​Acting Superintendent of Prisons, Jeffrey Edmund, says the buffer zone at the Dominica State Prison is being constructed and should be completed by July 2024. Mr. Edmund explained this will significantly reduce the exchange of illicit drugs in and out of the Prison. 

​Acting Superintendent of Prisons, Jeffrey Edmund

​The Stem Girls Club will be officially launched during a ceremony at the Mahaut Primary School on April 25, 2024, at 4:30p.m. April 25, 2024 is recognized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as Girls in ICT Day. This year’s theme for the Girls in ICT Day celebrations is “Leadership”, to underscore the critical need for strong female role models in science, technology, engineering & math (STEM) careers.
 
The Stem Girls Club was established in the Mahaut Constituency in 2023 to create and foster an ecosystem that nourishes the interest, talent and intellectual capital of girls and women in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).The Club provides an opportunity for girls to explore STEM careers and to identify education and training opportunities to address the structural barriers and gaps that have been identified in various research studies on gender equality and ICTs.
 
Parliamentary Representative for the Mahaut Constituency, Honourable Cassanni Laville, Dr. Jermaine Jewel Jean-Pierre, Ms. Mellisa Graham and Mrs. Nicole Laville is leading the initiative which targets girls ages 8 – 16 years. Several STEM related activities have been held since August 2023 including a field trip to the Oxygen Plant at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital, learning session on the Properties of Cement and Concrete with Civil Engineer, Honourable Cassanni Laville, and creating building structures from marshmallows and spaghetti, among others.
 
Cassanni Laville, Minister for Health, Wellness and Social Services, Chekira Lockhart-Hypolite, Minister of State in the Ministry of Public Works, Public Utilities & the Digital Economy will address the function. The feature address will be delivered by Mrs Jessica Ricketts-Esprit, CEO of Triage Health.

​The Board of Directors of Rebuild Dominica Inc. has unveiled a new initiative aimed at enhancing educational opportunities for Dominican youth. The organization has secured two scholarships for deserving Dominican high school students to attend The Piney Woods School, a prestigious boarding school located in the United States.These scholarships represent a significant opportunity for Dominican students seeking to broaden their horizons and pursue academic excellence abroad.

​Rebuild Dominica President LaDàna Young has urged prospective students to submit their applications by this coming weekend. Following this deadline, the organization will announce the two students chosen to receive the prestigious scholarship opportunity.

Rebuild Dominica President, LaDàna Young 

​President of the Dominica Association of Evangelical Churches (DAEC), and Senior Pastor at the Truth and Grace Fellowship Global, Randy Rodney, has made clear the DAEC’s position regarding the April 22nd 2024 court ruling - which sided with the claim of a homosexual man - that Section 14 & 16 of the Sexual Offenses Act violated his human right to consensually engage in sexual acts with a member of the sex.The Magistrate then ordered the decriminalization of buggery in Dominica.Pastor Rodney explains that morally, this new effort by the courts and the gay community is not supported by the principles of God and not in line with righteous living traits.  

​The High Court ruled on April 22, 2024, that Dominica's laws against sodomy were unconstitutional. According to court documents, Attorney Cara Shillingford represented the Claimants, the Attorney General Office represented the Defendant. Additionally, Attorney at law, Joelle Harris, gave legal representations for the Anglican Church & the Bishop of Roseau Catholic Church, and Attorney Joshua Francis, represented the Dominica Association of Evangelical Churches (DAEC) as intervening parties.
 
Since the establishment of the 1978 constitution, all forms of homosexuality were illegal in Dominica, including anal sex between a man and woman.Pastor Randy Rodney assured members of the Gay community that there is still time for them to repent to Jesus Christ - renounce their ways and adopt a sane lifestyle. Pastor Rodney went to eloquently reveal the details of the ruling of the High court on April 22, 2024, which he believes clearly sidelined the concept of morality in the matter.

