Local News |
Dominica’s Chief Environmental Officer says spread of
dengue will increase if necessary precautions are not
taken
Reporter:
Kimberly Benjamin- Monday
August 30 2010
|
| |
Caribbean territories are being advised to take every
precaution against the spread of dengue fever as the
number of confirmed cases continues to rise. Dominica
has so far recorded 192 cases with the majority
concentrated in the capital Roseau. This is 15 less than
the last outbreak in 2007 when there were 207 cases.
Chief Environmental Officer Anthony Scotland is warning
that the situation will escalate if the necessary
precautions are not taken. Mr Anthony said there are
also concerns that the disease is also being imported
from neighbouring islands. Health Officials across the
Caribbean first raised the alert last month when the
number of confirmed cases began to increase. So far the
highest numbers have been recorded in the Dom Rep. where
health officials have declared an epidemic. The Pan
American health organization says deaths have been
reported in Puerto Rico, the Dom rep. and T&T.
|
|
Former PM Edison James says protest action may just be
the way to go for citizens to get answers to their most
burning questions
Reporter:
Kimberly Benjamin-
Monday August 30 2010
|
Former PM Edison James has called for protest action
over a rubbish bin transaction. It was revealed last
year that there were irregularities in the deal and
government may have been owed thousands of dollars for a
shortage of bins from the US. Mr James told a gathering
of the Citizens forum for good governance at the Harlem
Plaza last Thursday that protest action may just be the
way to go.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
The Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation confirms that it
has approved night landing at Dominica’s main airport
Reporter:
Kimberly Benjamin-
Friday August 27 2010
|
The Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority has
confirmed that it has approved night landing at
Dominica’s main airport. The approval follows a series
of test flights at the island’s airport. The absence of
night landing has long been identified as a major
hindrance to the development of Dominica’s tourism
industry. The government recently completed a major
upgrade of the Melville Hall airport located in the
North East of the island to address the problem. That
project included extending the runway and installing
landing lights. Now the Eastern Caribbean civil aviation
authority says the airport is ready for night landing.
The Ag Director General Donald McField said that
government should have received the official approval
yesterday. Mr McField said that that approval would be
granted in 3 phases. A series of test flights have
already been conducted and following one search
operation last week Regional Carrier LIAT said it
identified several concerns that needed to be reviewed
by the regulatory authorities. Mr McField said the Civil
aviation authority is satisfied that all the conditions
have been met. He also said that night landing could
begin soon. Ports Minister Rayburn Blackmoore has
welcomed the decision saying it is a significant
achievement for the island.
Back to top
|
A Dominica judge rules that the PM must stand trial over
his dual citizenship
Reporter: Kimberly Benjamin-
Friday August 27 2010
|
| |
There were 2 major court rulings in Dominica yesterday
arising out of a challenge to the results of last
December’s general election. In the first instance the
court threw out petitions by the Opposition UWP
contesting the results in 5 constituencies. The judge
said the party was on a fishing expedition in its
charges of bribery against the governing Labor Party.
The court also rejected the UWP’s claims about the
miscounting of votes and its argument that it was
unfairly denied access to the state owned radio station
and Government information service ahead of the
elections. The UWP leader Ron Green said he was
disappointed by the judgment. But there was one ruling
which could have serious repercussions for the governing
party. The court found that there was sufficient
evidence to proceed to trial after the UWP challenged
the eligibility of PM Roosevelt Skerrit to contest the
polls along with that of his Education Minister Peter St
Jean owing to their dual nationality. This means
Dominica is set to witness its PM facing the courts over
the subject of his dual citizenship and in a worst case
scenario he could be disqualified from the government.
Former Ag Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme
Court Sir Brian Alleyne said while it’s a major
development for Dominica, it shouldn’t be that
surprising. Sir Alleyne says that PM Roosevelt Skerrit
does in fact stand a chance of losing. Mr Skerrit did
admit having French Nationality but he said he got it as
a child and he didn’t swear allegiance to it as an
adult. The court found that argument insufficient.
Meantime, Legal affairs minister Ian Douglas said he
welcomed the decision on bribery. Mr Douglas said he was
confident that the dual citizenship case would also be
resolved in the government’s favor, and so did Attorney
General Francine Baron-Royer.
