August 30, 2022
Roosevelt Skerrit
The Honourable Prime Minister
Financial Center
Kennedy Avenue
Roseau
Commonwealth of Dominica
Dear Honourable Prime Minister,
I write to you concerning the false and defamatory statements which you and other officials of the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica have made concerning me, including, but not limited to:
1. Your statement delivered in Roseau, Dominica, on 18 March 2022, in your capacity as Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica (enclosed);
2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business and Diaspora Relations Memorandum Ref: 202/01/3-725 dated 18 March 2022 (enclosed); and
3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business and Diaspora Relations Note Verbale Ref: 09/01-757 dated 21 March 2022 (enclosed)
The above statements were published in the media and/or widely distributed. Furthermore, the aforementioned Ministry instructed its Embassies and Missions to transmit your statement of 18 March 2022 to accredited Embassies and Missions, including to the 195 Member States of the United Nations. Such statements and actions were made with the intention of portraying me as dishonest, incompetent, untrustworthy, and a person unfit to hold the position of Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Commonwealth of Dominica to the United Nations.
As intimated above, the contents of said statements are both untrue and malicious. Specifically, I received written instructions to sign the Communique establishing diplomatic relations with the Arab Republic of Syria. See 4 January 2021 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business and Diaspora Relations Memorandum Ref:221/08-10; 17 March 2021 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business and Diaspora Relations Memorandum Ref: 202/01/3-504; 8 September 2021 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business and Diaspora Relations Memorandum Ref:221/08-1647. Moreover, I did so following the established practice, including on over ten occasions with other States prior to the signing at issue.
As you know by letter dated July 25th, 2016 the Permanent Secretary (Ag.) of Foreign Affairs Sylvanie Burton (Mrs), the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica appointed me Ambassador Extraordinary/ Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative of the Commonwealth on contract effective 1st August 2016.
As a consequence of that assignment as Ambassador Extraordinary / Plenipotentiary, I was vested with full powers to act at all times on behalf of the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica. Those powers afforded to be were vested by the very nature of the universally accepted legal implications of an Ambassador Extraordinary /Plenipotentiary.
It should not be forgotten that Dominica Labour Party was not able to form the Government following the 2000 General Elections because although I was elected as a United Workers Party candidate I “crossed the floor” thereby enabling the Dominica Labour Party and others to form the Government and relegate the United Workers Party to opposition.
Honourable Prime Minister, although I have never spoken since the events which led to your address to the Nation, I must inform you of the pain and hurt which I have been enduring since your address.
The events which led to my attendance to you in Dominica were unknown to me yet seemingly known to many others.
On Sunday, March 13th, 2022, Kelver Darroux Deputy Ambassador traveled to Dominica from New York unknown to me.
On the evening of March 14th, 2022, Minister Kenneth Darroux sent a wats app message to inform you that you wanted an in-person meeting with me. However, I was unaware of the number from whom that message came and as such, I did not respond.
On Tuesday 15th March 2022, Kelver Darroux sent a wats app message to me informing me that Minister Kenneth Darroux had sent me a message and I did not respond. It was that latter message which made me realize the author of the message on March 13th, 2022 was Minister Kenn
I was unaware up until then that you requested to meet with me as such, I messaged you to verify the information. I could not understand why you did not liaise with me directly when we shared an extremely good friendship.
When you responded to me on March 15th, 2022. I then recognized that you sought to meet with me and I immediately made arrangements to travel to Dominica. I, therefore, thought the meeting was as per your text that we needed to strategize.
The meeting held with Cabinet on March 17th, 2022 was shocking and deeply disturbing. I was treated like a common criminal, although I followed procedures and I had done nothing wrong. In fact, I agreed to tender my resignation because of the manner in which I was treated and it was clear to me that there was a plan to hold me responsible for establishing diplomatic relations between the Commonwealth of Dominica and the Arab Republic of Syria.
As you know the relations were established through the Embassy in Cuba and I followed protocol in establishing the relations as the Syrian Mission was located in New York. I messaged you to inform of my intention and acted in accordance with our normal practice.
I did not even know that you were accepting my resignation as the text message which I received from your Permanent Secretary at 12:20 p.m. after the meeting with the cabinet was that the letter of resignation was only with you and that I should not tell anyone not even my family. I was not even aware that you would have spoken of this letter in your address to the nation.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Barbara Dailey issued a memorandum to all Embassies regarding me and therein imputed that I had done something untoward and sought to tarnish my name amongst my fellow Ambassadors.
You are well aware that the relationship between me and the Permanent Secretary has been strained for quite some time. As you know this Permanent Secretary refused to grant me access to the bank accounts of the Mission in New York. The result was that I was forced to open another bank account to conduct the financial transactions of the Mission. Moreover, during my tenure, Ms Dailey refused to regularize my monthly emoluments and I was frequently paid late and sometimes deliberately I must say.
I have been treated with such scant regard that even my gratuity payment is not being honoured despite my many requests for the same. I cannot understand the treatment which I am receiving from a government which I served with my heart and soul.
Honourable Prime Minister, it is not my intention to cause any discord within your government but at the same time, it is my duty to protect my good name.
In this regard, the Government of Dominica is hereby requested to issue a clear and unqualified apology and retraction of the above-listed (i) 18 March 2022 statement, (ii) 18 March 2022 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business and Diaspora Relations Memorandum Ref:202/01/3-725 and (iii) 21 March 2022 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business and Diaspora Relations Note Verbale Ref:09/01-757, to be copied to the local press and sent to all Embassies and Missions of the Commonwealth of Dominica for onward transmission to all accredited Embassies and Missions. Moreover, in light of my former position as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Commonwealth of Dominica, the gravity of the allegations made, and the widespread publication, I further demand commensurate compensation for the significant damage to, inter alia, my reputation, and employability.
I look forward to your prompt attention and urgent action and would request that you respond to my said letter within the next two weeks.
Should I not hear from you within such time I will be forced with a heavy heart to seek alternative redress in Court.
I remain willing to discuss this matter with a view to an amicable resolution.
Sincerely,
………………………………
LOREEN BANNIS ROBERTS
cc. Gina Dyer Munro
Find attached Skerrit’s response to Loreen Bannis-Roberts
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de majority of us know skerritt lie on you to cover his butt.
de ting is all you sit and watch skerritt do de same to other people and kept your mouths shut!
You should take him to court…..that’s good publicity for de next election.
when one sells his soul he leads himself to self destruction…..period.
did you sell your soul?
take him down with you!!!!
Totally agree with you “dissident