Lennox Linton Blows Hot Over Potential Govt Indictment in Money Laundering Case

Barbara 6th April, 2021

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Opposition Leader Lennox Linton is currently blowing hot over the possibility that the DLP government might be indicted in a case of money laundering. Linton questioned the claims of National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore that the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) is capable of handling any financial corruption cases in Dominica.

Given the call of UWP President Isaac Baptiste urging Acting Police Chief Lincoln Corbette to invite external investigators to conduct an inquiry into the reported money laundering, Treasury theft, and work permit frauds, Linton said the DLP administration would be demonstrating transparency and good faith if external investigators are called in. He added that the government could even be indicted in the cases since more cans of worms might be opened to indict the Skerrit-led administration.

While Blackmoore has assured the country that the FIU will get to the bottom of the matter, Linton said this could not be true since the 2013 case in which late Glenworth O.N. Emmanuel reported a money laundering activity which exceeded EC$2.6 million to the FIU against Attorney Stephen Isidore was never resolved and no one was prosecuted.

Linton also referenced a 2008 IPO event in which Attorney Anthony Astaphan reportedly managed housing construction transactions for PM Roosevelt Skerrit with lots of potential frauds. And then he mentioned a situation where Skerrit allegedly wrote cheques for an individual named Alexis for construction of villas in the country. Although Alexis reportedly claimed the villas belonged to him, Linton questioned how it is posssible for Alexis to be paid by the Skerrit-led government to construct his own houses.

According to the opposition leader and Marigot MP, the FIU has not demonstrated absolute independence in working for the nation since the DLP government came to power 15 years ago. Linton said the government must show accountability in prosecuting its own unless the government has something unsavoury to hide.