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Opposition Senator Delbert Paris addressed a gathering at the Arch on the riverbank Sunday, emphasizing that the current strife in Dominica is centered on achieving a nation that is free and liberated, transcending individual or group interests. Paris articulated a vision for a liberated Dominica characterized by democratic principles, transparent governance, and accountability. He underscored the importance of safeguarding civil liberties and human rights for all citizens, fostering inclusivity, and respecting diverse voices in society. Furthermore, Paris mentioned that a liberated Dominica involves significant development initiatives focused on creating job opportunities and income for citizens, enabling them to sustain themselves and their families.

CBS PHOTO CREDIT UWP President, Mr. Lennox Linton reassured the people of Dominica that the forthcoming public gathering on Sunday is not intended for violence or destruction. Instead, its purpose is for discussions and agreements in the best interest of the Dominican people. Linton mentioned that, during a recent conversation with the police, concerns about potential incitement were raised. He provided assurances that the gathering would be peaceful and not violent, as speculated. Linton also affirmed that in response to the police's concerns, he explicitly stated that he is not associated with anyone intending to divert the purpose of the public gathering for any other agenda.

Dr Camille David, the Project Officer overseeing the Sustainable Marine Financing Project, shared perspectives on the notion of a Marine Reserve, underscoring its significance in effectively overseeing vital resources within a specified area, such as the one situated in Soufriere. He underscored the importance of safeguarding diverse natural components within this locale, culminating in the formation of the Soufriere Scotts Head Marine Reserve. David also pointed out that well-operational marine reserves present valuable educational prospects, suggesting the potential for extending such initiatives throughout the island to formulate comprehensive strategies for integrated coastal zone management.

Acting Police Chief Davidson Valerie has conveyed that the Dominica Police Force (DPF) possesses intelligence from reliable sources indicating potential threats on social media linked to the planned assembly on Sunday, February 25th. These threats purportedly involve attempts to incite disorder and violence during the event, including intentions to set fire to the city. These developments seem to be emerging in the midst of increasing opposition from authorities allegedly seeking to hinder the organization of the gathering. Meanwhile, Minister of National Security Rayburn Blackmore has expressed his belief that the majority of United Workers Party (UWP) supporters are law-abiding citizens who do not endorse the extreme ideologies of those intending to incite violence during the event. Consequently, he has chosen not to prohibit the gathering scheduled for Sunday.

The Isaiah Thomas Secondary School emerged victorious in the second round of the inter-secondary schools debating competition against the Dominica Grammar School. Additionally, they achieved recognition for the best speaker. The debate centered around the topic, "Gun amnesties prove to be the most effective strategy in tackling the problem of illegal firearm possession in Dominica."

Mrs. Connie Joseph Louis, IRC Financial Analyst, explains that in 2021, DOMLEC, the electricity provider, approached the Independent Regulatory Commission (IRC) with a request for an urgent tariff review. In response, the IRC took proactive measures by engaging a consultant from the Paris Infrastructure Agency, financially supported by the Agence Française de Développement. The consultant's mandate was to thoroughly assess and analyze essential aspects of the tariff regime documents. During the same year, the IRC conducted a comprehensive evaluation of DOMLEC's fixed assets as of December 2020, coupled with an audit of its inventory as of June 2021. Mrs. Louis emphasized the critical importance of accurate data on both fixed assets and inventory, as it plays a pivotal role in determining the average tariff.

Meteorologists from AccuWeather have expressed concerns about an upcoming potentially severe hurricane season, pointing to two significant factors: the return of La Niña and heightened sea surface temperatures across the Atlantic. The summary from NOAA on the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season revealed 20 named storms, ranking it as the fourth-highest number of named storms since 1950. Among these storms, seven developed into hurricanes, with three reaching major hurricane status. The season was characterized by exceptionally warm Atlantic Sea surface temperatures and the presence of a strong El Niño event. As the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season approaches in just 100 days, experts stress the importance of becoming familiar with the names on the list. Since 1953, names for Atlantic tropical storms have been chosen from lists curated by the National Hurricane Center, now maintained and updated through a rigorous process by an international committee under the World Meteorological Organization.

The upcoming round of the inter-secondary schools debating competition, scheduled for this week, will feature compelling topics such as CXC, Gun Amnesty, and Carnival. Trudy Christian, the organizer of the event, foresees an intriguing competition, pointing out that these subjects have captured public attention for quite some time. Christian highlighted the significance of Friday's competition, where Convent High School and Orion Academy will engage in a debate on whether the island's Carnival has evolved into a hyper-sexualized event, deviating from its traditional cultural origins. This debate aligns with the conclusion of the 2024 Carnival season.

The political leader of the United Workers Party (UWP), Dr. Thomson Fontaine, addressed the issue of gun violence in Dominica following the arrest and fine of Dr. Darroux for illegally importing gun accessories. Dr. Fontaine brought attention to the prevalent presence of unlicensed firearms, highlighting an unresolved case of firearm theft from a police station. He expressed the UWP's concern regarding this matter and urged the government to take decisive action, including strengthening penalties for offenses related to firearms. Dr. Fontaine also voiced the UWP's unease about ongoing political interference in the operations of the police force and the judiciary. He cited the continuous persecution of opposition members as a clear example of such meddling.

Former Prime Minister Edison James emphasized the persistent advocacy of the United Workers Party (UWP) as a defender of the Dominican people, despite efforts to stifle its expression. He highlighted the crucial role of the party as the voice for the voiceless, pointing out that without its presence, there would be no advocate for those lacking representation. James called on the people of Dominica to unite in support of the UWP during its upcoming gathering on February 25, emphasizing the importance of rallying behind the party to amplify the voices of those who cannot advocate for themselves. Mr. James asserted that his commitment to advancing the welfare of the people is not swayed by external pressures but is instead rooted in his unwavering dedication to delivering a clear message, even in the face of attempts to silence him.

During the seventh session of the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (WGIHR) earlier this month, member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) engaged in continuous discussions regarding proposals to modify the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005). The discussions consistently underscored the significance of their work for future global security. Dr. Michael Ryan, Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, emphasized the importance of the Working Group's endeavors, stating that their efforts would shape the next decade of global surveillance and collective security, especially in dealing with health emergencies and high-impact epidemics. Throughout the meeting, governments focused on refining amendments to articles and annexes that were in an advanced stage of negotiation. Substantial dialogue also took place on the continuum from public health alert to a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) and pandemic. Co-Chair Dr. Ashley Bloomfield reiterated that the WGIHR is a Member State-driven process during the final public session, emphasizing that the final package of amendments would be agreed upon by consensus. On March 8, 2024, Member States will address additional issues related to equity, collaboration, capacity building, and financing, which are also under consideration by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), when the seventh meeting of the WGIHR resumes.

Isaac Solomon, the Acting President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), has issued a cautionary statement about the repercussions of insufficient investment in strategies for climate resilience. He underscores that a lack of sufficient resources allocated to climate resilience measures may worsen the effects of climate change, resulting in higher costs. Solomon points out that several of the bank's borrowing member countries are already grappling with these outcomes. Solomon stressed that the Bank's effectiveness relies on strengthening current partnerships and identifying new collaborators to pool resources for sustainable development.