​We need to reawaken our ancestral roots, our higher selves  and our  fighting spirit now more than ever. These are some of the sentiments shared by Local Musical Artist, Teacher, Cultural Advocate Abiyah Yisrael speaking as a special guest on the Youth on Q program on Thursday. Ms. Yisrael shared a bit of cultural history that revealed the maroon history and mentality that led to our freedom, and raised the question of where has that spirit gone? A question that has been ever more echoed in recent times.

​She also shared some of her journey of seeking truth and how the message filtered the music, to encourage a more positive society and culture.

​Local Musical Artist, Teacher, Cultural Advocate, Abiyah Yisrael

The family is the foundation of our society and the absence of love and trust within the core family structure will contribute to the destruction of the society, said Dominican Pan Africanist McClean Williams, speaking on the Youth on Q program on Thursday. Mr. Williams statement was made in light of the current society’s approach to relationships that are apparently driven by connection to our mental conditioning.

​Dominican Pan Africanist McClean Williams
 
Meantime, fellow panelist and Youth Advocate Jordan Luke shared his views as to some of the contributing factors, and sought to recognize the good men in society who are holding their own.

​Youth Advocate, Jordan Luke

​“Why are we treating our most senior Medical Consultant in such a disrespectful manner?” He made reference to the contract presented to medical professionals by the new Hospitals Authority, which requires them to close their private Practices. Lugay asked that question in the course of his response to the National Budget Debate 2022-2023 at the House of Assembly on Wednesday evening.

​He called on the Minister of Health to monitor the New Hospitals Authority before we lose all Health Consultants and he made reference to Dr. Pascal who is an ENT, and who was run out of the public practice.

​Roseau North MP, Daniel Lugay

​Governor of the ECCB Timothy N J Antoine shared some of the financial realities of most of the ECCU countries and the steps taken to ensure financial stability during these pandemic challenges. The Tourism Sector has been recognized as one of the main economic drivers of the majority of the Caribbean countries, and in order for them to regain economic stability, that sector and countries fiscal realities needed to change.

​Governor of the ECCB, Timothy N J Antoine

​CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr. Carla Barnett shared some of the plans ahead from the CARICOM Community, which include the 50th Anniversary Celebration of CARICOM in July 2023, as well as the hosting of the next heads of CARICOM meeting to be held in the Bahamas. Across regional celebration is expected among the Caribbean states.

​CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr. Carla Barnett

​“Mister Speaker, I am suggesting today in this honorable house, that a stipend be paid to the shelter managers and their staff to help them and to motivate them”, These were the words of the Deputy Political Leader of the United Workers Party, Senator Francisca Joseph as part of her response yesterday, to the National Budget for 2022-2023, at the House of Assembly Wednesday afternoon. She added, we are talking about a shelter to house 500 to 800 people, so the motivation is needed.

​Senator Joseph went on to say that the mechanisms are in place, training is in place, the Office of Disaster Management is fully equipped, the community Disaster committees are in place and they are not infiltrated by the Parliamentary representatives.

​Deputy Political Leader of the United Workers Party, Senator Francisca Joseph

​Zead Lloyd, a Social Activist, asserts that the CCJ justices have essentially stated that Dominica has a problem, and that they have not only noticed the problem, but also partially defined it. He thinks that the court has given Dominicans a chance to put together a group of people who are completely in agreement with efforts to disrupt & create circumstances that push the matter back into the courts.

​He went on to say we continue to focus on getting everyone together, which does not seem to be working. He suggests using a well-organized, constructive mass of people who are fully committed to a movement, who can disturb the status quo and apply pressure on the authorities and judiciary, to take the necessary actions.

​Lloyd says the CCJ has given Dominicans a significant chance, and even if they are unable to reach a large number of people, they still have the chance to use this opportunity to advantage by being willing to be detained and face the consequences of their actions from the system. He added that although there is not a huge mass, there is the concerted few, and it is now up to this few to decide whether or not it is appropriate to disturb the political process on a civic level.

​Social Activist, Zead Lloyd 

​The West Indies were swept 3-0 by India in their Three-Match One-Day International (ODI) series after losing the third match by 119 runs via the Duckworth/Lewis method at Port of Spain in Trinidad & Tobago on Wednesday.
 
In the rain-affected match, India first posted 225-3 off 36 overs, with their innings ending prematurely after a two-and-a-half-hour rain delay had already trimmed it down to 40 overs. Player of the match and series Shubman Gill cracked 98 not out and shared a 113-run opening stand with captain Shikhar Dhawan, who made 58.
 
Shreyas Iyer also made 44 as Hayden Walsh Jr. took 2-57 for the Windies. Set a revised target of 257 off 35 overs, the West Indies never recovered from being reduced to 0-2. They were eventually bowled out for 137 in 26 overs.  
 
Spinner Yuzvendra Chahal took 4-17, while there were two wickets each for Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur. The defeat for West Indies meant the Caribbean team suffered a 10th straight ODI defeat. It is also a third straight ODI series defeat for the Windies. 

​Opposition Leader Lennox Linton says there needs to be a movement to meet young people where they are, to help them build the relationships, skills, competencies and confidence that they need to succeed in life, which means developing supportive learning, sporting, and recreational settings that nurture the strengths and interests of the youth, and enable them to thrive while building relationships and bonding with peers and adults.
 
He called for creation of a ‘youth entrepreneurship investment bank’ in this budget year to help grow youth-based wealth in Dominica.  He was speaking at the 2022/2023 budget presentation.

​Opposition Leader Lennox Linton

​Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says this year, in order to further stimulate yachting activities, effective September 1, 2022 the government will remove duties, taxes, levies and charges on all pleasure crafts and engines and pleasure crafts imported into Dominica.

Two years ago the government announced the removal of VAT and import duty on pleasure crafts and excursion boats measuring at least 45 cubic meter, and the engines in order to begin stimulating economic activity in that area.

​Meanwhile, Mr Skerrit says effective 1st September, government will also create a small ships registry open to small pleasure boats of up to 75 ft long, at a cost of US$250 for 1 year, or US$650 for 3 years.

​Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit