DOMINICA'S PRIME MINISTER PAYS THE COUNTRY'S UN AMBASSADOR TWO MILLION DOLLARS TO FALL ON HER SWORD

 

Just when you thought that the Dominica-Syria scandal was as bad as it could be, it just got worse. The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Commonwealth of Dominica and Syria, a designated State Sponsor of Terrorism, and facilitator of Hezbollah, as well as supplier of troops for Russia in the Ukraine invasion, was repudiated by Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, who claimed it was unauthorized, and the fault of his country's UN Ambassador, Loreen Bannis-Roberts.

Skerrit publicly affirmed that his Ministry of Foreign Affairs neither approved of, nor authorized the diplomatic Agreement Bannis-Roberts executed with the Syrians, and that, for that reason, he had accepted her resignation. Dominica's government then acted as if it was an unfortunate error on their former ambassador's part.  We reported this in our recent article, entitled United Nations Ambassador from Dominica recalled in Aftermath of Global Furor about Relationship with Syria (March 18, 2022).

However, many observers of the Dominica political scene, questioned the accuracy of PM Skerrit's narrative, as wealthy Syrians and government officials had been purchasing Dominica CBI passports for some time, and an international CBI consultancy had published a glowing report on the new diplomatic recognition of Syria by Dominica, leaving many Dominicans to conclude that it was only reversed due to the global outcry that resulted when the Dominica-Syria accord was made public. They were certain that they did not hear the truth about what really happened.

Subsequently, reliable sources inside Dominica's opaque political structure have disclosed what was suspected all along: That Skerrit had forced Bannis-Roberts to lie about her role in the diplomatic recognition, and that she was duly authorized and ordered to sign the diplomatic documents. She received what amounted to a bribe, in the amount of two Million US Dollars, according to our inside sources, to literally commit diplomatic suicide, and admit to executing the Syrian documents, stating that she had committed a serious personal error, that it was without governmental authorization, and that she accepted full blame for the incident. What the political fallout will be from this scandal is unknown, but we will be closely following all developments, and reporting them here as they occur.

 There has not been any public announcement as to who her replacement will be, but rumours are circulating that he will be a Labour politician who was educated in Cuba, speaks Spanish fluently, and will be a better fit for Dominica's China-focused foreign affairs platform. Dominica has, in recent years, come under strong influence from the Peoples' Republic of China, which has made major financial contributions to Dominica's economy, including supporting and advising the country's paramilitary police. Its embassy is believe to be an electronic listening post for China to spy upon American military movements in the Caribbean Sea, and within the Continental United States.