Selected Government Addresses and Speeches
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Selected Government Addresses and Speeches |
ADDRESS TO THE
NATION
BY
HONOURABLE ROOSEVELT SKERRIT
PRIME MINISTER OF THE COMMONWEATH OF DOMINICA
ON THE OCCASION OF THE
28th ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE
November 3rd, 2006
Botanic Gardens
Roseau
The celebration of another anniversary of our Independence provides an
ideal opportunity to reflect on our achievements as a people and the immediate
past is a good point of reference.
This year we have chosen
the theme “Strengthening the Family For Nation Building.” The theme is a timely
reminder that although national growth and development are often measured in
terms of economic indicators and considerable investments in infrastructure, human
development remains a key factor to achieving this desirable overall national
development to which we all aspire.
Therefore, it is
imperative that in the pursuit of national development, a happy balance is
struck between
macroeconomic gains and
the provision of basic human needs.
We should be mindful
that citizens needs are reflected in their concerns regarding the availability
of decent, affordable housing for their families, the quality of education
their children are receiving the types of jobs in which they are engaged, the
price of goods on the supermarket shelves, the quality of the food they
consume, the ease with which they can travel around their country, the access
they have to health care services and the security they enjoy when they walk
the streets or go to sleep at nights.
I am happy to say that
this Government is committed to pursue objectives that will bolster nation
building while concurrently strengthening family life.
This year’s
chosen theme is also a reminder that the family is the building block of the
nation. If families are strong then the
nation is strong.
It is within the family
that fundamental lessons are learnt which last a lifetime. It is within the family that the core values
that are essential for good citizenship are inculcated.
It is within families
that we learn to fear God, to respect life, to be productive, to share, to
protect and to love our neighbours as ourselves.
So as we celebrate 28
years of Independence, let us reflect on the state of the family and adopt an
approach that puts people and their families at the very core of our country’s
development. Let us affirm today that
we will not lose sight of the fact that human development is key to the
attainment of national development goals.
There is no doubt that
the structure and function of families have changed dramatically since
1978. Some of us can remember a time
when the family was the focus of economic, educational and recreational
activities.
Many families earned a
living from working the land; and children received much of their informal
education while working and socializing with members of their extended
family.
Most people now work
away from home and formal educational institutions and the mass media have
taken responsibility for the education of young people. People spend less time with their
families.
As a result the family
is often blamed for all the shortcomings of youth, for any act of crime or
violence in our society.
Today I urge every
institution, whether it be political, religious, economic, educational,
recreational or social to commit to strengthening the family in Dominica as an
essential part of the process of nation building.
I believe that we have
to care for all our people as a family cares for its members. I am sure that it is this care for our
people, our policy of putting people first and our systematic efforts to
empower all Dominicans that won us a second term of office in May 2005.
We have therefore
interpreted that new mandate as a vote of confidence in our people-centred
approach to development. I therefore
recommit this Government to doing all in its power to strengthen the family.
Our commitment to
building
strong families is incorporated into the policies of this administration. Fundamentally, we have taken all the
necessary steps to ensure that the economy is sound and we have begun to see
the results. Current data confirm that economic activity is expanding strongly
and is more broad-based.
Domestic demand has remained optimistic and there are
strong indications of private sector confidence. With the exception of agriculture, growth indicators were
favourable for the key sectors and growth is expected in the financial sector,
hotels and restaurants, real estate, and transportation.
Visitor arrivals particularly those staying in paid
accommodation increased significantly this year, and tourist receipts are
substantially higher as hotel visitors and student enrollment at the offshore
schools increased significantly.
Another indication of strength in the economy is the growth in credit
provided by commercial banks.
Increased bank credit to the private sector is undoubtedly
a strong sign of private sector confidence in the economy and in the policies
the Government has articulated to manage the economy.
Based on the foregoing, our cautious estimate is that real
GDP growth is expected to accelerate from 3½ percent in 2005 to 4 percent in
2006. Inflation remains subdued,
despite the impact of the very high oil prices earlier in the year. Fiscal performance remained strong
throughout FY 2005/06. Revenue performance was exceptionally strong due in part
to the recovering economy.
