Deputy Director of the DSS, Augustus Etienne says there were specific SROs # 4, 7 & 8 of 2012, which determined that come January 1, 2023, there will be a 0.25% increase in the contribution rate for all categories of workers. In 2022, employees were paying 6.25% of their earnings into social security.  This will now be increased to 6.5% next year.

Meantime Etienne says over the number of years the DSS has been in existence in Dominica, and the various actuarial reviews undertaken, the actuaries have assessed the conditions on the ground, and noted that there has been a financing gap between the rates at which people pay contributions into the system, and the rates at which the system promises to pay out benefits to persons when the time comes.

Deputy Director of the DSS, Augustus Etienne.

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) commended the region's tourism industry, local government officials, and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) for their vigilance and cooperation, which has aided in the region's recovery as an increasing number of Caribbean destinations continue to set records for tourism arrivals, spending, and hotel occupancy.
 
Nicola Madden-Greig, president of the CHTA, praised hotels, tourist industry workers, and medical experts for rigorously following the preventative guidelines put forward by CARPHA in collaboration with the group and local governments.
 
Such diligence, she noted, contributed to tourism’s strong recovery as well as CARPHA’s recent decision to reduce its COVID-19 threat level from “very high” to “moderate-low” for the Caribbean region. She reported this is a testament to “our very successful management of the pandemic.”
 
Madden-Greig asserted such alertness in the form of adequate surveillance, effective protocols and increased vaccination coverage by hospitality, tourism and government entities allowed most countries in the region to rebound in 2022.

Lonely Planet, a leading resource for travel information, has released its "Best in Travel" list for 2023, and Dominica is included as one of the top vacation spots under the "Unwind" heading. According to Lonely Planet, people frequently confuse Dominica, popularly known as the Nature Island, with the Dominican Republic, but they don't anticipate this to continue for very long.
 
Although Dominica has historically been a less popular Caribbean Island, American Airlines now offers direct flights from Miami to the destination. Additionally, luxury resorts, like the Kempinski, which debuted in 2019, are starting to open their doors on the island.
 
Dominica has never before been recognized as a top tourism destination in the Best in Travel series by Lonely Planet. The 18th annual compilation of the top travel locations and activities for the next year is being published this year. The 30 must-see places listed in Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2023 are centered on cuisine, travel, connection, learning, and relaxation.
 
Colin Piper, CEO and head of tourism for the Discover Dominica Authority, expressed his extreme gratitude for Lonely Planet's Greatest in Travel listing the island as one of the best places to unwind. He continued by saying that the award is a real testimonial to the island's natural beauty and the recent boom in tourism and that to be named by such an esteemed magazine as one of the best places to relax, validates DDA's stance in preserving the island's natural nature while still generating genuine experiences for visitors, whether they are looking for adventure or leisure. 

DLP leader Roosevelt Skerrit says the relocation of some Campbell residents is a number one priority for the new year. He added that lands have been acquired for this purpose, and this will be done on a phased basis, with the most vulnerable moving first. A committee he states will be put in place there to oversee the process.

DLP Leader, Roosevelt Skerrit.

62-year-old, Bus Driver, Edward Jno Phillip is Dominica's third Super six Jackpot winner, having won $500,000last week. He said the winning numbers were selected by a friend.

Super Six Winner Edward Jno Phillip
 
Meantime, Marketing Manager at the Dominica National Lottery, Ken George says the Dominica alone has received $1.4 M in the Caribbean in 2022.Between Dominica, Grenada and St Lucia, the jackpot was been won 7 times this year.

​Marketing Manager at the Dominica National Lottery, Ken George.

Businessman Anderson Jolly is of the view that the chaotic fuel situation is a good illustration of what happens when governments interfere with the activities of the private sector. Jolly notes that it was said that the government was supposed to pick up the slack after the RUBIS problem, but if that is how the slack is picked up, he added, it would be best if the government get out of the way, because it is not a very good example.

According to Jolly, the government must create the enabling policy environment and leave the private sector to function and the economy as a whole to work. He says this is a good illustration of what happens when government interferes with the conduct of private sector affairs in addition to its own public sector affairs. Jolly says this will most definitely be a time to remember, and which will be recorded in our history books.

Businessman Anderson Jolly.

Grenadian Journalist Calistra Farrier questioned Dr. Thomson Fontaine, political leader of the UWP, about whether it was a mistake to boycott what many called the recent sham snap general election. Dr. Fontaine responded with an emphatic "no," and added that it turned out to be a huge victory for the party, because the analysis showed a drop in voter turnout for the Dominica Labour Party (DLP).

The election observers, he continued, were extremely clear: electoral reform must be implemented in the coming days and months. Fontaine emphasizes that despite their exclusion from the legislature, they still believe that the boycott was handled in the right way.

Dr. Thomson Fontaine, Political Leader of the UWP.

Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) Leader Bernard Hurtault says most Dominicans do not believe in the validity of this government, in terms of it truly representing what Dominica wants right now, and this is a clear definition of an illegitimate government.

He went on to say that among other things, we are left to cope with the infectiveness of this current DLP government, as well as its blatant flaws and lack of advancement.

Leader of the Dominica Freedom Party, Bernard Hurtault.

Vice Chairman of the National Joint Action Movement (NJAM) Severin McKenzie has stated that the decision of the two (2) Independent Candidates, Ms. Jesma Paul from the Salisbury Constituency and Mr. Anthony Charles from the Marigot Constituency, to strategically participate in the December 6, 2022 sham snap general election may have saved Dominica from a very unfortunate embarrassing situation and pre-empted possible tyranny, whereby the DLP would have controlled both the opposition and government in the Parliament.

​Severin McKenzie, Vice Chairman of the National Joint Action Movement (NJAM).

Dominica Association of Industry & Commerce says it is deeply concerned with the critical gas shortage in Dominica.
 
DAIC says this is impacting the private sector and the island as a whole, and their members continue to struggle greatly with this gas scarcity. The slowness and possibly crippling of their enterprises, as a result of their inability to operate as usual during this crucial and significant revenue-generating season, reflects this.

To make sure that the public is informed of any changes in real time, DAIC implores the government and distributors to maintain the lines of communication open. In order to find both immediate and long-term solutions to the current problems, DAIC is still committed to fostering serious discussions with the important players, such as the wholesalers and the government.

Executive Director of Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce (DAIC) Lizra Fabien.