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Volume No. 1 Issue No. 63 - Wednesday November 24, 2004 |
The News in Brief from The Dominican.net News Desk
Roseau, Dominica � December 21, 2004
EU Funded Design Study for Waitukubuli National Trail Begins
The Government of Dominica has secured funding from the European Union for the implementation of the Waitikubuli National Trail. It is expected that 4.4 million euros (approximately EC$15 million) under the Special Framework of Assistance 2003 will finance the construction of the trail, the Programme Management Unit, marketing activities, public awareness and training.
The concept of the Trail was developed by the Waitikubuli Ecological Foundation. The British Government�s Department for International Development (DFID) funded a feasibility study on the proposed trail. The study concluded: �The construction of a National Trail is both desirable and feasible with the potential to contribute significantly to the social, economic and cultural development of Dominica and to the management of the country�s assets.�
In recognition of the importance of developing and promoting a diversified tourism product, the Government of Dominica has commissioned a consultancy to be funded by the European Commission that will make recommendations regarding the final trail route, provide detailed technical designs and management guidelines.
LIN Consultancy Services of Dominica will undertake the Design Study, beginning December 2004. Stakeholder consultations across the country will form an integral part of the study. The output of this study will facilitate the draw down of resources for the implementation of the trail.
The Ministry of Agriculture (Lands & Surveys, Physical Planning, Forestry and Wildlife Division), Ministry of Communications, Works and Housing, Ministry of Tourism (Division of Tourism, the Eco-Tourism Development Programme) and the Waitikubuli Ecological Foundation as well as other key community stakeholders around Dominica are expected to play a significant role in reviewing and guiding the work of the consultants throughout the design study.
Roseau- Dominica: December 2, 2004
Dominica Records 377 Known HIV/AIDS Cases
Education Minister Herbert Sabroache is cautioning against the spread of HIV/AIDS in Dominica. In a special address marking the observance of Aids Day, he noted that there were 377 known aid cases in Dominica, but warned that the real number could be well over 1200. The minister reiterated his government�s position to help fight the spread of aids and encouraged the population to join efforts toward achievement of this goal.
Portsmouth- Dominica, November 26, 2004
Porstmouth Disaster Relief Fund
Portsmouth was one of the areas most severely damaged during the recent earthquake with several schools, the hospital and residential buildings suffering structural damage in the millions of dollars.
To this end, the Mayor and residents of Portsmouth have set up a Portsmouth Disaster Relief Fund Account to solicit support from Dominicans in helping in their rebuilding efforts. Dominicans from all over the world are encouraged to support the people of Portsmouth by contributing directly to the Fund at the following address:
FirstCaribbean Bank (Barclays)
Portsmouth
Commonwealth of Dominica
West Indies
Portsmouth Disaster Relief Fund Account No.: 0106392541
Swift Code:. FCIB DM DM
Portsmouth- Dominica, November 26, 2004
Terrified Portsmouth Residents Flee Homes in Wake of Powerful Aftershock
At 1 A.M on Friday November 26, a powerful aftershock in the North Eastern part of Dominica sent terrified residents running from their homes.
Following the quake, callers to the local radio stations reported that it was as powerful as the major quake on Sunday, November 21. However, Disaster Preparedness Coordinator Cecil Shillingford, said the authorities were still awaiting an official reading of the quake from the monitoring center in Trinidad. He also cautioned that aftershocks would be expected to continue for well over a month and asked residents to continue to be deligent.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skeritt has informed local residents that the cost of the quake will run into the millions of dollars. He indicated that at least one school, the Roosevelt Douglas Secondary School would have to be rebuilt, and several roads either reconstructed or built new. According to Prime Minister Skeritt, a full costing will be given after the engineers have completed their work of surveying the damage.
Diaspora Dominicans Rally to Aid Their Country
Dominicans resident overseas have begun to mobilize their efforts to assist Dominica in the wake of the recent earthquake and landslides.
The Commonwealth of Dominica Ontario Association (CDOA) will be holding a general meeting this Sunday November 28th at the Lawrence Heights Community Center, to inform the public of where drop of points are for relief supplies and to seek volunteers to package these items. Individuals are requested to supply perishable items, which will go mainly to the Portsmouth Hospital.
In Washington, the Dominican Embassy is calling Dominicans to attend a meeting at the embassy on Tuesday November, 30 at 7:00 pm to discuss giving assistance to the country. Remy Roker of AMVI Sunny 99.5 radio station of the United States Virgin Island has invited Dominicans to call in to his radio show on Saturday morning. Dominicans are requested to call in at telephone number 340 773 9951 where the general public will be requested to give assistance to Dominica.
The Dominica Academy of Arts and Sciences (DAAS) is also calling on structural engineers throughout the Diaspora who may be able to assist in Dominica to sign up with the academy. An effort is being made to mobilize the necessary resources, which will permit these engineers to travel to Dominica.
Engineers Assesing Damage in the Aftermath of Earthquake
by Government Press Secretary
Roseau, Dominica � November 24th 2004
A total of seven Engineers are currently on island to assess the extent of the damage to roads and physical structures caused by the earthquake which struck Dominica on Sunday.
The engineers have been provided by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.
The Engineers are expected to inspect the Portsmouth Hospital as well as a number of public buildings and private property affected by the passage of the earthquake. The engineers are expected to present a report to Cabinet on Thursday, November 25th 2004.
In addition, a team from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is currently in Dominica to assess for themselves the impact of the earthquake on the health facilities, mainly in the North of Dominica.
Meanwhile the road to the eastern village of Grand Fond is now open after its residents had been cut off from the rest of the country since last weekend as a result of landslides triggered by persistent heavy rains.
