Assistant Principal at the St Mary's Academy James DePiro says the school has begun the process for mock exams in preparation for fifth formers who will sit the 2020 CSEC Examinations. Consent forms were signed by parents, and permission from the Ministry of Education to ensure guidelines and protocols were properly established. No more than 10 students are being allowed in a classroom and 6 ft apart.There are 51 fifth formers and they are all taking the exams. SMA started the mock exams on June 22nd & will end June 30th. Assistant Principal at the St Mary's Academy, James DePiro
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Reports reaching Q95 indicate that the body of a young male was found in Laudat on Saturday along a popular nature trail.
Details of the incident are sketchy, but Q95 News will bring you updates as more information becomes available. Chairman of the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) Steve Joseph is reminding the Dominican public and government of the general duties of the Union and recommends to the government that it develops and approves Stimulus Packages which benefit displaced people in any crisis. Additionally, referencing the ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic, Joseph complemented the DSS and the Administration for ensuring some grant disbursements were given to persons who have become unemployed as a result of the pandemic. He says to date, this measure which required the collaboration of the government, the DEF and the DSS Board, is the only sensible financial assistance given to Dominicans in these difficult times by government. Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) Chairman, Steve Joseph
Sagicor Life Inc Board Member and Chief Operating Officer at Sagicor Financial Corp, Ravi Rambarran, explained to media, Sagicor’s response to the Covid-19 Pandemic from its onset. Sagicor currently operates in 19 countries and is said to have activated its disaster plans to protect and provide financial assistance to stakeholders, including communities, staff and clients. According to Ravi Rambarran, the Company made revolutionary steps in ensuring business continuity. He elaborated on the details of the measures taken to assist Clients. Rambarran says the executive’s engagement with its clients and stakeholders has been positive during this crisis. Sagicor Life Inc Board Member and Chief Operating Officer at Sagicor Financial Corp, Ravi Rambarran
“From all indication, LIAT will be liquidated,” Prime Minister Gaston Browne has just announced.The Prime Minister said there will be a meeting of all shareholders shortly to discuss collapsing LIAT.A new entity will be formed.“COVID would have actually, let’s say increased the losses exponentially, so whereas in all of 2019 LIAT made a loss of about EC$12 million, that was within the means of the shareholder governments to subsidize,” Browne said on local radio in Antigua.“You would have found that since COVID, the planes have been grounded, they have to pay the lease payments and they are not getting any revenue.
“A decision will have to be made to collapse it and then maybe the countries within the region will have to come together to form a new entity,” Browne added.The Antigua and Barbuda leader says he cannot see the region moving forward without a form of connectivity and you cannot have an integration movement if people cannot connect.Browne said the new entity will require full cooperation with a mixture of public and private capital.“What I’m hoping that we do not have going forward with the new entity, is any squabble over the location of the headquarters,” Browne said.“At the end of the day, the only service that Antigua and Barbuda has enjoyed … within CARICOM is LIAT and this has been the case for several decades.“So I just hope that we are not going to have countries within the region opportunistically fighting us to get the headquarters in their country to displace Antigua and Barbuda,” added Browne. Leeward Island Air Transport was established in 1956 on the island of Montserrat. In 1971 Court Line Aviation of the UK acquired control and renamed the airline LIAT. Ownership of the airline was acquired by 11 Caribbean Governments in 1974 and it was renamed LIAT (1974) Ltd.Prime Minister Browne said the formation of the new entity must be done swiftly.“Back in 1974 when LIAT was collapsed, my understanding is that it took a day to start theoperation of a new entity,” he said.“It may be a little more difficult to get it done within 24 hours and I do understand that there are a number of stakeholders that we have to satisfy, especially creditors and I believe that we could do a work out with the various creditors and to literally get some arrangement in which they can accept that we are not conveniently closing LIAT 1974 Ltd. The governments cannot go any further with it. “And these creditors, including the staff of LIAT, have to understand that there will have to be some level of cooperation to include possibly some cuts on their liabilities in order to facilitate the creation of a new, viable and sustainable entity,” Browne said.The Prime Minister made the point that LIAT does not have sufficient assets to satisfy the requirements or claims of most of its creditors, including the airline’s employees.