Carbon Says Timely Strategic Action Must be Organized if necessary to Achieve Voter ID Cards for Next Election
By Shamalie Louis- Friday July 3rd 2009

Executive member of the DFP Swanson Carbon says despite the many calls by Freedomites and others for action to be taken to display the dissatisfaction with the ‘run around’ being given by the Labour Party as regards the implementation of voter id cards, every move has to be sufficiently and methodically thought out. He says that timing is of the utmost importance to achieve the desired outcome and also to avoid making unjust assumptions against the government. Carbon says he will look forward to the Labour rally to be held soon, to take note if the election date is announced without ID cards being in place. If that happens to be the case, he says the DFP will then take action to stress that ID cards are an important aspect of the election process. The Prime Minister had publicly stated that a Parliamentary Sub Committee would have been set up to look into the implementation of voter ID cards, but the opposition parties insist that activation of such a committee is not necessary since the provision for Voter ID cards is already entrenched in the existing laws, and they see the Prime Ministers move as another delay tactic.    

Prime Minister Skerrit asks Dominicans Not to Fear for the Upcoming National Budget                                                                            By Shamalie Louis- Friday July 3rd 2009

At a recent Labour Party Delegate’s Conference in an effort to allay fears in the populace about the Labour Government’s resilience, Prime Minister Skerrit stated and I quote, “Not a major project undertaken by this administration has been started and stopped, or shelved because of our failure to finance that which we said we could and would have delivered. No major social service has been discontinued or considerably scaled back because of our inability to support and enfranchise the less fortunate. We have persevered through very trying circumstances without imposing heavy doses of taxation.” With the presentation of the 2009/2010 National Budget just weeks away, the Prime Minister further stated and I quote, “In this upcoming budget, I will not ask more of you than you can reasonably bear. I will not affix a burden to those whom I know cannot carry the load. I am not saying there will not be requests for sacrifices, but I will once again temper justice with mercy. I will once again resist any recommendation to reverse the progress that has been made or to undermine the standard of living and the quality of life of our people,” Prime Minister Skerrit concluded.

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Former Prime Minister Hon Edison James says UWP Government Represents Highest Performance Ever in the History of Governance in Dominica                                                                                 By Shamalie Louis- Friday July 3rd 2009

Former Prime Minister and President of the United Workers Party Honourable Edison James, at a public meeting in Delice recently, told a gathering that no other government has performed to the level at which the UWP had performed during its four and a half years in Government. James stated that any party elected into power will have to use the performance of the UWP as the yardstick for measuring the effectiveness of their performance. He called on the UWP supporters not to be fooled anymore by frivolous past allegations made about UWP, and focus their evaluation on everything taking place today as a basis for decision making at the polls, always keeping in mind the level of performance displayed in the past by the United Workers Party.  

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Minister says Education Ministry working feverishly
By Lakisha Labassiere- Friday July 3rd 2009

In the course of addressing the Graduation ceremony of the Goodwill Secondary School, Minister for Education, Hon. Sonia Williams, says her ministry is working assiduously to ensuring a brighter future for all Dominicans. According to Ms. Williams the ministry of Education has invested over EC$5 million towards university education to over 500 students.  In addition to that, she says assistance in over EC$1 million has also been given to over 200 students to attend the University of the West Indies Open Campus in Dominica as well as the Business Training Center. Senator Sonia Williams further added that the students and teachers of the GSS can soon look forward to the construction of a new structure. However, she says in the meantime her ministry will be undertaking some renovation works to ease the discomfort of the students and teachers.                       

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UWP Leader says DLP has done little for country's advancement
By Lakisha Labassiere- Friday July 3rd 2009

Leader of the United Workers Party, Hon. Ron Green, speaking at a public meeting in Delice recently, says under the present Labour administration, little has been done to bring Dominica forward. Quoting the saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, Green says at present Dominica is in trouble and its citizens need to collaborate in order to put in the right leaders to move the country forward. According to Green it is only by tapping into the resources of the state will Dominica move forward. Speaking to the entrepreneurial skills of many Dominicans both here and abroad, the party leader says it is by creating employment opportunities for these people, will Dominica gain economic stability and sustainability.

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Education Minister tell youth to detach themselves from negativity
By Lakisha Labassiere- Friday July 3rd 2009

Minister for Education Hon. Sonia Williams has urged the young masses to ‘stay away’ from what she describes as weaknesses which will affect one’s development into being a strong, great and productive individual. Ms. Williams says while some persons may feel being defiant, a gang member, a drug pusher, a fighter, an alcoholic, a smoker or an illegitimate parent make u a strong individual in society, this is not the case. She says these characteristics simply destroy one’s character rather than building them into a better person.

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Prime Minister Skerrit says the Economy is Resilient
By Shamalie Louis- Thursday July 2nd 2009

At the Delegates Conference of the governing Dominica Labour Party held recently the Prime Minister claimed that the economy in Dominica was resilient in the face of an unprecedented global financial crisis. He stated and I quote, “We have managed to keep the engines of production in this country well oiled and running. We survived the worst energy crisis in recent memory. We are holding our own during the worst global economic depression known to 90 percent of living souls. We are battling with and overcoming adversity associated with a decline in global travel, a fall in demand for our export products and a reduction in foreign direct investment due to circumstances not of our making. These are testing and turbulent times, Comrades and Friends, but your Labour Government is unflinching,” End of quote. The Prime Minister also emphasised that not a single Dominican has been sent home in the past four years “because of inability to pay a wage or salary”.         

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Antiviral drugs donated
www.bbccaribbean.com - Friday July 3rd 2009

The US has announced it will provide 420,000 courses of the anti-viral medication Tamiflu to fight swine flu in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Health and Human Services Department said treating and preventing the virus helps the security of the region, as well as that of the United States. St Vincent is the latest Caribbean nation to report a case of the virus. The United Nations' top health official has said the worldwide spread of swine flu is now unstoppable. Margaret Chan, the head of the World Health Organisation, was speaking at a global forum in Mexico, where the virus first took hold. Dr Chan stressed that most cases of the H1N1 virus were mild.

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St Vincent signs nuclear treaty
www.bbccaribbean.com - Friday July 3rd 2009

St Vincent and the Grenadines is the latest country to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, according to the global nuclear watchdog. The International Atomic Energy Agency said the signing ceremony took place on Thursday at United Nations Headquarters. Thirty of the 33 States in Latin America and the Caribbean are now signatories to the treaty. The three non-signatories are Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago and Cuba. A standstill has been reached in the agency's investigation of Iran, a new diplomatic ally of St Vincent. 

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Caricom fund looking for more money
www.bbccaribbean.com - Friday July 3rd 2009

Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson has said the Regional Development Fund is searching for more money and is fine-tuning disbursement rules. The fund was established to help disadvantaged sectors and countries of the Caricom Single Market. Mr Thompson, whose country chairs the committee that's looking for money, said that so far the RDF's kitty has US$70 million. It needs at least another $180 million. He said rules for accessing the fund are being finalised as some countries need money immediately.     

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