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Beijing China, March 25-2024: Dominica’s Prime Minister Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit met with Chinese President H.E Xi Jinping on Monday with both leaders pledging to increase mutual trust, vigorous exchanges and cooperation in various fields. The Prime Minister is leading a delegation to China to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Commonwealth of Dominica and the People’s Republic of China. Prime Minister Skerrit told the Chinese leader Dominica attaches high value to its relations with China based on mutual respect and deep ties of cooperation. He expressed gratitude for China’s support of Dominica’s development goals and the assistance offered during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Prime Minister identified potential areas of further cooperation between the two countries in the fields of infrastructure, tourism, renewable energy, e-commerce, health, agriculture and educational exchanges. He reiterated Dominica’s support for the One China Principle and said Dominica welcomes the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative which have contributed to raising the quality of life of global citizens and the preservation of world peace. President Xi said Dominica was a trustworthy friend and partner of China in the region, and that China-Dominica relations have become a good example of South-South cooperation. He said China appreciates Dominica's steadfast friendship and was willing to work with the island to synergize development strategies and turn the friendly relations into a driving force for win-win cooperation to deliver greater benefits to the two countries. China, he added, welcomed the opportunity to expand bilateral cooperation in trade and economy, infrastructure construction, agriculture, health care and other fields and would continue to provide assistance within its capacity for Dominica's economic and social development. Prime Minister Skerrit also met on Monday with Premier Li Qiang and the Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, Zhao Leji.

BOGOTA, Colombia, (March 21, 2024) - Following a successful dialogue at Routes Americas in Bogotá, Colombia, the Ministry of Tourism is pleased to announce that American Airlines will be resuming its daily service on the Miami-Dominica route for both the summer and winter seasons of 2024. This expansion, driven by market demand and customer input, aims to provide an enhanced travel experience with greater convenience and flexibility. Importantly, this service increase is also anticipated to bring significant benefits to hoteliers, fostering a more robust tourism economy through increased visitor numbers and occupancy rates. American Airlines will augment its service from three weekly flights to daily flights between Miami International Airport (MIA) and Douglas-Charles Airport in Dominica (DOM), starting from June 5 to August 5, 2024, and then from November 5, 2024, to March 31, 2025. This enhancement in flight frequency will afford passengers a wider array of travel options, significantly reducing layover times and offering more desirable departure schedules. The introduction of daily flights during the winter season is especially beneficial to hoteliers and the broader hospitality sector in Dominica. This strategic move is expected to drive increased tourism during this peak period, supporting the local economy by boosting hotel bookings and stimulating growth in related service industries.

Dominica, along with three other Caribbean nations, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at enhancing their Citizenship by Investment Programs (CBIP). Led by St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew, the initiative seeks to demonstrate the countries' commitment to operating their CBI programs with adherence to best practices, due diligence processes, and intelligence sharing regarding security and compliance risks. The signatories of the MOU include Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Grenada, all of which are members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The agreement, dated March 20, 2024, was commended by Dr. Drew, who announced the countries' intention to raise the minimum threshold of their CBIP to at least US$200,000 by June 30, 2024. Currently, according to information from dominicacitizenshipbyinvestment.com, a Dominican passport can be acquired for US$100,000.

Finance Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre has reaffirmed the permanence of the National Employment Program (NEP), emphasizing its continued importance and effectiveness. Dr. McIntyre praised the NEP workers for their outstanding performance, noting that their contributions to activities such as clean-up and beautification align with previous efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Public Works. He emphasized that these initiatives play a crucial role in enhancing the overall tourism experience. Additionally, Dr. McIntyre highlighted the economic impact of the NEP, stating that it injects an average of over $600,000 monthly into the private sector. This includes support for small shop owners, barber shops, and individuals employed in guest houses, among others.

For the third consecutive year, Sagicor General, a prominent insurer, has renewed its financial support for national cyclist Kohath Baron. This renewal, spanning the 2023-2024 period, signifies another milestone in Baron's burgeoning career, especially as he ventures into competing in the under-23 age category internationally. As per the agreement, Sagicor General pledges financial assistance to aid Baron's training and equipment needs. In return, Baron will proudly showcase the Sagicor brand while representing Dominica at cycling events globally. Furthermore, he will engage in Sagicor-sponsored activities across Dominica and the Eastern Caribbean, strengthening the partnership. Cheryl Rolle, the General Manager and Principal Representative for Sagicor in Dominica, expressed her joy while presenting the sponsorship package to Baron. She commended Baron's unwavering commitment to his sport and underscored Sagicor's unwavering support for his global aspirations. Rolle reiterated the agency's pride in Baron's dedication to achieving his goals and representing Dominica diligently.