“LIAT only owns three planes and those planes are charged to the Caribbean Development Bank, so clearly they have a superior claim and after they would have covered their claim there will be hardly any assets available to liquidate severance and other liabilities to staff and other creditors, so there has to be a negotiated position,” Browne said. “The governments won’t be bandits and just walk away from the staff, they will have to pay some form of compassionate payments to assist them. But they have to understand that they are legally vulnerable and that they have to look at the bigger picture and to cooperate, not to become litigious and to prevent the creation of a new LIAT.”Browne is already making it clear that he would want the new entity to retain LIAT in its name.“We should not be running away from the name LIAT,” he said.“LIAT is a Caribbean institution built by Caribbean people of which we should be proud. Many institutions in the US in the aviation industry, including American Airlines, they have gone belly-up many times over. They never discontinued the name American Airlines. Americans are proud to support the name American Airlines, but whereas they have their Chapter 11 protection, we don’t have that in our laws.“And that is why you need this level of creditor cooperation in order to ensure that we can form a new entity,” Browne said. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said the new airline will be much leaner that the current LIAT, which employs hundreds throughout the region.“Let’s face it, it’s going to be a right-sized entity. You are going to have significant job losses, there’s no doubt about it. Hundreds of people are going to lose their work, it is inescapable” Browne said.“But if you are going to have a new entity that is scaled down, that is viable, that is efficient, that can meet the connectivity needs of the Caribbean people, then clearly that has to be the option that we pursue.”LIAT was founded by aviation pioneer, Sir Frank Delisle in October 1956. He was LIAT’s sole employee, operating one three-seater Piper Apache aircraft flying between Antigua and Montserrat.In 1957 the airline extended its route structure to include St Eustatius, St Maarten and St Kitts. It also added one six-seater Beechcraft Twin Bonanza to its fleet.LIAT made its first operating profit of EC$653,000 in 1982. The law and politics should not mix; and the actions of the Attorney General are unbecoming. This is according to president of the Dominica Freedom Party Johnson Boston.Mr. Boston says the law is there for everyone, it matters not what one’s political orientation is. Boston describes such actions by the Attorney General as distasteful; as these statements came in reaction to the Attorney General’s letter sent to the ECSC Chief Justice. He commends the lawyers who are taking steps in the path of Democracy, and encourages other persons to do the same. President of the DFP, Johnson Boston.
Chief Executive Officer of Discover Dominica Authority, Colin Piper says a decision on the 2020 World Creole Music Festival is still under review in light of the Covid19 Pandemic. Mr. Piper says discussions amongst stakeholders and the DFC are ongoing. He says they are now in the process of transmitting the feedback to Ministry, to forward to Cabinet for a decision. He says there are many levels of concern to be taken into consideration before a final decision is made. CEO of Discover Dominica Authority, Colin Piper
The Alternatives People Party labels as a huge success; their ‘fathers’ day’ lunch and the 1000 fathers imitative which took place in Newtown and environs. Sherlyn Sabroach speaks on the success of the party’s fathers’ day lunch and the 1000, fathers imitative which took place within the Newtown and environs location. She says the expectation was to feed 100 persons, but the initiative went above and beyond expectations. She said there were great interactions and enjoyment and labeled it a job well done. She added that the APP has a list of activities on its agendas, and encourages persons to stay on the lookout for them. APP Executive member, Ms Sherlyn Sabroach
Political Scientist Alex Bruno clears the air the on rumors re his position in the Alternative Peoples Party, and his contribution to the December 6, 2019 General Elections. He says that he isn’t aware what these allegations are about or what he has done to mislead the partyor caused them not win the elections. He was speaking on the “Peoples Voice “program over the weekend the time of the statement. He says the APP is one of new vigor with ideal timing, and shared pages of history where new parties were formed and make change in Dominica’s history as a breath of fresh air. Political Scientist, Alex Bruno
‘The family is grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support from persons in all walks of life, which we have received during the past 48 hours. People have been making phone calls, messaging on social media and taking to the radio airwaves to express their condolence on hearing of Mikey’s passing. These have been a great source of comfort to us in this difficult time, coming so soon after the passing of another brother, Reggie.
While we mourn his loss, we thank God for the gift of Mikey’s life on earth. The family is indeed proud of his achievements and the contribution he made to society. The fact that he was able to touch so many lives in a positive manner speaks volumes about the kind of person he was. So many stories have been told about how he made a difference in people’s lives or brought a smile and made someone’s day. What is amazing is that he was able to accomplish all these things while for the most part staying out of the public view. We pray God’s blessings upon all those who rallied around Mikey and lifted his spirits during the trying final days before he moved on from this life to the next. At this time, funeral arrangements are being put in place and details will be announced as soon as they have been finalised. |
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