Operations at the High & Civil Courts are expected to resume in Mid-January for the first time since Hurricane Maria. Registrar at the High Court Ossie Walsh says however, the work to get the court in a satisfactory manner is not yet complete.

Mr Walsh says there may be a new venue for the Civil Court when it opens in January.

​Registrar at the High Court Ossie Walsh.

The Leader of the United Workers Party and MP for the Marigot Constituency has issued a national New Year’s Message dated 29thDecember 2017. My Fellow Dominicans at home and abroad: As we leave behind a year in which the killer winds and flood waters of a category five Hurricane battered us beyond recognition, we are no doubt more mindful now than ever before of the necessity for unity of purpose behind the inescapable responsibility of fixing Dominica.In this steep, long and painful climb to a more resilient state of affairs we have been assured of the assistance of the world community to the extent that we are prepared to be guided by the disciplines of good, democratic governance that have become standard in the civilized world.
 
We thank our brothers and sisters at home and abroad, the international aid agencies and disaster relief organizations, the development cooperation partners and the entire global family of countries, people and governments represented by the United Nations. We thank them not just for who have rallying with empathy, purpose and commitment to assist us in this time of severe humanitarian crisis, but very importantly for demonstrating through their service on the ground the value of caring, transparent, accountable, professional conduct and procedure.
 
As Government turns the volume up on the buzzwords - “resilience” and “climate resilient development” – let us keep it real and avoid getting carried away with fancy plasters for old wounds left to fester by corrupt, incompetent leadership. For make absolutely no mistake about it, there will be no climate resilient Dominica in the absence of government of the people, by the people, for the people that is resilient to the destructive forces of corruption and incompetence.
 
He added, in the party’s 2015 Christmas Message, based on the lessons the nation needed to learn from the dismal leadership failures in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Erika, we urged Dominicans from all walks of life to unite around the most pressing national responsibility of our time: “To fix Dominica… to fix the governance of Dominica. “Let us accept the responsibility to lead ourselves into the disciplined lives of truth, righteousness and justice, that will allow us to demand and secure from those who govern us, achievement of the human development goals that characterize meaningful advancement of global civilization 

Executive Director of the Dominica Association of Industry & Commerce Lizra Fabien is inviting all business owners in Dominica, to attend and participate in the Association’s Business Recovery Expo initiative.
 
Fabien says this expo will focus on key recovery Topics such as; Business continuity and resiliency, innovation, technology and energy, creative financing and crisis management, among others.

The expo runs from 9am to 1pm on January 31st 2017, and is dubbed “Our business, Our recovery, Our Dominica”. According to the DAIC Executive Director, the venue for this major event has not yet been finalized, however that information will be disseminated as soon as it becomes available.

​Executive Director of the Dominica Association of Industry & Commerce Lizra Fabien, spoke to q95news on Thursday.

​Parliamentary Representative for the Portsmouth Constituency Ian Douglas has raised concern to the announcement by Ross University that it will be cutting staff at its Dominica Campus.

The school has written to its staff informing them of layoffs due to changes being made in the operations of the University since the passage of Hurricane Maria.
 
Ross University which was established in Dominica in 1978 has temporarily relocated to Tennessee following the passage of Hurricane Maria.

Douglas says that government is in communication with Ross University to ensure that all of the conditions necessary are met for its return.

​Portsmouth Constituency MP Ian Douglas.

Designs & Costing Supervisor at the Dominica Electricity Services Ltd (DOMLEC) Jerry Walsh, says the company requires cooperation from all land owners, as they continue to restore power around the island.
He contends that the lack of cooperation from land owners has been hindering DOMLEC’s restoration process post hurricane Maria.

Meantime Walsh says land owners must have a valid reason in opposing DOMLEC's placing the equipment needed to restore power, on their property.

​Designs & Costing Supervisor at DOMLEC Jerry Walsh says.

The Environmental Health Department continues to be concerned about the large volumes of meat and other foods that are prepared and left overnight by families, in hopes of reusing within the next day or two.
 
Chief Environmental Health Officer Ferdinia Carbon says there are not many facilities available for storage of meat and food items, and individuals need to be careful about the volume of food they prepare, and how long they keep these foods, which could become contaminated and result in food borne diseases.
 
