Residents of Giraudel, and more specifically the St. Elmo’s area, will soon be able to traverse the area more easily as works on the main road are ongoing.
Member of Parliament for the Roseau South Constituency, Hon. Chekira Lockhart-Hypolite visited the road works on Thursday, May 18 2023.
She stated that the recent residential developments in the area have made this road a priority project for the residents.
“This was part of the Flower Site Estate and recently we have seen this area developing in regards to residents and more and more people are building and constructing homes in that residence. I have met with the residents here and also with the local village council and they said to me that this road is a priority project for them. It’s something that I wanted to do in my last term but due to covid-19 and the constraints that we had, I was unable to tackle the road, but now as I am the Minister of State in the Ministry of Public Works I found it necessary to ensure that we do the road for the people,” Hon. Lockhart-Hypolite stated.
Over one thousand feet of road will be constructed along with the appropriate drainage systems.
“It’s over a thousand feet of road and we are preparing the road right now. Public works has graded the road and rolled the road and so we are preparing the road for rehabilitation. There was a debate as to whether or not we use asphalt or concrete but we have come to the conclusion that we will be concreting the road for them very soon. So the next time, you will see a nice concrete road with proper drainage. One of the things we can’t forget is drainage because it makes no sense that you do a road and the drains are not done, the water will undermine the road, so we have to look at simultaneously doing the road and also doing the drainage aspect of it” she explained.
The project is the result of a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Public Works and the Giraudel Village Council.
“The project is a collaboration between the Ministry of Public Works, the Village Council and the Parliamentary Representative. It’s almost like a community ‘coudmen’ type of project and that is something we have just started in this area, so we are using it as a model and if it works very well we want to emulate and mirror it in the various hamlets because we are operating within a very tight fiscal space; and for me the welfare and wellbeing of my constituents is paramount. And so I have to ensure that the students are able to go to school, we pay for their education, there’s a meal on the continuance table, but not withstanding that infrastructure is a priority as well. So we have a balance and we intend to mix it to ensure that the road and the residents cry can be addressed,” the MP added.
His Excellency Sergey Petrovich is the new Russian Ambassador to Dominica.
He presented his credentials to President of Dominica, His Excellency Charles Savarin on Monday, May 22nd 2023.
Since establishing diplomatic relations, Dominica and the Russian Federation have fostered friendly relations.
President Savarin says he looks forward to a growing support from Russia on major international issues.
“It is my expectation that during Your Excellency’s term of office that Dominica will be afforded the opportunity to collaborate further and benefit from your country’s expertise in these areas. As one of the five permanent Member States of the Security Council, Russia’s position on major international issues is of great significance to us as Small Island Developing States (SIDS). We therefore look forward to the growing presence of the Russian Federation in the Caribbean region and to the further strengthening of relationships both bilaterally and multilaterally, in dealing with the challenges confronting small island developing states and more particularly the devastating effects of climate change, covid-19, and rising incidents of crime and violence, all of which threatens our sustainable growth and development and peaceful way of life,” President Savarin stated.
His Excellency Savarin thanked Russia for its assistance following the devastation of Tropical Storm Erika and Hurricane Maria. He added that Dominica would continue to lend its support to Russia when it is possible to do so.
“It is my wish that Your Excellency’s assignment will be a fruitful and rewarding one and that you will take advantage of the opportunity to visit Dominica periodically to fulfill the aims of the protocol of intentions, and that during such visits, Your Excellency will experience the renowned warmth and hospitality offered by the Government and people of our country, and enjoy the beauty of our nature island. Your Excellency, your country has been able to count on the support of the Commonwealth of Dominica in elections to various international bodies when we are not competing for same positions and we hope to be able to continue to lend that support in future instances, whenever circumstances permit,” H.E Savarin added.
Meanwhile, new Ambassador of Russia to Dominica, His Excellency Sergey Petrovich says he will do his best to further development relations between the two countries.
“As an ambassador of my country to the Commonwealth of Dominica, I am very strongly committed to do my best, to do as much as I can for further development of the traditionally friendly relations between our two countries. We have enjoyed the friendly relations with Dominica already for 28 years since the establishment of the diplomatic relations in 1995 and so I think we have a good potential for development of our bilateral relations in different spheres like trade, economic investment, tourism, culture and particular education and many others,” Ambassador Petrovich stated.
Dominica and Russia first established diplomatic relations in 1995.
Rehabilitation on the Newtown Playing Field continues as new lights are set to be erected around the perimeter of the field.
This is one in a series of developmental projects currently being undertaken in the Roseau South Constituency.
Member of Parliament for Roseau South, Hon. Chekira Lockhart-Hypolite toured the site on Thursday, May 18 to get an update on the ongoing works.
She says this has been a priority project for her constituency following Hurricane Maria.
“The community of Newtown has been known for its sports and in particular football and post Hurricane Maria our field was lighted but the lights got damaged after the passage of Hurricane Maria and that has been since in 2017 and today we are realizing the lighting of the Newtown savannah. As the Parliamentary Representative one of the approaches that I have taken in my constituency is to meet with the community and find out what it is that they want to see happen in the community in terms of development and one of the major ones was the lighting of the playing field,” Hon. Lockhart – Hypolite stated.
Six new metal poles will replace the existing wooden light poles with the aim of revamping football in the area.
