I am determined to be objective in this my response.
I fully appreciate Mr. Baron’s calls for a return to the days of Dame Eugenia Charles. Those were great days not just for Dominica but also for Mr. Frank Baron. Times have changed since then. This is a new Dominica.
I have no doubt Dame Eugenia would view his subjective attack on Roosevelt Skerrit with raised eyes more so as Mr. Baron seems to have forgotten the wanton allegations of corruption directed against both Dame Eugenia Charles and himself by the UWP and their acolytes in relation to the sale of Layou River Hotel to Grace Tung and David Hsiu. He appears also to have forgotten the wicked allegation of criminality directed against Dame Eugenia when Edison James, Ron Green and the UWP accused her of bugging the UWP’s Headquarters.
I raise these allegations because I recall Mr. Baron’s outrage when he was the victim of scurrilous and politically motivated attacks. However, it seems that today, at a much older age, it seems that allegations and not facts are important and that facts are now meaningless. I wonder why the sudden change?
The tragedy of Mr. Baron’s statement is that notwithstanding his assertion that he was once proud of Roosevelt Skerrit, and had a good relationship with him, he has relied on mere allegations from partisan quarters to condemn him without the courtesy of a phone call to Skerrit to ask even one question of him as to these allegations or benefit of the doubt. Accusations by ambush is expected from political agents of all political parties. But certainly not from persons who claim, it seems, the exclusive moral high ground in politics. I wonder why the ambush at this time?
The unfortunate and troubling aspect of Mr. Baron’s statement is that he relied exclusively on allegations advanced by the UWP and DFP without a shred of evidence to establish corruption on the part of Skerrit or show any acquisition of public funds by or diversion of public funds to Roosevelt Skerrit. Additionally, Mr. Baron has either not been told of or discarded the (i) the involvement of public officers in and bin transaction and repayment of 156.000 USD on the 4th September 2009; (ii) the Ministerial explanation on the fertilizer transaction; (iii) the hacking and cutting and pasting of emails and the Prime Minister’s categorical denial of ownership of any villas; (iv)the Prime Minister’s written response to the former Ambassador’s threat of blackmail and the Prime Minister’s steadfast determination to give evidence in the BVI 13 months later and the finding of the Judge that the Prime Minister was a witness of the truth, and (v) that under the IPO Code of Ethics the receipt of gifts without more are not illegal or corrupt. I wonder why these things were not brought to Mr. Baron’s attention or, why did he forget them?
Some how I get the distinct feeling that some one has convinced this retired politician (of I make and break the law fame) and successful businessman that the best way to judge Roosevelt Skerrit is by self serving allegations fostered by the likes of Gabriel Christian ( who just happens to be the disseminator) and others , and not by facts or the tremendous strides made by this country under the Dominica Labour Party. Red Plastic Bag sings, “Something is happening”. But in my view there is something very wrong happening here! At the same time, it is my true hope that this “wounded knight”, who once had tremendous respect for Roosevelt Skerrit, also has an enduring conscience.
Submitted respectfully and with blessings!
Anthony W Astaphan,S.C
