Carib Scope

标签： Dominica

多米尼克

  • Sixteen RSS officers complete three-week international management training geared to strengthening regional community impact

    Sixteen RSS officers complete three-week international management training geared to strengthening regional community impact

    Sixteen senior law enforcement officers from across member states of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) have crossed the graduation stage this week, capping off a three-week intensive advanced leadership training program designed to elevate regional policing capabilities.

    Developed through a longstanding collaborative partnership between the RSS Training Institute and the United Kingdom’s Durham Constabulary, the International Leadership and Management (Gold) Course was specifically crafted for top-tier law enforcement personnel, including Senior Superintendents, Division Commanders, and Assistant Commissioners. The program’s core mission is to strengthen strategic leadership capacity across the region’s law enforcement agencies, equipping senior leaders to tackle evolving public safety challenges more effectively.

    The graduation ceremony, held Thursday, April 2 at RSS Headquarters, marked the formal completion of the training, with certificates awarded to all participating officers in recognition of their work throughout the program. In his address to the graduating cohort, RSS Deputy Executive Director Atlee Rodney emphasized the critical weight of the leaders’ responsibilities to communities across the region. He urged graduates to remain unwavering in their public service commitments, noting that strong leadership at the senior level is foundational to enabling both individual agencies and the RSS collective to address pressing social challenges and improve overall quality of life for regional citizens.

    Rodney also reaffirmed the RSS Training Institute’s ongoing commitment to developing practical, forward-thinking training programs and sustaining key international partnerships such as the one with Durham Constabulary, all in service of boosting regional policing capacity.

    Royal Grenada Police Force Commissioner Randy Connaught, delivering the event’s keynote address, centered his remarks on the unique complexities senior law enforcement leaders face navigating modern strategic and political landscapes. He laid out a clear framework for ethical, effective senior leadership, defined by three core pillars designed to guide officers in balancing their operational duties, constitutional obligations, and relationships with elected governments.

    “My charge to you is to master what is perhaps the most delicate and critical skill of executive leadership – managing the expectations of the political directorate… This is not about being political. It is not about partisanship. It is about managing a relationship that is constitutionally vital, operationally impactful and perpetually challenging,” Connaught told graduates. “As Gold leaders, you are no longer just guardians of public safety; you are also stewards of public trust and key advisors to the government of the day.”

    Connaught’s first pillar of effective leadership is “Educate, Don’t Just Execute.” He explained that senior officers bear a professional and constitutional responsibility to act as expert advisors, rather than just implementing politically driven policies without context. When elected officials push for quick, reactive crackdowns on complex issues such as gang violence or youth offending, Connaught said leaders should draw on the problem-solving ethos of the Durham training to provide full, transparent context. This includes walking policymakers through threat assessments, community impact considerations, and the ethical implications of policy choices, to ensure decisions deliver legitimate, long-term public safety outcomes rather than short-term political gains.

    “ You are not there to decide national policy that belongs to the government, but you are constitutionally bound to ensure that any such decision is made with the full understanding of the policing consequences. Your advice may be the difference between a politically expedient decision and a sustainable safe outcome,” he said.

    The second foundational pillar focuses on preserving institutional integrity and continuity, urging leaders to prioritize organizational memory and institutional loyalty over temporary political interests. “Integrity is your shield. Politicians come and go. Elections are cyclical. But the police service is an enduring institution. Your loyalty is not to the individual in the ministerial office, but to the office itself, to the law, and to the people you serve,” Connaught stressed.

    Connaught’s third pillar addresses one of the most persistent tensions in modern policing: bridging the gap between public and political expectations and on-the-ground operational capacity. Political campaign promises often create the public perception that police can solve complex social problems overnight, he noted, and it falls to senior leaders to act as transparent, honest brokers about what policing can deliver. “You must be able to demonstrate, with data and candor, the direct link between resources, funding, personnel, technology, wellbeing support and outcomes,” he explained.

    Concluding his address, Connaught encouraged graduates to bring the innovative, problem-focused “Durham Difference” approach back to their home agencies, particularly when engaging with political leadership.

    The ceremony also included formal recognition of the partnership between RSS and Durham Constabulary, with Deputy Executive Director Rodney presenting a token of appreciation to Chief Superintendent Ian Leech, course facilitator from Durham Constabulary.

