The opposition apparatus in Dominica is accusing the Skerrit-led administration of using the proposed construction of an international airport as a ploy for money laundering. The opposition said the DLP government is trying the pocket the money of Dominicans using bogus contract awards. The opposition made this position known the day before the government signed the construction agreement with MMCE, the contract awardee.
During a “We the People” meeting attended by the DFP, CCM, NJAM, UWP, Moun Sewye, and the Builders and Contractors Association (BCAD) among others, the opposition made it clear that they are not particularly opposed to the international airport, but that they are against the lack of transparency regarding the entire affair.
The opposition accused the government of awarding the construction of the international airport to MMCE without any bids. They also opposed the fact that the government failed to present an Environmental Impact Study (EIA) to the public over the siting of the airport. And they reject the fact that the government is using CBI funds to pay MMCE an amount that is not publicized. They alleged that PM Roosevelt Skerrit is colluding with MMCE CEO Anthony Haiden to steal from Dominica.
Opposition leader Lennox Linton said he finds Skerrit’s assertion that Haiden will be funding the airport construction from his own pocket detestable. He said Haiden has no funds to finance the project in advance and that any such money belongs to Dominica and from the proceeds of the citizenship by investment programme.
According to the UWP leader, any money advanced by either Skerrit or Haiden towards the airport will be a case of money laundering and the proceeds of crime.
“One can argue that it is not theirs; they have stolen the money that belongs to us and now they will wash it by saying they loaned us money which we have to pay them back for the airport. The money is our money and we are not loaning it from anybody,” Linton contended.
He further argued that since the government has not approached a bank or a foreign nation for a loan, it is not possible that MMCE will provide a construction loan and still be the contractor for the airport project. He accused Skerrit of conspiring with Haiden to use the airport construction as a ploy to defraud Dominicans of millions of dollars.
This article is copyright © 2021 DOM767
