​Executive Member of the Dominica Freedom Party and prominent Businessman, Michael Astaphan shared his views on the economical management of the Country Dominica.
 
Astaphan was speaking on the foreign policies as well as the way we dealt with getting the county back on its feet after Hurricane Maria.
 
Astaphan says that the way the finances are handled here in Dominica could be better when compared to Hurricane David in the past.
He believes that in certain areas of the country, the economical disposition may have been set back more than 50 years, and considers it to be “incompetent”
 
Astaphan was speaking on the regular weekly programme “Freedom and You” aired on Q95 radio.

Meantime, Astaphan shared his opinion on the matter of resiliency in Dominica, and lessons to  be applied to future strikes.
 
Astaphan says, had we as a country, and had the present administration used the wisdoms of the past catastrophes and applied them to create a plan of action, we as a country would have been much further ahead.

​Mother of  the shooting victim who succumbed to Gunshot wounds on Wednesday evening at silver lake Curtson Charles, spoke out about her son's death, and says that her son was not a problem seeking individual.
The heart broken mother speaking to Q95’s Mathias Peltier, says that she heard three gunshots and ran outside, and to her surprise her son was laying dead.
She says that he was a very loving man, and no matter what happened he always had love for his family.
 
She says that he was a hard working man, and that he was changed man. And she will miss him.
 
Mr Charles death is the 3rd death via gunshot and 4th shooting incident in last 4 weeks.

​Mother of the Late Curtson Charles

​The Meteorological Service has announced that a flood watch is in effect for Dominica until 12 noon today Thursday 30th August 2018.
 
A Met Office release stated that lingering moisture and instability associated with a tropical wave will today continue to generate cloudiness, showers, and thunderstorm activities across the island chain, including Dominica. Periods of moderate to heavy shower and thunderstorm activity are forecasted for this morning.
 
The release advised that people in areas prone to flooding, landslides and falling rocks must be vigilant and exercise extreme caution during this period. A relative reduction in shower activity can be expected by tomorrow Friday. Moderate seas are expected during the next few hours with waves peaking near 7.0ft.

​Public Relations Officer of the Dominica Police Force, Simon Edwards, has provided an official report on the murder of Curtson Charles of Silver Lake on Wednesday.
                         
According to Edwards, Charles was talking to someone near the steps leading up to apartment five in the Silver Lake community, when three masked men drove up to his location, and shot him. Charles received multiple shots to his torso. The police at this time is seeking the cooperation of the public in this matter, Investigations are ongoing.

​Public relations Officer of the Dominica Police Force Simon Edwards, he spoke to Q95 news on Thursday

​Field Property Insurance Consultant, John Joseph, is offering his expertise to assist home and Business property owners, in comparing the best rates for insuring their property, by engaging various Insurance companies on his clients’ behalf.
 
Joseph told Q95 news on Wednesday, he had noticed a need for such expertise in the Dominica market, as many property owners find it tedious to go around comparing property insurance rates.

​Sheldon Casimir and Norris Francois (Jr) are the winners of the 2018 Dominica Film Challenge, with their short film entitled, “Dominica, A Different Adventure.” CEO & Director of Tourism, Colin Piper made that announcement at a press conference at Prevost Cinemall yesterday.
                                                                            
Casimir was elated that they won the prize. He said, “We were confident that we would have won, because of the type of work that we do”.
 
He stated that the team is trying to position itself as the premier audiovisual company on the island, and they are also aiming to compete with other providers within the region, and internationally.
 
He added that they were not really looking at competing against other local participants, but tried to push themselves to produce something that they had never done before.
 
Meanwhile, Craig Harris and Ericson Joseph won the second prize with their film entitled, “Dominica- From Past to Promise.”
 
Derek Galon and Margaret Gajek with their film “Hiking an Island Reborn”, took the social media prize. Here is a clip on the proceedings.