Current expenditures were kept within the target range,
despite higher outlays for utilities and gratuities for retirees, and capital
spending was in line with the target, despite slow project execution earlier in
the year.
At the end of their most recent review, the IMF confirmed
that all quantitative performance criteria agreed under the IMF supported
programme were met. In addition we
continue to make good efforts to reduce all outstanding arrears to statutory
corporations and the domestic private sector.
As was indicated in the 2006 budget address, Your
Government is focusing on enhancing the investment climate and creating more
opportunities for investors to do business in Dominica. Shortly, I will lay before Parliament a
detailed Growth and Social Protection Strategy (GSPS). This document outlines
the strategy the Government is adopting to promote economic growth.
Medium-term objectives include improving the investment
climate by streamlining the investment approval process, reducing the cost of
doing business, maintaining and extending the social and physical
infrastructure, and achieving a smaller and more efficient public sector.
What is significant is that the contents of the document
represent the many views of stakeholders who were involved in the widespread
consultative process.
We will also continue to
implement the structural agenda, which will further enhance the business
climate. Reform of the Customs has
started with a manpower assessment being done currently. This work is expected to help us strengthen
the staffing at the Customs and to put at the disposal of the private sector
the best available skills.
The improvements at the
Customs department are aimed at enhancing efficiency, modernizing the
operations, and reducing the processing time.
In addition, reform at the NDC continues apace.
The outcome will likely
produce separate organizations geared towards tourism development and
investment promotion.
Cabinet is close to approving an action plan to eliminate the
unfunded liabilities to the DSS. Wide
consultation with stakeholders has also been a welcome and integral part of the
process. The action plan is one of, if
not the most comprehensive set of reforms proposed to a national insurance
scheme in the OECS.
The proposed reform
measures will be implemented gradually distributing the burden of reform across
generations and minimizing potential disruptions to the economy.
Last year I asked the
nation to work with the Government to ensure the smooth implementation of the
value added tax (VAT). This appears to
have been done satisfactorily, with a high filing rate and revenue collection
that is in line with projections, but a continuous monitoring of developments
is necessary.
We gave our commitment
and have been able to make timely refunds.
We have just passed the first six months of implementation and have
started the implementation of good audit and risk management programmes and
mechanisms.
I must report also that
I have requested and received nominations of representatives to the Task Force,
which will begin the review of the income tax regime.
The Task Force is being
chaired by Mr. Gilbert Williams, a former Financial Secretary, and it is
expected to begin its work this month.
Ladies and gentlemen, as you are aware, the
European Union is a major development partner of Dominica, supporting
programmes in both the economic and social sectors. The intricacies of dealing with the European Commission, the
executive arm of the European Union are legendary. In recent times however, we have made some progress with the
European Commission in our development assistance programmes.
After two and a half years of exchanging
amendments and revisions of a Grant Contract and Rider, funds amounting to
EC$3.2 million have been released to allow commencement and operations of the
Dominica Social Investment Fund (DSIF).
We are hopeful, that this signals the dawn of a new day for the response
mechanism of the European Commission in their delivery of development
assistance.
This thesis will be put to the test over
the next few weeks, as we await the European Commission’s release of
substantial resources under other financing agreements which were signed as
much as two (2) years ago.
Let
me stress that Agriculture and bananas in particular are priorities for this Government. We recognize the importance of agriculture
and the impact of bananas on family life in Dominica.
Indeed your Government is convinced that
had it not been for the strength of the Agricultural Sector and food production
in particular we could not have ridden out the crises of the early years of
this century. We are therefore committed to agriculture as one of the bedrocks
and buffers of our economy and for providing food security.
I am delighted to report that banana output
and exports are on the increase. Production at the end of September 2006 was
8,680 tonnes, compared to 8,125 tonnes for the same period in 2005, a growth
rate of 7%.
Due largely to Dominica’s high quality
performance, TESCO, the largest fresh fruit supermarket multiple in the UK, has
committed to continuing to do business with Dominica and expressed the desire
for greater volumes of fruit from Dominica.