  • Easter Grassroots Youth Football Festival kicks off in Portsmouth

    Easter Grassroots Youth Football Festival kicks off in Portsmouth

    A landmark new initiative for youth football in the Caribbean is set to launch this week, as three local sports organizations team up to host the first-ever Easter Grassroots Youth Football Festival in Portsmouth, Dominica on April 9, 2026.
    Organized through a partnership between Portsmouth Football Academy, Bombers Football Club and Sport Aid Dominica, the one-day competitive gathering will be hosted at Portsmouth’s iconic Benjamin Park, with play running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time, according to an official statement from Bombers Football Club.
    Unlike standard regional tournaments, the festival is purpose-built to shine a spotlight on emerging young talent across two age divisions: Under-11 and Under-13. Four squads have already confirmed their participation, drawing competitors from across the region: the host Portsmouth Football Academy, Dominica’s own National Football Academy, Newtown Juvenile Football Academy, and an incoming guest team from neighboring Guadeloupe, Club Sport Guadeloupe. Beyond the excitement of on-pitch competition, the event centers core developmental priorities: honing technical football skills, fostering collaborative teamwork, and upholding the values of respectful sportsmanship among the next generation of players.
    The festival has secured wide-ranging institutional and corporate backing to bring the project to life. Hon. Fenella Wenham Shepherd is the event’s lead political supporter, with additional key partnership support from the Dominica Football Association, the Dominica Air and Seaport Authority (DASPA), and local beverage brand Trois Pitons Water. The release emphasizes that this cross-sector collaboration reinforces ongoing momentum for expanding youth-focused and community-rooted sports programs across the island.
    What makes the festival stand out is its dual purpose: while it celebrates youth football, it also serves as a core pillar of a broader strategy to grow Dominica’s sports tourism sector. Event organizers are working to cement both Portsmouth and the wider nation as a growing hub for youth football development and cross-regional sporting cooperation. By including a visiting team from Guadeloupe, the event is already taking a critical first step to establish Dominica as a go-to destination for organized, high-quality youth sporting competitions across the Caribbean.
    “This festival is about more than football—it is about creating opportunities, building discipline, and opening pathways for our young players,” event organizers shared in comments included in the release. “It is also a step toward developing sports tourism in the north of the island.”
    Organizers have already announced long-term plans for the festival, with the goal of turning the one-off inaugural event into a recurring annual staple of the regional youth football calendar. Future iterations are set to expand participation, with invitations open to additional local academies, as well as more teams from across the Caribbean and beyond the region. Local community members are encouraged to attend the event at Benjamin Park to cheer on the young competing athletes.

  • Dr Valda Henry to teachers: You implement reform, drive transformation

    Dr Valda Henry to teachers: You implement reform, drive transformation

    On Wednesday, the 18th Biennial Convention of the Dominica Association of Teachers (DAT) opened its doors at the St. Alphonsus Parish Hall, drawing education professionals from across the island to discuss the critical intersection of teaching and national progress. This year’s conference theme, “Teachers: The Foundation For National Development-Value Us,” set the stage for a keynote address from Dr. Valda Henry, Deputy Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), who delivered a powerful call to recognize and empower educators as the engine of societal change.

    In her featured address, Dr. Henry centered her remarks on the understated but indispensable role teachers play in driving systemic transformation. She told gathered attendees that teachers are far more than passive implementers of education policy – they are the active architects of a nation’s future. “At the center of all of this transformation lies who? Teachers, you,” she stated. “You are the ones who must translate curriculum into meaningful learning experiences. You bridge the gap between policy and practice. You are not just implementers of reform, you are the drivers of transformation.”

    Dr. Henry expanded on her definition of transformation, explaining that it encompasses both small, incremental progress and bold, large-scale change. She urged educators to embrace a mindset of resilience, noting that the courage to overcome challenges is a core part of being the transformation they want to see in their students and communities.

    A key point of Dr. Henry’s address focused on the urgent need for adequate investment in modern education infrastructure and teacher training. She argued that it is unfair and unrealistic to expect educators to prepare students for 21st-century careers and challenges using outdated tools, outdated training models, and obsolete curricula. If societies expect teachers to cultivate high-demand skills like digital literacy, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving in their students, they must first provide teachers with the resources, training, and support they need to build those skills themselves.