​Other participants included Armani Augustine and Garvin Leblanc with the film, “Nature Island Rejuvenation”; Marcia Honeychurch and Arnaud Chabert with “You and Me”; and Tridel Edwin and Elias Dupuis with “Waitikubuli a Love Letter.”

​In a press release sent to Q95 news on Wednesday, IOM said over 580 families who lost their roof and nearly everything else after Hurricane Maria, have received assistance from the UN Migration Agency (IOM) to rebuild stronger, more resilient roofs.
 
An IOM contingent arrived in Dominica less than two weeks after the category five hurricane decimated Dominica on September 18, 2017, damaging or destroying 90% of housing stocks. Almost one year after Hurricane Maria ravaged the island, Dominica is struggling to go back to normalcy.
 
Most of the country has been reconnected to the national water and power grids, schools have reopened, and the government claims it is working to make Dominica the world’s first climate resilient country. Notwithstanding, if the array of houses covered in tattered tarps, the piles of distorted galvanized sheets at many bends, or the ghosts of abandoned homes and businesses littered around the country are any indication, there is still a great deal of work to be done.
 
“Getting to this stage has not been easy,” says Jan-Willem Wegdam, Team Leader of IOM Dominica. “We have had to be creative to solve procurement issues, to obtain scarce building materials, and to recruit skilled carpenters from the wider Caribbean, because we simply did not have enough available workforce locally to implement the tasks. We have been working with many international and local organizations: Habitat for Humanity, ADRA, All Hands & Hearts, volunteer builders from the Mennonite community and, of course, our migrant carpenters.”

​First Serenade Band, Kassav, Marce et Tumpak have been added to the lineup for the 2018 World Creole Music Festival (WCMF). Acting Events Manager Marva Williams announced the new additions at a press update on the WCMF Promotions on Wednesday August 29, 2018 at the Prevost Cinemall.
 
Kassav a band was formed in Guadeloupe. First Serenade from Point Mitchel is one of Dominica’s most recognized bands. Marce et Tumpak is a Martinican band known for their energy and excitement.
 
Miss William says this year’s World Creole Music Festival is expected to be bigger and better, especially in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. She advised patrons and visitors to purchase their tickets early. The World Creole Music festival is carded for October 26 to 28, 2018.

​She also announced this year’s line-up, which will see Movado, Kassav, Yemi Alade, Triple Kay International, Klass and the First Serenade Band, performing on ‘night-one’ Friday.

Acting Events Manager of the WCMF, Marva Williams

​Chief Executive Officer of the Dominica Air & Sea Port Authority (DASPA) Benoit Bardouille, announced on Wednesday August 29, 2018, that as of November 1, 2018, Air Antilles will be making night flights into Dominica, and thereby increasing air access into the island.
 
Bardouille said, “the air access committee of Discover Dominica have successfully negotiated an additional two thousand and sixteen seats into the destination from two new night flights added by Air Antilles.”
 
The flight will depart Pointe-a-Pitre at 9 pm, arrive in Dominica at 9:30 pm on Thursday & Sunday. The plane will overnight in Dominica and depart at 5:30 am on Friday & Monday, arriving in Pointe-a-Pitre at 6 am.

​Bardouille says these new flights will bring in new revenues and make access to Dominica easier, as same day connection will be in effect, and thee additional flights will allow travellers to connect from the US on Norwegian Airlines flights from JFK New York; and from Europe, on Air France, Air Caribe, Corsair, Level and XL Airways.

​Chief Executive Officer of the Dominica Air and Sea Port Authority (DASPA) Benoit Bardouille

​The DBF calls for the immediate addressing of the critical issues of air access improvement, foreign direct investment, and national security concerns, which will enhance private sector investment in the Dominican society.
 
Meanwhile, DBF President Severin Mckenzie is calling on private enterprises to support their respective business organizations, such as the DAIC, DMA, DHTA, DEF, BCAD, DCSI as this is where their interests are protected.
 
The Dominica Business Forum Inc is also demanding that the private sector participate in the DBF consultations when convened. 

​DBF President Severin Mckenzie