OCTOBER 6TH-Daily Updates from Dominca

  • Agriculture and food security– have been identified as priority number one for the country.
  •  There is  a loan facility at AID bank for farmers and fishermen,  officials are reviewing this facility so that funds can be provided for technical materials, planting materials and providing  farmers with labour.
  • Seedlings stored in Portsmouth  are to be distributed to farmers.
  • Starting with short-term crops to get farmers back in the field.
  • There are discussions with all regional partners and the EU with aim to meet and target revitalization of livestock and fisheries industry and procure assistance for food security.
  •  There is a planned national task force for resurgence of agriculture in Dominica, which will include members from neighbouringorganizations.
  • Priority is being given to clearing of major farm roads, assisting with log cutting and  providing support to farmers for transporting produce.
  • The government in conversation with poultry, livestock farmers.
  • The estimated time for reestablishing local egg industry is 25 weeks.
  •  Currently,  there is assessment of damage to citrus program.
  • There are plans to implement  a coconut planting program with more resilient seedlings from Mexican government.
  •  Because  there is a high dependency on packaged foods and canned stuff , the intention is to take the country back to where it was agriculturally before Maria.
  • Opportunities from Maria–resulting from land clearing include excess soil which may be utilized in leveling the land and replanting.
  • Crops are divided into following categories: short term, medium term, long term.
  • Short term- Seeking to restore food base.
  • Program: ‘Grow to Eat’,  which is immediately effective seeks to encourage everyone with access to land to grow food crops for consumption and/or resale.
  • Some farmers are selling provisions and some vegetables on the roadside but soon vegetables are projected to be in short supply.
  • The aim is to have a range healthy vegetables available between 6 weeks and 3 months.
  •  Short term crop varieties have been identified to plant.
  •  There will be distribution of seeds by Monday, October 9th.
  • Government has placed an order for white potatoes which may be harvested in 6 weeks.
  •  Officials are also planning on sending teams of persons to help farmers clear their land and till their soil.
  • Medium to long term plants include root tubers: dasheen, yam, cassava.
  • Longer term plants include: tree crops, bananas, etc..
  • Fertilizer is ready for banana farmers and possibly root crop farmers.
  • Organic fertilizer is being imported from Martinique.
  • Forestry land  has been severely impacted and seedlings for reforestation  are  being immediately procured for forest management and tree planting along water sheds.
  • Fisheries- Roseau complex has totally caved in and declared uninhabitable,  however the Marigot and Portsmouth fisheries complexes are operable.
  • Officials are working to provide assistance to fishermen who have gone out and caught fish already on a small scale.
  • Farmers who have  salvageable crop are being asked to give local people priority over foreign market.
  • Housing for livestock was destroyed. Focus is mostly on poultry and eggs, pigs, rabbits and small ruminants.
  • Rebuilding protein security is the aim.
  • First order of things is to evaluate structure on the ground and determine what level of assistance is needed n these industries and bring eggs, poultry, small ruminants, rabbit and pork sectors back.
  • Dominica has been self-sufficient in egg production for 45 plus years so the objective is to regain this self-sufficiency.
  • Banana and plantain crops have suffered 100% destruction.
  •  OECS  agricultural advisers have arrived on the island and will play a role in jump starting agriculture by starting to planting seeds immediately.
  • The organization will start a seedling facility today in order to have seedlings available to anyone who wants to plant.
  •   Minister for Planning, Economic Development & Investment Dr. Collin McIntyre has highlighted that at this stage of recovery the biggest contribution to be made is to cultivate the land and plant food crops. 

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24 Comments

  1. Right or wrong?
    October 8, 2017

    According to the diplomat, five days after Maria the government of China evacuated their 462 Chinese residents from Dominica https://thediplomat.com/2017/09/china-evacuates-462-nationals-from-dominica-after-hurricane-maria/. That’s a lot of Chinese in such a small country. But contrasts the response of the Chinese Government to that of what Skerrit said about to Dominicans Trapped in St. Martin and BVI after Irma. Skerrit warned them against leaving because according to him, they will be needed to rebuild post Irma, and leaving would be a bad signal. So Skerrit what day you since the Chinese we’re doing everything and running everything for us in DA? What sayest thou Skerrit? Did they live us when we really needed them to help clear some roads, on their own projects,?

  2. Time for action
    October 8, 2017

    To those in govt ,you to have a part and responsibility to play as well it’s not all talk ,but action. . So could you all declare that for the next five years ,all argricultural equipment , materials , chemicals , fertilizer , tools etc , will be DUTY FREE .
    Time to help the masses as well . All this red tape and custom duties better be relaxed ,because if not Dominica will be a waste land and people will leave the island for good . And will became the Capi, and grass country.
    Take note. You are in the position to act ,do your part.

