Mr. Timothy N.J Antoine will assume duties as the third Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), effective February 1st 2016. He is a Grenadian national, and succeeds Sir K Dwight Venner, who retired on November 30th 2015.
 
Antoine is an economist and development practitioner by training, experience and passion. Before taking up the position of Governor, he served as Director for Grenada, on the ECCB Board of Directors, for the periods: 2002 to October 2005 and January 2008 to January 2016. He was appointed ECCB Governor this month.

Local Pastor, Randy Rodney has called on persons to extend support to the driver of the bus involved in an accident Thursday, which claimed the life of one 16-month old Italian baby. The accident which occurred at Trafalgar, involved a team of seven tourists who came to Dominica aboard the MSC Orchestra on Thursday, and who were reportedly travelling to take a tour of the Trafalgar falls.
 
It is alleged that the driver Randolph Xavier, lost control of the vehicle. During his weekly radio program ‘Kingdom Connections’ aired on Q95 this Friday morning, Rodney encouraged Xavier to find strength in God, in this tragic trying time. 

Meanwhile, turnout for the 2016 Junior Calypso Monarch competition satisfied Leo Club President Kernita Green. The Leo Club of Dominica is the main organizer of the Junior Calypso Monarch Competition. The show took place on Thursday evening. Whereas a member of the club voiced concern for what is described as the lack of respect given to the competition by the public, Green appears to be satisfied that the show went well. She said “I find the show was great, and all the participants did extremely well, and they have great songs, but the judges’ decision is final, and everybody cannot win … It was a great show indeed.”
 
Green said despite the initial struggles, the Club ultimately secured sponsorship for the event. “After the storm, things were a little difficult. Sponsorship came on a bit slower than normal, but we got a few sponsors” she stated. Green added that in the future, the Club must work to better promote the event in order to secure public interest. “One of the things that we need to improve on, is getting the songs out there earlier — for publicity purposes — so the public will be aware that the show is happening and come out and support,” she explained.

Opposition Leader Lennox Linton expressed concerns that the government may have violated laws prohibiting major developments in specified areas in February 2015.
 
He alleged that the government removed 15 acres from the Cabrits national park to allow for the construction of a hotel.  Linton said this kind of violation will lower the comfort of the public, as to whether there is any integrity in their government.

Calypsonian Wayne “Shadow Flow” Robinson has revealed that the inspiration behind his latest calypso “Fighting for Brogodow”, was the conflict that occurred between so many Dominicans, because of unfair rationing and even looting of rations at storage and distribution buildings, after the passage of tropical storm Erika on August 27, 2015.
 
Shadow Flow has indicated that he will perform that song as his second song on the night of the 2016 Calypso final competition next weekend.

After thanking his supporters, he stated that he was ready for the calypso finals. 

Marlon Alexander, 28, of Grand Bay who had pleaded guilty to two (2) counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, has been sentenced to 32 months’ imprisonment.  The sentence was handed down by Justice Errol Thomas at the High Court of Justice on Friday 29th January 2016, after a very moving mitigation plea by Attorney-at-law Bernadette Lambert.
 
According to the charges read, Alexander had unlawful sexual intercourse with a 14-year old girl at Kingshill, on 14th & 15th May 2012. Information revealed in court by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Evelina Baptiste, on Saturday 14 May 2012, indicated that the minor left her mother’s home in Castle Bruce to go to Roseau.
 
While in town, she received a call from Alexander asking her to meet him at the Kingshill Bus Stop and conceded to his request. The 14-year-old was later asked by Alexander to accompany him to his home in Kingshill which she did. After sharing a meal together at Alexander’s home, they entered the bedroom where they engaged in protective sexual intercourse. Alexander later gave her a shirt and underwear and they went to bed.
 
The following morning at about 6am, Baptiste told the court that the child and Alexander engaged in sexual intercourse once more before they showered and left the house. Baptiste stated that Alexander informed the girl that he was going to Grand Bay for the weekend and went on his way.
 
The minor knew that Alexander was not home and she unlawfully entered the house without his knowledge, and stayed there until the Tuesday, when she returned to Castle Bruce at about 9am. Upon arrival, the mother took her to the Castle Bruce Police station where a report was made. The police investigations led to Alexander’s arrested and subsequent charge.
 
During mitigation, Lambert begged the court not to impose a custodial sentence because Alexander did not waste the court’s or police time, he assisted the police in their investigation and pleaded guilty at the earliest possible time. Alexander was sentenced to four years in jail, however the sentence was reduced by one third as obligated by law, when a prisoner pleads guilty. He will therefore serve two years 32 months for both charges. Time on remand was to be taken into consideration.

A US Journalist has published UWP Officials interviews regarding Dominica’s Economic Citizenship program. In recent weeks, a foreign journalist spent time in Dominica inquiring about Dominica’s Citizenship by investment program. Opposition Leader Lennox Linton stated that he and two other members of the opposition met with this journalist and they willingly gave their opinions regarding Dominica’s economic citizenship program, however, he is unsure if the journalist was able to obtain an interview from the Government side.
 
Linton further stated that the article featuring his interview was published in the “Huffington Post”, and that he expects that more articles may appear from other publishing houses in the near future.

Dominica is said to be at risk of losing its culture and heritage if persons continue to remain quiet about criminal activities. This is according to the Director of Crime Stoppers Dominica Stewart Paris.
Crime Stoppers Dominica has teamed up with the Dominica Hotel & Tourism Association, the Dominica Association of Industry & commerce and the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force to raise the public’s awareness on the importance of preventing and solving crimes.
Paris says persons need to speak up and get invoiced in exposing the criminals.

Director of Crime Stoppers Dominica Stewart Paris
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Meantime, President of the Dominica Association of Industry & Commerce Jeffrey Baptiste says the level of crime on island could infect the foreign investments coming into the country.

President of the DAIC Jeffrey Baptiste
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And DAIC Public Relations Director Dr Schuler Esprit says all Dominicans have a responsibility to fight crime, not only against visitors and foreign nationals, but also against locals.

​Dr Schuler Esprit

Police have confirmed the death of a 16-month old Italian child following a vehicular accident at Trafalgar on January 28, 2016.  According to Police reports, Eduardo Antoniazzi, was pronounced dead at the Accident and Emergency department of the Princess Margaret Hospital. Antoiniazzi arrived in Dominica aboard the cruise liner MSC Orchestra with his parents and was among a team of seven passengers who were travelling to the Trafalgar falls on Toyota Bus HE597 when the driver, Randolph Xavier, allegedly lost control of the vehicle.
 
Police PRO, Sergeant Pelham Jno Baptiste, says all passengers sustained injuries. The mother of the deceased infant is presently at the Intensive Care Unit while the driver has been admitted to the Alford ward of the PMH. 

Meanwhile, a statement from the ship indicated that they were on a shore visit, when the accident occurred.
The ship’s statement informed that at least four of the guests were back on the ship by Thursday afternoon.
The seven guests directly involved in the accident were five Italian and two Brazilian nationals. They were on their way to an on-shore visit, which they had independently booked through a third party.