By Staff Writer
ROSEAU, Dominica, Jan 20, CMC – The Dominica government Tuesday described as “malicious and misleading“ reports circulating on social media that it is seeking to enter into an agreement with the United States regarding the release of an American national who is facing murder charges here.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business, Trade, and Energy said it wanted to “provide clarity to unfounded information being circulated on social media about a national of the United States of America who is currently on remand at the Dominica State Prison
“While the Ministry is not in the business of responding to hearsay and baseless statements, it is felt that these particular statements, which are maliciously being peddled by the opposition, should be addressed.”
In a video message posted on social media, former opposition leader, Hector John, said he had allowed the government to inform Dominicans on “the third ultimatum” given to Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit by the United States that he release into “the hands of the hands of US officials” the murder accused Jonathan Scott Lehrer.
Lehrer is one of two US nationals charged with the murder of the 2023 double murder of Echo Resort owner Daniel Langlois and his partner, Dominique Marchand.
Lehrer, 57, and 62-year-old Robert Snider Jr have been charged with the murders of animation pioneer and Canadian philanthropist Langlois and his 58-year-old longtime partner. They have been in remand awaiting trial.
Hector claimed in his social media post that Prime Minister Skerrit met with US officials on January 16 this year to “pave the way for Jonathan Lehrer to be handed over to US authorities.
“I am hoping that very soon the prime minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit, will inform Dominicans about the conditions for him to release Lehrer into the hands of US authorities,” said John, who served as opposition leader from 2010-2014.
But in its statement, the government stated that in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, the Embassy of the United States in Bridgetown requested and has been given permission to visit and/ or hold meetings with US nationals since November 2024.
“It is standard Consular Practice for Diplomatic Missions to extend consular assistance to their nationals who are detained overseas, including facilitating consular access and visits, subject to the relevant procedures of the receiving state. The request was made to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via Diplomatic Note, and confirmation was given by the Ministry of National Security, and a response was then returned to the U.S. Embassy.”
The government said that the last meeting between the two nationals and the Embassy was held on January 14, 2026, virtually, and that “another in-person meeting is scheduled for February 2026 at a date and time to be confirmed by the Ministry of National Security.
“The Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica remains committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, fairness, and respect in its treatment of all detainees, and has at all times facilitated Consular access for accredited representatives to their detained nationals consistent with established practice.
“To give the impression that this exercise is an attempt to reach an arrangement of some sort with the U.S. Government is malicious and misleading. The Ministry’s advice to the general public is to allow the justice system to take its course and refrain from making statements that could have adverse effects on the trial,” the ministry said.
CMC/cj/ir/2026.
No one should take seriously anything that comes from mista’s mouth; this much has been previously made pellucidly clear.