Tourism Minister Denise Charles-Pemberton is encouraging financial institutions on the island to put a product in place to encourage taxi operators to purchase coaster buses.
According to her, there is a demand for tours in Dominica, and the organized tours are usually sold out.
“What we have to do now is we already have a challenge with capacity, we do not have enough transportation for organized tours, so I would like to encourage Dominicans and even the taxi operators who are already in the field to invest,” she said.
She continued, “I have spoken to the financial institutions to put out a product to encourage people, just for the purchase of coaster buses.”
Charles-Pemperton revealed that she held discussions with representatives of the AID Bank and other financial institutions to help her ministry make special packages available for coaster buses.
“I had a meeting with them, I invited Auto Trade, Astaphans, a few institutions and car dealerships to help us put out a special package for coaster buses,” she revealed. “Although we have no problem with private tours that have been organized, we have to also encourage and push organized tours.”
She believes that all taxi operators should be involved in organized tours.
“Because this is your bread and butter, we want to make sure you sustain what you have,” Charles-Pemberton stated. “So, I want to encourage greater investment in that field.”
She further stated that this is needed by the next cruise ship season.
Meanwhile, Charles-Pemberton pointed out that her ministry also plans to train about 200 tour guides.
“Because every coaster bus should have a tour guide,” she indicated.
IF THERE IS A DEMAND AND INCREASE IN TOURIST SO MUCH SO THAT WE NEED MORE ORGANIZED TOURS THEN WHY ARE WE ONLY TRAINING 200 TOUR GUIDES. IMAGINE 50 BUSES GOES TO EMERALD POOL, 50 TO TRAFALGAR, 50 TO MIDDLEHAM FALLS AND 50 TO THE KALINAGO. ALL THESE ARE ORGANIZED TOURS. HOWEVER, THIS IS ONLY 200 BUSES AND 200 TOUR GUIDES. WILL THIS SUFFICE FOR THE GROWING AMOUNT OF TOURIST THAT I THINK YOU WANT US TO BELIEVE ARE VISITING OR WILL BE VISITING? BECAUSE I FIND THIS FIGURE VERY SMALL THOUGH YOU HAVE MENTIONED A CHALLENGE WITH CAPACITY. SO HOW QUICKLY IS THE TOURISM SECTOR CHANGING IN DOMINICA AT CURRENT? WILL THE PURCHASE OF THESE COASTER BUSES BE AN INVESTMENT FOR THE FUTURE OR JUST FOR THE NOW? I LOVE THIS GOVERNMENT. BUT THIS IMPORTANT TO KNOW.
With all the responses thus far, I believe the minister is now silently saying to herself; “Owa-tyre-siam”. But I beg her to say it quickly about 5 times just to hear what it really sounds like
.
By no means am I advocating that she call herself an ahss but ,but, but, this brings true meaning to square pegsin round hole. I am continually led to conclude thats what we will get in government as long as having had a “fling” with the SOS is the number one qualification.
Wig-head, one have to be careful when they lie, and try to impress people: “there is a demand for tours in Dominica, and organized tours are usually sold out.(Denies Charles).
You know Denies the English language will screw you up especially in a case when one speaks and not understanding their own rhetoric: here you said there is a “demand for tours.” Demand in the English language implies ” an economic concept that relates to a consumer’s desire to purchase goods and services and willingness to pay a specific price for them. An increase in the price of a good or service tends to decrease the quantity demanded. Likewise, a decrease in the price of a good or service will increase the quantity demanded.”
Where is your demand for tour bookings coming from; Dominicans, or foreigners, if you are not a liar, you are over exaggerating?
Looking in your mouth, I see what appear to be a pierce tongue with an object: hope am wrong: no elaboration, but that represents lady’s of the…
After periods of heavy rainfall, it will take a new breed of all terrain coastal buses to negotiate the road at Antrim, and a brave breed of cruise ship passengers willing to risk their life traversing it on their journey to Emerald Pool.
Another Out of Touch Labah Rat. So, the financial institutions who underwrite these loans are being forced to do so in a business climate that is as we would say at home is: “Slow.” Doesn’t market forces and the ability to repay such loans dictate if they will be underwritten in the first place? Another “Dyab An Sak Move,” by Debas Labah.
