OPINION: Gregor’s reply to Linton’s Open Response
- January 9, 2017
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The bill would give a legal second chance to thousands of Caribbean and other deportees without serious criminal records who have a child, parent or spouse with a green card or American citizenship.
By: Gregor Nassief
Dear Lennox,
Let me start with the most important clarification first. We have known each other for over 30 years – how could you suggest that I would ever want to bring harm to you or your family? Please Lennox, I would never think either of us were capable of wishing harm on the other. For avoidance of any doubt, when I said “I fear you may not recover”, I was referring to your political career – that I fear your political career may not recover.
I do remember the gentler days of the 90’s and did enjoy our scrabble games very much. If my memory serves me right, you were often victor. Scrabble is great- requiring knowledge, creativity and speed. And truth – words put down on the board must exist in the dictionary. All assumptions can be checked to be fact or fiction.
Your response to me illustrates that today you play a different kind of scrabble, one in which assumption and innuendo prevail over fact.
I have come to the conclusion that you really do not seek answers, you seek to question exponentially, to make assumptions, to manipulate public opinion and to mislead. Misleading Dominicans on local talk radio programs and at local press conferences is one thing, doing it on an international stage to the detriment of your country’s image is another. And that is how this conversation began.
To illustrate:
LENNOX: “You are the Head of Roosevelt Skerrit’s strategy committee for the assassination of the character of Lennox Linton”.
FACT: LOL Lennox. Not aware of such a committee and obviously not part of it. FYI, I have not met with or had a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister in about 7 months. My perceived access to him is highly overrated.
LENNOX: In the CBI program as is the case in the mail order business, there is no face to face contact between buyer and seller in the exchange of goods and/or services for money…. there are similarities between buying a Dominican passport and buying a pair of shoes on Amazon.com.”
FACT #1: Mail order is the buying of goods or services by mail delivery. The buyer places an order for the desired products with the merchant through some remote method such as through a telephone call or web site. Then, the products are delivered to the customer. Acquiring Citizenship to Dominica is nothing like mail order. Amazon.com or any mail order company does not conduct an extensive due diligence on the buyer before agreeing to sell. Such due diligences are thorough and pick up every material detail on the applicant’s past. The requirement for a “ face to face” interview was removed to remain competitive in the market place as other jurisdictions first abolished this and can only be justified on the merits of the integrity and robustness of the due diligence process. The steps in the process are available on line: http://cbiu.gov.dm/citizenship/how-to-apply/ To suggest the two processes are similar is intentionally misleading and damages the destination and its CBI program.
FACT #2: CBS 60 Minutes reported that the Prime Minister of Antigua stated that applicants are now screened by American intelligence and law enforcement agencies, and generally speaking due diligence in the Caribbean has improved substantially. The report continued “The small island offices with a few people are now backed up by international firms that take the screening to a higher level”. You deliberately chose to ignore the significant improvement on due diligence processing in Dominica and throughout the region, but instead chose to portray it all as “mail order”.
LENNOX: I did not merely suggest that we are selling passports to criminals. I stated as truth and fact that “We had a diplomatic passport in the hands of Francesco Corallo, who, at the time, was on INTERPOL’s list of most-wanted criminals”. (In the same context as Corallo, Lennox claimed that Rudolph King, a Bahamian fugitive from U.S. justice, held a Dominican passport and was Dominica’s ambassador to Bahrain.)
FACT: There is no question that Dominica has made serious errors of judgement in the issuing of some Diplomatic passports. I agree that it must be dealt with decisively. BUT there is absolutely no evidence that the public is aware of that “we are selling passports to criminals” and that these diplomatic passports are being sold for cash under the table. The Government has also stated categorically and repeatedly that Rudolph King was never appointed ambassador to Bahrain and has never held a Dominica passport. This was the most damaging aspect of your presentation on 60 minutes and you have provided absolutely no proof of these assertions. It is telling that you would discuss the details of diplomatic passports on a 60 minutes program focussed on CBI knowing full well that one has nothing to do with the other. Your intent to further your agenda at the expense of the country’s reputation for political gain is clear.
LENNOX: Since Roosevelt Skerrit became Prime Minister in 2004, Dominica Diplomatic passports have been traded under the table to scoundrels, fugitives, tax cheats, fraudsters, money launderers and racketeers.
FACT: Again, there is no evidence of “under the table trading”. That is your speculation. What is beyond speculation however, and the best example I have researched of selling passports to criminals under the citizenship program, and delivering a passport by mail and receiving money for so doing was before Roosevelt Skerrit came to office. Will you care to educate me and the public Lennox on the case of international fugitive Christopher Skase?
LENNOX: Under that criminal enterprise, the Citizenship By Investment Program has been mismanaged and corrupted to become primarily a source of funding for Labour Party theft of elections and wealth creation for a chosen few….
