Contract for RIMP to be signed today  
By Jozef Faddoul- Monday 28th April 2008

The contract for the Road Improvement and Maintenance Project (RIMP) will be signed today. The Project, costing just over 22 million Dollars, is expected to commence sometime next month, and will provide improved access to the tourist sites in the Roseau Valley. It is also expected to improve road access to residents of Bath Estate, Trafalgar and St. Aroment.  Funding for the project is expected to come from a loan from the Caribbean Development Bank. The signing ceremony will take place at 2.30 pm in the Ministry of Finance conference room.      

A call for citizens to support IPO rally   
By Merville Defoe- Monday 28th April 2008

Citizens are being encouraged to turn out in large numbers in support of the Integrity in Public Office (IPO) Act rally. The rally organized by an IPO rally organizing committee is meant to influence the implementation of the Integrity in Public Office Act which was passed in parliament 5 years ago. Speaking at a press conference Monday in light of the event, member of the committee Lennox Linton said the event aims to indicate to the government that 5 years is long over due. He also said the issue of cost is no excuse for government’s failure to implement the act.     

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One Marigot man dead     
By Jozef Faddoul- Monday 28th April 2008

Police are reporting the death of one man in the Marigot Community over the weekend. Police say, the body was found on Sunday, hanging from a tree. Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Claude Weeks says: “The body of Earl James of Marigot was found hanging from a mango tree. He was thirty three years old.” He says the body was pronounced dead by a medical doctor, and subsequently transported to the morgue of the Princess Margaret Hospital, where a post-mortem is expected to be performed. Police are continuing investigations into the incident.     

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Dominica to host 2008 Caribbean Foresters Meeting today            By Sandy Alexis- Monday 28th April 2008  

Forestry Officials and Natural Resource Managers from across the region will gather at the Fort Young Hotel today, for the opening of the 14^th Caribbean Foresters’ Meeting. At that conference, a number issues relating to forestry in Dominica and the Caribbean will be discussed. Working group sessions and a field trip to the Syndicate Nature Trail, are a few of the activities that will form part of the programme, which is being coordinated by the Puerto Rican Conservation Foundation and the Forestry, Wildlife & Parks Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.      

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UWI playing its Role in National Development  
By Jozef Faddoul- Monday 28th April 2008 

The University of the West Indies (UWI) continues to play a significant role in the development of Dominican and Caribbean citizens. That’s the view of professor at the UWI Dominica, Dr. Francis Severin. He believes that a great deal of the development of human resource in Dominica and the region should be proudly attributed to the services and education which the University has provided over the past sixty years. The University is this year celebrating its sixtieth anniversary.   

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MDC reports good progress for May Fest 2008  
By Tyrella Alexander- Monday 28th April 2008 

Things are progressing very well for this year’s May Fest. Sisni Pascal of the Marigot Development Corporation (MDC) says one of the highlights this year is a partnership between the Marigot Village Council, and individuals from the neighbouring island of Marigalante. She says some sort of corporation will be established with the village of St. Louis in Marigalante. “The Mayor and a team of about nine will be come over.” She says the corporation is intended for exchanges among students, and agricultural exchanges. Activities to celebrate May Fest will begin this weekend.      

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DSC’s Photographic Course starts today    
By Tyrella Alexander- Monday 28th April 2008 

The first ever National Photographic Challenge starts today. The program, launched last week by the Dominica State College and the Reunion 2008 Committee, will be carried out in a course format in three levels. It is not only designed to educate about photography, but will also seek to create a greater interest in that field. Mr Merrill Matthew of the Dominica State College says a number of experienced persons in the field of photography have been involved in facilitating the course. The field photography intermediate level will run from April 28^th-May 02^nd 2008, the basic course will start on June 23^rd.           

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New prime minister nominated in Haiti after riots
caribbeannetnews.com - Monday 28th April 2008    

Haitian President Rene Preval named a new prime minister on Sunday after lawmakers fired his predecessor to quell violent protests ignited by rising food prices in the impoverished Caribbean nation. Preval named Ericq Pierre, a senior adviser with the Inter-American Development Bank, to replace former Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis, lawmakers said. Alexis was dismissed on April 12 in a vote by opposition senators who blamed him for failing to boost food production and reduce the cost of living. His departure followed a week of riots and looting over food prices in the poorest nation in the Americas. The violence claimed at least six people, including a Nigerian with the 9,000-member U.N. peacekeeping force in Haiti. Pierre's appointment was first confirmed to Reuters by Kelly Bastien, head of the country's Senate. It still must be ratified by Haiti's parliament.

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France backs proposal for global fund to fight food crisis
caribbeannetnews.com - Monday 28th April 2008 

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on Saturday backed calls for the international community to create a food fund to tackle the crisis caused by sharp global price rises. Kouchner said France considered it imperative to develop "a world partnership to relaunch agricultural production and rural development in developing countries, especially in Africa". The minister was speaking at a meeting with non-governmental organisations (NGO). A foreign ministry statement said Kouchner had "confirmed his wish to see the creation of an international fund dedicated to agriculture and food". French NGO Action contre la Faim (Action Against Hunger-ACF) lodged one such proposal, its director-general Francois Danel saying after the meeting that Kouchner had welcomed their suggestion.   

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Embattled Puerto Rico governor seeks re-election
caribbeannetnews.com - Monday 28th April 2008  

A month after his US federal indictment on campaign finance fraud charges, Puerto Rico Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila said on Sunday he will seek re-election in November. The announcement came at a meeting of Acevedo Vila's Popular Democrat Party in San Juan, where more than 5,000 delegates ratified a resolution vowing to support him as their candidate despite his legal problems. The party favours maintaining Puerto Rico's status as a commonwealth rather than seeking full US statehood for the Caribbean island. "I am ready to bring you the victory we need," the governor told cheering supporters. "Federal authorities think they can subvert the will of our party.

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