David Bruney, the lawyer indicted for his role in the alleged sales of diplomatic passports, has explained his role in the Aljazeera documentary video. Bruney said the MOU which he signed with opposition leader Lennox Linton has nothing to do with sales of diplomatic immunity, as alleged by the Aljazeera video, but with recovery of potential state assets scattered around the world.
The Aljazeera video documentary lasted 53 minutes. In the first 49 minutes, PM Roosevelt Skerrit decried the sale of diplomatic passports in return for campaign funding among corrupt politicians, and the last five minutes focused on the role of UWP’s Linton in the alleged deals. The video shows Bruney and former Prime Minister Oliver Seraphin negotiating a deal to obtain campaign funds on behalf of the UWP with the promise of an ambassadorship for the donor.
With Seraphin saying he has the power to negotiate the deal on behalf of the UWP; Bruney appears to endorse the capability of the former prime minister to act on behalf of Linton. The lawyer also demonstrated that Linton is comfortable with the deal being brokered for him.
“The opposition now really requires funding,” he said during the secret filming captured in the documentary. “Make no mistake; we are moving along but as in all things, financial contributions are required.”
In the video, Seraphin could be heard stating the urgency of the required funds and how they are to be shared. He provided two bank accounts where his own fees and that of Bruney could be sent. They seemed to make it clear to the frontman that Linton does not want to get directly involved in the deal.
However, Linton has condemned the video after it aired on TV, saying he has nothing to do with sales of diplomatic passports and that the MOU he had with Bruney is to recover state assets. Bruney in his reaction also supported what Linton said, adding he is only trying to put together a team of specialist lawyers with expertise in recovering Dominican assets and looted funds. Bruney said Seraphin only came into the picture because he was a client of his, and he knew a reputable lawyer in Panama who has the legal clout and worldwide contacts to recover state assets.
Bruney said they formalized an MOU to stipulate the qualifications of the ideal candidate for the task. He said for starters, the contract will last for two years after which it can be renewed based on the performance of the candidate and the economic benefits he accrue to Dominica. He insisted the MOU is not for any personal money to himself or to Linton, but relates to regulating any ambassadorial relationship.
He said part of the MOU reads thus:
“Critical to such appointment it is necessary and imperative that the said be of good and unblemished character as a potential appointee to the diplomatic corps of Dominica, and the essential requirement that such an appointee be capable of satisfying all aspects of a due diligence inquiry.”
According to Bruney, who would pay a million dollars for such a deal? “This is the document that would regulate any ambassadorial relationship,” he contended. “Would you pay a million dollars for this? First of all, you have to pass through due diligence. Secondly, the document doesn’t speak to any payment of money.”
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