State Affairs

A major court victory for Dominica’s Government

By Dominica News ⋅ November 13, 2009 ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

Q95News - A British Virgin Island’s commercial court ruled yesterday that the Dominica Government’s disputed ownership of 51% of a company set up to develop a controversial hotel project is in fact legal. That issue was whether the Shangri-la International Development Holding Ltd was majority owned by the Government of Dominica or another company owned by a diplomat who had served as the island’s ambassador.

One of the key witnesses in the BVI case was Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit. Mr Skerrit’s Administration has been heavily criticized by political opponents over the matter. The lawsuit sought to rectify the shareholder register of Shangri-la to officially record the transfer of 51% of Shangri-la shares to the Dominica Government. Shangri-la International and various Governments had allowed the sale of Dominican passports under the island’s economic citizenship program to finance the yet to be fully developed Layou River Hotel property.

Attorney General Francine Baron-Royer said following yesterday’s court decision that the Government had now successfully established that in 2006 it acquired a 51% share holding in Shrangri-la International. However the ruling isn’t likely to stop the criticisms leveled at the Government on Dominican airwaves by political rivals and others who have been critical of the Skerrit administration’s involvement in the matter.

Tags: A major court victory for Dominica’s Government, Attorney general, British Virgin Island, Caribbean, Dominica, Dominica Government, International development, Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit