Douglas hopes to bring experience to new ministry

Douglas is the new Minister of Trade, Energy and Employment
Douglas is the new Minister of Trade, Energy and Employment

Ian Douglas, who was recently named Minister for Trade, Energy and Employment, says he is bringing a decade of ministerial experience to his new portfolio.

A former Minister of Tourism and Legal Affairs, Douglas pointed out that his former ministry and the new one are essentially the same in terms of administration.

“It’s not much different in the sense that at the ministerial level you really are an administrator and so my experience over the last 10 years would serve me well in the Ministry of Trade,” he said.

According to Douglas, his new ministry is a very important one.

“The Ministry of Trade is very important because trade plays a very key role in the economy, in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and in the generating of foreign exchange for Dominica,” he noted. “So in a lot of respects it is very much like the Ministry of Tourism which plays a very pivotal role in the economy, and so does the Ministry of Trade.”

Douglas said he has been learning the ropes over the past few days as there are specific issues in relation to the new portfolio.

“At this point I am just trying to survey the landscape and to see what is on the table, what we have before us, what are the challenges, and how we intend to meet some of the challenges and overcome those challenges so that we continue to succeed, not only specifically in the Ministry of Trade, but overall,” he remarked.

When questioned on his plans for his new ministry, he mentioned that a ministry’s vision does not necessarily change from minister to minister.

“The minister just brings different personalities, different drives and different energy but basically the road map laid out in the growth and social protection strategy for the forward movement in the Ministry of Trade remains the same,” he said.

Douglas stated that community-based tourism and the enhancement of tourism sites are some of his accomplishment in his old portfolio.

“What I feel a sense of pride and joy about is how we have been able to push the community tourism initiative and how a number of communities around Dominica have come to recognize their specific niche and their potential and to get involved in the tourism industry and the way that community tourism has taken off around Dominica,” he stated. “I am very happy that ordinary grass-roots persons see their role in tourism and how they can generate revenue.”

He noted that the enhancement of various sites around the island is another accomplishment that comes to mind.

“We have been able to enhance the various sites like Trafalgar Falls, Emerald Pool and a number of new sites that have come on stream in my tenure,” Douglas said. “These are some of the accomplishments that have readily come to mind.”

Douglas served as Minister of Tourism from 2007 to 2014.

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24 Comments

  1. tru d bino q la
    December 20, 2014

    ‘Eperience is a school where a man learns what a big fool he has been’. well said James Russell Lowell!

  2. Proud Dominican
    December 19, 2014

    Ian its better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you are a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt.

    “It’s not much different in the sense that at the ministerial level you really are an administrator and so my experience over the last 10 years would serve me well in the Ministry of Trade,” he said.

    Nonsense. Mr. Douglas you were not appointed to be an administrator but a leader in policy formulation and implementation designed to improve our trade status within the OECS, CARICOM, ALBA and the rest of the world especially within emerging markets like China, now that diplomatic relations have been established and we have had a policy of begging for the past 10 years, what is your vision for the next 10 years, and how does the trade of our goods, services, culture, and produce factor it that vision, Mr. Trade Minister…what a joke!

    “The Ministry of Trade is very important because trade plays a very key role in the economy, in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and in the generating of foreign exchange for Dominica,” he noted. “So in a lot of respects it is very much like the Ministry of Tourism which plays a very pivotal role in the economy, and so does the Ministry of Trade.”

    More rubbish. You can make this statement about any government ministry: From Agriculture and Fisheries to Commerce, Enterprise and small business development to planning economic development and investment, to even foreign affairs and CARICOM affairs. You’ve achieved absolutely nothing as Tourism minister in 7 years, and is appears that you have no plans to achieve anything in trade for the next 5 years based on your statements.

    “At this point I am just trying to survey the landscape and to see what is on the table, what we have before us, what are the challenges, and how we intend to meet some of the challenges and overcome those challenges so that we continue to succeed, not only specifically in the Ministry of Trade, but overall,” he remarked.

    More crap: Then tell us: I thought the plan was to “hit the ground running….according to the PM…? What are the challenges in the current trade environment? And, what are your plans to overcome them?

    “The minister just brings different personalities, different drives and different energy but basically the road map laid out in the growth and social protection strategy for the forward movement in the Ministry of Trade remains the same,” he said.

    This is a admission of defeat and if Dominicas are to be taken seriously they should call for Mr douglas’ resignation based on this statement alone. This is an admission of defeat from day 1. Not only has he reduced himself to an administrator, admitted that he has no vision as far as improving trading conditions are concerned, but then he is saying there is no difference between ministers no difference between him and the past or future minister, if that is the case, what was the point of having elections at all….?

    “What I feel a sense of pride and joy about is how we have been able to push the community tourism initiative and how a number of communities around Dominica have come to recognize their specific niche and their potential and to get involved in the tourism industry and the way that community tourism has taken off around Dominica,” he stated. “I am very happy that ordinary grass-roots persons see their role in tourism and how they can generate revenue.”

    All credible statistics indicate that tourism figures have gone down under the Ian Douglas, especially in the North and within his own constituency.

    He noted that the enhancement of various sites around the island is another accomplishment that comes to mind.

    “We have been able to enhance the various sites like Trafalgar Falls, Emerald Pool and a number of new sites that have come on stream in my tenure,” Douglas said. “These are some of the accomplishments that have readily come to mind.”

    What are some of the new sights that have come on stream under you tenure Mr Douglas?

    What hogwash!

