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In a clear demonstration that it does not care about what is regarded as civilised action in the world, the autocratic government of the Commonwealth of Dominica has, according to the Arab press, established diplomatic relations with Syria, considered to be one of the world's worst dictatorships, and the perpetrator of War Crimes against its own people, during a bloody never-ending civil war, which has brought it global sanctions and a State Sponsor of Terrorism designation. Reportedly, the diplomatic relationship was concluded this week at the Syrian Delegation to United Nations, by the two countries' UN diplomats.
Given that there is zero international trade between the two nations, the sole reason that longtime Caribbean observers believe the two nations are implementing relations is the Citizenship by Investment passport programme of Dominica, which gives participants visa-free access to the EU Schengen Zone and the United Kingdom. Syrian nationals engaged in assassination of Syrian Opposition leaders living abroad, intelligence agents operating covertly to evade international sanctions, and Syrian military seeking to purchase arms and weapons systems, could all benefit from that prized Dominica passport, as they stealthily sneak into Europe.
More ominously, it will allow Hezbollah terrorists operating in Syria to acquire Dominica CBI passports, which come with visa-free access to the United Kingdom, from which the Hezbollah agents can certainly figure out a way to get inside the European Union Schengen Zone, within which they can travel freely. My first choice would be quietly through rural areas of Ireland. Does everyone understand just how dangerous Hezbollah can be, with their agents being able to move throughout Europe for whatever dark purpose they require; terrorist financing, or just plain terrorism, to be blunt about it, thanks to the arrogant and greedy Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and his Cabinet, the Caribbean's Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.
This is not the first time Hezbollah has attempted to penetrate the Western democracies with a sizable contingent of agents; a decade ago, armed with Venezuelan passports and Cedulas (national identity cards), They sought to enter the United States. Close to 100 Hezbollah agents stationed in Latin America has those Venezuelan travel documents; a couple attempted to cross the frontier from Mexico, but they were intercepted. None of them spoke Spanish, which would have been necessary to convince American immigration officials of their bona fides. Count on Hezbollah to have learnt from that mistake.
Dominica is playing with fire in associating itself with Syria; it may well rue the day it partnered up with a known terrorist state. It is high time for the UK to close the Commonwealth of Nations loophole for visa-free admission. Whether they are already inside the UK we cannot say, but UK Border Control could have already granted them entry, with their Dominican CBI passports.
Contributed by Kenneth Rijock - Financial Crime Consultant
Chronicles of Monte Friesner - Financial Crime Analyst 
