IT Development in Dominica's Schools
In 2005, DAAS donated 56 computers (monitors not included) to the Ministry of Education. The 3 schools that benefited from this venture were Roseau Primary, Wills Stratmore Primary of Marigot and Castle Bruce Secondary. The computers were donated by Maytag (US based company of quality and dependable appliances). Special thanks to Jefferson Challenger, an employee of Maytag from the island of Dominica, Fraser Jones , DAAS IT Specialist, Peterson Bertrand of Cable & Wireless and Tom Lafond of Tropical Shipping for assistance with the freight.
Linen to Dominica Hospitals
In Spring 2007, a donation of linen to our hospitals, valued in excess of $30,000 USD was made. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Claudette Loblack at the Marriott in Washington, DAAS VP Gabriel Christian and RDF. Administrator of the Princess Margaret Hospital, Marvlyn Birmingham and Minster of Health, John Fabien, proudly accepted this valued donation and were grateful to all those involved.
Camps for Youths
Through, the president, Dr. Clayton Shillingford, DAAS made a contribution of $1,000 USD to support the camps for youths in Dominica. The donation was well received by Fr. Franklyn Cuffy, chaplain of the Cadet Corps and leader of the youth camp initiative.
ReUnion Soccer Tournament
DAAS in collaboration with the Dominica Football Association (DFA), Dominica UK Association (DUKA), Commonwealth of Dominica Ontario Association (CDOA), and Brian Anatol of the US were key organisers of the Reunion 2008 International Football Tournament which featured competition at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium among Dominica Diaspora teams from the US, UK, and Canada vs the Dominican National Team. This tournament was a major contributor to the Nation's "Celebrating the Journey Together" and was held on October 22, 23 and 24, 2008. Dominica won!
The Ministry of Sports hosted the Welcome Cocktail on the evening of October 21 and opened the games the following evening. Major sponsors were the Reunion Committee, First Domestic Insurance Co, Dominica Brewery & Beverages, Kairi FM, and Campbell's Business Services."
DAAS Donations to Dominica State College
November 6,2008 - DAAS president, Dr.Clayton Shillingford and Ronald Charles visited the Dominica State College (DSC) to make a presentation on behalf of DAAS. The presentation centered on a donation of agricultural text books and extension publications as well as an assortment of soccer equipment. The books were obtained from Canada, in response to a request from the National Association of Youth in Agriculture (NAYA) and the DSC Agriculture Program. The football equipment was obtained from the United States. DSC president, Hubert Charles accepted the donations on behalf of the students at DSC.
DAAS Facilitates Guest Lecture at Dominica State College
November 12, 2008 - Thirty-six students of the first and second year Agriculture Program at DSC attended a guest lecture by Ronald Charles, a member of DAAS's Agriculture and Environment Committee and current Chair of the BC Turkey Marketing Board. The lecture provided the students with a primer on agricultural marketing and its importance in planning a farm business. In order to engage students in the discussion, the respective roles of local organizations and institutions such as DEXIA, DBPL, WINFA, hucksters, various producer organizations and direct marketing outlets (on-farm / roadside and public markets) were examined. The students responded well and thanked DAAS for its support of DSC.
DAAS Awards Dinner
This was held on the evening of October 25, 2008 at the Garraway Hotel under the Patronage of His Excellency President Nicholas Liverpool and Mrs Liverpool. Other attendees at the Head Table/of note were Ministers Julius Timothy and Dr Colin McIntyre, Sir Brian Alleyne, Archbishop Kelvin Felix and Justice Irving Andre. Master of Ceremony was Kenrick Sylvestre. We acknowledged the presence of Yvor Nassief our main sponsor who contributed cash, wine and bought tickets for key members of his businesses (Tropical Shipping, Safe Haven Real Estate, MoneyGram, and Beacon Insurance) . Other sponsors were Campbell's for defraying cost of printing of the programme and Sign Man for preparation of award plaques and the Oceanographic Institute of Dominica (OID) for 150 lbs of Tilapia Fish. Main DAAS organisers at the local level were Agnes Esprit, Marvlyn Birmingham, Frederick Baron and Dr Clayton Shillingford
Awards were granted for significant national contributions in Agriculture (John Alexander Stephenson), Arts & Culture (Pearle Christian), Diaspora work in the UK (Vincent John of DUKA )and Canada (Frances Delsol of CDOA), Education (Dorothy Leevy), Health, (Priscilla Prevost), Sports (Havis Shillingford), Tourism (Oris Campbell of the Dominica Taxi Association, Youth (Olivia Douglas of CALLS..Centre where Adolescents Learn to Love & Serve)) and Community Development (Phoebe James).
Reunion 2008 Development Conference
The Reunion 2008 Development Conference titled 'Continuing the Journey: Dominica's Development Challenges and Responses Going Forward" which DAAS promoted took place October 21 to 23, 2008 at the Public Service Union Conference Room.
The Conference covered the following topics:
- Improving Our Peoples Quality of Life
- Restoring Agriculture to its Rightful Place
- Making Tourism Work for our Communities
- Opportunities for Business in the Services Sector
- Fostering Small Business
- Dominica in the Context of Globalisation, CSME, OECS Economic Union, EPA
- Green Investment
- Fuller Engagement of the Dominica Diaspora
DAAS members who participated include; Dr William Riviere, Dr Clayton Shillingford, Colin Bully, Michael Astaphan, Dr Thomson Fontaine.
I have been informed that a complete conference report is being prepared for wide dissemination.