During festivities the ministry of health says it is plagued with reports of individuals falling ill due to food borne diseases from contaminated food.
 
Carbon says when food reaches room temperature and it stays for 4 to 5hours, micro-organisms, particularly the pathogenic ones which cause diseases,begin growing on those foods.

Carbon is also urging members of the public to be careful as to what they purchase when they are out in public.

​Chief Environmental Health Officer Ferdinia Carbon.

Secretary of the Dominica Calypso Association (DCA) Darryl Bob says the association is ready to stage the main events for Dominica’s 2018 Carnival season.

Bob says the DCA is not fazed by the challenges posed to it post Hurricane Maria, stating that the association expects a bigger crowd turn out for the Calypso quarter finals due on 13thJanuary 2018, at the Newtown Savannah.

​Secretary of the Dominica Calypso Association Darryl Bob spoke to q95news in an exclusive interview on 28th December 2017. 

DAIC’s Executive Director Lizra Fabien is encouraging eligible small business owners to apply for the institution’s initiative called, ‘connect to rebuild’ which is a grant assistance program.
 
According to Fabien this initiative is geared at supporting the rebuilding efforts for small businesses in Dominica.

Fabien is advising all applicants to complete the form appropriately and went on to provide recommendations of other supporting documents which applicants must submit before January 31st 2018, in order to qualify for assistance.

​DAIC’s Executive Director Lizra Fabien

The All Saints University School of Medicine reassured the Government and People of Dominica that they will be returning to the island by May 2018.  This was done at a cheque presentation and discourse with the President of the All Saints, Dr Joshua Yusuf and the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit, on December 19, 2017.
 
It was hoped that the students would have returned in January 2018 for the Winter Semester; however, due to shortage of rooms, the school has projected its return for May 2018.  President of the School, Dr Joshua Yusuf asserted that students will return to the island in phases, during the Winter Semester, & all students will be back on Island by May 2018.
 
To show their continued support and desire to invest in the country, the All Saints University School of Medicine made a donation to the Government of Dominica in the amount of ECD $100,000, to help Dominicans with relief efforts.  Since October, all staff have been retained and are working at the Dominica Campus, although the students have been temporarily relocated to St Vincent.  Work on the Warner Expansion is expected to continue in the course of next year.  
 
The University is asking all persons with apartments for rent, to kindly contact the school, so that the number of rooms for housing students and faculty can be achieved in a timely manner.  Their contact numbers are (767) 440-5220 or (767) 245-2643.
 
The University wishes all Dominicans the very best for the end of 2017 and for 2018. Sincerest sympathies were also extended to all who lost family members and property during the Hurricane Maria ordeal. 

Fire & Ambulance Officials disclose that while their building suffered extensive damage during the passage of Hurricane Maria on September 18, 2017, they were forced to mount several “search and rescue missions” to save people who were in difficulties.
 
Sub Station Officer and Public Relations Officer (PRO) Wayne Letang of the Dominica Fire & Ambulance Service said it was a “horrifying night for fire officers. We first had a call from the Chief Fire Officer that all Fire Officers who were off duty, and all those on leave should report to the nearest fire station”.
 
PRO Wayne Letang explained that all eight fire stations on the island were manned. He said, “all our fire stations were impacted in one way or other by Hurricane Maria.  In Roseau, our entire upper floor was affected, and the officers had to seek shelter in a tight space downstairs, where they sought rescue”.
 
He continued, “It must be noted that the Roseau River also affected the fire station in Roseau as its waters entered and caused significant damage. During the night it was extremely difficult for us, since we were flooded and had to rescue a number of people. In fact, a man from River Street came with two children for rescue, and told us about some foreign nationals who were swept away by the raging waters, and we had to also go and assist others who were distressed.”
 
“Some walked in during the storm; we also received several calls about people asking for help. We braved the weather and went as far as Loubiere. It was just a terrible night that we don’t want to remember. Fire officers were all hands on deck, hats off to them all, amidst the challenge that we faced.”
 
Asked for an estimated cost of the damages done to the fire stations on the island, Letang said the figure was still being put together and he expects it to be “big.”
 
Letang also praised fire officers who braved the weather and went to rescue people and all those who “for days camped in the cramped and wet conditions at the fire station assisting in all ways.”