Back to top
|
Education professionals happy with 2010 CXC Exams
results Reporter:
Kimberly Benjamin- Friday
August 27 2010
|
Education officials in Dominica are pleased with the
results of the 2010 CXC Exams.
The results show a 76.4% pass for Dominica, an
improvement of 4.4% over the last year.
Chief Education Officer Steve Hyacinth says the results
show that teachers are making a greater effort with
their students.
Mr Hyacinth said for the first time 9 out of 15
secondary schools are featured on list of top performing
students as compared to 6 schools in 2009. The results
show an increase in the number of grade 1 passes from
11% last year to 14% this year and an increase in grade
2 passes from 28% to 31% this year.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
Dominica embarking on a program to increase its
specialist doctors Reporter:
Kimberly Benjamin- Friday
August 27 2010
|
Dominica is embarking on a program to increase the
number of its specialist doctors. Health minister Julius
Timothy says plans are underway to seal funding to aid
the practitioners to pursue studies abroad by as early
as January next year.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
Waitukubuli National Trail Project (WNTP) to conduct
Summer Adventure & Hike Event this coming Sunday
Reporter:
Kimberly Benjamin-
Friday August 27 2010
|
Discover Dominica Authority and the Waitukubuli National
Trail Project (WNTP) will announce the official opening
for the first two segments of the
Waitukubuli National Trail at their
Summer Adventure and Hike Event, Sunday, August 29.
Once completed, the Waitukubuli National Trail (WNT)
will be the first and only walking trail that traverses
the entire Caribbean island. The trail will run from the
south to the north, with a distance of 115 miles. It
will be divided into 14 different segments with levels
varying from easy family hikes to longer and more
challenging hikes. Each trail will offer breathtaking
views of Dominica’s unspoiled nature, pristine
waterfalls and lush rainforests. The event will
highlight on-going work of the WNTP, feature a series of
activities including hiking events for children and
adults, the unveiling of the first billboard promoting
the WNTP and will end with a closing ceremony by the
WNTP Project Management Unit.
Back to top
|
Regional News |
|
Advocacy groups press for rights
www.bbccaribbean.com -
Monday August 30 2010 |
|
Gays and lesbian advocacy groups across the Caribbean
say they are preparing the ground work to file
complaints of discrimination to the Inter-American
Commission on Human Rights. The issue was raised at a
meeting in Guyana Friday, on human rights in the Western
Hemisphere. The co-chair of Guyana's Society Against
Sexual Orientation Discrimination, Joel Simpson, says
they teamed up with similar groups in Jamaica, Belize
and Latin America to successfully lobby the Organisation
of American States to pass resolutions against
discrimination of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and
trans-genders. However Mr Simpson told the meeting that
it is time to move beyond the resolutions. The
Georgetown group has already filed a High Court motion
challenging the constitutionality of cross-dressing laws
as it relates to freedom of expression.
Back to top
|
|
Curacao votes
www.bbccaribbean.com -
Monday August 30 2010 |
|
The people of Curacao have been voting in an election
that could determine whether the Dutch Caribbean
territory gets its stand-alone status within the Dutch
Kingdom. Curacao is the largest of the five-island
Netherlands Antilles grouping which is being dissolved
with each islands getting its own direct ties with
Holland. But while most of the political parties in
Curacao are in favour of the new constitutional
arrangement, there are those which call it a form of re-colonisation
and want it re-negotiated. It is felt that they could
have an impact on the formation of the island's next
governing coalition. The date set for the new
constitutional arrangement between Holland its it
Caribbean territories is 10 October.
Back to top
|
|
|
Ex-baseballer faces kidnapping charge
www.bbccaribbean.com -
Monday August 30 2010 |
|
Police in the Dominican Republic have charged former US
major league baseballer, Ambiorix Burgos, with
kidnapping and attempted murder after his former wife
said she was forced to eat rat poison. The Associated
Press said Mr Burgos is suspected of kidnapping Dilenia
Reynoso last Thursday from a prosecutor's home where she
was hiding after allegedly receiving death threats from
him. At the weekend, a judge ordered the 26-year-old to
remain in jail for three months while prosecutors
prepare the case. Last year, a New York jury found the
ex-major leaguer guilty of assaulting his girlfriend. He
was sentenced to nine months in jail.
Back to top
|