    Even as she called for systemic investment in the teaching profession, Dr. Henry also emphasized that responsibility for growth is shared between institutions and individual educators. “It is a two-way street,” she emphasized. “It is not just people investing in you, you too must invest in yourself.” She encouraged teachers to take proactive steps to update their skills and adapt to changing educational needs, reinforcing that their own professional growth directly translates to stronger national development.

    The convention comes as small island nations across the Eastern Caribbean work to adapt their education systems to shifting economic and technological trends, making discussions around teacher empowerment and investment particularly timely for the region.

  • Electoral Office introduces centralized voter confirmation services in Roseau

    Electoral Office introduces centralized voter confirmation services in Roseau

    The Electoral Office of the Commonwealth of Dominica has unveiled a voter-centric reform program designed to expand access to critical electoral services, reinforcing the institution’s stated commitment to transparent, inclusive, and accessible governance ahead of upcoming electoral processes.

    The cornerstone of this new initiative is a centralized voter confirmation service based in Roseau, the island nation’s capital. The program specifically targets voters who remain registered in constituencies outside the capital but have since moved to the Roseau area for residence or employment, eliminating the longstanding burden of traveling back to their original home districts to complete mandatory voter confirmation.

    To deliver this service, the Electoral Office will operate weekly confirmation clinics at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium, a central, easily accessible location in Roseau. Under the operational plan, one out-of-capital constituency will be served each week on a rotating basis, allowing eligible voters from that constituency to complete their confirmation procedures on-site without added travel costs or time off work.

    Clear documentation requirements have been established to streamline the process for all participants. Voters who hold official government-issued identification can complete their check-in by presenting one valid form of ID — including a Dominica passport, national social security card, or valid driver’s license — along with one witness to verify their identity. For voters who do not hold a standard official ID, the Electoral Office has introduced adjusted, flexible requirements to remove barriers to participation. Chief Election Officer Anthea Joseph explained that eligible voters without standard ID can instead submit a passport-sized photograph, a signed statement confirming the image is an accurate likeness of the applicant, a first schedule document notarized by a Justice of the Peace, notary public, or commissioned postal officer, and their original birth certificate.

    The rotating weekly constituency service schedule is scheduled to launch in the second week of April 2026. The Electoral Office has issued a public call encouraging all eligible voters who qualify for this centralized service to take advantage of the new convenience to complete their confirmation process well ahead of any upcoming electoral events to ensure their voting eligibility remains intact.

    Members of the public with questions about the initiative, documentation requirements, or the weekly constituency schedule can reach the Electoral Office directly through two dedicated public hotlines: 767-617-9595 and 767-275-8164. Additional audio resources with full details on the initiative from Joseph and schedule information from Electoral Office representative Prisca Julien are also available via the Dominica News Online platform for public reference.

  • An open letter to the Prime Minister on voter registration and confirmation

    An open letter to the Prime Minister on voter registration and confirmation

    A public letter addressed to the Prime Minister of Dominica from prominent activist Gregor Nassief has reignited debate over the country’s troubled new electoral reform framework, exposing deep flaws in voter registration, confirmation and ID card distribution that have left tens of thousands of eligible citizens disenfranchised. This marks Nassief’s fourth public intervention on electoral reform issues, following a year of persistent gridlock that has eroded public trust in the island nation’s democratic process.

    In March 2025, Dominica’s House of Assembly passed three landmark electoral reform bills designed to overhaul the country’s voter registration system and introduce mandatory national voter ID cards. Yet on the same day the legislation was signed into law, continuous voter registration — a core process that allows newly eligible voters to add their names to the electoral roll at any time — was illegally suspended. The suspension lasted 355 consecutive days, ending only on March 9, 2026, cutting off more than a full year of new voter sign-ups.

    This shutdown directly impacted local elections held across the country, including the March 23, 2026 Roseau City Council poll, where no new eligible voters were able to register or participate in the 369 days leading up to the vote. The island’s existing voter roll has long been plagued by inaccuracies: 2019 data shows roughly 75,000 names were listed on the roll, though International IDEA estimates Dominica’s total resident voting-age population is only around 55,000, with thousands of deceased people and long-term emigrants still included on the register. As of April 2026, only around 14,000 eligible voters — roughly 25% of the total eligible population — have submitted applications for registration or voter confirmation. Of that group, just 4,000 applicants have received final confirmation, representing barely 7% of all eligible Dominicans. Six months into the six-month confirmation period, which launched on October 15, 2025, not a single approved applicant has received their legally mandated voter ID card.

