A growing political dispute centered on governance transparency, electoral reform, and the management of Dominica’s lucrative Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program has intensified this week, after two major domestic organizations threw their weight behind prominent local businessman Gregor Nassief and condemned actions by the administration of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.
The conflict dates back eight months, when Nassief began publicly and privately pressing for answers around the country’s voter confirmation process, submitting formal proposals for improvement directly to the Electoral Commission. His scrutiny extends further: correspondence shared with the Electoral Reform Coalition (ERC) shows Nassief has raised serious, unresolved concerns about the administration of the CBI program with Prime Minister Skerrit dating as far back as 2019.
Tensions boiled over at an August 29 executive meeting of the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP), where Skerrit delivered what the ERC describes as a vulgar, insulting, and unprovoked verbal attack on Nassief, delivered without naming him directly. In an official September 2 statement, the coalition, which advocates for fair and transparent electoral processes in Dominica, announced its full solidarity with Nassief, saying the Prime Minister’s remarks are deeply alarming and entirely inappropriate for a sitting head of government.
Rather than engaging in personal attacks, the ERC argues, Skerrit should address the core substantive questions Nassief has raised about transparency and democratic accountability. The coalition also praised Nassief for his courage in speaking out on issues of public concern, noting that open debate is a cornerstone of healthy democratic governance.
Separately, the Dominica Business Forum (DBF) has sparked fresh controversy over allegations of state surveillance of a private gathering involving Nassief. On August 26, the DBF co-hosted an invitation-only closed meeting at Roseau’s Fort Young Hotel, bringing together a cross-section of Dominican society: local business owners, legal and medical professionals, construction contractors, sitting and retired political figures, former military and public service personnel, and ordinary engaged citizens. Attendees were told the off-the-record discussion would focus on new ideas and global best practices for key sectors of the Dominican economy, including tourism, the CBI program, and reforms to the national voter registration and confirmation process.
Meeting organizers explicitly promised all attendees that the gathering would remain private. But in an official letter signed by DBF President Daryl Bobb, the organization confirmed it has obtained concrete hard evidence that unidentified state operatives accessed the hotel property during the meeting and were actively recording the identities and actions of attendees.
The DBF said it regrets that the trust placed in it by participants was broken by the alleged surveillance, and reaffirmed its institutional mandate to facilitate open, inclusive national dialogue on critical issues “without fear or favor.” Nassief has confirmed he is currently seeking formal legal advice over the reported presence of state-funded security personnel at the private event.
The back-to-back developments are the latest escalation in a widening public confrontation between Nassief and Skerrit, as questions around electoral integrity and the governance of the CBI program continue to dominate public discourse in Dominica.