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Dominica Named Among the Six Countries which Show
Highest Percentages of Pesticide Contamination Found in
Canadian Food Imports and Local Environmentalists want
Investigation & Action Reporter:
Kimberly Benjamin- Tuesday March
9 2010
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Dominica has been featured on a video broadcast on CTV
British Colombia Canada as being one of six countries
from which Canada imports food, and which show the most
pesticide contamination found in all Canadian food
imports. Dominica is rated third after the Dominican
Republic and Portugal with 10.0% contamination in foods
imported from Dominica. I spoke to Environmentalists
Bernard Wiltshire and Atherton Martin to get their
reactions to this report. Mr. Wiltshire described it as
a saddening situation and says that Dominica is slowly
moving away from being the Nature Isle of the Caribbean,
and is quickly becoming the “polluted Island” of the
Caribbean. Wiltshire raises real questions about the
credibility of Dominica’s intent to convert to being an
organic island while there continues to be ongoing use
of poisonous chemicals in the soils that are killing
local species that are resident in the soil for very
good purpose. Mr. Martin says this time around, it
appears that there is no confusion of countries since
the video shows the flags of the different countries. He
says the question now is - who is exporting produce from
Dominica to Canada? and how is it possible that the
produce is exhibiting such high level of pesticide
residue which is sufficient to actually place the food
items among the worst violators of Canadian import law?
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Dominica State College Officials Remain Silent on the
Matter of Mr. Hubert Charles Departure as President of
the Dominica State College, and on the Question as to
Who will be Replacing Him Reporter:
Kimberly Benjamin-
Tuesday March 9 2010
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Since Mr. Hubert Charles Former President of the
Dominica State College left that institution, allegedly
to serve as Dominica’s Ambassador to Washington, no
release has been issued by government or the college as
to who will be appointed as the next DSC president to
replace him, or when will he in fact be taking up the
assignment in the Washington office. Q95News contacted
officials of the State College in an attempt to get some
information regarding the first matter, but was told
that no mandate had been given by the board to make any
report on the state of the presidency of the DSC.
However, we have been reliably informed that Mrs. Helen
Francis Seaman is still serving in the capacity as Vice
President; a position which she has been holding for
some time, and which she held while Mr. Hubert Charles
was President. Q95 will continue to follow up on this
story, and every effort will also be made to contact Mr.
Hubert Charles in order to get an update as to whether
or not he has been issued with a contract to take up the
position as Dominica’s Ambassador to Washington, and if
that is the case, when exactly is it likely that he will
be taking up that appointment and moving to Washington.
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Fogging Expeditions on the Way from Today (Tuesday 9th
March) Through Thursday from Portsmouth to Layou to
Destroy the Adult Aedes Aegypti Mosquitos which Transmit
Dengue Fever
Reporter: Kimberly Benjamin-
Tuesday March 9 2010
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National Pest & Termite Control Ltd will be carrying out
a fogging expedition from today (Tuesday 9th
March) through Thursday from Portsmouth to Layou
starting from 5pm. Persons in this area are being asked
to keep all doors and windows open during this period.
This is in an effort to destroy the adult Aedes Aegypti
mosquitos which transmit the dengue fever as well as
other types of mosquitoes in that area. Persons who are
suffering from asthma and bronchitis are asked to stay
indoors in secure room until the smoke has completely
cleared from the areas. The fogging will take place in
Portsmouth today Tuesday 9th March, Dublac,
Bioche, Colihaut, Coulibistrie and Morne rachete on
March 10th and Mero, St Joseph and Layou on
March 11th. It has been reported that some
other Caribbean countries had implemented proactive
measures long before Dominica, in order to protect their
citizens from contacting the illnesses associated with
these mosquitoes. Q95News has tried contacting the
Minister for Health Honourable Julius Timothy for a
report on that situation and also as to Dominica’s
present status regarding the Aedes Aegypti Mosquito and
Dengue Fever on island, but to no avail up to this time.
We will continue to try reaching the Minister and we
will bring the information to you as soon as it becomes
available.
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Environmentalist Atherton Martin says Oscar Winning Best
Feature Documentary “The Cove” highlights Dominica as a
Key Player in Preservation & Conservation of Natural
Environment
Reporter: Shamalie Louis-
Tuesday March 9 2010
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According to Environmentalist Atherton Martin, at the
2010 Academy Awards held in the United States on Sunday
Night, a very important event occurred which directly
involves Dominica. The movie which captured the Best
Feature Documentary called “The Cove” featured Dominica
as an island with special interest in protecting the
world’s oceans and all species within. Martin says the
Nature Island image of Dominica was brought to the
forefront due to this film whose reach has impacted as
far as Japan. Martin believes this film which will be
shown for the first time in Dominica on Thursday at the
Harlem Plaza, comes at an opportune time as Dominica
will again be called to vote for or against matters of
preservation and conservation. The Cove will be shown
free of charge on Thursday March 11th from 7
pm at the Harlem Plaza. All are invited for an open
viewing of this critically acclaimed film.
