Dominica and neighbouring islands on record to have experienced two earthquakes on Thursday.
 
The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Center is reporting a 4.2 magnitude earthquake recorded at 3.54 am Thursday December 26.
 
MAGNITUDE:4.2
LOCATION:
Latitude: 14.99N
Longitude: 60.74W
Depth: 10 km NEARBY CITIES:
57 km NE of Fort-de-France, Martinique
80 km SE of Roseau, Dominica
109 km NNE of Castries, Saint Lucia
 
Another earthquake was recorded at 9:37 pm later that day.
 
MAGNITUDE:4.7
LOCATION:
Latitude: 16.83N
Longitude: 61.09W
Depth: 10 km
NEARBY CITIES:
81 km NE of Point-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe
90 km SE of Saint John's, Antigua and Barbuda
173 km NNE of Roseau, Dominica

Chief Executive Officer of the National Cooperative Credit Union Aylmer Irish says 2019 was a great year for the credit union, its 9thyear as the NCCU Ltd. He says it has been able to provide members with most of the services demanded.
 
He added that much improvement has been seen in member's request for loans, and the increase in loans portfolio.

​CEO of the National Cooperative Credit Union, Aylmer Irish.

Chief Welfare Officer Leroy Morvan says although the Division is to work in close collaboration with the police, he would like a closer link with the force as it pertains to the investigation of childcare matters, especially for those who are sexually abused.Morvan has called for a special unit to be set up for such matters.

Chief Welfare Officer, Leroy Morvan.

President of Dominica Charles Savarin gave words of thanks and appreciate to those who embraced the spirit of giving over the Christmas break.
 
He gave special recognition to those who worked over the holidays to ensure that all may have enjoyed a peaceful celebration.

​President of Dominica Charles Savarin.
 
Also, in the spirit of recognition, the grotto home for the homeless gave words of recognition and appreciation for the staff who continue to give wonderful care to the elderly.
 
That’s according to President of the Grotto Home Aynesworth Irish.
 
Irish also gave special recognition to the staff member of the year Cecilia Abraham

​President of the Grotto home Aynesworth Irish.

Prime Minister Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit commends U-15 National Cricketers on their performance at recently concluded Winlott U-15 tournament in St. Vincent.
 
The Windward Islands Cricket Board of Control panel of youth cricket selectors, led by chairman Roland Wilkinson, last night named the 14 players to represent the sub-island grouping in the 2020 Cricket West Indies Rising Stars Under-15 cricket championships.
Best wicketkeeper award went to KyneGeorge in the 2019 WinLott / WICBC under-15 cricket championship. Jahson Vidal got Team Dominica MVP award and most wickets award.  
Mr Skerrit congratulated the team for having placed second in the tournament, and said this is noteworthy and has made us very proud.He gave special thanks to the captain.

​The prime minister also said that the vision is to harness their talents and skills into becoming even better players and men in life.

​Prime Minster, Roosevelt Skerrit.

Applications are now open to Dominicans and other OECS nationals for the OECS-Masters in International Trade Policy (OECS-MITP) Scholarship Programme 2020.
 
The fully-funded scholarship is available to students from the six independent OECS member states. The scholarship will include the complete cost of tuition, two return tickets to and from the country of study, as well as a living and housing allowance.
 
The OECS Masters of Science (MSc) in International Trade Policy program will be completed at the ShridathRamphal Centre for International Trade Law, Policy and Services (SRC) of the Faculty of Social Sciences of Cave Hill Campus, University of the West Indies (UWI), Barbados.
 
Applicants must possess at minimum, a Lower Second Class Honours degree or equivalent in fields such as Economics, International Relations, Political Science, International Business, Management, Statistical Analysis, Law, Agriculture Development or related fields. Candidates with Pass degrees in the aforementioned fields, and other relevant qualifications and at least five years of experience in relevant fields of work will be considered for entry on a case-by-case basis.
 
Eligible, interested persons are to submit copies of the completed application form, two references, curriculum vitae, and evidence of undergraduate degree, by January 15, 2020.
 
Successful applicants will be contacted directly. Scanned copies of completed applicationform, along with all necessary supporting documents should be submitted by January 15, 2020.

Information officer for The Dominica Export Import Agency (DEXIA), Ayeola George, has reported that the second edition of the Strictly Local Christmas Village was a resounding success.
 
The event, which began on Wednesday, December 18, 2019 and ended on December 20, 2019, featured a number of local vendors selling a wide variety of locally made products and included a health and wellness section, craft, paintings and manufactured products.
 
George said overall, DEXIA received positive feedback as most vendors had great sales and many of them are willing to return next year.
 
According to George, although some vendors’ items were sold out and even went out of stock, and although others did not do as well, it could have just been a matter of persons’ preferences at this particular juncture in terms of what items they wanted to buy for themselves, and for their families. As you know, we are promoting it as an event where persons can come and purchase gifts for the holiday season.
 
Despite the unfortunate shortcomings, she stated that DEXIA did meet the goal of impacting the bottom line of producers & giving participants the opportunity of ending the year on a good note, financially.
 
The Information officer for DEXIA, added that the entertainment items such as live paintings, poetry and the fashion show, were a hit.

Agronomist Atherton Martin is of the opinion that the youth of Dominica do not follow party politics because of the cowardice of the adult population in the country.Martin made his comments on the ‘Hot Seat’ program hosted by Matt Peltier.

Martin expressed his dislike for the participation of individuals with intelligence, access to information and wealth in the criminality that has become what the country calls government.
 
He described such individuals as ones who have toxified the country.

Dominicans in the United Kingdom have launched a new Fashion online store profiling Dominica.
 
Zandoli.co.uk launches on December 24th to a wide audience featuring a range of fashion items with “Dominica” woven into the DNA of this new fashion brand, with the tagline “fashion with an identity.”
 
The online store is owned by Dominicans living in the UK who share an eye for fashion and deep patriotism for the homeland. They believe they can bring the two together to share a positive outward look and awareness of the beautiful nature Isle.
 
Zandoli.co.uk has committed to setting aside 5% from every sale to a “Dominica Small Business Fund”. The value of this fund will be proudly displayed on their website and they hope to use this fund to spur and help young entrepreneurs in Dominica.

Deputy leader of the UWP and MP for the Roseau South Constituency, Joshua Francis extends a very happy and holy Christmas Season, and a prosperous 2020 to all Dominicans; saying ‘Merry Christmas and May God bless us all’.
 
He added, I wish all my constituents of Roseau South, and Dominica by extension a happy and holy Christmas Season, and a prosperous 2020.  My God bless us all!
 
Christmas is a time when we share joy with friends and family. A CHILD was born to save us from our sins, a savior has come to shed light in our darkness, and that's the reason for the season. 
 
Fellow Dominicans, as we reflect on this joyous occasion, let us put aside all our differences and quarrels but ponder on the true meaning of Christmas.
 
While we eat and drink and make Merry, let us remember those among us who have less than we do.  Let us reach out to the lonely and the poor.   Let us take a meal to the hungry, visit the sick and the home-bound, and lend a hand where possible. Share a toy with the disadvantaged child. Let us not live in abundance while our neighbor goes without; so that by our acts of love and kindness the true Christmas feeling will reach everyone. 
 
"Being a Dominican comes with an honoured responsibility to be there for each other — and not just one  time of the year, but each and every day. And our love for each other goes beyond boundaries and borders”, Dominicans to the bone regardless of location.
 
Let us therefore celebrate Christ in its truest meaning of love, compassion and charity; we celebrate gratitude with love for Jehovah, Fellow Dominicans and Country.
 
Merry Christmas Dominica.
From Joshua Francis