    Nassief, who submitted his own registration application on March 9, 2026, says he has yet to receive approval a full month later, and he is far from the only citizen stuck in bureaucratic limbo. Nassief pushes back forcefully against claims Prime Minister made during a March 25, 2026 press conference, where the leader dismissed delays as inconsequential to election outcomes, blamed citizens for failing to participate in the process, and framed the slow rollout as “important progress” derailed only by a last-minute ID card design change.

    Nassief refutes the Prime Minister’s claim that shutting out new voters cannot alter election results, pointing to the 2026 Roseau City Council race where opposition candidate Lenny Jno Baptiste lost Ward 1 by just eight votes, a margin that could easily have been flipped by disenfranchised new voters. He also rejects the claim that citizens have failed to “avail themselves” of the confirmation process, noting that the system itself was unavailable to new registrants for nearly a year, and even now, half of all applicants remain unapproved with no IDs in hand.

    The letter also challenges the Prime Minister’s constitutional argument that he is required to call a general election on schedule regardless of the confirmation process’s failures. Nassief notes that no provision of Dominica’s constitution compels an early election before the new electoral framework, which the current government championed, is fully implemented and trusted by the public. Calling an election prematurely, he argues, is not a constitutional requirement but a political choice that would proceed without a fully functional, legitimate system. Framing the year-long disenfranchisement of new voters as “water under the bridge,” as the Prime Minister did, shows a dangerous disregard for democratic norms, while the Prime Minister’s public insistence that the confirmation process will end definitively on October 14, 2026 undermines the Electoral Commission’s statutory independence, which allows the body to extend the process by 90 days if necessary.

    Nassief lays out six concrete recommendations to restore public confidence in Dominica’s electoral system: first, he calls for the resignation of all five current Electoral Commission members, who have lost public trust, to make way for a new body that can command cross-societal support. Second, he urges the government to provide the new commission with full independence, sufficient resources and extended timelines to fix operational failures and complete registration and confirmation in line with the government’s own standard of being “timely, efficient and transparent.” Third, he calls for a full review of all recent village and city council elections to determine whether they were legitimate, with new elections called if widespread disenfranchisement invalidates the original results. Fourth, he supports a fully nonpartisan public education campaign co-led by the Electoral Office and civil society to encourage all eligible voters to participate regardless of partisan affiliation. Fifth, he calls on the Prime Minister to publicly affirm the Electoral Commission’s right to extend the confirmation period if needed to ensure all eligible voters can complete the process. Finally, he demands a clear public commitment that no general election will be called until the new system is fully functional and public confidence has been restored.

    Nassief concludes that Dominica does not need further legal debates over executive authority to call elections; it needs a moral commitment from the Prime Minister that no poll will proceed until the legislated reform framework is fully operational and trusted by the public. Choosing to prioritize legitimacy over expediency, he argues, is the only way to ensure any future Dominican government rests on the free, unobstructed will of the people.

  • Dominica hosts Inter-American Telecommunications Commission’s 47th annual meeting

    Dominica hosts Inter-American Telecommunications Commission’s 47th annual meeting

    In a historic milestone for the small Caribbean island nation, Dominica is playing host to the 47th plenary Meeting of the Inter-American Telecommunications Commission (CITEL) for the first time in the commission’s history. The five-day gathering, which kicked off on April 6 and will run through April 10 at Portsmouth’s Intercontinental Hotel, has drawn official representatives from 32 member countries across the Americas, bringing regional connectivity and digital policy leaders to Dominica’s shores.

    In her opening address to assembled delegates, Chekira Lockhart-Hypolite, Dominica’s Minister of State with responsibility for Telecommunications and Broadcasting, laid out the island nation’s dual framework of macro and micro technological priorities aligned with both regional collective goals and local national needs. A core pillar of Dominica’s macro agenda, she explained, is integrating advanced technology into disaster preparedness and national resilience efforts—an objective that directly ties to Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit’s groundbreaking vision to position Dominica as the world’s first climate-resilient nation.