“That’s not only for the young people but for the middle age and the old. Newtown is a community that sports, football it brings us together as a community and everybody comes out to support our team Harlem and so today we are at the stage where we are casting the poles to prepare for the lighting of the playing field. We are being more resilient, we’re no longer using the wooden poles but we’ll be utilizing the steel poles. There will be six poles around the perimeter of the Newtown savannah and the intention is to ensure that semiprofessional football can be played,” she explained.
This project is being done at a cost of over one hundred and eighty thousand dollars.
“There was an issue before of dark spots on the playing field and that is because it wasn’t well lighted and we now having the six poles and much better lighting because the cost of this project is $181,000 and I really want to thank the Honorable Prime Minister for adhering to my request and making the funds available so that we could light up the mecca of football in Dominica,” the Roseau South MP noted.
Hon. Lockhart-Hypolite hopes to revive the off season league in the constituency, when the project is completed.
“One of the things that has been missing in Newtown’s football is our off season league. We are known to have our off season and that sets the stage for the premiere league and as soon as we have lit up the field I intend to see the off season league kick off sometime in July. The contractor has said to me that the expected completed date will be in the next two to three weeks for the project and so the off season we are looking to improve on our football because one of the complains that I have heard from the Harlem Sports Club and the footballers is that by the time they have come from work its already dark and so they do not have sufficient time to train. So we expect that the quality of the football will improve due to the fact that they will be able to train for much longer periods because of the lighting facility,” she added.
Site visitors from the International Agency for Accreditation and Rating (IAAR) met with Dominica’s Prime Minister Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit and Members of his Cabinet on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 to discuss areas of cooperation between the Government of Dominica and the American Canadian School of Medicine Trustees.
Present at the meeting were Ambassador Hubert Charles; former CEO of the Royal College of Canada, Dr. Andrew Padmos; Former President of the Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine and Wayne State University Academy of Scholars, Dr. Bob Sokol; Chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Canadian School of Medicine, Dr. Arvin Bagherpour; President of the American Canadian School of Medicine, Carey James; and Dean of the American Canadian School of Medicine, Dr. Ramin Ahmadi.
Prime Minister Skerrit expressed his full support for the American Canadian School of Medicine and its mission to provide high-quality medical education to students in the Commonwealth of Dominica and from other countries.
Officials of the Board of Directors of the American Canadian School of Medicine presented the school's plans for growth and expansion, and committed to the highest standards of academic quality and rigor.
Chairman, Dr. Arvin Bagherpour stated that the board is pleased to have the support of the Prime Minister and his cabinet as they continue to expand efforts to provide world-class medical education to students in the Commonwealth of Dominica and beyond.
"The American Canadian School of Medicine is committed to meeting the highest standards of academic quality and consistency, and we look forward to working with the Government to further our mission,” he added.
The American Canadian School of Medicine is a leading medical school located in the Commonwealth of Dominica, offering MD Degree Programs in medicine. The school is committed to providing a first-class education that prepares students for successful careers in medicine in North America.
Delroy Jno. Charles has won his first boxing match at the ALBA Games in Venezuela.
Jno. Charles who is a police officer by profession scored a judges’ decision win over Silva Jorge of Nicaragua.
Although Jorge stood at a staggering 6 feet 9 inches tall, Jno Charles came out swinging in the first round and landed a number of heavy blows, but couldn't knock the giant off his feet.
The second round was a bit closer, with Jno Charles tasting the fury of the big man, but he shook it off and kept going.
In the third and final round, Jno Charles with the support of not only the Dominican contingent but the Venezuelan fans kept the Jorge at bay and punched his way to a judges’ decision.
The announcement sent the hundreds of patrons into frenzy, as Jno Charles immediately became a crowd favorite.
With the win Jno Charles has advanced to the medal round and will fight again later this week.
In a post-match interview, Delroy Jno Charles described the match up as tough.
“To be honest it was a tough fight, the toughest fight I ever had but no obstacle is too big to overcome. I came in the ring and I did what I had to do. I fell short in certain areas but I can guarantee that my net fight will be better. I will be working, doing some more conditioning and so on. The Nicaraguan is a very powerful fighter but he was a bit slow, so I did what I had to do, since I’ve been here, I’ve been hearing often that when we take part in sporting activities and we don’t place as we wanted to, people say that we came for the experience. But I came here to give an experience and that’s exactly what I did,” Jno. Charles stated.
He noted that while he had to improvise due to the height and size of his opponent, he is happy that he was able to secure the victory.
“My mindset was that he is taller than me, so I am going to work under his punches, get the body shots in. That was my strategy, to work him underneath and then get up to his head and that’s exactly what I did. I did it to the best of my ability; not at a 100 percent as I wanted to but it worked and I was victorious in the end. I thought that I dominated the first and second round. The third round I was a bit fatigued because he is taller than me and he was leaning on me a lot so that can take a toll on the body especially as a short fighter so that ‘cwavay’ me a little bit, but all in all it was good” Jno. Charles added.
Meanwhile, Coach of the National Boxing Team, Mr. McNeal Jones stated that Delroy worked very hard for this win.
“Since we came to Venezuela we have been working on conditioning, speed and getting close with power punches; learning the mistakes the opponents make and just keep on going. We train twice a day, 6 o’clock in the morning and then after lunch until we have to go to the other sporting events. But we worked very hard for this win,” Mr. Jones stated.