UNFOUNDED ALLEGATIONS REFERENCING U.S. NATIONAL ON REMAND

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business, Trade and Energy wishes to provide clarity to unfounded information being circulated on social media about a national of the United States of America who is currently on remand at the

Dominica State Prison.

While the Ministry is not in the business of responding to hearsay and baseless statements, it is felt that these particular statements, which are maliciously being peddled by the opposition, should be addressed.

It is public knowledge that Jonathan Scott Lehrer is one of two U.S. nationals on remand at the Dominica State Prison.

In accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, the Embassy of the United States in Bridgetown requested and was given permission to visit and/ or hold meetings with both nationals since November, 2024.

It is standard Consular Practice for Diplomatic Missions to extend consular assistance to their nationals who are detained overseas, including, facilitating consular access and visits, subject to the relevant procedures of the receiving state. The request was made to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via Diplomatic Note and confirmation was given by the Ministry of National Security and response was then returned to the U.S. Embassy.

As noted earlier, this has been ongoing since November 2024. The last meeting between the two nationals and the Embassy was held on January 14, 2026, virtually. Another in-person meeting is scheduled for February 2026 at a date and time to be confirmed by the Ministry of National Security.

The Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica remains committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, fairness and respect in its treatment of all detainees, and has at all times facilitated Consular access for accredited representatives to their detained nationals consistent with established practice.

To give the impression that this exercise is an attempt to reach an arrangement of some sort with the U.S. Government is malicious and misleading. The Ministry’s advice to the general public is to allow the justice system to take its course and refrain from making statements that could have adverse effects on the trial.