Dr. Fontaine to lead discussion on Dominica’s economy

Fontaine

Dominica-born International Monetary Found Economist Dr. Thomson Fontaine will later today lead a panel of prominent individuals in Grand Fond to discuss the Dominican economy and the role that agriculture and manufacturing should play in contributing to growth.

The discussion will be moderated by local businessman Severin McKenzie and Head of the Agriculture Investment Union Dr. John Toussaint.

According to Dr. Fontaine, the panel discussion is expected to focus on the critical importance of agriculture and manufacturing in helping to generate growth and in the alleviating poverty in Dominica.

“The discussion will be set in the contest of helping residents of the South to increase their involvement in agriculture. We will also discuss critical ways to help alleviate poverty in that area,” he said.

The panel discussion is scheduled for 6:30 tonight at the Community Center in Grand Fond.

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11 Comments

  1. Rasta
    February 8, 2011

    Sounds good!!! but knowing fontaine he is just coming here to pass butter in our feet….He might be running for the next general election….we will not vote for you………no games here!!!!!

  2. Dominican Man
    February 8, 2011

    Our next prime minister will come from GRANDFOND!!!

  3. DOMINICAN AND PROUD
    February 8, 2011

    Way to go Dr. Fontaine, way to go Mr. McKenzie, way to go Grand Fond!!!! The two Grand Fond gentlemen coming together to bring this much needed agriculture initiative to the South, You have my 100% support.

    To think these great men come from Grand Fond!

    I pray for you continued success in all your endeavors.

  4. hmmm
    February 8, 2011

    :-D :-D :-D :-D :lol:

  5. Hey just giving my two cents
    February 8, 2011

    The Government alone cannot do everything as sometimes the funding is not always there. We each have to ask what can I do for my country. The majority is asking what can I get from the Gov’t or the country and if they do not get something they want not need , they become disgruntled and move from party to party looking for “something tangible”.

    What ever decision a Government takes is for the good of the majority not our own personal selfish individual wants and mind you not needs

  6. Hey just giving my two cents
    February 8, 2011

    Yes Severin and Thompson… I see you all took my advice …. come do something positive for the people ..

    “The discussion will be set in the contest of helping residents of the South to increase their involvement in agriculture. We will also discuss critical ways to help alleviate poverty in that area,” he said

    Yes I do support any initiatives as those. but the baraging of trying to bring down people especially one man I will never condone. Let the election time come and when the time comes the people will speak as usual. Use now as you have rightly said help to alleviate poverty in Dominica.

    Sev I know that you have opened a Toilet paper Factory. People this is what I call positive things to do in one’s country. Too much talk and no action. Dominica need all of us to move this country forward.

    • Splinter
      February 8, 2011

      Dr. Fontaine, the people of the south east are fooled by the early morning talk show hosts. Some of them will not go to their garden because they listen to groovy bat and crazy mat attack Skerrit(q 95 is only on tv in s.e). By the time their cochonie finish the sun too hot. But guess what the two parl reps Pepper and Ivor making more money from agriculture than their gov. salary.and they always in Roseau working. They cannot say they dont have practical role models. Eddison never abandon his fig but he fooling the masses.

  7. Perseverance
    February 8, 2011

    Doc. that is a good idea. It is better do discuss with your country men than to stay in Washington running your mouth. This is a more effective way of helping/contributing to your village and country by extension.

  8. Muslim_Always
    February 8, 2011

    In my view the root of the economic situation in Dominica is not being tackled.

    There is a poor distribution of wealth of the island. Though there is a working middle class, the taxes are exhorbitant and most people are living from hand to mouth in this country.

    People need to be sensitized in their communities as to what is really demanded in this country. Some people are just not creative enough or may lack the skills in which they should access. They need to see practically how they can benefit as well as money needs to be injected into our economy and policies need to be reviewed regarding taxing poor people. If the poor has no spending power, it will affect businesses, it will affect the private sector.

    Secondly, we need to invest in our secondary production. Dominica is not producing enough, we consume too much and that is a problem. Too many fruits and vegetables are wasting here.

    There are many millionaires here don’t be fooled. Most of that money is going outside the country. We need to give our Dominicans living abroad investment incentives. We must tap into these Dominicans so that they can attend worshops as to the packages being offered so they will invest back home. There is a lot we can do. Dominica is beautiful and forested, we need to preserve this treasure. Let’s move our country forward.

    • Aaaaa
      February 8, 2011

      Soooo true!

    • Possie out there
      February 9, 2011

      on a scale of 1 to 10 in comments read on DNO this one rates 12… Unless this strategy replaces the dependence culture we have in DA both as a country (on foreign aid) and individually (on Government help) then we will get nowhere

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