Mamselle is one D.A! (and i dont mean dominica) how about ensuring our roads can accommodate an influx of coaster busses first. where you going and park them? where they getting money to buy them? you are the worst most inexperienced most insufficient most stupid minister of tourism i have ever seen. If you wasnt one of his little flings you would have never be where you are now making a fool of yourself. for the rest of the year best you just STFU and let somebody else do the talking for you.
So mrs. Pemberton, you spoke to the financial institutions and what did they say ? Were they in agreement ?? To say that you spoke to them and not to state their response and the timeframe within which the proposal will materialize is like “making a significant contribution to nothing “.
Why don’t you start by helping Dominicans on the port with the high port fees they are charging their own people. Start there first then speak about these buses you want them to get. Dominica has to put things in place at the port that will help its people instead of trying to move their eyes, ears, hands feet etc. with these high prices. I think it would be fare to have people pay 1/2 the price Dominican $ of whatever they buy from Overseas. That would be beneficial for both the people and Dominica and would encourage those of us looking to invest in Dominica. With these high port fees everyone is running from investing and it makes life difficult for our people. ### lowerportfees##.
Alternatively, we could accept fewer cruise ships. Fewer ships equals fewer buses equals less pollution. But only if we’re actually serious about being a nature island of course …
Exactly idk why they think having a ton of cruise ship visitors for such a small country is a good thing, have more stay over tourists who stay on the island for days who spend more than the cruise ship passengers- who come for a few time and spend little to nothing while heavily straining the country
What we need is stay over high end tourism that can actually give us returns. Cruise tourism is fleeting. We need supporting services and infrastructure that can support high end tourism and provide well paying jobs for our people. Cruise tourism is nickel and diming.
Ireland wants to see you and makes you pregnant
Have you not seen the cost of import duties. import duties are stifling progress in this nation. the private sector can’t flourish and therefore less taxes can be collected. 150% of cost and shipping.
If DNO is quoting you right, then your use of the English language is bad. Refering to paragraph 3 of the news report, which I am yet to understand.
You are hearing from the worst Tourism Minister in the region. Lady if i had my way i would dismiss you on the spot, and have you return all monies you got for the portfolio you held. You simply can’t do the job. Go fix Roseau. Roseau has deteriorated to the point of no return while you have been minister of tourism but you keep bla, bla, bla, bla, ing.
Shameless!!
Soh which Educational institution dat Educated dis Puppet???
And to think this is the type of mindset that is administering the affairs of Dominica is such a shame!!!
Mamzelle doh seem like she know her @$$ from her Elbow nuh!!!
Woman what you need to do is to Draw up paperwork to run it through the Parliament to create legislation to offer incentives programs to Taxi operators to invest in whatever tools you need them to have to cater to them Tourist!!!
Although RastarMarn opposes the whole tourism vibes but if dere is no choice guess people have to make bread some how!!!
Famme-Sort, why your Boun-Gshah Skerrit doh implement an incentive program to give a concession for duty free to Operators who Import those Buses you need them to have to facilitate your program,,,
Doh come like you talking in de school yard about when you go and talk to who and who and tell them to do what and what not,,,
Dey say you never know a fool is foolish until they open their mout,,,
“Because this is your bread and butter, we want to make sure you sustain what you have,” Charles-Pemberton stated.
Go and ask your Crime minister Starboy of Stupidity if ROSS wasn’t our bread and butter, and why didn’t he make even the slightest effort to sustain what we had then?
A “good” (low miles and less-than-5-years old) Toyota Coaster bus costs about $50,000 US. Add customs and other fees imposed by your government, and tell me how many bus or taxi drivers can afford a loan to buy one while they cannot even pay the high cost of gas, parts, tires etc. for the vehicles they have.
You’re begging financial institutions to feed people while your government is choking them. Talk to taxi and bus drivers, Talk to Toyota company in Japan not dealers here. Talk to whomever is in charge of Customs and Imports. Do the math. Then formulate a plan. That’s what we are paying you big money for.
You seem to be so out of touch with reality, “Let them eat cake” you might say.
Are there duties and taxes levied on the importation of those vehicles?
I’ll give this to you, Zandoli, you are different from the rest. I like that. There is hope, after all.
Dominica is not a duty-free country. At least, we have not reached that level yet. Pay as you earn.