The Dominica National Lottery (DNL) BLAST Gaming Centre and Rooftop Restaurant & Bar will open its doors to the general public, at 4pm today Friday, October 6, 2023. This modern new facility located on the corner of Independence Street and Hillsborough Street in Roseau is expected to bring a premier entertainment experience to Dominicans.
“Today marks the culmination of almost two years of effort to find a new home for the Dominica Lottery operations. It promises to continue the Dominica National Lottery tradition of innovation for players, while providing a new experience that is one of a kind in the heart of the nation’s capital,” Executive President of Canadian Bank Note, Gordon McKechnie said during the ribbon cutting ceremony held earlier this week.
He continued, “The new building we are in today represents a substantial investment by our company in the economy of Dominica and the future of the Dominica National Lottery.”
According to McKechnie the staff and members of the board of the DNL will enjoy modern and well-equipped offices and lottery players will now have the opportunity to witness the draws live in the draw studio located at the ground floor.
Additionally, he said that the component of the facility the team is more excited about, “is this new DNL new BLAST Gaming Entertainment Centre.”
“The facility will provide the games that Dominicans players enjoy and other BLAST agents island wide, but in a new environment that is unique,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Representative for the Roseau Central Constituency, Melissa Poponne-Skerrit said as a Roseau business woman and the representative for Roseau Central this is her passion.
“This is what gets me excited and gives me hope for the development prospects in our city and for the growth of the business sector,” she stated. “And I continue to advocate for enterprises such as this which can bring life to Roseau and create more jobs for our young people right here in the city and from around Dominica.”
As the Minister for Housing and Urban Development she also recognizes that there is much more room to increase commercial activity both here in Roseau as well as in the second town of Portsmouth.
“I therefore welcome this creative venture with the Dominica National Lottery and take the opportunity to congratulate the DNL for its recent move to this striking new office building,” Poponne- Skerrit noted.
Is this what we really need in Dominica right now, the people will decide that by their patronage or not. Let us not be carried away, this venture is very small in what it offers to recreational gamblers. What concerns me is the profits of this venture, who are the beneficiaries. I looked up the site of The DNL, there is nothing that mentions the goals of this entity as to its social responsibility, support for communities or let say Education, sponsorship for local cultural activities, these are just some things of my head. Can someone inform us as what contribution this DNL has made to Dominica over the years.
Be sure to ake this seriously, with metal and g powder detection at the gate, it just might get big.
What will get even bigger is legal marijuana and hemp, the miraculous CBD oils and creams. Just look it’s not legal and the number of jobs created from all the cars, car parts, homes and other machinery associated waiting to explode in economic impact exponentially as soon as it is legalized.
With minimum wage at $7.50 ec an hr, what
extra money do people have to gamble?
My God!! Who thought up that gaudy color scheme. That building has now become the biggest eyesore in Roseau!
this is not a business that is of any interest to people’s development
I was disappointed in hearing. that gaming is what the parl rep is pushing. Spending money on gaming is not a thing Dominicans or any leader should be pushing.
The parl rep.should step down resign quit. today in politics American citizens cannot be in government offices working in foreign countries also with her children being usa citizens it makes for almost a diplomatic issue for Dominica itself . I know what I am talking about.
Both the Prime Minister should quit politics in Dominica. They have deviated from the true vision of what development is.
Today real world politics the Roseau parl rep is not ready for it. The type of things she calls development is not. it is unfortunate. the labor party is not the problem these people are.
are there Elevators or easy access for people with Disabilities. just asking.
None. Lots of steps. They didn’t design this building for ppl with bad knees, much more for disabilities.
This tells you they only want young gamers in their building.
That’s a Dominica policy it seems, they all build steps at 9 inches. Those at the ministry building are user friendly at about 6 – 7 inches. Builders can learn a thing or two from ye old building, the code needs a change.
