​Dominican born scientist, agronomist Clayton Shillingford says agriculture has always been the central driving force for the Dominican economy, not only for its revenue gaining capacity but it is essential in feeding the Dominican populace.
 
Also, highlighting the Dominica Grammar School’s former motto, Shillingford says if you are not healthy in your body, it will have a negative effect on both your quality of thinking and your capacity to be productive.

​Shillingford briefly explained the second aspect on the economy of agriculture.

​Dominican Scientist, Dr Clayton Shillingford

​Former Corporate Executive, Former Journalist and Dominica’s Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition, Lennox Linton, has responded to Prime Minister Skerrit’s allegation that his party or its supporters plan to file an injunction to the courts against the government or the DSS’ ‘Covid-19 relief response package’ to laid off workers, caused by the advent of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

​Recently Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit acknowledged receiving a proposal from the Board of the Dominica Social Security (DSS).

​Linton told Q95 FM on Tuesday evidence shows his executive had recommended some measures that are only now being considered by government. He suggests the government needs to urgently present and implement an effective stimulus package, to assist the plight f the people and small businesses in the economy.
 
However, reports allege that this relief package in question may be the DSS’ Redundancy Fund package, which is already authorized and mandated by Law to be used under specific circumstances by the DSS, to assist persons who have been made redundant or have been Laid Off.

​Linton added that Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit should be able to access the funds he claimed was deposited into a special account for an international airport and utilize some of that to create an effective stimulus package for the people.

​Former Corporate Executive, Former Journalist and Dominica’s Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition, Lennox Linton

​Alluding to the relatively high prevalence of non-communicable diseases in the Caribbean, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity, Family Physician Dr. Lisa Jolly says it is primarily the foods consumed which contribute to the epidemic of non-communicable diseases.

​Jolly insist individuals need to be more involved in the production the foods consumed.

​Family Physician, Dr. Lisa Jolly

​Dominica Freedom Party Executive Member and Businessman Michael Astaphan calls the DLP administration’s call for unity among the people and political parties during the Covid-19 Pandemic, hypocritical.
 
He says this is mainly due to the way the DLP government sidelined the Freedom Party and the United Workers Party executive during the crisis thus far. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Most people who fall sick with COVID-19 will experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover without special treatment.
 
Astaphan spoke to Q95 news on Tuesday.

​Executive Member of the Dominica Freedom Party and Businessman, Michael Astaphan

​Ms. Frederica James, Mental Health Counselor at the Dominica State College addressed the mental health concerns of students, faculty, and staff in the wake of Covid-19 during a live Facebook interview on the topic ‘Mental Health’, on April 29, 2020, at 9:30 am. The interview was carried live on the Dominica State College Facebook page.
 
This interview seeks to allow students, faculty, staff, and members of the public to interact with an expert on mental health with their concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. The interview addressed the importance of protecting our mental health; methods for supporting friends and families on the frontline; strategies for dealing with stress and anxiety during the pandemic; and coping strategies for dealing with lockdown and physical distancing. At the end of the interview, Ms. James entertained questions from viewers. 
 
Public Relations and Recruitment Officer of the Dominica State College, Monelle Alexis told media that the Dominica State College is interested in graduating individuals who are emotionally stable and capable of making right decisions.

​Public Relations and Recruitment Officer of the Dominica State College, Monelle Alexis

​Ag. Coordinator of the Child Abuse Prevention Unit Nichole Toussaint Jno Baptiste says there is a great challenge in reaching out to all the children who may be in need right now due to COVID-19.
 
She encourages phone calls to inform of what is happening. However, she notes the challenges that may be present if the abuser is in the home with the child. She lists plans on the agenda post the covid-19 pandemic.

Ag. Coordinator of the Child Abuse Prevention Unit, Nichole Toussaint Jno Baptiste

​Prime Minister Skerrit says government is committed to paying full salaries to public officers and NEP workers at the end of April. He says this is extra-ordinary in these circumstances, as most NEP workers have not been engaged since the pandemic hit Dominica but will still be paid.  According to him, NEP workers; salaries amount to $3.8M monthly.

​Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit 

​The Pan American Health Organization joins with the Region of the Americas to celebrate the 18th anniversary of Vaccination Week in the Americas (VWA),from 25th April to 2nd May under the slogan “Love. Trust. Protect. #GetVax.”
 
The 9th World Immunization Week (WIW) will be celebrated April 24-30. The celebration of this year’s Vaccination Week in the Americas is being convened in an unusual and very difficult epidemiological context. While we have a challenging task ahead of us to deal with COVID-19, we must take a moment to recognize that many other dangerous diseases can be prevented through immunization.
 
Some of the diseases that vaccines prevent are seasonal Influenza, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Polio, BCG and Cervical Cancer. Hence, immunization is considered an essential service that must be ensured during the pandemic.
 
PAHO recommends that countries pay special attention to vaccination against influenza. PAHO/WHO Country Program Specialist, Anneke Wilson, released a statement on the occasion of Vaccination Week in the Americas.

​PAHO/WHO Country Program Specialist, Anneke Wilson

​The date May 5th will give us two full incubation cycles since the last confirmed Covid19 case, as the Ministry of Health is on route to provide an exit strategy for this current state of emergency in Dominica.
This is according to National Epidemiologist in Dominica, Dr. Shalauddin Ahmed.
He says that all necessary preparation are on track, to implement a random community based survey by the Ministry of Health.

​National Epidemiologist in Dominica, Dr. Shalauddin Ahmed

​The Government of Dominica and the Dominica Social Security collaborate to support the many citizens facing economic strain during this Covid-19 season. The announcement was made by the Prime Minister on Saturday. Director of the Dominica Social Security Mrs. Janice Jean Jacque-Thomas on Tuesday shared a bit more details about the collaboration and what can be expected. She spoke on some of the concerns of persons who may have been laid off or are working with reduced days.

​She says that the firm of Monoshepel reveals that if one does not have unemployment benefit, it is possible and feasible to introduce one during a recession without prior funding or additional contributions.

​She says that the DSS is confident in this initiative and its implementation will provide positive benefits to the citizens of the country.

​Director of the Dominica Social Security, Mrs. Janice Jean Jacque -Thomas