Britain has a stark economic choice to make next year: Recession or relief.
The United Kingdom is set to leave the European Union on March 29. Crashing out of the bloc without an exit agreement would result in turmoil; striking a deal would minimize damage to the economy.
UBS economists led by Arend Kapteyn say their outlook for the UK economy is "binary." The disruption to trade caused by a disorderly Brexit would "plunge the UK into recession," they warn. A deal would postpone difficult decisions and provide certainty to business.
Prime Minister Theresa May has negotiated a divorce deal with the European Union, but it faces long odds in parliament. UK lawmakers are expected to vote on the agreement next month.

Public Relations Officer of the United Workers Party Steve Benjamin has great optimism for the agricultural sector in Dominica, and for future progress in economic development, under a UWP government.
 
Benjamin is of the view that in order Dominica’s economic power to rise and to bring its weight to the level that it once held under the United Workers Party, agriculture must stop being disregarded, and a pragmatic positive approach must be adopted, that will not act to the detriment of the country and its economy.
 
He added that if any international airport is to be constructed, there should also be jetties constructed as well.Benjamin made that statement on Q95 on Thursday night on the ‘workers voice’ program. He went on to list a few quick return crops that could aid in the economy and solidify Dominica’s position as an agricultural country once more.

​He said however, that there is anxiety and concern over the present administration’s handicap in capitalizing on the Barbadian agricultural marketing sector.
 
Benjamin says the time for change is now, and Team UWP is ready.

​UWP Public Relations Officer, Steve Benjamin.

​Miss Teen 2018 Jorjanna Albert promoted Dominica’s uniqueness at a Miss Caribbean Teen Pageant held in St Kitts on Sunday 30thDecember 2018. Shetook part in the Miss Haynes Smith Caribbean Talented Teen Pageant.
 
She said Dominica is filled natural wonders which makes us special when being compared to other Caribbean islands.Jorjanna says her aim was to showcase Dominica’s true beauty to the world and break the stigma of being mistakenly thought tobe the Dominican Republic. Her platform focused on differentiating Dominica from the Dominican Republic, and she saw thisas a great opportunity to make her country known for its uniqueness.
 
She added, “this gave me a chance to make my country known because we are the nature isle in the Caribbean. We are such a beautiful country that attracts ‘adventure tourists’, – because we have our boiling lake, hot springs, rivers, hiking; we have all sorts of exciting things that visitors can do in our country. I hope that by just me travelling to do another pageant helped the world be more aware of Dominica and make it known among the others, so that it won’t continue to be mistaken forthe Dominican Republic.”

​As 2018 is winding down and the 2019 nears, UWO Caretaker for the Roseau Valley, Attorney at Law Ronald Charles expressed thanks and appreciation to the people of his constituency, and urged them to “remain strong and remain focused”.
 
Speaking in what might have been his last interview for the year, the MP said on Q95FM via telephone, it is his observation that due to frustration caused out of neglect by the current administration, some personshave taken up the unhealthy habit of alcohol consumption.
 
Charles calls this habit a “the Rum Syndrome”. He says that because of the failure of the parliamentary representative, there seems to be a ‘make up’ trying to enter the valley, a makeup of alcohol consumption as a result of lack of assistance, as well as empty promises.

He says that it is high enough time that appropriate actions are taken, and that promises made are fulfilled.

​Roseau Valley Constituency MP, Attorney at Law Ronald Charles. 

The government of Dominica says based on advice from DSS, it amended regulations for payments of invalidity & survivors’ pensions & maternity grants from March 1, 2019.
 
The new measures are also said to include an increase in funeral grants to $3,000 in respect of the death of an insured person and 2,500 in respect of the death of the spouse of an insured person. The amount paid in respect of the death of a dependent child of an insured person has been increased to $1,250.00.
 
Mr Skerrit said changes were also made with respect to the benefits that will be given to insured persons who have suffered injuries.
 
He added, this will “Eliminate the waiting period for eligibility to employment injury benefits to five progressive benefits to the people who are insured with the DSS. This is why it is important for us as self-employed, employed, or employers to pay DSS and be part of it.”
 
The Prime Minister said these grants are expected to increase by $250.00 every 3 years, and the ceiling in insurable earnings will also be increased from $5,000 to $7,000 per month.

Chairman of Dominica Air Transport Licenses Board (DATLB), Benoit Bardouille says consequent upon granting a route license to Air France for Dominic, Air France flying to Dominica will make travel from France to the island much easier, in lieu of its various benefits.
 
Bardouille nates that travelers should experience more flexibility and a cheaper price with this initiative. He said, “you will now be able to buy a ticket from France, Orly, or through Charles de Gaulle, where you will be able to fly directly to Dominica with a connecting airline. Without route licenses you won’t be able to do that. It makes the air fair cheaper as well, because Air France would fly you to Guadeloupe. From Guadeloupe, you would be able to pick up Winair or Air Antilles to Dominica”.
 
He added, “That is good because it means same day connection, and you would not have to come back and check your baggage in Guadeloupe, because they have codeshare agreements with those airlines, and what they needed was route licenses to be able to do that. So, we’ve granted that and also to Air Caribe’s, and right now those airlines can sell flights to Dominica although air France and Air Caribe’s do not come to Dominica, but they can sell out of France to Dominica”.
 
Bardouille concluded by saying, “There is work being done in route licenses and looking for opportunities as we discuss with the air access committee on things that can happen. This board is in fact looking at how we can access routes with the various airlines as they make their request”.

The Huckstering business is moving at a steady pace and is expected to continue well into 2019. These are the sentiments of general secretary, Dominica Hucksters Association Cecil Joseph.He says there were many challenges faced by the association after hurricane Maria, but it has been able to tough them out and push through.
 
He says that there is a lot of work to be done, and that one of the things he would like to see is an increase in the amount as well as quality of produced being moved out of Dominica.

​Dominica hucksters Association General SecretaryCecil Joseph

Member of the house of Nyabinghi, Bernard Imani Shaw, is advocating for Dominicans from all sectors of society to embrace the notion of Rastafari and the use of cannabis in the country.
 
Shaw told media that the recent cannabis national consultation was a good first step, but more needs to be done by legislators and other sectors of society, to secure the acceptance of the truth that cannabis is indeed, a national healer.

​Member of the house of Nyabinghi, Bernard Imani Shaw

President of Dominica Charles Saverin is sending a message of hope to citizens, before the beginning of the new year, 2019.
 
Saverin told media, although Dominicans suffered great loss due to the passages of Tropical Storm Erika in 2015 and Hurricane Maria in September 2017, the government has sought to rebuild and restore the country’s economic framework among other things.

​President of Dominica, Charles Saverin

Speaker of the St Kitts & Nevis National Assembly, Michael Perkins, was accused of colluding with the government on Monday, in blocking a full debate of a motion of no confidence in Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris.
 
After Leader of the Opposition, Dr Denzil Douglas spoke for two hours in presenting the motion, the premier of Nevis, Mark Brantley, in concluding a 30-minute response, moved a motion to bring the debate to an end and put the resolution to a voice vote.
 
Despite objections by Douglas and pleas from other opposition parliamentarians that they be allowed to speak on the motion, Perkins declared after a voice vote that ‘the no’s have it and the resolution failed’