Q/ You said Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit knew of Mehul Choksi’s entry into Dominica.
A/ Dominican law enforcement authorities received Choksi at sea on May 24, 2021, from two persons who had allegedly kidnapped him. [The two had earlier been] denied entry into Dominica on April 12, on suspicion that they were involved in human smuggling. The alleged kidnappers were allowed to enter Dominica [on May 24], and the yacht and crew were allowed to leave on May 26, no questions asked. On May 25, the national security minister declared Choksi a “prohibited immigrant” who is “not permitted to enter Dominica and the chief of police has been instructed to take all necessary action” to have him “repatriated”. Persons alleged to be involved in the kidnap, torture and forceful transfer of Choksi to Dominica are known to the prime minister and members of his administration.
Q/ Do you think the Antiguan government knew of Choksi’s journey to Dominica?
A/ I do not know.
Q/ Choksi is a fugitive in India with an Interpol red corner notice issued against him. Should he not be deported soon?
A/ According to Interpol, a red corner notice is not an international arrest warrant. It is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. Choksi is a citizen by investment in Antigua and Barbuda, where legal action to have him extradited to India is already in progress. Let Choksi and all citizens of the world enjoy the protection, privileges and sanctions of the rule of law.
Q/ Were you in the courtroom in Dominica when Choksi was brought for the hearing?
A/ As a Dominican citizen, I was in open court on June 2, following the proceedings in the habeas corpus petition of Choksi.
Q/ There are allegations that the opposition in Dominica has been bribed to support Choksi.
A/ These allegations are totally unfounded and absolutely false.
Q/ Do you know Choksi’s brother Chetan? Has he contacted you?
A/ I do not know Chetan Choksi. I have never met [or] spoken to him.
Q/ What is the process of getting Dominican citizenship?
A/ To be eligible for citizenship under the 'citizenship by investment programme', interested persons must make either a contribution of $1,00,000 (around Rs73 lakh) into the Economic Diversification Fund (EDF) or an investment of $2,00,000 (around Rs1.46 crore) in designated real estate. The process involves an application to the Citizenship by Investment Unit. A letter of approval is given if due diligence confirms applicant to be a fit and proper person to hold Dominican citizenship. Then there is a payment of citizenship fees, followed by issue of certificate of naturalisation and a passport.
Q/ You said that “bandits” enter Dominica with the citizenship. Can you recount some such instances?
A/ I have said that rogues, bandits and vagabonds buy our citizenship and some of them are even given diplomatic passports (in violation of the UN Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations) to move seamlessly across international borders, committing crimes against humanity.
Alireza Monfared, the holder of a Dominican diplomatic passport, is serving a 20-year jail sentence in Tehran for embezzling more than $2 billion from the oil sales of Iran. Another case is of Ng Lap Seng of Macau, the holder of a Dominican diplomatic passport, who was jailed in the US in 2016 for bribing UN officials. Francesco Corallo, the holder of Dominican diplomatic passport, was extradited to Italy from St Maarten in 2017 to face charges of money laundering, tax fraud and bribery.
Q/ Can the Dominica court decide on Choksi's deportation?
A/ Choksi has been brought before the magistrate’s court on the charge of illegal entry. I do not know the extent of the court’s mandate in terms of what it can and cannot decide.
Q/ Do you think the Choksi episode will be a poll issue?
A/ Elections are constitutionally due in Dominica by May 2025. I do not know whether the Choksi episode will be an issue at that time or whether it will be pushed aside by other more disgraceful behaviour of the ruling party in compromising the international rule of law and the security architecture.
Q/ How are India-Dominica relations?
A/ Very good.
Q/ Have you been to India or met any Indian leaders?
A/ I have not been to India. I spoke very briefly with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Vancouver, Canada, in 1987 (Linton was a cub reporter then).
Q/ What are the travel rules from Antigua to Dominica?
A/ For citizens of the Caribbean Community, travel from Antigua to Dominica requires a passport or driver’s licence.
Q/ What do you think should happen now? India wants Choksi back.
A/ Dominica should return Choksi to Antigua and Barbuda, where he was resident at the time of his alleged kidnap and forced transfer to Dominica.
Q/ Is the final court of law for Dominica the Caribbean Court of Justice or the Privy Council in the UK?
A/ The Caribbean Court of Justice.