The Vatican Treasurer, Cardinal George Pell, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing after being charged with sex offences in his native Australia.
He complained that he had been subjected to "relentless character assassination" during a two-year investigation into the "false" claims. He said the Pope had granted him a leave of absence to fight the charges. Police in the state of Victoria said the charges relate to alleged "historical" incidents.
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Agricultural Economist Athie Martin views governance as building an economy from the ground up6/29/2017 Agricultural Economist Athie Martin views governance as not simply a matter of statistics & reports, but as building an economy from the ground up.
According to Martin, in order to build a resilient economy without risk to its population, Dominica must be governed differently. He went on to say, that in order to achieve a better economy, this may require revolutionary action in Dominica. The up and coming musical band ‘The Smith Brothers’ are set to host a fundraising concert on Thursday 6th July 2017, to purchase instruments & equipment, to continue growing their craft and entertaining the public.
The Smith Brothers have played at various events, including alongside popular local band ‘Breve’, at Mayfest 2016 and 2017, and at a jazz & Creole fringe event at the Urban Garden Cafe in Roseau. According to a release, the concert will feature the Smith Brothers as well as other artistes, including ‘Pac Man Live Painting’, CHS Music Students, Kelsie Leblanc, JC, and Lady S. The concert will be held at the Goodwill Primary School beginning at 7pm. Tickets can be purchased at the Goodwill Primary School, Urban Garden Cafe, Jays Bookstore, Alliance Francaise and The French Shop (next to the welfare department). Tickets cost $5 for children up to 12 years. Those aged 13 and older will pay $10 in advance, and $15 at the gate. Dominica hopes 28th June Workshop will help efforts to control imports of Ozone Depleting Substances6/29/2017 Photo: DA Vibes Dominica hopes a 1-day Workshop convened on Wednesday 28th June 2017, will help its efforts to control imports of ozone depleting substances.
The Environmental Coordinating Unit (ECU) of the Health & Environment Ministry, in conjunction with the United Nations Environment Programs, hosted that training for 15 customs & law enforcement officers, at the Fisheries Division’s conference room in Roseau. The participants included custom officers, custom brokers, Marine & Coast Guard officers, border control and enforcement officers, and staff members of the Dominica Air & Sea Port Authority (DASPA). Several topics were covered at the workshop, including; Ozone Layer Depletion, National Obligations & Response, International Response, Illegal Trade in Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS), Equipment & Products containing ODS, Safe handling, Transport & Storage of ODS, the role of the Custom Officers and other Key Stakeholders, as well as Customs ‘Quick Tool’. The primary objective of the workshop is reportedly to enhance skills in the implementation and enforcement of the Montreal Protocol Regulations, and to prevent the illegal trade in harmful ODS. Program Officer for the UN Environment, Donnalyn Charles, said the training is very important for the program to work in Dominica. She added that “The HPMP or HCFC Phase-Out Management Plan, is part of Dominica’s program of work, to assist the country in phasing out Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)”. Charles said this training is being implemented globally, and advised that similar programs are being implemented in all Caribbean and Latin America countries. She added that, Dominica, as a party to the Montreal Protocol, is mandated to control and phase-out the use of those substances. One man of Bath Estate has been fined over ten thousand dollars, for possession of Cannabis (weed), possession of a firearm and ammunition without a licence.
According to police reports, the task force unit conducted a search on the premises of Curlston Defoe of Bath Estate, where one 12-guage shotgun, one live round of 9mm ammunition and 55g of Cannabis (weed) were discovered and seized. Defoe was charged and taken before the courts where he pleaded guilty to all charges. Police PRO Pellam Jno-Baptiste has more.... Another charge of murder has been preferred against Patrickson Moses of Kingshill, better known as 'Gravity'. On Tuesday 27th June 2017, Moses was charged with the alleged murder of Flavian Bellot. Bellot was met in a semi-conscious state on River Bank, Roseau with multiple wounds to his head and face. He was transported to the Accident & Emergency department of the Princess Margaret Hospital, but soon thereafter succumbed to his injuries. Police PRO, Sergeant Pelham Jno Baptiste, has more details. Patrickson Moses was earlier this week charged with the murder of Anderson Carbon of Boetica.
