OFFICIAL STATEMENT
Community of Dominican Leaders on the
Island of Antigua and Barbuda
CODOAB (Dominican Community in Antigua and Barbuda) addresses public opinion on behalf of the slate of the Community of Dominican Leaders on the Island of Antigua and Barbuda, with the purpose of establishing a clear, responsible, and transparent position regarding recent events that directly affect our community.
Through this official statement, we wish to publicly express our concern, rejection, and formal denial regarding the call for a supposed “community election” that is being promoted unilaterally, irregularly, and without legitimacy by a person who neither represents nor has the support of the organized Dominican community in Antigua and Barbuda.
This activity has been organized independently, including the hiring of a lawyer and a police officer—individuals whom he himself has designated to swear him in as president—who have no connection whatsoever with the Dominican Republic or with the official institutions that represent our community abroad. He personally selected the judges for said election. It is important to clearly state that the Consulate General of the Dominican Republic on the island of Antigua and Barbuda has not been notified nor has it granted any authorization, nor has the Dominican Embassy or any other official entity representing our community. Likewise, the governmental offices of Antigua and Barbuda are also unaware of these elections, since any activity of a community or representative nature of a foreign country must have proper validation from the corresponding authorities, both from the country of origin and the host country.
Consequently, any electoral process promoted under these conditions is entirely devoid of legal, institutional, and community validity.
This committee, on behalf of the Dominican community on the island of Antigua and Barbuda, categorically denies the existence of such elections and declares that it does not support or recognize them, as they do not comply with the regulations, rules, and legal frameworks established by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda or by the Dominican Republic. The only legitimate path for any community election process must be carried out in accordance with current laws and through a process that is previously agreed upon, organized, and approved by the corresponding authorities.
We issue a clear and responsible call to the entire Dominican community residing in Antigua and Barbuda not to participate in this activity, as it has no legal or representative validity, and participation could lead to confusion or manipulation.
It is even more concerning that the person promoting this process has engaged in practices of intimidation and psychological pressure, publicly stating that those who attend but do not support him at the event scheduled for January 11 at the Multipurpose Cultural and Exhibition Centre could be arrested, falsely alleging that there will be police presence and authorities to detain those who do not support him. These statements are serious, irresponsible, and false, and are intended to instill fear, coercion, and psychological pressure on Dominican citizens, violating their peace of mind, dignity, and right to decide freely. He has stated this publicly on social media platforms, such as Facebook Live.
These actions are part of a strategy of manipulation, misinformation, and confusion, disseminated through social media and other channels, with the aim of dividing the Dominican community and also creating uncertainty within the Antiguan community.
Additionally, we denounce that numerous individuals were induced to take photographs and sign documents under false pretenses, being told that such signatures were necessary to receive hams during the month of December. These signatures were later improperly used to claim alleged political or community support.
It should be recalled that this same individual attempted last year—an effort that was a complete failure—to divide a historic celebration of Dominican Independence on the island of Antigua and Barbuda, an event that has been continuously organized, coordinated, and recognized since 2003–2004, generating confusion and unnecessary tensions within our community at that time. Unfortunately, the same pattern is now being repeated, with even more delicate consequences.
We firmly reiterate that this person has self-proclaimed himself president of the Dominican community, without having been elected through a democratic, transparent, participatory, and legitimate process. The Dominican community in Antigua and Barbuda does not recognize or accept him as its representative.
From our organization, we reaffirm that the only legitimate way to elect community representatives is through an open general assembly, with the participation of all Dominicans residing in Antigua and Barbuda, in a transparent, inclusive process duly supervised, with the presence of the competent authorities, namely those of the Dominican Republic and Antigua and Barbuda. The repeated refusal to convene a general assembly clearly demonstrates the lack of real and majority support.
For all the foregoing reasons, we make a respectful but firm call to the competent authorities to take the necessary measures and put a stop to these types of practices, which only seek to manipulate, divide, intimidate, and deceive both the Dominican community and the Antiguan community.
Our community deserves order, respect, unity, and legitimate representation, based on truth, transparency, legality, and the common good.
This person who has self-proclaimed himself leader of the Dominican community in Antigua and Barbuda does so because he fears holding a meeting with the entire community. As he claims that the community supports him, there would be no problem for him to win. For this reason, he is manipulating these elections that have no validity, because he knows that the community neither wants him nor supports him. His objective is to show the Antiguan community that he is a leader, when the community has neither accepted nor wants him as such.
Sincerely,
Manuel Melenciano Herrera
On behalf of the
Slate of the Community of Dominican Leaders
on the Island of Antigua and Barbuda
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The Hon. PM of this lovely country should tell them people that they have an Embassy and Consulate to represent them. What else they want. The PM is busy with our international relations issues to be dealing with this stupidness. Integration not segregation. Meaning I am for immigrants being here of course, but them people clearly want some sort of control over us, since they have being running in this country with immunity for votes and with them front businesses. Up to now the poor little girl death has not been resolved. I am not for kicking any of them out, they are hard working people many of them, but this stupidness needs to be stopped. They have an Embassy and Consulate what else they want. Every person who post on this blog should protest this is pure nonsense.
