If Speaker of the House of Assembly acts on what she says is her mind to do, Dominica's Opposition leader may be heading to another legal battle. This follows remarks made by House Speaker Alix Boyd-Knights during Monday's parliament session with regards to statements made on the airwaves by the opposition leader about Boyd-Knights. Although the speaker did not disclose all the information, she did say that she would inform the media in due course. The speaker revealed however; certain allegations were made about her salary increase and how it came about by the opposition leader and Boyd Knights explained that there are certain actions she can take. House Speaker Alix Boyd-Knights.
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Major infrastructural works are underway in the Roseau South constituency. That constituency suffered some level of damage following the passage of TS Erika last year. Caretaker for that constituency is DLP Senator Jahisiah Benoit. He says he is pleased that work is being done in a timely fashion in the Reigate area. The project is being funded by the government of Dominica and is valued in excess of EC$80,000. Another retaining wall is also being built in the lower castle comfort area costing close to $300,000. DLP Senator Jahisiah Benoit
Dominica's Liaison Officer for Diaspora Affairs in St Thomas, Loreen Bannis-Roberts, has commended Dominica's Education Minister as well as the Government of Dominica for the opportunities being afforded to Dominica's youth. Roberts says Prime Minister Skerrit must be commended for his foresight towards implementing universal education. She made these statements following the release of the top performers of the 2016 grade 6 national assessment by the country's Education Minister Petter St Jean. Roberts says persons must not take the opportunities being provided to them for granted. Dominica's Liaison Officer for Diaspora Affairs in St Thomas Loreen Bannis-Roberts
Minister of Justice and Mahaut MP, Rayburn Blackmore, says his constituency will soon see a number projects commence in the various communities.
Blackmore says though small, these significant projects will aim at making things more convenient for the residents in the constituency. President of the Association of Caribbean Copyright Societies (ACCS), Mc Carthy Marie, says his company has formed a partnership with Barbados-based Copyright Society of Composers, Authors and Publishes Incorporated (COSCAP) to present the Fundamentals of the Business of Music Seminar.
According to a release, the Seminar, which will initially be piloted in Barbados, will run from Wednesday June 29th to Friday July 1st, at the Courtyard Marriot Hotel; and forms part of ACCS’ Business of Music Seminar Series—financed with support from the Caribbean Development Bank. The main objective of this music education seminar is to assist participants develop a better understanding of the essentials of starting and managing a business in today’s music sector. Members of the Eastern Caribbean Collective Organization for Music Rights (ECCO) Inc, can participate online via live streaming on COSCAP’s website: www.cosacap.org. Buy Dominica Month campaign has been officially launched under the theme 'Buy Local, Go Global: Building our Products and Service for Global Success'. The campaign will be held throughout the month of September and within that month there will be a Symposium on the Manufacturer Services sector where key stakeholders in Manufacturing will meet to discuss their strengths, weaknesses and ways in which they can improve on those weak areas to strengthen the Manufacturing Sector. President of the Dominica Manufacturers association Severin McKenzie told Wednesday's launch that it is his hope that after this symposium, Dominica’s professionals will become more united and globally competitive in the services and products that they offer. President of the Dominica Manufacturers association Severin McKenzie, McKenzie was speaking at a media Pre-launching of the Buy Dominica Month Campaign on Wednesday.
No Draft Sexual Offenses Amendment Bill brought to Parliament and NGO Coalition very disappointed6/29/2016
No Draft Sexual Offenses Amendment Bill was brought to Parliament on Monday, and Acting Secretary of the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Coalition for the Protection of Children and Youth, Tina Alexander expressed the group’s extreme disappointment. Alexander said the organization plans to raise that issue with the government. She noted that the group was told that the Bill would be brought to Parliament “before the end of July”, and the group therefore reasonably expected it to be tabled at Monday’s meeting of Parliament. She spoke of plans to confront Ministers, in order to seek justification for the omission of the draft Bill from this week’s sitting of Parliament. The NGO Coalition has been on the forefront pushing for legislation to protect minors and the vulnerable in Dominica. Alexander said “We have to confront the Minister, and find out what was the justification for not doing what they said they would do.” 135 reported cases of child sexual abuse were reported in Dominica in 2014, and Justice Minister Rayburn Blackmoore said in January 2015, government would establish systems to better equip prosecutors, to deal with the problem of sexual offenses on the island. Sexual offenses dominated the Criminal Assizes in 2015, with 24 cases in January, 9 in April, and 8 in September. Cases ranged from indecent assault, unlawful sexual intercourse, incest, rape, and buggery. In October 2015, a special committee was appointed, to be chaired by legal Consultant Ray Harris, to look at the provisions of the Sexual Offences Act of 1998, and to make recommendations for amendments. In January 2016, Harris submitted a report to Minister Blackmoore with a Draft Amendment Bill to the Sexual Offences Act. On March 7, 2016, Attorney General, Levi Peter announced that a Draft Sexual Offenses Amendment Bill, comprising of 17 sections, would soon be taken to Parliament for approval. In June 2016, Justice Minister, Rayburn Blackmoore announced that the Draft Sexual Offenses Amendment Bill would go before Parliament before the end of the year. He called the amended Act ‘a duty owed to youth, women, and other vulnerable groups’. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, revealed that he had participated in numerous consultations on child sexual abuse, with “no less than 105 people.” The NGO Coalition is therefore baffled as to the reason why a No Draft Sexual Offenses Amendment Bill was not brought to Parliament on Monday. Opposition Leader, Lennox Linton, believes the Money laundering legislation passed in Parliament is ineffective, unless an added amendment is made, to ensure that authorities are mandated to conduct investigations into these matters.
The latest amendment made is simply set to view those who have knowledge of Money laundering activity, and who fail to report the matter to the proper authorities, as part of the scheme. Linton stated that an accompanying amendment to the one brought before the parliament should be made, so as to ensure investigation and prosecution of all those involved in Money laundering activities. National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore addressed Opposition Leader’s concerns about weaknesses in the new amendment to the Money laundering legislation, saying that it does not make provisions for the enforcement of the law.
The Minister however, contends that a procedure has been outlined in the amendments which is geared at bank authorities, and which will require them to report any suspicious activity to the proper authorities. He said had the opposition leader read the Bill in its entirety, his fears would have been nullified. Miss Dominica 2016 Tasia Floissac getting set to compete in her first regional pageant this weekend6/29/2016 Miss Dominica 2016, Tasia Floissac will compete in the Miss Carival Pageant in St. Vincent & the Grenadines this weekend. This is Floissac's first regional pageant since being crowned Miss Dominica 2016.
Floissac will vie for the prestigious Miss Carival title from a field of nine other contestants coming from Anguilla, Barbados, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela and St. Vincent & the Grenadines. Dominica has won six Miss Carival titles since the show’s inception in 1985. A packed schedule of activities which includes media interviews, visits to business houses, meeting with the Prime Minister of St. Vincent & the Grenadines, motorcade in the city, and participation in shows organized for Vincy Mas, awaits the Miss Carival contestants. Floissac and her chaperone, Leandra Lander, departed Dominica on Monday 27th June for St. Vincent, and will return to Dominica on 2nd July 2016. The pageant will take place on July 1st 2016. |
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