|
 |
Volume No. 1 Issue No. 48 - Monday September 29, 2003 |
The Local News in Brief from The Dominican.net News Desk
Roseau, Monday September 29, 2003
Dominica Considering Imposition of Tax on Cruise Ship Visitors
With the cruise ship season officially set to begin in October, tourism Minister Charles Savarin has indicated that his government is considering a tax of US $ 20 on cruise ship passengers visiting Dominica. A similar measure is been considered in most of the other Caribbean destinations.
The decision to impose the tax was taken by regional governments and tourism officials as a means of helping to finance the Caribbean tourism industry, which was badly hit following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.
Imposition of such a tax is however been hotly contested by the Florida Cruise Association (FCA), which represents the majority of cruise carriers coming into the Caribbean. Similar attempts to impose such a tax in early 2002 met with stiff assistance from the FCA and several of the cruise liners threatened to withdraw their visits if the tax was imposed. In the end, the Caribbean governments backed down and the tax was shelved.
Dominica is expecting to attract well over 100,000 cruise ship visitors during a season that runs from October to April. Many people however complain that the cruise ship visitors does little to boost Dominica�s economy since on average they remain for about four hours on the Island, and spend very little while there.
While cruise ship passengers currently pay no taxes, passengers who arrive by air pay a mandatory US $13 as a departure tax upon leaving the country after a stay of more than twenty-four hours.
Roseau, Monday September 29, 2003
PM Calls on UN to Consider Taiwanese Membership
In a widely controversial speech to the United Nations (UN) 58th General Assembly, Prime Minister Pierre Charles called upon the world body to consider Taiwan for membership to the International body.
Taiwan is not currently a UN Member since it has long been considered by China to be a renegade province. In spite of a sustained Taiwanese lobby, most of the UN members refuse to accept Taiwan�s claim and in diplomatic circles it is always referred to as Taiwan Province of China.
Dominica�s relationship to Taiwan goes back more than twenty years with the Taiwanese providing substantial financial and technical support to successive Dominica governments. The relationship between the two countries was recently hotly debated in Dominica with a segment of the population urging the government to support China instead of Taiwan.
With his recent appeal to the United Nations, the Prime Minister would have laid to rest the internal debate on the issue but he would have been sure to create a buzz within the world�s diplomatic community.
Roseau, Monday September 29, 2003
Migration of Dominica Nurses Continue
Dominica�s health situation is said to be under threat with the continued migration of trained, professional nurses from Dominica primarily to the United States and other Caribbean countries.
As the economic situation in Dominica has worsened, more nurses are leaving to take up appointments with mainly United States hospitals and other facilities within the Caribbean. With the US facing its own shortage of health care workers, hospitals and health facilities have stepped up their recruitment of Dominican nurses.
Trained Dominican nurses are very attractive to prospective US employers because of their superior training and natural advantage in speaking English. Health Services Coordinator at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), Marvlyn Birmingham revealed that the health department was on high alert in anticipation of a massive migration of the country's best nurses.
Birmingham added that the local health sector officials were expecting a faster migration rate with the trend expected to pick up as a larger number of nurses are awaiting word from their would-be employers. A larger number of nurses were also been interviewed and many have shown a willingness to get out of Dominica as the economic situation remains depressed.
Roseau, September 23, 2003
PM Charles to Address United Nations
Prime Minister Pierre Charles is currently in New York where he will be addressing the United Nations 58th session of the General Assembly. The Prime Minister will be accompanied by Dominican ambassador to the United Nations Crispin Gregoire.
Before leaving for New York, the Prime Minister revealed that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had reported favorably on his government�s handling of the Dominican economy since embarking on an austerity package following the July 2003 budget debate.
Friday September 19, 2003
Dominica Government Reaches Agreement With DOMLEC on Rate Increase
In a live address to the Dominican people, Prime Minister Pierre Charles disclosed that the Dominican Government and the Dominica Electricity Services (DOMLEC) have reached an interim agreement that would allow for an increase of 7.5 per cent on existing electricity rates from October to December.
Based on the agreement, DOMLEC would absorb EC$700,000 (US $260,000) in losses over the next three months, and consumers would be spared having to pay the previously announced 17 per cent increase. Following the imposition of new taxes by the Charles government during the July 2003 budget, DOMLEC imposed the 17 percent increase.
Prime Minister Pierre Charles also revealed that a World Bank team was analyzing possible changes to the Electricity Supply Act of 1996 with a view to proposing amendments to the Act before end-2003.
Friday September 19, 2003
Parliament Elects Dr. Nicholas Liverpool as Dominica�s New President
Dr Nicholas Liverpool was today elected as Dominica�s sixth President by Parliament despite an Opposition boycott of the sitting. The former Dominican Ambassador, University lecturer and Regional judge is expected to replace outgoing President Mr. Vernon Shaw who did not seek re-lection. Dr Liverpool is expected to assume the duties of the Presidency on October 1, 2003.
Dr. Liverpool, like the Prime Minister comes from the Southern village of Grand Bay. The role of the President is largely ceremonial with the day-to-day operation of government entrusted to the Prime Minister.
Friday September 19, 2003
Dr. Clayton Shillingford Regrets Government�s Failure to Provide Information to the IMG
The Dominican Diaspora representative on the Independent Monitoring Group (IMG) Dr Clayton Shillingford is lamenting the failure of the Ministry of Finance and Planning to provide sufficient information to the group to assist in their assessment of Dominica�s financial position.
The IMG was set up earlier this year to monitor Dominica�s progress under the Stand by agreement negotiated with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and following Dominica�s failure to meet crucial performance criteria previously negotiated with the IMF. Dr Shillingford is of the view that the island's economic recovery is too crucial for officials of the public sector to fail to provide critical information on the island's revenue and expenditure for July and August.
He warned that if the trend continues Dominica would face hard times attracting financial from the International community. The IMP released its first independent report on the local economy yesterday.
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
Read more of the EARLIER NEWS IN Brief
|
|
|
