​Savahnn James has captured the title of Miss Dominica 2020. She was sponsored by the National Bank of Dominica, and is also an employee of that banking institution. She was also sponsored by Green's Wholesale. James copped awards for Best performing talent, and Best interview.
Primrose David came in first runner up, with Shannon St Hilaire of Soufriere placing second.

​Miss Dominica 2020, Savahnn James

​Tourism Director Colin Piper says the Tourism Master Plan vision reflects a need for every Dominican to take full responsibility for tourism success and sustainability.
He says responsible tourism is something that features in the 10 year vision, and mission of the new tourism product.
A special meeting took place in light of this Wednesday.

​Tourism Director Colin Piper
​
Meantime, Chief Executive Officer of the Dominica Air & Sea Ports Authority Benoit Bardouille says this plan is in alignment with government's environmental sustainability and growth policies.
He says the blueprint for 2020-2030 will help in the process of getting tourism to where it should be.

​Chief Executive Officer of the Dominica Air & Sea Ports Authority, Benoit Bardouille

​Deputy Chairperson of the Carnival Road Parade Committee Charlene White-Christian says judging of bands will take place from 10am on Carnival Tuesday.
She says at least one full round must be made in order to qualify for a win.
She outlined all things which must be in place.

White-Christian says bands have been separated into two categories.

​Deputy Chairperson of the Carnival Road Parade Committee, Charlene White Christian

​The Minister and the Fisheries Division of the Ministry of the Blue and Green Economy, Agriculture and National Food Security and the Staff &PTA of the WoodFord HIll Primary School held an Eat Fish Day, the first of its kind for the school. The 75 students and staff were elated to have such an activity as the community is not engaged in fishing or they have fish as a staple in their diets.
Minister Fidel Grant pledged to continue to provide fish for cooking in the schools lunch programme as an incentive to encourage the students to eat fish and to encourage their parents to include fish in their meal preparations at home.

Minister for Blue & Green Economy, Fidel Grant

​Health Coordinator for the East Caribbean Conference of SDA Nurse Priscilla Prevost has sounded a call for schools here to ban soft drinks in an effort to tackle obesity among students.
Nurse Prevost is calling on schools across Dominica to follow the footsteps of the St. Luke’s Primary School.
The St. Luke’s Primary School has banned all soft drinks and juices – and according to Nurse Prevost, the results are amazing.
She also says teachers and parents have a significant role to play in preventing childhood obesity and preventing diabetes and all the complications of diabetes in the future.

​Nurse Priscilla Prevost, the Health Coordinator for the East Caribbean
Conference of SDA

​Several contemporary and traditional bands are hopeful of winning prizes this year with Mas Domnik 2020 rapidly approaching.
 
Caesar Emmanuel, President and Band Leader of the Thunderbirds, revealed that the band is taking a more relaxed approach to carnival this year, with the theme ‘Clowns of the Universe’, through which they plan to portray images of clowns with which they are familiar.
 
Emmanuel explained the majority of their costumes were not made in Dominica this year as a result of a loss faced last year with the investments made ‘Jewels of Dominica’ which was very expensive.
 
“So, this year we decided we were going to lighten up and let everybody free up themselves with ‘Clowns of the Universe’, where most of the costumes, for the first time, are being imported.”
The band, which took home the 2019 award for Most Creative Band in the traditional section, has existed for over sixty years.

​Under the theme ‘Colors of the OECS’, PRO of Karnival Korner, Emmanuel Loblack, revealed that the band, which he credits with the “revival of the Sensay costume” plans to take a more “patriotic” approach to mas this year.
 
“Every costume we have had has been done locally. We don’t import. The only thing we import are the materials. We get a theme and we conceptualize the idea,” he said. “This year, for example, we are doing ‘Colours of the OECS’, portraying the most dominant colours we have on the flags.”
 
Loblack stated that the “diverse” carnival band, which has been in existence for twenty-five years, is now experiencing a decrease in registration, which he believes is due to the hysteria surrounding the recent outbreak of the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
 
“This year in particular, registration is slow, because people have a number of concerns with that virus [Coronavirus],” he noted.

​Revellers are being advised to observe the ID’s of Food Handlers or Food Vendors through the remainder of Dominica Mas Dominik Carnival Celebrations and beyond.
 
Speaking to the media recently, Senior Environmental Health Officer Ms. Calma Louis says the Ministry of health are always concerned with the health practices of Food Handlers across Dominica, and is always monitoring and training persons interested in the food vending business, to ensure the healthy preparation and dissemination of prepared food products in the country. She says over 100 persons have been trained by the Health Ministry and certified with a food handlers permit.

​Senior Environmental Health Officer, Ms. Calma Louis

​Bishop of the Diocese of Roseau Gabriel Malzaire has sent out a message to all Dominicans who uphold the faith, ‘to be responsible in all circumstance, inclusive of the festive season.’
 
Malzaire gave a list of recommendations to be followed by individuals of the catholic faith. It is his hope that parents are mindful of their children’s whereabouts, calling for a drug-free and incident-free Carnival Season.

​Bishop of the Diocese of Roseau, Gabriel Malzaire

​According to (Loop Barbados) CARICOM countries will soon see a fixed roaming rate, this announcement came from the Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, on Wednesday morning at the 31st Inter-Sessional Meeting of Heads of Government.
 
Prime Minister Mottley Said “We believe that our ability to have a regional communication that is affordable and accessible is an absolute priority, it is against that background that we also recognize the digital economy can play a powerful role in the development of our economies period,” adding that Grenadian Prime Minister, Keith Mitchell and a team from the Caribbean Single Market Economy (came) have been working with regional telecommunication operators to implement a fixed roaming rate for CARICOM states.
 
The Barbadian Prime Minister agreed that the roaming rates in this region are punitive, and assured the Caribbean people that once CARICOM reaches an agreement on the rate and service level, the operators will make the necessary technological changes. She expects the new fixed single CARICOM rate will be in effect sometime in 2020.