Environmental Health Officer Morrison McPherson says Unlike Some Regional Countries there is No Threat of a Dengue Epidemic in Dominica, and only 3 Cases have been Documented to Date     

Reporter: Shamalie Louis- Thursday August 25th 2011 

Environmental Health officer Morrison McPherson says the environmental health division, along with other related agencies, has combined forces to educate the masses on ways to prevent the spread of dengue fever. McPherson explained that dengue is caused by a virus, which can be transmitted by female mosquitoes. He explains that unlike some regional countries where there are fears of a dengue outbreak, there is no threat of a dengue epidemic in Dominica, and only a few cases have been documented to date. He says the public needs to be more conscious about the triggers for mosquito breeding.

Three DAPD Delegates Elected at DPINAC Inc 8th Regional Assembly in Jamaica August 15-20; Michael Murphy Regional Council Treasurer, Nathalie Murphy Women’s Network’s Coordinator, & Dionne Green Regional Youth Network              Press Release: Thursday August 25th 2011  

Five members of the Dominica Association of Persons with Disabilities Inc (DAPD INC) returned to the state on Monday August 22^nd after participating in the 8th Regional Assembly of DPI NAC Inc. held in Kingston Jamaica from August 15-20. The Assembly was conducted in two parts: A 4-day training workshop for women and youths with disabilities held from August 15-18, and the Regional Council Meeting held from August 19-20. Reportedly among the Assembly’s accomplishments were the development of a 3-year Strategic Plan for Disabled People’s International NAC Inc, to be implemented from 2011 to 2014, and the establishment and launching of a Regional Youth Network on which three of Dominica’s delegates were elected to serve. Michael Murphy was re-elected as the Treasurer of the Regional Council Board of Directors, Nathalie Murphy, of Dominica, was re-elected as the Regional women’s Network’s Coordinator and as a member of the Board of Directors. Dionne Green was elected as Treasurer of the Regional Youth Network.

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The Dominica National Council of Women (DNCW), Members, Well-Wishers and Supporters will Congregate at the St. Joachim and St. Ann’s (Patrons of the Family) Church to Celebrate the Organization’s 25^th Anniversary                                                         Press Release: Thursday August 25th  2011 

The Dominica National Council of Women (DNCW), members, well-wishers and  supporters will congregate at the St. Joachim and St. Ann’s (Patrons of the Family) Church to celebrate the organization’s 25^th Anniversary, under the theme: “DNCW: 25 Years and Moving On, Together We Strive, Together We Achieve!” This silver Jubilee celebration will be held on Sunday, 28^th August, 2011, and is expected to begin at 4:00 pm.  Fr, Franklyn Cuffy will be the main celebrant. Representatives of Civil society organization, Government representative, social workers and all concerned with the struggle of gender equality are expected to join the Dominica National Council of Women (DNCW) to observe this milestone of building the “Family” the foundation of any Society. The first and still current executive of the DNCW will receive special blessings during this historic occasion.

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Governments of Dominica, Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent & the Grenadines Secure Financing from the CDB for the OECS Electronic Government for Regional Integration Project (EGRIP)                     

Press Release: Thursday August 25th 2011 

The Governments of Dominica, Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent & the Grenadines have received financing from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) towards the cost of the OECS Electronic Government for Regional Integration Project (EGRIP) and intend to apply a portion of the proceeds to eligible payments under contracts for which this invitation is issued. The overall development objective of the project is to promote the efficiency, quality, and transparency of public services in the beneficiary countries, through the delivery of regionally integrated e-government applications that take advantage of economies of scale. The CDB will finance the implementation of EGRIP Horizontal subcomponent 1.3 ICT Standards and Total Cost of Ownership Optimization and subcomponent, among other areas. The EGRIP Project is being implemented by the Regional E-Government Unit (REGU.)                                                                                          Back to top

UWP President Edison James Asks Supporters, Well Wishers and All Concerned Dominicans to Join the Fight with Financial Support to Help Meet the Legal Costs in the Dual Citizenship Court case Against Roosevelt Skerrit & Peter St. Jean                                   Reporter: Shamalie Louis: Thursday August 25th 2011    

President of the United Workers Party Edison James continues to reach out to supporters and well; wishers and people who share the concerns of the opposition to join in the fight with financial assistance to ensure the UWP can meet its legal costs in the matter of the dual citizenship case brought before the courts by the opposition against Prime Minister Skerrit and Education Minister Peter ST Jean. Mr. James says although the petitioners have abided by court orders to provide relevant documents by a certain date, the government ministers appear less concerned about the proceedings.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Back to top

Forestry Officials say they are Working with Counterparts at the Zoological Society of London to Determine the Cause and the current Chytrid fungus Crisis, which is Affecting the island’s Mountain Chicken                                                                                  Press Release: Thursday August 25th 2011 

Forestry officials in Dominica say they are working with counterparts at the Zoological Society of London to determine the cause and eventually bring an end to the current Chytrid fungus crisis, which resulted in a significant decline in the population of the island’s mountain chicken. Professor Andrew Cunningham of the Zoological Society of London has been monitoring the decline of the crapaud population since it began in 2002. He explained to GIS News last week, that due to the unique nature of this species of frog, researchers are very concerned about the declining population. According to Professor Cunningham, Chytrid fungus is responsible for the death of the frogs. “We do not know how it got here but by 2004, the population of crapaud on Dominica had declined by over eighty percent,” Cunningham said. “This fungus is causing problems for other species of amphibians across the world; in North and South America, Africa, Australia and in Europe, this fungus is spreading. It has been causing many different species of frogs and toads to decline,” he added. Researchers are still trying to determine how the fungus was introduced into Dominica’s forests.

