​Grenada’s Chairman of the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP), Kaisha Ince, has denied reports, that a Ukrainian businessman was repaid US$1 million, after he failed to obtain a Grenada diplomatic passport.
 
Grenada's Foreign Affairs Ministry has also confirmed that only people with diplomatic portfolios working on behalf of the government, are afforded diplomatic passports.
 
Grenada, like several other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries provide citizenship to foreign nationals under its CIP, in return for making a substantial investment in the socio-economic development of the island.
 
In his 20th August Financial Crime Blog, Kenneth Rijock claimed that the Ukrainian businessman made his application through Henley and Partners, and wire transferred the money to the company's account in a Singapore Bank.
 
The report noted that when the Henley & Partners did not provide the passport, it was later discovered that there was no pending application, and that a government minister had arranged for a refund of the money. 

​A Spanish woman has died after being crushed in a freak accident involving a hospital lift, local media report.
 
Rocío Cortés Núñez, 25, had just given birth by Caesarian section in Seville's Our Lady of Valme hospital, when the incident occurred on Sunday.
 
Her hospital trolley was being wheeled out of the lift when it began to rise with its doors open, leaving part of her body hanging outside.
Firefighters were called to rescue her, but she could not be saved.
Some reports say her head was severed.

On Saturday 19th August 2017, Mourners came from far and wide across Dominica, to pay their respects and sympathize with the families of the five young men, who died in a tragic vehicular accident on 6th August 2017 in Ambas, Vielle Case. The funeral was dubbed the “Penville 5″
 
Freelance journalist Carlisle Jno Baptiste was on the scene:

​The names of the deceased were, Brenon Mandella Opher; Cecil Jude Jean Jr; Chris Richard Marcellin; Clement LeBlanc Jr, and Jean Lewis Tervary Sango. Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit was reported to have placed wreaths on the coffins of the five young men at the burial grounds.
 
Jno Baptiste also emphasized that Father Sharplis, in his sermon, championed the congregation, advising them to let go of their grudges and political biases, and to unite as one people.

​For years, business persons have offered solutions to the government of Dominica to assist with the development of Dominica’s Hotel sector. Hotelier Atherton Martin is recommending that government reviews its approach the financial facility recently provided to Dominica’s Hoteliers, at the AID Bank, in order to facilitate much needed refinancing of existing advances.
 
Government recently made $15 million dollars available at the AID bank, for onlending to Hoteliers, however the Hoteliers have shown any inclination to take on additional debt, because many of them they are said to be marginally profitable at present, and have been urging the government to resolve the issue of Air access to Dominica, in order to assist visitor arrivals and hotel occupancy.

The United Workers Party (UWP) and Hoteliers on Island have been appealing to the DLP Government to build an international Airport, to reduce dependence on regional Carrier LIAT for air services.
 
Architect and United Workers Party Senator Isaac Baptiste is making new calls on Government to develop an international Airport, so as to resolve the issue of Air Access to Dominica once and for all, and help Dominica’s Tourism Industry to get more globally competitive.

​The Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) and its supporters have expressed disappointment in the DLP Government, for its mendicant approach towards developing Dominica’s society.
 
Former Leader of the DFP Michael Astaphan compared the Government’s current development strategy to that of the past Freedom Party Administration, claiming that the DFP’s policies are better, and support the notion of creating opportunities to bring financial independence to all Dominicans.

​National Security Minister, Rayburn Blackmoore says that plans are in place to construct a new building in the city to accommodate 200 police officers.
 
The National Security Minister also says that a number of police stations across the island will receive attention during this financial year.
 
Minister Blackmoore says that the police will also receive additional vehicles during this financial year including 8 from the Chinese Government.

National Security Minister, Rayburn Blackmoore

Since the DLP’s election to office in the year 2000, many people have expressed disappointment in the disregard of ideas from the Diaspora, when Government is developing plans for various sectors of Dominica.
 
Former President of the Dominica of Applied Arts & Sciences (DAAS) and Scientist, Dr Clayton Shillingford, wants Dominica’s Government to follow in the footsteps of Jamaica’s Government, by engaging its people in the Diaspora, to help plan the development of all sectors of the economy.

Leader of the Dominica Freedom Party and Economist Kent Vital says the 2017 / 2018 Budget address presented by the Government of Dominica conveyed deceptive messages.
 
Vital believes Government’s lack of performance during the 2016/2017 Fiscal year, is reflected in the lack of production & export earnings, and is not due to the fact that Dominica is recovering from the disaster caused by Tropical Storm Erika.
 
Vital says the economic growth in the recovery year is usually more than that in a normal year, as other countries donated money and resources to the country during the recovery year.

In the face of continuing increases in burglaries at various businesses in Roseau and elsewhere in Dominica, the latest having occurred just this past weekend.
 
Businessman Curtis Tonge Sr. is calling on all businessmen and women to unify on the grounds of surveillance of the streets in the capital city of Roseau.
 
Tonge says although the Government can intervene and initiate an effective surveillance program throughout the city, he is advising that businesses owners place security cameras outside their stores, to record activities that may occur.