Investigative Journalist Lennox Linton questions the Determination of Law Enforcement in Dominica to Deal with the issue at a Local Law Firm                                                             Reporter: Lakisha LaBassiere- Saturday August 7th 2010

Speaking to the issues surrounding the separation of partners in one of Dominica’s leading legal chambers as a result of concerns of irregularities by the head of Chambers, Investigative Journalist Lennox Linton, questions the determination of law enforcement authorities in Dominica as far as it relates to that issue. He says the head of the Chambers saw the irregularities serious enough to get rid of his partner from the firm. Linton questions whether or not this matter will be ruled as theft as the head of chambers claims that money billed for legal work in the name of the firm was placed into an account which he knew nothing of. 

                                                                                                                                  Organizing Committee Chairman Alwin Bully says the 3^rd Annual Nature Island Literary Festival & Book Fair Must be seen as  a Major Tourism Revenue Earner                                                   Reporter: Lakisha LaBassiere- Saturday August 7th 2010

The 3^rd Annual Nature Island Literary Festival and Book Fair is scheduled to take place from Friday August 6^th to Sunday August 8^th under the distinguished patronage of Dominica’s Acting President His Excellency Conrad O. McIntyre.  Chairman of the organizing committee, Mr. Alwin Bully says this festival aims at creating an avenue for creating new industries under the Culture & Creative Industries sector.  Bully says the art of writing is quite significant and influential in one’s everyday life. He says through the art of writing, one’s mind is stimulated and open to new concepts. Additionally Mr. Bully says Festival Tourism, and in particular the now popular literary festivals are growing into a thriving industry, and more focus should be placed on the Nature Island Literary Festival and Book Fair, to make it bigger and better, because it could indeed increase revenue and visitor arrivals into Dominica.

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Dominica’s Trade Minister John Colin McIntyre Updates Stakeholders on Negotiations Regarding CARICOM-Canada Trade & Development Agreement                                   

Press Release- Saturday August 7th 2010

Officials from the public sector, private sector and civil society organizations in Dominica participated in a two-day national consultation aimed at sensitizing stakeholders on the status of the CARICOM-Canada negotiations. According to an official release, the consultation was one of eight such consultations being held throughout the Caribbean region. The July 29^th -30^th consultation in Dominica was organized by the Ministry of Employment, Trade, Industry and Diaspora Affairs in collaboration with the Office of Trade Negotiations (OTN) of the CARICOM Secretariat and the OECS Secretariat. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dominica’s Minister for Trade, Hon. John Colin McIntyre explained the critical differences between the new arrangements being negotiated with Canada and what presently obtains under the Caribbean–Canada Trade Agreement (CARIBCAN) which expires in 2011. Hon. McIntyre stated “In order to ensure continued secured access for marketable items from the region into Canada and to replace the non-reciprocal preferences under CARIBCAN with a WTO-compatible instrument that preserves and enhances CARICOM’s preferential access, CARICOM began negotiations with Canada for a free trade and development agreement. In addition to the goods sector, this agreement will extend to trade in services, a feature which was not present in the CARIBCAN coverage.” Dr. McIntyre identified the services sector as an area which the CARICOM Region could increase exports to Canada, saying “In terms of trade in services, it is believed that this area holds the greatest potential benefit for the majority of CARICOM Member States. This is particularly the case for the typical OECS Member State for whom the Services Sector accounts for as much as 60 percent of GDP.” It is said that under the proposed new agreement, Canada would also provide technical and financial support to CARICOM countries in an effort to address the differing levels of development and vulnerabilities associated with Small Island Developing States and trade related capacity building challenges.

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UWP President Edison James says the Prime Minister’s Talk of Cheaper Fertilizer & Construction of a Hotel by Morocco are Distractions to cover up the Real Purpose of his trip                Reporter: Shamalie Louis-Saturday August 7th 2010

President of the United Workers Party Honourable Edison James says the reasons given by Prime Minister Skerrit for his visit to Morocco are questionable. Mr. James says the Prime Minister’s talk of cheaper fertilizer for farmers and construction of a hotel are simply red herrings to cover up the real purpose of his visit to Africa.

