The VIBRANT Easter Decorated Hat Parade, a first-of-its-kind event, is set to grace the streets of Roseau on the afternoon of Sunday, April 7th. It is being organized by the Vibrant Senior Citizens of Dominica (VSCOD), a group of persons of Roseau and environs whose motto is: ‘Celebrating Life to the Fullest!’ According to Mrs. Annette Bates, President of the group, the aim of this Parade is to: • Provide an event of color and class where seniors can showcase their decorated hats and modelling skills. • Allow other groups and members of the public to decorate their hats and show them off while dancing to the delightful music. • Unite the community, through a tangible demonstration of unity and hope – which is the essence of the Easter celebration. VSCOD, a group of some 50 members, has existed now for over 22 years and has been engaged in numerous activities including: sports, cooking, river picnics, attending church services, visiting the sick and infirmed, island tours, camping, training in computer skills and travelling to other islands in the Caribbean. It is the group’s intention to continuously seek and partake in activities that promote the overall upliftment and support for all its members.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has drawn attention to the increased vulnerability of older women and women with disabilities to abuse, a concern often overlooked in global and national violence-related data. The health agency stressed the urgent need for improved research efforts across countries to accurately document the experiences of these women and address their specific needs. Recent WHO publications highlighted the limited data available on gender-based violence among older women and women with disabilities, despite evidence indicating a high prevalence of such abuse. One systematic review revealed elevated risks of intimate partner violence and sexual violence among women with disabilities compared to those without disabilities. Lynnmarie Sardinha, Technical Officer at WHO and the UN Special Programme on Human Reproduction (HRP) for Violence against Women Data and Measurement, emphasized the importance of understanding the diverse impacts of violence on women and girls. She underscored that such understanding is essential for tailoring effective programs and services to meet their unique needs. Despite global efforts to address intimate partner violence and sexual violence, which affect approximately 1 in 3 women worldwide, older women and women with disabilities continue to experience these forms of abuse.

BIDEC and its partners gladly invite you to join in a powerful celebration of women's achievements in the global community themed "Invest in Women: Celebrating Women's Achievements in the Global Community." Let's honor the resilience, leadership, and contributions of women worldwide. This IWM celebration is also in support of the AU Agenda 2063 Aspiration 6 & as the mandate of the AU Missions to the U.S. Don't miss out on the insightful discussions, inspiring stories, and calls to action. Save the date and be part of this inspiring conversation! Register in advance for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUvdOupqjotHdTFYS0TTrkK-hyahTMXww9i #InvestInWomen #BlackHistoryFestival #IWD2024 #CelebratingAchievements #IWD2024 #InvestInWomen #BlackHistoryFestival #GlobalCommunity #WomenEmpowerment

Bernard Ettinoffe, the General Manager of the Dominica Water and Sewage Company (DOWASCO), has announced the implementation of a new distribution system valued at $4 million. This system is intended to serve the residents of Wesley, who were displaced due to the ongoing construction of the International Airport. Ettinoffe stressed the importance of this installation, noting that the area previously lacked a water system that could meet the residents' needs. Additionally, Ettinoffe mentioned that lands have been acquired as part of the company's efforts to build a water system to support the needs of the international airport.

Robert Tonge, Coordinator of the Digital Economy Unit, lauds the government's investments and enhancements in Dominica's digital infrastructure from 2017 to the present, citing it as a strategic decision that has strengthened the country's digital economy. He emphasizes that these initiatives have not only improved the lives of citizens but have also kept Dominica's business sector competitive on a global scale. Tonge reflects on the period prior to 2017, noting the prevalent reliance on cash transactions among citizens and businesses. However, with the implementation of the digital infrastructure project, Dominica has modernized its digital financial landscape, providing citizens and businesses with increased convenience when conducting transactions.

Lucian Blackmoore, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, underscores the significance of establishing a forum for collaborative dialogue when addressing matters of public concern. Reflecting on the stakeholder roundtable discussion held during Forest Week 2024, he emphasized the importance of gaining insights from diverse perspectives to effectively tackle existing issues. Blackmoore further emphasized that neglecting the management of natural resources is not a viable option, as even minor oversights can result in significant consequences, impacting both the environment and human beings, who depend on it for their sustenance.

