​Three local coaches have now received the status of Assistant Coach Educator after having participated in a two week Football Coaches Educator Program in Barbados.
 
Wayne George, Michael Joseph and Egbert Jno Baptiste recently graduated from the program which was held at the Academy of sports at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus.
 
The program was conducted by Mr. Kris Van DerHaegen, a member of UEFA's JIRA panel and Director of coaching education of the Royal Belgian Football Association from July 6th- 20th 2016.
 
Participant and Teacher at the Dominica Community High School, Egbert Jno Baptiste, described the program as educational, intense and informative. He highlights some of the areas covered during the two week program. 

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Meanwhile, he says they look forward to working with local coaches to develop the game of football here.

​Over the last four days, 12 officers of the Plant Protection & Quarantine unit were subject to a training workshop on Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) hosted by The Plant Protection & Quarantine Services of the Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (USDA/APHIS), the Caribbean Agricultural Health & Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA), of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) with financial support from the 10th EDF SPS project implemented by the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission .
 
During the workshop’s closing ceremony, Plant Protection & Quarantine Officer Ryan Anselm stated that in the Plant Protection unit, the old adage prevention is better than cure rings true, as the participants learned to initiate pest risk analyses as well as assess pathways. 

​The purpose of this training was to strengthen Plant Health officials of the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries in conducting scientific pest risk analysis.

​Former IMF Economist ,Dr. Thompson Fontaine, says government must place all monies collected into the consolidated fund.
 
Fontaine says the DLP Government is in violation of Dominica’s constitution, and made reference to some $143 million dollars which was collected by the government in 2015, from the sale of Dominica’s passports.
 
He accuses the government of receiving additional money and not placing it into the consolidated fund.

​Former Minister of Government, Ronald Green, says Dominica’s economy is worse than its previous state in 2005.
He is of the view that under the ruling of the Dominica Labour Party, for the past 10 years, no significant change has taken place to boost economic growth in Dominica.

​He says it is only through unity can Dominica’s economy move forward to success.
 
Green says democracy must be upheld and maintained in Dominica by citizens and parliamentary members so as to ensure transparency, accountability and true democracy within society.

​Opposition Leader, Lennox Linton, is proposing measures to improve on the living conditions of seniors here.
 
Linton, addressing parliament Wednesday, proposed an elderly care model which includes the reduction of VAT on food and utilities,  a review of senior's income and the establishment of four senior care centres.

This suggestion comes following Government's proposal for a 50 percent increase in the Non Contributory Social Allowance of persons 70 and over and the establishment of a Yes We Care program.
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​A Geothermal Bill being proposed by the DLP Government is being described as "too little too late" by Opposition Leader Lennox Linton.
 
The bill is expected to be taken before parliament in the coming months and will govern the exploration, development and exploitation of power that will be generated from the country’s geothermal resources.
 
Linton says this bill is late in coming after having spent millions on geothermal explorations here.

​PM Roosevelt Skerrit says as of June 30 2016, the total financial resources received as emergency assistance following the passage of TS Erika last year was 46.7 million EC Dollars.
 
The PM made the disclosure while presenting the 2016/2017 national budget Tuesday.
 
In August last year, the country was severely damaged following the passage of TS Erika.
Damages of up to 1.3billion dollars was reported.
 
Dominica received assistance from several of its international allies.
And the PM says as of June 2016 an amount of 20.4 million dollars has already been spent.

​Finance Minister, PM Roosevelt Skerrit, has announced that the British Government will finance the rehabilitation of the entire road from Loubiere to Bagatelle and Fond St Jean.
 
This will be done with grant funding under the UK Caribbean Infrastructure Fund, in excess of 25million pounds.
 
Skerrit made this pronouncement during his budget address on Tuesday.
 
He says the process of selection for consultants has commenced with the evaluation of the bids and construction expected to begin next year.
He also spoke of other road rehabilitation projects to be undertaken.

​Skerrit stated further that government is aware of the importance of the Roseau Valley to the tourism industry.
 
And as such there is a comprehensive plan to improve the road network there.

​Kalinago Affairs Minister, Cassius Darroux, says he is optimistic that in the years ahead there will be increased economic activity within the territory.
 
The Ministry of Kalinago Affairs will receive funds for the continuation of the Carib Territory Community Capacity Project and a Small Business Development Fund.
 
Both projects are aimed at providing more direct assistance to the Kalinago people.
 
The Small Business development Fund is a facility directed towards Kalinago entrepreneurs seeking to start or expand their small businesses.


Darroux says he is satisfied with the allocations towards his ministry, as quite a bit of development will be seen in his constituency.
 

​Opposition Leader, Lennox Linton, wants periodic budget performance reviews to allow parliament to see the trend of overall spending and prepare cabinet to reassess budget alignment with fiscal objective and development priorities.
 
Linton stressed that Parliament can no longer continue to be silent on the implementation of budget allocations.