The Dominican Economy is projected to see growth of over four percent in 2023-2024.
This as a team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by Ms. Joana Pereira, visited Roseau and held discussions on the 2023 Article IV Consultation with Dominican authorities from March 20 to 31.
At the end of this consultation, the IMF team released twelve main conclusions and recommendations that resulted from these discussions.
One of these conclusions is that the Dominican economy is expanding strongly but faces challenges due to global inflation shocks. The report stated that although severely affected by the pandemic, the real GDP growth is estimated to have reached 6.9 percent in 2021 and 5.7 percent in 2022. This growth is driven by construction of climate-resilient infrastructure, a rebound in tourism since the full lifting of covid-related restrictions in April 2022, and a substantial rise in agricultural output.
The report also states that the economic outlook for Dominica is positive. This is as a result of a full recovery in tourism, the implementation of public investment plans and prudent fiscal management. Growth is expected to stay above 4.5 percent in 2023-24, as tourism returns to pre-covid levels, and the construction of the new international airport and geothermal power plant take hold. Inflation is projected to recede to 6.3 percent in 2023 and to continue falling afterwards along with international trends.
The current account deficit is expected to gradually narrow over the medium term while public debt is set to decline in coming years.
Other recommendations mentioned in the report are the strengthening of social protection systems; modernizing supervisory frameworks to preserve financial stability; modernization of the economy and strengthening economic resilience and advancing institutional reforms to mitigate risks and support economic policymaking.
The full report can be found on https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2023/04/03/cs04032023-dominica-staff-concluding-statement-of-the-2023-article-iv-mission
Dominica is observing two days of national mourning as the late Dr. Alwin Anthony Bully will be laid to rest today Wednesday, April 5th 2023.
The funeral will be held at the St. Gerald Cathedral Chapel in Roseau at 10 am, followed by a cultural tribute entitled shapes in the clouds at 7:00 p.m. at the Old Mill Cultural Centre.
The National Icon was awarded an official funeral by Cabinet to honor his legacy and his contributions to Dominica in the fields of education, arts and culture.
All state flags are to be flown at half-staff on all public buildings on the two days of mourning.
Official mourners, including His Excellency the President, the Honourable Prime Minister, Speaker of the House of Assembly and all Government Ministers, will attend the funeral service.
Mourners are kindly requested to be attired in colours of the flag or in madras prints. The funeral mass will be broadcast live via Government media platforms and radio stations.
Dr. Alwin Anthony Bully was an artist, playwright, short story writer and cultural administrator who established and developed the Department of Culture and was its first director. In 1978, he designed Dominica’s national flag as the island gained independence from Great Britain.
He also served, for 20 years, as UNESCO’s Caribbean Culture Advisor based in Jamaica, assisting CARICOM states to develop their cultural programmes and policies.
He passed away on Friday March 10, at the age of seventy four after a battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Members of the public are invited to attend in celebration of the life of the beloved cultural icon and national treasure.
The Government Information Service extends deepest condolences to the family and friends of the late Dr. Alwin Anthony Bully.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Government of Dominica through The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Blue and Green Economy has signed the 2022-2026 Country Programming Framework.
The Country Programming Framework (CPF) defines mutually agreed priority development needs and interests to be supported through technical cooperation activities between the FAO and Dominica.
During the signing ceremony held on Wednesday, March 29, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and the Blue and Green Economy, Hon. Roland Royer described the signing as significant for the development of Dominica.
“The Country Programming Framework outlines the strategic priorities, development results and expected outcomes, the partnership and financial resources required for the successful implementation of the Technical Cooperation Agenda, consistent with the National Development Agenda for the Ministry’s goal for the Agricultural sector to contribute a minimum of seven hundred million dollars to the national GDP by 2030,” Hon. Royer explained.
The priorities outlined in the country programming framework were identified after numerous consultations with the relevant stakeholders.
“After extensive stakeholder consultations and careful review of the main issues identified, and the key strategic documents, including the National Resilience Development Strategy, the Climate Resilience and Recovery Plan and the National Agricultural Policy, the following priorities have been identified to provide the strategic direction for FAO’s technical support for Dominica for the period 2022-2026: Resilience to climate change and shocks and sustainable natural resource management, shared prosperity and economic resilience, and equality wellbeing and leaving no one behind,” he noted.
The Agriculture Minister reiterated Government’s commitment to achieving the various goals outlined in the CPF for the further development of a resilient Dominica.
“Dominica has a long working relationship with the FAO and we thank them for the continued support as we build a resilient Agriculture Sector. The Ministry of Agriculture is committed to achieving the targets set in this Country Programming Framework as well as looking forward to working with the FAO and collaborating with all concerned partners for the successful implementation of this Country Programming Framework,” Minister Royer added.
Meanwhile, Sub Regional Coordinator for the Caribbean and FAO Representative for Dominica, Dr. Renata Clarke described the signing as the beginning of a long process to assist the Ministry in reaching its goal.
“This is the beginning of a process. This is a living document. We are living in dynamic times. Things happen that we didn’t expect. There are numerous partners and with careful monitoring and attention to implementation, we will adjust as we need, as we go ahead to ensure that we do meet that very ambitious target of 700 million,” Dr. Clarke stated.
