A call to action is being issued for young individuals between ages 16 and 35, encouraging them to apply for the 2023 cohort of the National Youth Parliament of Dominica. This initiative aims to engage and empower Dominican youth, providing them with a unique opportunity to shape the future of Dominica through meaningful discussions, legislative proposals, and insights into the parliamentary system. Applications for NYP 2023 will be open until Monday, October 23, 2023. Communications Lead of the NYCD Jermasha Mellow has more.

​Communications Lead of the NYCD Jermasha Mellow.

​UWP Leader and financial economist Dr. Thomson Fontaine, extended sympathy to the Dominican population, acknowledging that every sector is grappling with profound difficulties. He emphasized various issues, including Dominican students facing humiliation due to unpaid tuition fees in the United States, farmers being forced to leave the country due to lost markets, healthcare professionals are dealing with excessive workloads & inadequate medical supplies& NEP workers are struggling.

Fontaine highlighted that all sectors of Dominica's economy are grappling with severe difficulties. He observed that even the elderly are finding the financial assistance from the government inadequate given the deteriorating economic situation. Fontaine expressed deep concern about the nearly 10% annual inflation rate. He concluded that life in Dominica has become exceedingly challenging, characterizing it as a dire situation for the population.

​Dr. Thomson Fontaine, a financial economist and leader of the United Workers Party 

UWP President Lennox Linton questioned the fairness of overseas residents participating in Dominican elections. He contends that individuals residing abroad who lack firsthand experience with the country's poor healthcare system should not wield influence over decisions that impact local healthcare. Linton stressed that this situation remains inequitable, regardless of any obstacles imposed.

Lennox Linton, President of the UWP.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit expressed respect for outgoing president Charles Savarin whose service asd a government minister and parliamentarian. Skerrit recognized Savarin's wise advice and his commitment to embracing collective decisions. As Savarin stepped down from the presidency, Skerrit extended acknowledgment for his significant contributions.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.

The profiles of the two contestants have been unveiled for Miss Wob Dwiyet 2023. The participants, Chalika Vidal and Dianna John, will showcase their skills and talents on the stage of the pageant. The Division of Culture took to Facebook and shared glimpses of these contestants as they will represent different communities at Miss Wob Dwiyet 2023.
 
Chalika Vidal, a 22-year-old from Salisbury, also known as "Bawi," has embarked on an impressive educational journey. Starting at Salisbury Primary School, she nurtured her love for culture through involvement in the school's dance group. Her academic excellence continued at Isaiah Thomas Secondary School, where she graduated with honors in 2018.
 
After high school, Chalika pursued an Associate's Degree in Economics and Psychology at Dominica State College. Throughout her college years, she actively engaged in extracurricular pursuits, holding leadership positions in various clubs and associations. Chalika is known for her modesty, enthusiasm, and dedication to community service.
 
She is currently serving as a member of the Salisbury Sports Committee. During her free time, she indulges in dancing, reading, and public speaking. In her future plans, Chalika envisions advancing her education in marketing and communication while maintaining her role as a positive societal influence and participating in cultural activities.
 
Dianna John, an 18-year-old graduate of the Academix School of Leadership, recently earned her associate's degree in law in July. She is not only a skilled musician but also a passionate advocate for social causes, actively participating in community service and cultural events. Dianna has lent her talents to various cultural groups, including the Paix-bouche cultural group and the Catholic Children's Club. Her contributions extend to musical groups like the Sixth Form Sisserou Singers and the Diocesan Youth Choir. Additionally, Dianna serves as a student ambassador for U-Report OECS and leads the dynamic Portsmouth Dancers group, known as Danseurs Gwantance. Beyond her academic and cultural pursuits, Dianna enjoys hobbies such as singing, content creation, and playing the violin. Her future career goal is to become an entrepreneur, drawing from her expertise in social media marketing. She has also gained practical experience through internships in social media and digital marketing. With her dedication and compassion, Dianna John is well-prepared to compete in the upcoming pageant, where she will showcase her artistic talents. 

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit congratulated president-elect, Mrs. Sylvanie Burton. Additionally, he expressed gratitude to the outgoing President, His Excellency Charles Savarin, who had served in the presidential role for a decade. Mrs. Burton prevailed over her opponent, Mrs. Annette Sandford, along party lines with a vote of 20 to 5.

Prime Minister Skerrit acknowledged that His Excellency Charles Savarin is a towering figure in various ways and through his decade-long contributions to Dominica's development. Mr Skerrit claimed that although opinions about Mr Savarin differed, his substantial contributions to the country remain indisputable.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.

Mrs Slyvanie Burton who hails from the Kalinago Territory, was elected as the president of the Commonwealth of Dominica during the Fifth Meeting of the First Session of the Eleventh Parliament earlier today. Two persons of Kalinago decent were solely nominated for President of Dominica, but Parliamentary Representative for the Salybia Constituency and Kalinago Upliftment Minister Cozier Frederick claims lack of unity in supporting the nomination of a person of Kalinago descent. Mr Frederick expressed his delight at Ms Sylvanie Burton’s election to the position of president. 

​Cozier Frederick, Parliamentary Representative for the Salybia Constituency.

Regional stakeholders in public health have expressed their support for the CARICOM Secretariat's backing of Member States' participation in negotiations for a convention, agreement, or other measure regarding pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. They emphasized the need to promptly formulate and convey CARICOM's stance to both the region and the international community.
 
This decision was reached after discussions at the 45th Ministerial Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) - Health, which took place in Washington from September 23-24.Stakeholders highlighted the importance of having a unified stance on the key areas of focus for Member States that have been identified in the instrument.
 
Furthermore, the COHSOD supported the proposal to enhance the ability of the region to produce and regulate medicines, such as vaccines and health technologies, through the Health Development Partnership for Africa and the Caribbean (HeDPAC). They also agreed to further elaborate on the priorities of this proposal.
 
HeDPAC serves as a platform for health development cooperation between the African and Caribbean regions, aiming to strengthen collaboration between the two regions and enhance their institutional capacity to collectively address critical health challenges

Octavia Alfred, the parliamentary representative for the Castle Bruce constituency, conveyed her thanks to His Excellency Charles Savarin and his wife for their outstanding service to the nation. She also extended her commendation to Mrs. Sylvanie Burton, Dominica's president-elect, with particular pride as a woman of Kalinago heritage. Alfred shared her own experiences as a Kalinago student, emphasizing the importance of celebrating Kalinago culture and heritage.

Alfred expressed commendation to Ms Burton on behalf of several communities and highlighted her close ties with the Castle Bruce constituency. Alfred also thanked the Prime Minister for nominating Mrs Burton, underscoring the importance of women's equal and active involvement in all aspects of Dominica's society for sustainable development, peace, and security.

Parliamentary representative for the Castle Bruce constituency Octavia Alfred.

During the ECCB Lecture Series; Dominica Edition on Tuesday, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Discover Dominica Authority (DDA), Mr Colin Piper, shared in his presentation that out of the initial number of visitors who traveled to the Caribbean region before the pandemic, Dominica received a remarkable 89,626 visitors, which represents the highest number of visitor arrivals on record. Additionally, Piper highlighted that in 2022, a significant number visitors chose to visit Dominica.

Piper also discussed the tourism trends, mentioning that sustainable tourism is projected to experience a 10% annual growth rate, constituting 20% of the tourism market by 2030.

​Colin Piper, CEO of Discover Dominica Authority.