Meanwhile the Au Delice Road in the east is impassable after a piece of the road collapsed. However, the Ministry of Communications, Works and Housing has cleared most of the landslides in other parts of the country in the last few days.
On Tuesday, November 23rd 2004, Prime Minister, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit was able to witness the airlifting of essential food and medical supplies to the communities of Grand Fond, Good Hope, San Sauveur and Petite Soufriere.
HBN, WASHINGTON, D.C., Tues. Nov. 23:
A day after a 6.0 earthquake rattled Dominica, officials of the International Monetary Fund, granted the Roosevelt Skerrit administration a one-year extension to repay its loans.
The executive board of the IMF, in a statement yesterday, made the announcement, explaining that though about US$2.0 million was due by December 2, 2004 will now be due next December.
Additionally, the second payment will be due in March 2006 and every two months there after.
The decision had nothing to do with the earthquake but officials said it was made because the IMF determined the country�s �external position is not sufficiently strong for it to repay early without undue hardship or risk.�
In response to a rapidly deteriorating fiscal and economic crisis that had been looming for years, government under the leadership of the late Pierre Charles, entered into an arrangement with the IMF and World Bank in an effort to restore sanity to the public finances. � Hardbeatnews.com
November 23, 2004 - Portsmouth Dominica
Two days after the massive quake rocked the island of Dominica, persons in the North East of the island continue to report almost nonstop aftershocks in their area.
Earlier today, terrified students of the Portsmouth Secondary School fled their classrooms after their building began swaying dangerously from side to side.
A student in a telephone message to a local radio station, reported teachers bursting into tears as they ordered students to leave their classrooms. It was not clear if the students would be allowed to return to school tomorrow.
Residents continue to express fears about the structural integrity of buildings even as structural engineers from neighboring countries arrived in Dominica to make an initial assessment. The government was also appealing to Dominican strutural engineers resident in other countries to offer their services to the country.
Roseau � November 22, 2004
Food Supplies to be Airlifted to Cutoff Communities
The Dominica government today reported that much needed food supplies would be airlifted by helicopter to the villages of Grand Fond, Good Hope and Petite Soufriere. The villages have been virtually cut-off from the rest of the island in the aftermath of over a week of heavy rainfall.
Government has secured the services of a helicopter from Barbados to assist in the airlift. Supplies of rice, sugar, flour and other basic food items were donated by local businesses and will be delivered to the villagers of the affected areas.
Meanwhile, fresh landslides swept away equipment that was being used to clear away debris in the Odelice area of the country. The operators of the equipment were originally feared dead, but were subsequently found alive and unhurt.
Hundreds of landslides remain to be cleared all over the island, but every effort was being made on Monday to get the country back to normal. Workers reported to government offices and business places while schools reoponed with the exception of those in the North Eastern part of the island.
The ministry of education however, announced that all the schools in that part of Dominica would reopen on Tuesday November 23, with the exception of the Portsmouth Roosevelt Douglas primary school and the Calibishie government school. Both schools will remain closed on account of structural damage from Sunday's earthquake.
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Roseau � November 21, 2004
State of Emergency Declared in Certain Areas of Dominica After Days of Heavy Rainfall Earthquakes and Massive Landslides.
At about 7:45 A.M on Sunday November 21, 2004, a massive earthquake rocked the island of Dominica completely destroying the Vielle Case Catholic church and causing structural damage to several buildings. Initial reports put the magnitude of the quake at 6.0 on the Richter scale. This was followed by several smaller tremors throughout the morning. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
The center of the quake was reported to be 10 kilometers off the North East coast of Dominica and was 18 kilometers deep. Before the major quake, at 7:39 A.M there was a foreshock, which measured 3.5 on the Richter scale.
The highest recorded aftershock was at 4.9. Residents of Montserrat, Guadeloupe, Martinique and St.Lucia also reported feeling the quake.
Roseau, Dominica November 15, 2004
Dominica: Economy Expected to Grow by more than 2 per cent in 2004
The Dominica government has announced that the local economy should grow by at least 2 per cent in 2004.
According to a government spokesman, the projection is based on the findings of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, which visited Dominica from 18 to 29 October to review the country's economic performance, and revise targets under Dominica's Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) agreement with the IMF. The government attributed the better-than-expected projection to fiscal discipline and increased tax collection.
The government indicated that taxes on income and profits, sales taxes and taxes on international trade and transactions were in all significantly in excess of expectations, thus reflecting increased levels of economic activity.
The release declared that "the government has continued to maintain discipline" on expenditure and that the economic indicators reveal that the economy is on an upward growth trajectory, demonstrating that the negative growth rates of 2001-02 are now well in the past.
Dominica�s First Premier Dies
Dominica is mourning the death of its first Premier, Edward Oliver Leblanc who died at his home in Vielle Case on Friday. E O Leblanc was a much beloved leader of the Dominica Labour Party , who championed the cause of the common man and was well loved throughout the island.
In 1961, he won a crushing electoral victory, and became Chief Minister and Minister of finance in the new government, which had ousted F A Baron�s Dominica United Peoples Party. He again won by a landslide in the 1966 general elections and when Dominica attained Associated Statehood in 1967, he became the country�s first Premier.
After winning the 1971 elections, he resigned in July 1974, having vowed not to serve more than two terms. E O Leblanc resigned from party politics and retired to his home in Vielle Case where he remained largely out of sight of the public until his death on Friday.
Leblanc was credited for developing a cultural nationalism, which promoted National Day of November 3 as an annual cultural festival. He fought long and hard for a West Indian federation, and was a well beloved leader especially in the rural areas of Dominica.
(More information on the life of E O Leblanc will be in forthcoming issue of theDominican.net).
Read more of the EARLIER NEWS IN Brief
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