FACT: There is no evidence that the public is aware of to suggest misuse of funds under CBI. From everything I have seen and read and understand of the program, I have no reason to suspect misuse of funds. It in fact appears to be a very well managed program. I suggest you refer to Pages 32 – 37 of the last budget which goes into great details about inflows and outflows from the program:
http://finance.gov.dm/index.php/budget/budget-addresses/file/24-budget-address-2016-2017-building-a-more-resilient-dominica It shows on page 34 the balance of funds held at NBD and RBC. The details of expenditure are shown on Page 35 and 36 – $8.7m to NEP, $14m to Infrastructure works at Douglas Charles, etc., its all there. If you have evidence of misuse of CBI funds, please produce it. By making such an allegation you are accusing senior public servants in the ministry of finance of collaborating with the politicians to siphon off / steal pubic funds. Is this what you are suggesting?
LENNOX: ….have exposed the extent to which, in protection of your tourism profits and windfall passport money……
FACT: I have not received $1 of “windfall passport money” as you put it. While I am seeking approval for my development under CBI, the development is not CBI-dependant and it is not at this time operating under CBI as approval to date has not been granted. And yes, I am a businessman and hotelier and I will always act to protect my business and the industry at large.
LENNOX: Like you “I would never deliberately go onto a world stage and air what I consider to be my perception of our nation’s dirty laundry”. And to be clear, I did no such thing on 60 Minutes.
FACT: You clearly did such a thing by likening our CBI application process to mail order, by discussing in detail the topic of diplomatic passports, and by stating as fact that diplomatic passports are sold for cash.
I would suggest a return to investigative journalism, but even in that field, your obsession with assumptions over fact led you to the wrong side of a privy council judgement. I thought you would have learnt from that. Instead, you willingly engage in the same recklessness but this time on an international stage to the detriment of our country.
You are right, Lennox, my head may well be buried in the sand, but I prefer to err on the side of naiveté rather than err on the side of assumptions, speculation and innuendo. We may all have concerns about CBI but is it correct to state assumptions as facts to justify those concerns?
I believe that all citizens including myself want a strong democracy, good governance, full accountability, transparency AND an effective opposition – so that the country progresses to the benefit of all Dominicans. Peddling assumptions as fact greatly undermines all of this. That said, our Government should have been – and needs to be – far more proactive in public outreach and education on a topic as sensitive and controversial as CBI.
Like my position on Salisbury, my position on your appearance on 60 minutes is not personal or political. It is born out of conviction.
In my opinion, your appearance on 60 minutes was opportunistic and born out of personal and political ambition which was very unfortunately to the detriment of Dominica. Your negative spin was neither necessary nor truthful.
Finally, I would be happy to engage you in another game of scrabble on a morning talk show where we can review these points and confirm what is assumption and what is fact.
And I wish you and your family the very best of everything – health, happiness and prosperity – in 2017.
Nonesense to Linton and his followers
Dear Gregor,
You remind me of something the Great Emile George QC once said to me. If you are in a china shop and a wild bull charges in, you must have the courage to wrestle it l to the ground before death or destruction occurs. I thank you for your courage in speaking out because unless more of us follow your example and grapple with this wild bull rampaging through our country , our country and its people will pay a very heavy price.
Tony.
I am now absolutely convinced that Lennox Linton is a maniacal, delusional, egocentric fool, who stubbornly exists in an alternate universe where he alone is king and whatever he says, no matter how far-fetched, hurtful, destructive or untrue must be accepted. Just see how he ravaged Sam Raphael and Gregor Nassief. He continues to believe that he can bully his way through life and sadly has taken many ignorant, susceptible followers along for the ride. Like Jim Jones its so sad that so many whether mentally, emotionally, economically or otherwise perish in this madman’s wake.
Mr Nassief,
You need to refocus and stop the senseless ‘paper’ assault on Hon Lennox Linton. You are a person I respect and a person who possess a highly developed intellect. I am saying so because in being a student of Dominica’s Constitution, Politics and Governance, I’m learning that Politics is everywhere in Dominican lives and for the wrong reasons – similarly Governance.
When you and Labour Party associates level criticism at Hon Lennox Linton on grounds of erring on the side of assumptions, speculation and innuendo – then even if it’s true, who really to blame? I am asking myself the question – why the disrespect of a Member of Parliament? Why the disrespect of the Leader of the Opposition Party? Why the disrespect of the Parliamentary Representative for Marigot and Concord constituency?
In a democracy, the Ruling Party must NOT deny the Opposition Party the right to fair play by denying it almost every privilege afforded to it by the Constitution. Simple privileges, as disclosure of facts and figures to allow it to make informed decisions. The UWP are always spoken and written about in an abusively disparaging manner in Parliament, National Radio Station, Press, Media and Labour Party Comms medium. The vile things said by the ruling Labour Party and supporters about Hon Lennox Linton, Dr Thompson Fontaine and members and supporters of the United Workers Party is beyond human comprehension.
Having said that, I really would love to have seen you sent an open letter to the PM, educating him on some of the fundamentals of being a PM:
1. The benefit of delegating responsibility;
2. Valuing strong working relationships with ALL stakeholders outside government;
3. Reaching out to ALL citizens to engage and inspire them;
4. Commitment to strengthening our democratic institutions;
5. The list goes on and on.
The PM sought to turn a new leaf on the matters you raised following the ravages of Erika. Remember the Parliamentary Oversight committee tthat was intended to advise and guide the rebuilding efforts. remember how Mr. Linton was criticized by his own party for accepting the PM’s invitation? Remember Mr. Linton said one thing in the government’s Conference Room and something totally and completely different on Q95.