Between 2005 and 2006 over $2 million were
invested in the form of grants and zero interest loans to growers. To this must be added various services in
extension, training and technical advice, leaf spot control, quality control,
Fair Trade and Tesco Nature Choice Certification (TNC).
The DBPL successfully negotiated improved
and stable prices to growers and adopted a policy of restraining input price
increases in the face of pressure from rising petroleum prices.
Dominica and the Windward Islands have been
able to secure market share for Windward Island Bananas due largely to Fair
Trade certification. In addition to
ensuring a higher price, Fair Trade provides a social premium for every box of
bananas sold under the Fair Trade brand.
Dominica achieved 100% Fair Trade
Certification in 2005.
Considerable progress has also been made
towards Tesco Nature Choice Certification (TNC), another standard required by
Tesco supermarket, which distributes Dominica’s fruit on the UK market.
TNC will help us to further differentiate
our fruit and secure our place in the market.
Well over 100 of our growers have been certified, another 300 are before
the certifying body and the balance of roughly 300 growers should be certified
by December 31st.
The prospects for the industry look much
better at present than appeared about one year ago. Demand for our fruit on the UK market is strong and there appears
to be good growth prospects on the regional market.
The DBPL has prepared a production plan for
increasing production in the first half of 2007 and over the next two to three
years. The plan focuses on
rehabilitation of fields, new planting, productivity and quality including
tissue culture and irrigation.
The Banana Industry Trust continues to
invest in support facilities for the banana industry with the completion of a
Tissue Culture Hardening and Weaning Facility at Londonderry. This facility is due to be opened at the end
of November. The facility will produce 50,000 high quality banana plants per
cycle (3 months) for the industry.
The Agricultural Diversification Programme
has been progressing well. During the period November 2005 – October 2006, a
total of 80 farm access roads were rehabilitated islandwide,
benefiting in excess of 350 farmers and other stakeholders in the sector.
Construction work is expected to begin in
2007 on a National Centre of Testing Excellence to facilitate Dominica’s trade
in the regional and international markets.
An Amphibian Research laboratory was
completed at the Botanic Gardens and is now fully operational, continuing on
the monitoring of the diseases affecting Dominica’s crapaud or Mountain
chicken.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and
the Environment will spearhead the planning of a major Agricultural Symposium
to discuss the state of Agriculture in Dominica and to identify critical areas
for investment in the sector.
The Symposium is expected to review current
programmes being implemented in Dominica by the public sector, private sector
companies, statutory organizations, regional and international institutions,
Agriculture affiliated institutions and Non-Governmental Organizations in the
context of international, regional and national trends in agriculture and to
determine where targeted interventions are required for enhancing growth in the
sector.
The symposium will engage all the
stakeholders in the agricultural sector in meaningful dialogue and will serve
as a platform for further collaboration of all our partners in order to
consolidate ongoing initiatives and initiate new approaches for the sector.
The Tourism Industry is quickly becoming a major source of income for our families and so your
Government continues to focus on ways to develop this vital industry.
The
Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Private Sector Relations continued to place
emphasis on enhancing and strengthening product quality, destination marketing,
community tourism and investment promotion all geared at increasing economic
growth and enriching the lives of the people of Dominica.
To guide
this process of enhancing and strengthening the overall sector, a Tourism
Master Plan will soon be available as a policy framework for ‘development,
management and monitoring the long-term sustainability of the tourism sector
for the period 2005 – 2015.’
This
Master Plan emphasizes the need for “Dominica to broaden its tourism product
base, while at the same time maintaining Dominica’s green island destination
appeal.” In addition to these major
macro-development activities undertaken in the tourism sector, focus was placed
on the continued development of the tourism product, destination marketing and
air access to Dominica.
Thirty-one
young Dominicans are pursuing studies in tourism and related fields at
associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree level. Twenty students at the
Dominica State College who benefited from ETDP Scholarship for their two-year
Tourism & Hospitality Programme will soon complete their studies. Investment in enhancing our natural
attractions and sites has been a priority under the ETDP.
Special
mention has to be made of the sum of $750,000 being invested in the
rehabilitation and restoration of Fort Shirley which will be the flagship
tourism project for the North as more cruise visitors are expected to visit the
north for the 2006/07 cruise ship season.
