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25 August, 2008
PM presents cheque for $35k for Dominican to undergo surgery in Barbados
From:From the office of the Prime Minister |
Dominican, Mr. Anthony Newton will now be able to travel to Barbados for additional surgery on his brain as a result of the presentation of a cheque valued at $35,000 ECD. The presentation was made by Prime Minster and Minister for Finance, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, at a ceremony at the Financial Centre last week.
At the ceremony, Prime Minister Skerrit explained that he first became aware of the young mans condition during an appeal on television. Mr. Newtons mother, Ms. Sylma Lancaster also made a personal appeal to the Prime Minister for help on behalf of her son.
The Prime Minister also revealed that as Minister for Finance he had approved millions of dollars for Dominicans to undergo various forms of medical treatment overseas. Just recently, the Prime Minister approved the sum of five (5) thousand Euros for a child of two and a half years to receive medical treatment in Martinique. And last week the Prime Minister also approved the sum of $13,000 for another Dominican child to receive medical treatment overseas.
Also in attendance at the ceremony were Mr. Newtons mother, representatives of Campbell Business Machines where Mr. Newton works and the local media.
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21 August, 2008
PM Skerrit to join world leaders at closing ceremony of Games
From:From the office of the Prime Minister |
Roseau, Dominica August 18, 2008&&...Dominicas Prime Minister, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit will join other world leaders and Heads of State at the closing ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China this weekend. The Prime Minister left the State earlier today.
President of Dominica, His Excellency, Dr. Nicholas Liverpool, DAH, OCC will also attend the closing ceremony in the Chinese capital.
While out of state, the Prime Minister is also expected to visit the UNESCO office in Paris. A one-day meeting with the Commonwealth Secretary General, Mr.Kamalesh Sharma in London is also planned.
In the absence of the Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit State from the State, Minister for Public Works and Infrastructural Development, Hon. Ambrose George is acting as Prime Minister.
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01 August, 2008
Government signs agreement to develop Geo-thermal resources
From:From the office of the Prime Minister |
Dominican consumers can now look forward to lower electricity bills and existing and new businesses now face the prospect of reduced energy costs as the result of the granting of a licence to West Indies Power Dominica Limited(WIPD) for the purpose of developing the countrys geothermal energy resources in the Soufriere/ Scotts Head area.
The signing of an agreement between the Government of Dominica and West Indies Power Dominica Limited took place at the Fort Young Hotel on Thursday, July 24, 2008.
In his remarks at the signing ceremony, Manager Director of the National Bank of Dominica and Chairman of West Indies Power Holdings BV, Mr. Gregory de Gannes said: Hon. Prime Minister, I want to assure you of two things on behalf of the Board of Directors of West Indies Power Holdings. Firstly, today marks the start of an historic and soon to be beneficial joint venture between your government and the people of Dominica and West Indies Power Holdings BV.
And secondly that the benefits to be derived from this relationship will significantly change the economic dynamics of Dominica, not only from the point of view of significantly reducing the cost of electricity for all consumers but will also act as a catalyst for the expansion of the economy in areas such as manufacturing, agriculture and aquaculture to name but a few&
According to Mr. Dmitrijus Apockinas, Chief Financial Officer of West Indies Power Dominica Limited, Phase One (exploration phase) will involve geochemical, geological and geophysical surveys to identify the geothermal fields and estimate the potential of the resources available in the south of the island. The estimated time for this phase is approximately eighteen months.
The exploration phase will cost some $11 million ECD and is to be funded by the private capital of West Indies Power Holdings (BV), parent company of West Indies Power Dominica Limited.
The next phase will see the construction of a 15 megawatt plant which should be completed in 12-16 months after the exploration phase has finished. The cost of construction of the plant has been put at $120 million ECD and is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.
Mr. Apockinas also stated that the State of Dominica will receive 10 percent equity stake in West Indies Power Dominica Limited. This stake will allow Dominica to receive dividends. Dominica will also receive annual royalties of 3 percent on the domestic supply and 5 percent on export of the gross sales power including carbon credits.
Also in attendance at the signing ceremony were Prime Minister, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, acting Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Ambrose George as well as other members of Cabinet.
West Indies Power Holdings BV is a St. Maarteen registered company formed in 2001. The company says it has already identified the geothermal resource in the Caribbean island of Nevis and hopes to supply St. Kitts and Nevis by the end of 2009.