There is nothing wrong with sharing information. Good information. It must be of concerned tot he holder of information though, that the information given has to be used for the stated intention given. To inform and advise and not to spin for partisan interests. Give the FACTS as they are. Assumptions,innuendos and perceptions cannot form the basis of destroying what is for Dominica a truly beneficial economic development tool. That is the difference here Sir
Hello GOOD LUCK. Mr. Nassief is talking about the CBI. Stop being a Linton promoter because dis man is routed to the core in his lies deception and spin propoganda and it is facts. And we Dominicans don’t want to hear him honestly. Now Mr. Nassief produce (FACTS AND HE SENT YOU AND LENNOX WHERE HE CAN GET THE FACTS. Ask Lennox where can we get HIS FACTS to backup his accusations. Dats Wat We are interested in. Don’t just say things and not providing evidence to back up his statements. SO STOP TRYING TO PROMOTE LINTON TO US BECAUSE HE IS ALREADY GARTAY. HE IN MY VIEW IS IN SAME BRACKET WITH PATRICK JONH POLITICALLY. We need to fine the evidence the FACTS OF HIS ACCUSATION MR. NASSIEF DID. Dats wat we want. And also you talking of respect for opposition an member of paliament for marigot? Who is that person? Is this the same man who called the PRESIDENT OF DOMINICA Dr. Liverpool a BLACK UGLY COONOOMOONOO FROM GRANDBAY? Is this the same man who call The PRIME MINISTER OF DOMINICA A DONKEY? Is dis the same man dat calm the speaker of the house of asselmbly a bitch? Is this the same man who called H.E Lorien Banise a prostitute? Is dis the same man who called our young girls of this country prostitutes? And calling ministers of Government rapist? Is this the same man who LIED ON KPB ACCOUNTANT PINARD BERN AND PAID hundreds of thousand dollars to him and still have almost half a million dollars to come from the Privey Council to pay for his lies? U want me to continue with more FACTS? Can you dispute the facts I have just presented? So wen you talking about respect For your information respect is earned not demanded. Dat is y Majority of Dominicans have ABSOLUTLY NO RESPECT FOR LENNOX LINTON MEMBER OF PALIAMENT FOR MARIGOT UNFORTUNATLY AND DOMINICAN LEADER OF OPPOSITION. So next time u msg come with facts not aligations misleading statements and calculated misrepresentation like Lennox is doing and have been doing for years. He have much more money to pay for his lying tongue. Mark my words.
Get lost Gregor!
Lenox Linton short political career cost DLP 3 seats in the last general election. All of DLP money and influence was put to shame!
17000 of us voters made that statement through De UWP leader Lennoxx Linton .
We walking with him. Step by step!
2 years before the next election lennoxx face across the globe…..every body that matters has seen and heard him. DLP dog like date…..Skerrit vex!
1 interview and Skerrit crying!
Skerrit refuse to make De international world see him defending De government!
You dog see blows De opposition does get in parliament to speak it’s position?
Now you want De opposition to defend De government position?
Lennoxx gets disrespected by Skerrit at every opportunity. …..De amounts of name calling
CBS is nor Kairi or DBS. ……you can’t just walk in and start cursing lennoxx on air.
Apex capital is not the CBI unit headed by Emmanuel Nanthan.
Unless De government accept responsibility and make amends. ……by budget I want to hear more lies!
Blame De state of De economy on lennoxx.
Please Mr. Linton, we love you, let the likes of Tony and Gregor remain in the cesspool of nasty politics, that is not where you belong. You belong in the hearts and minds of intelligent Dominicans.
Yes BogRoy, for once I agree with you! Linton stands a better chance of winning the hearts and minds of Dominicans if he shuts up and stops making a fool of himself.
Mr. Linton is the only one to see good in what he did. Unfortunately, he has a band of followers who have one thing in common. That is to get rid of Roosevelt Skerrit no matter what the cost. Burn the house to kill the rat.
In Nassief’s first open letter he outlined the many ways that Lennox Linton did damage to the country. Lennox cannot survive that except to write a damning response of himself. Followers of local politics and the UWP’s involvement in the Private Sector will understand that Lennox is taking heat now for one reason and one reason only. It is not to a nationalistic interest. he is taking heat to prove to his “family” in Europe (remember the ones who funded the last campaign) that he has their interest and so they will provide funds for the next campaign. Should the DLP lose the next elections, then the UWP would be in position to give the exclusive license tot he “family” to promote the economic citizenship program. Its a massive strategy that they hope will pay off. Their minds are set on nothing but to get into government.
Well said! Cheerleaders like Dissident, BogoRoy Williams and Jonathan St Jean only embolden Linton to continue embarrassing himself – and unfortunately all other Dominicans!