Other
sites where works are progressing satisfactorily are the Soufriere Sulphur
Springs, Middleham Falls, Boiling Lake, Emerald Pool and Trafalgar Falls. Just
recently other sites were opened in Syndicate and at the Fresh Water Lake.
In
keeping with Government’s policy of providing opportunities for the private
sector, the management of these sites is being contracted out to private sector
individuals and community groups.
Communities around the island are also
benefiting from resources under the Eco-Tourism Development Programme to
develop sites and infrastructure for creating products and activities at the
community level for visitors and locals alike.
These projects will increase and spread the
benefits to be derived from Tourism to Dominicans at the basic community level.
In relation to
tourism investment, Government is in active discussions and negotiations on
three major tourism projects. One of these is the proposal for Woodford Hill
where the issue of beach access by the public has been much discussed. I want to assure you that public access to
the Woodford Hill beach will be provided. This resort will be a 5 star resort
known for its spas internationally. Another involves a Hotel Marina in
Portsmouth, and the other at Hampstead.
Your Excellency,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I
can boldly say that 2007
will see the start of a major housing revolution in Dominica. The development
of housing forms a major pillar of the social and economic development thrust
of the Dominica Labour Party Government.
Housing construction is critical because of the multiple effects it has
on the society.
It improves the social conditions of the
population, creates employment, empowers the beneficiaries and engenders in
them a sense of civic pride, national ownership and patriotism.
In pursuance of its housing policy, the
Government’s priority has been the poor – those on the social and economic
fringe of society and for whom the acquisition of decent and affordable housing
cannot be a reality without the direct assistance of the Government.
The provision of housing
assistance to Dominica’s indigent is an aspect of the Government’s housing
obligation. The Government is aware
that the demand for housing extends beyond that section of the society, and
that a holistic approach towards the provision of housing is not only desirable
but necessary.
The greatest challenge to the provision of
housing has been the Government’s lack of financial resources.
It is therefore with great pleasure that I
announce that the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has
responded positively to a request from my Government and has made available a
grant of $22 million for housing development in Dominica.
This sum was received in Dominica last
week. A complimentary soft loan of $7.3 million at the rate of 2% per annum
will follow shortly. I wish to take
this opportunity to publicly thank the Government and People of Venezuela for
their continued generous support for the Government and people of Dominica.
With these funds in hand the Government
will shortly launch a far-reaching housing development programme in various
communities on the island. The details
of this programme will be provided at another forum, suffice to say, that the
poor and underprivileged will not be left out, and I have already indicated
that $ 7 million will go to the Government Housing Loans Board for low interest
housing loans. Another $ 5 million will be made available to the AID Bank for
mortgage loans - again on special terms.
These programmes to which I refer will be
accessible to all workers, employed in both the private and public sectors, but
special concessions will be made for public officers, particularly professional
groups such as nurses, teachers, police, fire and prison officers.
This is a promise that your Government made
towards the end of our first year in office and it is a promise that we intend
to keep.
Additionally, the Government has also
initiated the process for low-income earners to have access to concessionary
mortgage financing for home renovation and new housing construction under the
Shelter Development Programme which makes loans available to individuals
earning $1,000.00 or less monthly or couples earning $1,500.00 or less monthly.
Under this Special Mortgage Facility,
$5.832 million has been made available by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)
for access by low-income earners for home improvement (to a maximum $20,000.00)
and for new home construction (to a maximum $60,000.00). The special mortgage programme is being
executed by the AID Bank on behalf of the Government.
Government has embarked on a Squatter
Regularization Programme as a means of improving the living conditions of many
households in Dominica. As a result,
Cabinet decided in October 2005 that lots occupied by the squatters in
designated areas before December 31, 2004 shall be surveyed for sale at a price
not exceeding $1.00 per square foot.
Cabinet also decided that such sale shall
include a waiver of fees (including transfer fees) and assistance to obtain
certificate of titles.
To date, implementation of this policy has
been successful.
This decision is another indication of
Government’s commitment to deal with the most vulnerable sector of the housing
market by providing security of tenure to many less fortunate citizens and
thereby empowering them to lift themselves from poverty.
