On Tuesday, May 7, the Embassy presented a set of books and teaching materials to Portsmouth Secondary School. Principal Ronald Austrie expressed his gratitude for the donation, saying that “the active support from organizations such as yours helps us to strive for excellence in education as we look forward to a brighter future.” The books, which include both works of fiction and resources on teaching methods, will benefit both teachers and students at the school.

The Embassy also presented a set of books and educational board games to Operation Youth Quake. Deputy Public Affairs Officer Rachael Zaspel was on hand to present the books and introduce the children to their new learning resources. Working in groups, the children enjoyed learning how to play the games and browsing through their new books.

On Wednesday, May 8, Ms. Zaspel visited Trafalgar Primary School, where she presented a set of children’s books on behalf of the Embassy. This “Books-in-a-Bag” program includes a selection of the books from the 2012 American Library Association’s Notable Children’s Books list which are packed into a wheeled duffel bag so the books can be easily circulated from class to class. The program started in 2011 and has made its way to primary schools across the Eastern Caribbean, adding to the thousands of Embassy-donated books to schools across the region.

Finally, the American Corner in the Dominica Public Library in Roseau received a set of four new Kindles, pre-loaded with hundreds of titles and ready for eager readers to use. Ms. Zaspel worked with a core group of frequent library visitors and avid readers to familiarize them with these fun new devices. The Kindles, along with hundreds of other Embassy-funded books and reading materials are available every day at the American Corner.

The Prime Minister got married to his sweetheart of many years Miss Melissa Poponne,yesterday afternoon at the Roman Catholic Chapel in Bourne. Father Herman Sharplis officiated at the wedding.

According to a brief statement issued by the office of the Prime Minister late Saturday afternoon, the ceremony was followed by a private reception at his home in Veille Casse.

The newlyweds are expected to leave island sometime today for a short honeymoon but no details was given about where they’d be spending the time.

The school held its school leaving ceremony under the theme ‘Working on our weaknesses is one of our strengths.’

Student of the Year Madgerie Francis received awards in nine subjects; Caribbean History, English Language, Geography, Human & Social Biology, Integrated Science, Mathematics, Principles of Business, Social Studies and Spanish.

Other subject prize winners were Rubina John who excelled in English Language, Geography, Human and Social Biology and Spanish and Joselyn Jno Baptiste who was awarded for Caribbean History. Keith Harris received awards for Integrated Science, Speech, Drama and Health and Family Life Education, Tania Charles for Principles of Business and Social Studies, Rolston Royer for Agricultural Science and Samuel Joseph for French.

Addressing the ceremony, Ag. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education & Human Resource Development Ms. Marcella Powell who spoke on behalf of the Hon. Minister Petter Saint-Jean, urged the school leavers to draw on the knowledge and skills they had acquired at the DCHS to identify their weaknesses and build on their strengths.

“I am sure that each of you is able to reflect on all that you have learnt in the past five years at the Dominica Community High School which has prepared you to make sounder and wiser decisions as you move forward in your lives. You should now be prepared to take on the rest of your life with confidence and determination,” Powell said.

She noted that in addition to creating access to secondary education for all students the Ministry of Education is focusing on the implementation of technical and vocational programmes to position students to learn valuable skills necessary for entry into a competitive job market.

Powell said this was part of government’s commitment to ensure that every learner succeeds.

Mr. Corbett, has over 30 years’ experience in Financial Management, which includes Banking. “I feel excited about my role at the helm of the AID Bank” states Mr. Corbett, “ I have always wanted to be involved in Development Banking in Dominica, which provides an ideal avenue to focus more strongly on tourism, agriculture, light manufacturing, education and housing.”

“The AID Bank means a lot to Dominica and Dominicans and is a pillar of economic development for over 40 years.” In addition to maintaining that momentum, says Mr. Corbett “I intend to improve the liquidity position of this indigenous Bank, strengthen its financial controls and continue to build on the partnerships that have been established with other local commercial institutions, so that we can all enhance the local economic climate by building feasible businesses and creating more jobs.

The new AID Bank General Manager expresses a strong interest in strengthening the Human Resource of the Bank, which he claims is very impressive when compared to other Development Banks in the region.

