Minister for Social Services, Community Development and Gender Affairs Gloria Shillingford is advocating for a reduction in imported goods, especially for those that can be produced here.
At an inauguration ceremony for the Pure Blossom Hive Cooperative Society at the Public Service Training Center yesterday, the minister said through a speech ( read by Cooperative Commissioner Mariet Canoville due to her absence) that she believes that the country’s dependence on imported goods can be lessened.
“Too often I see shopping carts at supermarkets (with) imported canned and bottled products that can be manufactured right here in Dominica using local produce,” the minister said in her speech.
“This independence on imported goods can be lessened. But it calls for initiative on the part of citizens who would first of all, be able to identify opportunities, possibilities and form organisations aimed at embracing these opportunities and making them work…” Shillingford said.
YOU GUYS COMPLAIN ABOUT EVERY SUGGESTION THAT IS THROWN YOUR WAY FOR YOUR OWN DEVELOPMENT. TELL ME SOMETHING! HOW ON EARTH ARE THE HAITIANS MAKING IT IN DA. PLA NTING AND SELLING THE SAME CROPS YOU HAVE PROBLEM GROWING?
ZOT EMAY TWOP LA BOZWEN TOUT FETE.
There are many products (organic) that could be produced here……….but they aren’t.
There need to be a coming together of interested parties subsidized initially by the govt. for this purpose. Right now, it takes a lot of money to get something going.
The people will also have to support the effort by buying the goods.
Good point but sometimes locally grown and produced things are sometimes more expensive than imported ones.
I disagree with the minister when she said that independence of imported goods can be lessened by initiatives on the part of citizens “who would first of all, be able to identify opportunities, possibilities and form organisations aimed at embracing these opportunities and making them work.” I think the government should be in the forefront creating the investment climate to attract manufacturers to our shores.