标签： Dominica

The United Progressive Party (UPP) of Dominica has issued a forceful statement endorsing widespread public opposition to mining activities in the Deux Branches area of St. Andrew Parish. Party leadership has aligned with residents from the Kalinago Territory, Concord, Marigot, and surrounding communities who are raising alarms about the project’s potential consequences.

According to the UPP, the mining operations present substantial dangers to public health and ecological stability, particularly for populations relying on local waterways for daily subsistence and economic activities. The party’s communiqué emphasized that these activities violate fundamental principles of free, prior, and informed consent for the Kalinago community, thereby challenging the project’s legal legitimacy and procedural integrity.

The political organization cited an international petition that has garnered over 3,000 signatures as evidence of growing civic apprehension. This collective action reflects deepening unease about the project’s environmental and social implications.

The UPP outlined multiple ecological threats associated with the mining venture, including:
– Irreversible harm to natural habitats and biodiversity
– Significant soil erosion and land degradation
– Contamination of water resources and disruption of hydrological systems
– Air quality deterioration due to particulate matter
– Loss of fertile agricultural land compromising food security
– Destruction of scenic landscapes vital to tourism
– Increased landslide risks and damage to marine ecosystems

Asserting that Dominica’s ‘Nature Island’ identity represents both an international brand and a intergenerational responsibility, the UPP insisted that any development endangering this status must undergo exhaustive independent environmental impact assessments.

The party contends that the current project appears to circumvent established domestic regulations and international environmental conventions. They have consequently demanded an immediate suspension of all extraction activities pending comprehensive review processes, meaningful community consultations, complete transparency regarding project objectives, and establishment of clear decision-making timelines incorporating public participation.

“Environmental impact assessments exist for good reason – they provide critical information about potential harm, allow for public input, and ensure that development proceeds sustainably,” the UPP asserted in their statement.

Concluding their position, the UPP framed the issue as transcending political affiliations, maintaining that Dominicans deserve governance prioritizing environmental stewardship, due process, and long-term national interests over immediate economic benefits. They urged authorities to avoid sacrificing the nation’s environmental legacy for expedient gains, advocating instead for development that is genuinely sustainable, thoroughly evaluated, and truly beneficial to the populace.

Dominican authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation into a devastating road traffic incident that resulted in the death of Ken Joseph, a resident of Kingshill. The tragic event unfolded on the evening of Saturday, December 6, 2025, in close proximity to the Ocean Edge Oasis Hotel.

Preliminary reports from law enforcement indicate that Mr. Joseph was traveling as the pillion passenger on a motorcycle operated by Salim Khalid Green when the collision occurred. Emergency services promptly transported both individuals to the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital (DCFH) for urgent medical attention.

Tragically, medical professionals at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department pronounced Mr. Joseph deceased upon arrival. The motorcycle’s operator, Mr. Green, sustained severe injuries and was immediately transferred to the Intensive Care Unit, where he remains in critical condition under close medical supervision.

Traffic safety officials have cordoned off the accident scene for forensic analysis as they work to determine the precise circumstances that led to this fatal collision. The investigation will examine multiple factors including road conditions, vehicle mechanics, and potential contributing elements to understand the complete sequence of events.

This incident has sparked renewed conversations within the community regarding road safety measures and the vulnerabilities associated with motorcycle transportation. Local authorities are expected to review safety protocols in the aftermath of this tragedy.

The remarkable journey of Robert Nathaniel Robinson—an African American mechanical engineering prodigy with Caribbean roots—represents one of history’s most overlooked narratives of diasporic excellence. Born in Jamaica in 1906 to a Dominican mother and Jamaican father, Robinson would eventually shape industrial policy alongside Joseph Stalin in the Moscow Soviet, achieving unprecedented political status for a Black man in the early 20th century.

Robinson’s technical brilliance emerged not from formal education but through practical experience at Ford Motor Company’s Detroit assembly lines during the 1920s. His expertise captured the attention of Soviet recruiters seeking foreign talent to accelerate Stalin’s First Five-Year Plan for industrialization. Accepting their invitation, Robinson relocated to the USSR where he designed manufacturing systems, trained Soviet engineers, and ultimately earned election to Moscow’s governing council.

His political position during the 1930s placed him in direct collaboration with architects of the Soviet state—a stark contrast to the racial discrimination facing African Americans in the United States. Robinson survived purges, anti-Black hostility, and four decades of Soviet life before eventually returning to the United States in 1986 through diplomatic efforts involving Ugandan officials and U.S. Information Service officer William B. Davis.

Robinson documented his extraordinary experiences in the autobiography ‘Black on Red: My 44 Years Inside the Soviet Union’ (1988), providing rare insight into Soviet society through Black eyes. He died in Washington D.C. in 1994, leaving a legacy that connects Caribbean heritage to global technological influence.

This narrative forms part of a broader tradition of diasporic achievement exemplified by figures like Dr. Fenton—a Tuskegee Airman who established agricultural colleges in Liberia—and Joseph Roane, another Tuskegee-trained scientist who revolutionized Soviet cotton production. Their collective stories demonstrate how Caribbean and African descendants have repeatedly contributed to global technological progress while often remaining unrecognized in their ancestral homelands.

Robinson’s story offers contemporary youth a blueprint for transcending geographical and social constraints through technical mastery and unwavering dedication to excellence.

In an inspiring demonstration of compassion transcending conventional emergency protocols, the Dominica Fire and Ambulance Service executed an unconventional rescue mission in Morne Bruce on December 6th, 2025. The incident began when local resident Yaritza Barbosa discovered a distressed feline trapped precariously high in a tree overlooking a steep cliff adjacent to a main roadway.

Despite initial attempts using personal equipment, the unstable terrain and deteriorating weather conditions rendered independent rescue impossible. The situation grew increasingly dire as rainfall intensified and daylight faded. Facing limited options, Barbosa’s son contacted local fire services—a decision made with hesitation given widespread assumptions about emergency priorities.

Contrary to expectations, the Roseau-based fire station dispatched a comprehensive response team within hours. A fire truck and support vehicle arrived carrying eight uniformed officers equipped with specialized gear including safety equipment and an innovative guiding apparatus. Their professional approach immediately alleviated any concerns about the legitimacy of the animal rescue request.

The rescue operation unfolded with remarkable coordination as officers established a secure perimeter while encouraging the frightened animal. In a dramatic descent, the cat navigated branches downward toward safety as firefighters provided vocal support and strategic guidance. The successful conclusion saw the unharmed feline returned to ground level without injury to personnel or animal.

Sub Station Officer Andre, who led the operation, articulated the service’s philosophy: all emergencies warrant professional response regardless of scale or species. This perspective highlights the evolving nature of public service that values compassionate intervention alongside traditional emergency response capabilities.

The episode serves as a powerful reminder that true community protection encompasses both human and animal welfare, challenging preconceived notions about emergency service priorities in modern society.