Trouble makers should be kicked out.
The only institution that can represent the interest of a diaspora of any country, is trough an Embassy/Consulate. Any other form of institution is completely unlawful and isn’t acceptable.
If they create a NGO there is rules to register an NGO. But this is a total b..t.
I don’t even understand why the Embassy of Dominican Republic doesn’t make a statement to the Government of Antigua about this topic. Because this is a serious matter over here.
How this organization is register in Antigua? How they give accountability against the IRD and Government of Antigua about the funds they collect to do activities? These can be a back door for a huge money laundry scheme, because they have Treasury officials and I read some names that are well known connected providers of Cleaning services to the government of Antigua and Barbuda. So the actual government have contracts with members of this board.
What is going to be next? A coup to the government of Antigua and claim a seat in parliament?
This is going out of hands over here, this is more serious than Antiguans believe. Is going to be like Somalies in USA.
Ron saunders ask Gaston to ponder to these outsiders that fatten up with amnesty making them citizens like upp also make citizens by millennials act.
The real Antiguan must feel left out and seek the ALP validation.
But that not going happen because we are getting nationalistic.
Give them a line and they want an inch: Give them a foot, and they will want a yard.ect, ect. That is the imbued mindsets of the Dominican 🇩🇴 Hispanic people. Every where they venture they want to stake-out enclaves. They are never satisfied with assimilation or integration. And are most prone to draw attention to themselves; as if they think that they are a special breed of Mistesos: deservant of special acclaim, and tolerance for their loud obnoxious, common behavior. Antigua 🇦🇬 can be considered as the Mecca of the Caribbean Archipelago. I mean, there is someone here form any other place in the Caribbean. But can you say the same, as pertaining to Santo Domingo?! They don’t even want to share the Island of Hispaniola, with the Haitians of their common experiences of European’s exploration. So vain, and racist is the content of their continence and, intolerance for any other except for their perchance for cow-towing for the
preference of being Caucasian; as if they are never contented with the skin they are in. Now, here they are as new economic migrant comers to Antigua 🇦🇬, and deem themselves more preferable, than any of the other economic migrant who have emigrated here. None of whom are so audacious; such as to wanting special ethnic and, political accommodation. None! except them: could be so vain, and obtuse. Yet, I am inclined to be generous and invite them to return-from whence they’d had come. What! If they don’t like it here, dont stay. Because the last time I’d have checked. It is the Antiguan 🇦🇬 Barbudans sovereignty that we honor here, and none other. Plus, to add insult to injury: it is not that their presence here, enhances the tapestry of the Antiguan/ Barbudan fabric. Rather not! With the ghetto style of living they are contented to dwell in while here; and expatriate the financial gains accumulated here; back to Santo Domingo, to enhance the squalor they had left there. Please give me a few more “Santana” entrepreneurs without the Santarea practices. And in might be inclined to differ. But until then. To whom this might concern. If you don’t like it here. Just go back from whence you’d come, Jack. A who forced you to come!? Twasn’t Me. She, or He. Nor, Even “Grabbing G.B”. I Am A Proud Patriotic Nationalist. Because, Me Born Yah! So-So. Ya Still Wanna Take My Place. But Not Share Your’s?
DR not D’ca
In rhis group,just one is a serious persone. In many of them,the tail of the devil is more short than they have…comunity leaders? Who selected ?
So who elected this slate of leaders?
When will immigration start to return the same treatment that they are giving the Haitians?
Sky High should leave Antigua full with DR drportees
ABLP thrives on chaos.
The Alpha Nero; Bronco vehicle scandal, WIOC tie up with Venezuela, Visa bonds: and the list goes on.
The US loves to snatch spouses. El Chapo, Maduro and others. Hope Trixy is ready.
Looks like I need to start a crisis management business.
This is a Dominican Republic Council over here? They don’t have an Embassy here?
No man, in no way we can tolerate this. this is a form of State of a group of foreigners inside Antigua. This group is for the only interest of a diaspora. This is not integration, this is a segregation and creating in the background a structure that is pretty clearly is to have power in some group on the Island. This structure is same like Barbuda Council. Same.
The sovereignty on Antigua is now being challenge, there are not a few of Dominican Republic over here, in fact there is more Dominican Republic citizens than Barbudans. They can easily do a Coup and create a Separate state with their nationals.
This should be stopped and the only institution to represent the interest of national of different countries is through Embassies or Consulate representatives.
@Smith. Take your medication you delusional lunatic.
Antigua needs a total reset, where we welcome people to our country, but they cannot take over and out number us in our own country, that would be absurd. If we do not get rid of Gaston and his gang that is exactly where we are headed if we are not already there
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