His Excellency Balaz Attila Heincz has been appointed as the first ever Ambassador of Hungary to the Commonwealth of Dominica.
This as His Excellency presented his credentials to President of Dominica, His Excellency Charles Savarin on Monday, March 27 2023 at the State House.
President Savarin stated that this agreement between the two countries will help them manage water as a sustainable resource to meet human demand.
“Worthy of note are the areas of interest identified and agreed upon by Your Excellency and Ambassador Matthew Walter that seek to advance bilateral cooperation between both our countries, to include areas of Agriculture, water management, sports and higher education, and also your Government’s readiness to exchange information and experience in the fields of integrated river basin management, planning, drinking and waste water management, flood management, water resource management, trans-boundary cooperation as well as water related education. Like Hungary, Dominica is blessed with an abundance of water, particularly among the small island states of the Eastern Caribbean and we embrace the proposed aforementioned exchange that is geared at maintaining water as a sustainable resource to protect the water environment and to meet current and future human demands,” President Savarin stated.
His Excellency Savarin noted that Hungary is an important partner for Dominica and the wider Caribbean as the region faces numerous external challenges such as climate change.
“Your Excellency, we look forward to the growing presence of Hungary 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 land locked states, and more particularly the devastating effects of climate change, COID-19, rising incidents of crime and violence and the ongoing Russia/Ukraine war, all of which call for a collective effort to combat the disastrous effects of these threats which put the well-being of our people and the entire world at risk,” he explained.
The President also spoke to the sanctions against Venezuela and Cuba, where the new Hungarian Ambassador will be residing. President Savarin says the Hungary Government could assist in the call for the lifting of the sanctions against the two countries.
“The Government of Hungary could help Cuba and Venezuela to resolve their challenges and improve the lives of their peoples, not only by joining with the voices of many other countries which call for the immediate lifting of the unjustified sanctions imposed on the people of Cuba and Venezuela, but by taking concrete action to create a zone of peace in the Caribbean,” President Savarin added.
He then wished the new ambassador a successful term stating “I hope that Your Excellency’s assignment will be a fruitful and rewarding one for your family,” adding “your country has been able to count on the support of the commonwealth of Dominica in elections in various international bodies and we hope to be able to continue to lend that support in future instances whenever circumstances permit.”
Newly appointed Ambassador His Excellency Balaz Attila Heincz stated that this is the first step in creating stronger bilateral relations.
“We are here to explore all those possibilities and potential which reside between our two countries because we have seen that you have had many experiences in different sector policies. We are ready to explore those possibilities. We hope that in such areas as higher education and water management, we can further strengthen those possibilities. I am very much honored to hand over those credentials and I am very convinced that this is the beginning of a fruitful cooperation between or two countries,” Ambassador Balaz Attila Heincz stated.
Dominica and Hungary established diplomatic relations in 2008.
The Government of Dominica has accorded the late Dr. Alwin Bully an official funeral.
Prime Minister Honorable Roosevelt Skerrit made the announcement at his bi-weekly press conference on Monday, March 13 2023.
Mr. Bully passed away n Friday March 10 2023, at the age of seventy four after a battle with Parkinson's disease.
The Prime Minister expressed his condolences to the family of the late Dr. Alwin Bully describing him as an honorable man.
“I wish to take this opportunity to once again express my condolences and that of my cabinet colleagues to the family of Mr. Alwin Bully who passed on Friday. Mr. Alwin Bully was an exemplary citizen, a kind and humble soul, who demonstrated profound love and commitment to Dominica, its people and culture. Through his work as a cultural administrator, both in Dominica and in the region, he helped engender a deep appreciation for our customs and our traditions. His legacy is all around us, in the National Flag he designed in 1978 as Dominica gained its Independence from Great Britain. It is truly one of the most beautiful flags in the world, which incorporated aspects of Dominica’s natural features, and the spirit character and values of our people,” Prime Minister Skerrit stated.
Prime Minister Skerrit spoke of the profound impact Dr. Alwin Bully had on the preservation and promotion of cultural art forms in Dominica and the region by extension.
“The Cultural Division, he established providing a structured approach to the promotion and development of our cultural art forms. The many national organizations which he spearheaded including the National Cultural Council, the Dominica Artists Guild, the Writers Guild, the Carnival Organizing Committee, Kommité pou Etid Kwéyòl, several of which continue to function today. To honour his proud legacy, the Government of Dominica will bestow an official funeral for recognizing his contribution to our country; this was offered to his wife and she graciously accepted. All flags will be flown at half-staff for two days that is the day immediately preceding his burial and the day of his burial. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
The late Dr. Alwin Bully was a renowned artist, playwright, short story writer and cultural advisor who made significant contributions to Dominica. He was the recipient of the Sisserou’s Award of Honour from the Government of Dominica in 1985 for the design of the national flag, the Golden Drum Award in 1997 and the UWI Sixtieth Anniversary Award for outstanding contribution to culture in Dominica and the Caribbean among many other accolades.
The Government Information service expresses our deepest sympathy to the family of the late Dr. Alwin Bully.