​At the 2024 North East Comprehensive School (NECS) graduation ceremony, featured speaker Dr. Michael Reefe encouraged graduates to embark on their post-graduation journey with vision and determination. He urged them to bring their unseen potential to life, calling it the foundation for greatness. Dr. Reefe also invoked Nelson Mandela's words, reminding graduates that there is no passion to be found playing small and settling for a life that is less than what you are capable of receiving. This year’s Ceremony was held under the theme “Breaking Barriers to Achieve Greatness”.

​Dr. Reefe advised graduates that true success comes when they desire it as much as they need to breathe, encouraging them to keep striving for greatness. He urged them to persist in their efforts to achieve remarkable accomplishments.

​Featured speaker at the 2024 North East Comprehensive School Graduation Ceremony, Dr. Michael Reefe.

​Photo: Installed equipment is use at the recent DAPD AGM
 
The Rotary Club of Dominica, a non-profit and voluntary community service organization, is gearing up to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Known for its numerous initiatives aimed at improving the lives of others, the club recently completed a major project benefiting the Dominica Association of Persons with Disabilities (DAPD) Inc.
 
This year, the Rotary Club retrofitted the Conference Room of the Multi-Purpose Development Centre of the DAPD. The enhancements include the installation of air conditioning units, a large-screen television, a conference camera, speakers & microphone & new furniture linens. The upgrades provide a comfortable efficient working environment for users of the facility.
 
The upgraded conference room is now better equipped to host DAPD’s events and activities. Additionally, the improvements are expected to significantly increase the organization's earning potential by making the facility more appealing to a broader range of potential users.
 

​Tomorrow June 28, 2024 the Dominica Solid Waste Management Corporation, in collaboration with J Astaphan & Co. Ltd, will host a prize-giving ceremony at the Goodwill Primary School Auditorium. The event will celebrate the achievements of 41 schools, awarding them with prizes totaling over $26,000. In addition to the prize distribution, two new recycling competitions will be introduced, encouraging further participation and environmental responsibility among students & schools across Dominica. 

In a stern address to the citizens of Dominica, United Workers Party President Lennox Linton has voiced strong opposition to the current Skerrit-led DLP government's approach to electoral reforms. Linton emphasized that any administration that believes it can unilaterally dictate electoral reforms to help them win elections should not hold office. He urged Dominicans to consider their response if the government calls another snap election, highlighting the need for vigilance and accountability in the democratic process. 

United Workers Party, President, Lennox Linton.

​IsraAID Dominica has launched disaster response training across educational institutions on the island to enhance the disaster response capacity of Dominicans. Senior Program Officer Wynela Francis announced on state-owned radio that the initiative has started in the Roseau South constituency.

​Senior Program Officer, Wynela Francis

​President Lennox Linton criticized the current administration, asserting that a government must serve its people. He condemned the government for engaging in fraudulent activities and election manipulation, declaring such actions as contrary to the interests of the populace. Linton highlighted the struggles faced by Dominicans, accusing the government of neglecting their needs and misusing resources. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit claims substantial funds are being allocated annually to create overseas construction jobs. Despite these claims, unemployment remains a pressing issue within Dominica.

Lennox Linton has raised concerns about the exclusion of Dominicans from governmental affairs. According to Linton, the government only consults with citizens when the budget is about to be announced. He highlighted that for the past 20 years, Dominica has had a government that neglects critical issues, such as healthcare at the Dominica- China Friendship Hospital. Instead of addressing these pressing needs, the government prioritizes using resources to benefit foreigners.

​United Workers Party, President Lennox Linton

On Tuesday, WashBourne Cuffy, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Electoral Reform Coalition (ERC), announced plans for the ERC to host an electoral rally in Roseau on July 7, 2024. Cuffy also read a statement from the ERC expressing concern that the revised draft legislation submitted by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has omitted some critical recommendations made by Sir Dennis Byron, which are essential to meeting demands for electoral reform.

​Cuffy further stated that, in addition to removing crucial campaign financing regulations, the Prime Minister's recommendations fail to adequately address issues related to residency, voter registration, Voter identification and Campaign Finance requirements.

WashBourne Cuffy, PRO of the Electoral Reform Coalition (ERC).

Public Health and Development Professional Tonia Frame addresses the contentious issue of abortion, highlighting its unique challenges in the Caribbean. Frame acknowledges the difficulty in accepting abortion within the region but emphasizes that it should be regarded as a standard medical procedure. She stresses the importance of considering not only the physical health of women but also their mental well-being when discussing abortion.

​Dr. Frame emphasized the importance of considering the quality of life a woman will experience due to an unwanted pregnancy. She also highlighted the legal constraints that prevent healthcare professionals from making decisions in the best interest of their patients in such situations.

Grenada Plan Parenthood Association, President, Dr Tonia Frame.

​At a pre-budget consultation on Tuesday, Financial Secretary Denise Edwards announced that the government will seek parliamentary approval in the coming weeks to borrow an additional $8 million USD for the agricultural sector. This funding is intended to further the development and advancement of agriculture in the country. Edwards highlighted that significant investments have already been made in the sector through loans, which the government is consistently repaying on a monthly basis.

​Dominica’s Financial Secretary, Denise Edwards.

​Indigenous leaders from the Caribbean and Canada advocated for greater economic empowerment, participation in decision-making, and robust protection of rights at the Indigenous Peoples Forum held during the Caribbean Development Bank's (CDB) 54th Annual Meeting in Ottawa, Canada.

Themed "Catalyzing Caribbean-Canada Collaboration on Indigenous Peoples Affairs for Resilient Prosperity," the forum marked a significant initiative in the Bank's ongoing efforts to address challenges affecting Indigenous communities in the region through international cooperation.

The event provided a platform for representatives to address systemic challenges facing their communities. Attendees included political leaders, community elders, and Indigenous rights advocates from communities such as the Kalinago of Dominica, Garifuna of Belize, and First Nations across Canada.

Dominica's Minister for the Environment, Rural Modernization, and Kalinago Upliftment, Cozier Frederick, spoke passionately about the historical underrepresentation of Indigenous voices and their contributions to sustainable development. As a Kalinago himself, he praised the CDB's innovative approach and called for continued advocacy to ensure the rights and inclusion of all Indigenous peoples in shaping a better future.