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Prime Minister Skerrit says Government is committed to all Agreements signed with partners in exploring geothermal energy; but Will Adopt a Practical & Realistic way forward

Reporter: Shamalie Louis - Saturday August 7th 2010

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has recently been addressing the issue of potentially supplying geothermal energy to the homes of Dominicans. He says government is committed to all agreements signed with developing partners in exploring the resource potential on island, but will go about this process in a practical and realistic way. The Prime Minister stated that due to the substantial cost of making geothermal energy available to the public, which he estimated at $400, 000, Dominica would need to have a market for excess energy not used locally.

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Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Senator Alvin Bernard is Calling for Greater Regulation and Supervision of the Financial Sector in the ECCU states

Reporter: Lakisha LaBassiere- Saturday August 7th 2010

Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Senator Alvin Bernard is of the view that the ongoing global economic and financial crisis has taught countries like Dominica a few important lessons. Senator Bernard made that observation in his address during the recent United Nations Development Assistance In-Country consultation at the Fort Young Hotel in Roseau. One of these lessons outlined by Senator Bernard is the need for regulation and supervision of the financial sector. He stated and I quote “as we attempt to grapple with this issue, this is one area where there can be collaboration with development partners. The ECCU States are looking not only to improve legislation and enhance the capacity of the staff of the Single Regulatory Units but there is need to have the capital and finance to address the issues in a more comprehensive way.” End of quote.

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Opposition Leader Hector Spags John Names the Four Persons Chosen by the Opposition to be Senators  and Calls for an Enabling Environment for Opposition Legislators                      Reporter: Shamalie Louis- Friday August 6th 2010

Leader of the United Workers Party, Hector ‘Spags’ John, after a significant delay, names the party’s 4 members to assume the post of Senator; Ezekiel Bazil, Claudius Sanford, Ronald Green and Ronnie Isidore. Mr. John calls on the DLP officials to create an enabling environment where members of the opposition can positively contribute to the House proceedings. Speaking to the recently concluded 35^th annual conference of the Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic held in Trinidad, Mr. John outlined that a parliamentary library and office for the leader of the opposition should be erected.

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St Vincent told to limit spending
www.bbccaribbean.com - Saturday August 7th 2010

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines to limit its spending in order to contain the public debt burden. The Washington-based financial institution says the global economic downturn has adversely affected the island's economy, resulting in a further decline in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) last year. It urged the Ralph Gonsalves administration to contain the fiscal deficit this year as planned, mainly through limiting the sharp rise in capital spending, while protecting spending on the poor. The IMF said that following an average growth of about 8% in 2006-2007, financial activity contracted by 0.6%in 2008 and 1% the following year.

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Heavy rain shuts oil company
www.bbccaribbean.com - Saturday August 7th 2010

Heavy rains this week have forced a temporary shut down of operations at Trinidad's state-owned oil company, Petrotrin. However Energy Minister Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan has given an assurance that the closure will not result in a shortage of gasoline and other petroleum products. She said the government is working with the National Petroleum Marketing Company and Petrotrin to ensure that diesel, gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) would be available to consumers. Ms Seepersad-Bachan also hinted at the possibility of importing energy products.

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Activists press for reparations
www.bbccaribbean.com - Saturday August 7th 2010

US Virgin Islands activists have stepped up their efforts for slavery reparations from Denmark by mounting a media blitz in the European nation. Leader of the Virgin Islands Reparations Movement, Shelley Moorhead, is currently in Copenhagen to press the reparations case. He told BBC Caribbean they are keen on opening dialogue with Danish officials. "Reparations are not defined in monetary terms for us in the Virgin Islands. And very specifically reparations is an acknowledgement between communities which share a common past, with the aim to heal wounds from past human rights violations," Mr Moorehead said.

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