The Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce (DAIC) and the Network of Caribbean Chambers of Commerce (CARICHAM) will host another episode in the CARICHAM Regional Growth Series, designed to support the Members of the Chambers who are part of CARICHAM the Private Sector of the Caribbean Region, and other Stakeholders.
 
This third episode of the CARICHAM Regional Growth Series explores the topic, 'The Importance of Regional Air Transportation for the Economic Recovery of the Caribbean."
 
The Presenters of this webinar are: Honorable Allen M. Chastanet - Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Dr. Justin Ram - Co-Founder and CEO of GSec and Justin Ram Advisory, Mr. Gordon Foote - Interim CEO of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, This panel will be moderated by Dr. Thackway Dax Driver (Chairperson of CARICHAM) - President and CEO of the Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago.
 
The Webinar will be held on Thursday, August 6th, from 10:00 AM to 12:0 PM AST/Eastern Caribbean Time. To register individuals are advised to access the GoToWebinar app, and must pre-register to receive an invitation to attend. Participants will be able to post their questions and comments to the panelists via CHAT option only as microphones will be disabled. 
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The Faculty of Health Sciences of the Dominica State College hosted its 8th Pinning and Capping Ceremony, on Tuesday, July 28, 2020, at the Berean Bible Church in Bath Estate under the theme “A journey without challenges has no memories.”
 
The Pinning and Capping ceremony symbolized the handover of the Graduate Nurses to the Nursing Profession. Speaking to Q95 news on Friday, Public Relations and Recruitment Officer of the Dominica State College, Monelle Alexis, says this year 24 nurses were pinned with DSC badges engraved with a lamp – a traditional symbol of nursing. The graduates were also capped with white nurses’ caps by a local nurse leader, Mrs. Celia Maxwell-Hamilton, welcoming them into the Profession of Nursing.

​Alexis says the President of the college, Dr. Donald Peters, expressed his appreciation of the college’s role in training skilled professionals.

​Public Relations and Recruitment Officer of the Dominica State College, Monelle Alexis.

The Dominica Freedom Party Responds to the 20/21 Budget Address saying “We warn that our country is headed to a great disaster and that the bad governance of the Skerrit-led administration will make it worst.”
 
Political leader of the Dominica Freedom Party, and Economist made surgery work of this year’s national Budget address by the prime minister.In an official release, the team leader broke down the presentation into 7 key components of that reveal not only where we are presently, but also trajectory of where we may be heading if we continue on this path.
 
Vital dissected this year’s budget, into the following subsections;
 
1.    Lack of reporting on sustainable development outcomes“…. this 2020/21 budget presentation, like many previous budget presentations, woefully lacks reporting on outcomes achieved and that are being pursued.”
2.    Excuses for failure“…. Over the last decade and more, the regime has moved from blaming the 2008 financial crisis, to blaming Tropical Storm Erica, then Hurricane Maria and now the COVID-19 Pandemic.
3.    Misleading use of data“…. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the IMF has revised its projection to negative growth for 2020. But to conclude that Dominica was doing well based on what the IMF said prior to the COVID-19 crisis is the furthest thing from the truth.”
4.    International Airport…. “The PM indicated that the properties to be purchased are worth $50.7 million; yet there was little budgetary allowance for this and the impression is this project is imminent! This surely looks like a smoke screen and we will look out for future excuses”
 
5.    Misappropriation of funds …. “It should be noted that the Dominica Freedom Party has concerns over whether Dominica got good value for money with respect to the construction of the Roseau River Promenade to include a river wall. “
6.    Budgetary proposals …. “the government won’t be able to raise adequate revenue if investors have no trust in the integrity and capability of the country’s leadership. Such constraints will never be reflected in a budget address by the PM that lacks integrity, but they are among the real issues that keep our country from making great progress.”
 
7.    Other specific proposals ….He writes “The truth is that our country needs to be saved from the ruling regime that holds power illegitimately and are clearly out of their comfort zone. We warn that our country is headed to a great disaster and that the bad governance of the Skerrit-led administration will make it worst. Let us seek God for our deliverance.”

​Leader of the DFP, Kent Vital.

