7 Tourism properties identified to share $100,000 given to DHTA by government re post Erika recovery3/31/2016 Seven properties in the tourism industry have been identified to receive government’s funding towards their recovery, following the damages caused by TS Erika. This as the Minister of Tourism Robert Tonge Wednesday gave EC$100,000 to the President of the Dominica Hotel & Tourism Association, Gregor Nassief. According to Mr Tonge, the tourism industry suffered in excess of EC $40 Million following the August 27 storm, but Nassief says most of the damages were covered by insurance. While he could not disclose the names of the seven properties which were selected, he says this contribution is both symbolic and meaningful. Nassief listed the damages that insurance could not cover. President of the Dominica Hotel & Tourism Association Gregor Nassief
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AID Bank submits proposal to a Chinese Bank to borrow funds for on-lending to the private sector3/31/2016 The AID Bank has submitted a proposal to a bank in China with a view to borrowing funds to on-lend to the private sector. Finance Minister, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says it is government’s hope that the bank’s request is approved. He says the request, once approved, will have a positive impact on the country’s economy. Finance Minister & Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Harold Guiste, says production costs may increase for some local farmers, in order to meet GAP standards. However, Dominica is concerned about food safety, and will continue its endeavours to maintain safety and quality standards.
He says the ministry while continuing efforts to meet global GAP Standards, will ensure that local consumers are protected from food borne risks. Labour Commissioner Dr. Matthew Leblanc calls on teachers to be aware of their impact on students3/31/2016 Labour Commissioner, Dr. Matthew Leblanc, says teachers are privileged as they are the few who are adopted from childhood, and are respected well into adulthood. He encourages teachers to be aware of their impact on students, and wants them to use their influence in and out of the classroom, to sensitize them to the challenges of global warming. Dr. Leblanc was addressing the 13th Biennial Conference of the Dominica Association of Teachers (DAT) Wednesday, under the theme 'Impacting Behavioural change to combat global warming'.
Technical Specialist from IICA, Kent Coipel, says agricultural trade is the most important contributor to economies of OECS member states.
However, he says due to issues of food safety and environmental standards from major markets, along with competition from regional and global markets, growth of OECS member states has been stunted. Coipel says as a result, these markets have sought to modernize their legislation governing food safety. President of the Dominica Association of Local Government Authority, Yoland Jno Jules, says the reform process is taken too long to be implemented. Jno Jules said a concept was tried in the past, but proved to have contained many shortcomings.
The Local Government Authority Bill which reportedly seeks to strengthen local authorities is before cabinet awaiting approval, but Jno Jules says the process has taken too much time to come to fruition. Officials say the reform seeks to give local authorities more autonomy which is one of the changes being championed by Jno Jules. Jno Jules says however, besides more autonomy; he also wants to see a change which gives effect to public servants being allowed to become village councillors. PM Skerrit wants public support for National Abattoir, to help reduce Dominica’s food import bill3/31/2016 With numerous calls being made across the region for coordinated efforts to firmly tackle the huge food import bill and ensure food security in the region, PM Skerrit is calling on the general public to support local.
Mr Skerrit made particular mention of the National Abattoir which is scheduled to officially open in April 2016. He says it is his hope that through this abattoir, Government will be able to reduce Dominica’s import bill for meats, chicken and pork. However, he says this is heavily reliant on the Dominican consumer. Dominica Bureau of Standards Technical Officer, Mr Roland Royer, says the national GAP protocol, aka DOMGAP, is expected to allow certification of fresh produce for exportation to regional and international markets.
The Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Audit ‘train the trainers’ workshop was officially launched on Wednesday. The ultimate goal of DOMGAP is to make Dominica’s produce internationally competitive using innovative practices that combine global standards of Good Agricultural Practices, within the framework of commercial agricultural production, for long term sustainability. In a press release held at DFC’s Office on 30th March 2016, Ms Monique Jacob, Marketing Executive for Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) announced the updated Line-up for the 2016 Jazz & Creole Festival 2016. Jacob says this year’s Jazz & Creole Festival is gearing up to be an exciting one, and called on patrons to come out and support the artists and the event, which is carded to be held on May 15, 2016. Here is Marketing Executive for the DDA, Ms Monique Jacob. Soft Élan Parle’ Cameron Pierre Andy Narell
General Secretary of the Waterfront and Allied Workers Union (WAWU), Kertiste Augustus, is of the view that the private sector unions too have a role to play in combating global warming.
Augustus made those comments while addressing the 13th Biennial Conference of the Dominica Association of Teachers (DAT) Wednesday, under the theme 'Impacting Behavioural change to combat global warming'. He told members of the DAT that their role is even more crucial as they must inculcate in the minds of the youth responsible behaviour. |
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