The Dominican Government has set plans in place to partner with a local investor aiming to recommence the soap production industry for domestic and export consumption.
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Roosevelt Skerrit stated that it is of the intentions of the government to use funds generated from the Citizenship by Investment Program as the primary source of revenue.
“We are partnering with a local investor to restart the manufacturing of soaps and other products at the DCP, to give back the jobs to the people who lost their jobs,” he said at a press conference on Wednesday. “We will be using US$2-million to provide a loan to this investor to be able to acquire DCP. and people can get back to work in the next 6 months, and start back exports.”
Owner of DCP., Colgate Palmolive shut down operations at the factory on November 30th 2015, leaving 90 employees without jobs.
The company was established in 1965 by Elias Nassief and later passed down to his son Phillip Nassief who manufactured and converted coconuts into a variation of soaps and other beauty products.
All you think Yvor Nassief and Gegor stupid,. These guys seeing their glass is full of water, as the we the people are fool of emptiness. They have Skerrit where they want him……They feed on each other. The country nice boy, the Nassief`s nice boy, the Skerrit`s nice boy.. the country nice too wi.
Hahahehe!! You think we stupid? The man urinating on my legs and telling me it’s raining
HOTEP!
Why does the government have to be lender of first resort to firms in Dominica Why don’t the government let the commercial banks look at the feasibility of the project and if it is profitable finance it.The government can serve as a guarantor for the investor.Also why don’t the government sell shares to Dominicans so we can own the soap factory and guarantee it’s success through horizontal and vertical integration.I guess because of the CBS program Skerritt knows that it’s only a matter of time before the US and others shut down the passport production factory,so he is now returning to focus on manufacturing industry.I hope Skerritt does the necessary evaluation before putting one one dollar in this soap factory and publish the result before giving this investor our money
It is interesting that since the CBS program was aired the Skerritt administration knows that it’s only a matter of time before the US and others will clamp down on the passport production factory,so they are now trying to restart the manufacturing and other necessary industries to generate revenue for Dominica.Rather late because Skerritt had told us that that selling passports is the only thing besides taxation left to develop the country.I also wonder why does it have to be the government to be lender of first resort to private firms in the country.One of the private commercial banks would conduct a feasibility analysis of the soap factory to see if it’s profitable.Instead government might be throwing money down the drain if the venture is no longer viable.Time will tell but it might be too late.Governnent should be a guarantor for the investor but should not finance it directly.Why can’t the government sell shares to ordinary citizens so we can own it instead of one man
Thanks mr Linton u did it again last time when u spoke
Monies went back into our treasury now they talking
About DCP if mr Linton did speak we would never know
What is happening to our lovely Dominica this government
Is BAD for DOMINICA
Dr. Skerrit, thanks for giving us our soap factory back.
We know the CBI program works and thank you for all you are doing for us.
Thank you Sir!
Ma Petrie, more a soap opera than a soap factory. High drama my dear, watch the next episode.
Another ABATTOIR
…to join the coffee plant and the Moroccan hotel
This forum seem to be a place for haters of all stripes to lay their eggs of hatred. Sad but true, so in the interest of Dominica, I am asking the management of this site to create a forum called “Dominica positive” where nothing negative is about Dominica or anyone Dominican. This is not censure but rather to cultivate the principles people over fifty grew up with patriotism and a spirit that demands ” Dominica first”. The hatred and division that exist is the country is perpetrated by economics and and not love for country.
The practice of denigrating ones country and its leaders might sound good to the people who do it, but in the final analysis Dominica suffers
The evidence of this is clear, that kind of behavior has manifested itself in the greatest democracy in the world. Dominicans take heed.
Dominica has now adopted association by colors, the Jamaican model which lead political killing. Dominicans be careful
You aren’t saying anything that makes sense
To: Love Dominica
Hello and good evening my people. Well, you post under the name “Love Dominica” but you are asking DNO to censor free speech so how can you love Dominica. One must learn to ready someone else post and try to understand that person point of view even though you don’t agree with their view.
That will be good to have it running again. Local investors needed; N O FOREIGN OWNERSHIP; GO LOCAL, PRODUCE LOCAL, BUY LOCAL. WhY did the government not step in before it was closed? This was deliberate and timed.
Lennox will never be Prime Minister, next election he will turn mad….lol The man doing for him to get a hold of the money to build his house and send his children to go and study. Think Lennox will care about all you if he ever get that seat…LOL
I think the first thing that he will do is to send you to school,so that you will be be able to express yourself as well as he does!!!You sound as an illiterate!