Under the Squatter Regularization Programme
squatters in the following areas have been regularized:
Fond Cole South
Ravine Bernard in Canefield
Chemin Neuf in Pointe Michel
Stock Farm (below State College)
Fond Cole Housing Scheme
Guillet-Savanne Paille Housing Scheme
Calibishie-Savanne Paille Housing Scheme
Squatters on the Geneva estate will be
regularized soon.
One hundred and fifty-six (156) squatters
have been regularized under this Programme thereby making them eligible for
loans under the Special Mortgage Facility mentioned above.
My fellow Dominicans, your Government is aware of the serious negative
impact that the increases in the price of energy is having on Dominican
households and businesses.
As a result the Government has taken a number of initiatives, some of
which you are already aware, to address the problem. They include:
1. Amending the Electricity Supply Act to
allow for competition in the generation/transmission/distribution of
electricity and to make the electricity provider more accountable and
transparent. This amendment will go before parliament next week.
2. The establishment of a committee of
professionals to examine the operations of DOMLEC and to advise the Government
on steps which can be taken to reduce the rates payable by consumers.
3.
The
PetroCaribe Initiative under which petroleum products will be received from
Venezuela on concessionary terms.
We have already received two shipments of
bitumen and on Wednesday of this week the ceremony to mark the commencement of
construction of fuel storage tanks was held.
4.
Initiatives
in Alternative Energy Studies show that Dominica has tremendous potential in
the area of geothermal energy. We are
presently collaborating with a number of overseas agencies and Governments -
particularly the French and OAS - to develop that potential.
However I am advised that bringing together
all the players in geothermal energy generation and the requisite funding is
not a matter which can happen overnight.
Government however continues to be optimistic that in the medium terms,
Dominica’s geothermal potential can be realized.
Dominica must however remain mindful of the
need to conserve energy not only because of the financial cost, but perhaps
more importantly, because of the cost to our environment.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
By far the largest project for the next financial year is
the impending West Coast Road Rehabilitation Project. Your Government is fully aware that improved physical
infrastructure must compliment its social programmes. As we have already
mentioned, the road will begin upon completion of yet another landmark project,
the Windsor Park Stadium.
Another significant project, estimated to cost in the region of EC
fifty-four million dollars, scheduled to start construction in the first
quarter of 2007, is the Melville Hall to Roseau Road. This vital road will be completely rehabilitated to provide
hassle-free access to the Melville Hall Airport. Funding is provided for by the AFD, Agence française de
developpement.
As reported earlier during the Budget Address 2006/07, RIMP, the
Road Improvement and Maintenance Project is also scheduled for the first
quarter of 2007 at a cost of $13 million dollars.
The Ministry is also pleased to highlight the assistance of CARICOM in
our development thrust.
The country has received grant funding from the Petroleum Fund for
infrastructure development amounting to over EC twenty-four million dollars.
Your Excellency, Ladies
and Gentlemen:
Your Government continues to uphold the fundamental principle that every citizen of this country should have full access to quality preventative, curative and rehabilitative health care services in a timely and respectful manner irrespective of one’s ability to pay; and that decentralization of services should be integral to the delivery of health care.
There is no doubt that HIV/AIDS has had a
significant impact on families, and, therefore, the emerging needs of persons
infected and affected by HIV/AIDS will be given urgent and priority
attention.
Dominica has been able to scale up the
access to care and treatment for those persons who are affected by this disease
through assistance from the Global Fund and DFID.
As a nation, we must continue to respond
aggressively to minimize the negativity and discrimination associated with
HIV/AIDS and its potentially disruptive effects on the family and national
development.
The prevention and control of avoidable
causes of blindness have been identified as a vision 20/20 priority in
Dominica. To achieve this, eye-care is
provided as an integrated service within the Primary Health Care System.
To complement these efforts, your
Government has introduced the Miracle Mission Eye-Care Programme with the
assistance of the Republic of Cuba.
Under this new initiative, close to 10,000 Dominicans have been screened
and approximately 1700 have received corrective eye surgery in Cuba.