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CEO of the DDA & Tourism Director Colin Piper Officially
Presented Florida Residents Mitch and Kanaan Now on
Island as the Winners of the ‘Showers of Love’ Online
Competition
Reporter:
Shamalie Louis- Tuesday March
9 2010
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CEO of Discover Dominica and Director of Tourism Colin
Piper, yesterday officially presented the winners of the
‘Showers of Love’ online competition to the public.
Louise and Mitch Kanaan who are residents of Florida are
now on island. Participants in that competition needed
to provide correct answers to 10 questions based on
famous couples in order to win the grand prize which was
a trip for 2 to Dominica. Mr. Piper stated that close to
4000 persons participated in the contest organized by
the Discover Dominica Authority in 2009. He described
the online competition as an internet marketing strategy
for Dominica and expounded on other DDA Internet
contests. Mitch and Louise Kanaan described their
experience thus far in Dominica. The couple will remain
on island for a total of seven days and will participate
in a range of activities including whale watching and
scuba diving.
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DAPD Program Coordinator Nathalie Murphy says many DAPD
Members and Others with Disabilities are not Benefiting
from ICT & Programs Organized to Teach Braille Computer
Literacy
Reporter:
Shamalie Louis- Tuesday March
9 2010
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Program Coordinator and Executive Director of the
Association of Persons with Disabilities Mrs. Nathalie
Murphy says the situation of the DAPD as it relates to
its members and others with disabilities, is that many
of them do not benefit from ICT programs or those
organized to teach Braille. She explains that through
various means of funding, a computer literacy program
was initiated from November 11 2009 which ran until
December 22 of that same year and incorporated 12
participants. Mrs. Murphy also expounded on the Braille
program which is the follow through from a project
undertaken with UNESCO in 2007. She noted that plans are
set to keep the program going as there is still a lot
more to be learnt. Mrs. Murphy was speaking at the
closing ceremony for both the Braille and Computer
Literacy Course for disabled persons which took place on
Friday March 5th.
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Director of Tourism and CEO of Discover Dominica
Authority Colin Piper says Due to Shortage of Finances
Approximately 50% of Marketing funds are Spent on
Internet Advertising
Reporter: Shamalie Louis-
Tuesday March 9 2010
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Director of Tourism and CEO of Discover Dominica Colin
Piper says since funding for marketing Dominica are not
overflowing, good use has to be made of available funds.
He stated that approximately 50% of marketing funds are
spent on internet advertising even though marketing in
itself presents numerous opportunities to include print,
radio and television. Piper notes that holding contests
online form an essential part of the DDA’s marketing
strategy, thereby allowing persons to express their
interest through open contests, and bringing more
directly into focus those who are genuinely interested
in the island. He says the Discover Dominica Authority
then acts upon that interest and persuades those persons
to actually visit the island.
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Regional News |
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United against direct rule
www.bbccaribbean.com -
Tuesday March 9 2010 |
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The two political parties which were fierce rivals
before direct rule was imposed by Britain on the Turks
and Caicos Islands, on Monday took to the streets of the
territory in a show of solidarity that attracted
hundreds of islanders.
Their demonstration was aimed at showing their
dissatisfaction with direct rule imposed after London
suspended the TCI constitution last August. The move
followed a commission of inquiry which reported evidence
of corruption in the then government that was headed by
Premier Michael Misick of the Progressive National
Party. The PNP and the Peoples Democratic Movement have
united against the British decision that they insist has
left the country in the hands of one man -
British-appointed Governor Gordon Wetherall.
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Guyana's drugs-money debate
www.bbccaribbean.com -
Tuesday March 9 2010 |
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A well-known Caribbean economist is disputing claims by
President Bharrat Jagdeo that drugs-money is not
reflected in Guyana's economy. The Guyana government has
been repeatedly coming under fire from the opposition
Peoples National Congress and the Alliance For Change -
both allege that the Jagdeo administration is doing
little to curb the illegal drug trade. However President
Bharrat Jagdeo says increased investments are due to
vitality, energy, growth and confidence in Guyana's
economy. Professor of Economics, Clive Thomas, has
countered that studies done by the International
Monetary Fund and the Institute of Development Studies
of the University of Guyana show that the underground
economy is almost 50% of Guyana's total economy.
Professor Thomas reasons that some drug-proceeds are
getting into the banking system.
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Not enough clout
www.bbccaribbean.com -
Tuesday March 9 2010 |
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The Commonwealth Secretariat has voiced concern over the
apparent ineffectiveness of Women's Affairs ministries
in the Caribbean and elsewhere. Speaking at a
Commonwealth Day function in London, the organisation's
Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma said the matter will
be one of the issues at a Commonwealth-organised
conference in Barbados in June. "We're also launching a
new project which will ask why ministers of women's
affairs have relatively little influence in cabinet
decision-making and best practice," he said.
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