Washington-Based DDD Member Marceline Edwards tells PM Skerrit come clean on US Investigations6/28/2017 Marceline Edwards, member of the Washington based ‘Diaspora Dominicans for Defence of Democracy’, an organization representing Dominican based in the Diaspora, has called on Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit to come clean with the Dominican public, following claims that he is under US investigations.
An article by Financial Crime Consultant, Kenneth Rijock, indicated that PM Skerrit is being investigated by the US authorities, in relation to allegations that he issued a Diplomatic Passport to ex-Dominican Diplomat Alireza Monfared, an Iranian National now in custody and facing criminal charges in Iran. But in an address to the nation in January, PM Skerrit denied these reports, describing them as a "treasonous campaign" by members of the opposition and their allies abroad. However, while addressing a meeting of the Dominican Diaspora in New York earlier this month, Marceline Edwards says a delegation from the Dominican Diaspora met with officials of the National Defence Department, who confirmed that PM Skerrit was under US investigation. Hotel Developer Sam Raphael says he will continue to advocate for implementation of term limits6/28/2017 Hotel Developer Sam Raphael says he will continue to advocate for the implementation of term limits. However, he is not in favour of regime change right now, as he does not believe that the Opposition has been able to justify the reasons why they should be elected.
The UWP has openly expressed its view on the implementation of term limits, stating that a UWP Government will ensure that a law is passed to stipulate two five year terms for ‘Office of Prime Minister’. But Raphael says the Opposition only sees term limits as a way to get the Roosevelt Skerrit led administration out of office, and should take blame for not being able to convince the electorate to vote for them. Foreign Minister Francine Baron is calling on the OAS to serve as a Development Finance Hub for SIDS6/28/2017 Foreign Minister Francine Baron is calling on the OAS to serve as a Development Finance Hub for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Speaking at the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) last week, Dominica's Foreign Minister suggested at a panel discussion on Integral Development and Prosperity in the Hemisphere, that the OAS follow the footsteps of the commonwealth in creating a Development Finance Hub to SIDS. She says this hub would provide the necessary technical input which SIDS lack in order to capitalize on financing made available for further development. Meanwhile, Baron says the financial challenges faced by the OAS should not deter the organization from playing a role in leveraging its resources through partnerships among member states.
According to Minister Baron, the two main challenges faced for small businesses development in the region are, limited access to affordable financing and the lack of adequate technical capacity. Speaking at a panel discussion on Development in the Hemisphere in Mexico last week, Baron said the OAS has provided assistance to some CARICOM countries, to implement US Small Business development centre models. She went on to describe these centres as a practical approach to providing much needed expertise to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME). Regional Testing Day (RTD) is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this Friday June 30 when people from 21 countries across the Caribbean including Dominica will be afforded the opportunity to get tested for HIV at over three hundred (300) sites across the region.
According to a release, the aim is to test one hundred thousand (100,000) people across the region during this 10th anniversary year. Last year over twenty thousand (20,000) people were tested in 20 countries at over 300 testing sites. Regional Testing Day has been organized by LIVE UP: The Caribbean Media Alliance for the last ten years, with the support of two (2) critical strategic partners: Scotiabank and the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV AIDS (PANCAP). Scotiabank makes their bank branches accessible so the public can be tested easily as they do their banking business while extending hospitality to the testing and counselling teams and taking care of any external infrastructure needed at testing sites. PANCAP mobilizes all Ministries and Departments of Health who in turn provide all the Counseling and Testing Teams. The Ministries of Health provide the testing kits, expertise and resources to conduct the testing at the agreed locations. A major milestone of the 10th Anniversary Regional Testing Day celebrations was the presentation of thirty-three (33) awards to organizations and individuals from across the Caribbean who have worked tirelessly over the last ten years in support of Regional Testing Day (RTD) activities. Coordinator of the Dominica National HIV/AIDS Response Program, Allison Samuel was among those awarded. |
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