​The anticipation continues to mount, as patrons and contestants alike wonder “Who will be Miss Dominica 2017?”
 
This highly publicized annual pageant, is one of the most distinguished events of the Carnival season. The show kicks off tonight at 8:00 pm, at the Eddie Andre Carnival City in Pottersville, where Dominica’s new carnival queen will be crowned. All the ladies have promised a spectacular show.
 
Contestants Jade Romain, Esther Francis, Ketisha Joseph, Teresa Lewis, Gabrielle Abraham, Zethra Baron, and Karla Henry, are expected to compete in five categories: costume, talent, swimwear, evening wear and question and answer.
 
Q95 wishes all of the ladies the very best, in the final journey tonight.

​Former Soufriere MP Frederick Baron says in his days of political appointment, he did his best to enhance the infrastructure and develop its people in his constituency with the limited resources made available to him.
 
Baron stressed, the administration he was involved in, lost its way when it was elected into office due to greed and lies. Baron has more:

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the UWP, Nicholas George, is calling on the general public to be confident in themselves, be knowledgeable of their rights under Dominica’s Constitution, and defend principles rather than lies uttered by Leaders.
 
George is advising Dominicans to hold their Government accountable for all displays of irresponsible behaviour, on the part of their leaders.

​Eight-time reigning Calypso Monarch Dennison 'King Dice' Joseph, addressed rumours of his threat not to participate in the 2017 Calypso Monarch competition finals, which takes place tomorrow Saturday night, if one of the chosen judges named Garford Joseph is included on the panel of judges.
 
He says, in order to allow the Calypso Art-form to grow, rules must be followed. The reigning monarch went on to say, if rules are broken, then the individual concerned should be disqualified from being a judge.

​Meanwhile Garford Joseph has reportedly recused himself as a judge of the 2017 calypso finals show.
 
He says, he refuses to add to any controversy, so as to avoid bringing the Dominica Calypso Association (DCA) into disrepute.
 
In a post made on social media, Joseph announced his decision to step down from the judging panel for the finals in the name of calypso.
 
The new panel of judges including reserves is now made up as follows: Patrick Pemberton, Celia Maxwell, Trudy Christian, Reginal Lafleur, Michael Augustine, Evelina Baptiste, Marlon Marie, Fr. Eustace Thomas, Ronald Smith and Nadine Riviere. 

​DFC Consultant Val Cuffy says final touches are being put in place for staging the Miss Dominica Pageant tonight.
 
Seven ladies, Karla Henry, Zethra Baron, Gabrielle Abraham, Teresa Lewis, Ketisha Joseph, Esther Francis and Jade Romain will by vying for the prestigious title at the Eddie Andre Carnival City.
 
Cuffy says the DFC is this year working together with the Queen Show Committee and a Production team to put on a spectacular show which he guarantees patrons will enjoy.

​Tasia Floissac is the Miss Dominica 2016. The show begins at 8pm.
 
And nine calypsonians will seek to dethrone reigning eight-time calypso Monarch Dennison 'Dice' Joseph at the Calypso Monarch finals on Saturday.
 
The ten finalists are Dice, Jenius, Stefan, Bobb, Jaydee, Janae, Karessah, Daddy Chess, Tasha P and Webb.

​Meanwhile, DFC Consultant Val Cuffy says final preparations for the Carnival Monday and Tuesday street jump-up and parades will take place over the course of the weekend.
 
Speaking on Q95's Hot Seat Friday, Cuffy says the judging platforms will be installed over the weekend and the road parade committee is already in gear.
 
Carnival Monday and Tuesday is February 27th and 28th 2017.

​A debating team from the Dominica State College will leave island on Thursday, March 2 for St. Lucia to participate in the first ever debate competition among Community Colleges in the Windward Islands.

The Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC) will host the Windward Islands Debating Competition (WIDC) on March 2nd 2017. The other two participating Colleges are the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Community College, and the T. A. Marryshow Community College, representing Grenada. 

The debate will run over a two-day period with teams participating in a semi-final and final round.
According to a release, the aim of the WIDC is to reinforce the multidisciplinary approach, which is needed to assess the needs of Caribbean societies and nurture critical thinkers who will help shape the democratic societies of the Caribbean region.  It will also serve to promote regional integration, collegial information sharing and cultural exchanges.

Almira Lewis, Inoela Vital, Daniel Panthier and Marie-Ange Emanuel will represent Dominica. They are being accompanied by Coach and Advisor of the Dominica State College Literary and Debating Society, Trudy Christian

The team will debate on the topics: ‘Regional Governments should continue to invest in LIAT,’ ‘Seeking reparations from former colonial masters will not benefit the Caribbean Region in the long run,’ and ‘Economic Citizenship Programmes are the best route to economic prosperity for small island developing states.’

The Windward Island Debating Competition will be held under the patronage of Her Excellency, Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy.  It also has the support of the OECS, CARICAD and CXC. 

Four (4) ‘public order events’ specialists from CARICOM are said to have arrived in Dominica, at the invitation of the DLP Administration, reportedly to investigate the activities that took place during the 7th February 2017 unrest in Roseau.
 
This was revealed by National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore, on state-owned DBS Radio today Friday 24th February. He said the team comprises of two police superintendents and two police sergeants, one of them being an Attorney.
 
Blackmoore said the team will assist in directing the existing investigation, reviewing all evidence gathered, submit reports to the Police Commissioner, & make recommendations based on their findings.
 
He said government recognizes and supports the right of Dominica’s citizens to self-expression, and has vowed to uphold the right to assembly & freedom of political expression, as given by the constitution.
 
However, he said in expressing that right, the right of others, and the laws of the land should not be violated. Blackmoore added that the disturbances were not normal, and stated that “the events of 7th February runs antithetical to what we stand for in Dominica, and affects and undermines all elements of society.”
 
Blackmoore further stated that all possible action must be taken to prevent this from happening again, in Dominica. He said this is a matter of tremendous public interest and he called on the public support and corporation.
 
Both opposition parties, UWP and DFP have distanced themselves from the disturbances, saying it took place several hours after their peaceful meeting had already ended. However, Prime Minister Skerrit has insisted that it was part of a plot to overthrow the DLP Government.

​A Dominican lawyer, formerly attached to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in Dominica, Clement Joseph, but who is now based in the Turks &Y Caicos Islands, has expressed some concerns, after Dominica’s President Charles Savarin, made a statement regarding the unrest which occurred on 7th February 2017 in Roseau.
 
Joseph, who is now working as a senior public prosecutor in the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Turks & Caicos Islands, took issue with parts of the President’s statement.
 
Joseph spoke to Q95 FM radio today Friday;

​Joseph continued:

​Dominica can expect an increase in swells by tonight into tomorrow morning due to northerly swells expected to affect our coastlines.
 
According to the Dominica Meteorological office, a high pressure system is a dominant feature across the area resulting in a relatively dry atmosphere across the island during the next 24 hours.
 
Due to the expected increase in sea swells, all sea users & persons living near the coast are advised to be vigilant and to exercise caution.

​Police have identified the individual shot by police in Boetica on Tuesday as Henry St Ville aged 61.
 
According to Police reports, at the time of the incident, St Ville who is mentally challenged, attacked an officer with a knife. St Ville was shot by another officer on the scene and was later pronounced dead by a medical Doctor.
 
Police PRO Sergeant Pellam Jno-Baptiste has more details on the matter....