  3. About time
    October 8, 2017

    This is in no way political . But I think it’s a really rude awakening, for all Dominicans , It’s really sad that it had to take hurricane Maria ,to show us that argriculture is our bread and butter ,and stop treating it like a stepchild.
    Going forward we should focus on bringing back agriculture to the highest level. Food is important to survive ,so why do we not invest in getting the most out of it. . The soulution .
    Invest in plant nurseries, around the entire country.
    Provide the financial facility to the entire country
    Develop our processing plants .
    And training of individuals on modern techniques ,let people see that it doesn’t have to be so straineous , I mean use tractors , combines , seeders, and all the other tools , it’s time people understand that there is money to be made in argriculture ,and will guarantee our food safety .
    Get the people back to the fields , their is no excuse now . Plant to eat ,so all shall Eat.
    And decentralize the activities in all…

  4. October 7, 2017

    Let us remember this what you can do for your country not what your country can do for you at this times

    • My little take
      October 8, 2017

      Well what I can do for my country is help get rid of the evil and corrupt government in office. I guess that’s the most we can do for our country and that’s the most important thing our country would want us to do at this time because as soon as we do that, our country will RISE AGAI

  5. Is Me again
    October 7, 2017

    I can’t believe the Prime Minister went on national radio, the morning of Maria and told the nation in a statement ” I want to make this very important point that the next few hours should be placed on cleaning up the house, the property rather than stockpiling weeks of food and other supplies.
    This is not a system, based on advice, that will linger very long, therefore the goal must not be on stockpiling supplies but the mitigating damage caused by flying objects as well as fallen trees, shrubs etc.”

    This is careless no matter how one looks at it. In fact even if the PM was so advised in secret, he sure showed his arrogance because a wise leader would not down play a storm but instead, would even magnify it to keep people safe.

    In the US if Trump or any president did that, every family that lost a loved one and everyone that suffered any type of damage, would blame it on that statement they received and everyone would sue the government! This is no joke folks. This is…

    • m767
      October 8, 2017

      Stop. Everyone can see what you are doing.

  6. My little take
    October 7, 2017

    Here are the last words of prime minister Skerrit , at 11AM, the day of Maria that we shall never forget:

    ” l want to make this very important point that the next few hours should be placed on cleaning up the house, the property rather than stockpiling weeks of food and other supplies.
    This is not a system, based on advice, that will linger very long, therefore the goal must not be on stockpiling supplies but the mitigating damage caused by flying objects as well as fallen trees, shrubs etc. ”
    Again ” this not a system… “A system you called it Mr pm? Not even a storm or a hurricane? And you said it is based on advice? Who gave you that advice Mr. Prime Minister? Are we now to conclude that the same person, spirit, or even lying spirits that advised you about the so called planned coup of February 2017, is the same person, spirit, or lying spirits that advised you about the system ( hurricane Maria), that would not linger very long? Pm both you and your advisors MUST GO…

  7. The Fake Doctor
    October 7, 2017

    Dr. Fontain was lamenting on Q that based on what he is seeing, Maria is a powerful hurricane and people would be shocked to see Dominica when they got up next day. Dr Fontain was right again. The fake doctor told us that based on advice, though we don’t know what false spirit that keeps advising him, Maria is not going to be there for long. Really Skerrit? No need to stockpile food and water. Really Skerrit? Now we should concentrate on cleaning the house? Really Skerrit? Well we got up on Tuesday September 19, only to find out that we were once again mislead by Skerrit and if only we had listen to the true Doctor Fontain, the outcome would be different. But what vexes me is the fact that we still have that fake doctor running things and he doesn’t have the human heart to call it a day. Are we now waiting for him to do like Jim Jones did to his worshippers for us to stand up? Say what we want but he was right when he told the UN “Eden is destroyed.” But he had already destroyed…

  8. The Fake Doctor
    October 7, 2017

    Maria revealed two things to us: 1. A fake Doctor that doesn’t have a clue of what he is doing , and in the most critical point gave a very bad diagnosis to his people which resulted in bad prescription. If anything Maria revealed to us that Roosevelt Skerrit, destroyed Dominica long before Maria. Over the years he killed agriculture and is on record saying that he changed Dominica from an agricultural island to a service island. So he threw all of us out of employment so he and his friends could make their millions. Maria exposed his lies and now he and his government are all Farmers and want Farmers to go plant like crazy. But Maria also revealed a true Doctor to us, one that was always pushing for agriculture and always warning about that fake Doctor but we didn’t listen. So happened that the day of the storm Dr. Fontain was on Q95 warning us about the dangerous Maria while the fake Doctor was on the other radio telling us Maria is a weak storm and no need to stockpile food water

  9. Paul Rossnof
    October 7, 2017

    You are absolutely right. Now they are pretending that they reinvented the wheel!

  10. October 6, 2017

    We must remember this is gods work and we must never pin it on any one

    • The Evangelist
      October 8, 2017

      @ Wallace hussy, in as much as I would want to support you for rightly saying it is God’s work, I cannot in my right mind support the rest of your blog. Are you a reader of the bible? If yes when the flood of Noah came and destroyed everything on the earth, could we not pin the sin and corruption God saw on the earth and as a result destroyed it? I will not talk about Sodom and Gomorah here because we will say is because of the nature of sin. But what about the 13 plagues God sent on the Egyptians of which one was that of the death angel killing many innocent lives? Can we pin it on anyone as the cause? Don’t you believe if Pharoah softened his heart after the first plague others would not come and innocent people would not die? Throughout the bible we see God warning of destruction when evil leaders like Skerrit have increase in mischief and thinking he and only he can run things. However, when they take heed and change judgment is averted. If they don’t, they will face it.