We will build on these achievements through
persistence with current initiatives and the pursuit of new initiatives within
the Ministry of Health. The vigorous attempt to address critical human resource
needs in the health sector is noteworthy and stands out as a bold step in the
right direction.
Our nursing programme with assistance from
the Government of Cuba, is today a model for many of our Caribbean
neighbours. In September, the eighty-six
(86) student nurses of this programme were relocated to a facility which was
refurbished at a cost of approximately $1 million dollars.
Nurses remain our major front line health
care workers, who interact daily with families either at the primary or
secondary level.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
“Strengthening the Family For Nation
Building”, cannot become a reality if substance abuse continues to threaten the
very foundation, on which we seek to build.
Families and communities must play a greater and more effective role in
helping to reduce the demand for both legal and illegal drugs.
To this end, the European Union-funded
$700,000 Drug Demand Reduction Programme is now at a very advanced stage of
implementation.
All of what I have spoken about could not
have happened without the necessary investment in our Health
Infrastructure. This financial year $4
million has been allocated for infrastructural projects in Health facilities
including the construction of a new Castle Bruce Health Centre and refurbishment
of the Psychiatric Unit and the Glover Ward at the Princess Margaret Hospital.
Additionally under the Basic Needs Trust
Fund (BNTF), renovation work continues to be undertaken on a number of rural
health centres (Soufriere, Warner, Marigot, Laudat, Fond Cole, St. Joseph and
the Carib Territory).
In August of this
year, the Ministry of Health marked a historic milestone in the development of
Health Care in Dominica when a Diagnostic centre was established at Portsmouth
to the tune of over $20 million.
In addition an
Intensive Care unit will be officially opened at the Princess Margaret Hospital
later this month.
These
institutions, which were jointly financed by the Governments of Dominica and
Cuba, will greatly enhance our efforts to improve not only Health Care but
Dominica’s budding tourism product as well.
In spite of our best efforts in promoting
healthy lifestyles, Government recognizes that in order to maintain healthy
families we must ensure that there are improved pharmaceutical services in both
the public and private sector.
In this regard I am pleased to report that
the medical drugs and supply debt of $948,000 was completely paid off in June
of this year. In addition, the drug and
medical supply budget allocation was increased from $2,469,000 to
$3,150,000.
Our advances in Health Care have resulted
in an ageing population with the number of pensioners increasing. Pension Reform has therefore been a major
area of attention for Government.
Your Government
also believes that education is the most effective means of empowering families. We have therefore redoubled our efforts to
ensure that the people of Dominica have access to education throughout their
lives.
During the past year we
have improved the provision for children at the pre-school, primary and
secondary level, achieving Universal Secondary Education in September
2005. Our goal now is to ensure that
there is a graduate in every household by 2015. We expect the Dominica State College to play a vital role in the
achievement of this target.
We are making progress with the construction of
new schools in:
i.
Portsmouth, The Roosevelt Douglas Primary School
ii.
Salybia
iii.
San Sauver
iv.
Newtown
v.
Goodwill
By November 10th, the tender
documents for the Roosevelt Douglas Primary School will be ready with a
contract expected to be awarded before the end of the year. The Ministry of Public Works and Public
Utilities has confirmed that work on Phase 2 of the new Dominica Grammar School
will commence over the next few months. This project is expected to cost
$2.54 million.
The Government is
keeping true to its promise to appoint and make permanent all teachers who have
been teaching for three years and over, and are suitably qualified. In
collaboration with our partners: the Dominica Association of Teachers, the
Faculty of Education of the Dominica State College, Principals and Teachers, we
are developing a programme of training to be taught during the usual school
sessions as well as during school holidays. The result of this programme
will be a pool of trained teachers by 2010.
Simultaneously, we are
increasing young people’s access to skills training and employment through the
Youth Development Division. During the
last year we have also been increasing the opportunities for them to create
employment and wealth as entrepreneurs through the Dominica Youth Business
Trust.
We have begun the process of drawing up
legislation to further improve education through:
v Education Regulations
v Code of Ethics for Teachers
v School Maintenance Policy
The Sports Division has remained focused in
its continued efforts to promote and develop sports on the island despite the
many challenges facing the Division.