Minister of State for Public Utilities, Chekira Lockhart-Hypolite, praises Dominica's renowned status as the "Nature Isle of the Caribbean," crediting the island's breathtaking and unspoiled landscape as the region's most exquisite and pristine. She emphasizes Dominica's recent strategic initiatives aimed at solidifying its position as the premier nature tourism destination in the wider Caribbean. Minister Lockhart-Hypolite also highlights the tourism sector's substantial progress, emphasizing its pivotal role in bolstering the country's economy. Furthermore, she elaborates on the nation's marketing strategy, emphasizing the utilization of its abundant and high-quality natural resources while also incorporating its rich cultural heritage into promotional endeavors to enhance tourist appeal.

Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge and wife of Prince William, has been diagnosed with cancer, and is undergoing chemotherapy. She has since released a video to that effect. Pic Cosmopolitan

On Saturday March 16th, 2024, the Anse Kouanari Tourism Association Inc. (AKTA) hosted a Community Stakeholder Consultation and Workshop with stakeholders and residents of the Castle Bruce community. The consultation was held to discuss the community’s vulnerabilities to climate change in preparation for a Community-based and Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction Project for Castle Bruce. The Consultation kicked off with an 'About Us' presentation, sharing with participants a brief history of AKTA, its focus areas, previous projects and upcoming events/activities. Session 2 was a presentation through which the participants learned what vulnerability means - in the context of climate change and extreme weather events, as well as the three key components of vulnerability. The highlight of the workshop was a Community Mapping session, facilitated by AKTA’s Project Manager – Mrs. Naomi Bannis-Sampson, in which participants worked in groups to understand the layout of the community and the key features and resources that have been impacted or may be at risk from disaster and climate hazards. Community Mapping is a participation driven process that draws on local knowledge and memory in a community and puts people's spatial knowledge around an identified issue of interest on the map. It identifies and documents the location of hazards and vulnerable areas of most concern, important community assets/infrastructure, livelihood activities and natural resources in the community. It can also be used to identify key resources and services that enable adaptation to the impacts of disaster and climate hazards. In attendance were several community leaders including members of the Village Council, Clergy, Uniform groups, Disaster Committee and Schools. Additionally, many farmers, a few college students and other residents of the community also attended. AKTA sought feedback from a few individuals who attended the session: Retired Park Warden Fortinelle Jacob indicated that he welcomed the consultation in which participants became more aware of their vulnerability to disaster and extreme weather events. He also commended the group for taking this initiative of engaging with residents and helping them to gain a deeper understanding of vulnerability. He said, “people are not taking disaster vulnerability seriously in our area”. Acting Chief of Dominica Scout Association & 1st Castle Bruce Scout Troup Leader Kenrick Lecointe said, “this initiative was a brilliant one, we really need to save our rivers and agricultural land”. Mrs. Naomi Bannis – Sampson said that she was very pleased with the turn out, “the turnout was excellent with a cross section of community members (from community leaders to farmers and students) and participation was excellent. I think persons were able to grasp the concept of vulnerability even better, with the explanation of the key component of vulnerability”. Mrs.Bannis-Sampson said that she felt that this consultation made apositive impact and believes that the community is always looking for an opportunity to work together and that they are looking forward to other similar activities. This Consultation forms part of a small grant project being implemented by AKTA under the CSOs for Disaster Resilience: Empowering civil society and local communities to build resilience to hurricanes and climate extremes in the Eastern Caribbean Project - supported by a small grant from Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) with over-arching funding from the Inter-American Foundation (IAF). Furthermore, in observance of International Day of Forests – this Saturday (23/03/24) AKTA will hosting a Tree Planting Drive in the Castle Bruce community. AKTA would like to invite college & high school students, community groups and other interested parties to join them from 7am in Sikwi, Castle Bruce. -END-

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit expresses his administration's readiness to offer additional assistance to Liat 2020 Ltd if required. He underscores the positive influence Liat has on regional tourism across Caribbean islands. Mr. Skerrit acknowledges Caricom's recognition of investments from other airlines such as Caribbean Airlines, Inter Caribbean Airlines, Silver Airways, Winair Airlines, and Air Antilles. However, he highlights Liat Airlines' unique role as an essential asset for air travel in the Caribbean.

Dominica has ratified the Samoa Agreement in Brussels, sparking concerns among religious leaders and entrepreneurs. They feared that the agreement would lead to larger territories imposing legislation on sensitive issues such as abortion, transgender rights, LGBTQ rights, and comprehensive sex education. This agreement, signed by the European Union and its Member States, serves as a general legal framework for relations with African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (ACP) over the next two decades. Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit acknowledged the concerns raised by Dominicans but assured the nation that the agreement would not alter the moral culture of the Dominican people.