Prime Minister Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit will attend the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, this week.

Prime Minister Skerrit will deliver an address during the high-level segment of COP 28, scheduled for December 1-2 and participate in a ceremony to announce Green Climate Fund support to the Blue Co. Caribbean Umbrella Coordination Programme on December 1.

The 28th edition of the United Nations Conference of Parties (COP) forms part of the UN Climate Change Conference, which runs from November 30 to December 12.

This year, the annual climate conference will deliberate on the Global Stocktake with countries reporting on the steps taken to achieve the goals of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement and the Loss and Damages Fund, established to compensate the most vulnerable countries bearing the brunt of climate change.

Hon. Dr. Irving McIntyre, Minister for Finance, Economic Development, Climate Resilience and Social Security will serve as Acting Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit says extensive work is ongoing as the construction of the international airport progresses.

The Dominica International Airport Project is the biggest contracted project the in the history of Dominica.

The Dominica International Airport will open up a world of opportunities for socio-economic growth as jobs become available during and after its construction for the residents of Wesley and Dominica by extension.

The new air cargo capabilities provided by a completed international airport, will result in greater export of agricultural produce, including perishable goods, to new markets. Dominica will now be well positioned to expand its export of cut flowers and other fresh produce to both regional and international markets.

Currently there are two hundred and thirty Dominicans employed on the site of the project.

“Work is going on at the international airport apace. I think we are making progress. There are a number of elements taking place. Like I say to people, you won’t see the actual work by driving through Wesley; you really need drone footage to give you a true appreciation for the expanse of the site and the extent of work taking place there. So you have culverts being built, you have earth movement being done; it’s a significant site. Currently there are two hundred and thirty Dominican citizens employed on the site and the numbers will keep increasing as the pace of work continues,” he explained.

Prime Minister Skerrit says when completed the international airport will complement the investments Government has made in other sectors including tourism and agriculture.

“So the project is on schedule and we look forward to that being the case all through and we are very excited about it. This is the largest infrastructural project in the country’s history. It is going to be a transformational project. We are satisfied as Dominicans that when we are blessed with this international airport it will one sustain the investments that we have made in tourism, agriculture, and small business development but also spur economic activity. And so you tie the airport with all of the hotels that we have built; you tie the airport with the investment in geothermal energy; you tie the airport with all the investments that we have made in agriculture; you tie the airport with all the investments that we have made in small business development and you tie the airport with all the investments in infrastructural work that is taking place around Dominica; and I think you are seeing a clear plan for the next fifteen years in Dominica,” he explained.  

The Prime Minister added that citizens should support the airport project as they look forward to the benefits that it will bring to the country.

“It’s a significant project and I am hoping that you know we can fight among ourselves politically but there are some things that we need to wrap around the National flag. And if every Government for our entire existence has attempted to do something about the airport, and God has blessed us; the airport is being done so magically in the most difficult period of the world, I think that we should all embrace it and support it,” PM Skerrit further added.

The international airport is expected to be completed and commissioned by the end of 2026, with a runway length of two thousand, eight hundred and fifty meters making it possible to handle wide body aircrafts on direct routes to North America, Europe and key cities in Asia.

Prime Minister Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit says he will continue to advocate for climate financing for CARICOM countries as they continue to struggle with the effects of climate change.Prime Minister Skerrit recently represented Dominica, and CARICOM, by extension at the ME-Days Forum in Morocco and then at the inaugural CARICOM-Saudi Arabia summit in Saudi Arabia.

He delivered remarks during the opening ceremony of the ME-Days 2023 Forum which was held under the theme ‘Polycrisis, Polyworld,’ and addressed issues related to energy and sustainability, political instability in Africa, migration crises, and global leadership, governance and multilateralism.

He says he used his opportunity to once again bring attention to the issues faced by the CARICOM member states.

“I deliberated on the disruptions in economic activity and inflationary shocks caused by covid-19apandemic, the Russia Ukraine conflict, and in more recent times the escalating conflict between Israel and Palestine, which is adding to global insecurity. As I always do, I reminded the conference of the extreme vulnerability of our Caribbean states to the impacts of climate change, which continue to impede our progress and threaten our people’s livelihoods; and I made a case for developed countries to take greater responsibility for climate financing and of course fulfilling their commitments to the Paris Accord, where climate financing is concerned,” PM Skerrit stated.  

The Prime Minister then addressed the CARICOM-Saudi Arabia Summit, whose primary focus was developing investment and trade links in key sectors such as infrastructure, hospitality, energy, climate change, and environmental sustainability.

PM Skerrit says the summit provided a platform to build collaboration between CARICOM member states and Saudi Arabia in various sectors.

“We met with key individuals from both the public and private sectors, including investment groups, looking to launch new enterprises and investments in the Caribbean in areas such as Agriculture, renewable energy, tourism and infrastructural development. In our engagement with the Crowned Prince, a wide range of areas with possibility for cooperation were also agreed upon to include but not limited to tourism, food security, maritime cooperation, health, education to include scholarships for Caribbean youths, and of course infrastructural development,” he explained.

He says the issue of climate change and climate financing remains at the forefront of his agenda heading to Cop 28, where he will champion the need for access to critical resources required for building resilience to climate change.