Through training
activities, competitive programmes and support services, the Sports Division
has been able to actively engage a large percentage of our school-based youth
in physical activity, assist national associations and community-based sports
organizations deliver sports programmes and facilitate the participation of
national teams in regional and international tournaments.
While
we pursued the Programme of Economic
stabilization and adjustment, your Government gave the commitment that it would
continue to enhance the social safety net and other social support
programmes.
The Mission and programme of the Ministry
of Community Development, Gender Affairs and Information impact heavily on
families. The Ministry’s achievements
include:
Community Service Order, a project aimed at
reducing the number of young persons being sentenced to the State Prison at
Stock Farm by providing an option whereby the Court could sentence some of
those individuals to perform unpaid work for a specified number of hours in a
selected community or location in the country.
The
establishment of a ‘Place of Safety’ at Jimmit to house children at risk, such
persons on a temporary basis is currently at an advanced stage of construction.
The building will accommodate 32 children.
Completion date is set for the first quarter of 2007.
The focus of Basic Needs Trust Fund expenditures is on
Poverty Reduction via small-scale infrastructural projects and/or practical
income earning skills training projects.
Both are aimed at strengthening the local capacity for self-reliance and
employment, including self-employment, especially in rural communities in
Dominica.
Funds disbursed, ladies and gentlemen, during the past year
under this CDB grant financing facility amounted to $714,800 for both
infrastructure and skills training projects, with a further $900,000 of
projects approved and currently awaiting disbursement.
Dominica’s
culture is a rich blend of the traditional and the contemporary.These
manifestations of the culture are found in expressions of dance, art, drama
oral traditions, customs, values and other forms.
The
traditional culture of Dominica is rich and vibrant and makes up the base of
Dominica’s cultural heritage and finds expression in festivals such as
Carnival, DOMFESTA, Emancipation, Independence, Christmas and various
feasts.
The
traditional culture plays an extremely important role in developing and
maintaining a strong sense of national identity and pride among
Dominicans. It is also a vital part of
the rich cultural product.
Your
Government is very conscious of the fact that our cultural heritage and various
cultural expressions need to be continuously preserved and promoted in order
for them to survive.
The
preservation and development of our traditional culture must therefore be
encouraged and promoted in all schools and communities around Dominica in order
that as many Dominicans as possible can participate in the process of cultural
and national development.
In
this connection, your Government is making available a sum of half a million
dollars to the Cultural Division to implement a major programme of training in
the Traditional Arts in Dominica. We
expect that the implementation of this special comprehensive training programme
will give a tremendous boost to the preservation and promotion of Dominica’s
cultural heritage.
My
Fellow Dominicans, I have
always maintained that Dominica’s main foreign and trade policy must be guided
by the advancement of Dominica’s national development interest and improving
international relations with its bilateral and multilateral partners.
In terms of bilateral relations, diplomatic
relations were established with five new States as follows: Greece, Thailand,
Slovak Republic, Turkey and the Republic of Algeria. Relations with these non-traditional partners should assist in
strengthening Dominica’s position in the international community and forming a
network of relationships based on the interdependence of political, economic
and other interests.
Dominica continues to receive assistance
from friendly Governments under several technical and financial aid schemes in
particular those offered by the countries with resident ambassadors in
Dominica, notably the People’s Republic of China, the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela and the Republic of Cuba.
Multilateral Relations were strengthened though
Government’s participation in meetings and Summits of important regional and
international organizations such as CARICOM, the OECS, the United Nations, the
Organization of American States and the Non- Aligned Movement.
On Wednesday June 21,
2006, your Prime Minister joined his OECS Counterparts and signed a Declaration of Intent by Heads of Government of the
OECS on the Participation of their Countries in the OECS Economic Union.
This
signing coincided with the unveiling of a new Economic Union Treaty. The new Treaty will guide the thrust by the
OECS region to create an Economic Union among Member States, and would replace
the Treaty of Basseterre which established the OECS on June 18th 1981.