Could be a Clint Eastwood movie scene when the Blast 💥 go bow bow bowy man just tumbling down over the railings from upstairs. If our crime rates were 50% less the cowboys would not be a threat. You won’t find me there anyway. People today cannot have a good time without a glass of Rum in hand. Good luck with that. Remember, it’s “A Blast 💥”
Tone Deaf. This does not solve for the pressing concerns and issues facing the local people and country as a whole today. The government must look to aim much higher in terms of long term and meaningful job prospects required to build a thriving society. I’m afraid, this isn’t it.
Just don’t injure yourself on one of the countless broken sidewalks when you go and gamble away all your money in false hope of easy riches.
“This is what gets me excited and gives me hope for the development prospects in our city and for the growth of the business sector,”
I beg to differ. There are other improvements and developments that would enhance the appeal of Roseau to residents, visitors and the business sector. Not least being the the city’s cultural identity; starting with the shameful neglect of Roseau’s historic library and the absence of a theater.
@Roger Burnett
I am tired of talking about the condition of Roseau, our main city, yet the lady as Parl Rep is still talking her gibberish to the world. My lady you are not addressing only a crowd of Skerrit labourites dressed in red and armed with red trumpets. Those people will CLAP at all foolishness that you utter. Please spruce up the appearance of Roseau, to include the badly broken sidewalks, the stagnant water, pot holes, urine odor, etc. Oops the bay front is also 100% unwelcoming to visitors by sea!
That’s not all, but it’s a start. Roseau has become in the last 23 years the least welcoming capital in the Caribbean!!
Roger, what have you contributed to the development of Dominica? Nothing, zero. All you do is write those negative comments each time some new development springs up in Dominica. What is your ulterior motive? Think of what you can do for your country and not what your country can do for you. Stop all that hogwash, Roger.
Assuming that you are currently residing in Dominica, please stop by my workshops and studio the next time you pass through Antrim. I will be please to share with you all I have contributed to the Caribbean over the last 50 years, and to Dominica in particular over the past 25 years.
I look forward to your visit.
Nothing of significance to boast about. I have never read anything substantive that you have done, in the news. You are just another boomerang. Your so-called workshop might be in disrepair and needs a facelift. In the Caribbean all you have done is publish fake election polls that don’t make sense at all. Go rest your old self, you, Ibo and Francisco. Three old, blind mice.
ds, you give me more credit than my due!
In my eighty years I have sailed small boats across oceans and won international awards for my work as an artist and engineer, but I have never entered the realm of publishing election polls – fake or otherwise. Perhaps you are mistaking me with someone else.
Please visit me when you pass Antrim. To relieve concerns for your safety, I assure you that my workshops and studio are maintained in an excellent state of repair.
What have YOU done for your country?? I mean apart from trying to prop up these gangsters on a daily basis. Little worm!
ds – you should think about removing you head from you a.. before you suffocate in ignorance
ds – I am not going to say what I think ds stands for but by your comments I can tell that you are totally ignorant and illiterate about what truly stimulates an economy, economic growth and economic development. Tell us, why do you think that after 23 years of mismanaging the Dominica economy, job rates continue to fall in Dominica, youth unemployment is high and migration to foreign lands increased under this Labour party? Explain to me why the government has not built alternative industries to generate national income and revenue except for the CBI passport selling? And with all the billions of dollars, Skerrit has not been able to diversify Dominica’s economic base? Please explain that to me. Do you believe this little cosmetic brightly painted building for gambling is going to develop Dominica’s economy? How many guests have stayed at Morocco Hotel and Kempinski Hotel since their completion?
We cannot even maintain a constant electricity supply after 45 years of independence.
The strange thing about the whole matter is that people really think this is progress. Putting up a colorful building will not move a pin for our people, rather, they will sink further in despair. We need to see real progress in this country. We need heads of government who care about the well being of its population.
“Think of what you can do for your country and not what your country can do for you.” That worked in Kennedy’s time; not in today’s Dominica.
I think you need to address this to all those greedy parasites that are sucking Dominica dry in the name of love for Dominica.
And yes, do visit Roger at Antrim, please do
too many steps for me to climb when I drunk
well with all the load shedding you may get stuck in an elevator. so stop drinking and take the stairs
@AA
😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