“I again stress the need for us to address the issue of climate change as a collective, particularly the very important matter of climate financing. This issue of climate financing will be at the forefront of my agenda when I participate in the upcoming Conference of the Parties (Cop) 28 in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. I will lead a delegation to the highly anticipated climate summit focused on improving access of small states to critical financial resources needed to build resilience against the changes in climate,” he noted.

The Prime Minister noted that this Conference of Parties should be one where developed countries come through on commitments they have made to small island developing states.

“We need this COP to be one of action that delivers on the promises of developed countries to provide the much needed financing to tackle the worsening climate situation. I believe that if we leave Dubai with no clear deliverables, it will be a very unfortunate period for us in the developing world. Everybody knows of my misgivings about the utility of such conferences; after all we have walked the walk, we have talked the talk but after thirty years or so we have seen no practical action on the part of the developed world to help in addressing an existential threat to us in the Caribbean and small island states,” the Prime Minister went on to state.

Prime Minister Skerrit added that he will continue to advocate for more equitable distribution of climate financing for all CARICOM countries.

“The lives of our people are at risk and so I will stay true to the pledge I have made to the Dominican people, and of course the wider Caribbean region, to keep fighting for more equitable distribution of climate financing, which is so critically and urgently needed to ensure that all of us have a better future,” PM Skerrit added.

Fifty seven-individuals have received certificates for the successful completion of their respective entrepreneurial training programs, as the Dominica Youth Business Trust in collaboration with the Ministry Of Culture, Youth, Sports and Community Development hosted their 19^th graduation and awards ceremony at the Windsor Park Stadium Forecourt on November 22, 2023.

Nathaniel Lovell and Althia Joy Watty were the recipients of the Determined Entrepreneurs Awards 2023.

Coordinator of DYBT, Hon. Phillip Rolle, says the 19^th graduation ceremony recognizes the commitment and success of the entrepreneurs.

“Today marks the 19^th graduation and awards ceremony of the Dominica Youth Business Trust and I am thrilled to be here celebrating alongside our graduants and awardees. We gather here today to applaud the achievements of a remarkable group of young entrepreneurs who have successfully completed diverse entrepreneurship training programmes. Their journey has been characterized by resilience, creativity and unwavering determination today we come to recognize and applaud their success,” Hon. Rolle stated.

 Hon. Rolle says the support and investment of the DYBT is fueled by the substantial impact of entrepreneurs on the economy. 

“As a business support organization, we understand the immense potential and the impact that the youth can have on the economy. This is why the DYBT takes pride in providing support, inspiration and guidance to our young entrepreneurs. Our goal is to transform young job seekers into job creators. Our commitment extends beyond the establishment of businesses, it is about empowering young individuals to transform their passion, skills and ideas into tangible realities in doing so they can contribute to economic growth, generate employment opportunities and provide essential goods and services to their communities,”  he noted.

He provided an overview of their activities leading up to the 19^th graduation and awards ceremony.

“Throughout the period, we were able to host a total of four successful training programs including our flagship Entrepreneurial Development Program, which is our business incubator type program and the Small Business Assistance Facility which is our accelerated type program. The 17^th EDPU hosted a total of eighteen up and coming entrepreneurs for a four week period, while between the two SBF programs, thirty-one existing entrepreneurs were trained. The trust also is proud to have trained eight social entrepreneurs over the period with social missions that seek to tackle issues of the environment, training and development of at-risk youth, among others,” he added.

Among those graduating was Ms. Annelle John the owner of J-Star who completed the 17^th Entrepreneurial Development Program (EDP). She spoke of the impact the EDP had on her journey as an entrepreneur.

“The EDP has been an invaluable asset in my development of a young female entrepreneur. I extend an earnest invitation to all young individuals whether you possess a bold or a mere speck of an idea to join this program. It has not only transformed my life but has significantly impacted my family,” she stated.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture, Youth, Sports and Community Development, Hon. Oscar George highly commended the DYBT and the newly graduated cohort.

“I want to commend the entire DYBT team for their energy, their passion and their diligence on a daily basis. Let’s give DYBT a huge round of applause. Sometimes they say we are hard on them. I believe it’s in good cause because we are seeing the fruits of their hard work again congratulations DYBT. We are very proud of the growing accomplishments of the DYBT particularly over the last few years, so on behalf of the Ministry. I again extend sincere congratulations to the fifty-seven graduates who will receive their certificates this afternoon,” he stated.

Hon. George says he was impressed by the determined male and female entrepreneurs for 2023.

Meanwhile, Minister for Health, Wellness and Social Services, Hon. Cassanni Laville represented the Hon. Prime Minister of Dominica at the graduation and awards ceremony where he delivered the featured address. Hon. Laville offered his advice to the young entrepreneurs. He encouraged them to embrace their uniqueness as businesses

“Embrace your uniqueness. We are all different. We all have special skills. We all have special talents. I should not try to be you. You should not try to be me. Let us all celebrate our uniqueness and our own identity,’ he stated.

The Minister advised individuals to embrace different strategic approaches instead of competing directly with others offering the same product.

The Dominica Youth Business Trust was launched in 2004 and continues to profoundly impact the entrepreneurial landscape in Dominica.