On July 3, 2006 at the twenty-seventh
Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community
(CARICOM), I had the distinct honour to join the rest of my counterparts from
OECS Member States to sign the “Declaration of Heads of Government of the
Caribbean Community on their participation of their Countries in the CARICOM
Single Market.” This historic event
marked the coming into being of the CARICOM Single Market in Dominica.
The Government and people of Dominica
reaffirm their commitment to the continued development and implementation of
the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.
As we celebrate our 28th
anniversary of independence, the Government and people of Dominica remain
concerned about the struggles of our brothers and sisters in Haiti. While there
has been democratic elections and the political situation has stabilized, the
situation is still grave.
We therefore call on all our friends in the
regional and the international community to assist in the more efficient
disbursement of resources so as to allow for the recovery efforts to bear
fruit. Haiti needs us now more than
ever before.
As we celebrate
Independence
this year, there are many things for which we must give thanks. During the first five years of the new
century we have been tried and tested.
As a Government we faced a succession of challenges, both natural and
man-made.
At all times we were
honest with you, the people. We
consulted you on a regular basis and gave you the facts as they emerged. We asked for your trust…and you believed in
us. We are not fully out of the woods
yet but we are beginning to see the fruits of our labour and our
sacrifices.
We have now embarked on
a mission to further empower our families for nation building.
Next year at
this time for instance, I expect to be delivering my Independence Day message
from our newly constructed state-of-the-art Windsor Park Stadium.
I expect that by that
time, work would have started on the construction of the Soufriere/Scottshead
sea defense wall, as already, over $12 million has been approved by the
Venezuelan Government to begin this project.
I expect by then several
junior clerks, police officers, nurses and teachers would have started
construction of their own houses since we have just received $22 million and
expect an additional $7 million within the next two weeks from the Government
of Venezuela. We will utilize $3
million of these funds to effect repairs to houses of poor families.
I expect also that the
West Coast road would have started with funds from the People’s Republic of
China.
Ladies and
Gentlemen I
expect that all Dominicans and visitors alike will have sites in Dominica to
visit and enjoy as we now have reception centres at the Fresh Water Lake,
Trafalgar Falls, Syndicate, Emerald Pool, The Carib Territory, the Rain Forest
Tram and several others are being developed.
I expect with these
significant investment plus the commencement of the $76 million dollar Roseau
Road reinstatement Project, the construction of the $16 million dollar Roseau
Valley Road programme and the construction of the $54 million dollar Melville
Hall Airport Road to the capital city Roseau, we expect much employment to be
generated from these massive investments.
On behalf of
all the organs of Government, the Legislature, the Judiciary and the Executive, I
express our gratitude to all our friends and partners in the regional and
international community for helping us to reach this point in our development.
I thank all Dominicans, at home and abroad for the tremendous support given at
all times.
Today, we have
taken a bold and historic decision to bestow on CARICOM our country’s highest award:
The Dominica Award of Honour. We do so
in recognition of the tremendous support and leadership demonstrated by CARICOM
in the mobilization of resources particularly during the economic stabilization
and adjustment programme.
We are forever grateful
to the Governments, people and the staff of the Secretariat for their
collective efforts. Special gratitude must be extended to Secretary-General
Carrington for his leadership in that regard.
I am very pleased that
the Chairman of CARICOM comrade Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr.
Denzil Douglas and the Secretary-General of CARICOM, Dr. Edwin Carrington are
present to accept the award on behalf of the Caribbean Community.
I express
congratulations to Mr. Frank A. Baron for his achievements and all other
recipients, especially Honourable Charles Savarin, Minister for Foreign
Affairs.
I wish all my fellow
Dominican brothers and sisters a Happy Independence Day and I look forward to
realizing many more achievements with you in the coming years.
No one
can doubt when we look around the countryside that this year, is one that
witnessed the most comprehensive participation at all levels in our
independence celebrations. More than that we have come to love Dominica
and be proud to belong to this Island State.
We have
come to appreciate the words of our National Anthem that we are: “ a people
strong and healthy full of Godly reverent fear.” Truly we can never cease to
praise the Almighty God for these gifts so rich and rare and for families who
continue to work together to build this beautiful land of ours.
May God Bless you
all. May God Bless Dominica.