President of the association which represents the Hotel and Tourism sector on the island has outlined visions he hopes will materialize in the next 12 months, among them a national debate on the decriminalization of marijuana and buggery.
Gregor Nassief addressed the association’s 46th Annual General Meeting which took place at the Fort Young Hotel on Thursday 30th July 2015.
“Here are 11 things that I would like to see happen in the next 12 months,” he said. “Our $6-million marketing fund is well spent, our destination is successfully rebranded and the demand for Dominica is on the rise. Our air and sea access hubs offer better and more affordable connections to Dominica from our main source markets.”
He continued, “Dominica has a seat on the LIAT board, an airline that carries 70 percent of our visitors and Dominica, has a solid plan B for air-access if one of our major air carriers if they stop servicing Dominica. An enabling environment to reduce our dependency to fossil fuels, across the board incentives on anything related to renewable energy such as solar, wind, electric vehicles and the like. The establishment of a public/private sector environment on product integrity task force to tackle issues of crime, litter and noise pollution which undermines the Dominican experience with citizens and visitors alike.”
He also pointed to a lower harmonized VAT rate, of which a portion goes towards the destination marketing budget, the establishment of a private/public sector tourism and agriculture work force, to direct tourism to agriculture and agriculture to tourism, allowing each to feed the other making both more integrated and sustainable.
“A DHTA that has broader representation from all tourism stakeholders including more taxi drivers, vendors, dive operators, tour operators, tour guides and health and wellness professionals, a national debate on the decriminalization of marijuana, because it could be a win for tourism and for agriculture. A national debate on the decriminalization of buggery, because we need to be a more tolerant and open society, both for our citizens and visitors alike,” he said.
Nassief added that in terms of tourism development the country is a “late bloomer, but that may be a blessing.”
“We can learn so much of the blessing of others, and work towards a truly successful and sustainable tourism industry,” he noted. “Yes we are a late bloomer, but if we all agree on how to define success, and work towards what really matters, it will be an extraordinary bloom.”
The decriminalization of marijuana and buggery have been seen as a stick in the mud with many advocates calling for them to be legalized.
The 2015-16 Board of Directors for the DHTA:
President –Gregor Nassief
1st Vice President and President Elect- Arienne Perryman
Director of Membership-Marie Jose-Edwards
Director of Related Services-Jacqueline Dupigny
Director of Accommodation- Mavlyn Alexander James
Director of Tourism Services-Amber Rolle
Elected representatives:
Director of Finance and Fundraising-Sheldon Bruno
Director of Public Relations- Dr. Schuyler Esprit
Appointed Directors:
Immediate Past President –Rene Richard Aird
CEO of Discover Dominica Authority/Director of Tourism-Colin Piper
Congratulations Mr. Nassief. In this land of “over promise and under deliver”, we need more active citizens like yourself to enable the upward movement of our country.
Buggary is biblically wrong .
Gregor, I understand where this coming from. Having a law on our books like that is detrimental to tourism development, particularly from N. America and Europe, our prime markets. Making forceful demonstration to have that law repealed could do more harm than good. Our government would be reluctant to do so because it is sure to lose them many votes . I recommend another softer approach. Keep that law where it is but don’t enforce it but at the same time make it known that we do not tolerate public indecency whether it be homo- or heterosexual. In the meantime we could amend the act to say that sex, in the privacy of one’s home is not punishable provided is is consensual and not conducted with underage minors.
Man nobody want to legalize buggery. It’s only the people who believes if it is legal they will make more money who ask for it to be legal. Dominicans don’t treat gay any different from other people, people just do not want it in the public. Someone gay, they gay that’s their business but don’t impose it on the rest of society. Keep your ways to yourself at your home and nobody will have a problem with that. Mr. Nassief you are a multi millionaire already, you do not need that please do not try to destroy Dominica with your foolishness. If you want to legalize it at your hotel(s), go right ahead and watch what happens when your other guests see men having sex on the balcony at your place.
I lose all respect for people like you. you support everything that is wrong both morally and spiritually. I am so sorry for your.
If Dominica decriminalizes Marijuana, we will be known around the world as the nature island. Green tourism is on the rise people – let’s not ignore that. Having a destination a lot more tourist-friendly than Jamaica with the availability of Marijuana makes Dominica the netherlands/colorado of the caribbean. People just don’t see the opportunity until the island is filled with new tourists trying to experience the true caribbean experience
No Mr. President are you telling the membership who voted you that the decriminalization of marijuana and buggery should take priority over the lack of financing or refinancing which is making it extremely difficult for the majority of your membership facing similar challenges as the Government to survive.
That support for buggar thing is nothing new, we all know that these people will do or condone many things that can bring them ‘a dollar’. Remember the boat full that was not given the red carpet, and his family’s business didn’t make a buck from that group for the day? Now that his influence yields more money for tourism, he feels the need to push his influence further on this administration. The sad thing is that these groups of people like to use ‘Marijuana’ in their strategy to gain sympathy for buggary, a dirty behavior. That’s sad! It has been argued and discussed. No one is persecuting buggarers in Dominica, they are left to buggar in piracy – not in the open in society. Give it a rest man!