THIS IS SO LAUGHABLE!!! PRESSURE MAMA PRESSURE!!! THIS FACTORY HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR YEARS!! HE CANNOT PUT HIGH IMPORT DUTIES ON SOAP. REMEMBER IMPORT DUTIES FOR CARICOM IS 10% .. MR. PRIME MINISTER WHY DON’T YOU INVEST IN A CARGO BOAT TO TAKE PROPER AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS IN AND AROUND THE REGION? MR. PM COME, ON START THINKING STRAIGHT! YOU ALL TELL PEOPLE TO “PLANT MORE FOOD, GROW MORE VEGETABLES, DIVE INTO FISHING, CAN WE CONSUME ALL OF IT IN OUR UNDERPOPULATED DOMINICA.? HAVE YOU SEEN THE AMOUNT OF BLUE SOAP AND CHEAP SOAP ON THE MARKET? THEY SOLD THE BRAND!! NOW THEY ARE WRITTING OPEN LETTER TO MR. LINTON.. YOU ALL ARE MAD PEOPLE!!! OH SO NOW THEY WANT PASSPORT TO ENRICHED THEMSELVES EVEN MORE.. YOU AMUSE ME MR. PM.. YOU JUST START ” I ALWAYS KNEW YOU COULD NOT WITHSTAND AND KIND OF PRESSURE”
All in caps. letters. DNO if it was me ?
What ever happened to that boat they promised the farmers couple years back?? They never took the people on… they made them come with boat and then no load! They ran private until they had engine problems of Trinidad and floated into Venezuelas waters and seized??? I wonder if they ever cared?
It would be nice to see the workers employed again at DCP. However the hard soap market is in decline and has been for many years.Cannot see this kind of handout bearing fruit.Look forward to the identity of anonymous entrepreneurs.?
I wish I could be prime minister. Dominica need someone that loves the country and the people more than their pockets. It’s very sad that we are in this position. I am so ashamed when my white colleagues calling me to say Dominica on tv because allu selling Allu passports. I truly wish people could love the beautiful island and it’s people like it’s supposed to be loved.
I agree with an earlier comment by “Frank Talker”.
For this to be viable, it will need unique products and production lines in advance of what is shown the photograph.
Dedicated production lines cannot be bought “off the shelf”. Hence, we will need innovative design engineers and highly skilled mechanical engineers to put the vision into practice. In Dominica, these qualifications are presently as rare as hen’s teeth and they cannot be acquired via a six week or six month training program.
Well for sure after Erika i heard the prime minister said that they were going to buy DCP and Lennox linton was making fun of that so good idea PM
Dominica Coconut Products (DCP) started operations in 1965 and over the years became the leading exporters of oils and soaps. During that period DCP had the protection of the Caricom market to sell its products. All the brands of soaps which were imported into the Caricom market had to pay import duties. It is my understanding for DCP to produce the other brands of soap other than its own brand, a fee was charged for the use of these brand trade names and some of the trade names were owned by Colgate Palmolive (CP). At some point CP purchased DCP for obvious reasons, to have a foothold in the Caricom market. When the Dominican Republic (DR) and Haiti became members of Caricom, with cheaper labour and having to pay no duties, it became far more economical and cheaper for CP to service the Caricom market from its operations in the DR. For obvious reasons it was only a matter of time before CP closed DCP and Erika provided the reason. To continue,
If DCP is to restart producing soaps for export in the Caricom markets, it will face very steep competition from CP, and which was the very reason for its closure. I can think of two scenarios to keep DCP afloat. Impose a duty of imported soaps products to protect the DCP local market, but this may violate the Caricom trade rules since DR is a member state. The other is to develop a niche market for top quality special high end brand soaps that would cater to customers with the more than average disposable income and willing the pay the extra price. While president elect Trump would like US companies to return home and create more jobs, the investors/shareholders have one objective, returns on their respective investments. Money have no feelings, it just wants to be in company where there is more of it. The other options with US$2.0 million free capital from government with no expectation of dividend pay out, the local investor(s) will manage at best to recover their investment.
i like your observation but if that is the case why do the products say made in mexico.
Ask Julius Timothy. He is our Ambassador to Mexico (although i understand he does not speak Spanish)
Dominica cannot produce enough soap to wash away the blemishes of this cabal; Ericka could not do it.