    “To build a scalable, rapidly responsive disaster communication strategy, we recognize that every innovative technology has a critical role to play in strengthening our disaster response capabilities,” Lockhart-Hypolite told attendees. Beyond climate resilience, the minister outlined targeted goals tailored to Dominica’s status as a small island developing state, chief among them supporting the ongoing Caribbean digital transformation initiative by cultivating a regulatory and economic environment that accelerates inclusive digital growth across the region.

    Cybersecurity and citizen protection in digital spaces also top the nation’s priority list, Lockhart-Hypolite confirmed. The government is moving forward with plans to establish a dedicated national Cybersecurity Incident Response Team, she said, to detect and mitigate a wide range of threats—from extreme weather-related communication disruptions to malicious cyberattacks. The initiative will also be supported by updated national legal frameworks to safeguard digital user rights and data, paired with expanded international cooperation to enable cross-border information sharing and collective security enhancement with regional partner nations.

    Looking ahead, the Dominican government is focused on creating a welcoming regulatory ecosystem to position the country as an early adopter and regional test bed for cutting-edge telecommunications innovations. Lockhart-Hypolite highlighted next-generation technologies including 5G network deployment, near-earth orbit satellite (NEOS) systems, direct device-to-device (D2D) communication, and the upcoming Wi-Fi 8 standard as key areas of interest for the nation.

    These ambitious development goals require consistent, collaborative engagement with regional regulatory bodies and international partners, the minister noted, emphasizing that ongoing dialogue allows Dominica to learn from global best practices while ensuring the unique needs of small island states are centered in regional telecommunications policy. She closed her address by encouraging all participating delegates to engage in open, constructive, forward-looking discussions throughout the week, with the aim of strengthening collective regional capacity and advancing shared goals for more connected, resilient, and innovative telecommunications infrastructure across the Americas.

  • In-person meeting at Fort Young Hotel 16th April 2026 from 6pm Edinburgh Napier University

    In-person meeting at Fort Young Hotel 16th April 2026 from 6pm Edinburgh Napier University

    Prospective students and higher education seekers in the region have a new opportunity to explore study pathways at one of the United Kingdom’s dynamic modern universities, with an in-person information session scheduled for April 16 at the Fort Young Hotel. Hosted by Southpoint Education International, the event will kick off at 6:00 PM local time, and is designed to give attendees clear, first-hand insight into the diverse range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional study programs offered by Edinburgh Napier University.

    Unlike virtual information sessions that often leave questions unanswered, this face-to-face gathering will allow prospective students to connect with education representatives directly, ask personalized questions about program curricula, admission requirements, scholarship opportunities, and student life on Edinburgh Napier’s campuses. Edinburgh Napier University, based in Scotland, is widely recognized for its industry-aligned programs, strong graduate employment outcomes, and inclusive campus community that welcomes hundreds of international students from across the globe each year.

    Organizers note that space for the session is limited to ensure attendees receive dedicated attention, so pre-registration is required for all those planning to attend. Interested individuals can secure their spot at the event by completing the RSVP form through Southpoint Education International’s official registration portal.

  • CCJ receives first-ever national court referral, sets hearing for May 2026

    CCJ receives first-ever national court referral, sets hearing for May 2026

    Nearly two decades after the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) formalized its role as the regional guardian of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC), the institution has marked a historic milestone for Caribbean regional integration. On April 7, 2026, justices of the CCJ convened the first case management conference for a referral submitted by a national court across the entire Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a request that originated from Belize’s High Court.

    The referral was formally filed with the CCJ on March 3 this year, stemming from the domestic legal dispute *G. Anwar Barrow and others v Financial Services Commission and the Attorney General of Belize*. According to an official statement released by the CCJ, the core legal questions being forwarded to the regional court center on two key issues: the proper interpretation of specific statutory clauses in Belize’s national Companies Act, and how those domestic provisions align and interact with existing bans on anti-competitive business activity outlined in the RTC.

    Under the framework of the RTC, the CCJ holds compulsory, exclusive original jurisdiction over all disputes tied to the interpretation and application of the regional trade and integration treaty. When questions about the treaty’s rules emerge during proceedings in domestic courts or administrative tribunals across CARICOM member states, the treaty requires these national bodies to refer the interpretive question to the CCJ for a binding, definitive ruling. Once the CCJ issues its judgment on the question, the case is returned to the original referring body, which applies the court’s interpretation to the specific facts of the dispute before issuing its final ruling.