​President of the DAEC and Senior Pastor at the Truth and Grace Fellowship Global, Pastor Randy Rodney

​CARICOM Member States are encouraged to exchange experiences in the signature and ratification process of the new global treaty on the management of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions (BBNJ).The United Nations General Assembly approved the BBNJ in June 2023 and the treaty was open for signature in September 2023. So far, 89 UN Member countries have signed the agreement, including six CARICOM Member States – Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, The Bahamas, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Belize has since ratified, becoming the first CARICOM Member State to do so. The BBNJ will “enter into force” when at least 60 countries ratify it.
 
CARICOM Member States have been actively engaged from the outset of the negotiations and have been vocal leaders in all aspects of the negotiation process.  To maintain active engagement, CARICOM Foreign Ministers at the Council for Foreign and Community Relations have mandated the formation of a Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Group (MSAG) to support and guide countries to ratification and early implementation of the treaty.At a workshop in Miami, Florida, 11-12 April 2024, Lisa Shoman, CARICOM General Counsel, called for open dialogue regarding experiences at the national level.
 
“The Law of the Sea and its various implementing instruments have been a great equalizer for this Region- whether it was delimitation of our exclusive economic zones, management of fish stocks important to our food security or management of seabed resources. This new agreement is no different – it presents an opportunity for us to expand our capacities and capabilities and to move more strategically to managing and benefitting from the vast natural resources represented by the Oceans that surround us. Indeed, for those of us who have committed to building blue economies, the constitution of the Sea is a necessary tool in management,” the General Counsel said at the opening of the workshop.

​Acting superintendent of Prisons, Jeffrey Edmund, has announced that his staff will soon undergo training in literacy and numeracy classes.He added as well that the cabinet of Dominica has already approved 23 positions, and 11 staff members have been engaged for the pilot phase of the training.

​Acting Superintendent of Prisons, Jeffrey Edmund

​As part of a model safe schools program funded by the government of Norway and implemented through collaboration among the government of Dominica, CDEMA, and UNICEF, eight primary and three secondary schools in Dominica have obtained certification for their adherence to safe school practices. Isabella John, Senior Environmental Health Officer explained that principals and teachers from these schools were familiar with the essential components of the Safe Schools recognition model.

​Isabella John, Senior Environmental Health Officer in the Environmental Health Department

​Rosie Felix of Rosie Sparks Women Dominica has extended heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Nurse Tracey Jno-Lewis from Silver Lake. She mourned the loss ofa dedicated nurse and skilled hair artist, whose promising future was abruptly cut short, leaving her community in grief.
 
The news of Nurse Jno-Lewis's passing, along with the loss of her unborn child, elicited shock and sadness across Dominica, particularly among healthcare workers at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital (DCFH). This tragedy, she said, underscores broader concerns about health system failures, including staffing shortages, inadequate training, and lack of accountability.

​Nurse Felix noted the widespread concerns about Dominica's healthcare system, citing its several failures. To address this urgent issue, Rosie Sparks Women Dominica is demanding an immediate Root Cause Analysis (RCA) by investigating the cause of deaths of Nurse Tracy and Baby Tracey Jno-Lewis.

Rosie Felix, from Rosie Sparks Women in Dominica 

​Minister of Tourism, Denise Charles-Pemberton, has praised the latest coffee-table book, "Dominica’s Best Kept Secret 2nd Edition," authored by Cecil Clarke, as a significant contribution to enriching Dominica's tourism product and industry. She highlighted that the book's comprehensive details and captivating photographs offer readers a deeper appreciation of Dominica's unique attractions, making it a standout destination.

​Charles-Pemberton has conveyed the ministry's appreciation to Mr. Clark for capturing the essence of the island, portraying it as a perfect haven for visitors, encouraging them to return repeatedly.

​Minister of Tourism, Denise Charles-Pemberton

​Financial Economist and Leader of the United Workers Party (UWP), Dr. Thomson Fontaine, has highlighted the prevailing sentiment among many Dominicans, that the party should prioritize action over diplomatic channels to effect change, particularly in vocalizing the people’s concerns in Dominica. However, he also emphasized the need to revise approaches to achieving tangible results. Dr Fontaine pointed out the success of protest actions in Salisbury as a model to consider, underscoring the importance of understanding Dominica's realities as part of formulating effective change strategies.

​Dr. Thomson Fontaine, leader of the United Workers Party (UWP)