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Lennox Linton Revisits 2005 Remarks by then Tourism Minister Yvor Nassief in which Reference was made to Dominican Tourism being able to Progress or Moved Forward with Finding its Niche Markets                                                                                    Reporter: Marilyn Isles- Thursday August 25th 2011 

Talk Show Host Lennox Linton is referencing earlier remarks made by then Tourism Minister Yvor Nassief, in which he is alleged to have indicated that there was room for developing various areas of Dominica’s tourism including a Golf Course and retirement tourism which can be addressed simultaneously once priorities are identified. Speaking on his ‘Between You & Me’ Sunday afternoon show, Linton questions that after six years since Mr. Nassief made that statement and indeed placed strategic targets on the table to be pursued by his government, nothing has happened regarding the Golf course for Dominica, considering that project was expected to have had an impact on the number of stay over visitors on the Island.  

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                                                                                                        Jamaica at pivotal point in its development, says minister                 caribbeannetnews.com - Tuesday 18th March 2008  

Minister of Energy, Mining, and Telecommunications, Clive Mullings, has said that Jamaica is at a pivotal point in its development, largely defined by an enhanced capacity to access and disseminate information. Mullings, who was addressing the recent opening session of the Jamaica Community Access Point (CAP) Network Conference, attributed this development to the contribution of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in enhancing government business and enriching people's lives. "Worldwide access to information and communications technology is critical to poverty reduction, because it provides the opportunity for new sources of income and employment for the poor. It also will assist in improving the delivery of health and education services, and the competitiveness of our economy," he told the audience. Against this background, the Telecommunications Minister said it is essential that a realistic approach be taken to bridging the ICT gap, as this divide impacts "not only on matters such as income inequality and education, but also on issues such as location, whether rural or urban and infrastructure, as it relates to our e-readiness as a society". Mullings said the government is well aware that one of the downsides of the technology revolution is the potential for increasing the disparity between the "e-haves and the e-have-nots". "E-inclusion is critical to the mandate of our government and we will continue to maintain an emphasis on e-connectivity and access for all members of the society. E-government, e-connectivity. are going to be terms that are going to be a part of the language of societies the world over.the paradigm has changed and we need to ensure that we are at the forefront of that change," he stated. The Minister said however, that there are great prospects for modernization, particularly in areas such as the deployment of the submarine optical cable network in the Caribbean.

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Protestors converge on St Kitts over allegations of animal abuse    caribbeannetnews.com - Tuesday 18th March 2008   

Holding signs reading, "Ross University: Stop Torturing Animals", members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) will hold a series of protests against the alleged maiming and killing of animals in laboratories at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. PETA wrote to officials at Ross - which is owned by Chicago-based DeVry, Inc. - outlining students' concerns and explaining that other veterinary schools have switched from using animals to modern, humane alternatives, but the school's president has failed to take action. PETA pointed out that the experiments might also be in violation of St Kitts' cruelty-to-animals law. The first protest will be held at the university on Monday, and other protests will follow at RLB International Airport and the Government House: Because St Kitts law forbids causing "unnecessary suffering" to animals, PETA asked Attorney General Dennis Merchant to investigate the allegations and prosecute any offenders, but that request also went unanswered. "Ross veterinary students are forced to cut open dogs' stomachs and other organs, sever donkeys' nerves and ligaments and conduct other unnecessary procedures on animals before they kill them", says PETA Research Director Kathy Guillermo. "Ross should be teaching students how to heal animals - not mutilate and kill them."                                

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Chavez goads US over terrorism blacklist and sanctions                      caribbeannetnews.com - Tuesday 18th March 2008 

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez dared the United States on Friday to impose sanctions on his OPEC nation as a terrorism sponsor after US officials said they were investigating his support for Colombian rebels. The probe could prompt the Bush administration to put the self-styled socialist revolutionary on the list and impose sanctions on the major oil supplier to the United States. "They threatened to put us on the list of terrorists that they've got there. Great, let them make their list and shove it in their ... pocket," Chavez said with a pause for comic effect. The United States, which clashes with Chavez over everything from oil prices to arms sales, has pledged to investigate Colombian allegations this month that a rebel's computer files show Chavez offered the FARC $300 million (150 million pounds). The leftist, anti-US Chavez expresses sympathy for Marxist FARC rebels and has called for the United States and the European Union to stop labeling the group as terrorists, causing friction with neighbouring Colombia, a US ally. This year, Chavez has negotiated the release of six high-profile hostages held by the FARC. He says accusations he sponsors Latin America's oldest insurgency are part of a US plot to destabilize his OPEC nation. Five countries are currently on the US list: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria. Venezuela is an ally of Cuba and Iran and has improved ties with the three other countries since Chavez came to power in 1999. It is not clear if blacklisting Venezuela would disrupt US purchases of its crude. President George W. Bush criticized Chavez this week as a demagogue who wastes record oil income in a country where there have been periodic food shortages in recent months. "The empire boss is desperate," Chavez said at a political rally in response to Bush's statements.

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