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Volume No. 1 Issue No. 47 - Wednesday September 17, 2003 |
The Local News in Brief from The Dominican.net News Desk
Roseau, Wednesday September 17, 2003
Journalist Lennox Linton to File Suit Against Accountant and Auditor for New Marpin Board Keiron Pinard Byrne
In the on-going saga at MARPIN TV, journalist Lennox Linton have announced his intention to file a lawsuit against chartered accountant Kieron Pinard-Byrne and others involved in defaming his character.
Mr. Pinard Byrne was a key figure in assisting Dense Shillingford to oust from the Board and eventually fire Founder and former Chairman of Marpin Ron Abraham. Linton for his part saw the suspension of his popular weekly interview program suspended indefinitely following the shake-up at Marpin.
As an investigative journalist, Mr. Linton launched an exhaustive inquiry into the �Layou River Hotel Project� in which Taiwanese National Grace Tung used money from the sale of Dominican passports to launch the failed project. She has been accused of misappropriating millions of dollars in the project. One of her key partners and collaborators on the project has been Kieron Pinard-Byrne
Mr. Pinard- Byrne has also indicated that his lawyers have been advised to file a similar suit against Mr. Linton.
Roseau, Wednesday September 17, 2003
New Compilation CD of Dominican Bands to be Released Soon
According to Dominican musician Ras Mo, plans are proceeding well for the launching of a CD Album showcasing the work of top Dominican musicians. The CD is expected to be available by October 30, 2003 and will feature Dominica�s top bands and performers.
The project is geared at raising funds for the Orion Theophille and Ralph Casimir Cultural Development Fund, which is geared at promoting the teaching of music and culture among Dominican youth.
All the artists involved in the project are donating their services and view the project as a contribution towards the development of Dominican youth. READ MORE
Roseau, September 12, 2003
Nathalie Rolle Named Executive Director of DADP
Nathalie Rolle has been named as the Executive Director of the Dominica Association of Disabled People (DADP) following the death of her husband Reginald Rolle who died suddenly in June of this year.
Reginald Rolle, who headed the organization for several years was credited for raising the profile of disabled persons in Dominica, and for fighting tirelessly for the rights of the disabled in a society that sometimes appeared to be uncaring.
The Rolles were married in a highly publicized wedding at the Roseau Cathedral. Reginald was wheel-chair bound while his wife has been blind for most of her life. Nathalie holds a Certificate in Principles and Practice of Social Work from the University of the West Indies, and brings to the position a wealth of experience in matters affecting the disabled.
Roseau, September 12, 2003
Training Offered to French Teachers
The French government has granted three scholarships to Dominican French teachers to enable them to complete Bachelor Degree studies during one year at the University of Paris in France. Magali Celestine, Charlene White-Christian and Julien St Jean are expected to begin their studies shortly.
Another national Barbara Wallace have also obtained a scholarship from the French to pursue a Masters Degree in Political Science at the University of Bordeaux, while two more Dominicans would leave to pursue studies at Universite' Antilles-Guyane in Martinique.
Roseau, September 11, 2003
Dominica Grammar School to be Rebuilt
Work on a EC$3 million ($US 1.01 million) extension to the Dominica Grammar School is scheduled to begin in November. The project involves the building of thirteen classrooms and amenities on the current site and is expected to be a three storey building.
The Portsmouth Secondary School (PSS) is also scheduled for a facelift with the addition of eight new classrooms at a cost of EC$800,000. Education officials also disclosed that several other secondary and primary schools around the island would be repaired and refurbished.
Students at the DGS were forced to abandoned the buildings two years ago after the facility became structurally unstable. Since then classes have been held in temporary quarters. The current building was built in the early 1900s.
Roseau, September 11, 2003
New Secondary School in Dominica
The school system in Dominica witnessed the opening of its first fully private secondary school when the Orion opened its doors for the first time to fifteen students in the first and second forms at the Alliance Francaise de la Dominique building in Roseau on Tuesday.
Students will have to pay $1 400 EC per school term. Principal of the school Frances Harris, former principal of the Teachers Trainming College said the focus would be on teaching students to be self-reliant and to take a more active role in charting their education.
Roseau, September 10, 2003
Opposition UWP Plans Protest Demonstration in Support of DOMLEC
In an unusual display of support for Dominica�s lone electricity company DOMLEC, opposition leader Honorable Edison James have called for street protests against the government of Dominica for its handling of the DOMLEC affair.
At a United Workers Party (UWP) meeting held in Lagoon, Roseau recently, he called on the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) and the Committee Against High Utility Rates (CAHUR) to join his party in the protests. According to James, his party was dissatisfied with the Government for pressuring DOMLEC to absorb a 17% consumption tax. He said the government was to blame for the increase in taxes forced upon the utility company.
Prime Minister Pierre Charles recently issued a statement in which he warned of further action against the company if it does not absorb the 17% increase in utility rates that have been passed on to consumers.
In a still very controversial and hotly debated move, the then ruling UWP administration sold the state controlled DOMLEC to the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC) for what many believed to be an amount well below the market value of the company.
It has since been reported that CDC, within three years of the sale, had recouped the amount of its purchase price of DOMLEC. In the meantime, no major infrastructural changes have taken place, and consumers continue to be faced with constant blackouts as electricity prices have risen steadily since the 1997 sale.
Roseau, September 10, 2003
Use of Cell Phones Banned at Dominica Schools
The Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth Affairs has announced the banning of the use of mobile phones by students at all schools on the islands to become effective from next week, September 15, 2003.