The Dominica Labor Party has had an incredible week. First, Minister of Lies and Agriculture, Johnson stated that Dominica recently exported over 1 million pounds of fish overseas in 2016. Then, after the 60 Minutes interview about the Passport Selling Business, all Labor supporters began blaming the leader of the opposition for Economic Treason.
For honourable Lintons concern for Dominica and its welfare,he is already my MAN OF THE YEAR 2017.He is INTELLIGENT,ARTICULATE,TRUTHFUL,clear,concise..!He is GOOD!!!!Did anybody listen skerrits so called press conference?This was shameful…THE MAN IS NOT WELL!!!I AM FULLY behind honourable Linton,the statesman and patriot!!
People listen until you hear who the local investor is. What a country what a people but in my time I have seen much and heard much
NOW THE MONEY IS BEING SPENT???We know why!We are not fools!
mister checking da peole stupid giving an investor money to invest is like saying my dog hold that money open that and 5%of the profit is mine ehh who is the local investor
So Skerrit you looking for sympathy? Hell NO! Boss, if my son selli g cocaine and decides to build houses all over you think I going to justify his action? Wrong is wrong boss. To me selling passports to crooks and criminals is worse than sell drugs no matter what monies are used for. Crooks and criminals with a Dominica passport is a concern to everyone boss
Do you have solid proof that passports are being sold to crook and criminals?
You people need to be stopped!
And do you have solid proof that passports are not being sold to crooks and criminals?
You people need to start thinking logically and not idiotically
Are you saying that Roosevelt Skerrit gave these people our diplomatic passports and made them ambassadors out of the goodness of his heart? if that is so he must either be dumb or a liar. You mean you want U.S.$. 200,000 for an ordinary passport but a diplomatic passport is free of charge? Carcon, is long time since I believed in father Christmas you hear.
De government making a loan to a private investor.
Why can’t De investor approach De Aid Bank?
It will be interesting to see who that individual is.
Anyway I must say I’ve been hearing that suggestion coming from Thomson fontaine and lennoxx Linton for months now. Even angelo Allen.
Great advocacy guys
Skerrit finally agree with your suggestion!
He was just waiting for the ‘right’ investor! !!
so as soon as pressure fall in their behind they come with that soap production story.. I there to see how long it will take if it ever comes on… i hope it does for the sake of the Dominican people
Garcon that will never come to pass, just like the hotel in Portsmouth that cannot finish. Donkey years now it started and not even one room that finish.
Then Drigo say how we exported over 1 million pounds of fish overseas. Only lies and more lies.
Not a bad idea at all, but I hasten to say that we will need some of the best minds in Dominica, and the region, to get this industry to a state of competitiveness and innovation required for it to thrive. Remember folks, CP now owns the popular product brands and IP once owned by DCP. CP also plays a major influencing role in the regional soap market. And surely, CP will want to ensure that this new factory does not share its markets. But I am very supportive of the idea; we may just be able to demonstrate that Dominica, once again, has what is required to build and float a regional manufacturing success icon.
Don’t be an a……… It’s a free market. It’s all about brand and marketing.
Hmmm. Thanks to Lennox Linton’s interview on 60 minutes, we now have job creation in the country. This was a strategic move by the PM in the efforts to bring some credibility to the CBI program, but we will not be fooled. Had the corruption of the CBI program not been exposed, the money would have probably gone in some greedy people’s pockets… Dominicans don’t be misled. Mr. Skerrit we want full transparency as to how much money has been generated and how it was invested. I personally, believe that CBI should either be shut down or tightly regulated. We can’t just allow access to the highest bidder, especially in these times where ISIS and other terror groups are infiltrating other countries and using them as cells. Thank You MR. Linton, you’re not a traitor, your a liberator. DOMINICANS WAKE UP!!!
You guys would be really funny if you didn’t sound so ridiculous.
Soon a woman who was pregnant for 9 months then gave birth you would say that child is born because of the good and destructive interview and not because of the 9 months of gestation or 40 weeks or 280 days.
Anything the government had in their plan because you had not heard of it would be because of that. You guys are really listening to yourselves?
The only thing passing through is diarrhea.
I don’t know if your middle name is HIDING..Stop HIDING,when you have trained people of high repute to question you…Who are you fooling?Yourself?.Gaston Brown struggled,but he answered..You are PM and you can’t answer to the international press?Doctorate my foot..We need more informatiom. When will work start,what brand will the product have,the bidding process,etcyou are too vague..We need more information..Its not DLP passport money,it’s Dominicas!