Mr.president you really have you hands filled ,confronting all these issues.i wish you luck in your new battle.
Instead of legalizing buggery what not criminalize corruption, nepotism, paternalistic behaviors – isn’t that not a priority for the DHTA; A need to see a more transparent and accountable government and public sector; that my friend will set the base for all the things you and your organization are hoping to achieve within 12 months; I mean lets start a frank and open discussion and debate on the size of government, the waste in government, the blatant corruption we see happening in front of our eyes. This I am sure will make a hell of a big difference not only to the tourism sector, but also to manufacturing; to industry and to so many areas of the economy.
Rebranding ? What rebranding ? What’s wrong with Nature Island of the Caribbean ? It’s what we are.
The issue of buggery and marijuana are not fundamental to the success of tourism on the island. I therefore do not see why the DHTA would want to take up their decriminalization as focal issues for the DHTA. Having said that, I do not see why buggery (anal sex) is criminalized. The act of buggery (between two consenting adults) is a personal choice and is not a matter for the State.
Mr. Nassief has clearly been reading the “Tea Leaves” of discontent on the island. A national debate on the issues that he mentioned is an idea whose time has been long overdue. Building grass root support and empowering local citizens to make the issue their own will ultimately lead to more support and yield the desired outcome. Start at the Arawak House of Culture with the first debate, then venture out to Portsmouth and other villages. It’s time to bring people together, listen to their ideas and concerns and move this island-nation forward.
I can visualize the fight from the Evangelical Association as an attack on morality coupled with the usual “Bible Thumping Argument.” We should not be dismayed by decent. It must be welcomed and listened to while articulating the new course forward.
I’ve often disagreed with him on many issues, but some of items outlined in his twelve month plan are pragmatic and sensible. The mention of Leave Island Any Time Airline, is still a cause for concern. It’s quite obvious that a new airport is merely a dream at this point.
Decriminalizing the private use of marijuana is also sensible. Many states in the US are quietly repealing otherwise draconian laws associated with the use of this plant. It’s time for Dominica to lead the way on this. We should advertise our tropically grown marijuana as part of our tourism promotion. Talk about increasing visitor arrivals to the island. Now there’s an idea whose time has come.
Our police officers need to invest their resources in upholding law ad order and enforcing traffic laws since we lose far more lives to vehicular accidents, versus marijuana usage.
I realise that you have said and/or stressed the next 12months Mr Nassief. My concern for many years though is why are those people who are elected to head these associations are always running away from Dominica having an international airport. Why should we discuss decriminalization of buggery and just ignore totally the need for an international airport? Should we continue being the appendage of every other Caribbean island for ever and ever Amen?The growing and exporting of marihuana could bring in hundreds of millions to us, but this government I am afraid is not capable of dealing with this.It would not mean that marihuana is for the use of TOM,DICK and HARRY, but grown by some people with stringent state control, then sold to companies who require it for medicinal purposes.A discussion on this is overdue. I am afraid, by the time we decide to have it, the train will have left us behind.BUGGERY??? I still believe marriage should be between a man and a woman.
Wait, wait hang on a second. Did he just request a debate on the decriminalization of buggery? I would understand if he said a more tolerant atmosphere towards homosexuality, after all not all homosexuals engage in the act of buggery. There are those who are just content to have a male/female partner, and will engage in acts of mutual masturbation, oral sex, and/or frontal coitus simulation by rubbing on each other. No Mr. Nassief! I will not tolerate Dominicans being tolerant towards buggery. Be it buggery of man to woman, man to man, man to animal, it is just plain wrong!!
What you scared of Anansi? A little bugga will not hurt you
!
On a serious note though, its time we STOP fighting to make bugga legal. Our society is one where bugga is one of the evilest of evil acts humans can partake in as it pertains to man on man or man on animals (:-D man on willing woman I doh know nuh!) . Bottomline, DHTA need to put their efforts where the country will benefit without compromising our morals and values. Let them buggarers plead their own damn case.
Assertive, NOT Aggressive!
Is anything for a dollar wi!! So we grow.. Sustainable Tourism. Dominican can rebrand on dat!
Don’t you see a contradiction in your statements? Are you suggesting the government “allows” homosexuals to live together, even fall in love provided the men don’t have sex? What’s next, you will have cameras in their bedrooms to monitor their activities?
^its also none of your business. if a society relies on laws then its because the culture is too weak or nonexistent. i imagine this law change would make us look a lot better to gay tourists – who are known to be the highest spenders of any demographic (they don’t have children to feed but have high consumption). but no we would rather not make them feel welcome enough in our country to spend their money then later complain how the country is broke and should cater to those who have plenty money.
the only potentially relevant thing I can think of that MAYBE supports the ban on buggery (which lets face it – is really about gay people than straight) is that the bible doesn’t support it. but since when does a 90% black country agree with EVERYTHING the bible says? google slavery debates and you’ll see that pro-slavery teams win this debate citing the bible as supporting the rights of a man to own slaves – as did many of the disciples.
lets mind our own business and make this…