DLP Government succumbs to opposition pressure & offers to change Diplomatic Appointment Process

​The Government of Dominica has succumbed to pressure from the opposition parties, and after much resistance, has finally admitted that there are problems with its CBI program and Appointments of foreign nationals as Diplomats. The DLP Government is now promising to make policy changes to the process of diplomatic appointments, so as to tighten due diligence and other safeguards, and to address the concerns of citizens and stakeholders. Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit made an announcement to that effect, in an address to the nation in the late afternoon of Friday 24th February 2017.
 
Skerrit said these policy changes will be gazetted as early as next week, although he also says that an ongoing comprehensive review of the CBI and Diplomatic appointment programs are still being conducted, by an independent international consultant. It appears that government is making changes before having the benefit of the findings and recommendations of their unnamed consultant.
 
Mr Skerrit said he regrets the unfortunate turn of events with respect to a few persons to whom he had issued with diplomatic passports, having become persons of interest to foreign countries and external security organizations. He added that in every instance that government “discovered that someone in the service of the Government of Dominica has run afoul of the law or indeed, been suspected of so doing, we were proactive in suspending or terminating the relationship”.
 
Skerrit contends that his DLP government recognizes that such incidents have highlighted the need for improvement in the way it conducts business, and this is a matter of concern which is receiving its urgent focused attention. He added that Government therefore decided that an interim policy will be introduced, and will be available on the Government website for review by all. He stated, “Effective immediately, all non-nationals under consideration for Diplomatic and Consular appointments will be subjected to the same due diligence requirements as persons applying for citizenship under Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment Program.
 
PM Skerrit said it was important for Dominica to maintain “a strong diplomatic presence” in emerging markets, and “will continue to rely heavily on the generosity of genuine, law abiding citizens of the world who love Dominica, and have a keen interest in its continued advancement and development”.