CBS chose Lennox and Lennox was wrong to go and spew what he is not educated about. If he had interest in knowing he should’ve listened to DBS or he should’ve advised CBS that the Prime Minister is the best person to speak on the CPI Program. It’s just like going behind your manager’s back and doing things. Lennox is a Serpent and all of you who follow him are dumb.
all of a sudden CBI av money to do so much skerrit u and ya gang too wicked. the longest rope has an end!
I will believe that when I see it come to fruition. Last time DCP came up in a press conference, Mr. Skerrit “was in negotiations with Colgate-Palmolive to purchase the plant for $50million…”
What happened to those negotiations? I’d love to see the employees go back to work, but I’ll only cheer when I see it actually happen.
Thank you ta all who are pressuring this corrupt DLP regime to answer pertinent,relevant germane questions,re our passports.Thanks to CBS,Q95,patriot honourable Lennox Linton,Angelo,Blessings and all…Whether IT’S A PANIC REACTION or not,we the patriots will keep squeezing your sllab for greater transparency and accountability re OUR passport…Don’t think that its Labour party passports,,it’s OUR passports.By the way the wise people of Wesley,All the Roseaus,Salisbury,Marigot are Dominicans too.. l am not from any of these constituencies,but its OUR passport money so help them.Thank you to patriot and statesman honourable, Lennox Linton the pressure is producing results!!!But we want more…Where the wicked rule,the people mourn!
Great idea. Hope it works .However the plan must be long range .
Expect to hear much more of these in the next few weeks only to disappear when some time expire . I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they said that the CBI money will eventually be used to forgive sins.
After so many years of deathly silence how come we are now hearing so much about CBI funding all these projects/initiatives. All this “openness” began only about 6 to 9 months ago. What was being done with the funds prior to this hive of activity.
This information only came about because of the akward questions that were being asked of the Finance Minister in the parliament and elsewhere. Prior to the period I mentioned above what project/initiatives were being funded by CBI. I smell a big rat
I hope the investor hire qualified business consultants to assist in reviving the company. Marketing and Human Resources should be they key, please don’t charge an arm and a leg its an effort to bring back jobs to the people. IF there is no proper strategy this will only be throwing good money after bad!
Good news if proven true.
well thanks to lennox and that CBS interview wii..all of a sudden the CBI programme money is being geared to undertake projects. last year venezuela donated house for the dubique relloaction but yesterday the pm say that it was 100% funded by CBI money..YOU HEAR LIE. Mr pm if you want to lie try having a good memory
Yeah all of a sudden money flowing like milk and honey….I wonder if CBS’ 60 minutes report had never been aired, would DCP have re-opened?
Let’s see if this is actually a reality or just another pie in the sky.
What nonsense that nah .
allu fink Palmolive going to sell to allu what they bought just to close down, because of competition?
so now they will allow allu to re- establish competition .
Well in that case Dominicans want an idea at what cost to us ? whats the underlying deal ?
I waiting with abated breath .
But if this does actually materialize I not leaving Da again and go no where .
I awready put plans to make my exit this year though .
Seeing is believing. I hope it works. Too may promises already.
So many months Skerrit is being asked about his promise to buy DCP and provide work, he remains mute. All of a sudden a CBS interview sheds light on the flaws in the program and la meme he gets a light bulb moment after plotting days later on what should be written for him to read, something he still chewed half of and bam passport money supposed to help with DCP workers. This man always know how to look for sympathy and play on Dominicans emotions. He will soon tell Silver Lake people the reason he can’t build them the promise houses and pay off their hire purchases etc is because of CBS shutting down the CBI program. First it was Venezuela who donated 300 petro casa for Petite Savanne now it’s CBI. His next move is to say CBS stall the CBI program so the hospital and bridge projects can’t continue.
That’s great! What about Coconut Oil?
Well Mr Linton powerful, 47seconds with CBS and all what we’ve been asking for years are now coming out
The issue is not about ownership. it is about economies of scale. Production volume and market access. Question! what measures will be put in place to ensure regional and international market penetration with large volumes? This will be tough, given that we live in a global market. I would have much prefer see this money spent on the defunct Areial Tram in Laudat. This would be big boost to the local tourist industry. Sustainable employmentwould be created. Again CBI money. Never see come see. Money going into anything.