UWP Senator, Dr. Thompson Fontaine, has described Lennox Linton's rebuttal to the 2016/17 budget report as one of the most brilliant rebuttals ever presented in the Dominica parliament.  While some members of the Dominica Labour Party have described Linton's rebuttal as "nothing new" Dr. Fontaine says Linton showed a great command of the issues.
 
He says the address from the Opposition Leader, was a masterful display of a man who cares deeply for the Dominican public and is very much concerned about the direction in which the country is heading.

​The Cultural Division and the National Cultural Council will hosts the Emancipation Walk and Concert 2016 in Grand Bay on July 29th in efforts to decentralize the Emancipation Festival 2016 activities.
 
At 5:00PM, beginning with drums and a libation at Tèt Lalé, the walk will proceed to the main venue at Hewlett Centre. Through ritual including libations, official speeches and cultural performances the walk and concert will pay homage to those Ancestors who died in the middle passage, and those who resisted slavery and other forms of oppression as well as honor some of those who contributed to the elevation of the Grand Bay community via their professional, social, political, cultural and other activities.
 
On arrival at Hewlett Heritage Centre, an Emancipation Drum Circle will be followed by the official ceremony at 6:00PM. The event will climax performances by cultural groups and artists including Michel Henderson, Sankofa Dance Company, Anyel Pacquette, and Montin Lapo Kabwit. There will also be screening of 2 mini documentaries produced by the cultural division entitled, “Sennsé Builders of Dominica’, and “Screw Pine”.

​Opposition Leader, Lennox Linton, says revenue allocation and spending authorized in the National Budget must be subjected to proper oversight by the public accounts committee, the audit department, and the budget office.
 
He is of the view that this will allow complete transparency and accountability of the funds allocated for the different ministerial portfolios within government.

​Dominican Athlete, Chelsey Linton, has placed 2nd in the Women Heptathlon at the NJCAA Division I Championship, in Texas USA. She also placed 6th in the women long jump.
 
Chelsey, as a senior at Essex Community College in Newark, New Jersey, improved her 3rd place finish in last year’s 2015 Women’s Heptathlon at the NJCCA Division I Nationals.
 
She has  since graduated from Essex Community College with an Associate's Degree in Business Administration. She is expected to meet all NCAA requirements by August 31st, 2016, in order to accept a full athletic scholarship to attend a 4–year NCAA Division I university in the US.
 
Speaking on the achievement, she said “it takes determination, hard work and sacrifice to pursue my dreams”.
 
Linton was awarded a sports scholarship in 2014 by the Marigot Development Corporation.
 
Michael Pascal, The Project Coordinator, says, ‘the MDC is elated with Chelsey’s performance to date and hopes her success will motivate other athletes on island’’. 

Two men and one woman have been arrested following two drug busts at Tan Tan and Picard.
 
The search warrants were executed on Wednesday July 27, 2016, by the Drug Squad Unit.
 
According to Police PRO, Sergeant Pelham Jno Baptiste, the search resulted in the seizure of a rifle, ammunition, 24,659g of alleged cocaine and over 288g of alleged cannabis weed.
Jno Baptiste has more details.

The Dominica Government says it will be taking steps to broaden the scope of its Public Support Program.
 
In his budget address this week,  Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, says this is in a bid to allow the Government to be more accessible and more receptive to the needs of citizens.
 
"...we have not yet mastered the art of solving people's problems. We have to simplify the process of Government to make it work easier and in a more efficient manner for citizens" said PM Skerrit.
 
He says his Government will be creating the necessary administrative structures to cater to the needs of citizens in the north, south, east and west of the country.

An overseas based criminologist is refuting claims he has asked the Roosevelt Skerrit led administration for over $100,000 for conducting training workshops and seminars on crime for youth on island.
 
Criminologist, Dr Peter St Jean, says any and all talks circulating that he has asked for funds from the government to conduct sessions are untrue.
 
Dr St Jean who hails from the village of Trafalgar, is currently on island to conduct summer training camps for young people as well as working with local police in an effort to help fight crime.

​Criminologist Dr Peter St Jean
Dr St Jean has also been affiliated with several voluntary organizations that include Stop the Violence Coalition, Parents encouraging accountability and closure for everyone, Peace, the Buffalo Crime Reduction Task Force, The Martin Luther King Bloc Club and the Dominica Academy of Arts & Sciences.
He is deeply involved in organizing seminars and workshops for youth in an effort to give them a better outlook on life and to help stem the crime rate among youth in Dominica and the US.

​Housing Minister, Reginald Austrie, has described as a tremendous feat the handing over of 50 houses in a 7 month time frame.
 
The minister made these remarks during a recent site visit at the Dubique resettlement project located in Centre, Grandbay.
 
The southern community of Dubique was hit hard during the passage of TS Erika, and has since been evacuated  on the basis of the area being unsafe.
 
Residents are presently being housed in various locations in Grandbay.
Following the passage of the storm, the Venezuelan Government donated 300 houses, known as Petro Casas to Dominica to go towards those affected.
 
The first 50 houses which arrived on island went towards the Dubique resettlement.
 
Austrie says, although not the official handing over ceremony, residents have been given keys to their new homes.

Austrie says this speaks to the friendships between Dominica and Venezuela.

​Agriculture Minister, Johnson Drigo, says DEXIA must continue to work with the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the multipurpose pack houses.
 
Two pack houses located in Goodwill and Portsmouth were officially commissioned Friday and are geared towards enhancing the quality off produce being exported.
 
Drigo also hopes that the commissioning of the facility will include a package of incentives, education and training for farmers to be able to patronize the pack houses.

Drigo says government is serious about implementing measures to improve exports of high quality produce.
 
Some 10 million dollars is to be made available for un-lending to farmers through the AID Bank.

The United Workers Party will take to the streets from 4.30pm today in its '1000 Man March'.

​UWP Senator, Dr. Thompson Fontaine, is encouraging all Dominicans concerned over the state of the island's economy and democracy here to join them in this march for change.

Meanwhile, he describes this march as timely as it comes at a time when the country is confronted by some major issues.
 
Among those highlighted by the UWP Senator are job creation, agriculture and electoral reform.