Six (6) schools will face off in National Drug Abuse Prevention Unit Biennial Anti-Drug Quiz Competition, carded for 5th July 2016, at the DPSU building.
In an effort to continue its School Prevention Programme, the National Drug Abuse Prevention Unit is presenting its Biennial Anti-Drug Quiz Competition, where Twenty-one (21) schools compete on the District Level in Six (6) District Quizzes.
The first place winners from each district representing their respective district at the National Competition are as follows:  W.S. Stevens Primary representing the North/North-East; San Sauveur Primary representing the East; Morne Jaune Primary, the South-East; Giraudel Primary, the South; Convent Preparatory, Roseau; and St. Joseph SDA Primary representing the West. 

DFP General Secretary and Former House Speaker, Johnson Boston, says he is disappointed with the manner in which the current House Speaker Mrs. Alix Boyd Knights, is running the affairs of Dominica’s House of Assembly.   
Boston says Boyd-Knights appears to favour the members on the Government side, and does not give the members of the opposition an opportunity to put forward their matters for consideration. He added that he has never seen that kind of behaviour from a Speaker of the House, in all of the history of Parliament in Dominica.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Enterprise and Small Business Development, Esther Thomas, says the Buy Dominica Month will assist in getting locals to understand the importance of supporting local.
 
Buy Dominica Month is being recognized in September under the theme 'Buy Local, Go Global: Building our products and services for global success'.
 
It is an initiative of the Dominica Manufacturers Association (DMA) in collaboration with DEXIA, the Dominica Coalition of Service Industries (DCSI) and the Ministry of Commerce.
 
Thomas, speaking at Wednesday's launch, says to obtain the desired objective of Buy Dominica Month, it must be a unified effort.

Lifeline Ministries Victim Support Coordinator and Young Queen Leader, Tina Alfred, says plans are progressing smoothly in relation to the setting up of a 24-hour helpline for those seeking to escape violence and abuse.
 
Alfred, speaking in an interview with Q95 news, says operators of the helpline have been trained and it will be officially launched on July 6th 2016.

Alfred was among 60 Commonwealth citizens to receive the Queens Young Leader Award on June 23rd at Buckingham Palace. They were recognized for taking the lead in transforming the lives of others and making a lasting difference in her communities.

Today marks the 11th anniversary of the establishment of PetroCaribe Dominica – an oil alliance of many Caribbean states with Venezuela to purchase oil on conditions of preferential payment.
Housing, Lands and Water Resource Management Minister, Reginald Austrie, says the agreement has provided a cushion against the fight of poverty and other social inequalities found in society.
The agreement was signed to establish solidarity and fair trade among members and Minister Austrie believes that Dominica’s emphatic support of Venezuela is a shining example of co-operation and the building of bridges of understanding between the countries. 

Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has joined the ongoing debate on the current situation in Venezuela.
The South American country is in a full-fledged crisis with food and medicine in short supply and there has been an increase in violent crimes across the country.
Speaking on the occasion marking the 11th anniversary of the establishment of Petro Caribe in Dominica Wednesday,  Skerrit said the challenges facing Venezuela are not unique to Venezuela. He says many countries have gone through those challenges. 

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has given his Government's commitment to standing in solidarity with Venezuela.
 
His comments come at a time when the South American country is facing a full-fledged economic crisis and efforts are being made to call a referendum against President Nicolas Maduro.
 
” And there are efforts by some to undermine a government elected by the people, irrespective of who that Government is, we must always as countries, respect the democratic rights of people to determine who their government ought to be..." he said.
 
PM Skerrit says on the principle of maintaining democratic ideals the DLP Government stands in solidarity with Venezuela.

Local Pastor, Randy Rodney,  says there appears to be a systematic dismantling of religion here.
He is of the view that once religion perishes, truth and justice will perish also.
Rodney says there is an essential role for God and religion in a society and once sidetracked, it means that God's voice in society is being shut down.
Rodney was addressing a Dominica's Boosters panel discussion on Tuesday evening. The discussion was aimed at bringing citizens together to brainstorm ideas on creating a better future for Dominica.

​" I am still thrilled that I actually shook her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II hand" says Young Queen Leader, Tina Alfred.
Alfred was among 60 honoured by the Queen during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace on June 23rd   for taking the lead in transforming the lives of others and making a lasting difference in their communities.
Alfred spoke to Q95 news following her five day trip to London.

Meanwhile, she says this award has motivated her to never stop carrying out her duties as victim support coordinator at Lifeline Ministries. 

Alfred helped to launch the Coalition for the Protection of Children and Youth and is a member of the Dominica National Council of Women. She is also working with women’s groups on the island promoting the mandatory reporting of sexual offences and hopes to set up a 24-hour helpline for those seeking to escape violence and abuse. 

Counsellor, Thomas Holmes, has been tipped to be the new Principal of the St Mary's Academy.
While no official statement has been made on this, Bishop of Roseau His Lordship Gabriel Malzaire was said to have made the revelation during his opening prayer at the graduation ceremony of the SMA over the weekend.
Holmes is also the President of the Caribbean male Action network (CARIMAN).
If true, Holmes will be replacing the late Cuthbert Elwin who passed away in September 2015.
Elwin became principal of the SMA in 2003, and remained there until his untimely passing.
He was 61 years old.