The Roosevelt Skerrit government is optimistic that it can continue in its thrust to further reduce poverty levels in Dominica with the start of a new programme.

Information Minister Ambrose George says government is getting set to officially launch the National Beneficiary Identification System which will enhance the effectiveness of development programs.

He represented Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit at the National Consultation for the Dominica Country Poverty Assessment report at the Garraway Hotel this morning

Chairman of Discover Dominica Authority Colin Piper says every year, the tourism sector in Dominica will lost close to 160,000 thousand cruise passengers from the pull out of carnival victory

The Carnival Victory will make its last call to Dominica on November 02nd, blaming the pull out on fuel prices.

Piper says the decision will negatively impact the country’s tourism sector.

Meantime General Manager of the Dominica Air and Sea Port Authority, Bennoit Bardouille says, officials in the tourism sector have been seeking alternatives.

And President of the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association Simon Walsh says, it is time that Dominica put measures in place based on this decision.

He says Dominica needs to now divert its attention and look at the value of the destination.

The Caribbean Telecommunications Union in collaboration with the government of Dominica will be embarking on a Caribbean ICT road show.

The Dominica leg is scheduled for October 04th-5th.

Public Relations Officer of the ICT Dominica is Edward Registe.

The new Events Director of the Dominica Festivals Committee-Trinidadian Nathalie Clark says this year will be challenging one.

Clark is replacing Val Cuffy.

Clark also spoke to concerns that persons may have about having a Dominican at the helm of the World Creole Music Festival

The spirit of cooperation between the United States and Caribbean nations was strengthened recently as the Florida National Guard hosted representatives from seven Caribbean countries for a week-long visit.Representatives from nations belonging to the Regional Security System (RSS) – an international agreement for the defense and security of the eastern Caribbean region – visited Florida from August 9th to 13th.

Representatives toured Florida National Guard facilities, met with senior leaders and learned about the capabilities and missions of the Florida National Guard and the Florida Department of Military Affairs.
RSS nations represented during the visit included: Antigua and Barbuda; Barbados; Dominica; Grenada; St. Lucia; St. Vincent and the Grenadines; and St. Kitts and Nevis.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says his government is happy to assist the Anguilla authorities with 10 million dollars to pay salaries of public officers.

Last week Anguilla’s chief minister Hubert Hughes announced that his government was in the process of borrowing EC 10 million dollars from the Eastern Caribbean central bank in St Kitts, to pay civil servants for the month of August and that money was coming from the Dominica credit.

Prime Minister Skerrit says the people of Anguilla have been loyal to the people of Dominica in many ways.

He says his government will continue to assist Anguilla in whatever way it can.

Prime Minister Skerrit says Dominica is able to assist other countries because of its strong fiscal policies.

He says the introduction of the value added tax to Dominica in 2006 has stabilized the economy.

He also says other countries in the region must move towards the implementation of the value added tax

The Roosevelt Skerrit Government is currently reviewing its public assistance programme.

Chief Child Welfare Officer Martin Anthony says the decision is to ensure that those who benefit are actually in need

Anthony says government is currently putting in place a system where the beneficiaries will be properly targeted

Meantime Public Awareness Consultant on the Special Assistance Project Petra Shillingford says the system is also seeking to regularize the programme

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit is throwing a challenge to persons who claim that he uses public funds for his personal benefit to come forward with the information.

Mister Skerrit told the program the next level on Kairi FM on Tuesday night that his priority is to fight the 28 percent poverty in the country and not use his position for personal gains.

Chairman of the Dominica Agricultural Producers and Exports Limited Luke Prevost says the islands banana production continued its state of decline throughout the year despite the fact that it was seen very early.

Prevost was addressing the Annual General Meeting of the Dominica Agricultural Producers and Exports Limited in Marigot on Tuesday.

He says additional measures must be put in place to keep the industry alive.

The Dominica Freedom Party says it is alarmed at the announcement that Carnival Victory will be ending its calls to Dominica in November.
L
ocal hotelier and Leader of the DFP Judith Pestaina says the party is concerned amount the negative impact that this will not only have on the tourism sector but more particularly on the many persons who depend exclusively on cruise tourism industry for their economic survival

Pestaina says this should be seen as a wakeup call for tourism in Dominica