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23 July, 2008
New appointments in the Dominica Police Force
From:From the office of the Prime Minister |
The Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica is pleased to announce the appointments of a number of police officers.
The following police officers have been appointed to serve in various positions in the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force:
· Mr. Cyrille Carrette Superintendent of Police with effect from May 1, 2008
· Mr. Ainsworth Irish- Assistant Superintendent of Police, with effect from May 1, 2008
· Mr. Daniel Carbon- Assistant Superintendent of Police with effect from July 1, 2008
· Mr. Davidson Valerie- Inspector of Police, with effect from May 1, 2008
· Mr. Richmomd Valentine- Inspector of Police with effect from July 1, 2008
· Mr. Mckelson Ferrol- Sergeant of Police with effect from May 1, 2008
· Mr. John Carbon- Sergeant of Police with effect from April 1, 2008
· Ms. Antonia Moses- Sergeant of Police with effect from July 1, 2008
· Mr. Gavin Mitchell- Sergeant of Police with effect from April 26, 2008
For more information contact:
Mr. Matthias Lestrade
Commissioner of Police
Police Headquarters
Roseau
Tel: 266-5189
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15 June, 2008
MAJOR ECO-LODGE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSED FOR THE CARIB TERRITORY
From:From the office of the Prime Minister |
The Kalinago people of Dominica are set to experience a surge in the levels of economic activity in their community, unprecedented in the history of Dominicas first inhabitants.
Just as the Government of Dominica is investing heavily in the Carib people through the Housing Revolution programme; a Capacity Building Project; the construction of the Salybia primary school; college and university training for hundreds of Kalinago youth; investments in agriculture and economic infrastructure, a foreign private sector entity with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has unveiled plans to construct an Eco-Lodge in the Carib Territory.
On Tuesday, June 3, 2008, United States Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Her Excellency, Mary Martin Ourisman attended a briefing ceremony on the proposed environmentally friendly, economically feasible Eco-Lodge.
Also in attendance was the investor, Mr. Danny Hanley, Founder, Investor Relations and Acquisitions, Distinguished International. Other invited guests included Dr. Charles Corbette, Development Officer, Ministry of Carib Affairs, Carib Chief, Mr. Charles Williams and Mr. Kevin Dangleben, Founding Member, Kalinago Heritage Society.
According to Mr. Danny Hanley, the mandate of his firm is to develop high end residential resort communities and high end boutique hotels in Canada and the Caribbean.
His firm is now in the process of interviewing architectural firms mainly in the United States of America with a view to constructing the Eco-Lodge.
We want an environmentally friendly, economically feasible, fantastic resort with all the required amenities to meet the high end travelling market today, Mr Hanley said.
Mr Hanley acknowledged the challenges ahead but added if we all approach this with the same enthusiasm, desire that I have and we continue to receive the support that we have to date from the local Government, from USAID, from the Carib Council and the Kalinago people, I dont believe for an instant that we wont be able to do everything we have talked about..
Mr. Hanley also called on the Kalinago people to take ownership interest in this Eco-Lodge project.
In her remarks at the ceremony, United States Ambassador to Barbados and Eastern Caribbean. Her Excellency, Mary Martin Ourisman, gave her full backing to the project and added, I am confident that this landmark investment will act as a catalyst to bring many more productive new businesses and investments and new economic opportunities to this region here in the Carib Territory.
According to Senator Lewis Hill, a native of the Carib Territory, who serves in the Legislature of the United States Virgin Islands and who introduced the investor to Dominica, the plan for the Eco-Lodge is to build one hundred (100) cottages, high-end with swimming pool, a restaurant and a small conference centre in three phases, with the first thirty (30) cottages to be built in the first phase.
Senator Hill expressed confidence that construction on the Eco-Lodge would begin in 2009.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister for Carib Affairs, Dr. Charles Corbette pledged governments commitment to working with the investors and the Carib people in the realisation of the project.
The levels of economic activity now taking place in the Carib Territory coupled with the planned investments by government in the coming months allied to the proposed Eco-Lodge signals a surge in economic activity in the area unprecedented in the long history of the indigenous people of Dominica.
The Carib Territory is located on the north east coast of Dominica, with a land mass of about 3700 acres and a population of some 3500 persons.
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