In spite of the challenges of the global financial climate, Mr. Corbett recognizes that overall; the Banking Industry is still very competitive. He also states that Dominica is among the most liquid islands in the OECS and therefore, he would like to capitalize on that liquidity, thus enhancing the social and economic environment of the island.

Mr. Corbett sees the AID Bank as playing a greater role as an investment entity and working with multiple funding agencies to find the funds to on-lend to the diverse businesses.

He expresses concern however “that because the bank is owned by the Government of Dominica and the Dominica Social Security – by statute, people feel that they should not be obligated to honour their commitment,” but he emphasizes that “the AID Bank is business and will be managed as such.”

Julius Joseph Corbette, a former General Manager of the National Bank of Dominica, commenced his duties as the General Manager of the AID Bank on 7th May, 2013. He is preceded by Kingsley Charles Thomas of Jamaica, who served the Bank in the capacity of General Manager / Consultant from December 2008, until he demitted office in March, 2013.

Dowlin Augustine, a 26 year old man of Savanne Paille was shot multiple times by an unknown assailant while riding his bicycle on the Michael Douglas Boulevard close to the Indian River Bridge in Portsmouth.

Augustine was transported to the Reginald Fitzroy Armour Hospital where he was treated, but later succumbed to his injuries while being transferred to the Princess Magaret Hospital in Roseau.

The body was returned to the Reginald Fitzroy Armour Hospital where it was pronounced dead upon arrival by the District Medical Officer.  It was then transported to the North Eastern Funeral parlor pending a post mortem examination.

No information was given on the motive for the shooting neither has any arrest been made.

The police has invited anyone with information on the shooting to call 1800- Tips or 1800-Hint.

According to a release from the firm, the poll was conducted during the last two weeks of February 2013 in thirteen of the eighteen constituencies held by DLP Parliamentary Representatives, excluding some of its “strongest zones” including the Vieille Case constituency.

Edison James, the prime minister’s lead opponent and political leader of the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP), has a thirty six percent rating.

The foremost issue on the minds of Dominicans is that of Employment.
“Dominicans are generally most impressed with the government’s performance in Education’ and least impressed with the government’s performance in the area of Employment’, the release states.

This is consistent with Skerrit’s recent statements at the DLP’s public meeting on Tuesday where he told party supporters that he understood their concerns regarding unemployment and also advised to get ready for the next general elections that may be called sooner than most people think.

He said, “From speaking with several of you, from across the length and breadth of Dominica, I know there is frustration in the party of many in finding suitable employment. Job creation is the number one priority of this government.”

“I urge you to return to your communities and begin your work for I want you to tell all and sundry tonight, Skerrit has hinted that [general elections] won’t be too long. So get yourselves ready! Get yourselves ready for another five years in government”, he continued.

Meanwhile, the issue of Skerrit’s alleged ownership interest in the famed ‘Savanne Paille villas’ is a non-issue for poll respondents.

“There is also a lack of appetite for a Third party now in these constituencies since a majority indicated a lack of interest. The matter of the DFP’s [Dominica Freedom Party] future was less clear since almost equal quantities of people opted for a “Re-Brand” of the DFP, expressed the desire to see it “Cease to Exist” or were “Unsure” about what should be done with the party.”

The release concludes, “Although the survey was not designed to test the national popularity of the DLP, or to project the notion of electoral swing, it is possible to conclude that the DLP would have been likely to win a national electoral contest…if one had been called in February 2013.”

The exhibition will be hosted by the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development at the Old Mill Cultural Centre in Canefield and will run from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and Education Minister Petter Saint-Jean will address an opening ceremony on Monday March 18th to declare the exhibition officially open to the public.

The CXC Visual Arts Exhibition features the work of students from across the Caribbean, submitted for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination.

The art on display will include Regional Top Award winners in Visual Arts two-dimensional and three-dimensional work. They will also include pieces which achieved Grade I in the Visual Arts examinations.

Among the works on display will be that of Dominican students who have also excelled in the Visual Arts CSEC examination.

The objectives of the Visual Arts Exhibition are to highlight the creative work of Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Visual Arts students; to expose students in the host country to what examiners consider art of a high standard; to promote Visual Arts as a feasible career choice; to showcase the work of CSEC Visual Arts students to the public and to promote CSEC Visual Arts as a CXC subject.