  3. nypossie
    December 18, 2014

    I have 15 years of that crap- the Director Tourism had set a goal to double stay over visitors and to achieve the our 100000 cruiseship visitor arrivals for a set period – so now that shelved to a 25% growth target….. the parros on the street we still can’t find a permanent solution for that – we are still not able to increase our hotel stock and our hotel quality both in terms of rooms and service. Our taxi and tour operators at the ports and airport still seem very disorganized and are still fighting over each other for business. Our roads are still not properly signed and marked – there are no traffic lights in spite the number of accidents happening at busy intersections- our tourism sites still lack proper infrastructure and emergency services; our tour guides are still very rough at the edges in terms of their service – our solid and liquid waste system is still very primitive and inefficient – our roads and sidewalks around the capital is in a mess and not conducive to safety. our drains in the city are waterways for men who without reservation loose their waist to pee right where they can find a spot; raw and cooked food coming directly from restaurants and bars are released into our surface drains leaving a stench so in-halable, if there is such a word is not funny; and stray animals including dogs, cats, fowls and sometimes even goats can be seen parading the streets scratching and sifting through piles of garbage; dog mess all over the place; rats racing around garbage tins and areas in spite of the warning of leptospyrosis by the health practitioners. Frankly We have not MADE any serious attempt to change any of those traits and characteristics over the last 15 years yet still we speak of growth in the industry. emmmmmh. Labor KA really Tavail pal!!

  4. Nac Vibes
    December 18, 2014

    Isn’t ironic that the man who believes that VAT is the backbone of our economy is appointed Minister of Trade, Energy and Employment. But then again why should I be surprised, after all we know that is really Bajans who are really running the country. So says hartley henry.

  5. concerned
    December 18, 2014

    I really fo not understand what Dominicans recognise as performance. All the major sectors for economic development are underperforming or non-existant yet labour ka twavay. Have mercy

  6. The Facts
    December 18, 2014

    Congratulation Hon. Ian Douglas in your new portfolio. A change, be it a sort of change, is as good as seeing a doctor. :) Changes are always welcomed. I have confidence that you will do very well and serve the people accordingly.“

  7. Not a herd follower
    December 17, 2014

    Ian has been in government for 15 years, and a minister for most of that period. He has underperformed in all ministries where he has been assigned. Based on past performance, I do not expect any change by way of progress from him.

  8. Lang Mama
    December 17, 2014

    You right Ian you bring experience in failure to a portfolio that had been a failure under Collin. So what do we have- Tiwais boudaine metais paille.

    Nothing from nothing is nothing.

    It’s like going from Mal Papaye to Tony then Bonnie – pyes di yo pa sa multiply

  9. December 17, 2014

    MR. Not even Good with words nor can he answer a question with a straight face. My opinion” garbage in garbage out! You will be the first the Pm will force out of his cabinet if you keep talking this gibberish to the Smart Dominican people. How long? Not long?

  10. Zuma
    December 17, 2014

    And you have no supper you must steal..

  11. Frank Talker
    December 17, 2014

    Ian, can you explain the strategy to have a Minister for Trade and another Minister for Commerce?

    • Lang Mama
      December 17, 2014

      The ministry for Trade is set up for male paw paw tree l and the ministry of commerce is set up for adult tree. :lol: :lol: :lol:

    • December 18, 2014

      Well, it’s interesting to note how many Cabinet officials the Americans have for this. They have a Secretary of Commerce, but also in the Cabinet are the U.S. Trade Representative, the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration.

      Obviously the U.S. economy is an awful lot bigger than the Dominican economy, and in any event there’s no reason for to copy the Americans blindly. But it’s still a point of comparison.

  12. Visionary
    December 17, 2014

    Mr. Douglas i am very surprised that after a decade of being a minister that you still don’t know that a minister is not an administrator. A PS is an administrator and a minister is a policy maker. Thank God mister Skerrit relieved you from the ministry of Tourism.

    • 100% Dominican
      December 18, 2014

      He is right! Skerrit is the sole policy maker; the ministers are the admins; Got it??!! Lmao..jokes in my country

  13. Objective
    December 17, 2014

    A decade of what Mr Minister ? What did you produce ? Personally , you are a good human being but as a minister you truly haven’t produced nothing tangible . Under your watch , tourism remained the same . You did nothing to improve the sites and environment . I truly wouldn’t have given you any minister . I don’t believe that you can lead and implement effective change !

    • The Facts
      December 17, 2014

      Why not run for a position as MP in the next election? Some of you just love to criticize. This is all you are capable of; nothing better.

  14. grell
    December 17, 2014

    Ian you heading for disaster,Skerrit wants you out so bad. :(

  15. Proud Dominican
    December 17, 2014

    Ian let me offer you the following advice, with respect: Its is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.” – Mark Twain

  16. Shaka zulu
    December 17, 2014

    Political law of tranformation according to Shaka Zulu: Waste can neither be created or destroyed by Shuffling from one place to the next. It still remains waste until recycled. When recycled it takes a different form, structure, and fuction.
    Ian Douglas will still be in Douglas no matter where you put him. A man in parliament because of name, who is in a town with the best potential for tourism development in Dominica and whose family owns the best estate for agro production, manufacturing, tourism and the list goes on. What have we seen in past 30 years in Portsmouth and Hampstead? Crime.

  17. Truth be Told
    December 17, 2014

    “at the ministerial level you really are an administrator” Ian Douglas

  18. eddie wallace
    December 17, 2014

    Ian sing for your supper lol :-P

    • Bomboclat
      December 17, 2014

      Sing for his supper how? When he is a big minister. Foolish

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