    Prior to 2026, no domestic court across CARICOM had ever utilized this formal referral mechanism, a gap that prompted the CCJ to launch a targeted regional public education and outreach campaign. The initiative, which was funded by the European Development Fund, was designed to build familiarity and confidence with the referral process among judicial officers, practicing attorneys, and private sector stakeholders across the bloc.

    The program launched its first training and sensitization workshops in Belize back in 2022, in partnership with the CCJ Academy for Law and Belize’s national judiciary. Over the following four years, the outreach effort expanded to include in-person and virtual sessions in seven additional CARICOM members: Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. Alongside training for legal professionals, the CCJ also held parallel engagement sessions with regional business communities to clarify the rights and obligations set out in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), the bloc’s flagship economic integration project.

    During the April 7 case management conference, CCJ justices issued a full set of procedural directions to set a clear timeline and framework for the proceedings moving forward. Per the official release, the substantive hearing on the referred question has been scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Atlantic Standard Time on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, and will be conducted entirely via video conference to allow all stakeholders to participate safely and conveniently.

  • Dominica’s NCD Coordinator for World Health Day, 2026

    Dominica’s NCD Coordinator for World Health Day, 2026

    To mark World Health Day 2026, held annually on April 7, Dr. Lynora Fevrier-Drigo, Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Coordinator for Dominica, delivered a national address that balanced urgent calls to address pressing domestic public health challenges with measured optimism for the island nation’s health future. Aligning with the 2026 global theme “Together for Health: Stand with Science,” Dr. Fevrier-Drigo centered her remarks on three core pillars: cross-sector unity, evidence-led policy and programming, and shared collective responsibility for public health outcomes across the country.

    In her address, Dr. Fevrier-Drigo acknowledged that non-communicable diseases remain the single largest threat to public health in Dominica. Up-to-date national public health data shows 32% of Dominican adults live with hypertension, while 18% are diagnosed with diabetes. More than 20% of the total population struggles with overweight or obesity, rates that place significant long-term strain on both individual health and national healthcare systems. Rather than framing these statistics only as a cause for alarm, Dr. Fevrier-Drigo framed them as a sign of progress: improved surveillance and growing public awareness have helped more people access testing and diagnosis, reflecting a more informed population and a more responsive public health system than in decades past.

    Dominica has made substantial investments in upgrading healthcare infrastructure to tackle NCDs in recent years, particularly at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital. The facility has expanded its diagnostic and treatment capabilities to include cutting-edge imaging and radiology services, a fully equipped modern pathology laboratory, and specialized dialysis care for patients with chronic kidney disease. Through a new partnership with the China Institute for Cardiovascular Imaging, the hospital now offers advanced cardiac diagnostic services including echocardiograms and cardiac MRIs—medical resources that rank among the first of their kind available across the Caribbean region.

    Beyond specialized hospital care, the government has prioritized strengthening primary healthcare access to ensure NCD screening and ongoing chronic disease management is available free of charge to all residents in every district across the island. This decentralized model, Dr. Fevrier-Drigo noted, reflects the nation’s unwavering commitment to health equity, guaranteeing that all Dominicans can access life-saving care regardless of their income level or geographic location, removing barriers that once delayed diagnosis and treatment for rural and low-income communities.

    Policy reform has been another core pillar of Dominica’s national NCD response. The country has adopted and implemented all key World Health Organization recommendations for reducing NCD risk, including higher tobacco taxation, mandatory clear nutrition labeling for processed foods, and legal restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy food and beverage products to consumers. Dominica has also deepened regional public health collaboration through the Pan American Health Organization, joining the flagship Hearts in the Americas initiative designed to expand access to cardiovascular care across the Western Hemisphere. Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the nation has formally committed to cutting premature mortality from NCDs by 30% by 2030.

    Mental health has also been elevated as a top national public health priority, with ongoing work to update outdated mental health legislation and fully integrate mental health support services into primary care settings across the country. This shift, Dr. Fevrier-Drigo explained, reflects a growing understanding that holistic, person-centered care is essential to effectively addressing NCDs, as mental health and chronic physical health outcomes are deeply interconnected.