Many teachers were complaining of the continuous use of cell phones by students even in the classroom during normal school hours. Dominica has seen a proliferation of cell phone use as prices have tumbled with the opening up of the market to competition from AT&T.
Education Minister Roosevelt Skerrit in making the announcement, cited the disruptiveness of the cell phones in the classroom, and also pointed to the fact that there was no need for the students to have them while having access to their school's telephones, as reasons for the ban.
Roseau September 09, 2003
MARPIN Suspends Popular TV Program �What About�
The newly elected board of MARPIN TV has announced the indefinite suspension of one the most popular local television shows in Dominica. The �What About� call in program hosted by popular Caribbean journalist Lennox Linton was suspended for �restructuring purposes� according to a company spokesman.
Many observers however believe that the sudden termination of the program has to do with Mr. Linton�s fervent support for ousted former Board chairman Ron Abraham. Mr. Linton was one of the most outspoken supporters of the embattled Abraham as he fought a losing battle against a hostile take-over of a company he built from the ground up.
�What About� focused on the many current issues confronting Dominica and was widely regarded as a top quality, thoroughly professional program, finessed by the accomplished questioning style of host Lennox Linton.
Roseau September 09, 2003
New Acting Director of Public Prosecution Named
Dominican lawyer Wynante Roberts has been named as the acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for the September round of court cases in Roseau. She replaced British National Roger Pinfold who resigned in July amid a row with high court judge Dunbar Cenac. At the time, the judge accused the DPP of gross incompetence in the conduct of his duties. The DPP is expected to serve as lead prosecutor for the state in the criminal courts.
Roseau September 8, 2003
New President for Dominica
The search is on for a replacement to current Dominica President and Head of State Vernon Shaw. The presidency will become vacant at the end of next month with the five year expiration of Mr. Shaw�s appointment, and he is not expected to seek renomination.
Reports out of Roseau indicate that the ruling coalition government is favoring Dr. Nicholas Liverpool to become the next President. Dr. Liverpool is a former non resident ambassador to the United States. He is also a former judge in Antigua and Montserrat and a law lecturer at the University of the West Indies in Barbados.
Parliament will ultimately vote on the replacement and the opposition United Workers Party (UWP) is also expected to name a candidate. Under Dominica�s parliamentary type system of government, the position of President is largely symbolic with real power residing in the hands of the Prime Minister who is charged with the day-to-day running of the country.
Roseau, September 04, 2003
Ron Abraham Fired As MARPIN's Director of Operations
In a stunning development, it was reported today that Ronald Abraham founder, former Chairman and Director of Technical Operations of MARPIN TV was sacked by the new board headed by Dense Shillingford. Abraham spent twenty-one years at the head of a company that introduced cable television to practically every village and town in Dominica.
Roseau, September 3, 2003
Three Dominicans Named to West Indies U-19 Cricket Squad
The West Indies selectors have included three Dominicans among their recently announced cricket squad. Liam Sebastien, Jean Paul and Mervin Matthew were named based largely on their outstanding performances at the recently concluded West Indies' Under-19 cricket tournament. They helped propel the Windward Islands to the runners-up spot in the just-ended tournament.
Sebastien, who is the son of former cricket great Lockhart Sebastien is an all-rounder, while Paul and Matthew are fast bowlers.
Roseau, September 2, 2003
Former MARPIN Chairman Ron Abraham Ousted
Founder of MARPIN TV and Director of Technical Affairs Ron Abraham has been forced to relinquish the post of Chairman to rival shareholder Clifton ''Dense'' Shillingford. The decision was announced following a shareholders annual general meeting held under tight police security in Roseau.
Shillingford had earlier formed a rival board and challenged for the ownership of the company. The matter was pursued in court before both parties agreed to allow the shareholders to decide on the fate of the company. It was not immediately clear if Abraham would continue with the company.
Other members elected to the Board were Patricia Inglis, Anthony Burnette-Biscombe, Heather Felix-Evans and Alwyn Shillingford. According to company spokesman Parry Bellot, replacement would soon be made for outgoing board members Abraham and lawyer and former spokesman Duncan Stowe.
Ron Abraham is largely credited for starting the company from scratch and building it into a formidable Cable company before challenging the telecommunications monopoly of Cable and Wireless. His efforts at gaining access for the offering of local telephone services was hailed throughout the Caribbean and has since enabled other Caribbean Islands to pursue their own deregulation efforts.
Roseau, September 01 26, 2003
Cable & Wireless and AT&T Reach Agreement on Interconnectivity
Cable & Wireless and AT&T both appeared to be backing down from accusations made earlier when they announced that the National Regulatory Commission in Dominica would determine the interconnectivity issue. Late last week, at a news conference in Roseau, general manager of Cable and Wireless Ian Blanchard denied allegations by telecommunications giant AT&T that it was deliberately delaying interconnectivity of the two wireless services. Mr. Blanchard called the allegations baseless and said that his company was being falsely accused.
According to Mr. Blanchard, his company had ordered the necessary equipment and could not move forward with interconnectivity until the equipment was received in Dominica. Following the news conference, an AT&T company spokesman reiterated the charges and said that the Cable & Wireless behavior was no different from what it has exhibited in other Caribbean islands. The official added that his company was expecting to complete the agreement since February of this year.
Read more of the EARLIER NEWS IN Brief
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