Opposition Leader Lennox Linton is an outspoken advocate for cannabis reformation, especially as it pertains to medicinal uses for those in need.
 
One of many recommendations being made to help boost Dominica’s economy, is the legalization of cannabis.
 
Linton says that it makes no sense to have a plant or herb illegal in a country that boasts to be the nature island of the world.
 
The Opposition leader says creating a cannabis industry could raise Dominica’s profile as the Nature Island of the world.

​Opposition Leader Lennox Linton

​The Dominica Freedom Party has provided its recommendations on the DLP government’s proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill. A letter sent to the Attorney General on 13th July 2018, as regards the Anti-terrorism Bill, stated ‘as per your deliberations in Parliament on that matter on June 25th, in which you indicated that interested persons have until July 15th to submit written suggestions for amendments to the bill, the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) wishes to make the broad suggestions contained in this letter for adjustments to the bill, before it is brought back to parliament for the second reading.  However, we reiterate as per our letter to you dated June 28, 2018, that we are of the view that the time allotted for feedback to the government is not sufficient. 
 
Though we note your response to our letter, we still advise that a minimum of three months be allowed before the bill is submitted to Parliament for the second reading and should that advice be heeded we could possibly make another submission that would have the benefit of our thorough review.
 
Our substantive issues and suggestions are as follows; We note that Section 2, Subsection 2 of Dominica Anti-terrorism Bill, provides an exception to section 3 (general definition of terrorist Act). We note the general intention contained in this section and that a similar intent is reflected in the UN model legislation and in most such Acts of other countries. This clause is very important, as it preserves our constitutional right to assemble, to protest, to free speech etc.
 
Jamaica goes a step further and says this: “This Act shall be interpreted and administered so as to ensure Jamaica’s conformity with its international obligations while protecting the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by the constitution”.
 
We recommend that a similar clause be included in Dominica’s legislation. Given the present climate of extreme political mistrust in our country, it would be wise for the Government of Dominica to seek to place sufficient “guarantee” clauses into the Anti-terrorism Bill including those like the one above, in order to allay fear associated with political mistrust.  It is better to seek peace than to create contention.

​Ross University was forced to move its operations to mainland USA following the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria. Concerns have also been raised by some who claim that Ross is exploring the possibility of establishing operations in other Caribbean islands.
 
Parliamentary Representative for the Portsmouth constituency, Ian Douglas now says the DLP government is responding to demands made by Ross University, as speculation continues to mount as to whether or not operations will resume in Dominica.
 
Douglas says some of the Provisions in the 2018/19 National Budget are part of Governments efforts to deliver some of the requests made by the Ross university. 

​Portsmouth MP, Ian Douglas

CEO of the Discover Dominica Colin Piper says it is possible that a hospitality institute will be established at the Dominica State College. He says this will complement the quality of service for future increases in hotel room stock on the island.
 
He claims that customer service is one of the key factors when conducting business in any field, and especially in tourism, and given Dominica’s resilient approach to tourism, the education sector has implemented a new strategy to get the next generation involved.

​CEO of Discover Dominica Authority, Colin Piper

​A series of procedures aimed at reducing the time it takes to clear goods from the Customs Division will reportedly soon be published by the Ministry of Finance. These procedures, which will be published on the Dominica Government’s website, are necessary to better inform the general public of measures implemented to facilitate the conduct of business.
 
This announcement made by Finance Minister Roosevelt Skerrit following “grave concern” expressed by the private sector, that the ASYCUDA WORLD computer software which was introduced in 2009 to increase efficiency in processing imports at the Customs Division is not being put to optimal use.
 
Mr Skerrit informed Parliament on Wednesday July 25, 2018 that the Customs Division was required to update the risk profiles of private sector firms with a view to reducing the number of companies whose imports must be assessed before release and the expansion of the use of the prepayment system.
 
Mr Skerrit noted that a prepayment system which has been in place at the Customs since December 1, 2011 provides importers with an alternative payment option on the ASYCUDA World system.
 
Individuals, Companies, Sole Traders, Brokers and other interested persons who are registered holders of an ASYCUDA user name and password and are desirous of establishing a prepayment account, are required to officially fill in a prepayment account application form and submit to the Comptroller of Customs for approval.
 
Account holders will be issued with a pre-payment account number and a required PIN number (secret code) to be associated with their account. All prepayment accounts must have a minimum limit of two thousand, five hundred Eastern Caribbean dollars (EC$2,500).

​The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), along with Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT), has produced its annual Global Travel forecast for 2019, highlighting several key factors that they estimate will shape the global economic environment for travel in 2019.
 
The report notes first that one of the key risks to global economic recovery is the rise of protectionist policies and the prospect of stoking trade wars around the world.
 
The report acknowledged that, while global trade has finally recovered to near pre-2008 levels, and is a key driver of corporate travel, any policy aimed at protectionism, or reducing the level of global trade and cooperation, will have a detrimental impact on the demand for global business travel.
 
Earlier in June 2018, US President Donald Trump made good on his campaign promise of getting “tougher” on trade with China, by pledging to raise tariffs by up to ten percent on some US$200 billion worth of Chinese goods; and additional 35 percent of tariffs on another US$50 billion worth of Chinese goods, all of which are subject to an August, 2018 review for implementation or amendment or cancellation.

​US President Donald Trump has offered to meet Iran's leaders with "no preconditions" and at any time they want. I'd meet with anybody. I believe in meetings," the US president told reporters at the White House.
 
Mr Trump's conciliatory approach comes after he and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani traded hostile warnings earlier this month.
In May, the US left a deal which curbed Iran's nuclear activities in return for the lifting of international sanctions.
 
Washington is preparing to re-impose sanctions on Tehran within days - despite objections from the UK, France, China, Russia and Germany, which also signed the 2015 agreement.
 
The US is deeply suspicious of Iranian activity in the Middle East and is an ally of Israel and Saudi Arabia, two of Iran's foes. 

​Jolly’s Health Vibe Host and Veteran Health Advocate Carlton Landquedoc expressed the importance of skin protection as it relates to our health.
Landqudeoc was promoting a special powder sold at the Jolly’s Pharmacy and some of the active ingredients within it. Mr. Landquedoc explained the importance of knowing the ingredients of the product you are buying. He says many powders have tarp, which is a compound that is theorized to play an active role in ovarian cancer in women, and advises to be cautious when purchasing these products.
He then went on to mention the many great benefits of Zinc oxide which is one of the main chemicals within the calamine powder product.

​Jolly’s Health Vibe Host and Veteran Health Advocate Carlton Landquedoc

​One of the founding members and fore fathers of the Dominican Labour Party. The late Hon. Rosie Douglas, will forever be immortalized as a man of the people.
The Hon. Roosevelt Bernard Douglas was a black power activist, human rights agitator and international statesman.

​Douglas also mentioned the importance of discipline that one needs to have to be a leader.

​After Hurricane Maria, the Agriculture Sector in Dominica has taken a significant impact.
Many experts stated that before 2017, agriculture especially the banana industry have seen a significant decline.
Dominica has made it mark in the international market as a top banana producer during the time of the Dominica’s freedom party.
And a huge reason for this was the vision of the Prime Minister then Mrs. Charles in an interview held in the 80’s she shared some of her wisdom. Some would argue that, it is more relevant now than back then.

​The late Dame Eugenia Charles