Dominica ended the 2026 Jean Pierre Caribbean Youth Netball Tournament in Trinidad in fifth place with 10 points.The U16 girls won 
their final match against Antigua and Barbuda on Friday, April 17, 2026, 21-11. The team ended the tournament with two wins and four defeats. 

Trinidad and Tobago retained the title being undefeated in the 22nd edition of the tournament with Barbados securing second place and Grenada placing third. 

Trinidad captured most awards of the tournament including Best Defending Team, Best Shooting Average Team, the Team Shooting Award and Best Uniformed Team. 

Fielding the youngest squad in the competition with an average age of 12, Barbados copped the Best Team Spirit Award. The Cayman Islands captured the Best Disciplined Team.

Justice Dr. Irving Andre challenged the recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) report on Dominica, labeling it as a source of bad news that ignores critical socio-economic realities. 

While the report highlights areas of growth such as infrastructure, tourism, and agriculture, Dr. Andre argues that it fails to address the lack of living wages, the poverty index, and the ongoing struggle of workers who remain excluded from the state's productive activities. 

He further suggested that the IMF’s recommendations for debt reduction often imply job cuts, which only exacerbates the systematic impoverishment he believes is becoming a trend under current policies. 

Justice Andre’ also pointed out significant transparency gaps, noting that the report does not provide information on the corruption index or identify the specific entities receiving major contracts for national undertakings like the airport and cable car projects. 

He expressed concern for ordinary Dominicans who, despite years of reported growth, still cannot afford to repair their homes or send their children to school. 

Dr. Andre concluded that by overlooking the true living standards and the disenfranchisement of the workforce, the report offers a lopsided view that fails to reflect the daily hardships faced by citizens on the ground.

A coalition of Multilateral Development Banks has reached a formal agreement to collaborate on a standardized approach for measuring the impact of their global operations on job creation. 

The institutions intend to deepen their coordination with various stakeholders, including the private sector and national governments, to ensure that their collective efforts lead to more and higher-quality employment opportunities. 

This initiative will be an iterative process, allowing each bank to refine its methods based on individual mandates, practical lessons learned, and evolving best practices in the field of economic development. 

The primary objective of this partnership is to enhance the collective understanding of the most effective pathways for increasing workers' earnings and driving sustainable growth across different regions. 

Officials noted that their discussions will involve a consistent dialogue with organizations such as the International Labour Organization (ILO) to ensure that the "quality" of jobs remains a central focus of the strategy. 

By aligning their policies and project designs, the MDBs aim to lift households out of poverty and improve social cohesion through the delivery of more robust and secure livelihoods.

Discover Dominica Authority (DDA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, the OECS, and the Dominica State College, has launched an intensive Tour Guide Training Program for thirty participants. 

Running from April 13–21, 2026, this fully funded initiative is supported by the Caribbean Development Bank under the EC-STEMS Project to bolster the professionalism of the island's tourism workforce. 

Marva Williams, CEO and Director of Tourism, emphasized that the program ensures guides are confident and aligned with high-quality sector expectations. 

The curriculum serves as a mandatory prerequisite for Nature Island Standards of Excellence (NISE) certification, focusing on practical skills such as environmental stewardship, cultural interpretation, and safety protocols. 

By combining classroom instruction with field-based learning, the program prepares participants to deliver engaging and high-quality experiences that meet the evolving demands of global visitors. 

The DDA highlights that graduates will be eligible to pursue formal certification upon completion. This effort represents a significant step in the national strategy to build a resilient, skilled, and professional tourism industry that reflects the best of Dominica.

Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) Marketing Executive Markerah George has invited the citizens of Dominica to the 15th Jazz 'n Creole Festival, set to take place on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at the Fort Shirley, Cabrits National Park. 


Under the theme "Afro Elegance," the event serves as a critical pillar for the Ministry of Tourism to drive travel, increase visitor spend, and create economic opportunities for local creators and small businesses. 


Mr. George noted that the festival weekend now features an expanded calendar including Breakfast Village, Jazz in the City, Jazz in the Garden, and Jazz and Dine. These activities aim to encourage longer stays and higher occupancy for accommodation providers in the north and across the country.

Markerah George, Marketing Executive for the Discover Dominica Authority…… 

Adding to the weekend's premium offerings, the "Exhale in Paradise" and "Aura" events promise to elevate the festival's luxury appeal. Monelle Latouche, Public Relations Officer for AURA, described the event as the ultimate destination for those seeking a high-end social atmosphere.

The Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (CDPF) directly engaged with the residents of St. Aroment on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, as part of its ongoing "Meet and Greet Foot Patrol". 

Between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM, officers walked the neighborhood streets in a collaborative effort with Police Assisting Communities to Excel (P.A.C.E.) to foster a closer relationship between law enforcement and local citizens. 

Officers also utilized the time to reassure the community that regular patrols will continue to maintain a consistent sense of security in the area. 

The community's response to the initiative was overwhelmingly positive, with many residents actively welcoming the officers into their neighborhood. 

The CDPF noted that this visit to St. Aroment is just one segment of a much larger island-wide outreach strategy aimed at building mutual trust and creating safer living environments for all Dominicans. 

By prioritizing these face-to-face interactions, the police force intends to move beyond traditional enforcement and establish itself as a dedicated partner in community development and national stability.

The world is set to observe the first-ever International Day of Women in Industry on April 21, 2026, marking a historic milestone in recognizing the vital contributions of women to global industrial development. 

Proclaimed during the 2025 Global Industry Summit in Riyadh, the day highlights how female leadership and innovation are driving essential green and digital transitions. 

For the Caribbean region, this observance is particularly significant, as it aims to increase the visibility of women who are currently leading transformations in sectors such as renewable energy, manufacturing, and agro processing. 

To commemorate the occasion, UNIDO Headquarters in Vienna will host high-level discussions focusing on gender-responsive industrial policies and the use of AI-driven insights to close data gaps regarding women's economic contributions. 

While women in Small Island Developing States are already pioneering resilient solutions to climate and economic challenges, they continue to face barriers such as unequal access to finance and limited representation in STEM fields. 

UNIDO and its regional partners are calling for this inaugural day to move beyond mere celebration, urging concrete commitments to invest in women-owned enterprises and create stronger pathways for female leadership to ensure a more inclusive and competitive industrial future.

Chief Executive Officer of the Dominica Hospital Authority, Dr. Kenneth Darroux, has issued a call for medical practitioners within the primary healthcare system to prioritize compassion in their service delivery. 

His remarks were made during a health symposium and awards ceremony held at the Dominica/China Friendship Auditorium on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Dr. Darroux emphasized that a compassionate approach is a fundamental component of effective healthcare and is essential for building trust between providers and the community. 

The event was organized as part of the inaugural Primary Healthcare Week, which was held to honor the legacy of the late Dr. Carissa Etienne. During the symposium, health officials and practitioners gathered to celebrate excellence in the field while discussing strategies to improve the national health infrastructure. 

By focusing on the human element of medicine, Dr. Darroux highlighted that the future of Dominican healthcare rests not only on technical expertise but also on the empathetic care provided to every patient.

The Government of Dominica has expressed deep sorrow following the passing of former Government Minister and public servant Ian Pinard, who first entered Parliament in 2005 as the representative for the Soufriere constituency and was re-elected in 2014, serving the people of Soufriere, Scotts Head, Gallion, and Pointe Michel with distinction. 

During his tenure in the Cabinet, he held the roles of Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education and later Minister for Public Works and Ports, where he was instrumental in managing the nation's road and port infrastructure during critical periods of recovery and reconstruction. 

Beyond his elected service, Mr. Pinard held significant executive leadership positions, including roles at PetroCaribe Dominica and his most recent post as Chief Executive Officer of the Dominica Air and Sea Ports Authority (DASPA). 

He is being remembered as a steadfast public servant who approached his duties with quiet determination and a profound sense of obligation to his country. 

The Government has extended its sincere condolences to his family, friends, and former constituents, honoring his lifelong commitment to national development and his dedicated service to the people of Dominica.

Dominica Women’s Senior National Football team Captain Trinity Esprit remains optimistic about her squad’s potential despite a "heartbreaking" 1-1 draw against Antigua & Barbuda on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. 

Playing at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St. Lucia, Esprit gave her nation a historic lead in the 63rd minute, marking Dominica's first goal and first point of the 2025/26 Concacaf W Qualifiers. 

Despite the missed win, the draw snapped a three-match scoring drought and ended a streak of consecutive defeats for the national team. 

Dominica currently sits at the bottom of Group B with a 0-1-2 record, but the team is already shifting its focus to their final hurdle of the tournament. 

While Nicaragua holds a strong second-place position in the group, the Dominican squad aims to build on the momentum of their defensive resilience and newfound offensive rhythm. 

For Esprit and her teammates, the upcoming clash represents a final opportunity to translate their improved performance into a definitive victory on the international stage.