​DEXIA as recently as 2019, following the devastation by Hurricane Maria, introduced the Cocoa Cluster Development Project, in collaboration with a number of key stakeholders to spearhead the development of the island's "Fine & Flavored" Cocoa Industry. The project has received funding from Compete Caribbean Partnership Facility and DEXIA. To date, a number of activities have been undertaken to include the development of a 3-part documentary video series for cocoa stakeholders. DEXIA is this week observing its 35th Anniversary.

Trade Minister, Ian Douglas.

A new executive has been selected to lead the Leo & Lions Clubs of Dominica.The clubs held their annual installation dinner on the weekend under the theme "Serving with Renewed Commitment, and Love". Incoming President of the Lions Club Janice Hypolite says it is an honor to receive the position.

Incoming President of the Lions Club, Janice Hypolite
 
Meanwhile, Incoming President of the Leo Club Eamon Gibbons, says the Leo Club has provided him the opportunities to develop himself, and learn leadership qualities.

​Incoming President of the Leo Club, Eamon Gibbons.

On 12thJuly Dominica will sign an MOU with the World Paediatric program where services are given to less fortunate children from developing countries regarding surgical procedures. This announcement came from Health Minister, Dr Irving McIntyre.

​Health Minister, Dr Irving McIntyre.

​‘It is weeks now, that Indian International Media has confirmed that a Senior Official of CS Global and Partners, which collects a commission from every Dominican Passport sold through the country’s CBI Program, took a private plane chattered to Dominica on the evening that Mehul Choksi arrived in Dominica tortured, given to Dominica’s Police and detained possibly on the order of the Ag Chief of Police Lincoln Corbett.’
 
Leader of Dominica’s Parliamentary Opposition and Marigot MP, Lennox Linton, questions the Skerrit Administration’s silence on this issue of the ongoing Mehul Choksi Saga.

​Marigot MP, Lennox Linton

​WAVE’s President Franklyn Cuffy says congratulations are in order for the management of the Rosalie Resort and Spa, for adopting the Rosalie River, protecting its environment and monitoring against pollution.
 
Cuffy told Q95 news the resort is planning some major activities for this year’s World Rivers Day carded for September 26, 2021. World Rivers Day is a global celebration of the world's waterways, observed every last Sunday in September.

​WAVE President, Franklyn Cuffy

​CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque received Letters of Credence from the new Ambassador of Belgium to CARICOM His Excellency Hugo Verbist in a virtual ceremony 
 
In his remarks Ambassador LaRocque said it is now abundantly clear to us that the stark disparity in vaccination access poses a serious risk to our recovery. CARICOM believes that more can be done by the developed countries to provide access to vaccines for developing countries.I take due note of Belgium’s contribution both in cash and vaccines. We highly appreciate the EU’s contribution to the COVAX Facility.  
 
He went on further to state, “We would welcome the support of Belgium in using its important voice in the international community towards the development of a universal vulnerability index.  This would be a more relevant criterion, especially for small vulnerable economies like ours, than that of GDP per capita.”

​CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador, Irwin LaRocque

The Month of July will officially be recognized and launched as Cadence-Lypso Month this Friday July 2, 2021. That’s according to Event Promoter, Veteran Radio Personality and host of the “Creole Heartbeat" Program, Leroy Wadix Charles. He listed the dates of a series of panel discussions to take place throughout the month of June, with an official press launch at 11am at the UWI open Campus.
 
Cadence-Lypso is a fusion of cadence rampa from Haiti and Calypso from Trinidad & Tobago, that has also spread to other English-speaking countries of the Caribbean. Originated in the 1970s by the Dominican band ExileOne, it spread and became popular in dance clubs around the Creole world and Africa and in the French Antilles.
 
Gordon Henderson is the leader and founder of Exile One, and the one who coined the term Cadence-Lypso.

​Veteran Radio Personality and host of the “Creole Heartbeat “Program, Leroy Wadix Charles

One of the WCMF Initiators, Former Minister of Finance, and Owner of AC Shillingford and Company, Julius Timothy, adds that the World Creole Music Festival Project was significant to the economy of Dominica, and provided an overview of what he experienced while he served as Finance Minister.
 
He revealed that engaging the French neighboring islands to participate in Dominica’s WCMF events, was one of the best decisions agreed upon by the original Dominica Festivals Commission.

Timothy also revealed that the Executive of the committee always Executed the event, in ways that would financially benefit Dominicans throughout the Tourism Sector.

​One of the WCMF Initiators, Former Minister of Finance, and Owner of AC Shillingford and Company, Julius Timothy.

Owner of Ace Engineering Ltd and Executive Member of the Dominica Business Forum, Anthony Leblanc, expresses the need for implementation of the House-to-House Verification exercise, to clean up the voters list and registration Reform – ensuring that ID’s are created not only for voting, but to eliminate multiple registration fraud which is highly suspected to have occurred in the 2019 General Elections in Dominica.

Leblanc laments to the Dominican Public that the foolish dependency on indelible Ink for voting is ridiculous, taking into consideration the anti-Election fraud systems adopted by other democratic countries globally in recent years.

​Owner of Ace Engineering Ltd and Executive Member of the Dominica Business Forum, Anthony Leblanc

Hospital Medical Director Ruby Blanc says the New Ophthalmology Wing at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital is gearing up to begin seeing patients as soon as next week.
 
Dr. Ruby Blanc speaking at yesterday’s press conference at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital (DCFH) announced a potential screening solution to identify Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients with Diabetes.
 
The Ophthalmology department of the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) collaborated in conducting research into the use of this technology.
 
She says many patientsare awaitingfor their opportunity to be seen or treated due to the present circumstance, but the staff is optimistic about the days ahead.
 

She encourages diabetics to take the necessary measures to keep themselves healthy and maintainregular check-ins, as it is with a collaborative effort that much can be accomplished.

​Dr Ruby Blanc, Hospital Medical Director.