The exhibition will be divided into several categories including Drawing, Imaginative Composition, Graphic Design, Ceramics, 3-Dimensional Design, Surface Decoration, Print Making, Leather Craft and Fibre Art.

The CXC Visual Arts Exhibition was started in 2003 and is held in a different CXC participating country each year.

Skerrit said he was delighted with the selection of the Argentine Cardinal which speaks to the strength and vitality of Latin America and the Caribbean.

The full text of the message follows.

On behalf of the Dominican people, I extend best wishes to His Holiness Pope Francis as he ascends to the throne of Saint Peter.

The Pope serves as a champion of the most vulnerable among us and carries forth Christ’s message of love and compassion – a simple message that has nonetheless served to inspire the world for well over two thousand years.

We are delighted with the selection of Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina, the first pontiff from the Americas. His selection speaks to the strength and vitality of the Latin American and Caribbean region.

The people of Dominica join with other people of faith across the globe in offering our prayers for the Holy Father as he begins the sacred work of leading the Catholic Church.

SAT is now legally authorized to transmit on its cable Television network musical works in the repertoire controlled by ECCO in Dominica. The repertoire controlled by ECCO includes all the music written by ECCO’s own members as well as music written by any member of the 200 plus similar societies in the world with which ECCO is affiliated. The foreign societies whose repertoire is controlled in Dominica and the OECS include SACEM in France, The Performing Right Society of the UK, ASCAP and BMI of the US, MCSK of the People’s Republic of China as well as the Caribbean Societies – COSCAP from Barbados, COTT from Trinidad and Tobago and JACAP of Jamaica.

Mr. Alexander expressed the view that it has always been SAT’s objective to operate a completely legal operation and the signing of the licence contract with ECCO is testimony to his company’s commitment to honour its legal obligation to compensate all content owners whose works of whatever sort are transmitted on its Cable TV network.

Meanwhile Mc Carthy MARIE expressed satisfaction with the negotionns with SAT which always acknowledged its obligation to have a licence from ECCO for the use of musical works on its service. According to him the negotiations were always conducted in a frank and professional manner and he is pleased that it was not necessary to threaten or initiate any legal action against SAT as ECCO has had to do with other music users in Dominica and the wider OECS.

The 20 year-old artist/producer (born Jordan George) thoroughly impressed the capacity crowd at the Myth venue with his delivery of three songs at the start of the show which was headlined by the Maybach Music Group rapper. KAYYO performed his versions of “Something”, and “Starting from the Bottom”- two songs by Canadian rapper Drake. He also performed an original track “Talk About It” which he originally recorded with his brother Geremie ‘Jaffe’ George.

“I am really happy with my performance. This was definitely a dream come true because I am a huge fan of Meek Mill”, said the Castle Bruce native. “I am also very glad about the new fans I have made who not only got introduced to my music but to Dominica as well.”

After a video of his performance was posted on YouTube, new fan TonyaJ stated, “KAYYO did his thang. He now has lots of fans in MN!” Another YouTube viewer, 00Dredd wrote, “I ain’t a big fan of rap.. but this young boy got some major skills and a bright future in the business”

KAYYO has been steadily gaining fans in Dominica in the last year, with the release of his debut video “Get to Know You” which garnered 12,000 YouTube views less than a month after its August 17 2012 premiere. He has also widened his fan base with collaborations with local acts including Remie-D (“Say What’s Real”), CHOEB (“On Me”) C Menace (“No Love”) and Rimz (“Get To Know You”, “All or Nothing”, “Smile”). His debut mixtape Constellation was a collaborative effort with Dominican rapper Jamie ‘Rimz’ Pollock. KAYYO is also featured on the Friday Freaks mixtape produced by Callian ‘Falcon DaDon’ James.

With over 100 songs under his belt KAYYO is ready to capture the US market. His Remember Me mixtape debuted on leading mixtape promotion site DatPiff.com in partnership with Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes and GShine Records in 2012 and KAYYO is gearing up for the release of his third mixtape Reevaluation on Wednesday March 13 2013 on the popular site. Fans have overwhelmingly voted him to perform at Coast2Coast Live on March 21 in Chicago Illinois in front of a panel of celebrity judges.