Grandbay health center is soon to be transformed into smart health center, and progress is well underway, says MP and Minister of State in Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Edward Registe.
 
“We in Grandbay are fortunate that that our health center to be selected to be transformed into a smart health Center” says Registe whilst presenting at the 2020-2021 budget debate.
 
Registe said it was relayed to him that almost 50% of the work has been completed, and upon completion, it will be resistant against hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters.
 
Registe contends that as a result, the health center will be operating efficiently, thanks to its ‘smart’ features.

​Registe says this year, the Grandbay constituency will be featured highly on the education agenda, as a new school is to be built.

Minister of State in Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Edward Registe.

BCAD Executive member Anthony Leblanc says after 20 years in Office, the Skerrit-led DLP government is clearly not interested in improving the skills of Dominica’s Construction workers.
 
Leblanc recently revealed some facts which he says nullifies the claims of Officials of the Roosevelt Skerrit-led DLP Administration and the Chinese government, ‘that Chinese construction workers possess better work ethics than Dominican construction workers.’
 
He added that such statements are nonsensical and untrue, and BCAD is currently developing its own initiatives to provide increased skill-based training for Dominican construction workers.

​BCAD Executive member, Anthony Leblanc.

Economist and Dominica Freedom Party Leader Kent Vital is pleased with the progress being made in the Global Health Community in developing a vaccine against the Covid-19 Virus, which is currently the cause of an ongoing Pandemic and the collapse of the global economy.
 
Vital told Q95, he is advising citizens to take the Vaccine once it has passed clinical trials and is approved by the reputable Global Health Officials. He added that this vaccine will set the trajectory of success or failure of the Global economy going forward.

Meantime, Vital has rejected Tech Billionaire Bill Gates suggestion on placing trackers on individuals who have and have not received Covid-19 Vaccine trials.
 
Vital says he condemns this invasion of privacy on placing trackers through the possible creation of a Covid-19 Vaccine.
 
Currently there are approved Health organizations testing and developing various potential vaccines for global distribution.

​DFP Leader and Economist Kent Vital

“I did not come into politics for power, I came into politics for the transformation of my constituency”, says Grandbay Parliamentary Representative Edward Registe.

The Grandbay MP, speaking at the 2020-2021 National Budget debate, said when it comes to his constituency, he is on top of the Ball. He said Grandbay along with the other southern constituencies are on the verge of positive change.

He says he is looking forward to seeing the youth take advantage ofefforts toward embracing a digital economy, education, agriculture and the like.

​Grandbay MP, Edward Registe.

Minster for Culture Roselyn Paul says that repair works to old mill cultural center is ongoing with some 80% completion and additional funding provided for its pan house.
 
Minister Paul gave the update on the site at the 2020-2021 national budget debate address on Thursday, where she announced that $875,000.00 has been allocated to the pan-house at the old mill.
 
She then spoke on the last upgrade to the Arawak House of Culture in 2019, where only 50%of the job was completed.An additional $1.5 million allocated to help completethat project.
 
These two cultural sites are said to have been in a state of disrepair for a number of years now.

​Minster for Culture, Roselyn Paul.

​Outgoing Director of the Dominica Save the Children Fund Mrs. Doreen Francis was awarded by WICE Q95 FM radio’s ‘QDos to our Heroes' initiative, on Thursday afternoon at 2:30pm, for her Outstanding Work in assisting and transforming the lives of Children, Youth and Families in Dominica.
 
Q95 FM Reporter Richie Ferrol presented the award in the presence of Pastor Randy Rodney and others. Mrs. Francis gave some words of thanks, stating that this was unexpected.

​Former Head of the Dominica Save the Children Fund, Mrs. Doreen Francis

​General Secretary of the Dominica Public Service Union Thomas Letang, is encouraging Dominicans in Managerial and Supervisory positions, to illustrate respect & understanding to employees under their leadership.
 
Letang adds that too many times, tensions build within the work place out of a lack of concern from individuals appointed into the hierarchy of an organization. He spoke to Q95 recently.

​General Secretary of the Dominica Public Service Union, Thomas Letang