    Dr. Fevrier-Drigo emphasized that sustained progress cannot be achieved by the government alone, noting that cross-sector collaboration has already driven meaningful momentum across the country. Agricultural programs are expanding local production of nutrient-dense fresh produce, making healthy food options more accessible and affordable for all residents. Primary and secondary schools have integrated health and life skills curricula to help young people build lifelong healthy habits. Meanwhile, community organizations, faith-based groups, sports clubs, and local workplaces have emerged as key hubs for promoting physical activity, holistic wellness, and shared accountability for public health.

    The address closed with a direct call to action for individual Dominican citizens to join the national movement for better health. Dr. Fevrier-Drigo highlighted that free regular screenings for blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol are available at every local health center, and encouraged all residents to take advantage of these services to catch potential health risks early. She also promoted purchasing locally grown produce as both a health-conscious choice that supports personal wellness and a patriotic action that bolsters the island’s domestic agricultural sector. Leveraging Dominica’s abundant natural landscapes, she urged residents to incorporate regular physical activity—from daily walking to community sports—into their routines, and to encourage friends, family, and neighbors to adopt healthier habits as well.

    “We are building a healthier Dominica, and the science tells us we are on the right path. What we need now is for every Dominican to walk it with us. Together for health, stand with science, stand with Dominica,” Dr. Fevrier-Drigo concluded.

  • Dominica government and UNLIREC host senior-level inter-agency roundtable to strengthen firearms regulation and public safety

    Dominica government and UNLIREC host senior-level inter-agency roundtable to strengthen firearms regulation and public safety

    Against a backdrop of growing regional concern over illicit weapons trafficking and violent crime, the Commonwealth of Dominica is set to convene a landmark three-day inter-agency roundtable from April 8 to 10, 2026, focused on cracking down on illegal firearms and the armed violence they fuel. The event, organized by Dominica’s Ministry of National Security and Legal Affairs in partnership with the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) and the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS), brings together a cross-sector coalition of senior stakeholders to align national action with regional safety goals.

    According to an official press statement from the security ministry, the roundtable forms a core part of Dominica’s sustained commitment to advancing the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap, a coordinated regional framework that targets illicit weapons flows, cuts rates of violent crime, and uplifts public safety standards across all Caribbean nations. Unlike isolated policy efforts, this gathering is designed to break down bureaucratic silos, bringing high-level representatives from sectors as diverse as national policing, justice administration, foreign affairs, gender equity, and performance monitoring and evaluation to the same table.

    Over the course of the three-day program, attendees will engage in a structured schedule of cross-national policy exchanges, technical deep dives, and collaborative working sessions. The agenda is tailored to three core outcomes: strengthening institutional coordination across domestic agencies, shoring up national firearms control regulatory frameworks, and accelerating implementation of Dominica’s National Action Plan, which was developed under the umbrella of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap.

    Key discussion topics will span the full lifecycle of illicit weapons in the region: tracing the routes of cross-border firearms trafficking, updating national legislative measures to close regulatory gaps, enhancing systems for weapons marking and traceability, improving secure storage and management of authorized firearms and ammunition, preventing legal weapons from being diverted to black markets, and leveraging data-driven insights to guide more effective policy decision-making.

    Beyond advancing domestic policy, the roundtable also functions as a strategic platform to deepen partnership between national Dominican authorities, regional bodies like UNLIREC and CARICOM IMPACS, and broader international partners. Organizers have emphasized the need for a unified, whole-of-government approach to tackle the transnational challenge of illicit firearms, a problem that cannot be resolved by any single agency or nation acting alone.

    Funding for the initiative has been provided by the Government of the United States of America, enabling the convening of cross-sector stakeholders and the delivery of technical programming for the event. Opening remarks will be delivered by Dominica’s Minister for National Security and Legal Affairs, Honourable Rayburn Blackmoore, alongside senior officials from the Dominican government and leadership representatives from both CARICOM IMPACS and UNLIREC.

    By the close of the three-day roundtable, participants are expected to reach consensus on priority national action items, define clear roles for local civil society organizations in supporting firearms control efforts, and map out opportunities for long-term technical assistance. The overarching end goal of all discussions is to advance safer communities and support inclusive, sustainable development across Dominica.