Government Information Service

by Emmanuel H. Joseph
Government Information Service

The Ministry of Trade, Industry, Consumer and Diaspora Affairs continues to pay close attention to the development of businesses across the island. During the past few weeks, Hon. Minister of Trade, Senator Colin McIntyre, together with officials from Invest Dominica Authority headed by Rhoda Letang, have been meeting one on one with owners of various business establishments around the island.

So far, visits have been made to Roseau Central, Roseau Valley, some parts of the North and North East. Among the establishments visited were SAT Telecommunications, Caesar Enterprises, PIWI Ice Cream, Orchards Restaurant and Bar, The Flamboyant and St. Georges Dental Clinic in Roseau Central, Red Rock Haven Hotel and Spa and Calibishie Lodges in Calibishie, Heaven’s Best Guest House and Restaurant in Savanne Paille, Nature’s Fresh in Wesley, Cocoa Cottages in Trafalgar, Tia’s Bamboo Cottages and Hot Sulphur Pool, Shangri La Resort and Screws Sulphur Pool in Wotten Waven.

Senator McIntyre is pleased with what he saw.

“It is the first time that I have stopped in some of these places and I have seen marvellous programmes. A lot of these establishments make good use of local resources and do provide a source of local employment for women, something I would like to see emulate elsewhere around the island. I think a lot of these are great investments in Dominica.”

The objectives of these visits are:

1. To familiarise the Minister of Trade with the various businesses that have benefitted directly from Government concessions allowing the Minister to meet face to face with owners of these establishments
2. To get an up-to-date progress report on these establishments
3. To get first hand impressions as to what actually take place in an effort to see where Government can assist further, what difficulties are encountered and a way forward for these establishments.
4. Other areas left on the itinerary to visit include the West Coast, South and South East Coast and some parts of the North of Dominica.

Senator McIntyre has given a commitment to continue to work with these establishments and to support ideas for new initiatives as Government seeks to create a more conducive environment for business development in Dominica.

“As we go along those visits, we are getting new ideas. We are discussing with the entrepreneurs some of the problems that they are experiencing. We spoke of occupancy among other things. We would like to urge our people and to let them know that Government is ready to assist them. They can come in with an idea, once it is an idea that we can work with, we will provide the necessary concessions for you and help you to the maximum as long and as far as the law will take us.”

In his 2008/2009 budget address, Dominica’s Prime Minister and Minister for Finance made it clear that his Government recognised the contributions that these establishments continue to make to the economic development of the country and pledged to assist whenever and wherever necessary to see that they grow.