Dominica - Can Eco-Tourism Help Underdeveloped Countries?

How Dominica, Botswana and Suriname are working to capitalize on their natural resources without jeopardizing them...


Tourism might not be the ultimate answer to poverty and economic woes, but it is a major boon for places around the world that suffer from a lack of natural resources or industry. For instance, tourism is a hugely important industry in the Caribbean. Without flocks of resort-goers, nations in this part of the world would have to rely more heavily on agriculture, leaving their economies at the mercy of the fluctuating prices of commodities like coffee, sugar and bananas.

There are plenty of valid concerns about the environmental impact of hotel construction, excessive tourist traffic and cruise ships, but it isn't fair to leave the positive economic impact out of the mass-tourism discussion. Large resorts employ hundreds of local people, and local entrepreneurs, from taxi drivers to guides to souvenir shop owners, benefit from the tourism trade. cont./

Courtesy of: Mother Nature Network

Dominica - Delroy Williams Releases Debut Poetry Publication

ONE ROOM SHACK, the debut poetry publication from Delroy Nesta Williams, comes from a special place, his heart. And within his heart is a myriad of issues and ideas that were egging to get out.

ONE ROOM SHACK can be described in one short phrase, simply special. Special not only because it is the first book from the author but also as a dedication to the “mothers” that have influenced Nesta’s life.

The poems address various issues including poverty, failure, personal struggle, “faith and hope… but the greatest of these is love.”

Mr. Williams is the Immediate Past President of the National Youth Council and by all accounts an advocate for various youth issues, some of which come through clearly through his poetry. He attributes his love of poetry and writing from an early exposure during his high school years at the Dominica Grammar School and his interest in creative arts. cont./

Courtesy of: Dominica News Online

Dominica - Independence Activities for 2011 Formerly Launched

Activities to mark this year’s thirty-third anniversary of Independence was formerly launched at press conference at the Government Information Service studio and carried live on Channel seven on both MARPIN 2k4 and SAT Telecoms on Friday, September 2, 2011 and on DBS Radio. The activities, which will run from Sunday September 18th to Friday November 4th, 2011, will be held under the theme “Celebrating Thirty-Three – Joining Hands in Unity.”

Addressing Fridays’ function, the Hon. Minister for Culture, Youth and Sports, Justina Charles, said that this years’ theme urges us to come together to celebrate our achievements as a nation and to join hands in unity for the greater good of our people and country. She further stated that it is a patriotic call for us to set aside our differences of political colour, religion, class, status and race and to work together for the good of the nation. cont./

Courtesy of: Government Information Service

Dominica - New Housing Project for Silver Lake Community

Residents of Silver Lake are expressing their heart-felt gratitude to the government of Dominica, who pledge to construct a housing project in the area. For over thirty-two years, Silver Lake residents have been living in deplorable living conditions since the passage of Hurricane David.

However, Honourable Minister for Housing, Reginald Austrie, announced last week that the Government of Dominica will soon be undertaking the much-needed housing project in the community.

“For a while now, the Government has been looking at the housing situation in Silver Lake. Just recently, the Minister of Finance and Prime Minister has made some three hundred thousand dollars (XCD$300 000.00) available for the construction of an apartment block building in Silver Lake. The land has been identified and we have a design. Right now, what we are doing is making a few adjustments to the design and I am hoping that by November this year, we can see work beginning on this very important housing structure for the residents of Silver Lake.” cont./

Courtesy of: Government Information Service (GIS)

Dominica - West Coast Road Project Progressing Smoothly – Project Manager Gives Update

The $100-million West Coast Road Project is progressing smoothly with some areas of the project currently 100 percent complete and most others at an advanced stage of construction, according to Manager for China Railway 17 Bureau Company Ltd (CR17)

Hao and other officials from the company led members of the media on a site tour of the project Friday, stopping at some of the particularly pivotal sections of the Portsmouth to Roseau road, currently undergoing repair and upgrade.
Stops included the Hanover Street to Elliot Avenue Bridge, the section of works at Tarreau, the sea defense wall and road construction in Coulibistrie, the current excavation works being carried out under the Canefield Cliff and the fully completed box culvert at Picard. cont./

Courtesy of: Dominica News Online