Boao, South Hainan Province-March 29, 2024:Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit on Thursday urged the global community to work together to solve the world’s common challenges and build a prosperous future. In his remarks to the opening ceremony of the Boao for Asia Forum in Boao South Hainan Province, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of collective strength and remarked that “peace and sustainable development can only be achieved by mutual collaboration and cooperation.” "We need to strengthen cooperation and solidarity between countries in order to provide effective responses to the financial, economic, and social crises faced by many countries around the world," Mr. Skerrit said. He said sustainable development continues to be a troubling issue for the international community, given the high levels of inequality, poverty, and marginalization among countries, noting that inequalities between developed and developing countries persist and are widening. “The unjust international economic order persists and is strengthened, the devastating burden of which continues to be borne by the poorest countries. The effects of climate change threaten the existence of low-lying small island developing states and continue to destroy lives,” he said. Development, he said, would not be sustainable until it is inclusive of a resilience agenda. “The convergence of interests, purposes and actions among peoples, individuals, states and their international organizations is essential in order to achieve collective goals,” he noted, pointing to China’s promotion of a platform for cooperation with other countries to achieve high quality economic development and a shared, prosperous future for humanity. "We recognize the role of the Boao Forum and the People's Republic of China in providing development alternatives for other countries on the basis of mutual respect and mutually beneficial cooperation," PM Skerrit said. Prime Minister Skerrit is in China this week to celebrate the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Commonwealth of Dominica and the People’s Republic of China. --End--

During a recent Creole Heartbeat Program, Thomas Letang, the General Secretary of the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU), emphasized the necessity of establishing a steering committee for a trade union congress in Dominica. Letang expressed concern that unionists in Dominica are not treating this matter with the seriousness it deserves. He highlighted numerous benefits of the congress, such as providing a unified voice for various unions and creating a stronger representation for trade unions through the merger of local trade unions into a single entity. According to Letang, the initiative to form a Trade Union Congress predates the era of email. However, he noted that the effort has faced challenges due to internal conflicts, including backbiting, unfair criticism, and a lack of constructive contribution. The DPSU convened its general meeting on Thursday to address these matters.

The 51st CARIFTA Games Kicks Off in Grenada with Dominica Fielding Four Athletes. The highly anticipated 51st CARIFTA Games is all set to kick off at the Kirani James Stadium in St. Georges, Grenada, from March 30 to April 1, 2024. Over ten countries will converge to participate in various events, showcasing their athletic prowess. Dominica will be represented by four talented athletes at the CARIFTA Games 2024. Among them is Jamical Titre, who will compete in boys' discus and shot put. Titre's remarkable qualifying throw of 13.90 meters in the Under 16 shot put category earned him a spot in the games. Addison James will join the competition in the Under 20 javelin throw, having qualified with an impressive throw of 57.30 meters. Kerelle Etienne, another promising athlete, will sprint in the Under 17 100m dash after setting a national record of 11.70 seconds. Nian Davis rounds up the team, showcasing his javelin skills with a qualifying throw of 47.95 meters. Leading the Dominica team is Coach Joel Hamilton, who expresses confidence in his athletes' preparedness for the event. Hamilton calls on fellow Dominicans to rally behind the athletes and show their full support as they aim to bring pride to the nation. The CARIFTA Games will commence with the girls' 100m hurdles at 9 am, followed by a grand opening ceremony featuring the parade of countries and athletes at 2:30 pm.

The Rotary Club of Dominica is delighted to announce the 9th Annual National Secondary Schools Literacy Quiz Competition winners , held on March 22nd, 2024, at the Prevost Cinemall conference room. Convent High School emerged victorious as the competition winner, represented by Mia Joseph and Sienna Andrew. They displayed exceptional knowledge and skill throughout the competition, earning them the top spot. In recognition of their achievement, Convent High School received laptops generously donated by the Rotary Club of Tortola, Business Training Guides from Maanz Ltd., and tokens from Finance Focus. Additionally, they were awarded a plaque, trophy, and ten gallons of paint from Harris Paints Dominica Ltd. In second place were Lucas Sorhaindo and Jonathan Theophille of St. Mary’s Academy, who also received laptops from the Rotary Club of Tortola and tokens from Finance Focus. Dominica Grammar School secured the third-place position, represented by Lydia Charles and Prosper. They were awarded tablets from the Rotary Club of Dominica and tokens from Finance Focus. The other finalists in the competition included Eliz Charles and Junique Blandford of Northeast Comprehensive School, Lucie Cernota and Colin Grant of Orion Academy, and Sary Bruney and Faith Jno-Finn of Castle Bruce Secondary School. The Rotary Club of Dominica extends heartfelt congratulations to all the students for their remarkable performance in this keenly contested competition, held under the theme “Building Strong Communities through Literacy.” The competition aims to encourage youth participation in literacy activities worldwide, fostering learning, and inspiring widespread reading. We express our sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, principals, teachers, parents, and participants for their dedication and hard work, which greatly contributed to the success of the competition. ​ Special thanks are also extended to our esteemed sponsors: The Rotary Club of Tortola, National Cooperative Credit Union, Central Cooperative Credit Union, Insurance Company of the West Indies, Digicel, Finance Focus, Paxum Bank, Harris Paints Dominica Ltd., Maanz Ltd., Olive Strachan Consultancy, and all patrons of the recently concluded Rotary Original Souse and Punch fundraiser.

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.