Corruption can be found to varying degrees in many countries throughout the world. However, Dominica is unique. Dominica is probably the only country in the world where the party in power has tried to legitimize bribery, treating and cheating in elections in order to ensure they continue to win election. This was previously vigorously challenged by the Opposition Parties and the Public culminating in street demonstrations 8 yrs year ago which forced the DLP to shelve these evil ideas. Unfortunately, DLP had not given up and remains determined to entrench corrupt electoral practices into Dominica election laws. The sole purpose of this DLP pursuit is to ensure the Party maintains political power far into the future and to insulate current party leaders and their staunchest supporters from prosecution.
Over the past 25 years, the DLP has cultivated and fostered distinctive features that contribute to the unique corruption landscape in Dominican politics. Here are some features associated with DLP corruption model:
1. High levels of bribery: Bribery has become deeply
ingrained in everyday life and is considered a normal way to navigate
bureaucratic processes or access basic services. Dominica Labor Party has taken this practice to the "Next Level" - the prime minister's words.
2. Cronyism and nepotism: The DLP has developed and consolidated a pervasive
culture of favoritism, where personal relationships and family
connections play a significant role in securing positions, contracts, or
other benefits. For example, one Company, MMCE, which is closely tied to the Prime Minister has secured 'no-bid' contract to build housing, health centers, hospital and now the Multi-billion dollar International airport in Dominica. The Prime Minister and his wife live off the state; the are among a group of recent multi-millionaires in Dominica whose sole public income is government salaries. However, the non-public, non-report larger component derive from CBI diversion. The Minister of National security has amassed houses and property out of proportion to his income. Members of the DLP legal protectorate class are all multi-millionaires in this Eastern Caribbean island with the smallest economy in the EC group.
3. Lack of transparency and accountability: Dominica lacks transparency in government operations,
public spending, and decision-making processes. This absence of
accountability allows corruption to thrive without consequence.
4. Weak rule of law: The legal system in Dominica has been weakened and compromised. Hence, it has become easier for corruption to go unpunished. Strained judicial independence, inadequate law enforcement, or ineffective
anti-corruption measures contribute to this problem. The office of Director of Public Prosecution bungles cases involving DLP, its supporters and sympathizers. Simultaneously, made-up 'cases' against opposition parties (under heading of 'incitement') are dragged on for years (5-10 years) at tremendous costs to the Public and with no end in sight.
5. Capture of state institutions: Corruption has become so deeply
entrenched in Dominica because the state institutions, such as the police, judiciary and regulatory bodies, are subject to political interference or manipulation
by the corrupt DLP administration. The Integrity in Public Office (IPO) Commission is supposed to assist with personal accountability and justification for Public official assets relative to income; that entity has been politicized and is essential a useless functionary of the DLP Administration. In addition, the Dominica Police force only has voice and strength against the opposition parties. their members and supporters. The Police force has been cowed into bowing to the DLP. All they do is issue threats of severe consequences to the Public (including shooting and killing protestors) whenever it is felts that DLP power is threatened.
6. Limited media freedom and civil society participation: Countries with restricted media freedom and limited civil society involvement often face challenges in exposing and addressing corruption. Independent media and active civil society organizations play crucial roles in holding governments accountable.
7. International enablers: Public corruption has been facilitated by international actors, including countries like UAE, China, Nigeria and Russia which has acted 'dumb' in the face of increasing suffering of Dominicans on island. Furthermore a labyrinth of money laundering networks has been establish to pilfer the financial resources derived from the island's Citizen by Investment program (CBI). These entities exploit weak regulations to facilitate collusion with corrupt officials in the DLP Administration, Citizenship Peddlers and the Lawyers who protect and defend their corrupt activities.
The link between elections, public corruption and international criminality is not unique to Dominica. However, with each year that DLP has remained in power, they have been able to develop new strategies to evade accountability. Now that a determined Public is catching up with their shenanigans, they are once more trying to enshrine corruption into the fabric of life in Dominica. With the recent passage of 'Modernized Electoral Legislation' on March 19, 2025, the DLP administration aims to normalize corruption in the electoral process and ensure DLP will remain in power ad infinitum.......... Only persistent protest and resistance from the Dominican Public may change their mind.........
