of time? Where has that money come from?” he queried in a separate interview.
“If he is claiming that it hasn’t come from the Treasury, then that is his claim,” said Green, adding “when the 19th of December comes around and a new government is elected we will get the true answers to those questions”.
The Integrity Commission, which is headed by independent people including a former acting Chief Justice in there; a former cabinet secretary in there; a former financial secretary. People of high standing and respect in the society who are responsible for the functioning of the commission, yet the opposition has not filed any formal charges.
Ain't that something?
# posted by : December 10, 2009 8:42 AM
: December 10, 2009 8:42 AM
This article is another way to discredit the Prime minister. All heads of state all over the world have gained wealth from their political positions. Why is it wrong for our prime minister to do the same? Once again another attack that does not address the issues of today: The economy, health care, job creation and the environment. The prime minister should be evaluated on his performance not on his finances or his mother's citizenship.
# posted by : December 11, 2009 4:26 PM
: December 11, 2009 4:26 PM
I read the letter from Frank Baron and most of the comments posted and I have one piece of advice for Dominicans It is time we stop tearing down each other with false accusations. Accepting personal gifts in the capacity of the Prime minister is not only wrong but unethical and is a perfect incubator for corruption.
I have known Shirley Allan for many years, we worked together at the same Insurance Company up to the time she migrated to the U.S and there was NO allegation that she had stolen money from the Insurance Company. Where did you all got that from? Shirley was an underwriter and not an Office Staff How would she have gotten access to the Company's money? You ALL need to stop maligning people's reputation. This is an unceremonious and unconscionable attempt into silencing one's Democracy. I wish we all had wisdom and matured minds which would thus remove our political myopia where we could all discuss intelligently. That I strongly believe would end this atrocious web behavior that leaves much to be desired.
Dominica- Life Underwriter.
I have known Shirley Allan for many years, we worked together at the same Insurance Company up to the time she migrated to the U.S and there was NO allegation that she had stolen money from the Insurance Company. Where did you all got that from? Shirley was an underwriter and not an Office Staff How would she have gotten access to the Company's money? You ALL need to stop maligning people's reputation. This is an unceremonious and unconscionable attempt into silencing one's Democracy. I wish we all had wisdom and matured minds which would thus remove our political myopia where we could all discuss intelligently. That I strongly believe would end this atrocious web behavior that leaves much to be desired.
Dominica- Life Underwriter.
# posted by : December 31, 2009 9:18 AM
: December 31, 2009 9:18 AM Links to this post:
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