Volume No. 2 Issue No. 4 - Thursday June 14, 2007
Dominica- Home of the billion dollar raffle
 By Daren Arkle
 There were other possibilities but none of them matched the enthusiasm and vigor that the country and people of Dominica have given us. From Ministers in the government, to local banking chiefs and many more, we Knew we had found;
"Dominica - The Home of the Billion Dollar Raffle."
It was sounding too good to be true; a private entity offering a billion (make this USD 1 000 000 000) payout. Dubbed the �Billion Dollar Raffle�, one person would walk away with a clean half billion in cash.
No joke. What I was not prepared for was to see this earth shattering payout tied to my country � Dominica. Yes, Dominica � The Home of the One Billion Raffle.
Now that�s where it gets complicated. The hands behind the raffle said in a June 4, 2007 press release: �from the very first contact, through our full talks with Government Ministers of Dominica, we received every help and cooperation in setting up the Billion Dollar Raffle program, which is now fully endorsed and approved by the Dominican Government, both physical and financial.�
Dominicans, rightly so were outraged. An offshore company registered in Dominica, and purporting to have the full endorsement of its government ministers. The talk shows were set alight. In response, Prime Minister Skerrit hastily convened a press conference to deny his government�s involvement.
Not so fast. Recently appointed minister for the offshore sector, Julius Timothy confirmed that government did in fact have talks with the owners of offshorepayment.com. Further, the deal was going through.
In a radio interview on Wednesday, Attorney General Ian Douglas said that he had no problems with the arrangement because that �is something that is done in other countries.�
Now I�m thinking, lucky Dominica! Investors come up with quite a scheme. A billion dollar payoff in exchange for purchasing membership cards at $100 and $500 a piece.
Offshorepayment.com said in their release: �The Dominican Government has offered it's full support and co-operation in allowing Offshore Payout, not only to host the Billion Dollar Raffle but by assisting in locating land to build the home of the Children's Health and International Education Fund (C.H.I.E.F) Resort in Dominica. This new home for children from around the world will consist of new dormitories, a hospital, condominiums and villas, with an outstanding unique sport complex with a movie theatre, shops and restaurants.�
It gets better: �Dominica was picked for this wonderful new home for the C.H.I.E.F charitable cause as it is centrally located to South America, Africa and is a beautiful, unspoilt island.� What a stroke of luck. That�s me being sarcastic.
Get this. According to Offshorepayout.com �Dominica, already well known to many people around the world as the location where Disney's mega-blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed, is about to become a household name on the lips of millions of people, the rich and famous, the popular, the eccentric, they will all want to visit the nerve centre of the Billion Dollar Raffle that will be Dominica.
Not only that, Dominica would now also attain a status that reflects fully the dynamic foresighted Government that it has in power.�
I�m not sure if I should laugh or cry. What is wrong with us? This has SCAM written all over it! Dominicans are good, decent people! And I believe that they�ve seen through this one. Continued protest forced offshorepayout.com to post a statement on the site. In one place it states: �As a matter of respect to and for the people and the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica, this website and service has been temporarily suspended.�
So much for the site being suspended. There is a link at the end that leads directly to all the billions, and the pronouncements of a country like no other in the world, where all other countries turned down this opportunity and our wonderfully foresighted government scooped it up.
Thankfully, Dominicans are not buying this. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. Now I�m troubled and would pose these questions:
(1) Why is offshore.com so keen on dragging the government of Dominica into this?
(2) Are we to believe that in all the countries in the world, Dominica offers �the security and safety of such a large amount of prize money.�
(3) Why was there no due diligence done on this company and their principals?
(4) Which is �the bank� spoken about that would guarantee all these funds?
(5) Is there a chance that we will once again be blacklisted, a country run contrary to the norms and behavior of a sane financial world?
(6) Is it not clear that if people buy into this and they are unable to get their funds back from this �secure international bank� that our government will be open to litigation?
(7) What about the guarantee given that the money is 100% guaranteed and safe. �Accordingly, we will employ the services of one of the largest financial institutions in the world, (the bank) to hold safe and secure through its escrow facility, you the ticket holders, raffle ticket purchase funds.�
Clearly, the word has gone out. Dominica is easy pickings! In the recent past, scores of Dominicans have sent thousands of dollars to internet scammers, promising huge payoffs. Others have had their bank accounts cleaned out (These scams will be revealed in the next issue of theDominican.net). We are trusting and na�ve, more like being gullible. But it is one thing to have individuals fall for these scams, quite another when government does.
Government should do the honorable thing and completely disassociate itself with this scam. And, Julius Timothy should be fired for once again taking us to the brink.
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