    • George Reiner, BSc. Geology
      October 8, 2017

      This is NOT God’s work. This is the work of the servants of Lucifer himself. Are you aware that the USA and its world government allies now OWN the weather??? Are you aware that HAARP, CERN and Geo-engineering methods like could seeding create hurricanes, earthquakes and tornadoes?

      Are you not aware that the idea of Maria was to convince the world that man-made climate change is causing these kind of things which will drive us to a one world government and in the end to our total destruction for the purposes of Lucifer?

      Are you aware that the website http://www.deagel.com/country/ shows that by 2025 most of the Caribbean countries will have NIL populations? Deagel gets its information from the UN, CIA, IMF, EU, etc.

      Work that out my friend!

    • UK Dominican
      October 12, 2017

      In the same vein Wallace it would also be Gdd’s work that we are saddled with Roosevelt Skerrit and must never hold anyone responsible for that either?

  11. Jonathan St jean
    October 6, 2017

    The permanent Secretary should have said that they want to take the country back to where it was agriculturally before the current Labour Party administration,rather than to where it was before hurricane Maria.Prior to Maria the result of Skerritt’s “next level” was to turn our backs on agriculture and manufacturing and embrace hotel and tourism instead.That strategy has failed miserable and over the past 17 years the agricultural sector has deminished.Now that hurricane Maria has struck some semblance of common sense into the leaders they realize the folly of their I’ll conceive plans,but are ashamed to call it what it really is.The concept of self-reliance and food security have been spoken about by all countries, even the US which subsidizes it’s farm sector but Skerritt et Al thought they knew better until Maria burst a slap across their faces to wake them up

    • October 6, 2017

      is this the time for this lets get behind which ever or what ever the government is doing don’t just sit at home and give advise on what they should say have you done any thing to assist as yet or just waiting at
      your computer to read and comment lets help our country social media will not help our country.

      • The Evangelist
        October 8, 2017

        Again Wallace hussy, you talking real crap! Yes we need to help our country and I am quite sure many who criticize the evils of Skerrit have helped the people in one way or another and they will continue to do so because We are Dominica and we love our country! However, when is the time to expose evil? Is it when the trees grow back and the country looking green again? In fact did you listen to PM’s address on Friday when he made mention of building codes though many houses a damaged? I agree fully with the PM because now is the right time to address the poor build codes. Similarly, now is the RIGHT time to talk about the evils that brought us to where we are today. As a person who escaped from DA three days after Maria, I can tell you that Dominica had taken a turn for worse as evil was on the increase and many thought to get promoted they had to do wrong, while our government had to do continue to do wrong to cover bad. Maria saw that and came with a force. I hope she blew wrong…

    • Roger Benniford, PhD (political science - BLF)
      October 6, 2017

      So now Skerritt wants Dominica to be self-reliant for food? OK, that’s good, but what is to say that if after all that another hurricane comes about and wipes all the crops out!!

      I live in the UK, but saw the various shots of the damage that Maria ‘Airman’ in reverse, did to Dominica. Folks, that was not the act of a hurricane which does not strip trees of their leaves and barks. That was the work of a WEAPON of mass destruction created by HAARP/ CERN in my opinion.

      Nutcase, I hear you say. Research for yourself on how the USA and its allies have OWNED the weather since around 2000. Remember, the mantra of these satanists is that to create ORDER, first you must have CHAOS.

      • Let The Truth Be Known - Original
        October 10, 2017

        Did you imply that the USA caused especially Hurricane Maria to first go to Dominica and to destroy it? There is one person I could ask about that and is God, He who knows and sees and hears all things. I will do so in prayer. I may not get an answer because He may say, “You are asking me foolishness. Stop wasting your time. This is not so. This is their speculation.” Well, this is His answer. :lol: :lol: :lol:
        Let us pray for ourselves, our country, other nationals, also other people of the world and their country. God knows what is occurring in the world is not nice; not pretty as the immoral actions of some. Note also the evil comments of some D/cans. Some of them may also reside elsewhere in the world. So much more could be stated about that.
        Know that God governs the world but prayers govern God. He hears them and He will answer them in His own good time; not ours. Pray for protection too.

    • Paul Rossnof
      October 7, 2017

      You are absolutely right. Now they are pretending that they reinvented the wheel!

    • mine
      October 7, 2017

      people like that wish so much bad on the island that’s why these thing happened.

    • Norman Thomas
      October 7, 2017

      Very constructive point Jonathan.

    • alley cat
      October 7, 2017

      jonathan St jean your criticism is not constructive if you love Dominica and your people you would offer positive solution but you seem to be a jealous angry hypocrit

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